Her highlander for one n.., p.20
Her Highlander for One Night, page 20
She’d done it because she liked him and wanted to protect him and his kin from the danger of the King’s machinations. He’d been one of the first men who’d treated her with respect and kindness even when he knew more about her. Telling him the truth was the least she could do.
Elen listened to the sound of his boots as he walked out of the great hall and towards the tower where the family’s chambers were. She would wait here for a bit to let him reach his room before going to hers. She’d just moved along the corridor that led to the stairs when a twinge of guilt made her pause.
She had not been completely honest with him and neither had Lady Glynnis.
Again, she could not be the only one to see what was right before them. Well, some of them—Iain’s aunt, Lady Elizabeth—already knew the truth. The men never saw things about women unless it involved bedding them, so she could understand why they missed it. Elen had not.
Over and over during supper, the lady had touched or covered her belly.
Not because her stomach was bothered by travelling in a boat, which seemed to be the excuse she was using. Nay, just like most every other woman carrying a child did, Lady Glynnis touched the place where a babe grew within her. Many of times she witnessed it, Elen noticed the lady looked longingly at Iain as she did it.
Yet, just now, when she’d given them the perfect chance to speak of things privately, neither one did. So, although Glynnis was carrying his child, Iain did not know.
Walking on, she wondered why Glynnis had not revealed it and planned to return to her father and enter a marriage he’d arranged. She turned the corner just in time to see Iain enter his chambers. Making her way silently, she reached her door when it struck her.
Glynnis was not going to her father. The lady was running...somewhere.
Elen wished she could cheer the lady on, since they were like-minded and clear in their purpose. For once her own marriage was accomplished, Elen was leaving. With the protection of his name, she could set out on the search she must make. Without anyone to follow or watch her. She might be too late, but unless she tried, she would never know.
Lifting the latch, she entered her chamber and waved the serving maid out. Once she was alone, she wondered about her reasons for not exposing Lady Glynnis. Part of her, the angry part she kept hidden deeply, the part that had been subjected to mean, vicious acts of humiliation by others, wanted to.
Her time here had forced her to remember that there were good people. People who cared. People who were kind. People who treated her well.
Iain was one.
Glynnis was another. She remembered seeing her as they each recognised the other’s place in Iain’s life. Unlike most women, Glynnis had been pleasant. Each time they met she had spoken to her as if she mattered. Never a bad word or tone that insulted her.
So, Elen had done the same. Iain and Glynnis had been in love. And been lovers. But Elen had no doubt in Iain’s ability to remain faithful to her if he pledged that to her.
She blew out the candles and climbed into bed, knowing she’d made the right decision about them. Even if Iain did not know of Glynnis’s condition yet, their secret was safer with her than hers was with those who knew it.
Chapter Twenty
Ten days later...
The cottage was larger than the one in Achnacarry. And it was in the middle of the village rather than hidden away in the forest. Lady Arabella visited her most days after her return from Achnacarry as did several of the other women in her household—Rob Mackintosh’s wife, Eva, and her daughter, Arabella’s daughter Joanna, who was almost the same age as Eva’s, along with cousins and villagers.
Rob’s sister Margaret, who worked as their healer, brought her several tonics and such, and though they were not Anna’s, she drank them down. The occasional bleeding that had happened before ceased and the stomach distress eased with each day. Only one of her pregnancies had made it this far along, so she was uncertain if those were good signs or bad.
She did miss Maggie, whom she had left at her father’s home, and hoped the lass had not suffered too much at his hands. She had not confided in her at all, so she could not be blamed. Mayhap she would send word to her once this was all sorted out and Maggie could join her wherever she settled.
Had word reached her father from The Mackintosh yet? When she arrived, he and his steward had been waiting for her. True to his wife’s word, the powerful chieftain of the Chattan Confederacy treated her kindly. Until he told her otherwise, Glynnis would consider herself his guest and under his protection.
‘Good day!’ Margaret called as she entered. ‘Are ye ready for our walk?’
One of the first things Margaret had insisted on was that Glynnis not sit inside and wait for something—good or bad—to happen. She believed that keeping busy was important, so she knocked on the door almost every day and asked her to come along. Not a young woman at nigh on two score years, but she had the bearing and attitudes of someone much younger.
Part of that was due to having the strong, big, braw Magnus as her husband, Margaret said. Magnus winked at her over his wife’s head as she said it. Each day, as they walked along the paths and visited any number of villagers, Margaret shared another story about the feud between the Mackintoshes and Camerons and how it had ended.
‘Hiv ye broken yer fast yet?’ Margaret looked around for evidence.
‘I had a bit of bread and cheese,’ Glynnis said. Finding her shawl and the basket she carried along on their outings, she faced the stern taskmaster of a woman and answered the rest of her questions.
‘Did ye keep it in yer belly?’ At her nod, the woman continued on. ‘Ah, ’tis good. Any sign of bleeding? Did ye sleep? Are yer feet swelling?’ It took about a quarter of an hour to go through all of her questions before she was satisfied and they could leave.
* * *
Lying in bed just before she fell asleep was the worst time of the day. That was when all her doubts and longings came roaring out, keeping her tossing in her bed until weariness pushed her to sleep.
Yet, in the light of day, she was confident in her decision. To unnecessarily force Iain to change his marriage arrangements and create more problems was not the right path to take. They could not be together, so let him move on.
One morning, as she rolled on to her stomach to sleep a bit longer, she felt it.
A movement so slight she thought it was her imagination.
Then it happened again. ’Twas like the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings within her. She lay perfectly still waiting for it, but it was done. Turning over, she placed her hands on the slight bump now there and waited to feel something.
The first two times, she never got to...four months, so only once had she experienced this. Torn between the joy of it and the possible loss she faced, she remained abed. Margaret did not come to her door, so she stayed under the covers until her needs forced her out. The morning turned stormy outside, but there in the cocoon of her warm bed, she fell back asleep and dreamed of a wee lass with blue eyes that matched her father’s.
And ten days after that...
Iain rode through the forest and along the loch like the very devil was on his heels. The winds tore at his face and pulled his hair free of its binding. He’d not returned here since, well, since he’d been here with Glynnis, but the need for some time alone had built to such a strong need he could not ignore it any longer.
When he arrived at the turning place near the loch’s edge, he slowed the horse and guided it down the smaller path. Soon they reached his shieling and he slid down to the ground. Tossing the reins over a tree that bordered a patch of grass, he went inside.
Of course, nothing had been moved or changed. He doubted anyone knew about this place, other than Glynnis, and if anyone did, they would not bother it. He took out his flint and worked a piece of straw until it caught fire. Lighting the lanterns, he leaned up against the main worktable.
He picked up a square wooden block from the crate where he kept pieces at the ready and turned it over and over in his hands. Many times, he carved without a plan, not knowing what animal or creature was buried within the wood. Only after he began cutting away chunks did the shape appear. A few times, he consciously decided what to make, but those were less often than the other way.
His fingers itched and he picked up the first of the chipping knives to take off the largest unneeded chunks. Using the mallet, he continued chipping and then whittling the smaller bits away. His hands moved without him deciding anything, and some time later, the perfect replica of the fisherman’s boat formed in his grasp.
Clearing away the dust and excess from the table’s surface, he placed the flat-bottomed boat there.
And then the laughter erupted from him.
No matter what he planned or thought or avoided, she crept into his thoughts. These last weeks since she’d returned home, he’d tried to work out why she’d lied to him that day. Even with the privacy Elen had given them, Glynnis had revealed nothing to him.
When she left, he should have been able to bring his full attention to his forthcoming marriage. But Elen was keeping something from him as well. Oh, she did not taunt him with it, but it was there in her ice-blue gaze when they were together. The day he took her to Caig Falls and showed her the way to the top and to the cottage where his grandmother had first been called ‘the Witch of Caig Falls’, she’d wandered around the gardens planted there and she’d started to speak to him several times before stopping and walking away.
Secrets would out. That was a fact and it had happened in his life. His identity was one held only by his mother on their arrival here. She’d wanted to accomplish a promise she’d made when she received the news his father was dead and her return to his kin was part of her larger plan. He’d laughed at the irony that he was now fulfilling that plan with his marriage and position as tanist.
Smoothing the rough edges and planes of the boat took a little time and then Iain was ready to go back to Achnacarry. The tension within him settled as did the recognition that he must clear up any friction between him and Elen. If they were marrying soon, he wanted it gone.
He tucked the boat in his sporran and put out the lanterns.
* * *
Iain arrived back at the keep and went in search of Elen. Finding her in the solar, sitting in a corner away from the other women, he asked her to walk with him. They made their way up the tower to the entrance to the battlements. Walking along the heights of the keep, he drew her to his side. When he faced her, he found a puzzling look in her eyes.
‘Is something wrong, Elen?’
‘I think there is,’ she said. Before he could ask, she spoke. ‘Have you decided to break the betrothal then?’ She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest.
So there was more going on. Reasons he would not like. From the way she clenched her teeth and her body tensed, it was not good.
‘I have not,’ he said. ‘Is there some reason I should?’
She let out a breath and shook her head. ‘You have been different, moody, difficult since Glynnis left and I thought you had changed your mind.’
‘I have been grumpy,’ he admitted. ‘And after you were kind enough to give us time to speak alone before she left.’ He leaned in and kissed her forehead. As she had before, she quickly tilted her face and positioned it so that his lips met hers. She opened to him and he kissed her deeply. Lifting his mouth from hers, he nodded at her. ‘I apologise for my sullen mood and difficult ways.’
They stood at the wall as people went about their duties below them.
‘I just thought you must have found out the truth and were angry over it,’ she said. Before he could ask, she placed her hand on his arm and went on. ‘Iain, it would be acceptable to me if you wish to bring your child up in our household. It is not such a rare situation after all, not in Wales. And you have told me about not kenning your father, so I ken how important it is to you. I do not mind—’
‘What?’ He might have yelled the word for Elen startled and backed a step away from him. He took her arms and pulled her closer. ‘What did you say?’
‘I ken you still love her, but she will be a noblewoman alone with a bastard and it might be the kinder thing—’
‘Stop!’ He squeezed her arms. ‘What are you speaking of? What child?’
Her face drained of all colour as she stared at him. ‘I thought you kenned. Your... Someone must have told you that Glynnis carries your babe.’
Flashes of white and then red filled his sight. He released her and stumbled back.
‘Glynnis cannot bear children. I ken you have withheld some of your own truths from me and offered lies in their stead, Elen. But why would you lie about her? About this?’
One look at her face and he knew she spoke the truth. Mayhap she did not know the whole of it, but what bits she did know were true.
‘How did you find out?’ he asked, pulling himself under control.
‘I...um...I watched and put the pieces together. The two of you in love. Her arriving with a sickness that seemed worse in the mornings. Hearing the gossip among the servants and others when they did not ken I was listening. Then, there was the way she touched her belly while not taking her gaze off you.’
He shook his head. ‘What way?’ he asked. ‘How did she touch her belly? Are you sure it was not just the stomach distress?’ The words sounded foolish to him as he spoke them.
‘Like a woman who is carrying touches her belly. A protective caress.’ Elen’s hand dropped down and slid across her own body in the movement he’d seen many, many times before. Sheena during her recent visit. Women in the village and keep, too.
‘I did not see it,’ he admitted. Shaking his head and shrugging, he met her gaze. ‘I have been a fool.’
‘Aye, you have been,’ she said with no sound of jesting in her tone.
‘And you have been more generous than most noblewomen would be. Even offering as you did,’ he said. ‘We must speak, but first I must find out the truth.’
He held out his hand to her. Iain did not wish to abandon her here.
‘Go. Do what you must.’ She turned away and looked over those moving about below. ‘I suspect there will be no marriage between us when you return.’
Iain ran, passing the guards on duty, down the stairs and through the hall to the chamber Robert used. He pushed the door so hard, it banged on the wall and bounced back.
‘Robert!’ he shouted several times as he entered and he saw the chieftain reading a packet of letters Iain had not seen before. Robert jumped to his feet at Iain’s call.
‘What is it?’
Before he could reply, guards ran into the chamber, clearly responding to what they thought must be a threat to The Cameron. Iain leaned over with his hands on his thighs, trying to slow his breathing. ‘All is well.’ He shook his head at the guards.
Soon, Davidh rushed in, sword drawn and dagger in hand, with more guards at his back.
At least the protection of their chieftain was in good stead. It took several minutes to clear the room and Davidh looked as though he would argue to stay until Iain made it clear that the discussion was for Robert’s ears only.
Robert poured two large servings of uisge beatha and handed one to Iain, waving him into one of the chairs. Both of them swallowed the liquid rather than savouring it and their cups were empty with two mouthfuls.
‘I thought we were under attack, Iain. What is the matter?’
‘Lady Elen just offered to raise my child—the one Glynnis now carries—in our household.’
Sucking in a chest full of air, Robert began coughing. Iain poured more liquor into their cups and waited until Robert could breathe. ‘That was my reaction. Did you ken about this?’
‘Nay! I kenned what brought her here, but I did not have any knowledge of a pregnancy.’ Robert sipped this time. ‘Wait a moment. Your child?’ He emptied the cup. ‘I did not ken.’
‘I did.’ They turned and found Lady Elizabeth standing in the doorway. Walking in, she closed the door behind her and stood there.
‘Lady,’ Iain said. ‘Is she pregnant?’
‘Aye.’
‘And she returned to her father? Without telling me?’
‘Nay, aye. I mean she did not tell you, but did not return to her father.’
‘Elizabeth.’ Robert leaned his head in his hands. ‘Again? Again, you meddle in this?’
‘So where is she if not returned to her father? I need to speak to her.’
Iain paced around the table until Robert grabbed him and made him stop. He knew before she spoke the name. Everyone was aware of his aunt’s expertise in meddling where she saw fit.
‘Arabella.’
‘So is Glynnis at Glenlui?’ If he left now, he could be there in a few hours. The lady nodded.
‘Iain. Go carefully. You cannot seek entrance there the way you just did here. Gather your wits and your self-control and approach The Mackintosh in a calm manner. Ally or not, kin or not, he will not accept insults or threats to his wife.’
‘I understand, my lord. After I speak to her, we must discuss Lady Elen and the marriage.’ Iain would not be marrying anyone but Glynnis.
‘Oh, we must that,’ Robert said, pointing at the packet he’d been reading. ‘There is news and some rather shocking concessions there.’
None of that mattered now. Now, he must get to Glenlui and find Glynnis.
* * *
It took him three hours. He left with the clothes on his back, a skin of water and a sack of oats in case he was delayed. The skies held and he made good time. The guards waved him in and he rode to the stable to give the horse into the care of the men there.
