‘Then how the blazes did he hear about this alleged visit?’ Fraser stood up and paced. He had too much energy—annoyed, fired up, pent up energy—to sit. ‘The plot thickens.’
‘I rather got the impression your mama passed the information on, strictly unofficially, and he was not to let you know he knew,’ Morven said delicately. Her head swivelled to follow his path. ‘Fraser, stop it, you’re making me dizzy. What do we do now?’
He turned and stood in front of her, his expression one of unholy glee and speculation. ‘How do you feel about a little more play-acting?’
All for it, it seemed. Her eyes crinkled up at the corners and she chuckled. ‘Why, how, where and when?’
Fraser laughed at her obvious, over the top acting. ‘I do like eagerness.’
‘Oh good,’ Morven cooed the words and wiggled her eyebrows. ‘I’ll remember.’
He shook his head in amusement as he thought fast. Would it work? It was worth a try anyway. ‘Minx. So if they are expecting us, us they shall have. However, I think we’ll ask for the curricle and a groom. Oh so proper. As I am not exactly renowned for following the diktats of polite society, that will bewilder them. Can you think up a list of polite chit-chat subjects?’
Morven groaned. ‘That is something I have etched on my heart from my time in the season. I detest it, but for you, I will overcome my hatred. Then what?’
‘Follow my lead.’ In fact he wasn’t really sure how things would pan out. He intended to get to Wullie Curtin somehow, but he might now need to use deviousness not stealth.
****
She had to hand it to him, Fraser’s dealings with his head groom and the hive of activity they found was masterful. Within minutes he’d commended the state of the place asked for his curricle and a groom, and they were on their way openly down the long drive towards the lane.
Morven waited until they accessed the lane before she spoke. Her part in the scenario was limited, but she intended to play it to perfection. ‘Such a lovely morning, my lord, and it is so agreeable to be able to enjoy it thus.’ Out of the corner of her eye she watched Fraser supress a grin. He knew that such very correct speech was not usual from her. He winked. Encouraged, she pressed on. ‘After all, now, when the air is clear and no pesky midges are about to make my life a misery, is the perfect time of day. I do think midges spoil so much, don’t you?’
Fraser’s lips twitched. ‘Indubitably. Then we will take care not to go near the loch.’ As they had planned he turned the curricle onto another track and skirted a large field dotted with highland cattle. It was, she knew, one of the few larger herds in the area. Most people stuck to sheep with perhaps only a house cow or two to provide milk and an alternative to ewe’s cheese.
‘The calves look so pretty, and then they grow up all big and hairy.’ Morven mentally rolled her eyes at such a stupid statement. ‘But really, I mustn’t moan. I enjoy the milk and the cheese and—’ she gave what she hoped was a realistic shudder ‘—the meat.’
This trying to portray a not a care in the world, nothing between the ears deb was wearing. Thankfully, if all went to plan it wouldn’t be for long. Pleased with her efforts so far, Morven sat back and twirled the ribbons on her jacket. The ones that would be tightly knotted if she were on horseback. However in lieu of a parasol to play with—that hadn’t been thought necessary when they’d made their hurried exit from the castle—and the fact she needed to keep her hands occupied, they had to do. She counted to three hundred in her mind and took a deep breath. ‘Speak as we pass the three rowan trees in a row,’ Fraser had told her. They were fast approaching them.
‘Do you have any destination in mind, my lord, or may we stop and walk for a moment?’ she asked in a demure tone. ‘Such lovely wild flowers.’ Weeds, she thought, but who would realise she understood the difference? Really, it was well the groom was someone whom she didn’t know, so presumably he didn’t know her. Meek and mild really didn’t describe her personality at all.
Beside her Fraser twitched. ‘We’ll stroll here. McGurl can walk the horses for us.’ He pulled over to one side, and waited until McGurl went to the horses’ heads. Only then did Fraser jump down and lift Morven to the ground. ‘In fact,’ he said as if the idea had just come to him. ‘It might be as well if you head to home farm and get the eggs for the castle, McGurl, and save anyone going later. Meanwhile, I’ll take Lady Morven to see the Fairy Stone and we’ll meet you by the old cemetery in an hour or so.’ If Fraser’s instructions contradicted anything McGurl had been told by anyone else he had the sense not to say so. He touched his cap and jumped up onto the seat of the curricle.
Fraser stood back and watched the equipage turn the corner before he held his arm out to Morven, his expression one of unholy glee. ‘Come, we have just enough time to do all we need.’
Morven ignored the correct grip and instead turned her hand into his. ‘I can repeat chapter and verse on the Fairy Stone as long as it hasn’t changed,’ she said as they approached a long stone wall. She held her skirts up, just enough not to drag and catch on the tussocks that dotted the uneven ground, and pretended not to see Fraser’s eyes widen and his expression become one of devilish appreciation.
‘Merely more weathered,’ he commented. ‘You would of course note the moss on the northern side needs clearing away.’
She nodded as they began to walk along the grassy track that edged a wall, which barred the way between them and a field. ‘That’s acceptable, if I need to comment I can do. So we can ignore it and do what we really need to. How do we get to Wullie Curtin’s from here?’
Fraser indicated a stile into the tiny triangular-shaped field they had reached. ‘Across Katysfield, and his cottage is just beyond the copse. A five-minute walk, no longer.’
Morven searched her mind. ‘Oh I remember now. Katysfield, where old Katy Drummond kept her chickens and geese.’
‘That’s it, although Katy and her poultry are long gone. Her granddaughter Cate now looks after all the fowl at the home farm.’ He climbed the stile and held out his arms to help her over. ‘Half a mile or so out of the village down the valley.’
Did his palms linger a second or two too long on her waist as he helped her down to the stony path? Morven couldn’t tell, as once she was on terra firma, he moved his hands and kept her at a decorous distance, her fingers firmly on top of his tweed-clad arm. She missed the closeness they had enjoyed a few moments earlier. However, one look at his face told her not to push him, but nevertheless a little imp inside her decided prodding was necessary.
‘This seems incredibly formal for a stroll across a field.’ She indicated their position. ‘Almost as if we are in Hyde Park or about to enter a ball under the eagle eyes of the ton.’
They walked another five paces before Fraser replied. ‘That’s as may be, and I agree it makes me feel ridiculous, but as I swear at least six pairs of eagle eyes of the villagers will be firmly fixed on our perambulations now we are in view of several cottages, it’s better we do this.’
Morven did her best to look towards the road without moving her head. She failed. ‘How do you know? You can’t see twitching curtains from here, surely?’
He laughed. ‘I know my people.’ They reached the far side of the field and this time it was a kissing gate to navigate. Fraser held it open. ‘It’s a pity we are on view. Otherwise I would utilise this gate as it is meant to be. So, hold that thought, please.’ He stood back to let Morven precede him. ‘And as I hoped here’s Wullie come to meet us.’ A tall giant of a man, his hair redder, more flaming than Fraser’s, strode over the uneven tussocks towards them, his arms held out in welcome.
‘There, laddie-laird, didnae I say to my Jessie you’d be back?’ He buffed Fraser on the back hard enough to make a lesser man stagger. Fraser returned the embrace, and looked towards Morven.
‘This is…’
‘Och, I ken fine who it is.’ Wullie pulled her into a bear hug. ‘I’m not likely to forget such a bonnie lassie. Come
away in.’ Wullie took hold of Morven’s hand and tucked it into his overlarge one, and encircled her with his other arm. She swore her feet left the ground as he almost frogmarched them back the way he’d appeared. Behind them Fraser chuckled. No doubt he was getting an eyeful of her ankles.
Ah well, she thought philosophically, he’s seen much more.
‘Miss Morven, you’re back as well. You’ll be his lady for real now then eh? It’s been a long time coming. My you’ve changed. Grown into yoursel’ as they say.’
Morven opened her mouth to contradict Wullie as they turned the corner of a tidy thatched low building, but didn’t have a chance as he bellowed at the top of his voice.
‘Jessie, they’re here.’
Morven shut her mouth hastily, as his booming tones banked her mind. All thoughts of denial departed as a tall elegant lady with hair as dark as Morven’s own stepped out of the house, smiled at her and glared at Wullie.
Morven blinked. She was so like the lady she’d met when she was out with Murren, but it wasn’t the same person. Two people identical and called Jessie?
‘Wullie Curtin, put the lassie down at once. She’s not one of your beasts to be carried hither and thither where you want her. She’s a lady and needs to be treated as such.’ The voice was different. More refined.
Wullie reddened and grinned bashfully. Gone was the big man, in his place a slightly embarrassed gentle giant. He set her feet on the ground, went to settle her skirts, looked at Jessie and took a step back. ‘Ah… I meant no harm, or offence, lassie.’
‘I know and I took neither,’ Morven assured him and deliberately did not twitch her habit into place. Wullie was embarrassed enough without her adding to it by showing her skirt was twisted sideways and her blouse no longer neatly tucked inside the waistband.
‘Then let’s away in and you have a glass of my rosehip wine,’ Jessie said, and turned to Morven. As she swung around Morven noted her hair. No white streak.
Definitely not the same person. What was going on?
‘It used to be the master, ohh sorry his lordship’s favourite.’
‘It still is,’ Fraser said with a grin that took at lest ten years off his age. A little more of the shield she’d tried to build around her heart broke as Morven looked at the man she’d fallen in love with all those years ago.
Damned if it was not going to be difficult to resist any pressures to do what she didn’t think right for them both. What with her feelings for Fraser, both suppressed and acknowledged, the machinations of her sister and their parents and the knotty problem of wed or not, life was fraught.
She might have bemoaned the fact that life had been flat, but she wasn’t sure she wanted it to be this rocky.
With that thought in mind, Morven followed Jessie into the croft.
‘Do you have a twin?’ she blurted. ‘Or a double.’
Jessie groaned. ‘Jessie-Morag. My cousin. What’s she done now?’
By the time they once more sat in the curricle Morven had a headache. Fraser’s subtle and not so subtle probing with regards to Tam Curtin’s whereabouts produced no more information that an “ach, laddie, they’ll be here when they’re here, dinnae fash yersel’.”
Wullie laughed at Fraser’s expression. ‘Mind you get a beast slaughtered for them.’
Morven remembered that, now as the horses began the pull up the hill. ‘Why do you need to kill a cow?’
Fraser glanced at her as he urged his team to a halt whilst McGurl jumped down to open a gate that she thought had not been closed before. ‘To stop them doing it. Or helping themselves to chickens. Even though they know I’ll provide food, some of the older generation still go for the stealth and steal method. This helps to pre-empt that, as they won’t take the food if they have enough.’
‘But you don’t know when you’ll need it?’ Morven queried, somewhat puzzled by his insouciant manner. Surely he’d have to know dates to work towards?
‘I know they’ll be here a few days before the games at the latest,’ Fraser explained. ‘To set up their stalls. I’ll let the meat hang, to bring the flavour out. Eggs, cheese and milk will be ready within moments for them. What do you think of Wullie these days? And Jessie? She brings the best out of him.’
‘Eh?’ The abrupt change of conversation confused her for a moment and she fought to follow it. ‘Oh, he hasn’t changed and she’s lovely. A nice couple. Although,’ she hesitated. To put into words what she’d experienced when Jessie had hugged her and taken her hand before they left sounded somewhat far-fetched and implausible.
‘Although?’ Fraser prompted as he edged the equipage through the gateway and waited for the groom to shut the gate and rejoin them. Morven checked he was far enough away not to overhear her words.
‘When Jessie touched me I felt faint. My vision went fuzzy and I thought I might pass out from the heat.’
Fraser let the reins drop and hastily grabbed them again as the horses jibbed. It took precious seconds to soothe them before he turned to look at Morven.
‘Was that all?’
‘All?’ she said indignantly and crossed her arms over her chest, even as she tapped a foot on the wooden floor in annoyance. ‘Isn’t it enough?’ She wasn’t going to mention the other Jessie, who this Jessie had told her firmly to ignore. ‘She was after some silver that’s all.’
‘Well she was out of luck,’ Morven had said with a chuckle. ‘We had none.’
‘Believe me, you’ll not be bothered again.’ Jessie had replied firmly. ‘Put her out of your mind.’
‘Isn’t it enough?’ Morven asked Fraser now with a snap. ‘What more do you want?’
Fraser shrugged. ‘You tell me.’
She sighed in aggravation. Men. ‘Actually, she added that I was the right one and we both needed to accept it. Plus she gave me a ring, which she said was ours. Not mine, ours. She said I had to hold it next to my heart until we were able to…to be it. But that doesn’t make sense does it?’
Chapter Twelve
Oh Lord no. Whatever he’d expected Morven to say it wasn’t that. Especially if she’d been given the ring. The two interlocking circles that split so the chosen couple wore one each. The rings that were only shared once in a generation, if then. The damned circles that tied you together come what may. How could they commit to that without knowing… Damn Jessie why did she have to choose now, before they knew who they were? ‘Are you sure?’ he said carefully, in a non-confrontational tone. ‘I didn’t notice or hear anything.’ Or see that ring passed over.
‘I’m not likely to forget something so cataclysmic as that,’ Morven said waspishly. ‘Nor would you have perceived anything, because she shielded me from you until I recovered. It was only a few seconds but I’ve never experienced anything like that before.’ Morven shivered and wrinkled her brow. ‘I’m not sure I want to again, to be honest. The world went black.’
Fraser could sympathise. He’d only encountered that once, just after he first met Morven, and again it had been with Jessie. Food for thought, when he had time to think. ‘I would imagine not.’ He checked how close McGurl was. Too close to be sure they would not be overheard. ‘But there is an explanation of sorts. Allegedly. Look, we can’t talk now,’ he said rapidly. ‘Grooms are the very devil when you need to be private. I’ll explain later. Just try to have an open mind and accept there is more to you than you imagine and Jessie picked up on it.’
Morven twisted sideways and spoke through an almost closed mouth. ‘Eh?’
The curricle swayed as the groom got up behind them. Fraser gathered up the reins and clicked his teeth at the horses. ‘She has the sight and I would hazard a guess she saw something in you that is empathetic,’ he said under his voice. He didn’t have to worry if Morven heard him or not. Her mouth dropped open and she went rigid.
Not a good start. Now all he had to worry about was when they could find time to talk without an audience.
Luckily, the opportunity occurred as they walked from the stable
s to the castle, Morven very properly holding his arm with her fingertips and trying, he decided, hard not to show impatience. As soon as they left the environs of the yard, she cleared her throat. ‘The gardens are so pretty,’ she said clearly, so anyone within eavesdropping distance would hear her. ‘What do you need to tell me?’ she asked in a flat whisper. ‘Oh is that an eagle?’ She pointed up to a speck in the sky.
His lips twitched. ‘A crow.’ Something he understood fine well she knew. It had been one of their pleasant pastimes when they had been together before to go up to one of the viewpoints and look at the birds. As well as looking at each other.
‘Ah, then…’
‘Then I will make sure I’ll re-disable the locks on the stair and come to you tonight. After the castle is quiet. But with Jessie’s revelations we need to talk.’
She inclined her head. ‘But what did you find out? About anything.’
‘That Wullie knows fine well where Tam is, and how many people will arrive soon, and isn’t inclined to tell me. That Jessie is nicer and says they are resting up the glen around twenty miles away and will be here the day after tomorrow, with around twenty other adults. She had no idea how many children. That we better get this state of our relationship sorted as soon as possible. That I ache for you, our mamas are approaching, and that darned ring complicates everything more and more. Wear it somewhere hidden and for goodness’ sake don’t lose it.’ He didn’t have time to say any more, before their respective mothers were upon them.
‘Fraser, where have you been?’ Lady Napier asked crossly. ‘I needed you.’
‘And here I am,’ Fraser said in a pleasant voice. He prayed his annoyance at being challenged showed in his expression and warned her his temper was now on a very short fuse.
Lady Napier opened her mouth and shut it hurriedly.
Beside her the duchess examined Morven with narrowed eyes. ‘You look dishevelled.’
‘It’s breezy.’
‘Where…ah…’
The Scottish Lord’s Secret Bride Page 17