Seduction in the Highlands: By choosing him she loses her inheritance, by leaving him she brakes her heart...

by Kendrick, Kenna

  But the paper was different, and to her delight, she saw that it was Charlotte’s handwriting that graced the page. At last! A bright spot of light in this darkness.

  Unfolding it, she read:

  Dear Elizabeth,

  Both Julia and I were deeply saddened by your impending loss as well as your quick departure. We hope that you will feel well enough to return home to us soon and to your new life. However, I do believe there is some information that you should be apprised of. I have taken it upon myself to write this letter on Liam’s behalf.

  Elizabeth bristled, but she did not put the letter down.

  I will not attempt to persuade you into any change of behavior, but I thought it would be best to make you aware of the truth, my friend. The letter you received that night to meet Liam was not from Liam. Instead, it was from Brea, whom I believe you know well.

  She orchestrated the meeting, and at the time when you would be there, she kissed Liam so that you would see it.

  “He did not recoil from the kiss! What explanation is there of that?” Elizabeth said aloud, and she could feel tears behind her eyes.

  Also, you must know what Brea went there to tell him. She had heard of your kiss with John in the woods and told him of it. She also told him that you have feelings for John and not him. Liam is heartbroken, and I fear he does not know what to think, now that you have become engaged to John. He has not said it, but Liam loves you very dearly. I have never seen him in such a state.

  And I know the state of your own heart, as you revealed it to us a day or so before you left. There is time. You are not yet married to John. Whatever you choose, Elizabeth, I only hope that it will be the choice that makes you happy. Think of no one else but yourself and make your decision.

  My prayers are with you and your family as you grieve your father’s loss. Do write to me when you have a moment to spare.

  Love,

  Charlotte

  Elizabeth let the letter sail to the floor as it slipped from her open fingers. She blinked in surprise as the words registered in her mind. It was not all a cruel joke? Liam did not lure her there to tell her of his lack of commitment? It was all Brea. Brea had been at them from the start, desperate to tear them apart.

  What had she done? The weight of her hasty choice weighed even more heavily on her breast. While the man she truly loved was still unattached, how could she now even consider for a moment marrying John or not returning to Scotland? She was angry at Liam, for certain, for he had been a great fool. She still did not understand why he hadn’t recoiled from Brea’s kiss, but then she thought, she had not recoiled from John’s.

  Perhaps they were both at fault. She leaned back onto the soft pillows of her bed, all other plans forgotten and her thoughts filled with Liam. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. She lifted her hand to look at her mother’s ring. There was still a chance? There was still hope?

  After what seemed an age of consideration, Elizabeth glanced at the window of her room and saw that the afternoon sun was beginning to mellow into evening. The funeral procession would be soon, and she would need to hurry.

  With more energy than she’d had in days, Elizabeth jumped from her bed and called for the lady’s maid to help her bathe and dress. Blood was pumping anew through her veins, and she could feel her life being restored. She tried to keep her breathing calm as the lady’s maid entered, rushing to get to work.

  There was hope. There was a new life waiting for her if only she knew exactly what to say and what to do. John would certainly be disappointed, but she need not fear any sort of revenge on his part. He loved her, and he would treat her kindly. That she knew. But what was she going to say to Liam?

  * * *

  The days of waiting were agony. As soon as Charlotte’s letter had been dispatched, she came to tell him of it, a smile of hope on her face. “I think that all will be well, Liam. You must trust.”

  But he could not. After the party at the Fort, Liam busied himself, helping Angus and the men build the house for him and Charlotte. The project was nearly complete. During the workdays, Angus often tried to pull him into a conversation.

  “Charlotte tells me what she has done. I hope ye dinnae mind her interference.”

  Liam did not wish to speak of Elizabeth, but he knew his friend was attempting to be kind. “Nae, I dinnae mind, lad. Of course nae, when she has been so kind tae me. It was the only option. The other option was tae wallow in despair, but I wonder if that would have been more preferable. I find pitying myself rather enjoyable at times.”

  He attempted to make light of his sorrow, and Angus chuckled, but Liam’s heart was heavy. At least if he knew how she had reacted to the letter, he could attempt to put her behind him and not think of the many times they had enjoyed each other’s company or think about the love that they had shared. He wasn’t sure what that kind of life would look like for him, but he had to trust in both Charlotte and Mrs. MacLean that all would be well.

  John hadn’t returned to the Isle since the gathering, and Liam hoped that was a good sign. He wasn’t sure whether to apologize to the man or not, or if Angus would be upset that he had perhaps foiled business matters, but no one had said anything to him of the sort. In fact, most of his friends had left him to his peace, except for Fergus, who did not shy away from getting involved in others’ business.

  One day when the sun was at its highest, the men resolved to take a break from their building and wash in the cool water of the Sound. Liam walked there, he thought alone, but Fergus followed after.

  “Nae word?”

  Liam shook his head, stiffly. “Nae word. I would surely tell ye if I heard anything. I dinnae think that I am normally so morose and unpleasant.”

  Fergus grinned. “Nae always, but sometimes, of course. I thought perhaps ye were putting all yer unpleasant days together into one. Then, we could hope for a great stretch of good days for a while after.”

  Liam smirked as he leaned down to splash water onto his face and neck. He could not be so sad for long once Fergus got a hold of him. “And what of ye, Fergus? How about we discuss the love matters in yer own life? Tell me all of what yer plans are.”

  Fergus waded into the water and dove underneath the surface. “Bloody Hell, but it is a warm day.” He stared at Liam, squinting under the sunlight. “Well, ye dinnae give me the greatest confidence that I too should fall in love. Looks like it is bloody shite.”

  Liam laughed, enjoying the feeling of it, even though he could still feel sorrow ache in his heart. He removed his sweat-sodden shirt and dove in after his friend. Once he surfaced, he walked back up onto the shore and sat on the edge, staring out at the strong, stalwart Fort across the water.

  “Aye, I think it is meant tae be enjoyable. When ye ken well that the lady of yer affections loves ye back, and that ye are about tae spend yer lives taegether, that is when it feels like the sun has opened, and ye are as close tae Heaven as ye can get in this life.”

  Fergus sat next to him and leaned his arms over his bent knees. “Och, and so that was the way it was with Elizabeth, then?”

  Liam nodded. “But ye can imagine that when yer heart is wrenched from ye when the one ye love decides they dinnae love ye, or if they find a way tae become entangled with another. It is like ye have been sent out of Heaven and fall into the despair of Hell. It is the complete opposite feeling.”

  “I see.” Fergus’s voice was grave. “I can imagine it, lad, but I dinnae wish tae for very long. What do ye think she will do? Will she return?”

  Liam felt the softness of the Sound’s breeze, and he remembered when Elizabeth had pulled him to her on the hilltop, both of their hair ruffled by the sweet wind. The smell was the same that day, and it transported him instantly back to that moment. Fergus’ question waited to be answered. Liam felt empty; his gut no longer acted as his guide. There was a nothingness inside of him.

  “I dinnae know. I cannae pretend that I dinnae hope for it. I hope for it with every fiber of me
being.”

  Fergus nodded. “Well, even if she has brought ye great sorrow, at least the lass has given ye something ye didnae know existed.”

  Liam turned to his friend. “And what is that?”

  “A heart.” Fergus smiled. “I think that there are plenty of lasses on Mull and over on the mainland who believe that ye never had one. Those ladies who had hoped tae turn ye intae a domesticated man. And here, the Sassenach has done it.”

  Liam chuckled. He leaned back on the graveled shore, his gaze up to the sky, and his arms behind his head. “A heartless bastard suddenly meets a beautiful lass who transforms him, gives him a heart, and then leaves, breaking the very heart that she had created.”

  “What a story, that.”

  “Hmm…”

  They sat for a few moments in silence. Liam was watching the white clouds scud merrily across the sky. He felt lighter, somehow, and he did not want that moment to go away.

  “And so what of John? What will ye say tae him? Do ye think ye will shake hands with him again?”

  Liam groaned. “I suppose one day I shall have tae, even if Elizabeth becomes his wife. I shall have tae be civil for the sake of Angus and for the sake of the clan. He and John are still friends. There is more than business there.”

  “Aye, so there is. Well, ye gave him a jaw-bruising that he shall nae forget so easily.”

  Laughing, Liam said, “I wish I had done even more. At the moment, I wanted tae grind his head against the flagstones, but I am glad I didnae if Elizabeth truly loves him.”

  The sun was beginning to feel warm again as it dried the droplets of water from the skin of his stomach. Fergus laughed. “I dinnae pretend tae ken the ways of women, for they will never be understood by me, but I think that she doesnae love John and that she feels somethin’ for ye instead. I saw the way she kissed ye. Lasses dinnae kiss like that with just anyone. Especially nae Sassenachs with bloody fortunes, who have tae be careful of their reputations.”

  Liam shrugged. “I cannae hope for it.”

  Suddenly, Fergus began to slap Liam on the shoulder. “Get up, lad, get up!”

  “What?” Liam said, annoyed, as he sat up to look out over the water. “There is a boat. So?”

  Fergus pushed his shoulder. “’Tis a boat, aye, but do ye see who steers her, and they are coming this way?”

  “Who?” he squinted his eyes. “A man. Nae, I cannae see who it is.”

  “Bloody Hell, ‘tis a good thing we have nae ye on the island watch. ‘Tis John Campbell, and he rides this way with an expression as angry as death on his face!” Fergus got up and nearly started dancing with glee.

  “Och, I knew today would be an interesting day. This will take ye out of yer funk, lad, right enough. Give the man another beating, will ye?”

  Liam did feel the renewed urge to pummel John Campbell into the ground, but there would be no point to it. It would not give him Elizabeth and would not take away the kiss that John took from her. Nothing would change. He wouldn’t even feel better after the first few moments after punching him.

  Liam stood up, brushing his hands together. “Nae, I shall do nothin’ unless he fights me. I wouldnae wish tae bruise Elizabeth’s soon-tae-be-husband.”

  Fergus scoffed in disapproval. “Och, ye are disappointing, lad! Come, fight away. It will feel good, and it will make ye feel better. I promise.”

  Liam pushed Fergus away. “I shall fight ye if ye dinnae keep quiet.” The boat was nearing, and Liam could see that John was the one in the boat, rowing quickly towards shore. Liam’s shirt had blown away closer to the forest, and so he stood bare-chested, his arms crossed as John approached, his fists clenched.

  “What is this, lad? What have ye done?”

  Liam’s voice was stark and angry. “What do ye mean? I have done naething. Why come ye in such a state of fury?”

  John shook a piece of paper that was in his hand. “She has written to me. She has told me that there can no longer be any engagement between us. What have ye done?” John pointed at him, and Liam could see the man’s eyes were filled with fire. “How have ye taken her away from me?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The funeral had been over for days, and Elizabeth was desperate to return to Scotland. But she could not bring herself to explain to her aunt, not while the grief over her brother was still too real. However, after almost a week of nearly bursting, Elizabeth decided to speak to her aunt at dinner.

  “Aunt Mildred,” she began hesitantly.“I do not wish to distress you, but there is some business I must attend to back in Scotland.”

  “Oh?” Her aunt’s soup spoon paused in mid-air.

  “Yes. You see, I left in such haste that I could not say proper goodbyes to those that are there, those that mean a great deal to me.”

  “Well, when do you mean to leave?” Mildred’s voice was calm, but Elizabeth could tell that she was not entirely pleased, for a tinge of concern was in her tone.

  “I hope to leave tomorrow, if possible.”

  “Oh? So soon?”

  “Yes, Aunt. I do hate to leave you, but I hope you do not take it for lack of concern for your welfare. There are simply a few very important matters.” She could not bring herself to share with her aunt about her love and what she planned to do. Aunt Mildred would have never approved. It was lucky that now, Elizabeth did not need to seek her aunt’s approval, for she was in entire control of her future. Her heart filled with hope as she resolved to do her very best to make it just as she wished.

  The day before, she had finally allowed herself to write to John, to warn him that there could be no engagement, not when there was not the proper attachment on her side. She hoped to go to Scotland to speak to him about it in person, as well, and see Liam if he would even wish to see her or speak to her.

  “I see. When will you return?”

  This was the part that Elizabeth had dreaded the most. She did not wish to return to England for a long time, but perhaps if things did not go as she hoped, then she would wish to. “I do not know, Aunt.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth.” Her aunt’s voice broke. “I do not think I could bear this large house on my own. It is so dark and lonely, and without my rudder in the world, I am not sure how I can go on.”

  Then, Elizabeth got an idea. “Dear Aunt, would you mind terribly if you rode with me to Scotland? I know many think that it is a brutish place, but it is really quite mesmerizing. It has saved my life, if you can believe it, despite the horrors that my father experienced there. You would not need to go to the castle where I need to go, but you could stay at the English fort under the protection of my friend’s father, General Andrews.”

  “General Andrews?” Her aunt asked tremulously.

  “Yes. He is a good and kind man, very friendly and welcoming. You will require nothing. However, if you do wish to accompany me across the water, you will also find a welcoming home there as well.”

  Aunt Mildred placed the spoon back into her bowl and cast her eyes down to the table. There was a moment of silence where Elizabeth dreaded her next remark. Would Aunt Mildred endeavor to keep her in London for longer? Elizabeth did not know how to convince her just how much she needed to leave.

  “I will go with you, my dear.” Aunt Mildred smiled weakly, and Elizabeth clasped her hand, nearly bubbling over with excitement.

  “Oh, Aunt Mildred. You have made me so happy. That way, you will not need to be all alone in the house, and you can see just what has brought me so much happiness. We shall leave as soon as we are ready!”

  It was as if they had both been revitalized with refreshing energy. They packed in merriment and excitement, even if Mildred was a little apprehensive at the thought of leaving England. She had barely left London in her lifetime, and so this was to be an adventure, indeed. Elizabeth hoped to make her as comfortable as possible. After losing her father, Elizabeth knew that she wanted to preserve the one last familial relation she had left.

  Perhaps she could even help Aunt Mil
dred to become more joyous, less serious, and happy for the rest of her days. A few weeks amongst such delightful company as the MacLeans and General Andrews would do her well.

  After days of travel, Elizabeth was finally back in Scotland. As she emerged from the carriage, arriving at the Fort on the shores of the Sound, her heart whispered, Home.

  General Andrews had been surprised but delighted at her arrival, and Aunt Mildred, although slightly embarrassed at Elizabeth not having written to the man to tell him of her incumbent visit, agreed to stay on that side of the shore while Elizabeth was taken to Mull, to see to her business.

  The general had sent her with a young cadet, who was either too shy or uninterested in her business, and so he had not pressed her to speak as he rowed her across. She was grateful for it, for her heart was racing so hard she could hear its beats in her ears. What would Liam say? What would John do? It was all so much. She knew that she had to speak to John, but her heart had ached for long enough about speaking to Liam. She had to see him.