He was still wearing the white shirt with ruffled front and cuffs, reminding her of some old time cavalier, and for one mad moment she longed to be in his arms; she wanted to touch the unruly black hair and to feel the dark face against her own. How easy it would be to just break down and let him love her. But no, she thought. He’d not find her such an easy mark.
As he poured the wine, she said, “Oh, Aidan, I don’t know, my parents would be very angry if they knew I had anything strong to drink.”
He looked at her, smiling, “Who’s going to tell them? Come on, let go for once. I’m having one anyway to warm me up. It’s a very cold night.”
“Well,” she started hesitantly, “just a small one.” She sat down on the settee as he poured the wine. He seated himself beside her, handed her a glass, and with an amused smile on his lips, watched as she took her first sip.
She made a wry face. “Aidan, that tastes terrible. Why do people think liquor is so wonderful? Ach, that makes me shudder.”
“Drink up, Bridget, you’ll get to like it after a while. When you feel the warmth inside you’ll know what I mean.”
They sat together, slowly sipping their drinks and discussing the party.
“That was a fine thing you did for Robert tonight lass, he was very proud of you and I don’t think I have ever seen him quite so happy.”
She answered smiling, “Yes, the darling man, he did seem to enjoy himself. It makes me feel good to have played a small part in it.”
They talked quietly in the semi-darkness. Aidan filling her glass again without her awareness of it. She found that was enjoying his company for once.
Taking her now empty glass, he set it on the side table, placing his own beside it. She was getting more relaxed and drowsy by the minute, but also a bit uneasy by the look Aidan was giving her. She said hurriedly, “I better get back upstairs, I’m sure I can sleep now.” But as she attempted to get to her feet, he reached for her, one arm going around her waist, the other about her shoulders.
“No, Aidan, don’t,” she whispered, trying to push him away. “It was so nice just sitting here talking, let’s not spoil it.”
Without answering, his face came close to hers. She closed her eyes, knowing full well he was about to kiss her and there was nothing she could do to stop him. He bent his head and merely brushed her lips with his own, just a touch, sending a quiver of feeling through her. She thought he would release her then, but as she attempted to get up, he pulled her roughly closer against him, holding her tightly.
Sensing her reluctance, he questioned, “What are you afraid of Bridget? I’m only after what you know we both want, and besides, Robert wants you to be my girl, you know?”
This made her very angry and gave her the strength to pull away from him. “How dare you, Aidan MacLeod. I don’t think I have ever met a more conceited person than you, and no matter how many girls swoon over you, I am not one of them. Didn’t you get enough kissing when you took Elsie home tonight? She seemed eager enough for your attention.”
“Ah, so you did notice, and do I detect a tone of jealousy?” There was a glint of mockery in his eyes.
Without answering, she started to walk away, but found she was a bit unsteady from the wine.
Aidan laughed. “Come on, I’ll help you upstairs. I do believe you are a little tipsy.” Bending down quickly, he picked her up in his arms and said, “How can anyone as small as you are have so much venom in them?”
“Put me down this instant, Aidan,” she fumed, “or I shall wake the household.”
“No, you won’t,” he laughed. “I don’t think you would want Robert to see you running around in the middle of the night with nothing on but your nightgown.”
Tears of frustration filled her eyes as she realized there was no use struggling against him. She suffered him to carry her upstairs. At her bedroom door, he sat her on her feet. She didn’t notice that her dressing gown had fallen open until he slipped his hands inside and around her body.
Holding her close for a moment, he kissed her gently, lovingly. She felt the wild beating of his heart against her own. Afraid of her riding emotions, she whispered, “Please, Aidan, let me go now.”
Releasing his hold on her then, he held her chin within his hand and tilted her face up toward his own. He said quietly, “All right, Bridget, I’ll let you go. I know you are dead tired as we all are.” He looked at her intently. “But there will come another time when I won’t let you go.” Opening the bedroom door for her, he then walked quietly down the stairs.
Bridget awoke suddenly from a deep slumber, eyes flying open. She didn’t think she’d been asleep long and wondered what had awoken her. A noise at her door drew her attention. Turning to look, she saw the knob turning. She wondered if Aidan had returned and was trying to get in, but she’d thrown the latch and knew the door wouldn’t open. The knob stopped moving soon after. She listened for a few moments but heard nothing.
Sleep pulled at her and satisfied that everything was fine, Bridget let her exhausted self fall asleep once more. By the morning, she’d forgotten all about it.
The next few weeks at the castle flew. No one had tried to get into her room again, as far as she knew, but she’d heard some strange scratching noises a few times that she attributed to Sarge.
She went to bed each night exhausted. Bridget was amazed how easily she fell into a routine there. Robert treated her like the lady of the house, deferring to her in many small matters. Besse seemed to follow suit, reluctantly. She was kind enough to Bridget’s face, but sometimes Bridget thought she saw the housekeeper scowling at her out of the corner of her eye. She was not sure, however, of what she saw and she did not know what she should do about it anyway. She also was unsure what to do about Aidan. He was avoiding her, spending his time in the stables or out tending to the land with Robert. She could almost forget he existed.
This suited her needs as she spent every spare moment at the piano readying herself for the exam she was to take soon. Her grandfather had offered to pay her expenses and her parents had surprised Bridget by agreeing. Now it was on her to make everyone’s sacrifices worthwhile.
Bridget returned from her examination full of pride at having passed. Her parents threw her a small party at their home, just for immediate family, though her cousin Margaret had arrived partway through the festivities, claiming she was just dropping by and had forgotten about the party to which she hadn’t been invited. The Campbells certainly couldn’t turn away their kin, so Margaret was invited in and asked to share the small cake made for the occasion.
Bridget’s grandfather arrived toward the end of the gathering to present her with a gift, a grand new music case that put her old one to shame. Bridget was grateful for the gift but more happy that he had come at all. He had seemed annoyed that she didn’t ask to have a party at the castle when she invited him, but she had reminded him that her birthday was coming soon and asked that they do something then instead. After reminding him that she was not comfortable being spoiled, he had readily agreed with her solution.
The next day, she went to meet with Miss Wallace. The older woman was overcome with pride as Bridget was her first pupil to pass the exam.
“Well done, my dear, well done. Now sit down, I have something to tell you.”
Bridget sat, not knowing what to expect. Her teacher handed her a cup of tea and took one for herself before sitting down.
“I’ve decided to go on holiday this summer instead. I have confidence that you are ready to fill in for me now,” said Miss Wallace, looking over the top of her steaming cup of tea, “and it will be a wonderful opportunity for both of us. Your final exam is over and you passed with flying colors. There is no one I would rather entrust my beginning students to than you.”
Bridget sipped her tea and sat quietly, mulling things over in her mind. She had planned on take time off to rest up from her studies, but Miss Wallace’s request to have her take over lessons this summer instead of next was somethin
g she could hardly refuse.
“Of course,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity.” She looked around the pleasant room she had spent so much time in the last few years. The piano she had played on so often stood across one corner between the fireplace and a large bay window. On the opposite side of the window stood the old pump organ and directly across the room from it, there was a handsome side board, used mostly for storing miscellaneous music books.
The iron kettle, black with soot, rested near the side of the open fire, always at the boil, ready for a quick cup of tea. The large table in the center of the room served as a desk for students written theory lessons before their half hour at the piano. Miss Wallace living quarters adjoined this room, making it a very convenient way of life for a single woman.
She looked at Bridget speculatively and continued, “There is something else I want you to do for me, Bridget, while I am away.”
Bridget now felt the excitement rising in her. She looked across at her teacher with a smile, “Yes, Miss Wallace, what is the other thing you would like me to do?”
“Well, don’t get frightened at what I am about to say, but I would like you to be acting organist at the church also while I am gone.”
The two women looked at each other, Bridget’s eyes popping wide, mouth flying open.
She stammered, “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m afraid I would be too excited and nervous to play in front of all those people.”
“Nonsense, my dear, you have no need to be afraid, you are a fine player, and since I won’t be leaving for a few months yet, you will have ample time to come to church once a week for choir practice. I shall let you take over a few weeks before I do leave. Wouldn’t you like that?”
Bridget felt much relief at the plan. Her eyes shone with excitement at the thought of this golden opportunity. She smiled, saying, “Thank you so much, Miss Wallace, for your confidence in me. I think I shall try out for the job, and you will still have time to get someone else if I don’t work out to please you.”
The older woman laughed, transfiguring her usually austere face, “I am not afraid of that, Bridget, and wouldn’t have asked you to do this if I thought you were not capable of it. Off you go now, it’s almost supper time.”
With a gentle push, she propelled Bridget towards the door.
SIX
On a blistering evening in March, Robert and Aidan finished their evening meal and sat at the table talking 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, worrying that mentioning the events of that evening could jeopardize his job if Robert thought it the cause of Bridget’s behavior.
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 before going out for the evening.
It was evident Aidan was in a glum mood, but Robert 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 everything 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 strode toward the fire and 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.
He then 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. All Bridget thinks about 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 if 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 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 and the other unfamiliar to them.
They heard her say, “Put your macintosh on the chair, Kevin, and come on and meet my grandfather.”
Bridget walked through the hallway door on the arm of a tall young man. His straw colored hair and blue eyes evidenced 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 seafaring experiences.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, too, laddie, and hope I am worthy of all my granddaughter’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 shook hands each appraising the other. Kevin’s boyish 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 have 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, anytim
e.”
“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, 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, 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 had told her grandfather about taking over lessons that summer but not about the other task Miss Wallace had asked of her, knowing Robert might not like knowing there was yet another thing he’d have to share her with. She said directly to him, “Grandfather, 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 Miss Wallace’s absence.
“Looks like I am to have a busy time of it, doesn’t it?”
Robert looked at her seriously and 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 not.”
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.”
Resisting the Highlander: A Scottish Romance Page 6
