Historical Hearts Romance Collection

by Sophia Wilson

  “I cannot plait your hair properly if you are moving,” Aila scolded. “The guests are already arriving at the chapel. You will not be ready, my lady!”

  Lily stared blankly out the window. She didn’t appear to have heard her. Aila exchanged knowing glances with the other servant, Shona, who was there to help Lily get ready for her wedding day.

  Lily could see people arriving on horseback. If she squinted her eyes tightly, she could almost see the ferry docking, with more guests disembarking. Her heart lurched whenever she saw a tall, dark haired man in the Stewart tartan. Was it him? But it never was.

  She knew the wedding had to go ahead. There was no way out, this time. Yet still, she couldn’t help thinking he would suddenly ride in on his horse, grab her, and spirit her away from here.

  She had not seen him since her brother had taken her that night before the battle.

  They had ridden long into the night, not stopping for rest. Her brother’s arms around her on the horse had felt like the shackles of hell. Eventually, they had made it to the Douglas clan encampment, where she had been taken to a tent and placed under armed guard.

  “You won’t escape again, sister. Don’t even try,” her brother had said, before he left her.

  The battle had gone ahead the next day. The Stewart clan had won, simply because they knew the terrain better. It had been a bloody day, with many men lost. Lily tried not to think about how many men had lost their lives because of her. And all for nothing, anyway.

  When Neil had returned from battle, he was near death, bleeding profusely from an abdominal wound. Lily had tried to ask about Douglas. But no one would answer her. She had no idea whether he lived, or had died, that day.

  She had been taken back to the castle and had been locked into the tower where she now was. The only people she saw were Aila and Shona, bringing her food on trays and emptying her chamber pot. She was a prisoner. They ducked their heads and looked frightened when she asked them of Douglas. They would not answer her.

  She hadn’t even known that the wedding day had been brought forward until the maids had come into her room with a wedding gown.

  “No,” breathed Lily, as soon as she had seen it. She backed away.

  “Now, now, my lady, we must get you ready,” Aila soothed. “It is happening today.” She looked at Lily with pity in her eyes.

  Lily had been as still as a doll as the two women stripped her, bathed her, and started dressing her. The gown was a silk tunic with elaborate braiding, befitting a lady of her rank. She wore a mantle over the outfit.

  And now they were finishing off her hair, making an elaborate twist of Celtic knots and braids out of her black curls. A circlet of white gold and diamonds was placed on top.

  “It is a Stewart heirloom,” said Shona, as she secured it. “See the pelican sitting on her nest at the front? That is the Stewart emblem.”

  “Did she wear it?” It was the first thing Lily had said since they had come into the room.

  Shona looked confused for a moment. “Oh, you mean the lady Elspeth?” She bit her lip. “Aye, that she did.”

  Lily felt the circlet burning into her head, like a brand.

  “Stand up, my lady,” Aila ordered. “We are finished.”

  “Must I?”

  The two maids exchanged glances again.

  “My lady,” Aila whispered fiercely. “You must! The wedding is going ahead today. I know how you feel, but you have no choice. Life is never easy for us women – we must do what our fathers command. Think of the bairns you will have, when you are a married woman. They make life worth living. And there is the lady Isobel, needing a mother, poor wee soul.”

  Lily nodded, but she kept staring out the window, searching.

  “Is that the last ferry?” she asked.

  “Aye,” answered Shona.

  Her heart sank, and she knew.

  He could not save her.

  ***

  The ceremony had gone smoothly enough.

  They had exchanged vows and rings in the Castle chapel, overlooking the water.

  Richard had gone to kiss her afterwards, as was the custom, but she turned her head away at the last moment. There were gasps of shock from the congregation. She could feel the eyes of her mother, Lady Catherine, boring into her skull.

  Richard’s hands had tightened on her shoulders. “You will pay for that, in the bedchamber after,” he whispered in her ear. He smiled as he spoke. She felt a chill race through her bones.

  Afterwards, as the wedding party feasted in the great hall, Lily managed to slip out of the hall for some fresh air. She was gazing out to the waters, when she heard someone approaching her from behind. Damnation! Would they not leave her alone for one second?

  She turned. It was him. It was Douglas!

  He looked pale, and was thinner than she remembered. He was also grubby. His kilt was ripped.

  “Oh, my love,” he whispered. He went to hug her, but she stepped back.

  “You are too late, Douglas,” she hissed. “The deed is done! I am married to your brother.”

  His eyes filled with tears. “I know.” He hung his head. “Your family laid a trap so that I couldn’t get here in time. I tried so hard, Lily! I have been laid low from the injuries I got on the battlefield, courtesy of your brother; otherwise I would have been here to take you long ago. Did I kill the bastard?” His eyes filled with hatred.

  “He lives. It took him a long time to recover, though,” Lily answered.

  “Damn! I swear, I will kill him one day, for what he did to us.” He stopped. The hatred seemed to drain from him, suddenly.

  “I had to barter for a boat, to sail across.” He looked at her with such yearning she had to blink back tears.

  “I was hoping to get here in time. But it is too late.” He swallowed, painfully. “I shall sail tomorrow, for France.”

  “You can’t leave me!”

  “I must, my love. You are a married woman now. And I cannot watch you be another man’s wife. It would kill me! But I promise you – I will find a way. I will return, and I will solve this. You will be my wife, someday. I swear it.”

  “How?” Lily’s throat ached with unshed tears.

  He ran a hand through his black hair. “I don’t know yet,” he said urgently. “But our day will come! Promise me, that you will remember that. I will be back for you, Lily, my one and only love.”

  “I promise,” she breathed.

  “Are you giving my new wife good wishes, brother?” The voice of Lily’s new husband, Richard, made them both jump. He was standing in the doorway, surveying them.

  Douglas paled. “Aye, brother,” he replied. “And good wishes for you, too, on your wedding day.”

  Richard smiled slowly. “Aye, I am a lucky man.” He turned to Lily. “Shouldn’t you go back inside, my dear? You will catch a chill. And I shall not take kindly to a sickly woman in my marriage bed!”

  Douglas’s face darkened. Lily looked at him, sadly.

  Then she turned and slowly walked away.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Douglas spurred his horse on.

  Ah, Scotland! He had missed his homeland. The smell of pine trees intermingled with heather. The snow-capped mountains, encircled with mist. He saw a herd of red deer running in the distance, and once he thought he spotted a wildcat lurking through the woods.

  He stopped by a stream and drank thirstily. He could see salmon darting through the waters and thought of catching one and setting up camp on the riverbank for the night. But then he dismissed the thought. There was daylight left, and he could ride further. Every hour in the saddle was an hour closer to her.

  He thought about the past year, away from his homeland and Lily.

  He had ridden the day after the wedding as if Black Donald, the devil himself, was on his tail. He had to get as far away as possible from Colloness. The thought of Lily in his brother’s arms was tearing him apart. He knew he could do no more now to be with her, but that didn’t st
op it hurting like hell. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of them together was tattooed on his eyelids.

  He had ridden to Edinburgh, found a boat and had sailed to France. He had started trading in silks with merchants on the docks in Normandy. It turned out he had a flair for business, and had done quite well. He had squirrelled away his gold – hopefully, securing the future for Lily and himself.

  It had been a solitary life. He had stayed at a tavern. He would have a dram or two of whiskey on an evening, and retire early. He wasn’t interested in socializing or keeping company with the ladies of the night who frequented the place, like the other men did. He could only think of Lily. It was her image which kept him alive on the cold nights in his narrow bed.

  He prayed to God that his brother had curbed the worst side of his nature, and that Lily hadn’t suffered greatly.

  Not long now! If he just kept riding, he might make the last ferry crossing to Colloness. With renewed vigor, he kicked his heels into the horse and rode furiously over the plains.

  ***

  Douglas walked into the hall. It seemed deserted. Strange.

  He made his way to the kitchens, as he always did after he had been away. He spotted the cook, Joan, stirring a simmering cauldron of soup. Aila and Shona were each kneading bread on the bench, pounding into the dough like their lives depended on it.

  “What does a man have to do to get some hot victuals around here?”

  The women dropped what they were doing, and spun around.

  “Oh the saints preserve us! Our laddie has come home!” Aila hugged him, covering him in flour.

  Douglas laughed and coughed at the same time. “It is wonderful to see you, too, Aila.”

  “Sit down, lad, and we’ll get you some sustenance. A long journey?” Joan was grabbing some cold meat, pickles and bread as she spoke. “Shona, get a pitcher of ale for the lad.”

  “Will I be a laddie forever to you lovely lasses?” Douglas was grinning.

  The women twittered.

  After having his fill, Douglas turned to Aila, who had sat down next to him to top and tail some green beans. She had left the bread kneading to Shona.

  “What is the news, Aila?” He looked at the old woman carefully.

  Aila’s face fell. “Ach, none of it is good, laddie. You must have known what would happen when you left us, a year since.”

  Douglas felt his heart hit the floor.

  “How is she?”

  The three women exchanged pained looks, but none of them spoke.

  “Someone say something!” In his frustration, Douglas hit the table with his fist.

  “Aye, well, it might be better if we clean you up and you go for a rest,” Aila eventually replied.

  “What has happened?”

  “None of that now, laddie. You look dog tired. Knowing you, I bet you rode all day and all night without a break. We will clean you up and then you can have a good long sleep, get your strength back.”

  Douglas felt the tiredness suddenly hit him like a plank. He knew they were right. Better to rest before he saw her.

  “She will be here after you’ve had your rest.” Aila walked over to him. “God knows, she never leaves the Castle, anymore.”

  ***

  Douglas awoke to find sunshine streaming through his chamber window.

  He sat up, disoriented. How long had he been sleeping for?

  Then he remembered where he was and impatiently pulled back the blankets. Colloness Castle! And she was here! He was so close. In his eagerness to get to her, he started pulling his mud splattered clothes back on.

  Aila walked into the room. “Laddie! Slow down! Those clothes need to go into the wash. I’ve brought you fresh ones.” She laid a fresh kilt and shirt on the bed.

  It seemed to take forever to dress, even with Aila’s help.

  “How do I look?” Douglas adjusted his shirt.

  “Very handsome, laddie,” Aila replied. “If you are ready, I’ll take you to her now. The laird is away, as always.”

  They walked along the hallway. As they neared the top of the staircase, Douglas heard female voices coming from a chamber. Loud whispers, and giggles.

  “Is that where she is?” He frowned.

  Aila colored slightly. “No, that isn’t her chamber. It’s further along, to the left. Come now.”

  Douglas reached a hand to stop the old woman. “Aila, what’s going on? Who is in that chamber?”

  Aila sighed, loudly. “I cannot explain it all now. The mistress awaits you.”

  They continued walking, eventually arriving at Lily’s chamber. Aila knocked on the door.

  “Enter,” they heard a voice respond. It was her voice! He was almost with her!

  In his eagerness, Douglas pushed open the door, bounding into the room. “Lily! It is me!”

  He looked around in confusion. The room seemed empty.

  A figure walked toward him from out of the shadows of a corner. “Aila, you can leave us now.”

  The smile of joy froze on Douglas’s face.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “How are you, Douglas?”

  Her voice sounded the same, at least. But it was flat. It held no note of joy, or excitement, or even surprise at his arrival.

  His eyes raked over her. She was so thin; he could see her shoulder blades protruding beneath the tunic that she wore. She had no covering on her head, so he could see that her long, black curls had lost their luster. Her hair hung limp and ragged around her face. But the worst was her eyes. When they turned to him, the fire in them that had always made his heart leap for joy was extinguished. They were lifeless.

  She waved a bony hand toward a seat. “Please, sit down.”

  He did what she asked, in confusion. Mother of God, what had happened to her?

  She sat down opposite him, but avoided his eyes. “How long since you arrived?”

  Douglas reached out and took her hands across the table. She flinched, but didn’t remove them.

  “Lily, for the love of God! What has happened to you?”

  Lily shrugged slightly. “Oh, Douglas, I am an old married woman now! You can’t expect me to keep my youthful looks forever.” She spoke in a brittle voice.

  Douglas squeezed her fingers, leaning across the table to stare into her face.

  “Look at me,” he commanded. She turned her eyes left and right, but eventually let them rest on his face.

  “I don’t care what you look like! I will love you when we are both old and grey and as bent as twigs! I love you, Lily. I love you, body and soul… forever.”

  Lily squirmed slightly at his words, and her gaze slid away. “You might. But it makes no difference to my life as it is.” She smiled sadly.

  “What has he done to you?” His voice rose.

  She smiled again. “He has only been himself, Douglas. It is his nature to destroy.” She sighed. “You shouldn’t have come back. There is nothing for us, anymore.”

  “What?” he grabbed her hands tightly. “You can’t say that! What of our promises!”

  “Promises?” she repeated, bitterly. “The ravings of children! So much has happened since you left…” Her voice petered away. Tears glimmered in her eyes.

  “Lily, listen to me! We can be together. I have been trading silk in France. I have made quite a bit of gold from it…. we can run away together, start a new life in a new country…”

  She snorted. “Douglas, listen to yourself. I tried to run away, once, remember? And look where it got me. Men died, on the battlefield, because of it. He never stops reminding me of that, do you know? And he treats me like a slave.” She laughed bitterly. “Amongst other things.” She stopped laughing, abruptly.

  “Lily, please…”

  “No.” She stood up. “You don’t understand. I hate it, but this is my life now.” She took a deep breath. “Please leave.”

  Lily stood up, staring down at him. Tears glistened in his eyes.

  “If that’s what you want.”
r />   “It is.”

  She walked towards the door. He watched her as she moved. There was something in her stance, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on…

  She turned back to him suddenly, and there it was.

  He wondered how he had missed it. Maybe something to do with the loose tunic she was wearing.

  “Mother of God,” he breathed. “Lily, you are with child!”

  She turned to him. “Aye, that I am, Douglas McLaren. A babe, to be born in the summer.” She stared at him. “So now you know, you must make haste to leave here.”

  Douglas was at her side in two strides. “I do not care, Lily. I will love you and the bairn. You must come with me! For the safety of your child, as well as yourself.”

  He put his arms around her. Lily stiffened, and then she slumped against him.

  “Is it possible?” He couldn’t bear to hear the awakened hope in her voice.

  “Aye,” he answered. His arms tightened around her. “It is possible. I love you.”

  They both jumped, as the door to the chamber opened.

  “If it isn’t my long-lost brother,” drawled the Laird of Loneshire. “What were you saying, about loving my wife?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lily started shaking. Douglas tightened his arms around her.

  “Aye,” he said to his brother. “I love her! I always have.”

  Richard’s eyes glittered dangerously. “I should have known. You’ve always coveted what is mine, haven’t you, little brother? But my wife is not a child’s play thing. Take your hands off her, this instant.”

  “I won’t,” growled Douglas.

  “By God, you won’t!” Richard lunged at them, roughly grabbing Lily and flinging her against the wall. She hit it with a thud, before slumping slowly to the ground.

  “You bastard!”

  Douglas punched his brother in the face. The laird teetered for a moment, before falling in a heap on the floor. He was knocked cold.

  “Lily.” Douglas rushed to where she lay on the floor. “Speak to me!”

  She raised dazed eyes to him. “Douglas.” Her eyes lowered, then widened with horror.