A Wee Highland Predicament

by Ceci Giltenan

  “I so promise,” he said, placing his hand over his heart.

  She smiled again. “Thank ye. I think I want to know about yer family first. Ye know all about mine—my sisters, their husbands, my nieces and nephews. And ye know how both of my parents died.”

  “Aye, I do.” Although he had already heard the story of how her father had died. All of the Highlands knew that story.

  “So, tell me about yer brother William.”

  He shrugged. “What do ye want to know?”

  “When did he become laird?”

  “Well, my father died over eighteen years ago. William was four and ten and I was only seven.”

  “What happened? What killed him?”

  Lucas frowned. “I suppose folly killed him.”

  “What do ye mean?”

  “Since it was before ye were born, ye may not remember this. But around that time the black plague swept across Europe, eventually coming to England. But it seemed to stop there. At first, Scotland didn’t seem to be affected. Thinking about it now it was probably because we live so far apart, especially in the Highlands. It just didn’t spread as easily. But at the time, many Scots believed it was God’s vengeance on the English and that He protected us from it. Because of that, they decided the time was right to invade England.”

  “Scotland invaded England the year I was born?”

  “Well, nay, but a huge army amassed at Selkirk for that purpose. My da and his brother, Bede, took men and joined them. But before the first sword was lifted, the plague struck hard. They say five thousand men died, my da and many other Grants were among them. Uncle Bede fled with the remaining men, but to my uncle’s dismay, they brought the plague with them. When our mother became ill, our healer demanded that my brothers and I be sequestered. She wouldn’t let us see our mother, believing it was the only possible way to prevent us from taking ill and dying.”

  Ailsa took one of his hands in hers. “I’m so sorry.”

  “In the end, we lost nearly a tenth of the clan and we fared better than many clans. That was probably because our healer separated the sick from the well very early on. My mother and Uncle Bede’s pregnant young wife died. Sadly our healer succumbed and died as well. Uncle Bede was grief stricken and wracked with guilt because he had talked my da into joining the ill-fated invasion and then brought the plague back to our clan. He vowed never to marry again. Technically William became laird at fourteen but, as our guardian, Uncle Bede ruled the clan until William was old enough. He remained William’s most-trusted advisor until he passed away a few years ago.”

  “Oh, my. How tragic. That must have been hard on everyone.”

  Lucas barked a laugh. “Ye could say that. When ye’re seven and yer fourteen year old brother becomes yer laird, it takes the normal rivalry between brothers and escalates it ten-fold.”

  “I imagine so. Gillie became Lady MacLennan at nineteen, when I was twelve, but she wasn’t so bad. At the time, there were four elders who supposedly guided her, but mostly they just argued about who they should pick for Gillie to marry. The king solved that problem by making Fingal the laird and requiring them to marry.”

  Lucas remembered that. William and Uncle Bede considered invading and forcing Gillian to marry Robert. Even after she had married, they toyed with attacking anyway. They figured the MacLennans were vulnerable. But under Fingal’s rule, they didn’t stay vulnerable for long.

  Lucas decided not to share this detail with Ailsa. “So we have a bit in common there. Although, at nineteen, Gillian was probably a more mature leader than William was at fourteen.” He grinned at her. “And I expect she loved her sweet, wee sister.”

  She frowned at him. “Ye don’t think William loves ye?”

  He laughed mirthlessly. “I know he doesn’t.”

  “I think ye’re wrong,” said Ailsa. “He’s yer brother. Of course he loves ye.”

  He shrugged. “Fine, he might love me, simply because I’m his brother and he has to. But he doesn’t like me. He thinks I don’t respect him and that I’m hard-headed and defiant simply to anger him.”

  “Well, ye are hard-headed.”

  Lucas laughed. “Says the lass who was going to walk back to Edinburgh.”

  She chuckled at this, but said, “I could have done it.”

  “I know, if it weren’t for yer shoes”

  “Aye, my shoes,” she said, laughing. It was a sound he adored.

  “And maybe the six Galbraith warriors who would have been searching for ye?” he added.

  She heaved a mock sigh. “Aye, them too, I suppose.”

  He smiled. “So perhaps I am a little hard-headed, but honestly I never actually intend to defy him. It isn’t as if I wake up every morning and plot what I can do to raise his ire.”

  “It just happens sometimes, I know,” she said. “’Twas like that between my mother and me.”

  “Aye, I remember ye telling me about that.”

  “Do ye get on better with Robert?”

  He nodded, “I do. We’re closer in age. And we both have William as our laird and brother. It’s just that Robert doesn’t seem to raise his ire quite as often.”

  He enjoyed this—talking and laughing with her. He continued to answer her questions throughout the afternoon.

  By the time they had to go downstairs for the evening meal, they had reestablished the easy companionship they’d shared on their journey and she was much calmer and happier.

  He told himself that this could work. She wouldn’t be here much longer. He would just arrange things so he could stay with her each afternoon. It certainly was no chore to spend time with her. He told her he’d bring chess and backgammon tomorrow, to give them something else to do.

  As they were leaving the table after the evening meal, William called to him. “Lucas, after ye’ve returned Miss MacLennan to her chamber, come to my solar. There’s something I want to discuss with ye.”

  “Can it wait until tomorrow?” asked Lucas. He had wanted to spend a few more minutes with her.

  “Nay, it cannot,” answered William, his tone clipped.

  Lucas sighed. “I’ll be right down then.”

  When they reached her chamber, he said, “I’d hoped to stay with ye a bit longer, but the laird, requires my presence.”

  “That’s fine. I feel much better this evening.” She gave him a shy smile. “I’ll look forward to trouncing ye at backgammon tomorrow.”

  “Ah, ye never know, luck might be on my side.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. And then, as if compelled by an unknown force, he kissed her again on the lips. “Goodnight, Ailsa.”

  The befuddled expression on her face made him smile.

  “Goodnight, Lucas.” She backed into her room, a small smile playing at her lips too.

  The guard on duty growled, stepped in front of Lucas and closed the door, breaking the spell.

  “Ye’ve gone daft, Lucas. What are ye playing at?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing? Ye’ve spent the whole day with her.”

  “She’s a sweet lass, and I hate to see her so distressed.”

  The guard just shook his head and said no more.

  Lucas went downstairs to his brother’s solar. He couldn’t imagine what was so urgent that they had to talk about it tonight. He knocked on the door.

  “In!” William called.

  “Ye wanted to see me, Laird?”

  “Mind yer tone with me, Lucas.”

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand what could be so urgent.”

  “Don’t ye? Where have ye been all day?”

  “I spent the afternoon with Ailsa. She was sad and lonely.”

  “She’s a prisoner, Lucas. I warned ye about this.”

  “Oh, by all the saints, I’m not falling for her.” But the annoying voice inside him said, yes, ye are. “I just hate to see her so upset. Ye could make things a little easier for her, ye know.”

  “Well, do tell me how. I lay awake at n
ight wondering what I can do to make Ailsa MacLennan’s life a little easier.”

  “What is the matter with ye? She is a frightened young lass. Why can’t ye show her some compassion? Maybe have Nina or Emily visit her, or even Father Carroll. Do ye not think it’s in our best interest for her to tell her family she was well treated here?”

  “Of course it is, but she isn’t being held in deprivation.”

  “Nay, but she’s scared and lonely, not to mention bored beyond belief. If she could just be allowed out of that chamber during the day I’m sure she’d feel much better.”

  “Let her out?”

  “Aye. With a guard. Just within the castle walls.”

  “But ye aren’t happy with the way the guards treated her.”

  “Then I can guard her. It won’t be for long.”

  His brother’s brow furrowed. “Well, I suppose that’s better than having ye hidden away with her in her chamber. But just within the keep.”

  “How is the keep different from being inside the castle walls? She can’t escape.”

  “Don’t argue with me. She can be out of her chamber, but only inside the keep.”

  Lucas recognized the small victory and didn’t push further.

  ~ * ~

  Ailsa was overjoyed when Lucas came to her chamber the next morning and told her that he’d gained William’s permission for her to have some freedom during the day.

  “I’ll stay with ye, as yer guard.”

  She flung her arms around him. “Oh, Lucas, thank ye. Thank ye so much.”

  “I’m glad it makes ye happy. Mind ye, we can’t leave the keep, but it’s still better than being locked in here.”

  And it was.

  For a couple of days.

  They talked more. She loved that. And they played games. Ailsa was quite a good chess player. To her delight, so was he, which made for challenging matches. She had no desire to go outside anyway. Wind and rain lashed the keep most of the time.

  But then the weather turned unusually fine. The fresh air and the bright October day called to her.

  After he’d quickly won three chess matches in a row, he asked, “What has ye so distracted?”

  “It’s just such a beautiful day. I’d give anything to be outside in the sun.”

  “Aye. I love days like this too. It’s like being given one last wee taste of late summer. But I’m sorry, Ailsa, ye know I can’t take ye outside.”

  “I know ye can’t. But could I just go to the doors? I could just look outside and feel the fresh air on my face. Please, Lucas. Ye wouldn’t be breaking the rule. I’ll still be inside the keep.”

  He chuckled. “Aye, that’s true, ye would. I can’t see any problem with it. It should be fine.”

  And that’s how she came to be standing just inside the doors of the keep, soaking in the fresh air, when Laird Grant happened upon them.

  “By the Almighty, Lucas. Can ye not follow one simple rule?”

  “I am following it. She’s inside the keep. That was the rule, wasn’t it?”

  “Aye, but ye know this isn’t what I meant.”

  “William, how can letting her stand here, enjoying the fresh air cause any problem?”

  “Push me, Lucas, and I’ll have her locked away upstairs before ye know it.”

  Ailsa was terrified by this threat. “Nay, Laird Grant. Please, I’m begging ye. Please don’t lock me up again. I’m sorry, this is my fault. It’s just such a fine day and it might be the last one before cold weather sets in for good. Please don’t be angry.”

  Laird Grant turned to look at her. Although, while arguing with his brother, his gaze had been hard and cold, when he looked at her it softened. Much to her surprise his eyes were warm and filled with compassion.

  “If I allow ye to go outside the keep, will ye agree to stay within the castle walls and not push my limits again?”

  She nodded. “Aye, Laird. I’ll stay within the walls. It will be enough just to be outdoors.”

  Laird Grant looked back at Lucas and said sternly, “Within the walls.”

  “Aye, William. Of course. Thank ye.”

  Ailsa smiled broadly and stepped outside the door, into the sunshine. She twirled around and couldn’t help but give a little squeal of glee.

  When she looked at Lucas again, he was staring intently at her. No one had ever looked at her this way but it caused her stomach to flutter and she wasn’t quite sure what it meant. However, at that moment, she didn’t care. She was with Lucas, outside in the sunshine and the fact that she was a captive seemed rather unimportant right then.

  ~ * ~

  As his beautiful Ailsa spun around on the steps of the keep, reaching her arms to the sky, he simply drank her in. This was the joyful sprite he’d travelled north with. She was back and he adored her. It shouldn’t have surprised him that the first place she wanted to go was the stable.

  “Really, Ailsa? The stable?”

  Her face lit with a happy smile. “Of course. I haven’t seen Captain in days. And once when I was telling ye about Duff, ye mentioned that yer stable master had a pet that follows him as Duff follows me. I really miss Duff.” She frowned. “Ye were telling me the truth then, weren’t ye?”

  “Of course I was. I’m sure Silas will be happy to introduce ye to his Callie.”

  When they reached the stable, Lucas heard Silas whistling near the back. Walking that direction, they found him cleaning out some stalls. Callie sat nearby.

  “Silas, I’m sorry to disturb ye.”

  Silas stopped what he was doing and turned to face them. “Ah, Sir Lucas, how are ye on this fine day?”

  “I’m very well, thank ye. I suspect ye’ve heard about our MacLennan visitor. This is Ailsa MacLennan.”

  Silas frowned. “Ye’ve brought a MacLennan to my stable?”

  But if Ailsa heard him, she paid no attention. She only had eyes for Silas’s black and white herder, Callie. She was on her knees by the dog almost instantly, rubbing her ears. “Hello. Aren’t ye a beautiful lass? Are ye the Callie I’ve heard so much about?”

  “The MacLennans stole six of my finest mounts a few years back as ye well know.”

  Ailsa looked up, her brows knitted. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I remember that. I think some Grant men had attempted to steal some of our cattle and when they were caught, our laird sent them home on foot. It would break my heart to lose one of the animals I love. Maybe I can talk Fingal into giving them back.”

  Silas stared at her open mouthed. “But, my lady, aren’t ye being held for ransom?”

  “Aye, but he might listen to reason. I mean, I know they were stealing from us and all, but I hate knowing ye were attached to the beasts we kept.”

  Callie had laid down, presenting Ailsa with her tummy to rub and Ailsa obliged, cooing over her.

  “Ye’re fond of dogs are ye?” Silas asked, his temper dissipating rapidly.

  Ailsa looked up, her eyes shining. “Oh, I love dogs. I have a dog named Duff. Fingal, he’s Laird MacLennan, he gave me Duff.”

  And she was off again, telling Silas about how her mother wouldn’t let her have a dog, but after Fingal became laird, he gave both her and Gillian a dog.

  “Well, that was a good thing,” said Silas, looking as if it caused him pain to praise Laird MacLennan.

  “Aye. I miss him so much. Duff, that is, not Fingal. Well, I guess I miss Fingal too. But he doesn’t keep my feet warm at night.”

  “I suppose not,” said Silas, grinning.

  “Ye don’t mind if I spend a little time here with ye and Callie, do ye?”

  “Nay, lass, ye’re always welcome.”

  Chapter 10

  Fingal stared in disbelief at the message in his hand. This isn’t at all what he expected.

  “What is it, Uncle Fingal? Is it about Ailsa? Is she all right?” asked Tomas.

  “Aye, it’s about Ailsa.”

  “Who took her? What ransom do they want?”

  “Well, if I believe what this message
says, the Galbraiths were responsible for kidnapping her. Apparently they drugged her. It doesn’t say how they got her out of the castle, but it had to have been one of them in the merchant’s cart.”

  “So they’re holding her at Culcreuch Castle? Poor Ailsa.”

  “Nay, she’s not there. It seems that Lucas Grant happened upon them on the road and rescued her. Or that’s what Laird Grant wants me to believe. He took her to Castle Grant.”

  His squire looked appalled. “Dear God, I don’t know which is worse.”

  Fingal gave a mirthless laugh. “Neither do I. Laird Grant assures me that she is safe and well cared for. But they’re Grants. That could mean she’s chained in their dungeon but given food and water regularly.”

  Tomas looked pensive and counted on his fingers. “She was taken thirteen days ago. It would only take four days to get to Castle Grant from here and four days for a messenger to get back. Why did they wait?”

  Fingal shook his head. “It might have taken longer than that for Lucas to get her to Castle Grant. We don’t know how long he had to follow the Galbraiths until he could rescue her. And carrying two people would put more strain on his horse. He might have gone slower because of that.”

  “But surely it wouldn’t have taken him twice as long.”

  “Nay, ye’re right. Laird Grant must have waited before sending this.”

  Fingal didn’t want to think about that. If Ailsa were injured or ill and her life was in danger, the Grants would have wanted to be sure she’d live before admitting they held her. They’d stand to gain nothing if she died. And if that happened, it’s likely no one would ever have suspected them. He himself had seen Grant guardsmen in the stables, preparing to leave the day after the Michaelmas celebration—after Ailsa was already gone. “I don’t know, Tomas. He might have waited just because he knew it would prolong our misery. That’s the kind of thing I might expect from him.”

  “What ransom are they asking?”

  Fingal shook his head. “They haven’t asked for anything yet. He wants to meet with me, to discuss the situation.”

  Tomas cocked his head in confusion. “Meet with ye? That seems risky.”

  “Aye, it is. Very risky. And it makes me think they might not have her anyway. The Grants who were here left after it was known that she was missing. Add that to the fact that Laird Grant waited so long to send this message, I have to wonder if they seized upon the situation and concocted the whole story.”