The Chieftain's Choice (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 1)
Page 19
Alana clasped her hands together. So much was happening she felt overwhelmed. “Poor Aunt Elspeth.”
“I’ll speak to the vicar today, but I expect the funeral will be tomorrow. We’ll stand with Elspeth, of course.”
“Did you know she and Lyulf were married? Secretly.”
The look of astonishment on his face told her he didn’t. “They were married in Gretna Green three years ago,” she went on to explain, “but kept it secret because they feared an uprising. The clan wouldn’t tolerate Lyulf as a Gilmour laird.”
“Did Vanora know?”
He would ask that all important question, and she had no answer. Had Vanora discovered her mother and Lyulf were married? Was that why she had Lyulf murdered?
Alana shrugged. “Please doona question Aunt Elspeth until…after the funeral.”
“I won’t, but I’ll have to question her after then. We have to get to the truth about Vanora. Likely she’d know where the Kerrs are.”
“Indeed.” She suddenly remembered Barthy. “I must go report to your father. May I tell him Rory will arrive shortly?”
“Aye, he should be here tomorrow.”
She turned and retraced her steps to the Blue Salon. So much would happen tomorrow.
Chapter 19
Gavin gave the horse full rein. Rory would meet him at the nearest posting inn, and with no better reason than wanting to escape the house, he’d set out early while the frost still clung to the vegetation.
Elspeth had wailed all night, and Alana had insisted on attending to her. That was the Christian thing to do, but he’d missed his wife, and that put him in a foul mood. Nothing would be set right unless they found the criminals involved in the recent murders.
Everyone was nervous, and nervous people could cause unintended trouble.
The posting coach was already waiting at the inn when he pulled up, but he knew where to find Rory. Stooping to enter the village pub, he saw his brother already at a table with a pint of ale before him.
Rory sprang from his chair, meeting him in a bear hug, with loud smacks on the back. Stepping back, Rory’s gaze narrowed. “What happened to you?”
Gavin was taken aback for a moment, then he noticed Rory staring at his head. He touched the bandage. “A rock hit my head. It’s nothing.” He’d have plenty of time later to explain the injury and its implication.
“How’s Father?”
“He’s doing as well as when you left. Alana has been good for him.” Only a touch of recrimination tinged Gavin’s voice.
“She’s been good for you as well.” Rory elbowed him in the ribs. “I told you you’d thank me for running off. Come, I’ll buy you an ale. I think I have that much money left.”
After sitting at the small corner table, Gavin studied his brother, finding him none the worse for a month of London debauchery. “You didn’t see Vanora before you left for home?”
Rory wiped foam from his mouth with the back of his hand. “No, I heard that she was coming to London at Lady Tynsdale’s request, but I didn’t travel in the Tynsdale’s circles. I’d have taken care to avoid Vanora at any rate. One doesn’t want to get too close to Vanora, as you well know.”
No, Gavin hadn’t known. He’d never given Vanora’s antics much thought, having considered her spoiled and nothing more. “You were closer to Vanora than I. Did you realize she could be—dangerous?”
Rory threw back his head and guffawed. “Dangerous. Now that’s the word to describe Vanora.” He dropped his gaze to his mug. “Aye, I think I always did. I ran off more because of Vanora than Alana.”
Gavin pushed back in his chair and smiled. “Then in an odd twist of fate, I should thank Vanora for running you off.”
Rory reached across the table to slap Gavin on the arm. “You’re in love.”
“I am—and she loves me.”
After another long drink of his brew, Rory grinned. “I’m happy for you. I know the feeling, though I likely won’t be as fortunate as you.”
Gavin raised a skeptical brow. This was a side of his brother he’d never seen. As he remembered it, Rory had done all he could to avoid married bless. “I was rather afraid you wouldn’t want to return home. In whose circles did you travel? You didn’t pursue any of the ladies?”
Rory laughed again. “I did and they liked me well enough, even being a Scotsman. Then they discovered I was a second son, and their fathers chased me away. Not that I cared, except for Lady Sarah Wissler.”
“You didn’t trifle with the lady?”
“No, Lady Sarah was not the type to be trifled with.” Rory’s voice grew serious, a tone Gavin had never heard from his brother. So he cared for this lady.
If Gavin gave up his rights as chieftain to Rory, Lady Sarah’s father would welcome Rory as a suitor. How amazing God could take an intolerable situation and turn it into good for all.
“Perhaps all isn’t lost. You can move into the dowager house. It’s a nice cottage and we don’t need it.”
“Lord Wissler wouldn’t countenance his daughter living in a dowager house, however nice, and with an estate manager. Do you know he asked me if I was preparing for the clergy?”
Gavin laughed but wasn’t surprised. The second sons of English noblemen were often relegated to the clergy. “Anything can happen. If the clan doesn’t give Alana the respect due her, we may move to the colonies, and you can be Chieftain of the Carmichael.”
Rory was in the process of taking a drink and almost choked. “I know you’re jesting.”
“Not at all. At this point, all I care about is doing what’s best for my wife.”
Rory grinned. “You’re really smitten, aren’t you?”
“I’m just not the type of man who thinks the land is more important than people. I’m not saying it’ll happen, but the course of our lives may be very different than what we imagine.”
“What would you do? Buy up some land in the Carolinas?”
“No, you know I hate slavery. I think we’d settle in New England. I might enter the clergy.” Gavin watched the scowl on his brother’s face. Rory found it hard to believe he could dedicate his life to God, but that notion no longer sounded strange to Gavin.
“I’m not sure I know you anymore.” Rory pushed his ale aside and locked his fingers together on the table.
“I’m not sure I know myself, but I’ve suddenly recognized there’s so much evil in the world, and maybe God’s will is for me to fight on His side. Do you know that Father prays for us all the time, even in his suffering?”
“That I can believe, but he probably considers me a lost cause.”
“Not at all. We’ve killed the fatted calf. We’re to have a ceilihd in your honor tomorrow.”
“You’re full of surprises, brother. Was that Father’s idea?”
“No, but he agrees with it. Actually it’s a way to boost spirits and bring the clans together, I hope. You remember Nye, the gamekeeper?” At Rory’s nod, Gavin continued. “He was murdered last week. McGil thought Lyulf was responsible, and he killed Lyulf.”
Rory clenched his hands into fists. “Lyulf is dead. What part did Vanora have in that?”
“She had left for London. Do you think Vanora was involved?”
“I can’t think why she’d have cared about Nye, but she hated Lyulf and feared he might try to take Gilmour Hall away from her.”
Gavin hunched over the table and lowered his voice. “The trial will begin in six days’ time. Sir Angus will preside. Matt Kerr will be charged in Nye’s death, but Vanora’s duplicity will be brought out in connection with Nye’s death and the poisoning of Mrs. Frasier and her children. This will remain secret until then. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether the clansmen who’ll sit in judgment will believe it or not.”
“She’s done a good job of deceiving them. I hope your evidence is good.”
“All I have is testimony, but I hope to capture the rest of the Kerr brothers before the trial. In that I want you to go with me to track them dow
n. My men haven’t succeeded in catching them yet, and they’ve been thieving, if nothing else. It’s possible Vanora is involved with that too.”
Rory pushed his chair back. “If it was to her benefit, she’s involved. Let’s go. I want to see Papa.”
***
Alana sat in the sun bathed area of the back parlor. Tension made it impossible to work the fabric she held. The clan’s party was tomorrow and she quelled at the thought of meeting those people who hated her. Since the confrontation at the kirk, she hadna ventured out except for a trip to the village market, and barely a soul had spoken to her.
The housekeeper was making things as difficult as possible, arguing over every suggestion Alana had. Aunt Elspeth told her frankly she’d have to take control of her household or get rid of Mrs. Gantry. Alana didn’t want to do that, nor did she feel adequate to control the household or anything.
If Aunt Elspeth hadna been in deep mourning, Alana would have asked for her help with the party. There had been celebrations at McWayre, but she’d never had a hand in the food or entertainment. Could they have the pipes? They’d been outlawed by the English after the insurrection, but most clans ignored that edict now.
She’d have to bring the matter up with Gavin tonight, another thought that repelled her. He should be able to depend on her in the matters of household management at least. Added to those difficulties, she’d have to receive Rory shortly.
When Gavin arrived with his brother, she’d turned coward and ran in here so she wouldn’t be seen. She wasn’t afraid of Rory, but it would be awkward. He had left her at the altar, even though she was glad of that.
The men would be holed up with Lord Barthram for some while, perhaps long enough for her to gather her wits.
“Alana.” Gavin’s voice startled her, and the embroidery hoop flew out of her hand. He reached her chair and retrieved the hoop before she had time to stand. “Rory is here, but will be sitting with Father for a while.”
“Of course.” She got to her feet and reached up to touch the bandage still covering his head. “How are you feeling? I hope you didn’t make things worse by going for Rory.”
“I barely have a headache today. The fresh air did me good.” To her relief, he smiled that whimsical smile that made her heart flop. “Is everything settled for the ceilidh?” he asked.
“I hope so. Cook is going to prepare the haggis tonight.” A celebration couldn’t be held without that enormous sausage made of the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep and boiled with suet, onions, oatmeal and spices. “Mrs. Gantry doesna like my idea of setting tables in the courtyard instead of in back.”
“You tell Mrs. Gantry to get the servants to set the tables where you wish them to be and no nonsense about it.”
She gave him a weak smile. He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be in my study for a couple of hours. I’ll tell Rory to greet you here when he’s finished his visit with Father. He knows what a fool he was to allow me to claim you.”
He turned and left her to her needlework and musings.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door and Rory stuck his head in. “May I come in?”
She rose, forcing a smile and met him half way across the room. “Of course. I’m pleased you’ve arrived safely. I know Lord Barthram was elated.” She lifted her face to receive his kiss on her cheek.
The brothers looked very much alike, same gray eyes, same chestnut hair. Gavin was maybe an inch taller and certainly more handsome. “Father’s welcome was more than I deserved, as is yours.” Rory waited until she returned to her chair and sat opposite.
“I have no hard feelings. To the contrary, Gavin and I are very happy and all due to you.”
“I don’t know whether Gavin told you or not, but he was in agreement that I should cry off from my proposal to you.”
She tried to show no emotion. “I gathered that he was. He jumped at the chance to escape Vanora’s pursuit. What did she say to you that made you run off?”
With a wry smile he studied her for a moment. “I think in her distorted way of reasoning, she feared you’d be favored by the clans people, that your sweet nature would show her for who she is.”
His candor surprised her, and when she remained silent, he added, “I was closer to Vanora in age than Gavin was, so I got to know her better. When we were children, we’d go out to the fields and pastures every day to survey the crofters’ progress, pretending to be estate managers, but after a while, I realized Vanora wasn’t pretending.”
“What do you mean?”
“She wanted to know everything that went on, how the crops faired, the number of sheep and cattle. She was there at every sheering, always making the people understand that the lairds were greedy, heartless rulers, but that she’d watch out for them like a guardian angel.”
Rory leaned forward, propping his arms on his knees. “The land was all important to her, and she never forgot to remind everyone that although she was a lass, she must be about her father’s business.”
“And they believed her?”
“Aye. These are simple-minded people, and people always believe what they want to. I believed her too at the time, thought of her as a Joan of Arc, fighting for her people. Then I saw something that changed my mind.”
He hesitated, looking at her under drawn brows. “One of the Gilmour shepherd boys boasted to Vanora and me that he’d kept back a lamb from those being sold one spring. The lamb’s mother had died, and the boy had kept it alive.” Rory sat up. “Vanora told him all the lambs belonged to the Gilmour, and I saw something in her eyes I didn’t like.”
“Did she tell on the boy?”
“Nay, we went straight way to one of the Kerr lads. I didn’t hear what was said, but I saw her give him coins. The next day the lamb was found dead. I went to Tor Kerr and demanded an explanation. He admitted he’d killed the lamb at Vanora’s bidding. When I asked him why, he said she’d bewitched him.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Alana said. “But she’d dangerous all the same. I’m convinced she poisoned Mrs. Frasier and her children. Gavin wrote to you about that. Did he tell you about Lyulf’s death?”
“Aye, something should have been done about Vanora long ago. I should have said something, but who would have believed me?”
She recalled that terrible moment when she’d realized that Mrs. Frasier and her children were poisoned. “I do now. She’s convinced the crofters that Hester wasn’t my mother.” But that much was true. Alana couldn’t blame Vanora for who her mother was.
Rory leaned back in his chair, his concerned expression deepening into a frown. “I still feel responsible. If I’d only told someone back then, perhaps she might have been stopped. If I’d only told Elspeth.”
“Tell me what?”
They looked up to meet the cool blue gaze of Elspeth, clothed in black from head to foot as befitted a widow in deep mourning. Her reticule hung off her arm.
Rory stood, throwing a questing glance to Alana, and she knew he was wondering how much Elspeth had heard. “We were discussing the celebration tomorrow,” he said lamely.
Elspeth picked at the lint on her sleeve. “Forgive me if I’m not in a festive mood. It’s time for me to return home, Alana. If you’d call a carriage—”
Leave? The murderers hadna been apprehended. What was Aunt Elspeth thinking of? Alana jumped from her chair and rushed to her aunt. “Are you sure you want to go home now?”
“I do. I still have the servants to deal with, and the crofters have their problems.”
“I’d be glad to help you with the crofts until you find a manager,” Rory said.
Elspeth seemed relieved. “Very well, I thank you for the offer. Lyulf took care of everything.” She turned to Alana and accepted her embrace. “You’ll call on me after I’ve settled.”
Gavin wouldn’t be pleased with that idea, but she couldn’t insult Aunt Elspeth at the moment. “Indeed I will.” She tried to think of some words of comfort but could think of nothing.
***
Elspeth’s carriage had no sooner left than Sir Angus arrived. Alana greeted him at the door. “Grandfather.” She was swept into his embrace.
He held her at arms. “Lassie, you looked wane.”
“I haven’t spent as much time outside. There’s been so much to do and I’ve—” Her words trailed off. It was true. She hadna even taken Orion for an airing since the danger escalated.
“You’re not to worry over the clan troubles? That’s for Gavin to take care of.”
Since Gavin walked up at that moment, she suspected Grandfather added that last part for her husband’s benefit. “We’ll discuss troubles later,” Gavin said, shaking Grandfather’s hand. “Father is resting at the moment, but I want you to see Rory, who’s just returned from London. And Elspeth, of course.”
“Gavin, Rory has escorted Aunt Elspeth home.” She shifted her gaze back to Grandfather. “Let me order you some mulled wine. I know that’s your favorite.” Waving to Halberd, she walked with the men to the drawing room.
She knew they’d be discussing the trials and wanted to know the details. Halberd was an attentive butler and would know what to do. He always stood near enough to understand an order before it was given.
They’d barely gotten settled before Halberd arrived with the wine. Grandfather sniffed his wine before taking a sip. After a nod of approval, he said, “I’d like to discuss pleasantries, but since there’s little time, tell me who’s being tried.”
“Essa Kerr will be tried first. She runs a house of ill repute on Gilmour land, has for years, and frankly, I had her arrested only to appease the women and to put pressure on her sons. Unfortunately only her youngest son, who’s already arrested, seems to care about her.”
“So you think one of the Kerrs killed Nye?”
“I have some evidence that points to Matt Kerr, the one who’s under arrest, but I don’t think he did it.”
“Who do you suspect?” Grandfather asked.
Alana fumed. Matt Kerr wasn’t the guilty one. If Gavin didn’t tell him about Vanora, she would.