A Fierce Archer (Clan Ross Book 6) by Hildie McQueen (great novels TXT) 📕

“We should go,” her father said, giving her a warm look before pulling his wife toward the carriage.

Already, Lady Fraser was in the front carriage, along with her companion. Her parents and Audra were to ride in a separate one. Coming to stand beside her, Esme took her hand. “It is always hard to see Mother off. Then once she’s gone, I am relieved.” Her giggle made Catriona smile, just a bit.

Her friend did her best to distract her from the slight of Ewan not being there to see her parents go. Even though she’d already scanned the courtyard, once again, she looked from one end to the other for a sign of Ewan.

They waited until the carriages disappeared through the gates before heading inside. “Do ye wish to go upstairs to see their progress?” Elspeth asked her, pointing to the ceiling. “From my balcony, ye can see for many miles.

“That would be nice,” Catriona replied as they walked inside. Already, people were gathering for hearings with Laird Ross. She hesitated to scan the room. With an annoyed huff, she followed the women to the stairwell.

Just as she was to go up the stairs, she noted that a pair of maids headed toward her and Ewan’s bedchamber.

“Excuse me for a moment, I will be up shortly,” she said to Esme and Elspeth and crossed the great room. Upon entering the bedchamber, the maids were already packing Ewan’s clothing.

“What are ye doing?” she asked and both jumped, staring at her with mouths agape.

“Miss...er, my lady,” one stammered. “We were directed by Laird Ewan to pack his belongings.”

Her eyes narrowed with annoyance. “And where, pray tell, is my husband?”

The maids exchanged curious looks. One swallowed visibly. “He left this morning, my lady. I believe to yer home.”

Catriona tried hard to give the impression of nonchalance but knew she’d failed miserably when, once again, the maids looked to each other.

“Stop doing that,” Catriona snapped. “He must have told me last night, but I didn’t hear him. Yes, that is it. I am sure of it.”

When the maids remained frozen, she waved them to continue. “Go on then. Were ye told to pack my things as well?”

They both shook their head.

Catriona whirled around and stomped to the kitchen. Surely Moira would know what had happened. Moira knew everything.

When she entered, the cook greeted her with a cheerful smile. “By the look on Laird Ewan’s face this morning, I take it ye had a good night.”

The woman winked and Catriona blushed even though, at the moment, she was very angry with said laird. “Moira, did my husband leave any word for me? He told me we had to depart soon, but I did not understand that he meant today, nor that he was to leave me behind.”

“All he told me was that ye would follow in a couple of days. I asked if he wished his things sent with ye or earlier and he asked they be packed and sent right away.”

“I see,” Catriona frowned. “I suppose we must work on understanding each other better.”

Moira nodded. “Aye, lass, men are not always clear.”

Knowing it was best to push her ire away at the moment, she hurried upstairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of the departing carriages.

In the bedchamber, the women had lost interest in the departure because they sat about the room on different chairs and chaises talking.

Elspeth and her friend, Ceilidh, sat together on a long chaise, while Esme and Merida sat on chairs by the fireplace. Esme motioned to an empty one. “They disappeared already, but not before I said a prayer of protection.”

“Thank ye,” she said and lowered to the chair.

“What is the matter?” Esme asked, knowing her well.

Catriona looked around the room at the faces of women who, like her, had not so long ago married a Ross. “My husband left for Tuath Avon. He did not say farewell and his belongings are being packed. Last night, I asked that our departure be delayed by a couple of days. He replied ‘fine’, which I took to believe meant he agreed for both of us to wait.”

There was a moment of silence before the women all began to speak at once. Then they all stopped talking, laughed and one by one began to tell her stories of miscommunications between them and their husbands.

An hour later, they were laughing so hard that most were in tears. Catriona held her stomach in an attempt to stop the pain all the laughter caused and blew out a breath.

“I think,” she finally said, “I will miss all of ye greatly.”

Esme sighed. “Ye are but a day’s ride away. I promise to visit often.”

“Actually, I believe it is two days,” Merida said.

“Ye have not seen Esme ride,” Catriona informed her. “She does not care for dalliance.”

“Not in the least. I can make it to Tuath Avon in less than a day from my home,” Esme added. “I have to be at archery practice. Would ye like to accompany me, Catriona?”

They walked out together, and Catriona followed Esme to the room she and Ruari were currently sharing. While Esme changed, Catriona paced the room. “When do ye leave to go to yer home?”

“In the morning, I suppose. Why?”

“I would like to travel with ye and then on from there to my own home. I must speak to my maid and invite her to come along with her brother, who works in the stables. Giles, I believe his name is.”

“Ye should tell her right away,” Esme said. “Go do it and meet me outside.”

Catriona headed back to her bedchamber to find Maisie. Once that was done, she’d instruct the young woman to pack everything.

Chapter Nineteen

There were no tearful farewells when leaving Dun Airgid, especially since Catriona