Chapter 23

23

" I certainly hope you're happy," Augusta said, settling into the chair.

Bridget couldn't help but notice how regal her mother looked with the streaks of gray in her black hair.

"Do you have any idea the sort of trouble you've caused?"

"I'll not apologize," Bridget said as she stared out the window.

Sorrow gripped her heart as she watched the snow barely have time to stick to the ground before it melted. She couldn't help but feel as if her life could be summed up in a single snowflake. How she had her moment here, and soon that moment would pass and reality would hit her in the face.

"Yes, you will," Augusta scolded in frustration.

"No, I won't," Bridget repeated as she turned on her heels. She wasn't about to squander what little time she had left.

"And where do you think you're going?" Augusta called as Bridget slammed the door behind her, cutting off her question.

A wicked grin played at the corners of Bridget's lips as she charged for Ewan's study. With so little time left, she could only think of doing one thing: she was going to gift Ewan her virtue.

"And where might ye be goin' in such a hurry?" Logan asked as she came barreling around the corner. "Ye look as if ye're on a mission for the Lord Almighty himself."

"I'm looking for Ewan. Have you seen him?" Bridget asked, craning her neck to peer further down the hallway.

Hope sprang up in her chest when she noticed the shadows on the wall. Holding her breath, she waited with great anticipation, but it was not Ewan. She felt frustrated and disappointed.

"Ewan's nae here. He went for a ride," Logan explained.

"Do you know when he will return?" Bridget asked.

It was more than simply being rejected. Bridget understood that the time she had left with Ewan was now reduced to mere hours, not days as she had initially hoped. The thought of leaving him without telling him how she truly felt was unbearable. No, she was going to find him if it was the last thing she did.

"Cannae say," Logan answered with a crooked grin. "When he goes out, he doesnae tell anyone where he's goin'. But he's a big lad, he can handle himself."

Bridget flashed him a smile, but the news was not what she wanted to hear. She had allowed herself to hope despite how dangerous she knew it was to do so.

Giving Logan a little nod, she made her way down the hallway and out the side door. The chill in the air only gave her further cause to worry. Although the snow still wasn't sticking to the ground, she couldn't imagine remaining outside in such frigid temperatures for hours.

Refusing to stay under the same roof as her parents, Bridget made her way to the stables. She decided that she would rather sleep in squalor than have to listen to them nitpicking everything about her. The stables were quiet save for the neighing of a few horses. Bridget found a rough horse blanket and pulled it over her shoulders.

The stable doors suddenly opened, sucking out the warm air. Bridget couldn't help but gasp and huddled into the corner, praying her family hadn't found her.

"Come on, ye stubborn mule." Ewan's husky voice tickled Bridget's ears. Her heart skipped a beat as she slowly lowered the blanket from her head.

Peeking around the open stall door, she watched in silence as Ewan brought his horse inside. The icy air swirled around his muscular body like steam. Bridget yearned for him.

"Ewan?" she called as she stepped out of the stall.

Ewan tensed up the moment he heard her voice. "What are ye doin' here, lass?"

"I had to see you," Bridget explained as she inched closer.

"Ye've seen me, now go," he said without looking at her.

Bridget's heart ached as she moved ever closer.

"Please don't do this," she pleaded.

With a trembling hand, she reached out for him. Ewan tensed up again as her fingers curled around his arm.

"Do ye have any idea what it is ye're doin' to me?" he growled as he glanced over his shoulder at her.

The moment their eyes met, Bridget lost all sense of time and space. Ewan turned to face her and wrapped his arms around her. He guided her backward until she collided with the back of the empty stall.

"I cannae," Ewan groaned as he fumbled with the fabric of her dress until he got it over her knees.

"Please," Bridget begged as he opened her legs and slipped his fingers into her welcoming body.

"Is this what ye wanted from me?" Ewan said breathlessly as he kissed her neck.

"More," Bridget mumbled as he pushed his fingers ever deeper. "Please."

"And why should I give ye what ye want? What about me needs?"

"I'll give you anything. Take my virtue, my innocence—I don't care. I just can't leave here without giving you all that I am."

Ewan leaned back, his eyes full of passion. Before Bridget could say a single word, he crushed his lips to hers. Hungry for all that he had to offer, Bridget hooked her leg around his hip. Ewan's eyes widened for a moment as his fingers slipped from her body.

"I want ye," he whispered as he slammed his palm on the wall beside her head.

"I won't stop you," she answered as she tugged on the hair at the nape of his neck and pulled his face down to hers.

"Ye're nothin' but a tease," Ewan said as she felt something tender yet hard nudging her opening.

Anticipation swirled around her, causing her heart to flutter wildly. Ewan leaned closer, flicking her earlobe with his tongue before sucking on it. Bridget pulled him closer to her. The moment she felt his teeth nibbling on her ear, she pressed herself harder against him.

The feel of her cave as it stretched and molded around Ewan's manhood made her want to cry. She held him tight as their breaths mingled.

"Ewan," Bridget whimpered as she realized he was now a part of her.

That single thrust had allowed him to break her hymen and sink into her. Bridget clung to him as he slowly rocked his hips, pulling out of her before sinking back in to escape the frigid air.

"I ken," he whispered, his breath fanning her neck. He felt amazing as her body slowly grew accustomed to having him buried so deep inside. "Do ye feel me inside ye? Because I can feel yer soul kiss the tip of me head as I bury meself inside ye. Sweet love, this…"

"Ewan?" Bridget whimpered as her body craved more.

"Just enjoy it," he said as she held on and closed her eyes.

She had never felt so safe and secure yet so exposed and vulnerable. Holding on to him, Bridget didn't dare let go as the wooden wall behind her moaned and creaked and Ewan continued thrusting into her.

"That's me girl," he breathed.

Bridget opened her eyes as the tremors began in her leg muscles and spread through her entire body. Raking her nails down Ewan's back, she felt the world slip away from her. It was as if gravity had finally released her and all that remained was the sky above. Every fiber of her being trembled as she slowly opened her eyes.

Ewan's eyes bored into her. Deep within his icy blue gaze, Bridget found comfort and kindness. Brushing aside her hair, he gave her a smile before he slowly pulled himself out of her. She felt his absence instantly, as he gently lowered her to the pile of hay at their feet.

"Is that how it's going to be every time?" Bridget asked as she stared up into the rafters of the stable.

The wind kicked up around her, causing bits of hay and snow to drift through the slats and nip her nose.

"Cannae say," Ewan answered as he cupped her face in his hand. "But I certainly hope so, because that was amazin'."

"Why then do I get the feeling that you aren't completely satisfied?" Bridget asked as she rolled to her side and traced her nails down his chest.

"I never will be," Ewan answered plainly. "But that's nae somethin' ye need to concern yerself wit' now. As long as ye're happy at this moment, that's all I can hope for."

"More than happy," Bridget answered. "So much so that I don't want to go back inside."

"Then dinnae," Ewan answered. "We can stay out here. Ye wanted rumors to spread, I promise ye this is a surefire way to get them started."

"Does that bother you?" Bridget asked as she sat up and started fixing her dress, trying to figure out why her body felt so odd.

It was as if Ewan had taken her apart bit by bit before rearranging and putting her back together again.

"What's that?" Ewan asked as he removed a bit of hay from her hair.

"People talking and starting rumors."

"I've had enough people talk about me—I've grown used to it. I dinnae think anythin' fazes me these days."

"That's rather sad," Bridget said as she carefully rose to her feet. As much as she wanted to stay in their cocoon of bliss, she didn't want her mother to chew her ear off if she found her with Ewan. "But I suppose your experiences are what make you who you are."

"Aye, suppose they do."

"Ewan, I can't thank you enough for this," Bridget said as she turned her attention to the castle.

The snow had stopped and turned into icy rain. It looked miserable from where Bridget stood. After all, she was warm and comfortable next to Ewan. If she left, it would mean giving up that comfort.

"Well, I suppose I should be the one thankin' ye," he said as she flashed him a sad smile.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Bridget asked, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest.

She wondered if her family would be able to sense that something had changed about her. Only time would tell.

"Aye," Ewan said as he reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I'll see ye tomorrow, I promise."

Bridget stood in the foyer, staring at the steps. Ewan had promised to meet her, to see her one more time before she left. Yet, now that the time had come, he was nowhere to be seen.

"Ye have been such a delight," Martha said, wrapping her arms around Bridget.

The hug was warm and so full of love that it made Bridget want to cry. She pulled away and turned to Ava. Tears streamed down Ava's cheeks, threatening to make Bridget weep in response.

"Have you seen Ewan?" Bridget asked, her chest tightening.

"Aye, he's in the village," Ava answered. "Saw him ridin' off at dawn."

Disappointment pummeled Bridget. She pulled in a deep breath to compose herself.

"He promised he'd be here to say goodbye," she answered.

"I dinnae ken what to tell ye," Ava answered as Augusta, Jonathan, and Paul entered the room.

Panic shot through Bridget the instant she saw her family. As if understanding Bridget's unspoken message, Ava pressed her lips into a tight line to silence herself.

"Well, perhaps you can tell him how grateful I am for everything he's done," Bridget said, trying to keep her tone as formal as possible.

The pain she carried in her chest was like a millstone tied to her torso and tossed over the side of the ship. Bridget wasn't ready to leave, not without seeing Ewan once more so she could commit his face to memory.

"Bridget, we must not tarry," Augusta said as she straightened the smock around her shoulders.

"Of course, Mother," Bridget answered as she stole a glance at Ava. How she was going to miss everyone she had met.

"I ken I am nae Nora, but I'd like to think we've become just as close," Ava said, giving Bridget one last hug.

"Oh, we have," Bridget said, squeezing her as tight as she dared. "Thank you."

"Yes, well, the tide is high, and now would be the time to go," Paul chimed in, seeming determined to ruin whatever happiness Bridget had found.

"Tell the Laird… Never mind," Bridget said as she pulled away from Ava. "I hope our paths will cross again."

"Aye," Ava said as Bridget started for the door.

"Why don't you see Bridget to the boat," Augusta said to Jonathan. "The Viscount and I need to double-check we have everything. We wouldn't want the surprise to be ruined now, would we?"

Bridget furrowed her brow in confusion as she started for the door. She wanted to turn around and look for Ewan, but what good would it do? Even if she saw him, it wasn't like she could give him a proper goodbye.

She couldn't help but wonder if not seeing him again was for the best. After all, it was time to leave, and it pained her more than she had expected. But what hurt the most was knowing that Ewan purposefully broke his promise to her.

As she settled into her cabin on the ship, she turned to the small porthole, stealing one last glimpse of the island.

Goodbye, Ewan.