My Laird's Love (My Laird's Castle Book 2)

by Bess McBride

  Mrs. Bracken jumped up.

  “Would ye care for a cup of tea, Mistress Scott?” she asked.

  I nodded with a sigh and sat down in the chair that Bracken pulled out for me. Robbie settled under the table at my feet.

  “Captain Thompson advised me to stop giving Morna medicine and to send her home. What do you think, Bracken?”

  Bracken quirked a white eyebrow.

  “Did he say why, mistress?”

  “Oh, I guess you missed most of the discussion outside. It seems word has gotten out that I am ‘treating’ the typhoid fever with medicine. Since there is no known cure, people are speculating that I have been using potions, practicing witchcraft, I guess.” I took a sip of my tea and looked up to see Bracken and his wife exchange uneasy glances.

  “Noooo, I’m not practicing witchcraft. I have some medicine that I brought with me from home, that’s all. It’s not really even medicine. It’s more like a flour pill, a pill that doesn’t do anything, but the patient thinks it helps.” I was trying to remember what the current story was. I eyed the two of them pointedly.

  “Anyway, that’s what I’ve been giving Morna. The captain thinks I need to stop giving her the pills and just send her home.”

  “Och, and I kent ye were giving her real medicine,” Mrs. Bracken said. “Something that would rid the girl of her disease for once and for all. Ye’ve said yerself that I canna have her in the kitchen if she carries the typhoid.”

  I nodded.

  “That’s true. I am afraid she won’t be able to return to work here for a long time, at least until we discover if she is still sick or infects other people.”

  “If it isna too forward of me to ask, mistress, why then did ye insist that the girl come to Lochloon Castle for medicine if it wasna real medicine?”

  I gulped some tea and shrugged. I hated to stop Morna’s treatment, but it was either that or me be hanged or burned for practicing witchcraft. Morna lost.

  “I didn’t want to give her the entire bottle of pills, flour pills or not, and have her hand them out to friends and family. You can imagine that’s what she would have done. Although the pills are harmless and wouldn’t have hurt anyone, I still didn’t want her to waste them. So I wanted her to get them directly from me, and the easiest way to do that was to have her stay here. But I think the captain is right. The sooner she goes home, the sooner this handing out ‘potions’ thing will blow over.”

  Both Bracken and his wife tilted their heads in confusion, and I amended my words.

  “The sooner the rumors of witchcraft will stop.”

  “Aye!” Mrs. Bracken said with a firm nod. “Mr. Bracken will go tell the girl her treatment is done and that she must return home until we think she is well. She hasna any right to ask when she can come back to the castle.”

  I finished my tea and stood, not envying Bracken his task. I felt sorry for Morna, for losing her income, but there was little I could do at the moment. Maybe I could talk to James when he was better, about helping her family out.

  I left Robbie in the kitchen and made my way back to James’ room. He still slept soundly, and I took a seat on the sofa and dozed myself.

  The next few days passed uneventfully. James did not suffer a relapse, as I had feared he might. I spent a great deal of time with him as he recuperated. He gleefully relished his first meal and reveled in a glass of ale. I monitored him carefully and thanked the stars that his system seemed up to taking in solids and liquor.

  He started to rise from his bed and don his robe on a daily basis, taking a short nap only in the afternoons when he tired. He taught me some card games, read to me and talked to me about the castle, his family and their history. Robbie joined us, happy to finally receive attention from James.

  Colin returned on the third day with a few more things for me to wear. I met him outside.

  “I still don’t think you should come inside or visit with James just yet. I don’t know when he won’t be infectious, but let’s assume not until he completes the course of medication. Two weeks.”

  Colin nodded. “I didna intend to stay the night, at any rate.”

  “I don’t suppose you heard about the goings on around here? Captain Thompson from Fort William came to see us a few days ago, asking about the medicine. It seems word has gotten out, probably from Morna, that I was treating both her and James with a cure for typhoid, and the commander at Fort William wanted to know what that was about. Since there is no known cure for typhoid right now, there have been some rumblings of ‘potion’ making and possible witchcraft in the local village.”

  Colin’s bronzed face paled.

  “Och, Maggie! Nooo!”

  I nodded, none too happy to see how serious Colin took the news. His reaction frightened me.

  “James told them the medication was flour tablets, and the doctor verified it. Captain Thompson doesn’t really believe that, but he seems to be protective of me and was going to report back to his commander that the pills were not, in fact, a cure for typhoid or a magic ‘potion.’”

  “I ken that Beth struggles at times with the superstitious nature of the Highlands, the notion of witchcraft and potion making, and I suppose ye dinna understand how strong those beliefs are either. Please take care, Maggie. I wonder if ye should return to Gleannhaven Castle with me now. Leave this area.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t leave James, Colin. Not right now. He’s still not well.” I wasn’t quite sure when that time would come, when I would feel he was well enough for me to leave. Every day I spent in his company seemed to bind me closer to him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Colin had been gone only a half hour when Bracken found me in my room to tell me that he saw an English soldier across the lake. I hurried downstairs to see Duncan rowing Captain Thompson across. He was alone, and I saw no other soldiers on the other side.

  “Good day, Mistress Scott!” the captain hailed as he stepped out of the boat. Duncan settled back into the boat to wait for his passenger, thankfully.

  “You look well,” Captain Thompson said. “As I promised, I have returned to see how you fare.” The officer, with his blond good looks and bright-blue eyes, was indeed charming.

  Handling my skirts better with each passing day, I descended the stairs without difficulty and met him at the bottom.

  “I’m absolutely fine, Captain Thompson. There’s really no need for you to check up on me. I see you came without the rest of your soldiers?”

  “Yes,” he said with a look over his shoulder toward the boat. “Frankly, I did not wish the commander to know that I was coming here. I want him to forget about you, forget about the rumors of a cure for typhoid fever or the practice of witchcraft...not that he believes in witchcraft either.”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “I guess I should thank you. For looking out for me.”

  “I am pleased to do so. May we sit for a moment?” He indicated the bottom step of the stairs. I looked up toward the castle, feeling a bit guilty, before nodding. After my last conversation with James, I wasn’t sure if he would be mad or glad that the captain was here.

  The captain took my hand and lowered me to a step before taking a seat beside me.

  “You may remember when I was here some days ago, I told you I found something about you to be extraordinary, a mystery which I cannot solve. I understand that you are from the Colonies, that you are a distant cousin of Laird Anderson, and that you are visiting, but these rather banal facts do not begin to describe the enigma that you are. I do not suppose you might wish to tell me more about yourself?”

  My cheeks flamed at his inquisition. I was tempted to tell him everything, but I held my breath.

  “I don’t think there’s anything else to tell, Captain Thompson. I’m a very ordinary woman with a very ordinary life.”

  “Oh, I doubt that very much,” he said with a half smile. “I do wish you would confide in me, but then why should you? I am a stranger.”

  “Yes, you are.” />
  “I no longer wish to pursue the issue of the medication, for I would rather not fan that flame, but I do believe it is part and parcel of who you are.”

  Without answering, I looked away from him and out over the lake, bright blue under a pleasant sunny sky, a view so peaceful and normal that I could almost forget I was in the eighteenth century...except for the English officer sitting beside me.

  I heard Captain Thompson sigh beside me. “If I may ask, how long do you intend to stay in Scotland?”

  “Awhile,” I said. “I’m not sure.”

  “Captain Thompson!” a voice roared from the top of the stairs. I swung around to see James standing there in trousers and his robe, bracing a hand on the wall. Bracken stood beside him, along with Robbie.

  I could see that mad was the order of the day. James’ thunderous expression certainly didn’t look glad. So now he didn’t think the captain was an ideal husband? Maybe it was his illness, but his emotions seemed to be more unpredictable every day.

  “To what do we owe the pleasure?” James asked in a more modulated voice, apparently bringing his displeasure under control with great effort. “I dinna think it proper for ye to visit with my cousin alone, do ye? Mistress Scott comes from the Colonies, as ye must ken by now, and she willna be familiar with our customs. But ye are.”

  Captain Thompson rose slowly and bowed toward James. He held out a hand to me, and together, we climbed the steps. I felt like a child, as if I’d done something wrong, and I didn’t like the feeling of censure. I reminded myself that I was a grown woman and could do what I wanted. I faced James with a mulish expression. He ignored me and looked over my head toward Captain Thompson.

  “I meant no disrespect to your kinswoman, Laird Anderson, but simply wished to inquire after her well-being, given the recent events. We were in plain view of any and all, and the meeting quite innocent.”

  There was no doubt that Captain Thompson wasn’t in the least intimidated by James. Both men were of similar height and stared at each other evenly.

  A vision of Sam’s face popped into my mind, and I wondered what he would think of me now—two eighteenth-century men challenging each other over little ole me. I knew he would laugh and tell me not to take myself too seriously. I missed him at that moment, the normality of life in the twenty-first century, and I wished that I were home in our apartment.

  I decided there and then that it was time to go home. Enough of my wishy-washy indecision about staying. James was obviously on the mend if he could stand up and come downstairs to challenge the captain. He could take the rest of his medication by himself.

  Captain Thompson was beginning to present a problem. I actually agreed with James that he had a bit of a crush on me—probably because I seemed so mysterious—but nevertheless, he was far too interested in me for my own safety. Hadn’t I almost told him about me? About the time travel? It wouldn’t be long before he got the truth out of me, and I didn’t know what would happen then.

  James looked down at me, and I wonder if something didn’t show in my face, because he seemed to relent.

  “My apologies, Captain Thompson. Thank ye for concerning yerself with Mistress Scott’s welfare. I think it is due in no small part to yer influence that she wasna carried away to be tried as a witch.”

  I gasped at the starkness of James’ words and turned wide eyes on the two men.

  “As I told Mistress Scott, I do not believe in witchcraft, Laird Anderson. I would have argued that point, no matter what.”

  James nodded. “Aye, I see that. Perhaps ye wish to join Mistress Scott for a cup of tea? I think I will return to my sickroom.”

  I drew in a sharp breath. What?

  “Oh, no,” I said hastily. “I don’t think Captain Thompson should enter the house. You know, the typhoid.”

  Captain Thompson got the hint.

  “Thank you, but no, I cannot tarry. I must return to the fort. I will be missed.”

  “Are ye certain?” James said, turning away almost as if he’d lost interest in the subject. “I could arrange to have tea set out on the grounds below.”

  I bit my lip. Was James really trying to fix me up?

  “No, thank you,” Captain Thompson responded. “I will say good day to you, Mistress Scott. Laird Anderson.” He bowed in my direction and turned to descend the stairs.

  As soon as he was out of earshot, I turned to James.

  “What on earth were you doing? If I want to have tea with the captain, I’ll invite him.” I jabbed a thumb toward my chest for emphasis.

  James’ shoulders, which had been straight and broad when addressing the captain, now slumped as he passed through the door that Bracken held open. I followed him inside.

  “I wished only for a brief respite for ye. Ye canna be content to coddle a sick man for days on end.”

  “You forget. I’ve done it before. It’s no problem.” I wanted to say more, but was it really fair? I had made the decision to leave. There was no point in being too effusive, in making James believe that caring for him was something more than the act of an experienced nursemaid.

  I knew he cared for me. He had told me so. I didn’t want to think about how I felt about him. I was determined to leave, so it didn’t really matter. I slipped an arm around his waist, and Bracken took the other side as we helped James up the stairs. Robbie ran ahead of us.

  “He seems a decent sort, Maggie. I canna say that about all the English. Ye could do worse.” James panted as he spoke with the effort to climb the stairs.

  “I’m not doing anything, James, worse or otherwise. I don’t need to get married. Stop trying to play matchmaker!” I grumbled, short of breath with my own exertions.

  We reached the top of the stairs.

  “But surely ye dinna intend to forgo marriage forever, Maggie, do ye? I ken ye willna have me. Ye havena said so, but ye turned away when I posed the question.”

  I was acutely aware of Bracken on the other side, listening to the whole conversation, but James seemed oblivious to the butler’s presence, as he often was.

  “James!” I exclaimed with exasperation. “We really don’t have to talk about this right now, do we?”

  “If nae now, when, Maggie?”

  We moved on down the hall toward James’ room, not fast enough to suit me.

  “Not at all!” I snapped, exhausted from hauling him up the stairs and down the hall. “I’m leaving, James! I’m not staying. I’m going home, and if I decide to marry there one day, I will. But until then, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  At my words, James came to an abrupt standstill, refusing to move. I pulled out from under his arm draped across my shoulder, wishing with every fiber of my body that I hadn’t spoken, that I hadn’t said those words. The look on James’ face tore at my heart. He looked not only pale and faint but stricken. Absolutely stricken.

  Within seconds, the pain in his blue eyes vanished to be replaced by a blank stare. He nodded, the muscles in his jaws flexing.

  “Aye, of course,” he said. “Ye must go home. Havena I said that afore?”

  I bit my lip and reached for the bedroom door. When I went to wrap my arm around James’ waist, he spoke again.

  “Bracken can help me, Maggie. Go rest or walk about the grounds or do something to refresh yerself.” He turned away from me, and I watched Bracken help him into his room, followed by Robbie.

  Tears filled my eyes as the door closed in my face. Why had I blurted out the words? No, not why. I knew why. They had been on my mind. But I wished again that I’d said nothing just then. I could have been kinder. I had hurt him. What James didn’t know was that I hurt as well.

  I left the castle and descended the stairs. Captain Thompson was long gone, and Duncan’s boat rested on the opposite shore.

  I picked up my skirts and walked around the lake edge, studying the rounded pebbles under my feet, the gentle waves lapping the shoreline, the sparkling sunlight on the water and the rolling green hills surrounding
the lake.

  I wasn’t Beth. I couldn’t stay. Beth had left no one behind. Sam called to me. The world we shared called to me—the familiarity, the safety and security. Yes, I knew he was dead. Hadn’t I watched him take his last breath? But I wasn’t ready to give him up, and I most certainly wasn’t ready to give him up for another sick man, a man who lived in the eighteenth century.

  “Sam?” I spoke aloud. But Sam was too far away, buried over two hundred and fifty years into the future in a country far, far away. I could barely conjure up his image at the moment. Only the desolate face of a chestnut-haired Highlander filled my thoughts.

  With every passing moment, the urgency to return home grew. James would overcome the typhoid fever. My sole purpose at this point was to hand out pills. He did not need me. I was not abandoning him, not really.

  I picked up my step and rounded the shoreline to call out to Duncan.

  “Duncan!” I called. The older man emerged from the cabin.

  “Aye, mistress?”

  “Can you come for me in an hour?”

  “Aye, mistress,” he responded.

  I turned and trotted back toward the castle, trying to figure out how to contact Colin and Beth to let them know I was leaving. I desperately wanted to see Beth in person before I left, but I didn’t want to wait to send a message to them, have Colin pick me up, go to their castle to visit with Beth and then return to the river.

  No, I wanted a direct path to the river. I bit my lip. Oh! How was I going to get to the river?

  I didn’t know. I couldn’t possibly handle a horse on my own. And even if I could, abandon it there? I hoped Duncan could come up with a solution.

  But first, I had to tell James I was leaving right away. No delays. My heart ached at the thought. I wasn’t sure I would be able to speak. My throat seemed closed over at the moment.

  I ran up to his room, tapped lightly on the door and waited. I heard no call to enter, so I pushed open the door. Robbie ran up to greet me, and I bent down and rubbed his silky head.