Amelia nodded in understanding. The men mounted their horses once again, and before turning towards the stables, William called back to Marianne, “I hope to see ye again, me Lady.” And he winked before kicking the horse to ride on.
Marianne put a hand to her chest. “The bold impertinence of that man! To wink at a lady! How vulgar!” Amelia laughed heartily and clasped Marianne’s arm again to walk towards the castle, trying not to think about Donald and what she was to do.
“My friend, I’m afraid that is what William Fraser is like. I told him you would think him crass and caddish, but he is not to be stopped.” Marianne glanced at the fading figures on horseback, and then they continued their walk.
* * *
Inside, Donald was pacing in the main hall, waiting for Amelia. He had sent out a servant to find them, but the servant had returned to say only that he had alerted the Laird and Mr. Fraser of his arrival. Blast! How would he get this meeting with Amelia? He needed those records to compare to the ones he’d gotten from the church.
He had torn the pages from the church’s register, and returned home to adjust the information, making his father the heir to the lairdship. He smiled to himself. “Ye are quite clever, old boy. Lord Braithwaite will soon hear of my victory by post, and I can begin to accrue all the wealth that I’d lost.”
He kept pacing. What if Amelia told Jamie about this? Well, then he would simply tell Jamie what he knew and what he’d discovered. And, he could use his silver knife to do the talking for him. He had used it before, for sport, and he thought back to the broken soldiers he had found during the war, left alone to die in the woods. Well, he had helped them, and pleasantly. Now, he was unafraid to do what he must to gain whatever he desired.
The door opened, and Amelia and another young woman entered. Donald rushed to her. “Miss Parker, it is imperative that we meet this afternoon.” Sweat was starting to form on his brow and upper lip, and his eyes narrowed.
Amelia calmly replied, “Yes, of course. Do allow me to introduce to you my friend, Lady Marianne Browne.”
Donald nodded curtly, and then repeated his request.
“Let me return to my room with Miss Marianne. I will gather the documents that you seek and meet you in the library.”
Donald rushed off, and Marianne looked at Amelia questioningly. Amelia waved her hand casually. “‘Tis only a bit of business. Come, let’s go to my room, and then you may rest. I will return to you later.” Marianne nodded, and they walked towards the stairs to the second floor.
* * *
In the library, Donald continued his pacing before the hearth. “If that whore has somehow tricked me, she will pay!” He angrily spat into the flames as he passed. Amelia quickly entered the library, softly shutting the door behind her.
Donald simply stared angrily at here, until Amelia handed him the birth records. “Here, this is what I found in the workroom.”
She sat down by the fire, and Donald did as well, not taking his eyes off the document. “Perfect! This is exactly what I needed. Ye have done well, me lovely.”
Amelia shuddered, only lingering behind to receive her next payment. “And the money?”
Donald still searched the document, handing Amelia a small bag with his other hand. Amelia took it, once again disappointed. “So, there is more to be done? More tasks?”
Donald looked up and smiled. He leaned back in his chair, with an air of confidence and satisfaction. “Our contract does not outline a time period. I have nae idea what tasks lay ahead for ye, Miss Parker.”
Amelia felt dejected. So hopeful was she of getting out of this contract, that she hadn’t thought about how long it could potentially last. She stood up, her anger building and giving her a moment of strength. “And? If I tell Jamie and the rest at the clan what you have asked of me?”
Donald remained poised in confidence. “My dear, if you do so, then Jamie will have to hear how you signed a contract to work against him, how you’re secretly a lady from London whose father gambled her inheritance away, and how you’ve betrayed him for money. Now, shall I tell him these things? Or shall my knife do the talking if you do not see sense?”
Amelia’s heart was gripped in an onslaught of emotions and her fists tightened at her sides as redness creeped up her neck. “You bastard! How did you know about my family? And You told me it was for the good of the clan!”
Donald laughed. “I have contacts in London. And it will be, my dear. But, keeping Jamie as laird does not mean ‘tis good for the clan. With me at the helm, the true laird, Kinnaird land will gain money and power like it has naught seen before.” Amelia felt sick and dizzy. She gripped the back of the chair to stay standing, searching her mind for some solution.
In her daze, Donald stood and came to place a hand on hers. He spoke close to her hair, like Jamie had done, his hot breath on her making her feel sicker and sicker. “All will be well, my dear. Now, be a good lass, and come tae the meeting tae watch the true laird take his place.”
Amelia didn’t respond, and Donald left, his spindly form disappearing behind the door.
* * *
Jamie and William stood outside the main hall, dressed only in their undergarments, hopeful for a good laugh, ready to complete their bet punishment. The men had gathered at the long table, servants filling their pints and plates. “This is ridiculous, ye know? I pray tae God me ma doesnae see me in such a state.” Jamie laughed.
“Ye’ve done the deed, and now ye must take yer consequence.” William replied, and he pushed Jamie out into the hall. He followed behind.
Jamie attempted to act as though everything was normal. That was the rule. “Hello clan Kinnaird! Welcome lads!” But instead of the usual call in greeting, he received only blank faces before a burst of laughter lifted from the crowd.
William walked up to the table. “Aye? What is wrong with ye bunch of bastards? Have ye not seen men in naught but their underwear before?” That drew a new burst of laughter from the table.
Uncle Barra called out, “What is with this? Ye both draw pleasure from showing yer skin tae a bunch of men?” He laughed to himself at his cleverness.
“Nay, nay.” Jamie replied. He stood before the table his bare chest towering above their seated heads. “I desire to be a good laird, and good laird’s must stay true to their word, and take their punishment when its due. I made a bet with William Fraser,” he motioned to his fellow bare-chested friend. “And I lost, and he lost as well. So, we are fulfilling our punishment.” He bowed his head and made a sweeping motion with his hands to indicate that their appearance was the punishment.
“So, shall we begin?” He sat down at the front end of the table, and William found a place. The men agreed, ripples of laughter still sounding.
As Jamie sat, Donald stood, his tiny frame barely filling the space that Jamie’s presence had done. Donald began, “Dear cousin, ‘tis fortuitous that ye are dressed in such a way, for I have some momentous news.”
Over in the corridor connected to the hall, Fiona, Marianne, and Amelia were gathered. They had been gathered in the library but then heard raucous laughter and were all curious what it could be. Amelia thought, perhaps it was good for the clan after all?
Instead they found Jamie and William almost naked sitting at the meeting table, and Donald beginning a long speech.
“My boy…” Fiona tsked. “How could he be so indecent?” She shook her head, but Amelia knew she was not angry. Amelia was surprised to see his form so open to the world when she had seen it in such a private setting. She turned to Marianne, who had gasped at the sight of the men. Her hand was still over her mouth, but she was gazing at William. Amelia smiled at that, but then turned to listen to Donald’s speech.
“Aye? And what news is this?” Jamie questioned.
Donald produced two sets of documents and walked towards Jamie at the head of the table to hand them to him. He walked slowly to gain everyone’s attention as his practiced speech dripped from his lips. “Kinnaird
clan, we have been led for a long time by the old James Kinnaird, and now the new James. Sadly, we have lost the elder, and now he has been replaced. My father was always known as the younger of the two twins and so did not inherit.” He placed the documents in front of Jamie, and Jamie looked down in confusion.
All eyes were on Donald as he made his way around the table. “My clansmen, Jamie has been working on a project that keeps the poor land tenants on their farms on Kinnaird land as well as produce an area for grazing to join in the wool industry. He plans to keep all intact as it was in the old Scottish way of life. But, we are now owned and controlled by England, and with Jamie’s plan, we will fall into penury.” A murmur of disapproval moved over the crowd. “We must follow their plans and work tae produce as much as we can tae gain income. Jamie was freed from the hand of the English after the battle due to his English heritage, and we must repay them for allowing us to keep this clan alive. If we remove all the poor land tenants from the area, keep the clansmen present to work as shepherds, and fill our land with sheep and grazing pastures, then our money will double, if not triple.” He paused before hitting his final blow.
“And, gentleman. There has been a lie in this family that has grown from greed and desire for power. Jamie has the documents before him and sees the discrepancy. It appears that he is not the true laird as his father’s birth records show. But, I have taken the records from the parish register, and they state that ‘tis I who am the true laird.”
Silence was the response to Donald’s speech. Men looked at one another, their mouths slightly open, not knowing what to say. Jamie’s voice, barely a whisper, cut into the silence, and it made everyone turn to him. “Where...where did ye get this? The birth records from the house?”
Donald sighed and smiled, so happy to inflict pain on his cousin after years of rivalry and jealousy. “My dear cousin, ‘twas that beautiful young woman who ye hold in such esteem.
At the side of the hallway, Amelia gasped, making her and the other women’s presence known. Everyone turned to look at the ladies who stepped out from the corridor. Amelia’s hands were on her chest, and her face was pale. Jamie’s eyes stayed locked on her as Donald continued.
“Yes, yes, she needed money, and so she signed a contract to assist me in this noble quest. You see, she was a lady back in London, a very wealthy woman of good family. But, her father gambled away her inheritance, and now she has nothing. She is quite destitute, and she squirrels away what money she can, hopeful to become a lady once more.” Donald stood, his hands folded in front of him, pleased with his performance.
Jamie stood and kept his eyes on Amelia, “Is this true?” His face was also pale, and his lips were turned down at the corners.
She replied with a trembling voice, “Yes, it is, but...Jamie!” At her answer, Jamie had pushed his chair and stomped out of the room, through the corridor on the other side. William had followed him.
Tears began to fall down Amelia’s cheeks, and she screamed out, “You are an evil man, Donald Kinnaird!” before she fled away back down the hallway to escape to her chamber.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Amelia’s tears would not cease as she began to pack her belongings. She decided to leave all the gowns that Fiona had made for her, and only take what she had come with. That’s what she deserved for her foolishness and betrayal. She didn’t know which emotion she felt more, anger or sadness or guilt. It all raged through her, building every second, and her tears were the only way she could release them to free herself from some of the edges of pain.
Marianne and Fiona quietly knocked before entering the room, not saying anything. Amelia turned to them and burst into a fresh round of hot tears. Her bag being packed as she had only a few belongings, she went to sit by the fire, and she put her face in her hands. Fiona sat beside her, and Marianne stood behind her, her hands on her trembling shoulders. Fiona began, “My dear Amelia, please tell me what has occurred. I hate to see you in such despair. I’m afraid I don’t understand Donald’s speech.”
Amelia tried to slow her sobs and calm herself in order to explain herself to her employer. “I am sorry, Fiona, for everything. But, Donald is right...mostly.” She moved her hands from her face to look at Fiona’s worried expression.
“I...I am Lady Amelia Parker, and my father is Lord Jonathan Parker. Before we came to Scotland, he was taken to debtor’s prison and revealed that he has gambled away all our debts. We were sent to live in the cottage where my mother stays, and I needed a way to earn income.” Here, she began to cry softly again, but soon recollected herself.
“That was when I heard from Mrs. Fletcher that you were looking for a companion, and so I applied.” She reached out to touch Fiona’s hand. “I was so grateful for the job, and I have loved every minute of being here with you and your family.” She removed her hand and looked down to continue with the rest of her story.
“Recently, I received word from my father that his debts were far worse than before imagined. I was desperate for money to rescue him from prison, as my mother was desperate for his return. Donald overheard my frustration at this news in the library, and he offered a solution. He told me he would pay me if I helped him. It was around the time that I learned about Jamie’s bet, and in a rage, I signed a contract to assist Donald. Donald told me it was for the good of the clan, and I had hoped it was so, although I confess that it gave me a bad feeling. I tried to get out of it, but I was desperate for money, and he threatened to tell everyone, which he did, although he left out some parts. And now...Jamie is no longer laird, and it is my fault. Jamie will never look at me again, and he will hate me.”
She covered her face again, and Fiona paused before clasping Amelia’s hands with her own. “Amelia, I wish you would have told me of your troubles. We could have provided more help for you and your mother.” She smiled. “I knew you were a lady the moment I met you. But I didn’t want to pry into your personal life.”
“But what about the lairdship? What will you do? Where will you go?”
A flash of anger crossed Fiona’s face. “Donald is not so callous that he would oust his own aunt, not if he wants to keep the clan’s loyalty and respect. As for Jamie…” Her eyes lowered with sadness, “I have seen him ride off, and William has come to tell me of his departure.”
Amelia sighed, allowing the feeling of guilt wash over her. Jamie was gone. He was right to leave. But, she would never see him again. Her heart broke with the thought.
“As for Jamie’s feelings about you, he is in love with you, Amelia. He could never hate you. He only leaves to cool down and think about what has happened.”
Amelia shook her head. “I do not think so. How could he love someone who has betrayed him in such a way and taken away his birthright? He thinks that I took money just for myself. No, it is not possible. I must go.” Amelia stood up to grab her bag.
Fiona stood, her voice trembling, “Go?”
“Yes. I will go to my mother, and we will make plans to leave.”
Fiona’s worried expression returned. “No, Amelia. You do not need to leave. I will help you.”
Amelia turned to her. “I have been shamed in front of you, Fiona, who is like a second mother to me. I cannot, in good faith, stay. I hope you can forgive me for my actions. I am so very sorry.”
Fiona cried out, “Amelia, ‘tis people who matter, not titles and lands. Jamie knows this as well.”
Amelia didn’t respond, and she bid Marianne to come with her.
“I am sorry, Fiona.” She hugged the woman tightly, and then left, with Marianne at her heels.
As they were leaving, a dressed William approached them in the hall. “Amelia…”
Amelia began to cry again and hugged William as well. “I am sorry for what I did, but I am leaving now, with Marianne.”
William’s eyes went to Marianne, and Marianne begged Amelia to go outside. “I will join you in a moment.” Amelia responded.
Marianne cleared her throat. “Mr. F
raser, if you would be so kind as to help me make arrangements to bring my trunk to Lady Parker’s cottage, I would be most grateful. Margrete will assist you.”
William sputtered, “Of..of course, but what the bloody hell is going on? I donnae believe that Amelia would do such a thing.”
“There’s no need to swear, good sir. I can understand your speech perfectly well without it. I’m afraid she was duped into believing something, and she does so to save her father from prison. Lady Kinnaird knows everything. But, I must attend to my friend.” She nodded to William’s surprised face, and then she left to follow Amelia.
* * *
Jamie rode hard and fast, hoping the wind would wash away everything that had happened. Amelia? Donald? Not the true laird? He couldn’t make sense of it now. He was hurting too much and feeling everything all at once. Donald’s desperate plea for power and control, the truth of what his father had done, and...Amelia’s betrayal. Did she really need the money just to become a wealthy woman again? Was everything that had happened between them a lie?
Capturing The Highlander's Heart (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 1) Page 18