Page 31 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“You plan to kill your own sister, but not her dog?” Rory pointed out the hypocrisy.

“She’s not my sister now, is she? Not by blood anyway. Besides, this would have been done already if you’d used all the poison as I said to.”

The men continued their grumbling as they passed, but Bryce could no longer hear their words as they trudged back onto their own lands. He didn’t need to hear any more. He might not have proof, but he’d heard the truth from their own lips.

They had tried to kill his wife and failed. Which meant they’d probably try again.

Chapter Eleven

When Dorie made it back to the castle, it was nearly midnight and the hall was abuzz with activity. But the commotion ceased the moment they noticed her enter with Rascal by her side. She thought for a moment the looks of frustration were because of the dog, but one by one the warriors disbanded and walked away, muttering to themselves.

“You’re back.” Kenna came over, a worried look pulling at her brows. “Everyone was worried about you. The men were going to start searching.”

Dorie’s eyes went wide at the thought of anyone caring that she was missing. She hadn’t even considered the idea that people would worry over her. While it was a lovely feeling, she also felt guilt tug at her for making them lose their rest.

She pulled Kenna into a hug and offered a strained smile of apology.

“Are you injured?”

Dorie shook her head.

“Did someone bother ye?” Cam asked, looking gruff.

Again Dorie shook her head. Not just because she didn’t know how to communicate what had happened without speaking, but also because she didn’t want to cause them any more worry.

She’d made it back to the castle without any issue. From what she’d overheard, her brother and his men were only looking to hurt her, so the others were safe enough. He couldn’t get to her while she was in the castle. If she stayed within the walls of Dunardry, he would grow bored and leave, if he hadn’t already.

There was no need to make her new friends concerned, even though it was a wonderful feeling to know someone cared.

After everyone went off to their beds, Dorie kept the door to her bedchamber propped open. She knew she was at risk of having an unwanted guest in the middle of the night, but so far she’d not seen many drunken men stumbling through the halls at Dunardry. It was worth the risk to know she wasn’t locked in the small room alone. In the dark it was too easy to confuse Bryce’s chamber with the room at Baehaven Castle that had been her prison.

She slept restlessly, plagued with nightmares of her brother chasing her into a room and locking her inside. She woke too early to be about and decided to look around for a place to put her few things. The new dress Kenna and Mari had helped her with was her most treasured possession, and she opened the first trunk in the room, hoping to find a safe place for it.

The trunk held a number of items. None of them looked like they belonged to her husband. A gown or two. Some other clothing that would have fit a babe. An ivory brush and comb set.

Dorie picked them up, stroking the elaborate design etched into the handles.

For a moment she thought of using them, but if they had been placed in the trunk it was because they were special. Most likely all of these things had belonged to Bryce’s late wife, his treasures and memories of the woman who had won his heart, even unto death. Dorie knew well enough she’d never be that important to him.

When she grew hungry, she went down to break her fast with the other ladies, then they gathered in the solar to work on more dresses for her. She tried to protest that the two she had were plenty, but they insisted on another.

Mari sucked in a breath and rubbed her large belly. “The little one is active today. I believe he’s doing flips.”

Kenna placed her hand on her sister’s belly and smiled. “That is a large foot.” Dorie saw the bond between the sisters and wished she’d been blessed with siblings. Wallace didn’t count.

“Please, don’t speak the word large to me,” Mari said worriedly. “I was blessed with a small child when Lizzy was born. She took after me. If this one takes after his father, I’ll be split in two.”

“You’ll be fine. I’m sure of it,” Kenna said, though Dorie detected an edge of concern.

Mari caught Dorie watching them. “Would you like to feel the babe moving?”

Dorie shook her head, thinking it was too intimate.

“Come now. I don’t mind. Besides, your time will come and it’s better to have an idea as to what it feels like.”

After a brief hesitation, Dorie reached out tentatively, and Mari guided her hand to a place where she felt a bit of fluttering. Then two hard kicks. Dorie jerked her hand back and smiled.

“Stop that, you ruffian. You’ll have to do with the space you have for a few more weeks.”