Chapter Nine
“I told ye, Father. She didnae go to the village as she told me. Where have ye been, Evie? We saw ye from a mile away comin’ along the path from the east. What business did ye have in walkin’ that way?” Rory said, looking at her breathlessly, a scowl upon his face
“My business is my own. I told ye, mother allowed me to walk across the heathers. If ye must know I wanted to see Lanercost from the hill above Torridden, ye can see the monastery from there, and I like to think of Uncle Duncan at prayer,” she replied, “I was just goin’ to the village now.”
“It does nae take all day to get to Torridden, ye should have been back hours ago, bread in hand,” Rory said, and her father nodded.
“And besides, that path does nae lead to Torridden, only a fool would walk that way. Why dae ye think ‘Tis so overgrown with heathers? That path leads in only one direction, and that is to the castle of the MacBrydes. Why were ye hurryin’ along it? We have been lookin’ for ye all day,” her father said, shaking his head and fixing her with an angry stare.
“I told ye, I was takin’ a walk over the heathers. Am I nae allowed to dae even that now without ye thinkin’ suspiciously of me? What have I done wrong?” Evie asked, looking to them each, in turn, a defiant expression upon her face.
“Rory told me about the man who rescued ye from the stream. Who was it, Evie? Ye say he didnae tell ye his name? Well, I daenae believe that for a moment. Ye met someone, didnae ye? Was it a MacBryde?” her father asked, and Evie made no reply, “was it a MacBryde, lass,” and he took her by the shoulders and shook her.
Evie burst into tears; her father was such a gentleman, and to see him so angry frightened her. She turned her face away, looking back through tear-stained eyes towards the east, her mind filled with thoughts of Hamish. She had no wish to betray him nor herself, and how could Rory break her confidence like that and tell her father the secret she had sworn him to keep?
“I …” she began, holding her hands to her face as tears rolled down her cheeks, “oh, yes, it was a MacBryde I met, there, are ye happy now? He rescued me, and I only wished to thank him. I was scared when I discovered who he was and ran as fast as I could to Caitlin and her mother. But he meant me nay harm, quite the opposite. If he had nae saved me, then I would have surely drowned in the torrent. I only wanted to thank him and return his cloak,” Evie said.
Her father scowled, and Rory and Owen shook their heads.
“Ye mean to say that ye have walked to the castle of the MacBrydes? What did ye dae, march up to the door and knock?” Rory said, in disbelief.
“I … nay, I met some of the men, they …” Evie began.
But her father threw his hands up in horror.
“They captured ye? Ye could have been killed or held like … like yer poor grandmother or yer mother. Ye are nothin’ but a fool, Evie. What happened to ye? Did they hurt ye?” her father said.
Evie shook her head.
“Nay father, I was nae hurt; I spoke with Hamish. I thanked him for helpin’ me and returned his cloak to him. That is all. I was in nay danger when they knew I was a friend of his,” Evie replied.
“Hamish MacBryde? The Hamish MacBryde?” her father exclaimed, “ye dae realize who that is daenae ye? The heir to the Laird, his father, is nearly dead, and he will inherit soon enough. An enemy of the highest order,” and his face turned red with rage.
“He was kind to me, father. Nothin’ but kind,” she said, “he rescued me from the stream, he meant me nay harm,” she replied, tears rising in her eyes.
“Twice ye have met him, and he dares to stray upon my land as though he owns it,” her father said, shaking with rage.
“So now we count MacBrydes amongst our friends dae we? Men who would side with the devil. Dae ye nae remember the stories from our childhood, Evie?” Rory said, taking hold of her arm, as they marched her across the heathers, “It was the Musgraves who imprisoned our dear mother, and they would have killed our father too. Tell her, father, tell her how foolish she has been.”
“Yer brother is right, Evie. Ye have been a foolish lass this day, ye have betrayed yer clan by fraternizing with our enemy. Ye have walked into the lion’s den, and ye are lucky to be safe. If they had kept ye there, then there is nay tellin’ what they would have done to ye, we would never have found ye. Did ye nae think of that? Of how yer mother would have felt knowin’ her daughter was at the mercies of the MacBrydes?” her father said, shaking his head at her.
“But why must ye believe the MacBrydes to be so wicked, father? It is ye who have a quarrel with them, nae I nor Hamish. He was nothin’ but kind to me, and I can only feel sorry for him,” Evie said.
“Sorry? For a MacBryde? Why dae ye feel sorry for him?” Owen asked in amazement.
“Because he is betrothed to a wicked lass named Isabella Musgrave, I met her, and she is everythin’ I have ever been told about that family. But Hamish is different. He was kind to me, nothin’ like the tales I have heard,” she replied.
“Daenae trust a MacBryde or a Musgrave and certainly daenae trust two of them together. Ye have had a lucky escape, Evie. Now, ye must put this nonsense out of yer mind. There is to be nay more goin’ off and worryin’ us like this. When Rory told me of his suspicions, I was disappointed in ye, but I cannae believe ye have been so foolish,” her father said.
Evie made no reply and followed her father and two brothers home across the moorland. It was beginning to grow dark now, the last of the day’s sun settling upon the horizon. As they came to the castle gates, she paused and looked back across the heathers to the east. She wondered what Hamish MacBryde was doing now, had Isabella considered her a threat? She was certainly a jealous woman, and it seemed astonishing how angry she had grown at the mere presence of Evie in the parlor.
Maybe I was wrong, she thought to herself, as they approached the castle and a pang of guilt ran through her, I hardly know the man yet here I am defendin’ him and betrayin’ the trust of my family.
Evie knew that she had behaved treacherously, at least that was how her father and brothers viewed it. Her mother, too, would be horrified to learn what had transpired. She was an Elliott her mother would say, and to speak with a MacBryde was tantamount to treason.
I am a fool, she whispered, but her heart said otherwise.
In her heart, Evie could not help but sense a growing feeling towards Hamish, a feeling quite unlike anything she had experienced before. She knew she was falling in love, though love was something she had never experienced before. Her mother had once told her that a person could not help who they fall in love with, and Evie now knew that to be true. Despite her mind and all her reason telling her that her feelings were wrong, Evie could not help but feel her heart leading her in a different direction.
‘Tis to these that I should owe my loyalty, she thought, as they came to the gates of the castle, so why dae I feel otherwise?
“Inside now, Evie,” Rory said, taking her arm, which she shrugged off.
“I know the way, Rory, and I shall nae trust ye again with any of my secrets,” she said.
“Then daenae keep them, Evie. I had to tell father, I was worried for ye, and the mention of mysterious strangers by the falls did nothin’ to calm my suspicions. I understand ye wanted to thank the man who rescued ye, but walkin’ into the enemies camp was a foolish thing to dae,” Rory replied.
“But I daenae think that Hamish wants us to be enemies. He said as much himself, the quarrel is between our parents, nae between us. We know nothin’ of this conflict, ‘Tis in the past. Why can we nae leave it there?” Evie said.
“And welcome the Musgraves with open arms?” Rory replied, shaking his head and laughing.
“I didnae say that, but the MacBrydes need nae be our enemies, Rory,” Evie replied.
“Ye know what happened to our mother and grandmother at the hands of the Musgraves. Ye would be a fool to speak these words to mother, and ye know it,” Rory replied, and without a further word, he
strode into the castle, leaving Evie in the stable yard outside.
“What did I tell ye?” her Godfather’s voice came from the stables.
“To stay forever in this accursed place,” Evie replied, dejectedly.
“Oh, Evie. Daenae be a fool, runnin’ off like that, yer father just explained what had happened. We have buried yer grandfather these days past, let us nae bury his granddaughter too for her own stupidity,” Sweeney said, crossing over to her and shaking his head.
“But Hamish is a good man, Sweeney,” she replied.
“Nay MacBryde can be trusted, Evie. That is why,” Sweeney said.
But Evie had heard enough, and without reply, she turned on her heels and marched away towards the keep.
“Ye are just like them,” she shouted back, leaving her Godfather scratching his head.
Chapter Ten
Evie’s mother was just as unforgiving as the others, and she fixed her daughter with a hard stare, as Evie entered the Great Hall.
“I trusted ye, Evie, and ye have betrayed that trust,” she said as Evie sat herself down by the fire, and the dogs came to nuzzle her.
“I explained to Father and the others what happened. If it makes ye happy, then I shall promise nae to dae it again,” Evie replied.
At that moment, she hated her family and the silly quarrels of the past, which so impacted the present. She knew what Hamish MacBryde was like, even if the others refused to believe it.
“It will make me happy, and ye will have to earn my trust again, Evie. Ye have hurt me today; I hope ye know that,” her mother said.
Evie looked up at her with tears in her eyes. She had no desire to upset her mother, but it all seemed so unfair. She had done nothing wrong, only thank a stranger who had come to her aid. The fact that that stranger was a MacBryde should have no bearing upon the deed, and besides, her mother had only fallen in love with her father through disobedience, a story she knew all too well.
“Hurt ye? How? By thanking the man who saved me from death?” Evie said.
“By fraternizing with our enemies. Dae ye know what I went through at the hands of the Musgraves?” her mother cried, leaping up from her chair, her fists clenched in anger.
“Aye mother, and I know too that ye went behind my grandfather’s back on any number of occasions to meet a man whom he thought entirely unsuitable for ye. The man who is now my father,” Evie shouted back.
Her mother raised her hand to her, and Evie recoiled, but as she did so, her mother sank back into her chair and began to cry. It was rare that she did so, and Evie could only remember a handful of occasions when she had seen her mother in tears.
“I … I am sorry, Evie. I just … I just couldnae bear to lose ye, to know that ye were in danger and there be nothin’ that I could dae to help ye,” her mother replied, as Evie came to sit next to her, putting her arms around her mother as she did so.
“I know, mother. I am sorry, I didnae think. I know what ye suffered and what my grandmother suffered, Evie began.
Her mother smiled at her.
“Ye are a good girl, Evie, but please, daenae worry me like that again, promise me?” she said, and Evie nodded.
“I promise, mother. Nay more runnin’ away, and when ye ask me to get bread, then ‘Tis bread I shall get,” Evie said, smiling sat her mother, who raised her eyebrows.
“Good, but it will be a while before I let ye out of my sight. Come now, ‘Tis nearly time to sup, ye must be hungry after yer day upon the moorlands. Tell me, what was the MacBryde castle like?” Isla said, taking Evie by the hand and leading her to the table.
Evie told her mother more about her adventure, as the two women prepared for dinner. They were joined by Fraser, Owen, and Rory, who managed to keep a cordial tone, though Evie knew that their anger still simmered below the surface. She had been foolish that day, and she knew it, putting not only herself but all of them in danger. But she could not help but feel it had been the right thing to do, and it was clear that Hamish MacBryde had appreciated her gesture. As the evening drew on, she found herself dwelling more and more upon him. Was he happy in the company of Isabella? She seemed a cruel and cold-hearted woman, a woman who could never make him happy.
Later that night, Evie was lying in bed. She could not sleep, the events of that long day mulling over in her mind. She wondered what Hamish was doing now? Was he sitting with Isabella in the parlor of the MacBryde castle? Or perhaps even with her in the castle of the Musgraves, a place she had heard so many bitter tales about.
Daenae dwell upon him, she thought to herself, as sleep washed over her, but her dreams betrayed her and that night all she dreamt of was Hamish MacBryde, the handsome clansmen who had saved her from peril.
* * *
The fire was burning low in the castle of the MacBrydes, and Hamish was huddled close to it, a draft blowing beneath the door and the autumnal nights now setting in. Two of his dogs lay sleeping at his feet, and Hamish was wrapped in a blanket, the room lit only by the fire and the light of several candles in brackets on the wall.
His mind was filled with the events of that puzzling day and the appearance of Evie Elliott. He could not help but admire her boldness in coming to him that day, and he was grateful to her for thanking him. He had rescued her from the stream out of charity, rather than any sense of duty. But she had proved herself different from his perception of the Elliotts, whom he had always believed to be wicked and unforgiving men, ruthless and violent. But Evie was different, and he had every intention of seeing again.
I will see her again, he said to himself, though he knew such thoughts were wrong. He was betrothed to be married, and such thoughts betrayed the true feelings of his heart.
From the moment he had set eyes upon her, he had considered Evie beautiful. There was something different about her. She was as unlike Isabella as any woman could be, and he felt a strong sense of attachment to her and knew that he would very much like to know her better. Not only was she pretty, but she had a way about her, he found endearing.
A dangerous thought, Hamish MacBryde,” he said to himself, shaking his head, as the dogs stirred at his feet, one that ye cannae entertain if ye are to dae yer duty to this clan.
Outside, the wind was whistling around the castle, and the draft whipped around him as he shivered and drew the blankets closer about him. The fire sputtered in the hearth, and his eyes were growing heavy with sleep. But just as he began to succumb to his weariness, the door opened, and Isabella appeared, holding a candle and with a stern expression upon her face.
“You are still sitting here, are you, Hamish MacBryde? I fancied that I did not hear you make your way to your chambers. Are you still mulling over that silly girl?” Isabella said, setting the candle down, as the dogs looked up and whined.
“She is nae a silly girl, she came here to thank me for rescuin’ her, is that such a terribly wicked thing?” Hamish replied wearily.
He was tired of Isabella’s constant jealousy. She was forever berating him and finding fault with him, so much so that he was beginning to despise her.
I wish she would just leave me alone, he thought wearily to himself, turning back to face the fire.
But Isabella was in a confrontational mood, and she came to stand before him, her hands upon her sides and an angry look upon her face.
“If I find that ye and she are …” she began, but Hamish raised his hand.
“What nonsense, Isabella. I will nae listen to such foolish words from ye. There is nothin’ more here than an act of kindness and a thankful lass. If it were nae for me, then she would have perished in the torrent. Am I to leave a lass to drown because I am worried that ye may fly into a jealous rage?” he replied.
“She is an Elliott; if your father heard that you had been colluding with an Elliott, then he would be greatly angered, Hamish. You know that, and so we must hope that he does not find out,” Isabella replied, her words hanging in the air, poisonous and menacing.
“And what price
for yer silence?” Hamish replied, not looking up and despising Isabella at that moment.
“That you never see her again. She was a fool to come here, an utter fool, and you were a fool to accept her into this house and speak with her. We will hear no more about the Elliotts, is that understood?” Isabella said.
Hamish nodded, he had no desire to argue with her further, and at such a late hour, all he wished for was to be left alone. She nodded, her eyes fixed upon him, but Hamish made no further reply.
His betrothal to Isabella had been the result of duty, rather than a sense of love. At first, their courtship had been pleasant enough. She was attractive and had a strength of character to her, which Hamish had admired, but in the months which followed, she grew bitter and jealous. Hamish was hers, or that was how it seemed, her property to command and do with as she pleased. He had begun to resent her and to rue the day that he had agreed their betrothal.
A Highlander Born From Chaos (Highlanders 0f Kirklinton Book 2) Page 7