‘Rab... I’ve just been exploring the old chapel. Do you know anything about the empty tomb?’
The old gardener leaned on his rake and scratched his beard. ‘There’s them that say it’s never been occupied, milady, but I dinna know anyone who knows for certain. Mind,’ he added with a shrug, ‘even if it did hold a body once upon a time, what does it matter now? No one even knows whose tomb it might have been.’
‘No. Indeed.’
Flora headed for the castle, her thoughts in a whirl.
Surely her instincts weren’t wrong—that her brooch belonged on that tomb? And if the tomb had once been occupied, did that mean the skeleton she’d found belonged there? But why on earth would a Lochmore be in the tower at Castle McCrieff?
Father must know the skeleton is in the Great Tower—I wonder if he knows the story behind it?
The urge to find out more—to discover the truth—seized her. It was yet another incentive to face her family and confront them over their treatment of her. And then, one day—if they could only grow closer...if he would only grant her a voice—maybe she would find enough courage to ask her father the truth about the skeleton in the Great Tower.
But first things first. Lachlan had already warned her he must work this evening. Tomorrow, though, she would start her plan.
Chapter Twenty-One
The following morning Lachlan’s study door burst open, startling him. Flora marched in and plonked herself on the chair opposite his.
He tried to hide it, but he felt his lips twitch anyway. Her lips pursed.
‘You look very...er...determined, Flora.’
‘I am, Lachlan. I have two requests of you.’
‘Go on.’
‘First, I wish to visit my family, so may I have the carriage?’
He tried not to frown but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want to be apart from her, not even for one night.
‘Of course you may; you don’t have to ask. How long will you be gone?’
‘I will return tomorrow.’
Very brisk. Very businesslike. It was almost as though she were following an agenda.
‘And your second request?’
‘May I come with you when you go to Glasgow on Monday?’
He’d had every intention of begging her to come anyway. ‘Yes, of course you may. Is there a particular reason?’
Her eyes glinted. ‘Apart from wanting to spend time with my husband, you mean?’
They shared a smile, easing the aching knot that had lodged in his chest ever since Anna and Davy left. He was still sad they were not here where he could look after them, but now he could view events at a distance he recognised Flora had been right. In his eagerness to make amends he had pushed Anna too hard and had failed to give any credence to her views. But understanding that didn’t make their absence any less painful. They had parted on uneasy terms and he hadn’t visited them since the day they moved into their new home, unsure of his welcome.
Which left Flora.
He loved her. So much. But that scared him...petrified him. How could he bear it if he lost her? And that fear made him cautious. And that caution, he knew, made Flora unhappy and yet all he really wanted was to make her happy.
Why could he never find the words to tell her how much she meant to him?
‘Well, as you put it like that, would you...?’ He hesitated. Would it be an intrusion? But he didn’t like to think of her setting out on that long journey—or facing her tyrant of a father—alone. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’
‘Can you spare the time?’
He smiled ruefully. ‘I neglected you for business last night. I think it’s only fair I occasionally neglect business for my beautiful wife. Don’t you?’
Her smile lit her face. He’d been right to offer. That knot eased a little more.
‘Thank you, Lachlan. I would appreciate your company.’
‘May I ask...is there a purpose to this visit?’
Flora straightened. ‘There is. They are my family and I love them—even after the Galkirk business. I no longer feel guilty. I no longer feel I need their forgiveness, but I do hope they will be part of our lives in the future. If I do not make the first move, I fear that will never happen. Do you object?’
‘No. Of course I don’t object.’
But if any one of her family upset her he silently vowed to whisk her away from them immediately, family or no family. He would do anything to protect her.
* * *
They reached Castle McCrieff at nightfall after an arduous journey over wet, muddy roads. Flora’s mother burst into tears as soon as she saw Flora, hurrying to her with hands outstretched.
‘You didna warn us you were coming! Oh! I am so happy to see you, Flora.’ She framed Flora’s face, kissed her and hugged her tight.
Flora’s eyes and mouth rounded in astonishment before she blanked her expression and stepped back, her chin jutting out. ‘You could have come to visit us, Mother. It is not so very far.’
‘But your father, Flora.’ She spoke in hushed tones. ‘You know what he’s like.’
‘Maybe, Mother, he is the way he is because no one has ever stood up to him. Did you ask him if you could visit us?’
Lachlan hid his astonishment and his pride. Flora had said she no longer needed her family’s forgiveness, but he hadn’t realised she now had enough confidence to actually demand answers from her mother. Would her newfound bravado extend to challenging her father as well?
Lady Aberwyld flushed. ‘I... No. I am sorry.’ She smiled tremulously at Lachlan. ‘I am happy to see you, too, Mr McNeill. You both look well.’
Flora’s expression softened, and she hugged her mother. ‘Please call him Lachlan, Mother, and we are happy to see you, too.’
Lachlan greeted Flora’s mother with a smile, content to remain in the background while Flora established her new relationship with her family, but he would stay vigilant until he saw what reception she received from her father.
‘Where is everyone?’
‘Your father is in bed. He’s had a bit of a fever this past week, but he is recovering now.’
‘And you didn’t think to write and tell me, Mother? Did you not think I would care?’
Lady Aberwyld reddened. ‘It was but a head cold that went to his lungs. It was not serious enough to worry you. I’ll let Donald and the girls know you’ve come, but ye’d better see your father first. I’ll go ahead and tell him you’re here.’
* * *
Lord Aberwyld lay in his huge four-poster bed, propped up by pillows. He looked pale and drained, but he perked up when he saw Flora.
‘Come over here, lassie, where I can see you.’ His gaze flitted to Lachlan. ‘How d’ye do, McNeill?’
Lachlan nodded, but stayed back, knowing Aberwyld was the sort of man who would converse with a husband about a wife even if the woman was there in front of him. Flora rounded the bed and sat on the chair while her mother stood at the foot of the bed. Lachlan remained by the door and watched closely for any hint of distress from his wife.
‘Ye’re a sight for sore eyes, lassie.’ Aberwyld raised his hand and Flora held it. ‘I’m pleased ye’ve come to visit the auld place.’
‘It is you I’ve come to see, Father. You and Mother and the rest of my family.’
‘Ye always were a good daughter.’
Flora’s lips curved into a wry smile as she met Lachlan’s eyes. ‘You have not always thought of me as such, Father.’
Aberwyld’s eyes narrowed. ‘That is in the past, now.’
Her chin lifted. Lachlan recognised the sign. His wife was not about to meekly accept her father’s edict and Lachlan stepped forward, ready to intervene.
‘Not for me, Father.’
‘What d’ye mean?’ A fearsome frown creased Aberwyld’s forehead.
> ‘I am speaking of the entire family’s treatment of me after I refused Galkirk. And that was due to your edict that I must suffer for not blindly obeying you. You did not care that he tried to force himself on me. I lived a full year isolated and alone in the middle of my own family. Have you any idea how horrible that was for me? How insignificant and unloved I felt?’
Lady Aberwyld gasped, her hand to her mouth.
‘We needed Galkirk’s money. Have you any idea what a struggle it’s been to try to keep the estates and this family going, and the tenants on their farms?’
‘Perhaps,’ Flora said, ‘you might have told me of that struggle and allowed me to help. I had ideas, but you only ever listened to Donald, even though his ideas were often ludicrous. You never gave the slightest consideration to any of my suggestions. I always felt as though you never even heard me.’
‘I am sorry that’s how you felt, lass.’ Aberwyld’s voice was gruff and Lachlan could see what an effort it was for such a proud man to apologise to his daughter. ‘But Donald will be clan leader—it’s important he grows up strong and decisive. I don’t regret raising him that way and he’s come up with a winning scheme now—English tourists paying to sleep in the same bedchamber the Queen and Prince Albert slept in.’
Anger flashed across Flora’s face and Lachlan recalled her telling him of that same idea—her idea—and one her father had rejected. But Lady Aberwyld had stiffened at her husband’s words and now she spoke out before Flora could.
‘That idea was Flora’s, Malcolm.’ She looked nervous but determined. ‘She suggested it earlier this year.’
Aberwyld scowled. ‘Well, I canna say I recall. But the boat was definitely Donald’s idea.’
‘Aye, it was.’ Flora’s brother had come unnoticed into the room. The young man had filled out a little since their wedding—or was it just that he held himself with more confidence? ‘And Mother is right, Father. I did get the idea of the Queen’s bedchamber from Flora.’
Flora came to greet her brother and Lachlan saw her surprise when Donald pulled her into a hug.
‘It’s good to see you, Sis.’ His voice was gruff. ‘I feared we wouldna see ye again after the way we treated you.’
‘I’ve missed you all.’ Flora’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. ‘And thank you for Bandit, Donald. Knowing you’d done that for me... It—it meant the world to me. Truly. It gave me hope we might one day be a family again. I hope this might be a new start and that you will all fully accept me and Lachlan from now on.’
Lady Aberwyld put her arm around Flora. ‘We will, won’t we, Malcolm? And Aileen and Mairi cannot wait to see you. I thought it would be too tiring for your father to have you all in here at once so I told them to wait.’ She bent a stern look on Donald. ‘Donald, however, saw fit to ignore that.’
‘Sorry, Mother. But I was listening at the door and I heard Father talk about the new scheme and I didn’t want Flora to think I was claiming her idea as my own. I apologise to you, too, Flora,’ he added. ‘I was always jealous of your quick wits and that’s the truth. I felt I lagged two steps behind you when it came to thinking of new ideas and I’m sorry you didn’t get the credit you should have done. It wasn’t until you’d gone that I realised what you meant to me.’
Flora beamed at him. ‘Thank you, Donald. You cannot know how much it means to me to hear you say that. Now, what is this talk of a boat?’
‘The idea of taking in tourists came from you, Flora, but then I tried to think about what they would want to do while they were here. So I came up with the idea of buying a boat to take them up the coast and across to the islands. The English love all of that, so I understand. And it means they will stay here for more than just the one night if we put on some day excursions. We already have bookings for next year.’
‘It’s a grand idea, Donald,’ said Lachlan. ‘And—’ he flashed a grin at Flora ‘—as Flora has told me your kinsman—Sandy, was it?—no longer supplies the castle with whisky, will you consider using our Carnmore Whisky for your guests? We have brought a couple of bottles with us, so you can try it before you commit.’
‘It’ll have to be good to compete with Sandy’s brew,’ Aberwyld growled, but he winked at Flora as he spoke and Lachlan’s heart expanded as he saw her joy.
‘We will give it a try.’ Donald extended his hand to Lachlan. ‘It’s good to see you again, McNeill. I hope you’re treating my sister well?’
‘You’d be better asking that question of Flora, McCrieff. But I can confirm that the reverse is true and that your sister treats me very well indeed.’
‘And likewise,’ said Flora, with a smile. ‘Now, Mother. Where are my sisters? I cannot wait to see them again.’
* * *
Watching Lachlan gradually unbend in the company of her family that evening made Flora even more determined to heal the rift between herself and Anna, for his sake. They would spend the next day at Castle McCrieff, but must return to Lochmore on Saturday to prepare for their trip to Glasgow on Monday. They were to stay with Tessa and William rather than at a hotel and Flora also planned to call upon Anna with a plan to involve her more closely in their lives. The success of their visit to Flora’s family had given her another idea—one to convince Lachlan that he now truly belonged to a large and settled family.
* * *
After breakfast on the day they were due to travel home, she slipped away to her father’s room where he was now strong enough to sit in his chair. She couldn’t help but feel some of the old trepidation whenever she was with Father but she tried hard to conceal it and, to her surprise, he seemed to respect her for standing up to him.
‘I have an invitation for you, Father. I should like you all to come to Lochmore for Hogmanay. It’s a few weeks away yet and you should be strong enough to travel by then.’
‘You want the McCrieff laird to see in the New Year on Lochmore land?’
‘A McCrieff is mistress there now,’ she reminded him.
He grunted, and scowled down at the bedcovers.
‘Well? Will you come?’
‘Aye.’ He sighed, then brightened. ‘Ye’re right! It’ll be a tonic to see a McCrieff as mistress.’
‘Thank you. But please don’t tell Lachlan. It is to be a surprise—I’m hoping his sister and nephew will agree to come.’
‘Aye. We’ll be there. I’ll tell your mother.’
Flora kissed his whiskery cheek. ‘Thank you. I’m happy we’re all friends again.’ Dare she push him one step further? ‘It’s important to heal family rifts, is it not? Which reminds me—I met Tessa several weeks ago. My Aunt Tessa.’ Her pulse kicked as he glared at her, but she did not back down. ‘She asked after you.’
She waited. After a few minutes’ silence, her father growled, ‘Is she well?’
‘She is.’
‘And William Anderson?’
So all these years he’d remembered the name of the man she married? Perhaps there was hope. ‘Him, too.’
‘Good.’
She wasn’t quite brave enough to ask him about the skeleton in the tower. Not yet—it was more important to reconcile the living first. The dead could wait. But she would ask Father. One day. Because she still felt that urge to find out the truth.
‘Goodbye, Father. And make sure you get well for Hogmanay. I’ll see you then.’
She ran down the stairs to find Lachlan waiting in the hall, surrounded by yapping puppies.
‘What’s all this?’
‘Sal’s newest litter,’ Donald said. Sal was Bandit’s mother. ‘D’ye fancy another terrier, Sis? Lachlan?’
‘No,’ they said in unison and laughed as their eyes met.
‘One mischief-maker in our lives is more than enough, thank you,’ said Lachlan. He took Flora’s hand, his smile warm. ‘Let’s go home.’
Three days later, Glasgow
Fl
ora called upon Anna in her new home while Lachlan attended a shareholders’ meeting for the railway. Anna showed Flora the changes she had made—she now had three new lodgers—and, after peeping in on Davy, who was taking a nap, they settled in the sitting room.
‘Lachy chose not to come with you?’
‘Lachlan doesn’t know I am here, Anna. I have a favour to ask but, first, I have a proposition for you.’
‘Proposition?’
‘Yes.’ Flora was determined to make this work. ‘Lachlan and I plan to set up a charity to help women who have fallen on hard times.’
She explained briefly her idea of setting up a clothing business and employing widowed or abandoned mothers as seamstresses, allowing them to work from home, giving them an income and allowing them to look after their children at the same time.
‘We need someone in the city who understands their lives, someone we can trust to manage the charity and who won’t cheat the women. I hoped you might take on the role.’
Anna frowned. ‘Why me?’
‘You have the experience of the pressures these women face—they will respect that and trust you. I can think of no better person to oversee this end of the charity.’
‘And why have ye not told my brother of this proposition.’
‘I want to surprise him. I know he’ll be delighted if you agree to work with us.’
And she didn’t want Lachlan to be hurt if Anna flatly refused to be involved. She had already sworn to pay back her brother every penny he’d spent on her behalf—even insisting on paying him rent for this house.
‘You would be paid, of course,’ said Flora, ‘and Lachlan intends to buy or lease a house to offer a refuge to any woman who finds herself in difficulties, until she is earning enough to afford a roof over her head. If you will agree, he will look for a house near here, so it’s easier for you to manage.’
His Convenient Highland Wedding Page 23