by B. J. Scott
“And I you.” Blair enveloped her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion of a man in love.
Lachlan coughed.
While she didn’t want the kiss to end, Laurel placed her hands on Blair’s chest, gently pushing him away, then looked at Lachlan. “Forgive me, Uncle, I dinna mean to lose my head and behave disgracefully. I was just so happy to see Blair that—”
Lachlan raised his right hand and smiled. “No need to apologize, lass. Believe it or not, I was once young, and do remember what it was like to be in love.” He turned and glared at Deirdre. “But first we must deal with other issues. Tell me your news, Blair.”
“For some time, Laurel has suspected that her mother’s death was not the result of childbirth. She also believes someone poisoned her father,” Blair began, but was forced to stop when the gasps and comments erupting from the crowd made it impossible to hear.
“Enough,” Lachlan shouted. “Let the lad finish.”
“As I was saying, Laurel had her suspicions, but wasna certain she could prove it or that anyone would listen to her. To say she has been mistreated by Deirdre and Murray would be grossly understating the facts. But out of respect for her father’s deathbed wishes, she has done her best to honor her benefactors. All the time waiting until she turned eighteen and would no longer be under their rule.”
“And the clan elders did nothing to intervene?” Lachlan asked.
“Lady Deirdre can be verra convincing from what I’ve heard. She uses threats, witchcraft, and coin to get her way.” Blair stared at the three clan elders, huddled together in the corner, all doing their best to fade into the crowd.
Lachlan glared at the men. “You will be dealt with in order.” He turned his attention back to Blair. “Continue.”
“Perhaps it would be best to start from the beginning. Elise has some verra interesting information to share. But first—” He turned to his brother Ian. “I trust you got my missives. Is Elise’s mother well?”
“Aye. She is with James. Along with the priest who was supposed to be officiating here today.” A broad grin crossed his brother’s face.
A hush fell over the hall as Elise recounted her story. When she finished, tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, m’lady. Can you ever forgive me? Had I come forth sooner, mayhap your father would still be alive. It is a guilt I must live with the rest of my life.”
Laurel moved to Elise’s side and slid her arm around her shoulder. “You are not to blame. Your mother and son were being threatened. In your situation, most would have done the same thing. Deirdre left you no choice,” she said, then wiped away a stray tear from the maid’s cheek. “My mam thought of you more like a sister than a servant. She wouldna want you to dwell on this. I’m sure had you known my da was in jeopardy, you would have done what you could to warn him.”
“Oh, thank you, m’lady.” Elise clutched Laurel’s hand and held it against her face. “You have no idea how often I’ve thought about your mother. I only wish now that I could have done something to stop her murder.”
“I should be thanking you for coming with Blair. You could have said no,” Laurel replied.
“She’s a witch! Burn the witch!” someone called out from the crowd.
“A witch and a murderer,” someone else shouted. The entire gathering soon began chanting and jeering. As the room exploded with angry voices, Lachlan hobbled toward Deirdre.
She backed away until she could go no further, her legs hit the wall.
Blair raised his arms. “She will be punished.”
“Neither of you have any authority here. A deformed cripple who has shirked his duty as laird, and an unwelcomed intruder. Murray, do something. Have them taken away. Everything Elise said was a lie, all of it. You must believe me.”
“Hold your wheest, Deirdre!” Murray replied. He made no effort to come to his wife’s aid.
“You may not think they have a right to pass judgement on you, but I do,” Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, strode into the room, flanked by John Cameron and Blair’s eldest brother, James.
Chapter 20
Laurel curtsied before the king. “I am honored by your presence, Sire. I canna believe you are here.”
“Your father and his brothers fought valiantly for the cause. As did John and many other brave Scots. After I heard what was about to transpire, I couldna stay away. I owed your father that much,” Robert said, then turned to her uncle. “Hello, Lachlan. It’s good to see you. Thank you for coming. I know it wasna easy.”
“I may not have been here for Laurel and the clan when her father died, but like you, when I found out what was going on, I was hell-bent to stop the wedding,” Lachlan replied. “I’m just glad I arrived in time.”
“As am I, Lachlan.” Robert shifted his attention to Deirdre. “As for punishment, Madame, you will pay the maximum price for murder.”
Deirdre knelt before the king. “Please, have mercy, m’lord. I beg you.”
“Mercy? The same kind you showed Lady Katherine and Brandon?” he asked, then shook his head. “Nay! You cut short their lives for your own selfish gains. There are no excuses for your heinous acts, and something tells me, these are but a few of the dastardly things you’ve done. While standing here, listening to the accusations against you, I can add many more to the list, including treason.”
Robert waited for the shouts of anger from the crowd to die down. It seemed that almost every clan member present had something to say about how Deirdre treated them.
“She will be punished, but how, I have yet to decide. Maybe we should leave it up to the one most affected by all of this. Lady Laurel, what say you?” the king asked.
“I am in full agreement, Your Majesty. She must pay for what she’s done. I ask only that she receives the same treatment and consideration she has shown others. I am sure Angus would like to see her spend some time in the pit, and have no doubt that after being flogged for helping me, Isla would like her to meet with the lash,” Laurel said. “I was wondering if you could please have someone release poor Angus.”
“Consider it done.” Robert summoned one of his guards. “See he is set free at once.” He waited for the man to leave before addressing Deirdre. “As for your penance, we will start by sending you to take Angus’ place. On the morrow, you will be given ten lashes before you are sent to my castle for execution.”
“Am I not entitled to a trial?” Deirdre sobbed.
“Madame, given the evidence and number of crimes you have committed, many of which are punishable by death, I dinna see the point in prolonging the inevitable.”
“Murray. Say something. You too fought for the cause. That must account for something,” Deirdre demanded.
Robert faced Murray. “As for your part in all of this—”
“I knew nothing of my wife’s treachery, Sire. I beg of you, dinna hold me responsible for her actions. After all, I did take care of Brandon’s daughter and the clan when he died.” Murray bowed his head. “Please.”
“You’ve not changed, Murray. Still a spineless coward, concerned more about your own welfare than others. By rights, I should sentence you to the same fate.” Robert paused.
“But, King Robert, I—”
“Silence,” Robert growled. “Listening to you whine hurts my ears. What I was about to say is that after hearing Elise’s and Laurel’s stories, I believe you were oblivious to what your wife was doing.”
“Oh thank you, m’lord,” Murray said as he grabbed Robert’s hand in gratitude.
Robert wrenched free. “However, there is no accounting for stupidity. While I canna prove it, I do believe that when something was amiss, you ignored it. For that you will be banished from MacClay land. And you can take your pathetic excuse for a son as well. If either of you ever return, you will be executed.”
/>
“I will leave at once, m’lord,” Murray said, then raced out of the hall. Allan followed.
“I canna thank you enough,” Laurel said as she approached the king. My parents’ deaths have been vindicated, and I am no longer faced with an abhorrent marriage.”
“There is a priest and friar here. Chiefs and noblemen from all reaches of the Highlands, too. Not to mention the king. There could still be a wedding if you wish,” Blair said, a broad smile tugging at his lips.
Laurel’s heart soared. “You still wish to marry me?”
“Aye, if you’ll have me.” Ignoring the fact that they were not alone, he slid his arm around her waist and hauled her against his chest. He gazed into her eyes. “I am but the fourth son, and hold no land or title. I bring nothing of value intae the marriage, except a heart so filled with love it is about to burst.” He released his hold on her and dropped to one knee. “I love you, Laurel MacClay, always have and always will. Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”
“Marry the man. Put him out of his misery,” Ian called out.
She’d waited so long to hear those words, to allow herself to believe this union could happen. She yanked him to his feet. “Aye, Blair. I would be proud to call you my husband.” She turned to face her uncle, John Cameron, and the king. “That is, if we have your blessings.”
“I canna think of a better match. What say you, John?” Robert asked.
“I agree. Blair has been pining for the lass long enough. About time they are joined,” John said, then thumped Lachlan on the back. “But you are her uncle and the final say goes to you.”
Lachlan didn’t respond right away. After taking a few minutes to ponder his answer, he took Laurel’s hand. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
“Oh, aye, uncle, it is,” she answered on a breathy sigh. “I do wish to marry Blair.”
“And you, young Cameron, are you willing to take on the MacClay name? I’m told it is the one request her da made before he died. That any man she marries must be willing to change his name. Laurel is the sole heir to the MacClay lands and wealth. The responsibility of seeing that the clan name doesna die with her father falls on her shoulders. And yours if you decide to marry her,” Lachlan said.
“What about you, m’lord? Now that you have returned, it would be expected that you take over as laird,” Blair pointed out.
While he was unable to do so with his left arm, Lachlan held his right out to the side. “Look at me. I am a shell of a man. Not only am I hideous to look at, but I am old, and for the most part, unable to defend myself for the clan. No foe would consider me worthy.” He blew out a heavy sigh. “What Deirdre said is true. It would be best if I returned to the cave from which I emerged. A place where no one must gaze upon my scars.”
Laurel went to his side, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his scarred cheek. “You must not say such things. You are a fine man and have much to offer the clan in way of wisdom. Strength in Honor, is that not the MacClay motto?”
He squeezed Laurel’s hand. “It is, lass, and I have lived my life by that code. There was a time before the war when I envisioned myself as the leader of Clan MacClay. The eldest son, my father groomed me for the position. But fate has its own plans. Now is the time for you to take your place as lairdess. If willing to honor your father’s request, I think young Cameron will make a fine laird.”
“If that is your wish, Uncle, but you will stay at Thistledown Castle, will you not? Now that I’ve found you, it would break my heart to see you leave. You will always have a home here.” She hoped he would listen and agree to remain, but something in his solemn expression told her differently.
“I am pleased and honored that you wish me to stay, but I must go.”
“But where? Who will look after you?” Laurel asked.
“Home. After the victory at Bannockburn, and Scotland was freed, Robert made certain that his captains, those that survived, were well cared for. Upon my request, once I remembered who I was, he kept the fact that I was alive a secret. The king arranged for me to live in a small, abandoned castle on the bank of Loch Ness. There I have stayed all these years and have found a modicum of contentment.”
Tears ran down Laurel’s cheeks. “Had you come home, my father would have welcomed you with open arms. He’d have seen you cared for and—”
“I am a warrior, Laurel, not a man to be coddled. I dedicated my life to the cause and knew the risks. Fate dictated that I survive the fires of Hell when I should have perished. However, when first I awakened, I was in agony the likes of which I never imagine existed. Convinced that this was my penance for the pain I inflicted on others in battle, I cursed the Almighty for sparing my life. I even tried to end it a couple of times, but failed.” He lowered his gaze, obviously aware that suicide was considered a mortal sin.
His words cut through her like a blade. He’d suffered more than any man should and carried a burden of guilt and despair she wished she could ease. But she couldn’t find the words.
“Once you’re married, I will return to my home,” Lachlan said.
“I canna bear to think of you living there alone. Please consider staying with us,” Laurel pleaded.
“I willna be alone, and you can always visit. I will be anxious to see my great nephews and nieces.”
“I dinna understand. I know you have servants, but they canna be considered in the same way as family.”
Lachlan smiled. “I am blessed to have a lady that warms my bed and keeps me company. If I were to stay here, who would care for Ann?”
The idea of her uncle having a companion lightened her heart, but with his obvious insecurities about his appearance and limitations, the woman must be a saint. “It pleases me to know you have a lady in your life. But I dinna understand how—”
“How she stands the sight of me, or can bring herself to touch me?” He completed her sentence before she had the chance.
“I dinna say that. You are a wonderful man and any woman would be lucky to have you,” Laurel countered. “You just dinna seem comfortable enough with your injuries to allow a woman into your life.”
He patted her hand again. “You are verra sweet, Laurel. Ann is a special lady. She is also blind and has been since birth. Her father was a peddler and stopped by the castle one day. He was told to leave, but his horse came up lame, and he needed a place to rest the beast. I could never turn my back on an injured animal so agreed they could stay until it was well enough to travel.” He began to waver on his feet.
“Someone bring my uncle a chair.”
“I’ve one here, m’lady,” one of the servants said as he did her bidding.
Laurel ushered her uncle to the seat. “You must be exhausted after your long journey.” She did not want to make him feel any less able than he already did, but she could see he was waning fast.
“I am feeling a bit weary,” Lachlan admitted.
“Tell me more about Ann.”
“I was going through a verra low period in my life, dinna want to live. I met Ann and things changed. She made me realize that I was not the only one with obstacles to overcome. What I found most intriguing was despite her blindness, she considered herself blessed. She is the purest hearted woman I’ve ever met and she doesna care that I am disfigured or have lost the use of my left side. We spend hours chatting and the first time she took my hand, I knew she was a gift from God. She sees with her heart, not her eyes.”
Laurel swallowed against the lump of emotion welling in her throat. “Then you must return to her,” she said, finding it hard to speak.
“Aye. But young Cameron hasna answered my question. Are you willing to take on the MacClay name and assume the duty of laird?”
“With pleasure and without reservation. I will dedicate my life to the clan and to making Laurel happy.
As for the bairns, I will do my best to accomplish the task as well,” Blair replied. He pulled Laurel into his arms and kissed her with the all the passion of a drowning man about to draw his last breath.
“Then I grant my permission.”
Blair lifted Laurel and swung her around. “I am the happiest man in all of Scotland. I canna wait to make you my wife.” He looked to the priest. “Can you perform the ceremony now?”
“If everyone is in agreement, I dinna see why not,” the priest replied.
“I understand your enthusiasm, Blair, however, marriage isna something to be entered into lightly. While you both claim this is what you want, taking a little more time to think on it will only solidify the decision in everyone’s mind.”