Highlander's Sinful Desire (Steamy Scottish Historical Romance)

by Maddie MacKenna

  Earl Strongbow limped toward a large oak tree. He would sit in the shade and watch the men practice. From the road in front of MacEwen’s place, he heard someone shout his name. “Eala, Lord Strongbow! Cor blimey! Is that you? I say, Lord Strongbow! Eala!”

  That voice sounded very familiar. He looked around to see who was calling him. On the road in front of MacEwen’s, he saw a merchant’s wagon with two men in the driver seat. The back of the wagon was full of sacks and barrels of what appeared to be wine. Riding in the back was a man, half standing half leaning on the side panel, waving and calling to Earl Strongbow.

  “By God’s nails!” Earl Strongbow swore again, as he finally recognized the man. “Lord Kensley! What in the devil are you doing here? And what are you doing in the back of that wagon?”

  Earl Strongbow strode forward and saw that Lord Kensley had a splinted and wrapped ankle. The two merchants hopped out of their seats and went to the back to help Lord Kensley out. Oliver Goode carried Lord Kensley’s crutch, while the younger and stronger Christian Fox helped him to the ground. The bumpy ride had made Lord Kensley sore, and his ankle throbbed. It took him a few moments to steady himself with the support of Christian Fox. Oliver Goode handed him his crutch. Lord Kensley said, “Thank you, dear Mr. Goode . . . Mr. Fox. I would not have been able to get this far without your help.” He dug into a bag and handed each of the men a penny.

  “Tis our pleasure, me Laird,” said Oliver Goode with a polite bow.

  Lord Kensley leaned on his crutch while he shook Earl Strongbow’s hand. Then he said, “Earl Strongbow, these kind fellows can take us directly to my daughter!”

  Earl Strongbow should have reacted with excitement, but instead he felt faint. The fever. Where was that blasted physician? “Is that so?” He asked skeptically. He turned to Oliver Goode and asked, “How do you know where Lady Rowena is?”

  Oliver Goode and Christian Fox glanced at each other. They were not sure about things now. They had not counted on involvement by English soldiers. They had only agreed to reunite a father with his daughter for a decent sum of money. Oliver Goode said, “Sister Rowena asked us to deliver a letter for her to St. Martha’s.”

  Lord Kensley added on. “By the grace of God, these gentlemen arrived with Rowena’s letter while I was waiting for your return. They are in the wool trade for the Highland clan that is protecting her. I was thrilled to have their assistance. As you can see, I’m in no condition to travel on my own.” Lord Kensley pointed to his ankle. “But, when I saw you here, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me!”

  Earl Strongbow said, “I, too, have learned where Lady Rowena is hiding. My men are ready to retrieve her immediately.”

  “Let us go at once, then!” Lord Kensley exclaimed. “We must rescue my daughter from the filthy Scottish beasts!”

  Oliver Goode then spoke up. “Me Laird, if I may speak. The lady, Sister Rowena, is quite comfortable. She is a guest of Taran and the clan Robertson, nae a hostage. Ye need beware.” He paused to let his words sink in. Then he added, “Ye must ken the folks around here are angry as hornets at ye English. The castle at Frenich is well fortified, believe me. They repelled the English attack just last week. They’ll nae welcome another visit from the likes of ye so soon.”

  Earl Strongbow said, “Lord Kensley, I fear I am in no condition to fight, either.” In fact, he felt like he was going to faint any moment.

  “You look as pasty as pie dough. What the devil happened to you?” Lord Kensley asked.

  “I believe I had an unfortunate encounter with the point of a pitchfork.” He pointed at his thigh. The infected wound was just visible above Earl Strongbow’s high boot. “It seems to have become infected. A physician has been summoned, but he has not yet arrived.”

  Sir Percy now joined the group. “Lord Kensley, it’s good to see you!”

  Lord Kensley shook Sir Percy’s hand. “And you, Sir Percy. Tis’ wonderful to see you well!”

  Earl Strongbow began to sway. Sir Percy grabbed him around the waist before he fell. Christian Fox put an arm around his waist on the other side. They helped Earl Strongbow to his chamber and laid him out on his bed.

  Lord Kensley hobbled in behind them. He said, “Let us go while you stay here and tend to your health. We should not wait. Word will get back to them that we are here, and they will run. Once more we will lose her trail.” He plopped himself down on a stool and groaned.

  At that, Oliver Goode and Christian Fox exchanged looks. Oliver whispered to Christian, “We need to get away.” Christian nodded in agreement.

  Earl Strongbow shook his head. “Ah, Lord Kensley. Your lack of experience on the battlefield shows itself. I cannot risk sending the men without me. If she is under the protection of a powerful clan, I expect we will have to negotiate a hefty price for her release or fight for it. We won’t have much longer to wait!”

  Oliver tilted his head to the door. Christian gave a surreptitious nod of his head. Slowly they inched their way to it.

  Sir Percy said, “I can ride out with a few of the men and make camp near the castle. We can keep an eye out and if they try to run, we can follow them.”

  “Brilliant!” Lord Kensley exclaimed.

  Earl Strongbow had to agree. Sir Percy was a smart one. “Yes, brilliant idea, Sir Percy. Take Squire John with you and two others. Go tonight, under cover of dark. Send word of your location back to me tomorrow.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” As Sir Percy turned to go, he saw Oliver Goode and Christian Fox making their move to escape. “Stop! Stop right there!” He commanded.

  Oliver and Christian ran down the stairs with Sir Percy chasing them. Sir Percy hurled himself from the top stair and came crashing down on Oliver. They plummeted in a jumble of arms, legs, and feet down the stairs directly into Christian, toppling him. The three men tumbled and bumped the rest of the way down the steps and came to rest on the floor. They lay motionless.

  Sir Percy was the first one to move. He slowly got up. Christian Fox was the next one to stir. But Oliver Goode did not move. Sir Percy shook him. Oliver’s eyes were open and staring but head was bent at an impossible angle. Sir Percy looked at Oliver and said, “Neck’s broke. He’s dead. I’m sorry.”

  Oliver bowed his head and sighed. He reached to his friend’s face, brushed the hair from his forehead, and with a gentle swipe lowered Oliver’s eyelids.

  Hearing the melee, the other men and MacEwen gathered around to see what happened. Sir Percy saw Squire John and called him near. Sir Percy said, “Help Mr. Fox bury his friend. Then bring Mr. Fox inside, bind him, and do not let him escape. We cannot risk him warning his friends at the castle Frenich. Besides,” Sir Percy rolled his eyes. “We will likely need him and his wagon to carry our two lords there.”

  Squire John snickered. The two of them could not wait to see the fat cox-comb Earl Strongbow riding like a serf in the back of a wool cart to claim his bride.

  As the two of them watched the inglorious funeral, MacEwen rushed in with a tall, pale, rail thin man trailing him. He carried a large bag over his shoulder. “The physician is here!” They ran up the stairs and found Earl Strongbow still sprawled on his bed, sweaty and feverish.

  The physician looked at Earl Strongbow with one eyebrow raised. He said, “I can take care of him. But first, I will need one farthing. If you please.”

  Earl Strongbow motioned to Sir Percy. “Give him what he wants.” Sir Percy took a coin from Earl Strongbow’s pouch and handed it to him.

  Once paid, the physician set to work. He slipped the large bag off of his shoulder and set it on the floor. He turned to MacEwen and said, “If you will be so good as to fetch us a cup of wine.” MacEwen left.

  The physician leaned over and sniffed the wound. “Hmm,” he said to himself. Then he touched it with his finger and tasted the pus. “Infected,” he said, as he reached into his bag and retrieved a jar. Earl Strongbow knew what was coming next.

  The physician opened the jar and pulled out a wriggling
, slimy, black, segmented worm. Although no one needed any explanation, the physician said, “These are blood-sucking leeches, of course. These little vampires will suck the bad humors out of you. You’ll be good as new in a few days.” The physician placed it directly over the hole in Earl Strongbow’s festering flesh.

  The leech attached itself and immediately began to eat blood along with the infected flesh around the wound. Once it had attached itself, the physician placed another one right next to it, followed by three more.

  “Their bites may sting for a few moments, but their saliva will relieve your pain. We must let them eat until they fall off. It takes about thirty minutes.”

  MacEwen came back with a bottle of wine and several cups. He poured a cup of wine for the physician, and then poured drinks for Earl Strongbow and the other men in the room. They sipped their wine while they waited for the leeches to finish their work.

  Just as the physician had predicted, the leeches fell off almost exactly thirty minutes later. The physician put the leeches back in their jar, then flushed the wound with wine until it ran down Earl Strongbow’s leg and drenched the bed underneath. Once satisfied, the physician then took an ointment from his bag and rubbed it in to the wound. Finally, he placed what looked like a spider web on top of it and bandaged it with a clean cloth.

  “It’s going to bleed for four perhaps five days. You’ll want to rest until the bleeding stops and your color returns,” he said to Earl Strongbow.

  Earl Strongbow barked, “I do not have that long to lay here on my back!” The physician cowered, packed up his supplies, and left.

  Earl Strongbow then snapped at Sir Percy. “Get yourself and your men north to the castle tonight. Find a place to camp discreetly and watch who comes and goes. I’ll expect your messenger on the morrow. We’ll look for you in three days’ time. Now get out, all of you! Except Lord Kensley. I need a word with you in private.”

  After the men left, Earl Strongbow said, “It seems to me that your daughter, my betrothed Lady Rowena, is not being held hostage. If this escapade is of her own making, she may be committing treason. We must go and retrieve her at once, for her own good and ours.”

  Lord Kensley thought it over, and then swore softly. “I believe you are correct, Lord Strongbow. We’ll leave in three days.”

  30

  Mother Lenora found Sister Prudence wrist deep in bread dough in the abbey kitchen. “Sister Prudence, I need to speak with you. In my office, please.”

  “Of course, Mother Lenora,” Sister Prudence said. “I’ll just wash me hands and be right there.” She disliked the tone in Mother Lenora’s voice. It meant trouble, and the sisters all have had enough of that during the week or so since Sister Rowena disappeared. Sister Prudence had pretended to know nothing while everyone else went into panic about Sister Rowena’s disappearance. Then Earl Strongbow, her father, Lord Kensley, and their retinues arrived and turned the place into a hornet’s nest of activity.

  Sister Prudence gave herself the sign of the cross and muttered a quick prayer for God’s protection before she entered Mother Lenora’s office.

  A young man was with Mother Lenora in her office. Mother Lenora held a letter in her hand. She told the man to wait for her in the entry hall. Mother Lenora closed the door behind him. When they were alone in her office, Mother Lenora said, “I just received this letter from St. Columba’s.” She handed the letter to Sister Prudence.

  When Sister Prudence first saw the handwriting, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She did not have to read the signature to know it was from her sister, Mother Philomena.

  “What is the meaning of this, Sister?” ‘Great be art, today goeth, love alleluia. 7 deaths hath dryed cross.’ That is the most unusual prayer I’ve ever heard,” Mother Lenora said, her voice filled with concern.

  Sister Prudence sighed. It is time for me confession, she thought. “I dae nae ken what is behind the message. But the message is a code. A code that I worked out with me sister many years ago.”

  Mother Lenora looked confused. Sister Prudence said, “Me sister and I . . . we made a difficult choice long ago. We loved our Laird God, but our family had other plans for us. They arranged for us to marry Scotsmen, noble Scotsmen they were. We were to become their wives, have their babies, and pass on our birthrights to their heirs. They did nae care what we thought of the men we were to marry, how they may treat us, or of the life they planned for us.”

  Mother Lenora nodded. “That is an all too familiar story, I fear. Deeply ironic,” she said.

  “Aye,” Sister Prudence said. “It is Sister Rowena’s story as well. She ran away last week on her own accord. She could nae bear the thought of becomin’ the wife of Earl Strongbow. A man she could never love.”

  “I suspected as much. Can’t say I blame her, either,” she said with a wry smile.

  “I am sorry, Mother Lorena, but ye should ken that I helped her. I tried to talk her out of it at first, but she would not listen. I understood the despair she was feelin’, and I helped her run. I helped her try to escape a life of misery and separation from her love of God.”

  “I see,” Mother Lenora said. “It all makes sense now. But that doesn’t answer my question about the strange prayer in this letter. Prithee, Sister Prudence, explain.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Sister Prudence stood over the letter on Mother Lenora’s desk. She pointed at each letter as she explained. “ ‘Great be art, today goeth, love alleluia. 7 deaths hath dryed cross.’ Each word has a letter that corresponds to a letter of the words in the true message. The first word ‘great’ means the first letter of the first word in the message is ‘G’. The second word, ‘be’ means the letter ‘E’ is the second letter of the first word. The third word, ‘art’, means the letter ‘T’ is the third letter of the first word. The comma means that is the end of the first word. So the first word of the coded message is ‘GET’.”

  Clearly impressed, Mother Lenora said, “My goodness, that is brilliant, Sister. I must remember this.”

  Sister Prudence said, “Tis’ quite simple once ye understand it. The next phrase, ‘today goeth’, means the first letter of the first word is ‘T’, and the second letter of the second word is ‘O’, followed by a comma. The word coded word is ‘TO’.”

  Mother Lenora studied the last phrase. “Something is wrong, here. The last phrase translates to the word ‘LL’. That is no word.”

  Sister Prudence understood her confusion, but there was no confusion whatsoever. She said, “ ‘LL’ means ‘Loch Lomond’. The message is tellin’ me to ‘Get To Loch Lomond.’ The last part says seven days.”

  Mother Lenora worked out the last part on her own. “So, Mother Philomena is telling you to get to Loch Lomond in seven days?”

  “Yes, that is what her message says. Loch Lomond is our birthplace. She needs me for something and is warning me of danger. That is the only reason she would send a coded message like this.”

  Mother Lenora still had one more question. “Tell me, what is your connection with Mother Philomena? Why is she seeking your help? ”

  Sister Prudence looked Mother Lenora straight in the eye and said, “Mother Philomena is me sister.”

  Mother Lenora leaned back in her chair at this news. She thought a moment and smiled. Then she said, “Sister Prudence, summon the messenger from the vestibule. You can accompany him to Loch Lomond. He will escort you. Mother Philomena’s letter was written three days ago. The journey will take you two days. Take the grey palfrey from the barn.”

  Sister Prudence stood and gave Mother Lenora a warm embrace. “Thank ye, Mother Lenora.”

  “Be safe, Sister Prudence,” Mother Lenora said, and gave her a peck good-bye on her forehead. “For the love of God, be safe.”

  31

  Rowena was supremely happy. She decided this must be love. Never before had anyone made her feel so happy just to be alive. Every moment was filled with joy – from sunrise to sunset, the sun seemed brighter and eve
rywhere she looked she felt love. She still felt love for God, but the love she felt for Him was different from the love she felt for Taran. At some point, she would have to reconcile those feelings.

  For now, Rowena was quite happy with things just as they were. The last week had been a whirlwind, and now she was settling into a routine of helping refuge families and their children, followed by an afternoon in the garden selecting flowers and herbs for her medicine kit. In the evenings, she would dry them, then carefully organize and package them so they would be ready for use whenever needed.

  In the short time she had been at Frenich, her chamber had become an apothecary of sorts. The castle servants and residents alike began to come to her for help with minor wounds and ailments. She was thrilled that Taran’s garden yielded so many different useful plants.

  Throughout the day, she would have a visit by Taran. When they were together, Rowena felt indescribable bliss.