Still this couldn’t go on. Again he sent several men with the third message, but he needed to have another plan. He gave his messenger enough time to deliver the message, then he sailed with a contingent of men. If Laird MacKenzie refused him again, he wanted to be in position to act. His timing of the third message was as intentional as the second. If Angus refused the request, the revelry of St. John’s Eve might afford his men the opportunity to snatch her.
He prayed fervently they would be successful tonight. If they weren’t he would have to negotiate with MacKenzie to get her back and if that didn’t work he didn’t know what he would do. Elsie had been with the MacKenzies for over four months but only his most loyal men, those he brought with him, knew the real story. If most of his clan believed Elsie went with the MacKenzies by her choice, he couldn’t very well threaten to go to war for her return. Nor could he risk leaving her with the MacKenzies. She knew exactly what he had done.
~ * ~
When the men who had captured Elizabeth, finally stopped their horses, they were on the shore of a large body of water. Someone lifted her off the horse and stood her on the ground. There were many more men waiting here and in the predawn twilight she could see a small ship anchored off shore. It must be a bay or inlet from the sea.
Several men rowed a tender to shore. She recognized two of the men in the boat at Laird Macrae and Drummond, the man who had been dragging her through the village when she and Elsie had exchanged souls.
When the boat landed, the man over whose lap she had been thrown took her by the elbow, pulling her towards Laird Macrae.
The laird looked her up and down once before asking, “Why is she bound and gagged?”
“She fought us laird,” said one of the two men who had captured her.
“Did ye tell her ye were rescuing her? Taking her home?”
“Nay, laird.”
“Eejits,” he muttered. “Go, see to yer mounts. When they are rested and watered, ye need to leave and hie yerselves home. The rest of us will return by ship.”
The men did as their laird bid them, leaving her alone with Laird Macrae and Drummond, Laird Macrae pulled the gag from her mouth but left her hands tied behind her back.
“Did ye keep my secret Elsie?”
“Did I tell them I was an apprentice? Nay, I didn’t.”
“Very good. So that’s why MacKenzie didn’t want to let ye go? He still believes ye’re my best midwife?”
“He believes I have the skills needed to care for Lady MacKenzie.”
“Well now, we are in a bit of a spot.”
“Why? I did what ye asked.”
“Aye, but ye see, I couldn’t very well let the whole clan know our secret. It wouldn’t stay a secret long that way. So, I told them ye ran away with the MacKenzies.”
“Then let me stay.”
“I can’t do that either. Yer aunt’s worried about ye, and wants ye to come home. Besides, if I leave ye here, I have no way to ensure that ye’ll hold yer tongue forever.”
“Ye needn’t worry.”
“Now, ye see, I don’t believe that.”
She huffed. “Then what makes ye think I’ll keep yer secret when ye take me home?”
Pain exploded in her cheek as he struck her hard across the face. “Ye’ve grown impertinent living with the MacKenzies. I will not tolerate that. Do ye understand me?”
In almost a reflex reaction that she couldn’t have stopped if she’d wanted to, Elizabeth bowed her head. “Aye, Laird. I’m sorry, Laird.”
He gave her a smug smile. “Good. And ye’ll keep the secret because I’ll give ye an incentive.”
“An incentive?” She didn’t like the quaver she heard in her voice.
“Aye. An incentive. Drummond here has taken a liking to ye and I think ye’d make him a fine wife. If ye’re a good lass, keep yer mouth shut and do as yer told, he’ll be a good husband. If ye cause any problems…well, he’ll make sure ye won’t.”
Elizabeth considered herself a strong, capable woman. She believed she could deal with anything. Anything but being forced to marry the beast of a man who stood before her. Panic stirred in her gut. It took every ounce of fortitude she possessed to maintain control.
Laird Macrae lifted her chin with a finger and peered at her. “But ye’ll be a good lass. I’m sure ye will.”
She was terrified and one look in Laird Macrae’s eyes told her he know that. “Aye, Laird.” Again her response was reflexive and clearly Elsie’s memory at work. That was probably a good thing, because her face throbbed. If she had said “No damn way,” as she longed to he certainly would have struck her again, or worse.
Evidently satisfied by her fear and humility, Laird Macrae smiled. “Untie her, Drummond. She understands now.”
The huge guardsman slipped his knife from the sheath on his leg, stepped behind her and sliced through her bonds.
Another automatic response, “Thank ye, sir,” spilled out of her mouth as she rubbed her chafed wrists.
“Now, let’s get her onboard the ship. Men, to the tenders.”
Chapter 28
Dread gripped Cade’s heart when he realized the men they followed were heading to the inlet. If they had a ship anchored there, they could be sailing away before he reached Elizabeth. As the MacKenzies neared the shore, they spread out, slowed their mounts and moved through the forest as quietly as possible. On Angus’ signal they thundered out of the forest, weapons drawn.
The Macraes were climbing into tenders.
Elizabeth sat in the bow of one boat, next to a large Macrae guardsman.
Caught unawares, the Macraes scrambled, for their weapons as the MacKenzies surrounded them.
“Hold and we won’t kill ye.” commanded Angus.
Laird Macrae made a subtle motion with his hand and the men near the tender holding Elizabeth moved to launch it.
“I’ll run yer laird through if ye move another muscle.”
They stopped.
“Alban, ye and I need to talk.”
“She’s my clanswoman, Angus, and I’m taking her home.”
“Nay, ye aren’t. She stays with us.”
“Ye have no right. I didn’t say ye could keep her until Lady MacKenzie delivers. I need her now. My own wife is with child.”
“Now I’m glad ye brought that up, because the way I understand it, Elsie’s aunt is a highly respected midwife with years of experience.”
“Aye, she is, but Elsie—”
“—is only an apprentice?”
Macrae cast a furious glare in Elizabeth’s direction.
“That is the truth is it not?”
“Is that what the lying wench told ye?”
“Nay, Alban, she didn’t tell me. Some minstrels who had been at Castle Macrae did. She has maintained, from the moment she arrived, that she was the midwife we needed. So the way I see it, ye lied to me. Ye played on my fears for my wife, sent me an unskilled apprentice and expected my undying gratitude for yer deceit.”
“Well, it seems to me yer wife is unharmed—in fact she’s still pregnant which is both a miracle and a blessing. But clearly, the talentless lass I sent ye has had no impact.” His tone dripped with sarcasm. “Therefore, she doesn’t need to stay until yer wife delivers.”
“Ye aren’t taking her. She’ll stay with the MacKenzies forever.”
“Ye can’t keep her.”
“The hell I can’t.”
“She’s my clanswoman.”
“Who at yer own admission, ye lied about in order to gain an alliance. What do ye think yer other allies will make of that? Do ye suppose they’ll wonder what ye’ve lied to them about?”
“Ye borrowed her. What will yer allies say when ye don’t return what ye borrowed?”
“I asked to borrow a skilled midwife. Ye lied and sent an apprentice.”
“Perhaps not. Perhaps I didn’t lie. It seems to me yer wife is doing very well under Elsie’s care. Maybe she isn’t without knowledge.”
�
��Ye’re a fool. Ye wanted an alliance with me Macrae. But in lying to me to get it, ye’ve created a powerful enemy. I will signal the battle this instant if ye don’t hand her over.”
In the blink of an eye, the guardsman in the tender with Elizabeth had a dirk to her throat.
“Hold!” roared Angus.
“Ye can attack if ye wish, but she’ll be dead before ye can take two steps if ye do,” warned Laird Macrae.
Horrified, Cade could do nothing. A single wrong move and he could lose her forever. The pink light of dawn illumined her face, revealing how very frightened she was.
“She’s yer clanswoman.” His father’s tone was incredulous. “If ye are willing to kill her, why not just leave her with us. Ye can be on yer way.”
“If ye don’t need her as a midwife, why do ye insist on keeping her?”
Laird MacKenzie’s eyes narrow and in a deadly calm voice he said, “Because, I know what ye did. I know that ye threatened her. Killing her won’t silence the truth.” In a slightly gentler voice Angus said, “I understand ye believed no one could help Wynda, so ye didn’t think it mattered who ye sent. I know that ye lied to yer clan about how and why she left. Only a fool would believe she’s in no danger if she returns with ye, so I can’t allow that to happen. I also suspect not only do ye not want yer clan to know what ye’ve done, ye don’t want yer allies to know either. But I assure ye, if ye continue to push for her return, everyone in the Highlands will know. I will make certain of it.”
“If ye’re going to spread those lies through the Highlands, I have a few stories of my own to tell. Ye borrowed my best midwife and refused to return her.”
“Ye’ve just admitted that she isn’t yer best midwife.”
“I told ye I wasn’t so sure about that. The way I see it, yer wife, who has lost four pregnancies, is well along with this bairn. That’s quite remarkable. I have also heard tell the lass brought Laird MacLennan’s heir through a serious fever. It seems she’s rather skilled after all. I reckon plenty of people will believe that’s reason enough for ye to want to steal her from me and then lie about it. Besides, I have the lass herself who will swear I’m telling the truth.”
“If ye take her Macrae, it’s war. My forces exceed yers by four-fold. Furthermore, Carrs, MacLennan’s, MacDonnells and Mathesons are all allies of mine and they all border yer holding. Yer own wife is expecting. Do ye really want to go down this path?”
“Nay, I don’t. But Elsie belongs to me, and if I have her, I can control her. She’s to be married to one of my guardsmen.”
The man holding his knife to Elizabeth’s throat grinned. Cade knew instantly he was the guardsman Macrae intended Elsie to marry. Cade had to stop this. He said the first thing that came to his mind, “She’s not free to marry. She belongs to me.”
Macrae’s mouth fell open in astonishment. “Ye let yer son marry a midwife, MacKenzie? I don’t believe that.”
“We handfasted. My father didn’t know until after it was done.”
His father did not react to this announcement, but only nodded. “Aye, Macrae, I was livid when I learned of it.” The tick in his father’s jaw suggested that he was livid. “But as ye well know, a handfasting is as binding as a betrothal.”
“A betrothal can be set aside in some circumstances. Elsie is my clanswoman and didn’t have my permission to marry. That’s reason enough.”
“But a handfasting can’t be set aside if it has been consummated,” said Cade.
Macrae fairly trembled with rage. He glared at Elizabeth. “I didn’t send ye here to whore for the MacKenzie pup.”
His father looked every bit as angry as Laird Macrae. “Be that as it may, Macrae, what’s done is done and we’ve reached an impasse. I will not allow ye to leave with her, and if ye kill her, ye’ll all die on this shore today. We had no formal relationship before, but neither were there hostilities between us. Ye were willing to lie to have an alliance with me and that’s reason enough for a clan war, but it can be avoided.”
Alban looked at him cautiously. “What are ye saying?”
“I’m saying our alliance went to hell when ye lied about who she was. She is now my son’s wife. If ye release her, we will part ways. I’ll accept that ye believed no one could help Wynda so ye didn’t act out of malice. I’ll say no more about it. No alliance. No hostilities.” Alban seemed to be considering the proposal. Angus added, “Leaving her with us is a small price to pay, to ensure yer reputation isn’t ruined.”
Alban clenched his teeth. “And the little whore will keep her mouth shut too?”
“Mind yer tongue. Ye’re speaking about my good daughter and I am losing patience. I have assured ye, word of this will go no farther.”
“Elsie’s aunt is heartbroken. Allow her to go with us for a while and then she can return after her aunt is assured of her safety.”
“Nay, Alban. Ye can reassure her aunt that Elsie is both safe and happy. I am offering to not only to forgive the wrongs ye’ve done me but also to stay silent about them. The cost of my goodwill is Elsie. She stays with us. Her aunt is welcome to visit at any time. Or, after my child is born, I will have Elsie escorted to either Laird Matheson or Laird MacLennan. Her aunt can visit with her there. Elsie will never return to Macrae land unless I allow it.”
Laird Macrae was cornered and he knew it. Finally, through clenched teeth he ordered, “Release her.”
“But, Laird—”
“—I said release her!”
“Aye, Laird,” growled the guardsman holding her, but he let her go.
Cade dismounted as Elizabeth clambered out of the tender and ran to his arms. He gathered her close, simply holding her for a moment. “I’m so sorry, my love. I should never have left ye alone,” he whispered.
“It isn’t yer fault.”
“Aye, it is, but we have ye back now. Are ye ready to go home?”
“Aye.” Her voice was tremulous, as if she fought back tears.
Taking her face in his hands, he gave her a quick, tender kiss before lifting her onto his horse and mounting behind her.
His father said, “Thank ye, Laird Macrae. As ye can see, she has become very dear to my son. Be sure her aunt knows that. Now, ye and yer men are free to return to the ship. Several of my guardsmen will escort yer horsemen to our border.”
Chapter 29
The sun was fully up by the time Laird Macrae’s ship had set sail and his horsemen were on their way under MacKenzie guard. Only then did the rest of the MacKenzies turn towards home. Elizabeth could barely process all that had happened over the last few hours, but the lies Cade had told about them being married worried her the most. It didn’t take long for Laird MacKenzie to begin asking questions.
“So, Elsie, when did my son marry ye?”
“I…we…aren’t married.”
“Da, I told ye, we handfasted de praesenti.”
“Then why did Elsie say ye aren’t married?”
“Because she doesn’t completely understand what handfasting means.” He gave his father a pointed look. “And our vows haven’t been solemnized.”
Angus frowned. “Elsie did ye agree to take Cade as yer husband?”
She had agreed when Cade had said: And, ye’ll be my wife and take me as yer husband, Elizabeth Quinn? “Aye, I did.”
“And he agreed to take ye as his wife?”
“Aye, but—”
Cade put a finger on her lips. “There are no ‘buts’, Elsie, we handfasted.”
“And when did this handfasting take place?” Cade opened his mouth to answer but his father put up his hand. “I want Elsie to answer.”
“Last night. Just before I was taken by the Macraes.”
“Then how could it have been consummated?” Angus demanded.
“It wasn’t,” answered Cade.
“But ye told Macrae it was.”
“Nay Da, I didn’t. I said a handfasting couldn’t be set aside if it had been consummated. I never said ours was.”
&nbs
p; His father laughed. “Nay ye didn’t. It looks like ye beat him at his own game of words.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I don’t understand. There was no priest. We didn’t make vows. How can we be married?”
“Do ye not understand what a handfasting de praesenti, is, lass?” Asked Hamish.
“A betrothal?” But wasn’t a betrothal just an engagement? Engagements fell apart all of the time.
Hamish nodded. “Aye. It’s a binding agreement to marry and once entered into, it can only be broken in certain, extreme, circumstances. When a couple handfasts de praesenti, it means they consider themselves married at that moment. Is that what happened? Do ye consider yerself married?”
Marry me, Elizabeth. Marry me now.
Aye, Cade. I’ll marry ye now.
She felt Cade tense at her hesitation and she smiled. “Aye, I do. We were going to see Father Henry and I thought that was required to seal the marriage.”
Cade relaxed and gave her a little squeeze with the arm that encircled her.
“Aye, well it is. Not to make it binding, but ye must say vows before a priest too.” Said Angus. “Of course, strictly speaking, a couple should not consummate their marriage until after it has been solemnized by the Church.”
“Da, we’ll be riding right past the church. I’m sure Father Henry would be happy to oblige.”
Angus nodded. “Aye, we’d best take care of it right away.”
“This morning? Like this?” Elizabeth was appalled. “I was bound, gagged, and then thrown across a horse and hauled away. I’m tired and dirty…and…and…tired. I am not getting married like this. I want a bath and a nap first.”
Hamish frowned. “Lass, I simply cannot fathom how ye became so bold living under the rule of that devil. Angus is a good man but if he tells ye to marry, ye’ll marry.”
Cade chuckled and whispered, “I told ye that wee sharp tongue would get ye in trouble.”
She felt her face warm as she blushed. “I’m sorry, Laird. I’m…I’m…”
The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Page 23