by B. J. Scott
“You’re hurting me, m’lord.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I wish I could help you, but if I do, my—” She stopped mid-sentence.
Blair released her. “But what, Elise? Why did you leave the castle that night and why have you never returned?”
“Lady Deirdre warned if I told anyone about my suspicions and dinna leave immediately, she would have both my son and mother killed. My son was only eight summers and had just become a squire to her husband Murray. She refused to give her permission for Peter to accompany me and said she’d arrange an accident if I dinna do as she instructed.” Elise sucked in a ragged breath.
“My mam was not well at the time and too ill to travel, so I couldna bring her with me. Not that Deirdre would allow it. So I left. I had no idea where to go, had no coin, and it was by luck that I found a home here.”
Blair ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head. “She thought of everything, didn’t she?”
“Aye. Lady Deirdre also said she would make it appear as though I poisoned Lady Katherine and that no one would believe she’d threatened me. She claimed the clan would see me hanged for the crime, or worse, burned as a witch. I had to do what she said,” she sobbed.
Blair encircled her shoulders with his arm, then ushered her to a nearby chair. “Sit down and calm yourself.”
Elise did as he asked, then peered up at him with tear-filled eyes. “So you see, there was no choice. I had to leave and couldna tell anyone why.”
“I understand, but you have a chance to set the wrong to right, and to help Lady Laurel,” Blair offered. “What led you to believe Deirdre killed your mistress?”
“Lady Katherine was but twenty summers and verra healthy. She gave birth to Laurel with no problem, was up and about the verra next day. She adored bairns. No woman could have been a better mother. She always told me she wanted at least six babes.”
“Yet, Laurel was an only bairn for four summers. Did they not try to have another babe in all that time?” Blair scratched his head, finding it hard to believe a virile warrior would not have many children if he was married to a strong, healthy lass he adored.
“Aye, they tried, but every time she thought she was with child, she suddenly got her courses. They also dinna have a lot of time to spend together. The war with England raged on and Laird Cameron was away, sometimes for months on end. Murray was fighting for the cause too, so Deirdre was staying at the castle, despite the fact she resented Lady Katherine. When the Bruce was victorious at Bannockburn in 1314, the laird came home to stay. It wasna long before Lady Katherine was with child.”
“I see.” Blair tapped his chin. “So she lost several other babes before the last. Is that correct?”
“We couldna be certain if she was breeding each time or not. But she would go a couple of months believing she was, then was crushed when she found out she was wrong.”
“But last time she carried the babe longer?”
“Almost six months.”
“But it wasna as easy as when she carried Laurel?”
“Nay, she suffered from severe sickness every morn. She wasna able to keep any food or drink down and grew frailer every day. Near the end, she could hardly hold up her head. The clan had no healer at the time and Laird Brandon asked Deirdre if she knew of any remedies that might help. There had been many rumors bandied about the keep that she had studied healing herbs for many years. Some even whispered that she was a witch, but the laird never set any store in gossip.”
“And did Deirdre offer a remedy?”
“Aye, but it dinna help. Come to think of it, Deirdre gave Lady Katherine potions each time she thought she was breeding. She claimed they would stop the morning sickness, and at the same time, strengthen the unborn babe. The elixir settled her stomach, but if anything, Lady Katherine grew weaker, and soon after, her courses started.”
Elise’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. She quickly crossed herself. “ There is a verra good chance Deidre gave Lady Katherine something that made her lose the babes each time. I must admit, by the last time she was with child, I had grown verra suspicious of Deirdre’s methods.”
Elise stood and began to pace. “Many women suffer from the morning ailment when first with child, but after a short time, they usually got over it. I found it peculiar that Lady Katherine grew weaker.”
“If you had concerns about Lady Katherine’s welfare, why did you not speak to Laird MacClay?”
“He adored his wife and was so distraught over her failing health that he wouldna listen. He honestly believed Deirdre was doing her utmost to find a cure. He even allowed her to try the barbaric act of bloodletting.” She closed her eyes and shuddered.
“And that is when you began to suspect that Deirdre’s intentions were not honorable?”
“Aye, but I couldna prove it. She always put her cures in a cup of mead, so it was impossible to detect if the drink was tainted. I began to follow her when she went to pick herbs and noticed she spent a lot of time in a patch of nightshade. While not knowledgeable about healing plants, I did know that Belladonna can be poisonous. It was used by the Greeks and Romans on deadly arrow tips, and was rumored to be used by men like King Macbeth to kill their enemies.”
“Did you confront her?”
Elise shook her head. “Nay. Not until it was too late. I was but a servant, and the laird had faith in her. Lady Katherine was too trusting as well. The night she died, I snuck into Deirdre’s chamber and found a large amount of nightshade on her bedside table. She caught me and that is when she told me to leave.”
“I need you to return with me and tell the magistrate what you found. Will you help Laurel prove her parents were murdered?” Blair asked.
“I canna go with you. Deirdre will make good on her threats. Besides, I wasna there when the laird died. No one would believe a servant over a lady.”
“They will listen if I accompany you. The laird took ill suddenly and died for no apparent reason. It happened a short time after he told Murray it was time he moved his family out of the castle. There is a good chance Deirdre took out her anger on Brandon in the same way she did his wife.” Blair replied. “I know you are worried about your kin, but your son is now a grown man and able to fend for himself.”
Elise dropped her chin. “I heard Peter was killed two summers ago on a hunting trip. He died thinking that I abandoned him.”
Blair stroked her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“But my mother is still alive and I canna risk her life.”
“What if I were to send a message to my brother, James, and ask him to go to your mam’s croft and guard her until we return? He and my brothers are there for the festival, and if necessary, they can escort your mother to Cameron Castle. There she will be welcomed and safe.”
“W-what if they fail?” Elise stammered. “You have no idea the lengths Deirdre might go.”
“You dinna know my brothers. Once they set their minds to something, there is no stopping them. They willna let anything happen to your mam.” Blair gave her a moment to collect her thoughts, before asking again. “Will you come with me, Elise? Together we will see that Deirdre canna hurt anyone ever again. It is time she paid for her evil deeds.”
Elise nodded. “I will accompany you, Lord Cameron. But first I must tell my husband I am leaving and why.”
“What if he willna let you go? He wasna pleased when the laird insisted he fetch you.”
“My husband is a good and decent man. Mayhap a wee bit over protective, but that is only because he cares about me. We have been married one summer. I was alone for a verra long time and am lucky to have found him.” Elise headed toward the door. “I will do my best to make him understand.”
“Can you ride?” Blair asked as she was about to exit the room.
He hoped so. Otherwise, he wo
uld have to borrow a cart, and that would prolong their journey. As it was, time was tight and even at a fast pace, they might not make it back in time to stop the wedding.
“Aye. I can sit a horse and ride as well as any man,” she replied proudly.
“Good. While you speak with your husband, I will ask the laird for the loan of a sturdy mount. I dinna mean to rush you, but we must leave as soon as possible.”
Elise nodded. “I understand. Once I speak to my husband and throw a few items of clothing into a sack, I will meet you in the bailey.” She turned, then hurried down the hall.
“How did you fare?” Alasdair asked Blair as he entered the Bailey.”
“She has agreed to return with me to Thistledown Castle.”
Alasdair frowned. “Permanently? Her home is here now.”
“That will be up to Elise. She left Clan MacClay not of her own choice, but because she suspected the current mistress poisoned Lady Katherine.”
The chieftain gasped. “Och! If the woman is guilty of murder, she must pay the price. Elise should have come forth at the time.”
“Deirdre used Elise’s mother and son as a means to get her to cooperate. She told Elise that if she ever spoke of it or returned, her kin would suffer.”
“I canna believe she has gotten away with this heinous crime for so long.”
“No one dared challenge her before now. Those who were brave enough, like Elise, were banished, their loved ones threatened. We have reason to believe she poisoned Laird MacClay as well.”
“I refuse to let you go, Elise. You’re my wife and your place is here. I demand you give up this foolish notion and dinna stir up trouble,” her husband said, then grabbed her wrist, halting her advance.
Elise tugged free of his grip. “I have remained silent far too long. The time has come for me to tell what I know, and I refuse to change my mind. Ordering me to stay, willna make it so.”
“Elise is right,” Alasdair said. “I know it is difficult, but you must let her go.”
“We are in need of a horse,” Blair said, hoping to speed things along. “Time is passing quickly and we must be away.”
“Take your pick of any animal in the stable. The squire will see it saddled and ready to leave,” the laird replied.
“I have another boon to ask,” Blair said.
“Name it.”
“Elise is concerned about the safety of her mother. I need to get a message to my brothers. I will tell them we are on our way, but in the interim, I want them to find her mother and protect her until we arrive. If necessary to stall the wedding.”
“I will send my speediest messenger. Pen the note and I will summon him immediately.” Alasdair then called for the castle steward.
The message sent, the horses saddled and supplies gathered, Blair and Elise were ready to depart. “This willna be an easy journey. We must make haste, only stopping long enough to rest and water the horses,” he informed the maid.
“I understand.” She kissed her husband, then mounted.
“Good luck and God’s speed,” Alasdair said, then offered his arm to Blair.
After exchanging a shake, he climbed into the saddle and waved goodbye. “I am truly grateful for your help, Elise. I just hope we are not too late.”
Chapter 15
A cool breeze caressed Laurel’s cheek. She snuggled beneath a length of plaid. She didn’t want to wake up, not yet. Lost in a euphoric fog, visions of Blair filled her mind. His strikingly handsome features, his tall, well-muscled body glistening in the glow of firelight as he summoned her to his side, his raven hair hanging loosely about his broad shoulders. His mischievous smile melted her heart.
But it was more than his appearance, the way he looked at her, or the fact he was an amazing kisser that captured her heart. She sensed from the moment they met, there was something special about Blair, and the immediate bond they felt for one another was undeniable. He put her at ease and he made he made her smile. She could imagine laying with him until the wee hours of the morning, talking about anything that came to mind. She believed he genuinely cared about what she had to say. He treated her with respect and made her feel wanted and adored. He had proved himself to be a man of his word, brave, and selfless, putting others before himself, and was willing to stand up for what he believed in. Blair was everything a woman could hope for in a husband.
But after eight summers passed with no word, she resigned herself to the probability she would never see him again, and managed to put him out of her mind. But now they’d been reunited, he was all she could think about. Oh, how she longed to be held in his arms again, to feel the sweet press of his lips . . .
“Lady Laurel? May I come in?”
Fighting the effects of the Belladonna, she struggled to open her eyes. When she finally managed to sit, her head felt as if it were stuffed with lamb’s wool. She licked her dry lips and swallowed several times, but didn’t answer. Mayhap if she remained silent, Mairi would leave and she could return to the solace of her dreams.
“Lady Laurel! Please answer me. The mistress bid me fit you for your wedding gown.”
She heard the urgency in the maid’s voice and knew she would have to answer to Deirdre if her assigned task were not completed. The last thing her evil cousin needed was another well-meaning servant to add to her list of victims.
“I come anon.” Laurel slid to the edge of the pallet, then dropped her legs over the side.
When she stood, she stumbled, but used the bedside table to steady herself. She groaned. While the herb Deirdre added to her drink was not enough to kill her, there was a sufficient amount to keep her quiet. Moments after her cousin dragged Isla away, the herbs took effect. She scarcely had time to reach her pallet before she collapsed.
“How long did I sleep?” She staggered to the door, inhaled deeply, then pressed her forehead against the polished wood. “Come in, Mairi.” She heard the lock click and stepped backward, making way for the maid to enter.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, m’lady, but the mistress insisted I do your fitting before the evening meal. She said it couldna wait.” Mairi carried the violet garment and a basket brimming with sewing supplies.
“The evening meal? I dinna realize it was so late. I—” Suddenly feeling faint, she grabbed the maid’s arm for support.
“Och, m’lady, your face is so pale. Are you ailing?” She dropped what she carried, then encircled Laurel’s waist. She escorted her to a chair near the hearth, then waited for her to sit.
“I’m fine. I was napping before you came and must have gotten up too quickly. I became dizzy is all, so please dinna fash.” She did her best to reassure Mairi, but could tell by the maid’s frown that she’d failed in her attempt.
“You should eat more. I know you are anxious about your upcoming nuptials, but you must take care of yourself. If it pleases you, I will run down to the kitchen and fetch you some food and drink.”
“Your concern touches me, but that willna be necessary. I just need a minute to collect myself.” She clasped Mairi’s hand. “Please stay.”
Mairi nodded, then went to retrieve the gown and sewing basket. “Maybe I should let you rest and return in a while. I can see to this later.”
“Nay. I dinna need to rest. We will do this now.” She saw no point in putting off the dreaded task and did not want to give Deirdre a reason to be upset.
She placed the basket on the table, then handed the garment to Laurel. “I know you said you were fine, but one thing bothers me and has for some time.”
“What might that be?” Laurel asked as she donned the gown.
“Why does the mistress insist your door be kept locked? One would think you are a prisoner and not the next lairdess of the clan.”
Taken aback by the question, Laurel hesitated before offerin
g an answer. Had Isla told Mairi more about their suspicions than she admitted?
“I dinna understand the reasons for many of the things Deirdre does. Mayhap she is afraid I will run away and leave her son standing alone before the priest.” She decided to make light of the inquiry.
For a moment, she considered telling her the truth, even contemplated asking the maid to help her escape, but did not want to involve another person in her troubles. She was very close to proving that her parents were murdered by her cousin, so felt it best to remain quiet a little longer.
“I canna say I would blame you. Lord Allan isna a handsome man or someone I see as a suitable husband for you. I canna say I envision him married to any woman,” Mairi said, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Forgive me, m’lady. I meant no—”
