by Fiona Faris
Her Highlander’s Promise
Dreaming of her kept him alive, but her presence was his ruin...
Fiona Faris
Contents
Thank you
Highlanders of Cadney Series
About the book
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Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Extended Epilogue
Afterword
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About the Author
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Highlanders of Cadney Series
Book#1
Her Highland Secret
* * *
Book#2
Her Highlander’s Heart
* * *
Book#3
Her Broken Highlander
* * *
Book#4 (this book)
Her Highlander’s Promise
About the book
Dreaming of her kept him alive, but her presence was his ruin...
Aithe MacGille lost everything when he decided to abandon the safety of his home. The years of imprisonment and slavery in the coal mines would have killed him if it wasn't for the charming tales of Alice, the sister of his dying friend Christopher. After Aithe escapes, he has one more mission, find the lass and protect her at all costs.
Alice has no hope of escaping the claws of her abusive uncle, until a handsome Highlander steps into her life, claiming that he knew her dead brother. The strange man comes with an offer she might not be able to refuse. Can she accept the chance at freedom that he offers her, even if it means putting both their lives in danger?
Now Aithe must deliver her to safety even if it means facing the demons of his past and the family he left behind…
His duty was to give her his name, his longing was to give her his heart…
* * *
12 December 1720
Dearest Christopher,
I will not say I understand why you had to leave, but I do want you to know, dearest, that I support you as I always have. I will try and do as you say and be a good girl while you are away. While I am not fond of Uncle Felix, as you well know, I can tolerate him until you return. I know what you do, you do for us and our future.
When you keep this letter safe and close to your heart, you know I will be with you.
Always,
Alice
Prologue
Forced Labor Coal Mines, North Umberland, England, July 1723
“Tell me again about yer sweet Alice.” Aithe knew he had to keep Christopher talking. It was dark, close quarters, and they had been in this particular mine for hours— much longer than any free man would stay underground. There was no life under the hard rock and limestone of the Northumberland coast. Not that Aithe expected to find it there. After all, that was the exact reason he begged his friend to tell the tales of his sister. He needed to hear about life outside the stone walls, a life that included love, family, and hope.
Christopher was growing weaker and weaker as time passed, but they had come too far to give up now. Any conversation Aithe could use to keep his friend conscious and upright, he would, and Christopher loved to speak about his sweet, younger sister.
“Not anymore today, Aithe; I’m not in the mood to tell fantasy stories.” Even weak and sick, Christopher would not give up control so easy.
“Surely you wouldnae refuse yer friend,” he coughed out the rough black, coal dust. Just please dinnae lose yer will, lad.
“Aithe, what would you give to be young and free again?” Christopher coughed and put his head down against the damp, hard rock. Aithe heard the sadness in his voice, and it made him cringe. He wanted to reach out and comfort his friend, but he knew, if he did, both of them would be stuck, longing for a life that did not include this treacherous punishment.
“Almost anything,” Aithe added. “Come, Christopher, we’re almost done for the day. Just a wee bit more. Ye can do it. Tell me about Alice; it’ll pass th’ time.”Aithe worried his friend had given up entirely. He knew what happened to men in these mines when they gave up. They became careless with their lives, leading to accidents, and Aithe would not allow it. He used his free hand to prod his friend in the back, urging him to talk.
“Alice is sweet and fragile. Such a kind woman. You’ve read her letter. She hasn’t a wild bone in her body.”
Aithe felt a soft rush of emotion hit him at his core.
Alice’s letter.
He had read it hundreds of times over the last two years. It wasn’t as if he was prying. Christopher knew he had it and that he read it, often.
It was worn at the edges, and the vellum frail. It had been handled often by both men. It was a symbol of sorts. A symbol of home and family. And a reminder that they both had lives away from this prison. Aithe, unlike Christopher, had left his own family in the dead of night, not telling a soul where he was off to. Thus, he had no tokens from his own sister or brothers, nothing to tie him to the Scottish Highlands where he was born. Nothing except warm memories of the land.
“Even when I was hell-bent on leading a revolution, she still offered me her everlasting love and support. And I’ve let her down,” Christopher looked sad.
“Och, ye’ve nay let anyone down. Our time is almost up. We’ll be free, and ye an’ I together will go fetch th’ lass. I’ll take ye both back tae Cadney with me. Ye’ll be welcome in ma' clan. Ye’ve my word.” Aithe meant it to the depths of his heart. He wanted to help him and his friend, and his sister, make a new life for themselves. One where they could relish in being outside again. He would enjoy every moment of it. He would never again take for granted the blue skies, the cool breeze.
They were chained to each other, perhaps out of fear that a man could dig his way to freedom in the narrow tunnels. The iron that secured his arm and leg pulled taut as he tried to reach his friend. Not for the first time, he cursed the heavy metal that held him tight. They had been in close quarters often during their labor sentence, but the one thing Aithe hated was being restrained. After three years, he still hadn’t grown used to the dark holes and chains. But it was only a week more, and their sentence was up. They would finally be free.
“You don’t understan
d. Our uncle is cruel, I should’ve never left her with him. I was foolish. I let my own wrong choices affect poor Alice.”
Even through the darkness, Aithe could see the regret in his friend’s golden eyes.
“Ye were young. Ye were tryin’ tae make a name and a life for yerself. It matters naught what came before, friend. Surely a lass as fine as yer Alice will see that.”
“And what if I’m too late?” Aithe hated that his friend had such regret. He and Christopher had first met in their idealistic and battle-hungry youth. While Aithe still craved nothing more than to move and fight, Christopher grew more and more morose as time went on. His regrets weighed heavily on his soul.
Aithe was sure when they were captured by the English four long years past, Christopher would be hanged as a traitor. When a kind magistrate took pity on them both and sentenced them to only four years of hard labor, Aithe thought his friend would be relieved. But instead, he had grown worse. Retreating further and further into despair.
Alice had become something of a good luck charm for them both with each trial they faced. When Christopher was at his worst, Aithe could get him talking about his sister and turn him around. Likewise, when Aithe felt as if he could not go on, Christopher would entertain him with tales of his sister’s mischievous antics and disposition; offering him a bit of sunshine on their often-bleak days.
However, as the end of their punishment drew near, not even discussion of Alice seemed to improve Christopher’s mood any longer. His regret at letting down his only family was becoming his burden. Aithe didn’t know how else to pull Christopher from this deep sorrow. He tried to remind him it was only a week until they would be free of this work, free to live their lives.
But, Aithe feared he was crumbling under the pressure of facing her disappointment. No story or flight of fancy would bring his friend back around. He couldn’t blame his friend. If he hadn’t such a large, loving family himself, he could easily see that the burden of their care would crush him faster than the hard rock of the mines.
Somewhere high above them, Aithe heard the relief of a whistle, signaling that their time in the mine was done for the day.
“Come, let’s get outtae here,” he said, turning back toward the entrance of the cave. Even though Aithe knew night would have fallen, he longed to get out. Feel the cold, fresh air of the evening.
Christopher tugged at the chain. “Wait. Aithe, do you hear that?”
Aithe turned back to face Christopher, stopping any movement to stand completely still. He strained yet didn’t hear a thing.
“I hear nothing.”
“Shhh,” Christopher said. The strong rotting odor of eggs that had turned in the sun began to seep into Aithe’s lungs. Taking a deep breath, he plugged his nose. That smell could only mean one thing. There was a buildup of gas on the other side of the rocks. How far? He wondered. How much time dae we have?
Mines like theirs caved in often. There were no safety precautions in place. Why would there be? The crown would surely not waste coin to keep prisoners safe. They were expendable in the king’s eyes.
“Christopher, we have tae move, now!” His friend nodded and turned to face him. Even on the field of battle, Aithe had never seen such fear in his friend’s eyes. Time was not on their side. Pushing their tools into his hands, Aithe quickly tucked everything they could fit into the loose wool of his trousers. They began moving back toward the old wooden ladder that would lead them away from danger.
“The chains are holding us back—” A profound blast of heat and rock stopped the words. Aithe was thrown back, the chain that held him tethered to his friend snapped with the force of the explosion. It happened so suddenly that Aithe struggled to react. Within moments, everything around him faded to black.
Chapter One
One Year Later, July 1724
“You know it’s best not to keep his lordship waiting, my lady,” A knot of worry formed in Rebecca's brow. Alice knew this signaled that her young maid was afraid.
“I know, I know,” Alice replied. Her uncle had summoned her back to the manor house a quarter-hour past. She knew she should make her way back to see what it was that he wanted, but the summer sunlight was dancing beautifully off the cliffs, and the clouds sat high and white against the bluest sky. The view of Dunstanburgh Castle sat atop the cliffs in the distance, or at least what remained of the ancient fortress. In recent years, a group of Scottish settlers made their way to settle along the castle’s borders. They grew wheat and barley trying to make life a little bit better for their families. The settlement went all the way down to the harbor below, and when Alice was young and her parents still alive, she remembered going to the place with her father. While he discussed farming techniques with the men and women, Alice played in the fields and on the sandy harbor beach with the settlement’s children. The fresh sea breezes toyed with her chestnut locks, as she ran about, truly free.
Alice sighed. It was the last time she had felt so free, so full of possibility. Now, sitting in the green grass in her stocking feet, if she tried, she could almost hear the waves crashing against the shoreline and the squeals of laughter from herself and the other children. Staring into the distance, she wondered what happened to those families. Did the fight between their countries cause them to be forced away? Were they harmed? Did the children she played with as a young girl grow up to fight like her brother had?
She shook her head fiercely as if the action alone could rid her of the negative thoughts. It was a glorious day, there was no need for such somber feelings. She could not afford to waste what little sunshine she had been able to capture on what-ifs. She forced herself instead, to think of how close to a new life she was. She need only be patient for it.
It had rained non-stop for four days hence. The storm clouds and fog obscuring any view from the manor’s windows. So, this beautiful day she had felt trapped inside with nothing to pass the time except for dull embroidery and music lessons. Both might be considered accomplishments for most ladies of her age, but for Alice, the relentless tutelage and expectations of what a lady should know and what a lady should do were tantamount to a prison sentence. A shudder moved along her spine at the thought of prisons.
Really, Alice, while Christopher suffers so, she thought, tucking a loose chestnut curl behind her ear as she picked up her skirts and slid back into her discarded slippers.
She hadn’t heard from her brother in over two years, and by all accounts should have no idea where he was, but servants talk. And Alice could always trust Rebecca to tell her news of Christopher. It was due to a rare kindness from her uncle years ago, and one Alice certainly didn’t imagine to have been given freely, that instead of meeting the gallows as a traitor, her brother had been sent to a work camp at a sea-coal mine north of their home. Alice knew when he left, his sympathies were with the Stuarts, but she also knew he sought his fortune for their future. Either way, he was foolish. Even though she loved him dearly, she was still angry. The choices he made had influenced her life, as well. Surely, he had to see that. But Alice loved her brother dearly and would always accept him, regardless of his choices. She was his greatest supporter. Even when he made mistakes, he made them from a place of wanting to better both their lives.
She couldn’t know how long his sentence was. Christopher had been gone so long. It had to be drawing to a close soon. She desperately wanted him to come home and take them both away. She wondered what the harm would be in asking her uncle directly, but thought better of it when the mere mention of Christopher sent him into a rage. Those days it felt as if she had to be cautious of what she said. The longer Christopher was gone, the more her uncle grew irritated with her. She longed to be free, and she knew Christopher was the only one willing to stand up to her uncle on her behalf.
“Come, Rebecca,” she said, reaching for her maid’s hand. “Let’s go see what is so urgent that Uncle wishes to call us in from this wondrous day.”
* * *
The calm and pe
ace she claimed during her jaunt to the cliffs instantly faded away into the deep brocaded velvet drapery of her Uncle’s study as she sat in wait. Uncle Felix never allowed the servants to open the windows, no matter how lovely the day outside.
He summoned her yet kept her waiting. Alice knew such would be the case. However, had she tarried any longer, he would have known and prepared a severe tongue lashing. He loved to make an entrance, and he loved to be thought of as the most important of men. Alice shook her head at the ridiculousness of her uncle. He always had to prove he was the head of the home, ever needing to bend her will before him. Alice exhausted of this routine.