by Alisa Adams
"From your lips to God's ears!" Liam growled. "Did I tell you that I have met young Allana?"
"No," Gavin replied, his heart skipping a beat.
"Yes. She was making her way home and stopped at my estate because she knew I was a friend of her father's." He looked up from his ale with a smile. "Charming young lady and bright as a button too. She is making a good business for herself. I warned her against Muir, but at that time, I had no knowledge of his marriage. In fact, I thought that he was so untrustworthy that I doubted if any woman would take him on. It seems I was wrong—two of them did!" He laughed and shook his head at the frailty of human nature. “Have you met the young lady?”
Gavin frowned, recalling their unfortunate meeting, but he nodded. "She is an attractive young lady,” he said in a non-committal tone.
"Nevin Kirk’s path is clear now," Liam observed. "I wonder if they will pick up where they left off."
"If a woman threw me over for another man," Gavin said grimly, "then had the gall to come crawling back when he turned out to be a scoundrel, I would tell her to go straight to hell! A man like that has no self-respect!"
Liam blinked and buried his face in his beer again. When Gavin was in this mood, there was no point in talking to him at all. He decided to take himself off to bed and wished his friend goodnight. "I hope I have not upset you, Gavin," he said quietly, putting his hand on Gavin's shoulder.
Gavin sighed and then smiled at Liam. "It is I who should apologize, Liam," his voice sounded weary. "Every time that man's name is mentioned it makes me furious. Take no notice. I am a tired, irascible old man. Ignore me. Sleep well."
Kendrick found that his business dealings were not going quite so well as before. News traveled fast, even in the rugged hills and poor roads of the Highlands, and Kendrick found that many of his clients were buying fewer of his commodities than before. In previous times, he could have depended on being offered a bed for the night at some of his wealthier clients' castles, but now, their doors were shut to him. Their greetings were cold and formal and only the barest courtesies were observed.
Of course, there were those who patted him on the back in commiseration that he had been thwarted of his plan to have two wives, so he did receive some hospitality. However, like rats deserting a sinking ship, they were lessening the size of their orders too, buying from other merchants, and Kendrick could see a day not too far in the future when he would go out of business entirely.
He had to come up with a plan to make his living in some other way, either honest or dishonest. He prided himself on his resourcefulness and knew that he would never starve. He had no compunction at all about stealing to make ends meet. He had used two women in the cruelest way possible, but if in future, he had to do the same thing again he knew that he would. God had decreed that the strongest would survive and in His wisdom, he had given Kendrick the ability to do just that.
When he returned to Mull, he almost expected Leann to be waiting for him at the door, but he realized that she would never do so again. In the depths of his black heart, even he could find a little sadness, but his chief emotion was self-pity for Kendrick's first love was Kendrick himself.
He spent his first two days back home in bed since he had caught a chill on the ferry crossing. Lizzie dosed him with hot toddies, beef tea, and peppermint tisanes for his stomach which always ached when he was sick. He slept a great deal and felt too miserable to get up. When he was awake, he was so irritable that he often reduced Jennie, Lizzie's daughter, to tears, even as she helped him to take care of himself and perform those duties for him that would have made lesser women sick.
It was the beginning of autumn, as the days were beginning to shorten, when he stepped outside again. If things became much worse, he would have to sell the house and dismiss the servants. He would try one more trip and since there was no Leann on the island to assuage his body's needs, he decided to leave within the week. The ferry came and went on Fridays and it was now Tuesday, so time was of the essence. He racked his brains to think of some other scheme to make him money then, as he was sipping one of Lizzie's mint tisanes, it came to him.
Kendrick, he thought gleefully, you are a genius!
Three days later, armed with his foolproof idea and with enough silver to buy the tools of his trade, he boarded the ferry to Oban. He was in high spirits and they were even higher by the time he had been to a brothel. Suddenly, life seemed worthwhile again.
Meanwhile, back at Dundas Castle, it was time for Allana to go on her travels again. Leann felt out of place staying in the castle, even though both sisters had told her that she could stay as long as she desired. She was standing by the turrets, her favorite place, when she heard Allana's voice calling her. She answered and a moment later her friend came bounding upstairs to see her.
"You look so sad," Allana said, putting her arm around Leann's shoulder. “Are you still thinking about Kendrick?"
"Pfft!" Leann flapped her hand in dismissal. "Allana, there are only a finite number of minutes in my life and I am not wasting a single one thinking about that-that creature."
"I agree with you," Allana concurred. "So, why are you so miserable?"
"I feel as if I should leave," Leann said with a sigh. "You invited me here, but you are going away. I feel out of place."
"But my parents love you, my sister loves you, and I love you. You are one of the family now!"
Leann shook her head. "I must leave," she insisted.
"If you must leave then leave with me," Allana suggested. "You can see what I do. The Misses Galbraith and Dundas will cut a swathe all through Scotland!"
Leann laughed in disbelief. "Really? But I can add nothing to your business, Allana! I do know how to knit, though,” she said thoughtfully.
"Then you are ready," Allana replied simply.
Leann stared at her, mouth agape for a moment. "But of what other use can I be?"
Allana laughed. "Leann, I have seen you standing up to a man twice your size. I know you have a will of iron and I know we have both been through the same trials." She took hold of Leann's hands. "Not only can we support each other, but we can use our women's wiles to wheedle the best prices out of many of them. And do not underestimate the crofters and their wives! They are formidable people who are already on my side when it comes to trade. I have found that poorer people give more of the little they have than the rich who have much more to spare. If you give a little back to them, they love you for it."
Leann felt unworthy. She had no feminine virtues to speak of, she was plain and thin without the appealing curves that Allana had. She looked at her friend helplessly. "I have no feminine wiles," she said, her voice flat and miserable. "I am not beautiful or fierce or clever. I cannot be tactful. Go, Allana. I will find a place for myself. I have enough money to make my way."
"You are drowning in self-pity!" Allana said firmly, shaking Leann by the shoulders. "You ARE clever, you ARE fierce, and tactful? Why, the ability to speak one’s mind is an asset in most instances. And you are most attractive. Look at this beautiful red hair, this tiny waist, these big gray eyes, and those beautiful dimples when you smile!"
Leann gaped at Allana in astonishment and then laughed. "Surely you are talking of someone else?"
"I am speaking of you!" Allana said, shaking Leann again.
She laughed and laid her head on Allana's shoulder. "I feel much better now," she said with a happy little sigh. "Perhaps I will come with you."
Allana laughed. "Perhaps we can get Bettina to join us too!" Then she shook her head. "No, something is bothering Bettina. We should leave her here."
Leann had ideas of her own about what was bothering Bettina, but she said nothing.
23
At Ingram Castle
Winter weather comes early in the Highlands and Leann and Allana made their way south on a freezing morning when frost rimed the ground and the horses' hooves slipped on the ice underfoot. They were both wearing fur-lined cloaks and were in high
spirits, Allana because she was doing what she loved and Leann because she was off on a new adventure. The one thing for which Leann was grateful to Kendrick was her meeting with Allana. Although they were not sisters, they might as well have been for they enjoyed each other’s company so much.
They were making good headway when the clear, crisp blue of the winter noon began to be covered with yellow-gray snow clouds. It looked as if the snow would not fall for a while since the temperature had warmed a little. However, both of them knew that this was deceptive. This was the forerunner of the absolutely bone-chilling freeze before the first flakes descended. If they were caught in such a blizzard they could die of exposure, by all accounts a terrible death.
There was a castle in the distance and Leann pointed to it. "Laird Ingram's Castle!" she exclaimed. "He is a lovely man! He will give us shelter."
“I am not going in there!” Alana growled. “I detest him!”
Leann knew about the incident on the disastrous night of the wedding announcement, but they were desperate. The snow was beginning to obscure the landscape and there was no other shelter in sight. “Allana, it is this or freeze to death in a blizzard,” she said firmly. “If you do not want to go in then I will. I have no intention of dying just because you two are having a spat!”
Then she spurred her horse into a canter and rode on. Allana knew that Leann was making sense, but she had no wish to speak to a man who had treated her so roughly. Having no choice, however, she complied and followed Leann. The castle was more than a mile away and the going was rough and slippery. The horses skidded and almost fell several times. Both women were freezing by the time they reached the walls. Although it was only early afternoon, darkness was closing in as if the snow clouds were squeezing all the light out of the sky.
As luck would have it, the Laird himself was coming out to see to the needs of his favorite horse, a stallion named Chester. It was well known that the Laird's horse was hard to handle and that the only person who could really control him was Gavin. The grooms often laughed at him behind his back, saying that he treated the beast like a child, but Gavin, though he knew about their words, did not care. It amused him and he preferred to be known for kindness rather than cruelty.
When he saw Leann he smiled broadly, but he avoided looking at Allana. "Mistress Muir! Mistress Dundas!" he exclaimed, stretching his arms wide in welcome. He felt uncomfortable since he knew that he had to make peace with Allana, but he felt that he could not apologize in front of Leann. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Then he held up a hand, his face growing solemn. "No, I am sure you came, not for the dubious pleasure of my company, but for shelter from the coming storm! Am I right?"
Leann smiled, abashed. "A little of both, m’laird,” she answered with a polite curtsey. Allana followed suit, bowing her head as she did so. When she looked up, she avoided his eyes.
“You are both most welcome to spend the night and partake of my hospitality,” he told them. “Now, go in and I will have some mulled wine sent to you. I must leave you for a moment, but I will be back shortly."
Leann sighed as they went inside. "I would rather have married him!" she commented, laughing softly as she tried to inject a little levity into the situation.
"He is too old for you," Allana scoffed.
"My father was too old for my mother, but they lived happily together for twenty years," Leann replied, offended by Allana's tone.
"Forgive me, my friend," Allana said contritely. "Love is love, is it not? But I would not take him even if he were a gift. Let us shelter here since we must and leave as soon as possible. I want nothing to do with him.”
Leann nodded and they sat down. The mulled wine was brought in and they drank it standing up by the window and watching the snowflakes fall. Gavin Ingram came in and observed them standing contentedly as they so often stood, arms about each other’s waists like sisters. At least some good had come out of Kendrick Muir's vicious ploy.
Presently, Allana, alerted by the feeling of being watched, turned around and met his eyes. As they looked at each other, he felt something stirring inside him which he had not felt for a long time: desire. His first feeling was amazement and then he chastised himself. I must speak to her, he thought, disgusted by his own base instincts. I need to make things right…
Allana frowned at him and turned her gaze away from the window. Gavin stepped into the room and then sat down by the big fireplace where Leann and Gavin began chatting like old friends. Allana felt awkward and out of place. She said barely anything which was unusual for her.
"If you will excuse me," Gavin said, to Allana's relief. "I have things to attend to."
He stood up and Allana really looked at him for the first time. She realized what an attractive man he was. He had long, black hair threaded with silver which he kept tied behind his back. His eyes were hazel, the irises rimmed with brown, and he towered over her. He was not overly muscular and if she could have likened him to any creature, it would have been a swift horse that could run for miles. He had extraordinary hands. They were big with long, strong fingers and prominent knuckles. He had bruised Nevin’s face with those hands.
"I will have one of the maids draw baths for you, show you your rooms, and call you down for dinner." Gavin's tone was courteous and polite, but Allana was unmoved. He would not be rude in front of Leann. "We eat earlier in the winter, so I hope that suits you. Is there anything else you need?"
"Just one thing, m’laird." Leann's pale face flushed as she looked at her hands. "I no longer wish to be called Muir. My maiden name is Galbraith."
"We will never say ‘Muir’ here again," he assured her. Then, with a bow, he left.
When she came out of her bath, Allana felt warm and refreshed, but she dreaded going downstairs to face the Laird over dinner. As the maidservant helped her to put on her dress, she felt herself tensing up. I will not speak unless spoken to, she thought, and keep my eyes on my food. Having spoken sternly to herself, she squared her shoulders and went out.
She had only gone a few steps when she encountered the Laird who had obviously been waiting for her. She curtsied and then tried to move past him, but he stopped her.
“Mistress Dundas,” he began, “I wish to apologize for the shameful way I behaved to you last time we met. My only excuse is that I was furious and hurt. I barged through everyone without thinking or looking where I was going. You did no wrong. You were just in my way. Please forgive me.”
“I may forgive you,” she said coldly, “but you have a few words to say to Nevin, too.”
“I will do so,” he answered, bowing his head.
Allana looked up into his eyes and as she did so, she felt her anger melt away. “I forgive you,” she murmured. “But you and Nevin must talk about this.”
“I agree,” he replied. His face softened with relief and happiness, and something cold inside him warmed then melted as if she had laid warm hands on it. For the first time in an age, he felt happy.
“Thank you,” he breathed, taking her hands in his and bringing them to his lips. “Thank you so much.”
Allana, looking into his eyes, saw them change and soften.
“Can we be friends?” he asked.
She hesitated and then nodded with a slight smile.
Over a delicious dinner of roast venison and seasonal vegetables, Leann began to draw both Gavin and Allana out of their respective shells. She was good at this since she knew them both well and she had always had a knack of dealing with people. Soon, they were talking, if not like old friends then like people who were more comfortable with each other.
Allana is smiling at him, she thought delightedly. She had picked up the frisson of attraction between them at once, with the sixth sense that only women possess and she reasoned that it would not be too long before they were enjoying a relationship that was closer than friendship.
If only! she thought hopefully. She watched them talking with each other, and it seemed to her that her plan was working. L
eann got up and went toward the window to look out, not for any other reason save to leave them together without the distraction of her presence. She felt that if she had left the room neither of them would even have noticed and that was the way she wanted it.
When dinner was finished, Gavin excused himself. He had accounts to do, but he was distracted. He stuck at his task for half an hour and then decided to go up to the turrets to clear his head and think. When he got to the top of the stairs, however, a memory of Marion came back to him so clearly that he felt as though he could have reached out and touched it. She was standing, arms on the edge of the edge of the wall, leaning on her elbows and smiling. She looked around and saw him then ran into his arms and kissed him.
Surely Kendrick had been lying? Surely, she could not have betrayed him? He had not seen him holding the locket and chain, after all. However, an exhaustive search of the house had been done and it had not been found. Then, almost without realizing it, he began to sing her favorite song in his mellow, melodious tenor voice. When he had finished, he looked out into the darkness for a moment, feeling utterly desolate, and then he turned to go back downstairs. He started in surprise as he saw Allana standing there.
Allana had also been looking for a place to escape from her thoughts, but when she heard the man singing, she was enchanted. As she stepped onto the turret platform, however, she realized that the owner of the beautiful voice was Gavin. It sounded like a sad love song, so, feeling that she was intruding, she turned around to go downstairs again, but at that moment, he turned around.
Gavin put his hand to his chest and smiled at her somewhat sheepishly. “Allana, you gave me a fright!”
“I am sorry,” she replied, “but I was drawn to your singing. You have such a wonderful voice and that is a lovely song, but so sad.”
