Highlander's Hidden Destiny (Steamy Scottish Historical)

by Maddie MacKenna

  All that Catherine knew was that her sister’s happiness meant more to her than anything and she was pleased to finally see her away from the clutches of that wicked man. She had always found Lord Torbay a difficult man, though she had to admit that he was handsome and beneath his gruff exterior she had always sensed something more. It was his sense of arrogance, as though he had an entitlement to her sister, rather than a genuine affection for her, which she found so difficult. Perhaps this was just a mask, for at times there were fleeting glimpses of something else, a kinder man who had been dealt a difficult hand. She knew little of his past, nor what secrets he kept.

  “Do not think of such things on such a beautiful day,” she said to herself, breathing in the fresh air and looking around her at the beautiful woodland scene.

  She was coming now to the shore, where yesterday they had picnicked. The trees grew thinner, as the woods gave way to the heather and the waters of the loch lay before her. It was just as she emerged from the trees that she saw them, the sight causing her to let out an involuntary cry of terror.

  There, encamped upon the shore were around a dozen men. They had a fire kindled and were cooking fish over it. Several little tents lay around the water’s edge and several of the men were dismantling them, as though the camp were about to move.

  But it was not the sight of the men which had so startled her but rather who they were. There, sitting by the fire, his back turned to her, though unmistakable in his appearance, was Lord Torbay. She recognized the men around him, too. They were men who would sometimes accompany their master to Workington Hall, and Catherine was terrified lest one of them should have seen her.

  Crouching down, she hid amongst the ferns at the edge of the tree line, thankful that it appeared no one had seen her. She strained her ears and could just make out Philip’s voice, echoing across the shore.

  “We shall have Amelia by the end of today, you mark my words. The Laird has no strength in this place, just a motley band of clansmen, easily subdued. One must show force in such situations and not be cowed by the apparent strength of a castle. Besides, soon the Jacobites will rise up. The Bonnie Prince has landed at Glenfinnan, and many are rallying to his banner. That Hanoverian spy will not stand a chance, and we shall see to it that he submits to the Jacobite cause,” Philip said. As Catherine watched him stand he draw his sword, “Victory to Charles Edward Stuart,” and the rest of the men raised their fists and cried out in agreement.

  Catherine had seen enough and scrabbling backwards through the heather, she ran back down the loch side path towards the castle to warn her sister and Feargan of Philip’s presence just a few miles away.

  * * *

  Amelia kissed Feargan once again. They had spent the morning in the library, though admittedly not one of the books had been touched. He breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction and held her close to him, running his hands down her body and kissing her upon the forehead.

  “I love ye, Amelia, I love ye so very much,” he said, as she rested her head upon his chest.

  “I love ye too, Feargan, with all my heart,” she replied.

  He took hold of her hand and clasped it in his, bringing his lips to her fingers as she smiled up at him.

  “And I will never let anything happen to ye, I promise. Ye are safe with me and together we shall face come what may,” he said.

  For a moment they stood together in silence but a commotion in the courtyard below caused Feargan to look up and going to the window he glanced down to see Catherine in animated conversation with Alexander.

  “Whatever is wrong, Feargan?” Amelia said, crossing to the window, surprised to see her sister back so soon.

  They watched, as Alexander turned to rush into the keep, followed by Catherine who still appeared to be talking rapidly, whilst the guards on the castle gate pushed it closed behind her.

  “Some trouble by the looks of it. Come now, lass, it seems our quiet day together is to be nay more,” Feargan said, taking Amelia’s hand and leading her from the library downstairs.

  In the hallway they found Catherine and Alexander, the young girl still talking rapidly, as Alexander questioned her.

  “Ye say about a dozen men, by the loch side… ah, Feargan, we were just coming to find ye. I am afraid Catherine has seen a disturbing sight by the loch side today,” Alexander said, looking gravely at Feargan, who turned to Catherine.

  “I… oh, it was too awful,” Catherine began, and Amelia took her sister in her arms.

  “It is all right, Catherine, you’re safe now. What happened? I knew I shouldn’t have let you go alone. Were there people in the forest? Has someone hurt you?” Amelia said, as Catherine caught her breath.

  “No… it was something, someone I saw there. I have seen… I have seen Lord Torbay, he is here in the glen, camped by the loch side,” Catherine said.

  At these words Amelia let out a cry and let go of Catherine, clutching at Feargan, who placed his arm around her, as though Lord Torbay were about to spring out and snatch her away.

  “Did ye hear anything of his intentions, lass? Did he see ye?” Feargan said, a worried look coming across his face.

  “He did not see me, no. I was hidden, and fortunately I saw them before I emerged from the trees. I was too frightened to stay listening for long, but they intend to come here and to seize Amelia. He repeated that you are a Hanoverian spy and that it would take little to subdue the castle. There’s more, too, he said that the Bonnie Prince has landed at Glenfinnan and that the uprising has begun,” Catherine said, composing herself.

  “We are safe enough here. Catherine says he only has twelve men,” Alexander said. “I have told the guards to close the gates and allow no one in without yer permission, Feargan.”

  “Aye, if Lord Torbay thinks he can here with twelve men and launch an assault upon the castle then he is gravely mistaken. We are nae so weak to be unable to defend ourselves. But if he is still putting about the rumor of this being a Hanoverian house, then we may have more trouble comin’, if it is true that the Bonnie Prince has landed,” Feargan said.

  An uneasy atmosphere now hung about the castle. Feargan paced up and down the hall, as Amelia sat fearfully before the fire with Catherine. Alexander had seen to it that the castle was made secure and the guards were ready for Lord Torbay’s arrival.

  “All we can dae is wait. He will come, but will he wish to talk, or will he only wield the sword?” Feargan said, sighing heavily.

  “I want nothing to do with him. I have made my choice and my choice is clear, Feargan,” Amelia replied, her voice breaking as Catherine put her arms around her.

  “Daenae worry, lass, he will have to kill me before I allow him to take ye,” Feargan said.

  “That is what I am afraid of,” Amelia replied.

  The three sat waiting together, a great weight hanging over them. What would become of them now? Would Lord Torbay summon the forces of the Jacobites and oust Feargan from the castle? Would he have Amelia kidnapped again, or fight Feargan to the death for her? The happiness of the past few days was gone, and a shadow now hung above the glen.

  Both Amelia and Feargan knew that Lord Torbay would stop at nothing to take Amelia back and it would take a miracle to ensure that this sorry situation did not end in bloodshed. As they waited for the inevitable, each knew they would soon have to face their destinies and discover if they could share the love which had so blossomed between them.

  22

  The mood was dark at the castle on the shore of Loch Beira as day turned to night and there was still no sign of Lord Torbay or his men.

  Catherine was put to bed after supper, insisting she was not tired, whilst falling asleep in Amelia’s arms. Neither Feargan nor Amelia had any inclination to food or bed and once Catherine was safely locked in her chambers, Feargan pocketing the key, they returned to the hall where Alexander Galbreth had poured a dram of whisky for them both.

  “Perhaps the lass was mistaken? From that distance she could have mistoo
k the men for what she thought them to be. There are often travelers passing through the glen, ye cannae blame her imagination,” Alexander said.

  Amelia shook her head.

  “If Catherine says she saw Philip then it is certain she did. I just wonder why he has not yet come. Is he waiting for darkness? Will he burst in upon us?” she said, clutching her hands together and shaking her head with worry. “It is worse not knowing what he will do, than being caught up in it.”

  “The man is a coward, but the castle is secure. He would need to scale the walls without being seen and I have guards around the battlements. This castle has withstood many a siege over the years, it can withstand a few of Lord Torbay’s men,” Feargan replied.

  But he was more worried than he let on. The threat of his fellow Jacobites loomed large and if it was widely though that the Laird of Loch Beira was a Hanoverian spy, then it would not be long before the castle was subject to attack. The road from Glenfinnan passed close to Loch Beira and if the forces of the Bonnie Prince should choose to support Lord Torbay then Feargan would have no choice but to surrender.

  His garrison could not hope to defend them against such an assault and whilst Feargan had every sympathy with the Jacobite cause, he knew that his stance against an all-out uprising had not been popular at the court in exile. Feargan was not trusted by his fellow Jacobites and despite the folly of this uprising, the passions of war may well ensure that his caution was mistaken for disloyalty to the Stuart cause.

  “All we can do is wait and see what happens. The both of ye will need some sleep, though,” Alexander said, the night now drawing on and a full moon hanging over the castle.

  “I am too anxious to sleep,” Amelia said. “And I would not feel safe alone. What if I am subjected to kidnap again? Those awful men may have accompanied him here—that may be his plan. Perhaps they intend to wait for me to leave the castle and then pounce. I am a prisoner here until we know of their intentions,” Amelia said.

  “Amelia is right, Uncle, we cannae rest until the intentions of Lord Torbay are ken,” Feargan said. “And we must discover if the Bonnie Prince has really landed as Catherine thinks she overheard. If that is true then it means danger for us all, whichever side we lie upon.”

  Feargan knew that he was neither trusted by the Jacobites nor the Hanoverians. If the account was true then it would surely be known in Edinburgh, too, and the forces loyal to King George would be rallying to quash the uprising.

  These were dark times for Scotland and whilst now Feargan and Amelia awaited the arrival of Lord Torbay each knew that there was more at stake than the dalliances of the heart—this truly was a matter of life and death. Would their cause be won, or would they find themselves defeated? As the night drew on, they sat in silence, the fire crackling in the hearth, their thoughts turned to that which was to come.

  * * *

  Amelia awoke to find Catherine standing in the doorway. Feargan had collected her from her room and sent her to her sister, the doors to the keep locked behind him as he had made his way on a morning patrol of the castle battlements.

  “Did you sleep well, Catherine?” Amelia asked, knowing full well what the response would be.

  “Not a wink. I kept going to the window and expecting to see men scaling the walls and Philip doing battle with Feargan in the courtyard. I am so terrified, Amelia, what is going to become of us?” Catherine said, coming to sit by her sister who placed a protective arm around her.

  “We can only wait and see, Catherine. There is little you or I can do,” Amelia replied, trying to sound braver than she felt.

  “And what of father? If the Bonnie Prince has landed, will he be riding north now to join the rebellion? I fear for his health,” Catherine said. “His gout is so flared up he can hardly walk at times and I hear him coughing so often, it is as though his chest is quite finished. I do not think he would survive any battle there might be.”

  “He is stronger than we give him credit for and if it is true about the uprising, then he shall be at the forefront of it all. The cause has been his life and if it has come to this point then he shall wish to be present, of that I am certain,” Amelia replied.

  “I should dearly like to see him, if only to know he is all right. What if Philip has done something terrible to him?” Catherine said.

  “Philip would not do such a thing. He might be a cruel man and given over to temper but he knows better to harm our father, for then he would have no chance of marrying,” Amelia replied.

  “You do not still contemplate such a thing, do you Amelia?” Catherine said.

  “Not for one moment, but it seems I am soon to have to confront the unpleasant truth that I must inform Philip of my decision and wait his reaction,” Amelia replied. “If, indeed, he gives me such a chance.”

  The two sisters sat quietly together, the safety of the castle seeming an illusion, as outside its walls, danger lurked on every side.

  It was around half an hour later that Feargan and his uncle appeared. They had made a circuit of the battlements and the guards had reported that no suspicious sightings had been made. A few peasants had passed by and the news had arrived that the Bonnie Prince had indeed landed at Glenfinnan and the uprising had begun.

  “Have many rallied to the banner?” Alexander asked, as they entered the room and came to sit opposite the sisters.

  “Word takes time to spread, but I daenae ken how much support he will have from ordinary folk. Most are content to be left in peace, they mind nae who it is that they pay their taxes to, so long as those taxes are not high and they are left to practice their religion,” Feargan replied.

  “But that is the point, is it not? We are nay free to practice the old religion. These Hanoverians would see to it that we became Protestants and joined the free Kirk. I shall have none of it,” Alexander said, but at that moment the door burst open and one of the guardsmen appeared, breathless and calling for the Laird.

  “Lord Torbay is at the gates. He is demandin’ to speak with ye and to see Lady Amelia,” the guard said.

  Feargan rose and took up his sword belt, a grim look upon his face.

  “Is he alone?”

  “Aye, sire, just him. We have nae opened the gates to him, just as ye instructed.”

  “Aye, good. Ye lasses remain here. Uncle, see to it that they are kept safe, ye hear me?” Feargan said, and with that he strode from the hall, following the guard out into the courtyard.

  On the gatehouse battlements several of the clansmen were gathered and Feargan climbed the steps to where they were looking out. Down below was Lord Torbay, dressed in the red tartan of the Jacobite army, a sword slung at his side, and a blue bonnet on his head. He appeared every inch the loyal Jacobite soldier and as Feargan appeared he drew his sword in a mock salute.

  “So, the cowardly Laird appears upon his battlements behind a great door, keeping the woman I love a prisoner. You are a contemptuous man, Feargan Galbreth, a contemptuous man with not an ounce of nobility in you. You are a coward and I challenge you to fight me, come here and draw your sword. You hold Amelia there against her will and you cower in your castle whilst loyal Jacobites risk everything for the cause you have betrayed. You are nothing but a Hanoverian spy, a coward, and a traitor. What say you to that?” Philip said, standing defiantly before the gates.

  “I say that the traitor and the coward is standing before me. Ye look every part the Jacobite but ye are nothin’ but a coward yerself, Lord Torbay. A coward who would have a poor lass kidnapped, a lass he purports to love. Ye ken nothin’ of love, run back to yer cause and leave us here alone,” Feargan cried.

  “I shall leave only when I have Amelia. I have promised her father that I shall bring her back and bring her back I shall. Now open the gates and allow me to see her, otherwise you shall know how the cause deals with traitors. The army of the Bonnie Prince is encamped nearby and he knows that he has a traitor in his midst, he knows you are a Hanoverian spy. That was much was certain at Saint-Germai
n-en-Laye. Any man who purports to be a Jacobite but then comes crying to dissuade us from the uprising is surely nothing more than a traitor.”

  “Look men, look at your Laird, why does he not ride forth in support of the cause? Do you not want to see the rightful heir upon the thrones of England and Scotland? Rise and join us, do not wait for this coward, he shall have you stabbed in the back before the day is out. A Hanoverian turncoat, that is all he is, nothing but a fool and a traitor,” Philip said, raising his sword again.

  Feargan knew he had no choice but to face Philip man to man. It was a stark choice. If he remained in the castle then it was certain the Jacobite army would attack, rallied by the influential Lord Torbay to a cause which was of his own making. But if Feargan faced Philip alone there was every possibility that he himself might be killed and Amelia left with no hope.