“Aye. You look beautiful.”
“This old thing?” She swept the dress from side to side. “Looks all right, doesn’t it?”
The other horses gathered behind them, their riders climbing down and milling around the entrance of the church, talking quietly to each other, waiting for the captain to call them over.
“I wanted to thank you,” Natalie said, squeezing Wallace’s hand in her own. “For building it here.”
“I promised you I would.”
“I know but thank you. When we left that dead body here and you said you’d come back and give him proper burial, I…well I never thought you’d build an abbey on the spot.”
“What better way to honor those who died for the highlands? He may have been in league with our enemies but it is a foolish endeavor to take grudges beyond the grave.”
“If you hadn’t, we’d never have met.”
Before Wallace could reply the captain appeared in full regalia, looking every inch the sailor. He nodded toward the couple. “Shall we begin?”
The crowd gathered around the four of them. Wallace stood beside Natalie, the two of them facing the captain. Behind them Tanya clung to her mother, suddenly shyer than her years. Jock and Daisy stood off to one side, both of them beaming.
Wallace looked around him. MacCallisters, MacGregors, even Frazers were here. Not so long ago these people would have rather been dead than breathe the same air as their rival clans. Natalie had done a lot more than she realized, bringing peace with her on her journey to him.
The storm clouds on the horizon were there. War was just around the corner but then wasn’t it always? Had there ever been a long term peace in the highlands? Better to deal with that if it happened and until then, focus on living, and on loving.
“On the seas we have a saying,” the captain began. The crowd fell silent, all turning to face him. “It is not the destination that matters but the journey. Together these two in front of us set out on their own journeys to two very different destinations. Fate brought them together for a journey that they shared. Their journey was like the sea. It had ups and downs, rough patches and smooth sailing. Now they come into shore bonded like barnacles to a hull.”
“Enough with the nautical references,” Scarlett called out from somewhere in the crowd. “Get on with it, Colin before I sink your marriage.”
The captain lost his thread for a moment, coughing before continuing. “Wallace, you have the chance today to bond for life with the woman beside you. Will you give her a ring that represents God’s eternal love beside your own.”
“I will,” Wallace said, turning to face Natalie. “Since we met, there has not been a single moment I have regretted. You have shown me many things I never would have seen without you by my side, not least how to be happy.”
As he finished speaking, he slid the silver ring onto her finger. It had been made from melting down the shard of the silver key they had kept.
The captain turned to Natalie. “With your acceptance of this ring, you bind together the two clans, MacCallister and MacGregor. Will you keep the ring on your finger and accept the love of both clans and the Lord above us all?”
“I will,” she said, looking at Wallace and smiling. “Forever.”
“Then I proclaim to all here present that you are man and wife until heaven calls you up many years from now. I ask you two to join me inside and there we will say the marriage mass together.”
Wallace noticed someone waving from the back of the crowd. As the captain walked toward the church Wallace paused. “What is it?” he asked the figure. “This better be important.”
It was one of the scouts whispering in his ear. He nodded and the scout moved away, vanishing into the crowd.
“What was that about?” Natalie asked.
“He says a silver key has been found.”
The captain shook his head. “We’ve heard of so many silver keys in the last year that I’m surprised the highlands don’t sink under the weight of them all.”
“He seemed serious about this one.”
“Today is not the day for you to worry about such things. Tomorrow I will go and look into it while you two get on with your honeymoon.”
“You will tell me at once if one is found.”
“Of course. Now come on, let’s get you two blessed.”
“I already am,” Wallace replied, his hand slipping into Natalie’s.
The rest of the guests retired to the great hall to wait. When the couple entered an hour later a cheer went up.
The feast went on into the early hours.
Wallace and Natalie slipped away somewhere between the minstrels dancing on the tabletops and the captain serenading the entire room with songs so bawdy Scarlett blushed as red as her name.
In the laird’s bedchamber, Wallace and Natalie sat together. “How does it feel to be laird of two clans?” she asked, warming her hands by the fire.
“A big responsibility,” he replied. “But what about you? Are you glad?”
“That I married you?” She shrugged. “I could have done better, I guess, but I’m a glutton for punishment.”
“You’d have to be to want to live here.”
“I like it here. I’ve always liked this castle. Never thought I’d be lady to the laird though.”
“How’s things with Tanya?”
“Good. She’s telling me new stories every day.”
“How did she take it when you told her you couldn’t remember her childhood?”
“Better than I expected. Sure, it was a shock at first but once you’ve traveled back in time, you can get used to anything. She told me she didn’t mind. Gives her a chance to regale me with a life I’ve never known.”
“What about you?”
“It takes some getting your head round. She has a whole history with me that I have no clue about.”
“And a lifetime ahead.” He stood up, untying the baldric and letting it fall to the floor.
“A lifetime with you sounds good.” She stood too, loosening her dress. “Though I’d settle for one good night.”
“Then I better make sure you get one.”
They kissed, their clothes melting away along with their inhibitions. Downstairs the party continued, the sound of the captain’s singing drifting softly up the stairwell.
The next morning they gathered at the dock to bid farewell to the captain. He stood on deck with Scarlett by his side.
“I wish I was going with them,” Tanya said, waving wildly.
“When you’re older,” Natalie said. “Sure you’ll be all right with Jock and Daisy?”
“They let me climb more than you. Stay away as long as you like.”
“We’ll be back within a week.”
“And then what?”
“Then we see what the future has in store for all of us.”
Wallace climbed onto his horse, pulling Natalie up to sit in front of him, putting an arm around her waist. “Be good for your grandparents,” he said, pointing down at Tanya. “No climbing anywhere too dangerous.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” she replied. “I’ll see you soon.”
The captain waved as the patched up Merry Jane moved slowly out onto the water. He watched Wallace and Natalie riding one way, the rest of the gathered crowd moving the other. Tanya was between Cam and Rachel. “I’ve a strange feeling about that one,” he said to Scarlett.
“What kind of feeling?” Scarlett replied, looking back at the shore and giving them all a final wave.
“I don’t know. I just hope she’ll be safe. I couldn’t bear to see anything happen to her.”
“Wallace will keep her safe. What about me? Who will keep me safe while we go hunting for this key?”
“Do you want to be safe?”
“Not really. I want an adventure.”
“That I can do.”
The wind caught the sails, the ship cutting swiftly through the water until, in no time at all, it vanished over the horiz
on.
The End
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Author’s Note
This is the fourth story in the MacGregor Clan series.
The first book, The Key in the Loch, featured Cam and Rachel and was set around 1180.
The second book, The Key in the Door, starred their son, Eddard, and Morag and was set around the start of the thirteenth century.
The Key to Her Heart featured the son of Eddard and Morag, and was mostly set in and around 1240.
The Key to Her Past stars Wallace and Natalie and is set in and around 1270.
MacGregor Castle and MacCallister Castle are fictional but I have tried to make them as realistic as possible regarding the time period.
Sweetheart Abbey does exist although its location has been moved to fit in with the rest of the story.
I take inspiration from many places for my stories. For The Key to Her Past, I was inspired by, amongst other things, The Ghost and Mrs Muir, The Canterville Ghost, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England, Rebecca, The Fog, and Gone With the Wind. It was mostly written to the sound of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and a selection of Glenn Miller hits.
In response to those who ask about my method, I have a routine I try my best to stick to. First I outline the plot of the entire book in around 5,000 words.
Mornings are then spent getting a minimum of one chapter done, preferably two. This normally adds up to around 3,000 to 6,000 words per day.
In the afternoons, I edit what has already been written.
Evenings are spent researching and exercising to make up for sitting still all day. I do my best to keep weekends free for research trips to the locations I might use in current or future books.
If I have any spare time, I try to catch up on my always growing pile of “must reads,” while mulling over ideas for future books.
The fifth book in the series is due out around October 2019. Sign up to my newsletter here to be the first to find out more.
Also Available
The key to understanding the past is to live through it...
History student Rachel Fisher has dreamed of the past all her life. When a mysterious box sends her back through time to twelfth century Scotland she thinks her dreams have come true, especially when she falls straight into the arms of a burly Highland Laird who vows to protect her from the evil that's chasing her.
Grizzled warrior Cam MacGregor knows one thing. He must not fall for the beguiling lass from the future. Already whispers are spreading among the clan. He has taken her in because she's bewitched him. The omens are coming true. The Sassanach does not belong. She must be sacrificed.
In a world that wants her dead, Rachel’s only hope lies with the brawny Highlander. As their mutual desire grows into an all-consuming need, Rachel is forced into an impossible choice. Save herself and run from the man she’s come to love or sacrifice her own life to save his clan from oblivion?
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
* * *
A sweeping tale of romance, mystery, and intrigue, set against the backdrop of medieval Scotland.
A detective with a secret…
When private eye Jessica Abrahams is sent a mysterious key, it’s the start of a journey that ends with her traveling back through time to thirteenth-century Scotland. She arrives in a land on the brink of ruin, the starving people held in the grip of a cruel despot. She has many questions but the one she needs answering most? Why does everyone keep calling her Morag?
A Highlander imprisoned by his past…
Banished from his clan, Eddard MacGregor remains stronger than any other man in the Highlands. But is he strong enough to resist falling for the mysterious woman who’s appeared from nowhere with the key to his freedom in her hand?
A world in turmoil…
All Eddard needs to do is get the clan to believe Jessica is their missing princess, Morag. Achieve that and all his problems are solved. But when Jessica’s true identity is revealed, Eddard’s plan is thrown into disarray, and he must choose what’s more important. His freedom or the life of the woman he’s come to love?
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
* * *
The key to her heart is waiting in medieval Scotland.
Delivered to the past…
When Daisy Stone delivers a parcel to a crumbling highland castle, she’s not looking for love. But when a silver key unlocks a door to the past, she steps through and finds the man of her dreams waiting on the other side.
A gift from the future…
Laird Jock MacGregor has fallen for a beguiling woman no one can find. One minute she was right there in front of him, the next she was gone. The sole clue to finding her again is sitting in the palm of his hand. If only he can work out what it means.
The key to it all…
Ever since Daisy returned home she's tried to forget the brawny medieval highlander who stole her heart. She's certain she will never see him again. Until she gets a knock on her door.
ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.
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Text - Copyright © Blanche Dabney
Cover Design - Copyright © Melody Simmons
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The Key to Her Past Page 13