“I heard it through Magy that Kaithren disnae want tae host the occasion.”
“I cannae believe she would do this tae her own granddaughter. ‘Tis Isabel’s first party for heaven’s sake! And we have already put sae much effort in organizing this gathering.” She began to pace across the room as her mood darkened. “There must be some mistake,” she said.
She started to head toward the door.
“Where are ye going?” Alys asked.
“Tae get answers.”
Kila stormed through the castle, making her way to the solar. When she entered the small room, Kaithren looked up. She was surrounded by her attendants as usual, but Kila didn’t see Isabel among them.
“Is it true that the celebration is canceled?” she asked.
“We dinnae need a party,” Kaithren said sniffing. She bent her head back to her needlework.
The lady’s dismissive attitude made Kila clench her fists. “Isabel is really excited about this gathering. And ‘tis unacceptable that her hopes are dashed like this.”
“She’s young, she’ll get over it.”
Kila remembered the promise she made to Isabel, and how happy she was at the time. If this gathering didn’t go through, she would let down the child. And all the inroads that she made thus far would mean nothing.
“I dinnae understand how ye can be like this. Were ye nae ever a young lass?”
“I was a young lass who obeyed her elders,” she said coldly.
Her meaning was clear. This wasn’t really about Isabel. It was about how Kila made her granddaughter defy her edicts.
“This is nae fair tae Isabel,” Kila said in a low voice. “Ye are punishing her for —”
“I cannae find Isabel anywhere,” a woman said, bursting into the room.
Kila recognized the servant as one of the women who tutored Isabel in language studies.
“I sent her tae her bedchamber,” Kaithren said waving her fingers to dismiss the servant. “Go look there.”
“That’s where I thought she was, but she isnae there. I’ve also looked in other areas in the castle. I — I think she’s missing.”
“Do ye think she ran away?” one of the attendants asked. This fear was on everyone’s minds.
“That is ridiculous,” Kaithren said, putting down her embroidery hoop.
“How long have ye searched for her?” another woman asked as worry crept into her voice.
“For over an hour,” the tutor said, nervously twisting her sleeves. “She is sae young. And if she has escaped outside of the castle, she’ll put herself at risk, especially with the outlaws roaming the land...”
Everyone in the room knew that fleeing the tower was out of character for a bairn who caused few problems. But the lass had reason to run away.
“Perhaps we should inform William, and have him send out a search party,” Kila suggested.
“Perhaps ye can stay out of this. Leave!” Kaithren burst out. “Ever since ye came here, the castle hasnae been the same. The servants misbehave, and my granddaughter has become troublesome and difficult.”
“All right, I’ll leave,” Kila said, feeling shaken by the angry accusations.
As she left the solar, she heard Kaithren’s brisk commands, telling the tutor to gather the servants to search the compound. The woman then sprinted out of the solar, running past her.
It was clear that William’s mother blamed her for the missing child. If Isabel was wandering outside the fortress, then she was in jeopardy. It appeared since she arrived, Kila had thrown the household into further upheaval.
A lump formed in her throat and she tried to swallow it away. Somehow the walls of the fortress felt too oppressive, and she made her way out into the courtyard. She saw a group of people speaking to one another and pointing toward the castle gates.
She closed her eyes as guilt and shame tore through her. She would do what Kaithren asked and stay away. The woman was right. She had done enough.
Kila turned the corner and noticed the empty pigsty. The sow was likely inside the attached barn. As she stood there, the memory of Isabel playing with the sow flashed before her. The tutor said she had looked everywhere, but did she search the pigsty?
With her heart now in her throat, she hurried into the barn. After a moment, her vision adjusted to the dim light, and she saw a small figure curled next to a hay bundle. She stepped closer to the haystack near the wall and saw that it was Isabel.
Relief flooded her body.
“Isabel,” she cried.
The sound of her voice made the lass stir, and she slowly opened her eyes.
“Kila?” she asked, her voice filled with sleepy confusion.
She kneeled next to her, gathering the girl up in her arms. “We thought ye had run away.”
“Nay,” she said. “A servant told me that the sow gave birth, and I wanted tae visit the babes. I’ve been watching them all this time. Look, are they nae adorable?” She pointed to the piglets that were suckling on their mother.
“Aye,” Kila said, lifting her in her arms. “Ye must have fallen asleep during your visit. Right now, we have tae get ye back tae the castle.”
She carried the lass back to the tower. As she approached the main building, she saw a servant and called out to him.
“Tell everyone Isabel has been found,” she said.
The servant raced ahead with the news. Before she reached the steps, she saw William running toward her.
“Isabel,” he said, relief sounding in his voice. He took her from her arms and held the bairn tightly against his chest.
“Ye found my daughter,” he said gruffly. “Thank ye.”
Chapter 19
A week had passed since the false alarm, and things had settled down. Until William heard the announcement, he wasn’t aware that his mother had canceled Isabel’s party. Nor was he aware that this gathering was so important to his daughter.
After witnessing the lass mope for days, Kila had approached him again about the gathering. “The punishment is much too severe,” she said.
Of course, she was right. There was no reason for canceling the occasion, and he understood why Isabel was upset. And after some consideration, he decided to overrule his mother’s decision and reinstate the gathering.
At first, William was reluctant to participate in the activities, but Kila recruited him into helping her organize the celebration. He then discovered that the tasks were more pleasant than he thought, and he found himself relaxing.
William looked around at his surroundings and noted the other things that Kila had changed. Only a few days ago, Kila had the idea to hold a picnic on the castle grounds. However, the garden was unsuitable. She then directed the servants to clear the garden of weeds. She had them plant trees, shrubs, flowers, and a number of fragrant herbs. Surprisingly none of them grumbled, and they approached their tasks with good nature.
Kila didn’t seem to mind getting dirty either, and she joined the servants, throwing herself into the work. He learned that a few servants assisted in the project even after their regular duties had finished. More than once he had strolled past the garden and heard singing and laughter emerging from the area. This was a far cry from his mother’s complaints about the laziness of the servants. In a short time, the small plot transformed into a haven that everyone appreciated.
Kila led Isabel by the hand and visited one flower after another, examining each bloom in detail. Even now, their heads were bent over a beautiful rose.
William smiled at seeing his daughter’s enthusiasm. The lass had never engaged with Anna like this. He couldn’t recall when he last saw his daughter this happy. Her shyness seemed to disappear, and if he didn’t know any better, he would have assumed that the lass was normally outgoing and cheerful.
But William remembered that Isabel’s birth wasn’t something he rejoiced. When she was born, her mother had died. He was filled with grief and was unable to care for the infant. Fortunately, his mother stepped in to raise her
. Isabel grew quickly, and when his grief had subsided a little, he attempted to reconnect with his daughter.
Sadly, his efforts had come too late. Although she didn’t outright reject him, she never willingly came to him on her own accord. Taking on a second marriage didn’t help matters. The union was in part to strengthen the relations with Clan MacHewen, a close ally, and to provide a mother for Isabel. Regrettably, that marriage backfired in both regards. The MacHewen clan became hostile and vengeful, and Isabel still grew up without a mother.
William sat back on the bench and drew a breath. He realized the importance of making new alliances, and carefully cultivated his relationship with the powerful MacGregons. The MacTyrnell clan would have no chance against their enemies if they stood alone.
But getting on the good graces of the MacGregon clan came with its own price. As he spent more time with Kila, he found he enjoyed her company a little too much. He had planned to indulge her whim, and then return her to her brother. But in such a short time, she had accomplished much for William’s clan. And he found himself reluctantly admiring her ability to bring order and calm to his home. The servants listened to her directions and seemed happier following a competent leader.
But even as he now acknowledged that Kila had skills enough to run a stronghold, it was impossible to marry her. He wanted a marriage that didn’t involve feelings. This way, he could then guard himself against any further heartache.
But Kila was very different from him. She was also a distraction. Even though he had made up his mind to dismiss her, she somehow penetrated his brain. He sensed that any association to the lass would lead to disaster, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about her, and he found himself making excuses to be near her.
Then there was the time in the woods. He could never forget that. Making love to her was a wondrous mix of raw pleasure and untamed passion. He had never experienced anything like that, and he didn’t know whether he ever would again.
Unexpectedly, thoughts of Kila becoming a part of his life entered his head, and he forced them from his mind. He had hoped to find a woman who saw marriage to him as a way to fulfill her clan duty. He, on the other hand, wanted someone who was practical, efficient, and businesslike in manner, someone who was like him. In the end, the union would be one of convenience and nothing more.
But with Kila, he feared that there were too many other things involved, too many feelings. Maybe he cared too much for her. And there was an obvious danger to that. He once cared for Anna too. His second wife was gentle, thoughtful and kind, and he believed he had made the right decision in uniting with her. But over time he knew that decision was erroneous. She was too young and inexperienced. And as her mood swings increased, he felt powerless to help her.
With all that he suffered, he knew that he was cursed. Even now, he couldn’t trust himself to care for another woman. Instinctively he saw that Kila desired love. And it wasn’t something he could give her because the women he cared about always ended up dead. To save Kila from a similar fate and to protect her from himself, he had to keep her at arm’s length. It was the only way. Then when the agreement period was over, he could take her back to her brother’s castle with no harm done. Everything would get back to normal, and the deal between the clans wouldn’t be at risk.
Kila came to sit next to him. “I cannae keep up with your daughter,” she said. “’Tis exhausting.”
Isabel saw a butterfly and chased it down the cobbled path.
William turned to look at Kila. Everything about her was exquisite and charming. Her bonnie face was flushed from her interaction with Isabel, and he detected something else, a bright light that shone from within her. It appeared every person she met responded to that light, and they seemed happier after meeting her. He knew it wasn’t his imagination because he felt it too on many occasions.
“Ye never did tell me,” he said, “What was the true reason that ye came here?”
His abrupt question made her pause, as if she debated whether or not she would tell the truth. But then she let out a soft sigh. “If ye must ken the truth, I didnae come here because of ye. I came tae demonstrate that I’m as competent and accomplished as my sister,” she said. “All my life I have been compared tae her, and I have always come up short. When ye refused tae marry me, I got it in my head tae prove that ye were wrong about me.”
“Who are ye proving this to?”
The blunt question startled her into further silence.
“Ye are nae your sister,” he continued. “Ye have your own strengths and talents.”
“Nay one had ever told me this,” she said slowly.
Kila was about to say more when a sudden movement behind her caught his attention. William stood up when he spotted Grant and another guard escorting a prisoner to them. The relaxation William experienced earlier slid away in an instant as he noted his commander’s grim demeanor.
She seemed to notice something in his face and immediately looked behind her.
“Mistress,” Grant said, briefly acknowledging her. He then turned to William. “They told me I would find ye in the garden.” He yanked the prisoner forward. “This man is the head of the gang, the one who’s been organizing the raids against us.” He rattled off a long list of further incriminating charges.
“Is what he’s telling me true?” William demanded.
The prisoner stared at the ground, unable to look him in the eyes. Here was the ringleader, the man who caused so much suffering for his clan, and the fury inside William began to boil.
Kila was standing next to him, and she peered curiously at the prisoner. “I have seen this man before,” she said.
“Ye have?” William glanced at her, surprised.
“Aye, I’m certain that I saw him several weeks ago in the village. He spoke with Iagan that day.”
“’Twas the market day.”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding.
A shout sounded in the air, followed by the sound of running feet. One of the kitchen servants emerged.
“Please,” the servant said, hurrying toward them. “Albert isnae tae blame. Please have it in your heart tae spare him!”
“Magy,” Kila said, shock and confusion in her voice. “Do ye ken this man?”
“I do. He’s my son and the father of my sweet grandson,” she said. “His son was ill. And all this time, Albert has been sending me money tae care for him.”
The old servant looked at Kila as if she sensed that another woman might have the power to help her. She started to cry. “He was supposed tae meet me at the market tae give me the funds —”
“Dinnae say anything else, Ma!” the prisoner said sharply.
His mother closed her mouth and looked miserable.
William’s eyes locked on the prisoner. “How did ye acquire your money?” he demanded.
Albert looked blankly at him, refusing to answer the question. William’s patience finally snapped. The pieces were coming together. This man hadn’t acted alone. There were others involved in the robberies.
“Bring Iagan here immediately,” he said to his commander.
Grant nodded and left. As the minutes passed, a series of disturbing thoughts buzzed through William’s head. He began to pace. Why didn’t he see this before? It was in plain sight, yet he was blinded to the truth. He should have suspected Iagan long ago, yet he naively refused to believe that his own cousin would betray him.
After what felt like ages, Grant escorted Iagan to the garden. Another servant trailed after them.
“Do ye ken this man?” William demanded as his cousin was within earshot.
Iagan flicked his gaze over to the prisoner. “Of course nae. I’ve never seen him in my life.”
“That cannae be true,” Kila said, contradicting him. “I’m certain I saw them together at the market.”
“He takes money from the robbers in exchange for his protection,” the younger servant said as she made her approach.
Iagan whipped his head
to look behind him, suddenly aware of the woman’s presence. “Leave, woman. Ye dinnae ken what ye are talking about.”
The young servant had a determined look on her face, yet there was fear there too.
“Let her speak,” William said. “Who are ye? And how do ye ken that my cousin is profiting from the outlaws?”
“If I were ye, I wouldnae believe a thing that comes out of that whore’s mouth,” Iagan spat.
“I’m the mother of your bairn!” she yelled at him. She swallowed and turned her attention back to William. “I came here tae gain support for the babe, but instead Iagan threatened tae kill us both. ‘Twas your protection that spared us.”
“Woman, shut up!” Iagan said with barely concealed alarm in his voice.
William narrowed his eyes at his cousin. The man was hiding something. He studied the young servant more closely and suddenly recalled who she was.
“Ye are the lass who appeared with an infant during judgment day,” he said. He recalled feeling sorry for the young mother and gave her employment at the main tower. “Tell me what ye ken.”
“I’ll tell ye truly that I’m nae a whore,” she said, tilting her chin up in defiance. “Iagan said he would marry me. Of course, he didnae keep his promise. But he told me many things like how he profits from crimes committed on this land. In order for the robbers nae tae be caught, he takes his cut from their loot. ‘Tis surprising what ye learn when ye share a bed with someone.”
“There is nay truth in what she says,” Iagan grounded out. He gestured to the woman. “Florie has prostituted herself with many men. ‘Tis impossible that I’m the sire. Besides, ye have known me all your life. Would ye take the word of this woman over someone who is family?”
His cousin’s corruption was now out in the open. As William searched his mind, he found ample evidence that Iagan plotted against him, yet until now, he had no proof. The woes that ravaged his territory were directly connected to a person who was supposed to be on his side.
“I’ve heard enough,” he said, disgusted. “Take these bastards away. I’ll deal with them later.”
Highland Pride Page 14