With a gentle push, she propelled Bridget towards the door.
Chapter 6
On the same evening of this blustery March day, Robert and Aidan finished their evening meal and now sat at the table talking very casually, although both of them had the same thing on their mind: Bridget.
Although they had not discussed it, both men felt that Bridget, for some reason, was purposely staying away from the castle, much more than usual. Robert was concerned, but Aidan, thinking of his encounter with her the night after the Burns dinner, felt sure he was the reason for it. He kept quiet, knowing full well Robert might not like it and worrying that mentioning the events of that evening could jeopardize his job.
They sat quietly for a few moments each busy with his own thoughts. Sounds of rattling dishes same from the kitchen where Besse was busily washing up, preparatory to going out for the evening.
It was evident Aidan was in a glum mood, and Robert now broke the silence with a question he had long wanted to ask. “How are you and Bridget getting along, lad?”
Aidan pushed back his chair and started to get up from the table before answering, “Not too well sir, seems every thing I say or do, just irritates her, and we usually wind up snapping at each other.”
He went over by the fireplace, took his pipe off its stand on the end table, and put fresh tobacco in it before continuing, “She seems to have something against me, has had form the start, and apparently doesn’t want my company or my attentions.”
Robert now by the fire savagely kicked a large lump of coal with the heel of his boot, breaking it into small pieces, causing the red sparks to fly up the chimney.
As he came and sat down in his chair across from Aidan he said, “I’m sorry to hear that, laddie, I thought she would be happy to have someone like you pay court to her. Have you any idea what the trouble might be?”
“No, sir, none whatever.”
“Well, give her time. She’s young yet and if she’s never had a lad before, she could be shy of you. She’ll come around.”
“Ach, she’s no shy by any means,” muttered Aidan, “and to tell you the truth she can be a little de’il when she wants to.”
Robert smiled good-naturedly at his words.
Aidan went on, “Maybe she’s just too young to understand the ways of a man and a woman. Just how old she is, sir?”
“Going on nineteen I think lad, eight years younger than yourself.”
He looked at Robert questioningly, “Do you think she might consider me too old for her?”
“No, my boy, I’m sure it’s not that. Must be some other reason.”
“Well, I don’t know. All Bridget thinks about at this point, is her precious music.”
“That’s understandable, Aidan. She has worked very hard to get where she is in that field and wants to make her parents proud of her. They are a very close, loving family. I wish she wouldn’t take on all the work she is planning to do for her teacher though, we won’t be seeing much of her at all this coming summer is she does.”
Aidan, only slightly interested asked, “Will she be teaching the bairns here?”
“I told her she could if she wanted to, but she turned down my offer, saying she would be doing it at Miss Wallace's house where everything is set up for teaching and where the children are used to coming for their lessons.”
Besse interrupted their talk as she came through from the kitchen, adjusting her shawl about her head, expertly pinning it under her chin. “I’ll be off now, sir, if ye don’t need me for anything else. There’s fresh crumpets in the bread box, if ye would like some later.”
“Thank you, Besse, that’s fine. We’ll have them with tea when Bridget comes in. Enjoy your visit with your friends, lass, and there’s no need to hurry back.”
“All right then, I’ll be on my way,” and off she went by way of the kitchen door.
Aidan got up off his chair, stretching himself as he said in a very detached manner, “I think I’ll talk a walk to town and see what’s doing. Would ye mind? I feel a bit restless tonight.”
“No laddie, I dinna mind. I think I understand what’s bothering you.”
Aidan put his unfinished pipe on its rack and was about to go get a jacket from his room, when they heard voices coming from the direction of the front door. One was Bridget’s, the other unfamiliar to them.
They heard her say, “Put your macintosh on the chair, Kevin, and com on and meet my grandfather.”
Then they appeared from the hallway door, Bridget on the arm of a tall young man. His straw colored hair and blue eyes, evidencing his Viking ancestry. His was a pleasant countenance, especially when he smiled, as he was doing now, as they came toward the fireplace.
“Grandfather,” she began, “I want you to meet my friend Kevin Anderson. Kevin, this is the Robert I’ve been telling you about.”
Robert got to his feet, looking intently at the young man as they shook hands.
Kevin said, “I’m very pleased to meet you, Mr. MacDonald. Bridget never tires of talking about you and some of your sea-faring experiences.”
“I’m pleased to meet you too, laddie, and hope I am worthy of all my grandaughter’s praise.”
Bridget broke in on them. “Kevin, this is Aidan MacLeod, Robert’s right hand man. He also lives here at the castle.”
She looked at Aidan as she spoke. His face was expressionless. The two younger men now shook, hands each appraising the other, Kevin looking very boyish in appearance, made a strong contrast to the older and more experienced Aidan, who had apparently forgotten his urge to go out, and sat down again, Bridget and Kevin seating themselves on the settee.
Looking across at Robert, Bridget said, “I had an early supper with mum and father tonight, then went to Kevin’s parents' home. He plays violin and the two of us played together quite often for some of the socials and things at the church. We are getting up something special for Easter, which will take a lot of practice, and that’s what we were doing tonight. Then, Kevin walked me home.”
“That’s fine, lassie, and remember you can practice here all you want. You are very welcome too, Kevin, anytime.”
“Thank you, Mr. MacDonald, that is very nice of you. You have a grand house here. I’ll be glad to come,” he smiled.
“Do you teach violin, Kevin?” asked Aidan quietly. Kevin laughed.
“Ach no. I wouldn’t have the patience for that for that, but I do have a great love for playing it, and get lots of pleasure doing so. Bridget and I are much alike in our love for music.”
“Tell me, Kevin,” Robert broke in, “what kind of work do you do? Are you a fisherman?”
“No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t much liking for the sea, although I might have had when sailing ships were on the go,” he answered, looking up at the painting of Robert’s clipper above the mantle. “Those must have been romantic days. My father is a seaman though, just like Bridget’s. I'm at the tool works out the south road. Been there for almost three years now.”
Robert looked at him closely. “That long, eh? You don’t look old enough.”
“I’m twenty-one, sir, and hoping for a promotion sometime soon.”
He smiled at Bridget as he spoke, and Aidan, taking everything in, thought he knew just what he was insinuating.
Bridget, speaking directly to Robert said, “Grandfather, I spent an hour or more this afternoon with my teacher, who has asked another favor of me.”
She looked at him for any reaction but there was none at the moment, so continuing on she told him about being organist at the church during her absence.
“Looks like I am to have a busy time of it, doesn’t it?”
Robert looking at her very seriously asked,“You have been working so hard up to now, do you think this is all worth it? You don’t have to work at all you know, if you would rather now.”
Not expecting such a reaction, she promptly replied, “Oh, Robert, this is what I’ve been studying so hard for, and it is a grand opportunity for
me. I just hope I am good enough to cope with it, and you know it will make me very proud to earn some money of my own. How I would love to put one or two pound notes in my father’s hand, just to show my appreciation for what he has done for me?”
“That’s a mighty fine thought, lassie, but if I know you father, he is not expecting you to pay anything back, but I’m right proud of you for even thinking such a thing. Now will you make us a cup of tea before Kevin goes home? Besse said she left fresh crumpets in the bread box, so let’s have those also.”
As she went to do his bidding, she noticed that Kevin and Aidan were in deep conversation. Kevin apparently very interested in Aidan’s work with his animals and was asking innumerable questions.
A short time later when he had taken his leave, Bridget carried the dishes to the kitchen for washing up. Aidan was right behind.
“I’ll give you a hand, lassie. You must be tired after your big day.”
She looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he was really trying to be nice, or just making fun of her. As their eyes met, he said, “You didn’t tell me you had a lad, Bridget.”
“Am I supposed to tell you everything about myself? Besides Kevin is just a good friend whose company I happen to enjoy, but I don’t think it’s any of your business what our relationship is.”
“Perhaps not, but I man to make it my business. I don’t intend to let you go that easily.”
“Ach, Aidan yer daft, and I’m too tired to fight with you now. So goodnight, I’m off to bed.”
Walking away from him she went to where Robert was seated by the fire. Putting her arms around him for a moment, and kissing him on the cheek, she said, “Goodnight Robert, you better get to bed too, it’s getting late.”
“Aye lassie, I think I’d better.”
Then as she turned to go upstairs, she was confronted by Aidan who grabbed her by the shoulders saying, “What! No goodnight kiss for me?” He boldly pressed his mouth against hers.
She pulled away from him face red with embarrassment because her grandfather had witnessed this, and ran quickly upstairs.
“Do you see what I mean, sir?” said Aidan bitterly,turning towards Robert. “I think she hates the sight of me, and if you hadn’t been here just now, I’m sure I would have got a terrific tongue lashing, and possibly a good slap into the bargain. It’s funny, though. I never had such trouble getting a girl before,” he mused.
“Laddie,” laughed Robert, “maybe you don’t know as much about girls as you think you do. Sometimes they take great pleasure in repulsing a suitor if he is too attentive. Why don’t you try a different tack and see what happens? But first tell me, are you ready to settle down, and is Bridget the one you would like to settle down with?”
“Aye sir, to both questions. She is driving me wild.”
“All right son, try a little indifference towards her and see what happens.”
Aidan looked questioningly at Robert. “That’s right lad, I’ll wager then she will see things differently.”
After a moment’s reflection the younger man mused, “It might be worth a try at that, I’ll do it!
Robert slapped him on the back, “That’s a good lad, sometimes indifference can work wonders.”
Chapter 7
At breakfast several days later, Bridget asked Robert a question just as he was raising his first spoonful of porridge to his mouth.
“Grandfather, when your ancestors had this castle built, did they order a ghost to go with it?”
Robert almost chocked. He dropped his spoon to the bowl in front of him with a loud clatter. Wiping his mouth on the serviette, he looked at her in disbelief. “What did you say, lassie?”
She looked at him with an innocent expression on her face as she answered, “I said, when this house was built, was there a ghost ordered to go with it?”
Besse, pouring Aidan’s tea, got all flustered and ran the cup over. She exclaimed, “Oh drat.”
Aidan looked as if he didn’t believe what he had just heard, and started to say something but Robert held up his hand for silence. “Now, Bridget, lassie, what kind of a thing is that to say so early in the morning?”
“Well Grandfather, something funny has been going on ever since I moved in with you. I don’t like telling tales and have kept it to myself up to now but have decided you ought to know about it. The first time it happened was about midnight of the day after your party. I was awakened by a sound of something being thrown at my window. Sounded like coarse sand or small, fine stones. There was quite a breeze that night, so I didn’t pay too much attention to it and went back to sleep, but every night since then there has been some kind of different noises. I thought at first it might be my imagination since I have never been alone at night before, but a pattern seems to be emerging and I find myself listening for what is going to happen next. One night it sounded like someone walking on the battlements. It was very scary.”
Besse, in agitation, broke in, “Oh that was just some cat. There’s always one or two of them up there.”
“How do they manage to get there, Besse?” Bridget asked.
Besse almost snapped at her, “By climbing the big tree at the south side of the house. I’m surprised a big girl like you is afraid of noises in the night.”
Looking intently at the woman, Bridget answered, “Well, there have also been soft footsteps in the hallway just outside my bedroom door. I thought perhaps it might be Sarge, but smart as he is, he cannot turn door knobs, and someone definitely did that very quietly two nights ago. Fortunately, I had the door bolt in place, so whoever, or whatever it was, didn’t gain entrance.
She now looked at her grandfather, and said, “I thought this was going a bit too far and decided to tell you about it, Robert.”
With a frown on his face, he looked first at Besse, then Aidan, asking, “Do either of you know anything about this? I don’t think these kind of jokes are funny at all, and since Bridget is here at my request, I don’t want her frightened like this.”
Before either of them had a chance to answer, she broke in,“Oh, let’s forget it Robert. In the light of day it does seem silly, but in the dead of night it’s not so funny, and if I have to put up with much more of such foolishness, I’ll just move back home, then everyone will be happy again.”
She looked around at three faces. All seemed at a loss for something to say until Aidan, looking straight at her with his brows drawn said, “If I wanted to scare the lassie, sir, I wouldn’t be walking around on the roof, I’d be right in her bedroom with her. I have no idea what she’s thinking about and I’ve had nothing to do with it.”
“Nor I, sir,” stammered Besse, a bit red in the face, “I have too much to do to play pranks like that.”
Robert muttered,“Well, I know my granddaughter well enough to know she didn’t make this up and I mean to get to the bottom of it. Now let’s finish our breakfast.”
They got through with the meal in an awkward silence, Robert’s face like a thunder cloud. Bridget whispered to him, “Grandfather, will you go for a walk with me, down by the shore? There is something I want to talk to you about privately.” He squeezed her hand, nodding his head.
Breakfast over at last, she helped clear the table and carry the dishes to the kitchen but Besse, greatly upset, wouldn’t let her help with the washing up.
“Hmph,” she snorted, “what a story to be telling us. Ye ken fine there are no ghosts. Ach, away wi ye, girl, an let me get my work done.”
Bridget wondered, Is she the one responsible for these strange happenings, and now afraid she may be found out. Didn’t seem possible that Aidan would stoop to such pranks, but still if they wanted her out of the way, either of them might try anything.
An early spring sun was trying desperately to break through the gray clouds as Robert and Bridget started their walk. Up above them on the rocks fishermen’s wives were already gathering with their creels of heavily salted fish, and were now spreading them on the flattest rocks they could find
.
Huge cod split down the center and pressed open, looking like butterflies on the rocks, would be brought back every day to be sun dried until they were hard as a board. These would then be hung in storage sheds and used as food in the leaner winter months. Some of it would also be taken to neighboring farms and traded for fresh butter and eggs.
The sea was sparkling now as Robert and Bridget reached the shore. She cried out, “Oh, Robert, this is a beautiful spot. Look at that water today, it’s just as calm as a loch.”
“Aye, lassie, it is that, but we didn’t come here to admire the sea. Let’s get down to this business that has been going on at the castle. Why didn’t you tell me before? I don't like it.”
Bridget’s green eyes looked worried. She pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders, looking at Robert with anxiety on her face. She hesitated for a moment then started to talk. “Grandfather, I don’t like telling you anything that might hurt someone else, but I have put up with these strange happenings long enough. and since they are getting worse instead of better, I just simply had to tell you.” She took a deep breath. “I believe Besse is at the bottom of it. That’s why I mentioned it in front of her at breakfast. Remember when you asked me to come and live with you at the castle? I said then that Besse or Aidan might resent it, and I think that is exactly what has happened.”
She then relayed to him the conversation she had accidentally overheard in the kitchen between Besse and her two helpers the day she had moved in, and how Elizabeth MacPherson had said, “I'd see to it the lassie doesn't stay here too long, and here's what I would do.”
Robert's face was dark with anger as he cried out, “Those gossipy women, just wait till I see them, I'll find out what this is all about.”
Afraid of his rising anger, she put her hand on his arm, saying quietly, “No, Robert, I don't want you to say anything yet. I believe Besse is responsible for what's been going on, and possibly it was her foot steps in the upstairs hallway as she made her way to get to the battlements. Turning the door knob was maybe her way of giving an extra fright, but now knowing that I have told you all about it, she will probably stop before getting caught in the act.”
Her Rebellious Heart: A Scottish Historical Romance Page 6
