He rode towards the sea, knowing the only place he could find peace was at the cottage by the water, and Faolan knew the way. He was no longer to be the laird, and he would no longer have Amelia. She did not want him. That he knew now. Why else would she have done such a thing and worked with Donald, the most reprehensible creature in the world, to bring about his demise? He couldn’t connect the smart, loving, caring, sexy Amelia that he knew with this new Amelia, the cold traitor who only desired wealth.
William had tried to make him stay, to fight, to discover the real truth, but he couldn’t. He knew it was cowardly, but everything in him had screamed “leave, leave!” He had no fight left. He left his mind fall into the thumping rhythm of Faolan’s hooves over the ground.
* * *
Amelia and Marianne walked quickly in silence over the grass, towards her mother’s cottage. Marianne gripped Amelia’s arm tightly, fearing for her friend’s health as they made their way. “Amelia? Shall we discuss it before we reach your mother? Or would you like to be silent?”
Amelia didn’t reply at first, but then she said quietly. “I love him, Marianne. What have I done?”
“It seems you only did what you needed to do to save your father. ‘Tis he that has brought this turmoil upon you. You are not one to knowingly betray. And if Lady Kinnaird is right, Jamie loves you too.”
They kept walking, staring straight ahead as they talked.
“Would you love someone if they did what I did to you? Could you forgive them?”
Marianne was silent, knowing her nature to hold grudges. “I...I don’t know. But I like to think that if I heard their explanation and their apology, that I would. You had a reason to do what you did. ‘Twas a noble reason, as well, Amelia. ‘Twas not selfish. He cannot accuse you of that.”
Amelia spoke even softer now. “And what about my father? It will kill my mother if she finds out what has happened. And now, there is no money to send for my father’s release.”
Marianne did not know what to say at first, but after some thought, she comforted her friend. “We will think of something. Some solution. Don’t worry.”
“I pray you are right.”
They walked in silence the rest of the way until they arrived at the quiet cottage. Amelia’s heart beat rapidly as she opened the door to be met with a dark silence. “Mother? Sophie?” Marianne and Amelia stepped gingerly inside.
Sophie ran to her from the kitchen. “Miss Amelia, thank the Lord ye are here! I was tae send word tae the castle.”
“What? What is it?” Amelia’s heart twisted in fear.
Sophie appeared to struggle with her next words. “‘Tis yer ma. She is sick. She is resting now, but I donnae know what tae do.”
Amelia ran to open the door to the bedroom to see her mother’s small, pale frame, lying amidst the twisted sheets, a sheen of sweat on her face.
She rushed to her side to clasp her hand. “Mother? Mother, can you hear me?” Marianne stood in the doorway, and Henrietta turned her face towards her daughter. “Amelia? Why are you here?”
“No matter, Mother. I want to take care of you. Why did you not tell me you were ill? I would have come right away.” Henrietta closed her eyes.
“I did not want to worry you. I had hoped to make a quiet recovery.”
Amelia rushed back to Sophie in the kitchen. “Please, send for the doctor.”
“But, Miss, the doctor is expensive. We had not enough coin tae pay for him.”
Amelia thought of the money from Donald. It should be put to good use. “I have the coin. Please send for him, immediately!”
Sophie ran out the door. Marianne said, “I will try to make some tea.” She left for the kitchen. Amelia returned to her mother’s side, feeling as if the whole world was ending. Was there no break from tragedy and trouble? She let her tears fall silently as she watched her mother’s chest rise and fall in the rhythm of sleep.
* * *
Fiona and William sat by the hearth in the hall, with Prince Charlie sitting at Fiona’s feet, blissfully unaware of the recent occurrences. All the clansmen had gone home in dismay, and Donald had left to gather his belongings from the fort to bring to the castle.
Fiona’s tear slid down her cheeks as she stared into the flames. William had poured them both cups of wine, and they sat in silence, until William spoke. “I will go, me Lady, and speak tae Jamie. I will bring him back.”
Fiona wiped a tear with her fingers, and said, “No, let him stay where he is. He needs time to think, away from all this.”
William sighed but acquiesced. “Will ye come back to me homestead with me, Fiona? Ye are most welcome. I donnae want ye tae stay here with the bastard as he makes his plans as new laird, head of Kinnaird clan.”
She smiled at William, the young boy who she had watched grow into a man. “You are kind, William. I fear my departure will make it only that much easier for Donald to gain all the clan’s agreement and respect. It will show he has won, once and for all.”
“Do ye think that there was some kind of mistake in the records that no one was aware of?”
Fiona sat thoughtfully for a moment. “I confess I have never seen the birth records in the church, but it doesn’t seem like something James would have done if he’d known. He was an honest man. And he loved his brother. William, we must find out the truth of this. Donald is unstable. He will not make a good leader. If there is any chance he is telling a lie, then you and I must find it out.”
William smiled, re-energized with the task at hand. “I’ve been waiting tae hit that bastard right where it hurts. Aye, I will do my best.” He gulped down the rest of his wine, and the rest of the evening was spent with he and Fiona discussing ideas for how to get justice.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amelia had fallen asleep in the chair at her mother’s bedside, and she woke with a jolt. All the memories of the past few hours came screaming back to her, and her stomach heaved with pain. She turned to her mother, whose breathing was still raspy but regular, and she let out a sigh of relief. Sophie quietly knocked on the door.
“Come in!” Amelia called, and in entered a tall, older man with gray hair and spectacles. He was wearing a tall hat, woolen coat, black pants, and boots, and he carried with him a leather bag.
Sophie said, “This is Dr. Sexton.” She curtsied and left the room. Amelia bowed her head at her guest, and said, “Thank you for coming, Doctor. I’m afraid I don’t know how long my mother has been ill, as I live at Kinnaird Castle, but you may ask Sophie any questions you have.”
“Thank you, Miss…”
“Parker.”
“Parker. May I examine the patient?”
“Of course.” She stepped aside to allow Dr. Sexton to have better access to her mother.
He felt her mother’s head and stomach and under her neck. He placed a metal instrument on her chest on which he placed his ear next to listen to her heart and breathing. He furrowed his brow and looked up at Amelia. “Since you’ve arrived has there been any vomit or excrement or coughing?”
Amelia shook her head tiredly. “No, nothing like that. She has only slept. When I arrived, she was able to speak slightly, but she appeared very weak.”
He stood, sighing. “Your mother has a fever, and her breathing is rough and labored. I believe she has influenza.”
Amelia gasped, fresh tears threatening to leave her eyes. “What...what can we do, doctor?”
“I can provide a tonic to ease her pain and reduce the fever, but all we can do is wait. Please make sure she drinks water and try to keep her cool. Do not allow her to get up.”
He stood up and searched in his bag for the tonic. He left it on the bedside table. “Make sure she has one spoonful a day at least.”
Amelia stood as he went to leave. “Thank you, doctor. Please see Sophie for the payment.”
He nodded and donned his hat. “Thank you, Miss Parker. Please send word if there are any problems.”
“I will.” Amelia stood a
t the doorway, clasping the edge of the doorway as she watched Sophie walk him out and pay him his wage.
She turned back to her mother, digging in her mind for solutions. Was there a way she could help her mother feel better? She smiled and sat down next to her again. Marianne entered, and asked, “What did the doctor say?”
“Influenza. We must wait for her to heal and pray to God that she does.” Marianne sat on the other side. “My God. Why are you smiling, then?”
“I thought, maybe it would help her to heal if we could talk to her about the earlier times, when we were all together, and all was well.”
“I can help you with that.” Marianne smiled, and Amelia began talking to her mother about the happy memories from their past.
* * *
Donald returned to the castle, triumphant in his victory, with a carriage full of his remaining belongings. He’d had to sell the most precious, but now, with the Kinnaird wealth at his fingertips, and Lord Braithwaite’s connections in the English court, he could fill the castle with as many valuable objects as he pleased. The carriage rode up the drive to the front door, and as Donald exited, he breathed in the sweet smell of his new home.
“Father, would ye not be proud? Yer son is now a laird,” he spoke to the air. He walked inside to find Fiona and William by the fire, deep in conversation.
Donald’s happy mood slowly cooled as he walked closer to their chairs. “Fraser, I donnae remember invitin’ ye tae stay in me new home.”
William grumbled and stood, closing the space between them, his tall frame towering over Donald’s minute one. Donald stood with his chest out, attempting to appear larger. “Ye will get what ye deserve, Donald. I can promise ye that.”
Donald chuckled and walked away to the wine cabinet to pour himself a drink. “Ye donnae need tae promise, me old friend. I’ve won my inheritance, and now, aye, I am getting what I deserve.”
Fiona stood and put a hand on William’s arm, to prevent him from further action. She placed a smile on her face. “Welcome, nephew. Even though your lairdship is now intact, you would not begrudge an aunt her bedchamber?”
Donald stood uneasily, unhappy with the situation, but knowledgeable of the fact that the immediate expulsion of his aunt would look badly to the other clan members.
“Nay, ye are welcome tae stay for a time. Do ye have the key tae the vault?”
Fiona looked at William, and he nodded slightly. “Yes, here.” She pulled it off the chain around her neck and placed it in her nephew’s hand.
Donald smiled, “Why, aunt, you’re being quite accommodating after learning that your husband was not the true laird and heir of the Kinnaird clan. Ye may be able tae stay even longer.”
Donald walked off, and William and Fiona whispered to one another. “I will speak to the parish minister. Would you please visit the Parker cottage on the morrow and see how they fare?” Fiona asked.
“Aye.” William rubbed his beard. “Lady Browne asked me to help with sending her belongings to the cottage along with her lady’s maid. I will go meself.”
Fiona smiled for a moment. “Did she? Well, she must put great faith in you, then. She is a lovely young woman.”
William’s mind seemed to be thinking of another subject, but he replied, “Aye,” before clearing his throat and changing the subject. “I will stay the night as well. The young bastard will not know of my presence. I donnae want tae leave ye alone.”
“Thank you, William. Good night. We will need our rest to find our vengeance.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Amelia passed the night at her mother’s side, and Marianne had spent it in the main room. In the morning, Sophie entered the bedroom with tea and slices of bread and fed the dwindling fire. Amelia woke at the sound of the door, and sleepily glanced at her mother to check again for the rhythm of her chest. She placed a hand on her forehead. It was still warm.
“Thank you, Sophie. I will take the tray. I will need my mother to drink the tea. Could you bring me some water as well?”
Sophie nodded and exited. Marianne came in to the room, her hair slightly disheveled, and her eyes heavy with sleep. “How is our patient doing?” She went to touch the hand of her friend’s mother.
Amelia sighed. “Still feverish, but I will help her to drink this morning.” Marianne sat on the other side of the bed. “Amelia, I will help you to get your mother to drink, but then I will watch her while you bathe and take your own tea and breakfast.”
Amelia smiled weakly. First, Marianne and Amelia helped Henrietta to sit up, and they spooned in tea and the medicine and Henrietta slowly swallowed but kept her eyes closed. Sophie entered with a cup of water. Marianne took it, and said, “Sophie would you please boil some water? Amelia will be taking a bath.”
“Yes, Miss.”
While Amelia was gathering cloth and warm water for her bath in the kitchen, Marianne heard a knock at the door. She called to Sophie, but Sophie did not hear. “She must be by the well.” Marianne stood, and caught a glance of herself. She looked tired and a little ragged, but with a few adjustments of her hair pins, she was presentable enough.
She opened the door to find William Fraser on the other side, flowers in his hand.
“Och, Lady Browne. I had thought Amelia would open the door.” He smiled.
Marianne crossed her arms. “No, that is apparently not the case. Have the things been brought Mr. Fraser?”
William coughed and handed her the flowers. “These are from Lady Kinnaird, and they are for the patient. She would like tae visit soon as well. And, yes, I have arrived with your belongings along with Margrete.” He motioned behind him at the open carriage, and Margrete got out of it to walk towards them.
“I shall go and help the maid inside, Miss.”
“Yes, thank you.” Margrete walked around Marianne to enter the hallway.
Marianne turned to watch her go, and then turned her gaze back to William, the flowers clutched in her hand.
“May I bring in the trunk? Or will that be a problem for you?” He asked with a wry smile on his lips.
Marianne colored slightly, and then said with a bit of overdone drama, “Yes, please. That would be most kind. Thank you.”
William was happy to elicit some sort of positive response from the lass. He removed the trunk from the back of the carriage while Marianne stood at the doorway, watching his strong arms hold the wooden box and carry it to the door. He walked through and placed it as instructed by Marianne.
He stood, brushing his hands together before rubbing his beard. “May I ask how the patient is?”
“She has influenza, I’m afraid, but the doctor has been, and we’re hopeful for a full recovery.
William frowned, and placed his hands above him to rest on the rafters. “I am sorry tae hear of her ailments. Ye must inform us if there is anything tae be done. I know Lady Kinnaird would want tae help.”
Marianne moved away from his close form, trying to find her words, “I will tell Amelia of your kindness. Lady Fiona’s kindness.”
He chuckled despite the situation and moved a little bit closer. “Just hers, then? I see.”
There was a silence for a few moments until Amelia entered from the kitchen area, holding an iron bucket. “William!” She rushed over to hug him once again, and asked, “What are you doing here?”
William glanced at Marianne’s flushed face, and replied, “I was instructed tae bring Marianne’s trunk and lady’s maid. And I and Fiona wanted tae hear about yer mother. Is all well?”
She leaned up to kiss William on the cheek, explaining, “Aye, for now. She has not gotten worse, to be fair, but she has not yet improved. I am holding out hope.”
She turned to Marianne. “Are you, all right? Where did you get these flowers?”
Marianne responded quietly, “These are from William, Mr. Fraser.” she corrected herself.
“How wonderful!” Amelia took them from Marianne and breathed in their scent. “Mother will love these. Thank y
ou very much.”
There was a pause until William said, “Well, I shall be off. Plenty tae do now. I am staying at me own house now until the mess is sorted.”
Amelia looked down, ashamed that her crimes were brought up in the light of day, with her mother so close by.
“I am sorry, again.” She whispered.
Capturing The Highlander's Heart (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 1) Page 19
