The child turned to race away, but Rosalyn grabbed her arm, holding her in place. “Not you, Anna. Bridey will send someone else to fetch my lads. I’ve a very special task for you. Will you help me?”
“Of course, milady.” Anna nodded, her eyes large with excitement, mirroring the emotion Rosalyn felt now that she was free to act.
After all, she’d only promised Duncan she wouldn’t use her magic. And even without magic, she still had a few tricks up her sleeve.
Ellie sat in the garden on the lovely little bench she’d discovered, trying to come up with any alternative she might have missed.
There simply didn’t seem to be one.
The guards were quite clear in their refusal to allow her outside the gates. They’d even barred her entrance into the little room where the gate mechanism was housed. Not that she really thought she had any chance of making it through both gates and down the long tunnel in between with all of them so determined she stay on the grounds.
It was probably just as well. The whole river thing was likely no more than grasping at straws. Still, she would have liked to test the theory out.
She looked up to see her little friend Anna running her direction, her tousled red curls bouncing wildly.
“Hey, sweetie. What’s up?”
A frown fleeted over the child’s face as she glanced overhead, but it was gone in an instant and she hurried to the bench where Ellie sat, dropping at Ellie’s feet.
“When you weren’t in yer room, I hoped to find you out here. I’ve a need to speak to you over something important.” Anna’s head nodded up and down as she spoke, her wild hair bobbing about, framing her huge, excited blue eyes.
“Okay.” Anna was just the person Ellie needed to see. Her animated personality always brought a smile to Ellie’s heart. “What’s on your mind?”
“I ken it to be evil to listen in on other people talking.” She bowed her head as if trying for a contrite look, but it didn’t last long, the excitement returning as she tipped her face up again. “But I overheard Lady Rosalyn speaking with her daughter and their conversation gave me concern for you.”
“Really?” What on earth?
“Aye. They spoke of how it was only right that his lairdship should be honest with Lady Baxter about the MacKiernan magic before he asks her to wed and spend her life here. And I wondered…” The child chewed at her lip for a moment before taking a deep breath. “I wondered if anyone had told you about the magic? Do you ken the story of them? Of the Fae blood in the MacKiernans?”
Did she ever. “I know a little about…” she started, but Anna interrupted, as if once she’d started this story, she wouldn’t be stopped.
“My mother used to tell me stories of how when Lady Rosalyn had need to use the Fae magic, she would travel to the Faerie Glen so that she could be at the water’s edge when the moon rose and the magic was at its most powerful.”
The words struck home for Ellie. She grabbed Anna’s hands and pulled her up to the bench beside her. “The water’s edge? You mean like a river?”
The child nodded, her eyes fastened on Ellie’s face. “At a place where the water slows and pools.”
“I knew it!” Both times the magic had come, she’d been by a river, exactly like Anna described. And both times had been at night, too. Excitement blossomed until she realized she still had the same problem that had brought her out to the garden in the first place. “Now, if I could only find a way out of Dun Ard to a place like that,” she muttered.
“There’s such a place no far from here.” Anna sat very still beside her, her little hand tightly clutching Ellie’s. “And I ken a way to get there.”
“How? There’s absolutely no going through the gates. The guards won’t open up for anyone to go out that hasn’t been approved by the Laird himself.” She’d been told that enough times today to know it well.
“No through the gates,” the child scoffed. “The way my brother and I sneak out to find berries, through the bathhouse. Come on, I’ll show you.”
Anna jumped up from the bench and pulled on Ellie’s hand, though Ellie needed no extra encouragement to follow.
“Is it far?” She still had a couple of hours before nightfall.
“No really. Just a decent hike, though it would likely be dark by the time you get there.”
They’d reached the bathhouse, but instead of going inside, Anna led her around to the side, up against the boulders, where the little stream flowed into the shed.
“You have to crawl through here.” Anna dropped to her knees and shimmied under the bathhouse, and right along the bank of the little stream.
“Okay. Here goes nothing,” Ellie muttered, getting down on her hands and knees to follow, hoping she wouldn’t get stuck in some hole large enough for Anna but not for her.
Instead she found the grated floor of the bathhouse over her head, and though there wasn’t a lot of room on the edge of the stream, if she was very careful she could avoid getting wet.
Rocks bit into Ellie’s knees as she crossed under the floor of the bathhouse, but she didn’t let it stop her. She was on her way.
The opening on the other side was another tight fit, and the ground sloped steeply, but she managed to pull herself through with only her right foot sloshing into the water.
“Okay. Lead the way.” She smiled down at the little girl.
Anna chewed her bottom lip, her hands clutching and twisting the dirty apron she wore. “I canna go with you, Ellie. Bridey expects me in the kitchens and she’d be furious if I’m no there. But I can tell you how to go. You canna get lost. You only have to follow the stream until it widens and it will lead you directly to the pool.”
She wrapped her skinny arms around Ellie’s waist and hugged her tightly before dropping to her knees and disappearing back through the hole under the bathhouse.
Ellie stared at the opening for a moment, a strange sadness filling her heart. She wished she had said something more to the little friend she’d never see again.
No. This was what she’d wanted. With that encouragement, she leaned into the hill and began to scramble down.
This was it. The escape she’d sought. Now she could get back to her own life, back to dealing with Ray and getting away from…No, she wouldn’t think about that for now.
Just away.
“Come.”
Blane’s answer to the knock at his solar door cut through the discussion, quieting the voices.
A mass of wild red curls poked through the opening. “Begging yer pardon, milord, but I’ve come to tell Lady Rosalyn it’s done.”
Rosalyn stood and hurried to the door, patting the girl’s shoulder. “Very good. I knew I could count on you, Anna.”
The child’s answering grin warmed her heart.
“And you’ll remember what’s yet to be done, aye? You’ll remember to wet yer hands first?”
“Dinna you fash yerself, milady. I’ll no let you down.” With another mischievous grin, Anna ducked back through the door and was gone.
“I’ll send Simeon to follow.”
Rosalyn nodded. She and Blane had already agreed on the necessity of the extra precaution.
“Do you think that wise? I’m no sure I trust the man.” Drew spoke from his position by the fireplace. “We’ve no had the time to learn his true nature.”
“My decision stands.” Blane rose and headed for the door. “Catriona trusts him and that’s good enough for me.”
“Besides…” Seeing the look on Drew’s face, Rosalyn rushed to forestall any arguments that might jeopardize her careful plans. “You and Colin must be here for yer parts. With Dair gone to Iona, there’s no one else.”
“You’ve no a need to worry. Sim’s a good man.” Colin spoke quietly from his seat in the corner of the room.
“As you say, Brother. I’ll accept yer word and I’ll hold my tongue on the matter.” Drew bowed his head in a respectful little nod.
Rosalyn returned the nod, a smile playing
across her lips as she sat back down. “Then all is in readiness for Caden’s return.”
And if this turned out as she hoped?
Her smile broadened as she looked from Colin to Drew. There was so much still to be done in this lifetime. Who knew what she could yet accomplish?
Thirty-two
As miracles go, this one had gone quite well.
Ellie’s bluestone concoction appeared to be working exactly as she had claimed it would. The infection, as she’d called it, hadn’t spread beyond the single ewe. And even that animal seemed much improved.
It was all he could ask for.
And yet he was miserable.
Caden ducked his head as he rode under the first gate into Dun Ard, not wanting to wait until the portcullis rose fully. He had an anxiety sitting on him he couldn’t quite understand and he simply wanted to be home, to see for himself that everyone was safe. He found himself searching the courtyard for a very specific someone as he entered.
“Have the gates been up since I left?” he called to the guard standing inside the wall.
“Only once.”
Caden froze, staring at the man, a hard knot forming in his midsection until the guard stammered on.
“Sir Simeon wanted to ride the countryside. The laird himself gave permission.”
A breath of relief puffed from Caden’s lungs and he nodded his approval, reining his horse toward the stables.
How foolish of him. Equally as senseless as he’d been earlier this day when he’d prepared to leave the protective walls of Dun Ard. He’d had no reason this morning to suspect Ellie would try to leave. Where would she go? His worry was without cause.
Yet in spite of what he knew to be sensible, the concern had nagged at him when he’d ridden out to check on the sheep. Strongly enough that he’d given specific orders about allowing no one through the gate, in or out, without good reason.
Even now he found himself scanning the bailey for the woman herself or her pack of animals, to no avail.
The apprehension churned in his stomach again as he dismounted and tossed the reins to the lad in the stable.
Gritting his teeth in irritation, he stomped outside, turning toward the back of the keep. There was no point in fighting it. He was tired and overanxious, nothing more. He only needed to know her whereabouts and then he could go inside and relax.
Surely he could locate one woman in this place without actually having to go near her. It was, after all, only to reassure himself. He had absolutely no intent to approach her, only the need to know she was safe.
“It will be a relief when Colin takes on this responsibility,” he muttered, but the words brought him no comfort.
He stopped just inside the deserted garden, only absently noting how the setting sun cast a magical glow on the bench his mother loved so. In the distance he found what he searched for—Ellie’s dogs, sitting patiently at the corner of the bathhouse.
Odd time of day for a bath, but who knew what mess the woman had gotten herself into this time. Someone would likely fill in the details of her latest misadventures for him before the day was over.
Relieved, he headed into the keep and snagged a fresh loaf of bread as he passed through the kitchens, grinning as Bridey yelled and shook her wooden spoon at him. The old cook had been chasing him out of her kitchen with the same empty threats for as long as he could remember, a ritual that normally soothed his soul.
Odd that now, even with his ridiculous worries put to rest, his anxiety continued to grow.
Rest would change that. He was tired and over-wrought.
Up the hallway he headed, toward the stairs, with little more than reaching the privacy of his own bed-chamber on his mind.
“Caden! Yer just in time. Join us.”
The door of Blane’s solar stood open and his brothers sat inside with his cousin, passing a whisky that Caden recognized as one of Blane’s finest.
“What’s all this?”
“A celebration of sorts,” Drew laughed, handing a filled cup to him.
Caden reached for the cup mechanically, feeling as if the blood drained from his body while he stood there, leaving him cold and lifeless.
This was it.
Colin had come to his senses at last. There would be a wedding.
He dropped into the empty chair in front of his cousin’s desk and placed the untouched cup in front of him.
“A celebration?” The words seemed to stick to his dry mouth but the very thought of the liquid in his cup made his stomach churn.
“Aye,” Blane responded, a satisfied grin on his lips. “I’ve spoken to the Lady Baxter this very afternoon. Soon, dear cousins, Catriona will be Lady MacKiernan. But that’s not all.”
He lifted his cup in a toast and Caden had no choice but to pick up his own. The whisky, his favorite, had the taste of weeds as he swallowed, waiting to hear the remaining news.
“Under the circumstances, we’ve agreed to dispense with the auld tradition of posting banns. We’re to be wed within the week. Should her brother think to reclaim her, I want to make sure he has no the least ground to stand upon.”
“I told you we should have done away with him before we left Wode Castle. Then you’d have no need for worries.”
Colin’s emotionless statement sent shivers up Caden’s spine and set him wondering when his brother had become so hard.
Could he have been mistaken about this being the proper match for Ellie?
“Still, yer timing is fortunate indeed for my own news, Cousin.” Colin propped his boots on the desk, leaning back in his big chair.
“And what would yer news be?” Caden forced the words out. This was what he’d waited so long to hear, what he wanted.
Wasn’t it?
“I’d no want to miss such as Blane’s wedding, but waiting through the posting of banns would surely have delayed it too long. As it stands, I can see that which I thought would never come to pass and still be ready to leave as soon as Dair returns from delivering Alycie and Steafan to Iona.”
Colin was leaving? He couldn’t do that. Not without Ellie. His brother had to wed the woman and take her away from Dun Ard. Away from him.
Caden leaned forward in his seat, the cup in his hand forgotten. “And where would it be that yer planning to go, little brother?”
“It’s rumored that Edward plans to attack Stirling soon. Dair and I will journey there to lend our swords to the castle’s defense.”
Confusion speared through Caden, melding with a growing anger. “What of Ellie?” The words burst forth as if of their own accord.
“The lass you traveled with?” Colin’s brow arched with the question. “What of her?”
“She’s to be yer wife, you great fool, that’s what. The Fae have sent her, just for you.”
“Wed her?” Colin snorted derisively. “I’ve no idea where you came up with such a foolish notion, but I’ll no be wedding anyone. Though a quick tumble may not be so bad, eh? She’s no so hard on the eyes as I…”
Colin’s words were cut away as Caden slammed his body into his brother’s, sending his chair and both men tumbling over backward to the floor. In the blur of his fury, Caden fought at the hands dragging him from his brother.
“You’ll no speak of her in that manner again, do you hear?” He jerked his arms away from Blane’s grasp and straightened his shirt, using the time to regain the control he’d lost.
“I’ve had more than enough of this,” Colin growled as Drew helped him to his feet, a restraining hand placed to his chest. “If you feel so strongly, perhaps it’s you should do the wedding.” His eyes narrowed as he wiped a trickle of blood from a cut on his lip. “It’s you she wants anyway.”
“Yer daft,” Caden spit, the rage only now ebbing from his body.
“No, he speaks the truth,” Drew stepped in. “And more the fool you are for no seeing it yerself. If you go on like this, you’ll have no one to blame but yerself for driving her away.”
“I’ve no i
dea what you speak of,” Caden muttered, guilt filling the empty space where only moments before anger had lived.
“Do you no?” Colin shook his head in disgust as he righted his chair and sat back down. “She’s done her best this whole day to escape the walls, fair driving the guards mad with her persistence. She’s determined to go home, Caden. And if yer half the man I’ve always believed you to be, you’ll act to prevent that. Dinna prove yerself to be the great idiot here.”
“I’ll hear no more of this.” They didn’t understand, didn’t know all that had happened. Didn’t know Ellie had already rejected him.
“Then yer a greater fool than I ever credited you. I’ve no desire to waste any more of my time on this nonsense.” Colin stood and strode from the room, leaving silence in his wake.
Caden stared at the doorway his brother had stormed out, his thoughts a jumble. He’d been so sure it was Colin she’d been sent for. And if not…
“You should go and speak to her.”
“I canna!” Caden turned, shouting at his brother. He took a deep breath, fighting for the control that had mysteriously deserted him before repeating more quietly, “I canna. She’s already told me she does no love me.”
“And you believed her?” Blane laughed, his brow knit in concern. “A woman says many things to preserve her pride. Just as men do.”
“In case you’ve forgotten,” Caden reminded, a bitterness he couldn’t prevent in his voice, “I’ve traveled this path once before. I’ll no ever again force my attentions on a woman who has no desire for me.” He’d ignored every sign with Alycie at a dear cost to his family. He’d sworn never to repeat that mistake and he intended to keep his vow.
“She’s no Alycie, Cade.” Drew spoke softly, crossing the space between them to lay a hand on Caden’s shoulder. “This one’s different. You must let the past lie in the past.”
This from his brother? He would not be lectured by Drew, especially not with advice the young man didn’t follow himself. It was more than he could accept now. He needed time to think. Time alone.
Pushing Drew’s hand away, Caden turned and hurried from the room, ignoring Blane’s call. Down the hall to the stairs he strode, once again bound for the privacy of his room.
A Highlander of Her Own Page 23