She growled at herself as she remembered the tingle of heat between them, placed a pillow over her head, and tried to fall asleep.
* * *
The next morning, Charlotte awoke, and while there was a faint pounding in her head after what she’d imbibed last night, she felt rested, ready to take on the day. She knew that thoughts about Angus were trying to crowd into her mind, but she brushed them aside. Rose arrived to help her dress into her riding habit, and she had brought her tea and a roll as well to provide her sustenance before her trip around the island.
Charlotte had mentioned to her the night before that she would not need to sit downstairs for breakfast. She had no intention of spending another long meal with Angus, allowing the weight of what had happened the previous evening to sit heavily between them, waiting to be recognized and acknowledged. They would have to move on as normal and go about their daily duties. She also expected a letter from her father to arrive today, and it could hold the key to her future. There was simply too much to occupy her mind.
After today, she might have to leave the isle anyway and would have no reason to think of Angus MacLean anymore. That might be a slight relief, but she felt the sting of a little disappointment. She did her best to hush her thoughts. Thinking about the man would not serve her endeavors to find some purposeful pursuit.
After she was ready, she fled towards the side door. She did not want to bump into Angus this morning. She had nothing to say to him at this time, and she didn’t want to appear bumbling and awkward, whatever she could find to say. She rushed to the stables and found Liam there, all smiles.
“Hello, Charlotte. I had a feeling ye’d come early tae the stables, and Angus told me that ye’d be wanting tae visit yer patients. He said I am tae accompany ye.”
She smiled widely at Liam. He was like a little boy with his bright red hair and winning smile, green eyes open and ready. He had a thick beard when she’d first arrived on Mull but now had trimmed it short, matching Angus’ look. Other than that, he was nothing like his darker, more reserved counterpart, who seemed to hold all of Charlotte’s desires in his hand after last night. She coughed, wishing to remove any thoughts of the evening from her mind.
“Hello, Liam. Yes, Angus told me that as well. But I am surprised to see you’re back from the hunt so soon. I hope it will not trouble you too much, as I have many people I wish to visit today as well as many questions to ask.”
He shook his head. “Nae, lass. ‘Twill be an honor. I must confess, I have always been interested in the way healers work, and so I may ask ye a question or two as we ride along.”
Charlotte nodded and felt a little lighter. Liam was like a lovely bright spot, full of energy and happiness. They would get along just fine, and she was certain that he would give her all the freedom that she desired. “Come,” she said after Liam helped her to mount her horse. “David will be the first person we see.”
She tried not to think too much about how Liam’s hands on her had no effect. They were merely the hands of a friendly helper, not an object of desire, ready to reduce her to a molten heat whenever they came near.
“Ah, I almost forgot. Did you deliver the letter to my father yesterday?”
“Aye, ‘twas delivered tae the Fort as quickly as we could get it there.”
“Thank you, Liam. I hope to receive a reply from him as soon as possible.”
They rode on along the coast, and her initial calm slowly disappeared. She held her breath as they passed by the very place where the near-rape had occurred. She hadn’t thought about it for many hours, and if she was honest, she had Angus to thank for that, and she was grateful. There was no point in thinking about it over and over again until she could feel her throat closing in fear. She had Liam there to protect her.
While she didn’t want to admit it, she felt safer having protection, but she was so grateful that she didn’t have to accept Angus’ help. It would have been too uncomfortable to try to work together. They rode along merrily, with Liam asking a few questions here and there to keep the conversation going.
“Why is it that ye have decided tae practice healing, Mistress?” He asked, his eyes open wide and his expression so ready to listen to her every word.
“She held onto the reins and kept her gaze forward, mulling over the question. “I suppose because I enjoy the freedom and power that knowledge provides me. If I can help someone who is suffering, and they can be assisted by the knowledge that I have, then that is a beautiful thing.”
Liam nodded. “Och, I understand ye well enough, lass. ‘Tis the same if ye can protect someone with yer skill of the sword. It feels good tae help and tae be useful tae someone.”
Charlotte sighed and looked at Liam with fresh eyes. He was kind and understood things of the heart. “Yes, Liam. You’re absolutely right. It definitely does. And what are we here for if not to be of use to one another?”
She rode forward, racing towards David’s house, which she saw peeking out over the edge of a large hill. She could hear Liam’s horse pounding after her own, and she smiled. Angus would never deign to follow her like Liam. He would want to be ahead every step of the way or try to find ways to watch her and keep her safe when she didn’t even realize, giving her the illusion of independence.
They rode to David’s small stone hovel, and she waited for Liam to assist her in dismounting. “Oh, these dreaded skirts,” she said to him. “If only I could wear the same as men, then I could dismount on my own and not trouble you with it at all.”
Liam chuckled. “Nae man would say that ‘twas a trouble tae do so, Mistress. ‘Tis one of the ways we can help, as we just discussed.”
Charlotte threw her head back and laughed. “You have got me there, Liam, and what a clever way you have gone about it. I suppose I should feel the same about being helped as I do about helping, but I’m afraid that I struggle with that.”
She and Liam walked towards the door. “Ye are right, lass. Many a Scotsman have trouble with that as well. We wish tae prove tae everyone that we can handle ourselves and dinnae need anyone else.”
Charlotte nodded. “I could definitely see that, Liam. ‘Tis the same for all men, I believe. They are all trying to appear that they are strong, when, in fact, we all suffer from fear from time to time, do we not?”
“Aye, ye can be sure, lass, but ye must promise nae tae tell any of the other men I told ye that.” Liam smiled brightly once again and winked at her. Charlotte felt much more comfortable again. She was used to light flirtations with men that ended in laughter and merrymaking, not anger and nervousness.
She knocked lightly at the wooden door of young David’s cottage. The door was closed, but she could tell it was hanging slightly at the top and would soon come off in a strong wind. She felt sorry for them, and she looked down at her fur gloves. She had always been given everything she desired, and she was embarrassed now by her finery. Did it seem like she was bragging about all of the niceties she’d received in life when she made her rounds?
The door squeaked open, and David’s mother, Breya, peered out. She looked like she’d aged in the last evening. “Och, hello, Mistress. Come in, come in.”
She waved her hand, and Charlotte and Liam entered. “I came to see how young David is doing, but when she took a glance at the bed, her heart flew to her throat. David appeared much, much worse.
Chapter Seven
Angus had eaten in his room after he woke up, not wanting to bump into Charlotte in the Hall. He knew they would eventually have to eat together, or at least the servants would prepare the Hall to do so, but he would try his best to avoid the meals if he could. He could come up with as many excuses as possible.
But, if he was going to admit it, it was not that he didn’t want to see Charlotte again. Charlotte was always a vision, with her reddish-blond hair and lovely pink cheeks and lips, but he didn’t know what to say, and whatever he said when he saw her next, he was sure to offend. The words would probably come out all mixed up.
So, he’d eaten and moved into Calum’s study. He slid into the chair behind the desk and took a long sigh. This was his time now. He had to do right by his brother, or all would be lost. He would travel around the island and speak to the farmers to see if the fields were ready. He would check to see how the rebuilding was going on the villager’s stables so that the animals housed in the Castle for the winter could return to their owners. He would have to discuss which farms crops were to be sold or traded and which were to be kept as food. He could discuss that with the housekeeper, Mrs. MacLean.
There was so much to be done. He could feel his fear and worry beginning to overwhelm him, but he decided instead to call for Mrs. MacLean and have her give him an accounting of what she knew. He glanced at the accounts which had been meticulously kept by Julia since she’d arrived, and he knew he would have to know them by heart if he was to prove anything to the Campbells when they came to potentially claim the land.
Mrs. MacLean knocked lightly and was allowed entry. “Och, Angus, my lad, what can I help ye with?”
He smiled. Mrs. MacLean was enough to soothe, and he was grateful that she was here. “Mrs. MacLean, I am so happy that ye are still here during my brother’s departure. There is much tae be done. I will need yer help tae decide what food and products we will need tae stock the castle. Could ye create a list for me organized by the season?”
“Of course, Angus. I would be happy tae assist. Ye must only call upon me, and I will be yer aid. But, I must ask, so that I can make a proper list. How long will Charlotte Andrews be staying?”
Angus fidgeted in his seat. He was unnerved that the subject of Charlotte had come up so quickly. “She is tae receive a letter from her father, possibly taeday if we take men tae hunt, about how long she will be staying. Once the letter is placed intae her hands, I will be able tae let ye know.”
“Thank ye, sir. That would be most helpful. But, I do hope she will remain for a long time. She is a rather lovely guest, and she’s helped so many of my girls when they were down with an illness. She is a whirlwind, though. I wouldnae want tae cross her if I could help it!”
Mrs. MacLean laughed good-naturedly and then thanked Angus and left the room to complete her tasks. He grimaced. He had crossed her many a time, and it was definitely just as unpleasant as Mrs. MacLean imagined it to be.
After some deliberation, he decided that the first thing to do would be to send men out to hunt and collect the letter, if it was ready, as well as ride around the island to see how the land fared for planting. It would get him out of the small confines of the study, and he could breathe a little. He might need to practice his sword skills later as well, for he was growing tense, and it was barely 8 in the morning.
He left, grabbing his plaid to wrap around him, as well as his sword, and dispatched his men to hunt what they could and retrieve the letter. Yesterday’s hunt had been a success, with Liam at the helm as the best hunter, but now that his new job was to follow Charlotte around, Angus was concerned about what forest fruits his men could gather.
Next, he went to the stables to collect his horse and could feel the wind beginning to pick up. He looked up at the graying clouds and could feel that a fresh storm was on its way.
Damn it. The farms may have to wait until later.
But he would try his best. He would be confined to the castle for hours once the storm began. He had to take the time before the storm to breathe fresh air. Inside the stable, he found Saorsa, his brown mare, who was like his soul’s redemption. That’s why he had named her Saorsa, the Gaelic word for freedom. She had been his way of escape for so many years.
And now, he would need her more than ever as he took the reins as temporary laird. The stable boy prepared the horse, and Angus mounted quickly and set off, the wind pushing through his hair and filling his lungs. He forced his horse to a gallop, and he felt as light as air as he traversed over the rocky hills and smooth pastures of the island, trying to let all that concerned him melt away. He had never expected such responsibility as a young child.
He was the younger son, and there was not as much pressure to be the perfect man, the most intelligent, or the bravest man. But, now, he felt as if he had neglected so many of his lessons, and he wished he had paid more attention. It was true; he was more academic than his brother Calum had been. He enjoyed reading if he could find the time to do so, but it had been a long time since he had felt relaxed enough to read. There was so much riding on him now.
He thought about what Charlotte was doing at that very moment. She was probably saving lives and healing patients and doing it effortlessly. That was what he imagined her to do when she was traveling around as a healer. He had only seen her at work with Julia’s wicked uncle, but then she had been calm, confident, and knowledgeable. He had respected her greatly once he saw her at her work. She was an intelligent woman, and yet she had attempted to appear frivolous and flighty as if she thought that’s what she was expected to be.
As he rode, he thought about her words last night. Here on Mull, she felt free, like she didn’t have to be anything else other than what she was, and that had made him happy, for whatever reason. He hated to think about what constraints were on Charlotte in her home, and even though he wanted her to be safe, he was happy that she would most likely be staying.
Damn it. Stop thinking about her, lad. Ye have so much more tae think of.
He growled under his breath about being a weak man, and then he headed up towards the open land of fields and pastures and slowed his horse’s pace so that he could look out over it. The land had once been fertile and good when Calum was still married to his first wife and was a happy laird, providing the help and tools to nurture it. But once she had left him for another man, an Englishman, he had broken down, and everything went to ruin.
Angus was certain that the ground could be cultivated easily once more, for it had been resting for a long time and would be happy to take seed. He dismounted his horse and placed his hand on the ground, searching for a section of dirt to rub between his fingers. It was soft and velvety, and he smiled, filled with relief. This land could be used for crops or even grazing, as Calum was interested in creating more sheep pastures.
Since the English began occupying more and more of the land, sheep farming was becoming more and more the way to create income to pay one’s taxes. This field would be an excellent choice. They would also need fields to plant the spring barley and maybe even grazing pastures for cattle too. But the cattle could be difficult to transport over the Sound.
He was sitting crouched on the ground when he felt a raindrop. He looked up at the sky with frustration, as if it could help itself from raining when the water needed to fall. The falling drops began to quicken their pace, and so he mounted his horse quickly with a sigh.
“Bloody rain. Keeping a man from his work.” But what he was really worried about was having to stuff himself into the study again and focus his mind on farming plans, account numbers, and the selling of the island’s wares. He was dreading it more than anything. He rode hard and fast, and the rain began to come down in heavy sheets, practically blinding him. But he knew the island so well that it was easy to find his way once more to the stables.
The stable boy took Saorsa from him, and he rushed into the Castle, calling to a servant to bring him a hot whiskey as he made his way upstairs. When the servant brought him the drink, he asked, “Has Mistress Andrews returned?” He didn’t like the idea of her being out in this heavy storm after dealing with a number of sick patients. She could very well fall ill herself.
“Nae, Sir. She and Liam have still nae returned.”
Angus nodded and drank nearly his whole glass of whiskey. The warm liquid slid down his throat, and he felt a little of his fear melt away with it. Liam was with her. He would keep her safe. He didn’t have to think about her anymore. He had a whole number of things he could plan while in the study. That was why he suggested that Liam take over this part of his job. Well, on
e of the reasons.
He tried to push it out of his mind for a while, writing notes down on a piece of paper. But the question kept coming into his mind.
Where was she?
* * *
Once Charlotte saw David, she rushed to his side. She looked down at him, his face paler than ever, and there was a new wound on his leg, which seemed fresh, but was still seeping. The blood had not yet congealed. “When did this wound occur?”
Breya looked as if she was about to cry. “I’m so sorry, Mistress. I told him tae rest, but he wouldnae listen. He tried tae help me with carrying something, and he dropped it, cutting himself as he did so. I did my best for the wound, but it wouldnae seal, just as ye see it now. And now he’s weaker than ever. He wouldnae sleep nor drink.
Charlotte’s heart tightened with fear. She asked Breya to boil some water, and she removed herbs from the pouch she always brought with her. She also took out some white cloth, and once the water was ready, she put the herbs into it and attempted to clean the wound. Liam looked on in amazement as she did so.
Mending a Highland Heart: Healing him was more scandalous than she ever imagined… Page 6