She smiled at his praise, happy to have him here instead of leaving for a scouting trip.
Outside their room, Cam kissed her again. “I’m going to deal with my men. See if you can get the lass to give you her clan’s name so we can deliver her home, if that’s where she wishes to go.”
Mari nodded and went to join Evelyn and Kenna in the solar. As expected, the mistress of the castle was fussing over the poor girl. A new gown had been brought in, and two maids were tending to the girl’s hair. It was clear Evelyn wanted no part of it.
“Kenna? A word, please?”
Kenna waddled out to the hall and closed the door. “The poor dear. You found her with nothing to wear?”
“No. She was wearing but a shift when we met. She was in the company of five beastly men who tried to attack me. It was clear she had been at their mercy for some time.”
Kenna pressed her lips together. “She’s but a lass.” Tears shimmered in her sister’s eyes.
“I know, but no longer an innocent one, judging by the vile behavior of her captors.”
“The men…?”
“Cam dealt with them.” Mari refrained from saying how quickly he’d dealt with them or how savagely. It only mattered that they were gone and would never bother anyone again.
Kenna nodded and took a deep breath. “We must make her feel as comfortable and safe as possible. Shall we?”
When they reentered the room, Kenna sent the maids away and settled the girl in a chair by the fire. She and Mari sat across from Evelyn and offered soothing smiles.
“I know you probably don’t wish to discuss what happened,” Mari began. “I was only with them a few minutes, and I find it difficult to talk about them myself. But there are some things we need to know, only so we can help you.”
Evelyn said nothing. She sat up straighter with her hands in her lap like a proper lady.
“Were those men from your clan?”
Evelyn shook her head slowly.
“Do you wish to return to your clan?”
Mari expected a clear answer to this question, but the expression on the girl’s face was torn. Hope warred with dismay.
“The men weren’t from your clan, but did someone from your clan give you to them?” Kenna guessed the next logical conclusion. Something Mari hadn’t thought of.
Evelyn shook her head again.
Kenna—not known for her patience—let out a quick breath and leaned as close as her belly allowed, taking the girl’s hand in hers. “We are friends. You can tell us anything, and I truly hope you’ll confide in us. We’ll not judge you, of that you can be certain. I wear men’s breeches when I’m not with child, and Mari here killed a duke.”
Both Mari and Evelyn gasped at the bald announcement.
“I hardly think that was necessary.” Mari frowned at her sister, then turned to Evelyn. “It was self-defense. I was married to the brute, and I thought he was going to kill me, so I…” Mari shrugged and let the explanation drift off. It wasn’t important.
Their honesty relaxed Evelyn enough to speak.
“I am a Stewart,” she said, her voice still rough. “The laird’s daughter.”
“I was a daughter of a laird, as well,” Kenna said, patting the girl’s hand. “Mari is the elder daughter. We’re sisters.”
“Do you wish to go home?” Mari asked, trying to recall how far away the Stewart lands were from Dunardry.
“I do…but they may not want me back.” Evelyn’s voice was barely a breath. Her fair skin turned blotchy with shame she shouldn’t have to bear.
“Why would you think such a thing?” Kenna asked, her voice soft and encouraging.
“I ran off. I was upset about something trivial and decided to show my displeasure by running away.” Evelyn swiped at a tear. “I hadn’t really planned to be gone long. In honesty, I was only looking for attention.”
“I’m sure they miss you dearly and want you back,” Kenna said, clearly thinking like a mother. It was easy now for her to think the best of a parent, even after their own father and stepmother had married them both off for the most strategic alliances, without a care to their well-being.
“How can I go back now? I’m… I’ve been…”
Mari knew what the girl was trying to say, and pulled her into a hug to spare her having to put it into words. “I know what it is like to live through something horrible. To think that is all you are. But you survived. You will heal. Every day, the truth of what happened to me in London is one day further in the past. And as I create wonderful new memories with my family here, the bad old memories are harder to recall.”
“I’m a mother, and I can tell you, a parent’s love is a fierce thing. No doubt yours will be so happy to have you back they will only want to help you heal,” Kenna said.
Evelyn hung her head. “I was so foolish to leave on my own.”
“Foolishness is a part of youth. You can’t make it to adulthood without a bit of it. What ye did was certainly not worth the punishment you’ve paid for it.”
The girl started crying in earnest, and Kenna and Mari took turns comforting her. They didn’t try to stanch her tears, for they both knew how important it was to get them out.
Later, a tray of food was brought in, and they all ate in silence.
When they were done, Evelyn let out a breath and raised her head. “I would like to go home. I’ll just hope they accept me.”
“If they don’t, lass, you get right back on the horse and come straight to Dunardry and join our clan. You will always have a home here, if ever you find yourself in need of one.”
Mari knew how important having a home was for making someone feel safe.
But that worked both ways.
There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t worry she was putting her new home and the people she loved at risk.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cam put Liam in charge of escorting Evelyn Stewart back to her clan lands. After a few days of rest, it was clear the lass was eager to get home. With Liam’s selected entourage and a letter from Lachlan, the group left at first light after hugs and well wishes.
Cam felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment when the girl hugged him and claimed him her hero. He didn’t feel like such.
When the group was on their way, he stayed Mari with his arm around her waist. “Will you go for a ride with me on this beautiful day?”
“Don’t you have drills?”