She sealed the letter and placed it to her lips, as though sending with it a kiss and the affections of her heart. As she snuffed out the candle and climbed into bed, listening to the wind and rain outside, Amelia felt happier than she had done since returning from the bothy. Catherine would know just what to say, and even if she didn’t, her presence would be enough to raise Amelia from her sorrows.
* * *
Feargan, too, was miserable. He had spent the days since their encounter at the bothy trying his best to avoid Amelia, who seemed quite happy with that fact that they were distant from one another. He found her hard to fathom—why was she so reticent to even talk about what had taken place between them? There was no doubt that each had deeply desired the other, but now, in the aftermath of that passionate act, he found himself embarrassed and unwilling to even broach the subject of what had occurred.
Feargan was in no doubt that he loved Amelia and he would readily risk everything for that love. He had fallen for her in that first moment at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and now that they had shared so much together, he was certain that this pretty and forthright lass was the only one for him.
The problem of Lord Torbay loomed large and Feargan had seen at first hand just how far Lord Torbay was willing to go to prevent Amelia from slipping from his grasp. What lengths might he go to now, in order to secure her return? Feargan had no doubt that whilst he and Amelia knew the truth of what had happened, Lord Torbay would be telling a very different story. Perhaps it would even be thought that it was Feargan who had kidnapped Amelia. The circumstances fitted well enough, and neither of them had the opportunity to explain otherwise.
Feargan hoped that by inviting Catherine to stay, the truth could be told and he would eventually be free to marry Amelia. He was willing to fight Lord Torbay for her, to go to any length to secure that which, surely, she wanted, too. But Feargan had not the words to say that to Amelia and as the days went by, they avoided one another, even taking their meals separately, as a heavy mood lay over the castle. Much like the storm which continued to batter the glen and confine them to the house.
“Are ye still in the depths of despair?” his uncle asked him, as Feargan sat brooding before the fire.
“Is it so easy to tell?” Feargan replied, not looking up, as his uncle came to sit opposite him and poured a dram of whisky for them both.
“I have been yer Godfather these many a year, lad, I ken wen ye are out of humor,” Alexander replied, laughing. “It is a sorry thing when a lass has such a hold upon a lad’s heart and make nay mistake.”
“I just wish I could find the right words to say to her,” Feargan said, sitting up and taking the dram from his uncle. “I love her, but she has so distanced herself from me, it’s as though she’s torn.”
“She is, ye can see it in her face. There’s nay doubt she loves ye, lad, but she kens her duty, too. Her marriage to this Lord Torbay, as horrible and treacherous as he is, is nae somethin’ she can get out of easily. Ye and I both ken what is at stake. The lass may nae ken her politics, but she is a pawn in a game and make nay mistake,” Alexander said, shaking his head.
“Then what am I supposed to dae, Uncle? I cannae ask her to choose between duty and love, that is nay decision for a lass to make, but I cannae leave her to his mercy, either,” Feargan replied, taking a long drink and sighing.
“That lass needs a strong man, a man who is decisive and not a worrier. Be that man, Feargan. It may result in heartache at first, but it would mean a lifetime of heartache if ye daenae,” Alexander said, and he left Feargan to his brooding before the fire.
The Laird knew his uncle was right, he was behaving like a coward. Feargan was not afraid of Lord Torbay and he was not afraid of unmasking him for the treacherous man he was. Amelia deserved far better than that and Feargan would not allow her sense of duty to get in the way of her happiness, nor his.
18
Catherine arrived ten days after Amelia sent her letter. She had been surprised that Lord Torbay had offered no resistance to her travelling north and neither had her father. Both, in fact, had positively encouraged it, though Lord Torbay was still breathing murderous threats against Feargan. He was spreading rumors that it was the Laird who had kidnapped Amelia and was now holding her to ransom, a fact which the Earl of Workington had found hard to believe, given that no demand for money had arrived and the fact that Feargan Galbreth had behaved with such decency whilst in their presence.
Catherine’s carriage appeared on the moorlands above Loch Beira early that morning. The sun was shining, the storm a long-forgotten memory, and Amelia rode out as soon as the call came from one of the servants that a visitor was approaching. She rode quickly up the track from the castle and as she came in sight of the carriage, she saw her sister leaning from the window, waving madly to her.
It was a reunion of hearts, and as Amelia pulled up her horse, Catherine signaled for the carriage to come to a halt. There on the moorlands, where the gentle breeze blew the heather and the glen was laid out before them, a patchwork of colors below, the two sisters embraced. They were kissing one another and speaking so fast that neither of them heard a word the other said, so happy were they to be together once more.
“My dear, dear, Catherine,” Amelia said, standing back and looking her sister up and down. “How glad I am that you are here at last, and how I have missed you.”
“And how glad I am to be here. It is beautiful, and to see you, my dear Amelia, that is worth more than anything,” Catherine said, and once again she embraced Amelia and kissed her on both cheeks. “And is that the castle down below, next to the loch? It is just as I imagined it.”
“It is, yes. A beautiful place, though made more so by your presence. We have ever so much to talk about. How glad I am you have come,” Amelia said.
“I came as soon as I received your letter. I was amazed that Philip allowed it. He seemed almost pleased to see me go. He is telling everyone you have been kidnapped by Feargan,” Catherine said, shaking her head.
“How very odd, do I look as though I have been kidnapped? And what of Father? Does he believe I have been snatched by the wicked Laird of Loch Beira?” Amelia asked, as Catherine climbed back into the carriage.
“He does not know what to believe. Philip is always telling him that he has lost his daughter to a Hanoverian spy, but Father knows his own mind well enough. If he truly believed you were a prisoner here, then he would not have allowed me to come. You and I know the truth and I am so sorry that you were subjected to such wickedness at the hands of Philip. I just can’t understand it, is he jealous? Is he angry? I so want to see the good in him, but truly I struggle,” Catherine said, shaking her head.
“We have much to talk about. Let us make haste down into the glen and you will see the castle you have so longed to explore,” Amelia said, and she clicked to her horse, as the carriage trundled along the track behind her.
The path wound its way across the moorland and down into the trees which hugged the side of the loch. The approach to the castle followed the shoreline and Amelia smiled as she looked back and saw her sister leaning once more from the carriage window, looking in awe at what she saw.
“It is just as lonely a spot as Workington Hall, Catherine, and I assure you that in a few weeks you shall tire of it,” Amelia said as the carriage pulled up.
“Anywhere is better than that place. I was becoming quite tired of it. The servants are all whispering, and I am sure they listen at the keyholes, too. I caught one of them at it the other day, spying on Father. The seal on the letter you sent was broken, too, or rather someone had done a poor job of sealing it back up,” Catherine said, as she emerged from the carriage, helped down by her sister, who embraced her once again.
“Well, I am just glad you are here now, Catherine. I have missed you so very much. Come now, let us go inside and get warm. Despite the sun there is still a chill in the air,” Amelia said, taking her sister by the arm.
Inside
the castle was warm and welcoming. A fire was burning in the hearth of the Laird’s hall and Feargan Galbreth rose to greet them, blushing a little, as Catherine threw her arms around him.
“I am so pleased to see you, Feargan, and thank you a hundred times over for rescuing my sister from those wicked men and Philip’s wicked schemes,” Catherine said, as she held tightly to him.
“It was nay trouble, lass, and I am glad to see ye here at last. Is the castle all that ye imagined it to be? I should hate to think that ye were disappointed in any way,” he replied, as she let him go, a flush of embarrassment across her face as she stepped back.
“It is everything and more. I simply cannot wait to go riding and see the moorlands and heather. The mountains look so high, compared to those of Cumberland, and there is something of romance about the place, such that I have not experienced before. I love it, I truly do,” she replied, seating herself next to Amelia, who smiled. “Now tell me, what have the two of you been doing? What adventures have you had since last I saw you both, apart from your escape, of course, and you must tell me all about that, too.”
“Slow down, Catherine, dear, and catch your breath. You have had quite a journey and I do not wish for you to over-excite yourself,” Amelia said, laughing at her sister, who seemed so enthusiastic about everything, quite a contrast to the dull and drab mood of the castle in the past days.
“I simply want to get to know the place and to hear from my sister what has happened. It is plain to see you are not holding Amelia captive, Galbreth, that much is certain,” Catherine said, nodding at Feargan and smiling.
“I am glad ye realize that, lass,” Feargan replied. “Amelia is free to come and go as she pleases, but I would not advise either of ye to return to Workington Hall. There is danger lurking around every corner, of that I am certain. What news do ye have of Lord Torbay?”
“Well, as you can imagine, he flew into such a rage when it was discovered that you and Amelia were gone. I have never seen him so angry, and he is often so. He is putting it about that you are the one who has kidnapped Amelia, a statement for which there is little denial, given that neither of you are there to say anything different. I was surprised he allowed me to come, though one never knows quite what wicked schemes he is concocting. It would not surprise me if he turned up here, sooner rather than later,” Catherine said, a worried look crossing her face.
“You do not think he would come here, do you?” Amelia replied, turning to Feargan and then to her sister.
“He has convinced many that Galbreth is a Hanoverian spy and that you have been kidnapped on the pretenses of causing havoc to the Jacobite cause,” Catherine replied. “He has taken every opportunity these past weeks to say as much.”
“But it was he who had me kidnapped, it was he who arranged this wicked scheme, and for what reason?” Amelia said.
“To keep ye away from me,” Feargan replied, and excusing himself he left the ladies by the fireside. Catherine looked in puzzlement after him.
“What is wrong with Feargan? He seems quite different from his previous self, somehow withdrawn and out of humor,” Catherine said, as the sound of a door slamming echoed through the castle beyond.
Amelia sighed and wiped her eye, a tear running down her cheek. Now that Catherine had arrived, she felt as though a weight had been lifted from her and she was no longer bearing the burden of her emotions alone.
“It is just—” she began, but as she did, she burst into tears and Catherine took her in her arms, holding her close in comfort.
“My dear, Amelia, whatever is wrong? You have escaped from Philip and you are safe here with Feargan. What has happened to make you so sad?”
“I shall never be rid of Philip, Catherine, not for as long as I live. He will stop at nothing to ensure our marriage goes ahead and if I break it off and marry Feargan instead, it will cause a scandal which could see everything our father has worked towards lie in ruins,” Amelia said, sobbing uncontrollably now, as she held Catherine to her, all the sorrow and angst of those past two weeks now welling up.
“Do you love him? Do you love Feargan?” Catherine said.
“Yes… with all my heart. He has been so kind to me but since… well, I tell you this as my sister and I implore your absolute discretion. Feargan and I have… have shared a tender moment together, but since then we have both been distant from one another. I do not know what to say to him. It is as though a line has been drawn between us, one which will remain in place until one of us has the courage to cross it,” Amelia said, as she parted from her sister’s embrace and sat back in the chair.
Catherine sat in silence for a few moments, and Amelia watched her, wondering if she disapproved of what had occurred in the bothy. It was her right to do so—Amelia knew that Catherine had been equally charmed by Feargan, at first perhaps more so than Amelia herself. Her dear sister had no suitor, nor did any man ever seem to show any interest in her, always lavishing attention upon Amelia as their first desire for conquest. Catherine had always played second best and even now she had been bettered by her sister in the excitement of kidnap and rescue. Amelia felt sorry for her, though how she longed for the simpler life of her sister, instead of the complexities she now found herself in.
“It is quite a scandal in the making, I agree, but no more so than any of the scandals we have been privy to in Paris. You and Feargan deserve one another and after the way in which Philip has behaved, it is remarkable that you even entertain a sense of duty towards him. You would both be happier apart, of that I am certain,” Catherine replied, failing to meet her sister’s eyes, as Amelia stretched out her hand and took that of her sister.
“You are not cross with me, though? I… I would hate that,” Amelia said.
“No, of course not. But I worry for you, Amelia, and I worry what this sad state of affairs might eventually bring for us all. Father is an old man and he will not see many more years, of that I am certain. He lives to see the cause won, but will that ever happen? It is not for us to speculate, of course, but they say the cause is lost, that the Bonnie Prince will never have enough support for an uprising, even here in Scotland. I worry what will become of us all,” Catherine said.
The two sisters sat talking long into the afternoon and as evening came, they shared a simple supper, with Feargan and his uncle.
Alexander Galbreth was delighted to meet Catherine and the two talked animatedly together, so that neither noticed the heavy mood which still lay between Feargan and Amelia.
They sat long at the table, as Alexander Galbreth regaled Catherine with all the stories which she had longed to hear from Feargan, when first he had arrived at Workington Hall. He talked to her of the moorlands and heather, of noble deeds and Highland battles. She asked him about the clans and the warriors who had fought amidst the mountains and glens. As it grew late Feargan excused himself, leaving his uncle and the ladies alone, as the fire burned low in the hearth.
“I could listen to these stories all night. Scotland is such a romantic place. Somehow it is quite different to anywhere I have ever been before. Paris can feel so like London, with its balls and soirees, its parties and grand dinners, but up here one really feels one has come to another world. A world where such legends might actually be true,” Catherine said, as Alexander finished telling of a brave Galbreth Laird who had taken on a mighty warrior, said to be eight feet high, and won.
“Even the most obscure of legends have some truth in them, lass,” he said, drinking the last of his whisky.
“I want to hear everything,” Catherine said, looking eagerly at Alexander, who laughed.
“I think Alexander might wish to go to his bed, Catherine,” Amelia said, smiling and shaking her head. “And you have had quite a day today. We have plenty of time for stories in the coming days. Come now, let us go to our chambers.”
The two bid Alexander a good night and taking up their candles they made their way along the dark corridors of the castle to bed.
Ou
tside the night was still and as they came to Catherine’s chambers, they looked out from the corridor window at the moonlit moorlands, rising up from the castle towards the mountains above.
“I am glad to be here, and I so want you and Feargan to be happy,” Catherine said, as she kissed her sister goodnight.
“I will be happy, I am sure, it just may take a little time,” Amelia replied. And with that, the sisters wished one another a goodnight.
19
Feargan rose early the next morning. He had intended to ride out alone on the pretense of checking on cattle up on the high moors below Beiracrag. But as he came down to the hall of the castle, he found Catherine already there, and dressed as though she had every intention of going out.
Highlander's Hidden Destiny (Steamy Scottish Historical) Page 15