Page 104 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

How did it come to this?

“Mama,” Willow ventured, shifting her weight, “when can I see River?”

“Nae for a while, pet.”

“Where is he?”

“I took him to Rhiannon. She heals people, but she thinks she can heal animals, too.”

“Will River soon be well?”

Daphne considered lying. But then, she would have to say the truth at last, and that would hurt her daughter far too much.

“I daenae ken,” she confessed. “He hurt his leg badly, pet. Rhiannon will do what she can. We willnae leave without him, I promise.”

Willow curled up into a tighter ball near the head of the bed, half-hidden in blankets and pillows. Daphne glanced up at her, her heart aching.

I should have protected her. I should have tried harder.

“Is Hunter coming with us?” Willow asked after a moment.

Daphne ducked her head, focusing on packing. “Nay, pet. He’s nae coming.”

She pointedly didn’t look up to avoid the look of devastation and disappointment on Willow’s face. She’d expected tears, protests—the works. Instead, Willow just sat silently.

The silence quickly became too heavy, and she was half-relieved to hear a tap at the door. She thought, briefly and foolishly, that it might be Hunter.

To do what, ye stupid woman? Ye broke off the betrothal at the altar, in front of half of his clan. He’ll never forgive ye. Besides, leaving is the right thing to do. It’s safer.

“Come in,” she called.

The door creaked open, and Lady Pilbury shuffled inside.

“There you are, my dear,” she said, smiling nervously. “I’ve been trying to work up the courage to come see you, but I suppose it’s best that I gave you a little time. How… How are you?”

Daphne threw her a long, bleak look.

Lady Pilbury cleared her throat, looking away. “Forgive me. Foolish question. Well, I am here to say that you will always have a place in my home. I… I think perhaps it’s time that I took my leave, too. Helena wants me to stay, but after all of this…” She shook her head. “I’ll go home, and you can come with me. Things will be exactly as they were. And I do feel a good deal better now.”

Daphne glanced at her. “Should ye nae stay here, Lady Pilbury? For yer health?”

“I must admit, I’ve felt rather less like I am dying since I arrived. That healer, Miss Rhiannon, had a great deal to say about the efficacy of English doctors. But hopefully this little rest and my treatment have done me enough good for now. Helena reluctantly offered a carriage to take us home. We can leave whenever you choose, my dear.”

“Tonight,” Daphne said bluntly.

Lady Pilbury flinched. “So… So soon?”

“Aye. I want to leave this place and the Highlands behind. Nobody will leave me alone. Me sister keeps trying to come see me, but I cannae bear it. I daenae want to see her. I… I’ll write her a letter when I’m back in England. She could come visit us, I suppose.”

Lady Pilbury tightened her grip on the head of her cane. “Are you quite sure about this, my dear?”

“Me Lady, if ye daenae want to return, then⁠—”

“I will support you,” she interrupted firmly. “Whatever you choose, that’s what we’ll do. But I want you to be sure, my dear. Why, when I was your age, I…”

Alas, there was never an opportunity to hear what she had done at Daphne’s age, because at that moment, Skye strode into the room without knocking. Her face was carefully blank, and she threw Daphne a long, strange look. Whether it was angry, sad, or something else, Daphne couldn’t decide.

“Ye had better come to see Hunter,” she said shortly.