Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes

by Ceci Giltenan

  To Kristen, Grace said, “This is Aunt Lara.”

  “Aunt Wawa,” echoed Kristen.

  Lady Sinclair came to where Bram stood, still holding Kristen, and touched her cheek. “Oh, my precious child. It is lovely to meet ye.”

  “I know,” said Kristen, nodding.

  Grace laughed. “Kristen, ye should either say thank ye, or it’s lovely to meet ye too.”

  “It’s wovewy to meet ye too.”

  Lady Sinclair smiled.

  Annice came around the table and introduced herself to Kristen. “I’m Annice and ye can just call me Annice. I’m yer mama’s cousin.”

  “Annice,” said Kristen. “That name’s easy.”

  Annice laughed. “I guess it is. Can I have a wee hug, poppet?” Kristen reached her arms to Annice who took her from Bram. Annice gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek before putting Kristen down to stand next to Grace.

  Grace reached out and took the elder Lady Sinclair’s hand. “Kristen, this dear lady is my grandmother.”

  “I fought Gwanny was yer gwammuver.”

  “Granny is my grandmother. She is Grandda’s mama. This is Gramma’s mama.”

  “I miss Gwamma,” said Kristen somberly.

  Bram was reminded poignantly of the day he found Grace and Kristen playing with kittens in the hayloft.

  Tears stood in Malina Sinclair eye’s as she reached out and stroked Kristen’s hair. “I do too, Kristen.”

  Without preamble, Kristen climbed into the old woman’s lap and touched a tear that spilled down her cheek. “But we aren’t going to cwy anymore. Do ye wanna know why?”

  “Aye, tell me, sweetling.”

  “Becuz, they are in heaven wiff God and the angels and heaven is a wuvwy pwace.”

  Bram remembered this was exactly what Grace had told Kristen in the loft.

  Malina kissed Kristen’s cheek. “Aye, that’s a very good reason not to cry.”

  Kristen settled into her lap as if she had done it many times before. “My mama told me that.”

  “Yer mama is right. Has yer mama ever told ye what matters most?”

  “Aye. Kindness matters most.”

  Malina smiled. “And what never helps?”

  “Panicking never helps. My mama says that to me.”

  Malina hugged her close. “My mama said that to me too.”

  *

  At one point in the afternoon, Michael entered the hall and approached Bram.

  Bram smiled. “Michael, ye’re looking much better.”

  “I can’t say the same for ye. Rough few days?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Bram, I—”

  “I know Michael, I’m sorry for what my father did.”

  “Ah, well, he meant well and he was right, I would have cared for Grace. We are friends, and as she told me, marriages have been built on less. But Bram, I need ye to know, I don’t love her. What I mean is, I do love her but not romantically. I would protect her with my life, but I am thrilled that ye married her, because she loves ye without reserve.”

  “Thank ye, Michael. Thank ye too for trying to help her when the Morrisons came.”

  “Like I said, I will protect her with my life. And while it seems she has a few more people on her side now, I just need ye to know my friend”—Michael gave him a huge grin—“if ye ever hurt her, I will kill ye.”

  Bram laughed. “Aye, I’m afraid ye might have to get in line behind her uncle, and once they meet her, her cousins, but I do love her and I swear, I will do my best to see that no one ever hurts her again.”

  “See that ye do, because I am serious.”

  Bram sobered. “I know ye are, and ye’re a good man, Michael.”

  Michael grinned again. “The absolute finest and who knows, maybe I’ll find a bonny lass among the guests for the wedding feast yer da is planning.”

  Michael left the hall but at his mention of a wedding feast, Bram realized his father had been absent from the hall much of the afternoon. In fact, both of his parents disappeared for a while with Innes. Bram assumed they were giving Grace some time with the Sinclairs and thought no more of it. He returned to Grace’s side, unwilling to be separated from her for long.

  When time came for the evening meal, much to Bram’s surprise, his da escorted Innes to the refectory table, showing her to a place between his mother and Ian. He signaled for Bram to join them. To his surprise his father said, “Bram, I want Grace seated beside me tonight.”

  “Aye, Da, whatever ye wish.”

  As the hall began to fill, Kristen sat at one end of the table chatting happily with the Sinclair women. Grace stood to one side, her arms clutched at her waist. She appeared worried. Bram returned to her and put his arms around her. “What’s upsetting ye, Grace?”

  “I’m just…well, the last few weeks haven’t been pleasant. The clan…well, I’m worried. I don’t want Kristen to hear the names people have called me.”

  “That will end tonight, Grace. If I’m not much mistaken, news of what happened here this afternoon is already spreading. Come to the table with me.” He led her toward the place where his father sat.

  She stopped short. “Nay, Bram. Please, let’s sit somewhere else. Yer da won’t like it.”

  “My da requested it. He wants ye seated beside him.” The look of horror on her face nearly made him laugh. “He’s trying to make amends.” At her incredulity he added, “I’ll be right beside ye.”

  “But—”

  Bram put a finger to her lips. “Grace, ye argue too much.”

  She sighed and took the seat he held for her. She looked so nervous, Bram began to worry about the wisdom of granting his father’s request.

  *

  When Michael arrived for the feast, he wasn’t surprised to see much of the clan in the hall. As a guardsman, Michael often sat at the laird’s table during meals. But with the addition of the visiting Sinclairs, and in light of all that had happened, he had intended to sit at one of the trestles, which were rapidly filling. Then Kristen caught his eye. She waved and called, “Sir Michael,” from the end of the Laird’s table where she sat next to one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Fair skin, chestnut hair, and eyes as green as Grace’s.

  He approached the table and bowed. “My lady, Kristen, ye look very happy tonight.”

  “I am happy. My mama came home. And I found out wots of new fings.”

  He grinned at her. “Like what?”

  “Wike, this is my cousin Annice.” She gestured to the breathtaking lass beside her. “I wike Annice. Annice, this is Michael. I wike him too.”

  “Good evening, my lady,” Michael bowed low.

  Lady Annice blushed and smiled. “Good evening, Sir Michael.”

  “And I found out, I have anover gweat gwandmover, and new uncoes and a new aunt, and Waird and Wady Suverwand are my gwandpawents too. That’s because Mama mawwied Sir Bwam. Oh, and he is my da now.”

  Both Michael and Annice chuckled at her litany. Michael said, “It seems ye have much to be happy about then. Please excuse me. I need to find a place to sit for this fine feast.”

  “Sit here,” said Kristen, pointing to the chair beside her.”

  “Nay, Kristen, I—”

  “Oh, please join us,” said Annice.

  “If ye insist,” said Michael. Only a direct order from his laird would have prevented him from denying that request.

  “It has been quite a day,” said Annice, “and I’m sure Kristen will like having a friend close.”

  Michael smiled. “Kristen is a fine wee lass, I’m certain she has adapted well.”

  “Aye, she has,” said Annice.

  “And what about ye, lass? I fear none of this is what ye were expecting. How have ye fared today?”

  She laughed merrily. The sound was enchanting. “It is so very kind of ye to ask. No one else has, but I am fine. It isn’t as if I was longing to marry Bram. I didn’t even know him. Well, I suppose I met him a few years ago at my sister’s
wedding, but I was just a lass. Nay, I’m not the least bit upset. On the contrary, finding my cousin has been wonderful. The fact that she and Bram love each other…” Annice sighed. “Well, that is just the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” She blushed. “I suppose that sounds silly.”

  “Not at all,” said Michael.

  “I don’t fink it’s siwwy eiver,” said Kristen.

  Just then, a hush fell over the hall as Laird Sutherland took his usual place at the table, standing to address those assembled. “Good evening.”

  The clan responded with a murmured, “Good evening, Laird.”

  “Tonight, I must do something that is very difficult. I must confess to ye all that over the last few weeks I have whispered lies, and aided in spreading malice about the lovely young woman beside me.”

  More murmurs passed through the crowd.

  “I thought my reasons were sound. My son had fallen in love with her, and she with him. But in order to gain an alliance with the Sinclairs, something I firmly believed was for the good of the clan, I intended for him to marry Annice Sinclair.”

  “That’s you,” Kristen whispered loudly to Annice. Titters of laughter spread through the hall.

  Laird Sutherland smiled indulgently at Kristen before continuing. “I had hoped vainly that Bram would set her aside if her character were called into question. To his credit, he knew better. He was confident of her love and fidelity. So that failing, I did something reprehensible. As her laird, I ordered Grace to lie to my son, to tell him she loved another and would not be his bride. I threatened her with a forced marriage to someone of my choosing. I even threatened her life. I told her it was for the good of the clan and convinced her it was better for her to break his heart than for me to order him to set her aside.” He laid his hand on Grace’s shoulder.

  “Perhaps worst of all, I listened to blatant lies about her, told by men I had no reason to trust. I made no attempt at all to discern the truth, but let them drag her away, forcing her to leave her precious child behind.” He looked at Grace. “Grace, I humbly apologize for wronging ye in so many ways.”

  Stunned and speechless, Grace just nodded.

  Laird Sutherland continued. “Again, Bram saw through the lies and rescued her. What’s more, he saw through the lies I had told her. He knew I could never take her life, so he married Grace last night before bringing her home.”

  There were no shocked gasps, suggesting the laird’s revelation came as no surprise. Michael smiled to himself. That news had spread at lightning speed.

  “Meanwhile, the Sinclairs arrived, believing in good faith that Bram wished to meet Annice. Laird Sinclair, I heartily apologize for misleading ye.”

  Laird Sinclair bowed his head briefly in acknowledgement. “Accepted.”

  “Still, in spite of everything, the Divine’s hand has been at work. Ye all knew that Tristan and his bride fled in fear of her father and Grace was raised knowing nothing about her family. What we have learned today is that Kristen’s mother was Catriona Sinclair.”

  This time there were some shocked gasps. Clearly that bit of news hadn’t circulated fully.

  “So as humbling as this day has been, it has also brought me great joy. My son is married to a lass he adores and with whom he deserves to be happy. I have a good daughter who is not only talented, kind, and as stalwart as any warrior, she is a loving and gentle mother. I have a granddaughter who won my heart from the first moment I saw her. And whether I deserved it or not, I have a staunch ally in Laird Ranulf Sinclair. Please raise yer tankards in honor of the happy couple.” He raised his own. “To Bram and Grace.”

  “To Bram and Grace,” the people answered, banging the tables.

  When the uproar settled, Laird Sutherland raised his tankard again. “And to Laird Ranulf and Clan Sinclair, long may ye prosper.”

  “Clan Sinclair,” the crowd answered.

  As the cheering died down again Laird Sutherland said, “We will begin the meal shortly and while, very technically, this is Bram and Grace’s wedding supper, we will formally celebrate their union and our alliance with Clan Sinclair with a great feast on Lammas in just over a fortnight.”

  A roar of appreciation rose from the crowd.

  “Wiww you be hewe then?” Kristen asked Annice.

  “Aye, pet, we are staying here until then. We have only just found ye, we aren’t ready to leave ye yet.” Annice gave the wee lass a hug.

  Michael was inordinately happy to learn that Annice Sinclair would be at Castle Sutherland for a while longer.

  *

  Grace leaned over and whispered, “Did ye know he was going to do that?”

  “What? Apologize or announce a celebratory feast?”

  “Both, I guess.”

  “I had a suspicion there would be a feast, particularly in light of our new bond with the Sinclairs. I didn’t know he was going to apologize, but I’m glad he did.”

  Grace appeared to become less ill at ease as the meal progressed. When the sweet had been served, she glanced to the end of the table where a very sleepy Kristen sat with Annice. “I need to take Kristen home and put her to bed.”

  “Grace, this is yer home now. We can put her on a pallet in our chamber until we sort everything out.”

  “But my grandmother—”

  “Will have a place here too. Don’t worry.”

  He reached around her, tapping his father’s arm. “Da, please excuse us, we need to put Kristen to bed.”

  “Ah, now I’m glad ye mentioned that. Yer mother has been busy all afternoon. Rodina, my love, it is time.”

  Grace looked a bit confused. Bram whispered, “Don’t worry so,” and kissed her. “I’ll get Kristen.”

  He lifted Kristen from her chair. “Say goodnight, my sweet wee lassie.”

  “Good night, but I’m not tired,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

  He smiled. “I can see that, but Gran has a surprise to show us.”

  They followed his parents from the room and up the stairs to the living quarters. Instead of stopping on the first level, where his chamber was, they continued to the second.

  His mother explained. “I wanted ye to feel at home and I know Kristen has been in the habit of sleeping near ye. Innes and I discussed it this afternoon and decided it would be best to give ye adjoining rooms. One has been prepared for Innes and Kristen and the other for ye and Bram. Ye’ll have privacy but still be close.”

  She showed them to the richly appointed chambers. “I had all of yer belongings brought up from the cottage. Yer loom has been moved to my solar, it gets excellent natural light. And Bram, I had yer belongings moved as well.”

  “Thank ye, my lady. These rooms are beautiful,” Grace said.

  “Ye are very welcome Grace, and ye needn’t call me ‘my lady’. Rodina is fine, or even Mother if ye wish.”

  Bram kissed his mother on the cheek. “Thank ye, Mother.”

  She smiled, clearly happy that they were pleased. “Now, Eanraig, we need to give them privacy. Good night, my darlings.” Kristen was almost asleep in Bram’s arms. His mother kissed the child’s cheek, gave Innes a quick hug, and took both of Grace’s hands in hers, kissing her on each cheek. Turning to her husband, she said, “Eanraig, I said we need to go.”

  “Aye, Rodina, whatever ye wish.” He nodded to them. “Good night.” He called over his shoulder as they walked away, “oh, never fear, I had Father Damian bless the bed.”

  Bram laid a sleeping Kristen on the bed and kissed her forehead. Grace removed the child’s shoes and outer dress before tucking her in. “Grandmother, are ye sure this is all right with ye?”

  “Grace, lass, of course it is. I can think of nothing better than spending the rest of my years helping to tend my great-grandchildren and being pampered a bit myself.”

  Grace hugged her grandmother. “Then we’ll say goodnight.”

  Bram kissed Innes on the cheek, making her smile and blush.

  When they reached the door o
f their chamber, he scooped Grace into his arms, capturing her lips with his.

  When he released her lips, Grace looked bemused. “What are ye doing?”

  “Carrying ye over the threshold.”

  “Ye did that last night.”

  “But we are home now.”

  Epilogue

  Early March 1342, Castle Sutherland

  The Sutherlands retired to the family solar after the evening meal had been cleared away. Grace sat by the fire, her husband’s arm around her, watching their son Conall play with Uncle Ian on the floor. Conall was ten months old and chortled merrily every time Ian rolled a small wooden ball to him.

  “If ye think this is fun Conall, wait till yer mama teaches ye to throw knives.”

  “Ian, don’t tease him so,” said his wife, Saundra, who was ready to deliver their first child any day.

  “’Tis no jest, Saundra,” said Bram.

  “Grace doesn’t throw knives,” said Saundra.

  “Well perhaps not on a daily basis,” said Lady Sutherland, who was putting the final touches on several tiny garments, “but she’s more accurate than any man I’ve ever seen.”

  “Flying neeps don’t stand a chance around yer mama,” said Ian.

  “Mama,” echoed Conall.

  Saundra looked to Innes, who sat in a chair near the fire with Kristen’s gray cat, Sprite, lounging in her lap. “Innes, are they all having one over on me?”

  Innes chuckled. “Nay, they aren’t. To quote the laird, Grace can ‘Split a fly’s hair at twenty paces.’”

  Saundra looked at Grace in awe. “Will ye teach me?”

  Ian laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.

  “What are ye laughing at?” she demanded.

  “I was just imagining ye throwing knives at flying neeps, my love.”

  “Saundra, ye don’t need to start by trying to hit flying neeps. Aiming at a big laughing arse of a husband might be easier,” said Bram.

  “Bram, mind yer language,” scolded his mother, “little ears.”

  “It’s all right, Grandma,” said Kristen, who was almost five years old. “I’ve heard Da say ‘arse’ before.”

  Lady Sutherland looked pointedly at her errant son while Laird Sutherland tried desperately not to laugh at the wee light of his life who sat on his lap.