The Chieftain's Choice (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 1)

by Elaine Manders

  “Lyulf is missing.”

  “Missing or run off?”

  “We doona ken. Gavin is searching for him now.”

  “But Elspeth believes he’s dead.”

  Barthy always surprised her with his perception. “She fears that, I think.”

  “Elspeth is a peculiar woman…oh, I don’t mean that in a bad way. She seems to be the type to keep others at arm’s length, yet I think it’s all pretense. She does care but doesn’t trust her own judgment, and invariably judges wrong.”

  Alana realized she didn’t really know her aunt that well, but what Barthram said might be true. Elspeth certainly put up a pretense that she dinna care what Vanora did. “I doona ken what might become of her if Lyulf is dead or is never found. On the other hand, it might turn her in another direction.”

  “We’ll hope so. I fear she’s one of those people who’ll suffer greatly from the consequences of their decisions.” His lips twisted in a wry smile. “She’d do well to remember there is a fate worse than death, as Jesus tells us in the scripture.”

  “Should I read it to you?” Alana asked, and at his nod, she fetched the Bible and pleased herself when she found the verse easily. “Fear not him who can kill the body, but rather fear Him—” she continued to read for a while, then glanced up to find Barthy with head leaned back and eyes closed.

  She wondered if he’d fallen asleep, but he spoke as if to himself. “I used to believe I’d fear death when it came, but now I actually look forward to it. Not to escape the suffering, though that will be welcome. No, my dear, I welcome death because it is the only entrance into God’s Kingdom.”

  “But we doona want to lose you.”

  “Don’t worry, lassie, I have much praying to do yet. I’ll not be leaving for a while.”

  Halberd came into the room. “My lady, your message was delivered to Mrs. Kilgarney.”

  “Oh, did she send a reply?”

  “Nay, my lady, she returned with the messenger. She’s in the drawing room, waiting at your convenience.”

  “Go ahead, my dear,” Barthram said. “It’s time for my nap.”

  Alana laid the Bible back on its table and followed Halberd. With no time to prepare for the confrontation, her nerves tightened with each step to the entrance hall.

  Still wrapped in a long black cloak, Agatha Kilgarney stood with her back to them. “Mrs. Kilgarney, welcome to Stonecrest. Halberd, take Mrs. Kilgarney’s cloak.” The woman might not be a noblewoman, but she was Alana’s first guest, and she would treat her with respect.

  Mrs. Kilgarney had a pinched look about her face as she twisted around. “I kenna stay but a wee bit, m’lady.”

  “The reason I invited you to tea was so we could converse. You’ve come early, so I hope that gives us time enough.”

  Agatha Kilgarney unbuttoned her cloak and handed it to the butler. “Perhaps I should stay long enough to have me say, but it’s not proper for me to take tea with the nobility.”

  “If it makes you uncomfortable, then we’ll just talk. Let’s be seated over here.” As she spoke, Alana led the way to a small seating arrangement of two heavily carved baroque chairs separated by an occasional table.

  She waited for Mrs. Kilgarney to speak, but the woman sat staring at her lap for several long moments and breathing heavily. It was as if each one of them feared what the other would say.

  Finally Alana could stand the silence no more. “I’m aware of the rumors circulating among our people that my mother wasn’t Hester McWayre. Lady Vanora once mentioned that you were present at my birth.”

  Mrs. Kilgarney jerked to attention. “Tis true I was present. When Lady Vanora told me you were to wed the Carmichael heir, I knew I should have said something years ago.”

  Bile rose in Alana’s throat, along with a sudden desire to flee. “Then say it now.”

  “Yer father was an evil man, m’lady. I know it’s none of your fault, but tis true.”

  “I doona dispute that, but what of my mother?”

  “First, I must tell you what Sir Torquil planned.” Mrs. Kilgarney inched to the edge of her seat. “It was near the time for Lady Hester to be confined when he comes to me and says I’ll be helping with the birth. He would be sending a mid-wife to assist. I was relieved at that, since I’d never been present at childbirth, but then what he told me after that made me blood curdle.”

  Mrs. Kilgarney pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wrung it in her hands until Alana wanted to scream. “What did he say?”

  “His mistress, that English witch, had just given birth to a girl child. He said we would pass the babe off as Hester’s. We would tell her she had twins.”

  Alana heard the gasp that escaped her lips. “Twins? How would that be possible?”

  “The mid-wife would give Lady Hester a sleeping potion right after the birth of her child, and when she awoke, she’d find both babes. We were to make a great fuss over the surprise.”

  Alana felt she’d fallen into a pit, and it took her some time to digest what Agatha Kilgarney said.

  Twins? There’d been no twins. “What happened?”

  “When Lady Hester’s time came, she was both happy and terrified as I suppose most women are, but she couldna been more terrified than I.”

  Alana clenched the chair’s arms to keep herself pinned in her seat, then a calm that could have come only from God took hold. She relaxed. “Did she have a difficult birth?”

  “Nay, no more than most first mothers, I suppose. Her pains started about noon and lasted into the night. The mid-wife arrived, and Lady Hester gave birth to a girl child. The old mid-wife quickly gave her the potion, and Lady Hester fell asleep.”

  “Who was the mid-wife? Does she still live?”

  “Nay, she died years ago, and since Lady Hester and Sir Torquil have also died, I’m the only one who knows what went on that night.” Mrs. Kilgarney twisted and tugged the handkerchief until it resembled a limp rag.

  Alana focused on the woman’s hands as they tortured the handkerchief and wondered if she could believe what she heard. “There are no twins. Which child died?”

  “To this day, I dinna kin what happened. Almost immediately after Lady Hester fell asleep, Sir Torquil came in with another babe wrapped in a blanket. That child was larger but had the same thatch of red hair like Sir Torquil’s. He laid the babe on the other side of Hester and left with the mid-wife.”

  Mrs. Kilgarney fell silent as all sorts of arguments flooded Alana’s brain. There was no one to refute or support the woman’s story. Part of Alana wanted to hear the rest and part wanted to dismiss the whole thing.

  She jerked to attention as Mrs. Kilgarney continued, “After a few minutes, the newborn began to cry and flail. I took her up—and I swear I don’t know what happened. The babe had seizures, and before I could react, she died…right there in me arms.”

  Alana sent a sharp glance straight into the woman’s eyes, and Mrs. Kilgarney shook her head. “I ran to get Sir Torquil. We returned to the bedroom, and he inspected the dead child, then laughed. Would you believe it, m’lady? It was his flesh and blood, yet he laughed and said it was the best thing that could happen. He wrapped the poor mite up and charged me to let Hester believe the bas…the other child was hers. He threatened me with dismissal and ruin if I ever told anyone, but I knew what he meant.”

  She leveled her stare on Alana. “He’d have had me killed.”

  From what Alana had heard of Torquil, she had to agree.

  “Lady Hester didn’t suspect anything?” She forced the words past the hard knot in her throat. When had she stopped thinking of Hester as mother?

  “Not a thing. She rejoiced over the fact that the babe was big and lusty.” Agatha’s voice took on a pitying tone. “Make no mistake, she loved you as any mother would and had no doubt you were her own.”

  Alana sprang to her feet. “I doona believe you. I doona believe any of it,” she said, knowing deep inside, she did believe.

  “Believe i
t or not as you please. It’s the truth as God is my witness.” Mrs. Kilgarney rose unsteadily. “You did mention some sugar?”

  Alana stared. Did this woman not realize she’d just destroyed any hope Alana had for happiness? To have a child of her own? To love Gavin? Did she expect to be rewarded too? “I’ll tell Halberd to bring it out.”

  With what little composure she had left, Alana instructed Halberd and flew up the stairs to her bedroom. Thankfully, Mina and Finella were absent. She glanced to the bed where she’d found such pleasure and love only last night. She’d have to tell Gavin, but would he understand?

  She couldna bring a child into this world to suffer as she had, to be condemned as she had been and would continue to be.

  It was one thing to dismiss Vanora’s malicious gossip, but Mrs. Kilgarney was an eye witness. The implications of what the woman had told Alana seeped into her bones. Both of her parents were evil. Evil blood produced evil blood.

  Once he heard the truth, Gavin would agree.

  She pressed herself against the door. Despair fell around her shoulders and she sank to the floor.

  Chapter 16

  An eerie silence met Gavin when he entered the house, as if Stonecrest held its breath. No one was about, so he went to the Blue Salon to check on his father.

  Finding Lord Barthram in slumber, Gavin retraced his steps to the entrance hall. Halberd met him.

  “Where is Lady Alana?”

  “I believe she went to her chambers as soon as Mrs. Kilgarney left.”

  “Mrs. Kilgarney was here?”

  Halberd helped Gavin out of his greatcoat. “Aye, her ladyship summoned her. Gave her a bag of sugar.” There was an unusual tone of censure in the butler’s voice.

  What was going on? Gavin’s gaze swept the walls as if he expected them to have some explanation. Halberd called his attention back into focus. “Did they find anything about Nye’s murder, m’lord?”

  “We’ve interrogated everyone in the Carmichael Clan, except Red McGil and Neal Frasier. They didn’t cooperate, but that’s understandable. They’re close friends to some of the Gilmour crofters and wouldn’t incriminate them even if they knew what happened. We’re going to question the Gilmour suspects this afternoon.”

  “Won’t that be dangerous?”

  “Everything is dangerous. My brother knows these people better than I. Wish I’d sent for him earlier. The man I sent to fetch him went by ship, but weather may prevent Rory from returning the same way. Overland will take longer.” But hopefully he’d arrive before Vanora got her talons in him.

  Halberd puckered a tsk. “Do you think Master Rory will return?” Halberd knew how obstinate Rory could be.

  “Aye, he will. His money has run out, and he’s not getting more.”

  Halberd covered a grin with his hand. “Cook has prepared a substantial meal, and her ladyship requested we hold it until you returned.”

  “That’s fine. Go ahead and set a place for three. I’ll get Lady Alana and Lady Gilmour.”

  Gavin hoped to find Alana in her bedchamber. He wanted to have a moment alone with her, savor another kiss, and remind himself that last night wasn’t just a wonderful dream. He went through his room to the communicating door.

  Hoping not to startle her, he called out, “Alana, are you alone?”

  A second later, the door flew open, and his distraught wife stood there. Tears flowed from her red eyes. “My love, what has happened?” He gathered her into his arms.

  She pushed back and looked up at him. “Gavin, tis true.”

  “What’s true?”

  “Mrs. Kilgarney was at my birth. I was passed off as Hester’s child, but…her babe died. Torquil fooled her and everyone.”

  He stared at her tear-stained cheeks, trying to collect his wits. A woman’s emotions were still a mystery to him. He didn’t know how to react, but he had to force some sense into her. Taking a handkerchief from his inner pocket, he wiped her face. “Now, take your time and explain to me what Mrs. Kilgarney was doing here, and why she has you so upset.”

  In gasps and sobs, she told him the story, as incredible as it was. He wondered how a reasonably intelligent woman like Alana could believe such a tale. “Now tell me why you give any credence at all to what this woman says. Don’t you know she’s only spouting some story Vanora told her? She’s likely being paid by Vanora.”

  “I dinna believe it at first, but I know it must be true. I ken when people are lying to me, Gavin, I always have. I have a discernment most doona have, and I ken…I know…”

  She broke down again and he shook her, losing some of the patience he’d mustered. “You don’t know anything about the details of your birth, Alana. You were an infant.”

  Jerking backward, she wrapped her arms around her middle. “You doona understand, Gavin. You’ve always known who you are. I haven’t. There were always taunts and rumors. You’ll come to believe in time, and you’ll hate me as everyone does.”

  He pulled her back to him and felt her shudder all over. “I’ll never hate you, even if it were true. You’ve known that from the start. Do you think I’d leave you after last night? We belong to each other, and I’m going to love you until one of us dies.”

  She broke away again. “Last night shouldna have happened. What if…what if there’s a child?”

  “Don’t you want to have a child?”

  Her shoulders slumped as she threw her hands apart. “Of course I do, Gavin, but we ken noot. Doona ye understand woot a bairn would face?”

  He understood how distraught she was by the deepening brogue in her speech and the rising volume of her voice.

  Anger at her stubborn refusal to reject the whole thing bore into him. “Stop it, Alana.” Now he was shouting. “You’re not thinking rationally.”

  Elspeth ran into the room. “What goes on in here?”

  He clenched his jaw. “We’re having a private conversation, Elspeth. Leave us.”

  She only moved further toward them. “The door was open. Everyone in the house can hear you.” Despite her petite size, she drew herself up in front of Gavin, throwing her head back in contempt. “Alana is my niece. I won’t stand by and allow you to abuse her.”

  Alana seemed to come to her senses. “Oh, no, Aunt Elspeth, Gavin wasn’t abusing me. He just doesna understand the horror of the situation.”

  “What situation?”

  Alana started to speak, but Gavin stopped her. “A personal matter. Say nothing else, Alana. Elspeth, you have other things to concern you. Recall Lyulf is still missing.”

  That worked to pull Elspeth’s attention away from Alana. “What have you found out? Tell me some good news.”

  “I have none yet, but we’ll scour every inch on Carmichael and Gilmour property.”

  “I wish to thank you for helping, Gavin,” Elspeth said. “I want to reassure you I won’t bring up any of those charges Vanora brought against you at the assizes.” She lifted something she had hidden in the holds of her skirt—his sporran—and handed it to him.

  Gavin nodded, taking the leather pouch. “Thank you for returning this, Elspeth, but I am going to bring up Vanora’s charges. In fact, we’re going to bring up everything Vanora’s been involved with.” He sent a meaningful glance in Alana’s direction.

  Her brows furrowed. “I was so distraught, I almost forgot,” she said, turning to her aunt. “I dinna mention this at Gilmour Hall, Aunt Elspeth because I feared you might confront young Kerr.”

  “What?” Elspeth asked.

  “You were at Gilmour Hall?” Gavin spoke at the same time.

  Alana pressed her palm on Gavin’s chest. “Nothing untoward happened to me as you can see, but the Kerr lad mistook me for Vanora and said something you must both know.”

  Elspeth pressed her fingers to her throat. “Young Kerr, you mean Matt Kerr?”

  “What about him, Alana?” Gavin asked.

  “I was examining the portrait of Robert Gilmour when Matt entered the room, laughing. He said
we’d never guess what they’d done to Lyulf. I turned, and when he realized I wasna Vanora, he became frightened.”

  Elspeth turned pale and would have fallen if Gavin hadn’t put out his arm to support her.

  Alana’s words confirmed what Gavin had long suspected. Much of the conflict between the two clans stemmed from the Kerrs. “We’ll go to the Kerr’s croft as soon as I gather my men this afternoon,” he said. “In the meantime, luncheon has been served, so let’s go down.”

  “I’ll join you, though I doubt I can eat a bite.” Elspeth walked ahead of them.

  As they entered the dining room, Halberd came in. “Lord Barthram wishes to see you, m’lord.”

  “Thank you, Halberd.” Gavin delivered a short blessing over the meal. He waited just long enough for the ladies to be seated. “Don’t wait for me. I’ll join you in a bit.” He rushed from the room, hoping his father wouldn’t detain him long. Elspeth might be able to shed some light on the Kerrs’ involvement in these problems, and now that she was personally involved, she might be willing to cooperate.

  Lord Barthram turned in his direction as he entered the room. “I know I’m calling you from luncheon, lad, but I had to hear from you before you go out again.”

  Gavin seated himself and took his father’s wasted hand. “That’s quite all right.”

  “Halberd tells me you’ve summoned Rory. Is my time shorter than I’ve thought?”

  Gavin chuckled. “No, nothing like that. I just think it’s time for Rory to come home and help here. I don’t intend to send him more money, and you know how expensive London is.”

  “Very well then, I suppose that’s all I’ll get from you. How are you and Alana getting along?”

  A frown crossed Gavin’s face. Surely his father hadn’t heard the shouting from upstairs. “We’re getting along well, and she treasures her time with you.”

  “She ought to be treasuring her time with you, lad. Do you care for her?”

  “I do, Father. I love her. I didn’t realize it would happen so soon, but I don’t know what I’d do without her.” He knew he couldn’t fool his father, and so added, “I fear she hasn’t exactly fallen in love with me as yet, and it frustrates me that she can’t forget the past.”