* * *
Kyla’s heart was breaking in her chest as she leaned against her brother on the ride back to Darfield. She did not want to leave Finlay. Truly, she did not. But what could have been so important that he would leave her at such a time? Clearly no one wanted to tell her the truth, as when she asked, they all hid it from her—Jane, Peggy, her father and brother.
Even the two MacTavishes had been there at the castle for her, and they had rarely supported her throughout her life. In fact, she often had wondered if they even cared. Apparently, they did.
Her feelings for Finlay aside, she saw no other way to keep the peace. Clearly her father and brother were incapable, and she didn’t want the disruptions of the MacTavishes to make their way to the McDougalls. This way she could keep things under control and protect Finlay’s family. She sighed at the realization of what the rest of her life was likely to look like—living alone in the large keep, maintaining the ledgers and making decisions with no one to share the joys of life with. How lonely it will be, she thought miserably, but could see no other way out.
A tear slid down her cheek and she sniffed, but it hurt her head. Perhaps she should have waited for the physician. She had made her decision to leave fairly hastily and was beginning to realize it was a foolish one. It would have been better to stay for the night. Even if Finlay didn’t love her, she knew he cared for her, and she should have said goodbye, at the very least. Once she mentioned the idea, her father had been so insistent to leave, and she hadn’t had the strength to argue with him but instead had let him sweep her out the door.
When they arrived home, she resolved to send Finlay a note to explain why she had left. Hopefully, he could understand.
The tears poured steadily now, and she leaned her head back against her brother, finally falling asleep the rest of the way home.
21
Finlay eventually composed himself, ashamed at the emotion he had allowed to overcome him. He was glad, however, he had managed to keep it to himself with only Hurley as a witness. It was not a display he would have wanted Kyla nor any of his family to see.
Adam may have had an inkling of his turmoil, for he had been waiting outside the stable doors when Finlay had finally emerged, with nothing but a nod for his brother before they strode up to Galbury together.
When they entered the front door into the hall, Finlay knew immediately something was wrong. His mother and his sister stood together staring at him, as if they had been waiting him for some time. Kyla’s brother and father were nowhere to be seen. He assumed Roderick was still fetching the physician. When his father walked into the room and Finlay caught the expression on his face, his knees nearly gave out and he just managed to sit down in time.
“What’s happened?” he asked, though he didn’t think he could breathe. Peggy had just told him Kyla was awake. What had changed? Had she… she…he couldn’t think it.
“She’s fine, darling,” his mother said quickly before anyone else could speak, as she read the concern on his face.
“Then what’s the matter?” He held up a hand, stopping them before they said anything else. “Never mind. I will go see her now.”
He started for the stairs when his father spoke.
“Son,” Duncan said slowly, deeply. “Kyla isn’t upstairs.”
“What do you mean, she isn’t upstairs?” He turned around, his gaze pinning his father.
“She left, with Niall and Rory, back to Darfield.”
Finlay could only stare at his father with an incredulous expression.
“What do you mean, she left? She has been unconscious for over two days and the moment she wakes up, her father takes her to their home? That was where this all started, does no one recall that? She isn’t safe there. Why did you let her leave?”
His anger built along with his words, as he stormed at his family since the true objects of his ire were no longer present.
Jane cleared her throat, and came over to put a hand on his arm.
“Kyla chose to leave,” she said gently. “Niall said she felt she had fulfilled her promise of three months and it was time for her to return to the MacTavishes.” She looked at him quizzically. “Finlay, what three-month agreement was he talking about?”
Finlay wrenched his gaze from the table up to his mother’s eyes. He paused for long moments before finally answering her question.
“When we discussed marriage, she had some stipulations before she agreed,” he finally reluctantly explained. “She said she would live here for three months, and then make the choice of whether or not she wanted to stay here and remain living with me.”
“Oh Fin,” Peggy said, stepping forward, her eyes filling with tears. “She must not have been in the right frame of mind. I’m sure she would never have wanted to leave—”
“She made her choice. She left,” he said, standing abruptly. “No one knew the agreement but her. If that’s what she wants, then so be it.”
Ignoring his family, he pushed his chair back and took to the stairs. When he reached his chamber, however, he couldn’t enter, not into the room they had shared over the past while.
He left again, back to the stables, saddling his horse and heading out into the night. Roderick came chasing after him as he rode out of the yard, but Finlay didn’t look back. He gave Hurley his freedom, and together they raced out into the night.
* * *
Kyla was miserable.
She lay in her room, attempting to eat and drink to regain her strength. The physician had attended to her and pronounced her healthy. He didn’t believe any
