“Now what?” Llewellyn’s voice betrayed his anxiety, although he had his fear under control, Angus knew what he must be suffering.
“Well, they must have left this clearing, so each of us will go in a different direction until we find the tracks again, and then whoever does will blow the whistle.”
They split up and did as he suggested, torches flashing and calling out the children’s names. By now it was pitch dark, and even with the torches they could see little. It was beginning to look very bad indeed. They all returned to the clearing, and no sign of the children had been found. What were they to do now?
* * * *
“Gloria, love, sit down and drink this hot toddy,” Jane insisted. Gloria had been pacing backward and forward since the men had set off. She had stopped crying, but her face was a mask of worry.
“They are so small, they will be lost, and it’s dark and snowing and…” She couldn’t go on. She sobbed in her misery. Jane got up and put her arms round Gloria. She led her to the sofa and produced tissues.
“Now, love, blow your nose and dry your eyes. The men will soon be back with the babies, and you will need to focus on getting hot baths ready for all of them. You will be of no use to anyone if you are worn out with pacing and weeping.” Jane spoke with much more conviction than she felt. They had been gone two hours now. Where on earth could they be and why hadn’t they found the children yet? She pushed all that to the back of her mind. It would be soon enough to face trouble when it arrived. She took the glass of hot toddy and put it into Gloria’s hands.
“Drink that up at once,” she said in the no-nonsense voice she’d used to good effect in the classroom. It worked. Gloria was used to that tone, and Jane knew that when Llewellyn used it, Gloria obeyed. Now she took the glass and began to sip. The warming liquid seemed to calm her. The whisky with hot water and lemon would soothe her. Jane looked at the clock.
Where are they? What can they be doing? Why haven’t we had news yet? Please don’t let anything happen to those poor wee bairns. This sitting about worrying won’t do. We’d best be doing something. Gloria will be all the better for some positive occupation.
When Gloria had finished her toddy and put the glass down on the table, there was a little more colour in her cheeks. Jane took her hands and pulled her to her feet.
“Let’s go and organise their pyjamas and make sure the fire is burning well. They will be hungry and cold, so first a bath then some good hot soup. We can go and speak to Flora, and you can tell her what their favourite is. They turned together and the noise of an arrival was heard in the hall. Gloria turned toward the door, her hand to her mouth.
* * * *
“I can’t go any further. I have hurt my leg, and I’m cold. I want my mummy.” Morwen began to cry noisily. Rhys didn’t know what to do. He did know that his formidable father would expect him to be the man and look after his sister. So he put his arm round her.
“Don’t cry, Morwen. Please don’t cry. We have to keep moving and try and find a way out of this wood. Come along now, love. Try to stand up.”
“Well, well, what do we have here?” A voice startled them and made them jump.
Rhys looked up to find a small, wizened man looking at him. He was wearing odd clothes in a funny shade of green and a wool cap pulled well down over his eyes. The eyes sparkled with mischief in the wrinkled brown face.
“Are you a fairy? You look like a fairy. What are you doing in this wood?” Questions tumbled out of Rhys’s mouth. The old man laughed.
“I’m not a fairy. I’m not saying I don’t believe in the little people. Only a fool would say that, and no man can say that Donald Ban is a fool. No, young man, I’m a ghillie.”
“Oh. What’s a ghillie? Is that some sort of elf then?” The old man guffawed.
“No, I look after the game on the estate. My cottage is just over there.” He pointed back the way he’d come. “It looks as if I am going to have company tonight.”
He picked Morwen up and strode off toward his cottage. Opening the door, he deposited the little girl on a chair in front of the fire. She held out her hands to the warm glow. Donald Ban pointed to the other chair.
“Sit ye down and I’ll make tea.” Rhys watched fascinated as the old man swung the black kettle over the glowing coals. Soon steam began to come out of the spout. After taking down an earthen-ware teapot from the mantel-shelf above the fire, he opened a tea caddy and spooned loose tea into the pot. The kettle began to sing, and he made the tea. Soon the children held steaming mugs of hot tea, laced with sugar. They sipped, and Rhys began to feel warm again.
“I want my mummy.” Morwen had drunk her tea and began to wail again.
“Where is your mummy, lassie?”
“We are staying at the castle,” Rhys said.
“Well, are ye now? And what may I ask are ye doing out here alone in the dark and in this weather?”
“We were looking for the fairies in the wood,” Rhys replied.
There was a twinkle in the old man’s eye. “And did ye find any?”
“No we didn’t. We saw a fairy lantern and shouted and ran toward it, but it went out.”
“Where exactly was this, do ye remember?” The old man’s tone had changed from a light bantering one to a much more serious one, and Rhys looked at him, wondering why he was so interested.
“We saw it just before Morwen fell and hurt herself.” Donald looked thoughtful.
“I think I’d better get you back to the castle now you are warmer. Let me bank up the fire, and we’ll be off.” He picked up a few pieces of what looked like dead grass sods to Rhys.
“What’s that? You’re never going to put that stuff on the fire?” he said scornfully.
“Why not indeed? It’s good peat and will burn long and slow. When I come back, I can add more or a log or two for a good blaze.”
“What’s peat?”
“It’s decomposed plants. It’s got to be dug then dried and is fine to burn.”
“It smells. Is that why this house smells so?” Morwen asked.
“Sh. Don’t be so rude, Morwen,” Rhys said.
“That’s okay. The peat does make houses smell. It gets in the water, and it makes the west coast of Scotland a fine place for whisky.”
He placed three pieces of peat on the fire. Then he put a wire mesh guard in front of it. Rhys noticed the rag rug.
“That’s an odd rug,” Morwen said.
“Yes I make them mysel’ in the winter. I cut up the old clothes and turn them into rugs.” The old man smiled.
“Time to be going now. Come on, you two. Can you walk young Morwen or shall I carry you?”
As he spoke there was a banging on the door. He went to answer it.
“Good evening. Sorry to disturb you. I wonder of you have seen a couple of…” He got no further.
“Daddy!” Morwen and Rhys shouted and flew into his arms. Llewellyn picked one up in each arm and buried his head between the two clinging infants. His shoulders shook. Angus came forward.
“Thank you so very much for finding them and taking them in. We were beginning to be very worried.”
“That’s no bother, sir,” Donald Ban said. “In fact they have been of help to me. They noticed a lantern and shouted as they ran toward it. The light went out, and that’s when they got lost.”
“Who would leave two small children to their own devices in the dark on such a night?” Angus asked in anger.
“Poachers, sir, we have a gang operating around here. Now I know they are out tonight, I will gather the men and go after them.”
“There are men a-plenty here,” Angus said. “Llewellyn, you take the babies home. Their mother will be anxious. The rest of us will stay and lend a hand.”
Llewellyn agreed and set off back the way they had come. The others stayed to help Donald Ban.
* * * *
Gloria appreciated all Jane was doing to help take her mind off the plight of the children. It’s all my fault. I
should have been looking after them instead of helping others. They are my priority. I will never forgive myself if anything happens to them. Master will hate me forever if he loses his children. These thoughts brought on a fresh bout of tears, and she wept as she paced the floor. When Jane used her school teacher’s tone to get her to sit down and drink the toddy, she was resentful at first. Only Master talked to her like that. Nevertheless, she obeyed Jane. As she sipped the hot whisky and felt the warmth spread through her, however, she saw that Jane had been right. She needed to focus. Determinedly she put down the cup and stood up ready to go and organise for their return. She heard the sounds of an arrival in the hall, and as the door to the sitting room opened slowly, she covered her mouth with her hand.
Master walked in carrying two sleepy little children in his arms. She ran over and took Morwen from him. She buried her face in the child’s hair and breathed in her scent. Tears of joy and relief coursed down her cheeks.
“Oh, Master, you found them. I am so very glad. I am so sorry I neglected my duty and they were almost lost to us.”
“Gloria, that’s enough. You did nothing wrong. They were perfectly safe, and it’s the business of small children to get into mischief. However, we need to talk to them about their safety. It seems Rhys looked after his sister well. Tomorrow will do for finding out the rest. Now stop crying, my love, and get these babies bathed and in bed.”
There was sleepy protest. “I’m not a baby.”
“Rhys, you will always be my baby,” Gloria said to him, and Llewellyn laughed.
“You have a lot to learn, my son,” he said. Gloria hurried him upstairs to their room, and soon the two little ones were tucked up safe and warm in their beds. Gloria didn’t want to leave them, but he insisted they go back downstairs.
“I need food and so do you. I bet you have eaten nothing at all since we left.” Gloria smiled ruefully.
“You know me too well, Master. Jane insisted I drink a whisky toddy though.”
“I always knew Jane had a lot of sense. Now come downstairs and we can all eat a meal.”
“Where are the rest of the men?” Gloria asked.
“Come downstairs and I will tell everyone at once.”
In the dining room the welcome smell of bacon, eggs, tea, and toast greeted them. The rest of the women were there and looking around. Llewellyn sat Gloria at the table.
“Ladies, sit down and eat. Your menfolk have remained to help Donald Ban in a matter of poachers.”
The women obeyed the tone in his voice that brooked no nonsense, and all sat to eat. He regaled them with the story of the fairies and the callous men who had left them to the cold and dark in the wood rather than help them. The women were anxious about their men but could well understand the Doms’ intention to help Maclean. They had no sympathy for such callous men either. They had finished their meal and were enjoying cups of tea and coffee in the sitting room when a boisterous party of large Doms arrived in the entrance hall, full of life and pleased with their night’s work. It was a very different mood from when they had left, and while the staff prepared another feast of bacon and eggs, Angus regaled them with the chase after the poachers and the final capture and handing over to the local constabulary.
Chapter Nine
The next day they all slept late. As snow had fallen and the sky was leaden, threatening more, Jane suggested that a day spent playing games in front of the fire was more appealing than going outside. Jane noticed that Morwen sat close to her mother and played with her dolls. Rhys was subdued. She knew, because Gloria had told her that Llewellyn had told Rhys that, although he appreciated his care of his sister, he blamed him for the whole episode. He had explained in graphic terms just what might have happened.
“I worry that it might be too harsh for Rhys. We don’t want him to worry too much, but we do want him to think before he does anything like that again.”
“I’m sure it will be okay. Rhys will be subdued for a while, but he will bounce back.”
“Well Llewellyn kissed him and said he was forgiven. So I hope it will be okay.”
Rhys remained thoughtful and quiet for the rest of the morning, playing with his new toys.
Jane noticed that Master Angus was uneasy. He kept getting up and looking out of the window. He’s consulting his watch often, which isn’t like him. Why does he need to on a day like today? We are all having a lazy day, reading the papers, chatting, and wondering just what the New Year celebrations will be like. Those Scott men won’t tell us either.
Jane watched him get up yet again and go to look out of the window. She was about to get up herself when Flora MacDonald came in and went over to him. His expression became grave as he listened to what she was saying. When she’d left, he stood for a few minutes as if making up his mind to say something.
“I have just had a telephone message.” Everyone stopped talking and looked at him.
“You might have noticed that there is no one else staying here but us. There are a few spare rooms, and by now I’d expected more guests. Unfortunately there has been a car accident.”
Jane caught her breath. Which of their friends could Master be talking about?
“Is anyone injured?” Alexander asked.
“We don’t have many details yet. There are some injuries, but we think none are life-threatening. No doubt you are anxious to know which of our friends are involved, Rafael and his family and Prometheus and Jenny.”
“Jenny?” Jane was incredulous. “She’s due any day. Why on earth is she on her way here?”
“A good question, mo run, but as you well know, most of us are just putty in the hands of our ladies.” He tried to smile reassuringly, but Jane saw he was worried. Jenny was due the second week in January, and, although it was her first baby and so could be counted on to be late, it wasn’t the time or the right weather to be risking herself on such a long car journey. It was madness.
“Prometheus must be mad. What a stupid thing to do,” she said without thinking, and several Doms growled. Oops, my big mouth. I don’t want to get myself another public spanking for challenging Doms. She had never forgotten the evening when she had challenged her Master and told Alexander to “shut the fuck up.” She had pushed Master Angus until, in order not to lose face, he’d given her a spanking in the presence of Alexander and Ruari. The worst aspect of it all had been Angus’s obvious disappointment, and she’d vowed never to do anything to cause him such distress again.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,” she said contritely, looking at her Master. He smiled.
“We know it’s just because you are so worried about Jenny’s welfare, mo run.” He held out his arms, and she ran into his embrace. Once again he’d diffused a situation and protected her. She loved him so much.
Flora MacDonald came back into the room. “There’s a telephone call for you, sir.”
Angus hurried out of the room. Five minutes later he was back.
“That was Prometheus on the phone. Jenny has gone into premature labour. He will keep us informed. No one is badly injured, thank goodness. Rafael and his family will be arriving soon. Their car is a write-off, but the only one injured is Heather and she has a broken wrist. We will wait tea for them. Flora is having fires lit in their room.”
“Did he say if Jenny is all right?” Jane asked anxiously.
“He said and I quote, ‘I must have been mad to allow her to talk me into such a journey.’ So you see, my little darling, he agrees with you. He promises to let us know as soon as there is any news. He will stay with her in the hospital and then hire a car to get them home as soon as she and the baby are fit to travel. I have no more news, so it’s no use to ask me. When Rafael gets here, he’ll know more.”
“She will have nothing for the baby.” Jane’s mind flew to practical matters.
“Well, Prometheus can go shopping for her. You can’t get down there in this weather, so he will have to organise all she needs.”
Half an hour l
ater there were sounds of an arrival. The door opened, and Rafael walked in. He was dishevelled, and his clothes were muddied. Heather followed with her coat around one shoulder and her wrist in a sling. She looked pale and had cuts on her face. Behind her, Jess came into the room. Rafael, Jess, and Heather walked over to Jane and Angus. Jane looked at poor Heather and forgot everything else.
“Heather, love, come and sit down by the fire. Give me your coat. You must be tired and in pain. Flora will have tea brought in directly.” As she spoke, the door opened and the waitress and the young man came in, bearing the usual trays of tea and hot scones. The rich aroma filled the room, and suddenly everyone was at ease. Small tables were arranged, seats found, and all settled to eat and drink. Rafael cut up a scone and fed his Heather small morsels between sips of tea. Jane was pleased to see that soon some of the colour came back to her cheeks and she began to respond to the people around her. Jane was unsurprised to notice the blush of the young waitress as she offered tea and scones to Rafael. When they had all consumed a number of the light, fluffy scones liberally spread with butter, home-made raspberry jam, and cream, everyone seemed more relaxed.
“Now do tell us what happened,” Angus prompted.
“We were making very good time. The roads had been cleared, and we expected to arrive in the early afternoon. We weren’t going fast. We’d decided to travel together in case Prometheus needed help. Jenny insisted on coming and got into such a state when he tried to say ‘no’ that he thought it would be better to set off. He hoped that when she got on the road she’d change her mind and then they’d go back. She didn’t however.”
A Highland Christmas [Prometheus in Chains 12] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 6
