Laird of the Mist

by Foery MacDonell

  ―I ken it,‖ Olivia answered,smiling proudly at her sister. ―I thought it was time I learnt.‖ Then to Ian, ―How did I do?‖

  Ian swallowed a bite and looked up at her. ―Oh,aye, they‘re wonderful, Olivia,‖ he complimented her. ―A fine job, lass.‖

  ―I‘m verra proud of ye, sprite,‖ Hamish put in. ―Ye‘ll make a fine cook, ye keep practicing this way.‖

  Olivia smiled and sat down on the footstool in front of Ian. ―Thank ye—all of ye. But mostly Molly. She taught me. Now,‖ she continued. With the crisis past, she was quickly becoming her old, outspoken self. ―Do ye think we can get Morag to cast a banishing spell on Fiona?‖

  Molly sputteredher tea at the remark and dabbed her chin with a napkin. ―Olivia!‖ she reproved. ―Whatever in the world…?‖

  ―Well, Moragis a witch,‖ Olivia went on thoughtlessly. ―Maybe she could rid us of Fiona…‖

  ―Olivia!‖ Mollyreprimanded. ―Ye mustna speakthat wayabout Morag. ‗Tis a dangerous thingto call a person!‖ Molly looked about to choke.

  ―Molly‘s right,‖ Cat added with a look that said remember where you are. ―Morag is simply a midwife—a wise woman, Olivia. I‘m certain she doesna cast spells and is no witch.‖

  Chastised, Olivia realized her error and backtracked. ―Aye, Cat. Ye‘re right. I dinna ken what I was thinking.‖

  ―It‘s fine, Olivia.‖ Carrick took a sip of his whisky and looked over to Ian. ―Did ye get word to Taigh MacHendrieof Fiona‘s arrival?‖

  ―Aye, Carrick,‖ his brother replied. ―Geordie said he would be going there any road, so he agreed to take word. Mind ye, he wasna best pleasedto hear she was come back.‖

  ―I imagine few in the glen will be,‖ Carrick answered, a chill creeping over him. ―Best brace ourselves for a verra long six months.‖

  Chapter Fourteen

  ―Wherehave ye been all morn?‖ Ian seated himself next to Olivia on the garden bench. ―I‘ve been looking for ye everywhere. I shouldha realized ye‘d be in yer favorite spot.‘

  Olivia looked up at him, shading her eyes from the brilliant sun. ―Aye, Ian.‖ She smiled back at him with affection.―I‘m taking a wee rest from the baking. I‘ve been helping Molly since dawn.‖ She gave a small yawn and stretched her arms over her head. ―And what are ye up to?‖

  ―I was helping Carrick with tables for the ceidhlitonight,‖ Ian said proudly. ―I did it without the crutches!‖

  ―Oh, Ian!‖ She threw her arms around his neck with joyful abandon. ―I‘m so proud of ye!‖ Then she drew back, her face creased with concern. ―Are ye all right? Are ye sure ye should be doing such vigorous work so soon? Are ye in pain?‖

  ―Nay, Olivia.‖ He laughed. ―I‘m fine, I assure ye. Dinna fash. I willna risk a setback, I promise. Besides...‖ He cast her animpish smile. ―I am saving myself to dance with the most beautiful lass in the glen tonight.‖

  ―Ah, Ian. Ye flatter me so.‖ She cast her eyes to the ground as she blushed. Her heart beat wildly when Ian was near. It always had. She always had men‘s attention, but somehow Ian‘s was different. Courtly, respectful, and a true gentleman. She felt safe though oddly nervous with him.

  Ian, a bit anxious himself, gently took her hand in his and stroked the back of it, as if touching a fragile piece of porcelain. They sat in silence for a few moments, neither of them knowing what to say next. Finally, Ian worked up his nerve and began softly.

  ―Olivia,‖ he said, looking into her violet eyes. ―Iken this maybe a delicate question. Ye dinna have to answer if ye dinna like, aye?‖

  ―It‘s okay, Ian,‖ she answered, her hand pressing his. ―Go on.‖

  ―Okay means ‗tis good, aye?‖

  Olivia gave a little giggle. ―Aye, Ian. It means it‘s good.‖

  Sitting up a bit straighter and giving her hands a light squeeze, he continued.

  ―Well. then. Um. Do ye truly believe ye are Olivia MacHendrie reincarnated?‖ He studied her face carefully as he waited for the answer. Various emotions crossed her expression. Thoughtfulness, puzzlement, a bit of confusion, then finally confidence.

  ―Aye,‖ she said at last with a selfassured tenor. ―Aye, I do. I believe it. I wasna sure at first, if I was imagining what I saw, but as time goes by, I remember more and more. Bits and pieces. And things begin to make more sense, do ye ken?‖

  Ian nodded and took her other hand into his free one so that he now held both. He drew them to his chest and hugged them. ―I understand,‖ he said.

  ―Do ye believe me?‖ she asked.

  ―I do,‖ he answered. He raised her hand to kiss the back of it. ―I believe it all. It was rather incredible at the first, but I do the now. Although, I confess that I do feel pain at the thought of Fiona as yer mother. Ye poor,wee lass.‖

  Tears began to pool in Olivia‘s eyes. ―Aye.‖ Her voice broke a bit. ―‘Tis unfortunate, that. Well…‖ She cleared her throat and held her head higher. ―What can ye do? It is what it is, after all. We make the best of it, I suppose. And look at the wonderful family we have, Ian. With all of ye to love me, what is Fiona to that?‖

  ―‘Tis true,ye ken,‖ Ian leaned closer and looked deeply into those violet eyes. The bonny eyes that were so like the lavender that grew on the braes. He was lost when he looked into them and his head skirled—like the pipes played on an Easter morn at sunrise. Surely she was part fey to enchant him so.

  ‖Ye are loved beyond all else,‖ Ian continued. ―Ye are wanted and treasured, especially by me.‖ He could feel her pulse begin to race under his fingers. ―Ye are my own treasure brought by the Faery Queen herself. And I must always cherish such a gift, aye?‖

  Olivia had never been spoken to by a man this way and was unsure how to react. ―Aye, I suppose…‖ she managed, her entire body beginning to feel limp and moist. Her own feelings for Ian were rapidly rising within her, engulfing her.

  ―I cherish ye, my fey lass,‖ Ian whispered as he leaned even closer. ―I love ye, Olivia. With all of my heart,‖ he said and lightly kissed her trembling lips—a kiss as tender as the wings of a moth.

  Taken by surprise, Olivia timidly returned the kiss. Ian deepened it further, tasting the outline of her lips with his velvet tongue. He slowly enfolded her into his strong arms as she melted into the embrace, eager to drown in the pool of love he offered.

  Her mouth responded to the caress of his and she found herself wanting more. She sampled the slight saltiness of his mouth as his tongue entwined hers in a tentatively sweet dance.

  Ian stroked her long blonde hair with a free hand and broke the kiss slowly. ―Yer hair is as I imagined it would be,‖ he said, catching his breath and putting his forehead to hers. ―‘Tis like the silky moss of yon glade, or the lace of a fine spider‘s web. I am well and truly caught within yer web, Olivia.‖

  Olivia slid her fingers under Ian‘s chin, and lifted his freckled face to meet her gaze. His amber eyes were misted, and he glowed in the morning‘s golden light.

  ―Ian,‖ she began. ―Ye are in my heart as well,‖ she assured him. ―But we mustna…‖

  ―Mustna?‖ he protested. ―Do ye no love me in return?‖

  ―Aye, I do. I love ye, Ian,‖ she answered. She had long ago realized her heart belonged to Ian, but had not put words to it until that moment. A nagging in her mind, however, caused her to pull her arms away and rest her hands in her lap.

  ―I love ye more than anything. Yeare the world to me,‖ she said, touching his cheek with her finger as she spoke. ―But Cat and Carrick wouldna approve,‖ she said sadly. ―And what of yer mum and my grandda? Have ye no thought ofit?‖

  Ian took her hand from his cheek, turned it up, and kissed the palm. ―Of course Ihave,‖hereplied, and heldher hand in both of his. ―I have already spoken with my mum and yer grandda, both.‖

  Olivia sat back, stunned at the news. ―Ye have?‖ she gasped. ―What did they say?‖

  ―My mum was over the moon.‖ Ian smiled broadly. ―She loves ye as her verra own. An
d yer grandda, well, he gave us his blessing as long as it was what ye wished. He said, ‗If my elf loves ye, ye may have my consent, Ian.‘‖ Ian glowed with pride as he waited for her response.

  ―And Cat…?‖ Olivia could not believe he had done all of this without a word to her. She was not offended in the least, she was overwhelmed. Never had she thought anyone would care enough for her to secure her grandda‘s permission.

  ―Cat will approve,‖ Ian interrupted. ―Ye will see. So then, Olivia…‖ Ian began as he lowered himself to his knees on the ground before her.

  ―Do ye mean…?‖

  ―Aye, Olivia,‖ he said, bringing her hand to his lips once again. ―Will ye marry me, be my wife, the mother of my bairns, my best friend? I will cherishand protect ye forever, I swear it. Only say aye?‖

  ―Ian, I…‖ Olivia sputtered. ―I had no idea of yer feelings until this moment. I…‖

  ―Do ye love me,lass?‖ Ian stopped her. ―If ye do, say aye quickly and end my misery.‖

  Olivia threw her arms around him with a great sob, tears streaming. ―Oh, aye, Ian!‖ she cried. ―Aye, Ian. Forever.‖

  Ian held her tight; as if afraid he would lose her. ―Why are ye weeping, mo brèagha?‖

  ―Joy,‖ Olivia answered, sitting back on the ground to look at him and wipe her eyes. ―Joy that I never thought would be mine. And here ye are.‖ She sniffled.

  ―And here I am, and here ye are. My faery princess come to save me that night,‖ he said. It had been several months since he had awakened in horrific pain to find her by his side—his personal angel.

  Taking something from his waistcoat, he said, ―This was my grandmother‘s. My mum gave it to me this morning.‖ Ian took her hand and slipped a simple silver ring engraved with knots on her finger.

  ―I wish this were rubies, or emeralds, for that is what ye deserve. Accept this humble token of my love for ye,and a promise to be with ye always, aye?‖

  Olivia stared at the elegant ring encircling her finger, and her eyes moistened once more. ―Aye, Ian,‖ she whispered. ―I am honored. I will be yer wife and give ye bairns. I will be at yer side the now and always.‖

  ―We will announce the betrothal tonight, aye?‖ Ian watched her admire the ring, unbridled happiness bursting within him.

  ―Aye, Ian,‖ she leaned over and kissed him quickly. ―We shall announce it tonight. Oh, Ian, I am so verrahappy,‖ she said, kissing him more thoroughly.

  Boy, is Cat going to be surprised. And not a little pissed off.

  She smiled to herself as they held each other in the passion of their newly acknowledged love.

  Cat stood before the armoire mirror adjusting her green velvet bodice and its laces. She always had difficulty getting them to lace up the front equally and stay in place.

  ―Lace it from the bottom, and from the outside,‖ Olivia said from behind her. ―It lies better that way and laces more evenly.‖

  ―Oh,‖ Cat said, unlacing them to start again. ―I guess ye would ken it, what with wearing an Aboyne for dance and all.‖

  Cat referred to the Aboyne costume Olivia wore as a Highland dancer. A velvet vest with a petaled hem and laces up the front. ―This is so similar to the Aboyne, but that won‘t come as a dance costume until the 1950‘s,‖ shecommented. ―Amazing how accurate theywere when theydesigned it, aye? Especiallysince Aboyne is so far from here. I guessthey wore it all over Scotland, not just in Aboyne.‖

  ―Aye, it seems ye‘re right about that,‖ Olivia agreed, reaching out to help Cat lace it up. The small silver ring on her third finger gleamed, but she wasn‘t about to bring it up. Not yet.

  ―Iwrestled with gettingit right for alongtime. Don‘t feel bad. It‘s a bit tricky. Are ye looking forward to the party tonight?‖

  Cat stood still while Olivia did her up. ―It should be a nice break for everyone after all the troubles. They could use a bit of fun, I think.‖

  ―Iken Icould use some fun.‖Oliviafinished thelacing. ―There ye are,‖she said and plopped down on the bed, carefully hiding her ring hand within the other.She could have taken the ring off, but she couldn‘t bear to have it off her finger for an instant. ―Generous of ye and Carrick to do it for everyone.‖

  ―They did help with putting the new roof on the barn, after all.‖ Cat smiled.―I‘ve never seen anything like it. Neighbors and crofters working together to do the job. A real community and camaraderie, ye ken? Unlike our time where everyone keeps to themselves and does only for themselves.‖

  ―True,‖ she agreed. ―Will there be dancing, d‘ye think?‖ Olivia‘s eyes gleamed.

  ―Olivia…‖ Cat began to warn her sister. The look in her eyes spelled trouble.―No Highland dancing, ye hear? Promise me ye won‘t sneak it in. Ye‘ll scandalize the whole of theglen.‖

  ―I won‘t,‖ Olivia promised halfheartedly. ―But Jenny Douglas…‖

  ―Never ye mind Jenny Douglas. She won‘t be around for another hundred-fiftyyears at least,‖ Cat reproved. ―There‘s no need for ye to change the history of Highland dancing so ye can be the first woman to do it and break the male barrier, ye understand? No surprises tonight, aye?‖

  ―Aye, Cat,‖ Olivia still had that mischievous sparkle. Cat would certainly be surprised, but with the betrothal. Although the idea of Highland dancing did appeal…

  ―Iunderstand,‖ she lied. ―So, do ye think Fiona will dare to come?‖ She shifted the subject away from herself.―She wasna invited.‖

  ―Fiona would dare to do anything, even if we havena seen her in several weeks,‖ Cat sat to put on her hose and slippers. ―We should plan to see her just in case.‖

  ―Ye‘re right,‖ Olivia agreed. She rose from the bed and swiftly reachedthe bedroom door. ―I‘ll see ye later, then?‖

  ―Aye. Later then.‖ Cat nodded, slipping the second hose over her calf and up onto her thigh. ―Mind yerself.‖

  ―Oh,aye,‖ Olivia chirped. ―That I‘ll do.‖

  Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Cat thought, then cast it aside to finish dressing.

  The ceidhli began at dusk, the crofters and neighbors arriving as they could by horseback or their own two legs. Each brought a bit of something to contribute—a jug of whisky, a dish from an old family receipt, a slab of bacon from their smokehouse.

  The tables had been set between the house and the newly roofed barn, and were draped in linens and bed sheets, surrounded by every available chair from the house and outbuildings. Carrick and Dougal had earlier laid long wooden panels on the ground, forming a perfunctory dance floor with an area for whichever musicians in the glen would care to play. Cat and Mary set torches around the perimeter and up the walk to light the way.

  No longer able to wear their colorful tartans, the folk still managed to appear in brightly colored garb of every variety, although the men were heard to grumble about the triubhas they now were forced to wear instead of kilts.

  Ever frugal, some of the women had chosen to dye their tartans a dark color, so they could still be worn as shawls and wraps. Not a single soul was pleased with it, but no one wished to beg the English‘s attention.

  In an area near the barn, a side of venison roasted on a spit and on another, a side of Carrick‘s best Highland beef. The tables bowed heavily with smoked meats and fish, apples and pasties.

  Near the makeshift dance floor, a fiddler struck up a strathspey. A few couples began a country dance, flowing in and out and behind each other in lilting steps and figures.

  Everywhere geniality and good humor prevailed. Tankards and tumblers of ale and whisky flowed freely from Beinn Fhithich‘s own alehouse and distillery.

  ―Have ye seen Olivia?‖ Cat asked Ian, grabbing his arm and pulling him to her as he walked by. ―I‘ve no seen her at all tonight.‖

  Ian‘s grin struck Cat as mischievous. ―Oh,aye, Cat,‖ he replied, pulling his arm away. ―She‘ll be out in a bit. She had to tend to something.‖

  Cat folded her arms and stared hard at Ian. ―Tend to something?‖ Sh
e frowned. ―What might that be, Ian? She isnaup to one of her surprises, is she now?‖

  ―Sorry, Cat,‖ Ian said over his shoulder as he turned to make a hastyretreat. ―Idinna ken, honest.‖ He gave a shrug and hurried into the crowd,so that Cat couldn‘t question him further.

  Exasperated, Cat stood with arms crossed, staring after him.

  ―What is it, mo cridhe?‖ Carrick asked as he placed his arms around her from behind. ―Yer wee sister giving ye fits again?‖

  ―Aye.‖ Cat nodded and wrapped her hand around one of his arms. ―She‘s up to something. I can feel it. And it‘s never a good thing when she is.‖

  ―Dinna worry about her, Cat.‖ Carrick turned her to face him. ―Olivia will do what she will. Ye canna be watching her like a child. Come,‖ he pulled her by the hand to the dance floor. ―Let‘s have a dance and ye can forget yer cares, aye?‖

  ―I suppose.‖ Cat smiled up at him. He always did know how to wipe away her worries.

  They joined the other couples in a romantic waltz and after a turn about the floor, Cat began to feel the stress ease away. By the time the dance was over, Cat was laughing with Carrick and ready to sit and enjoy some food. Carrick led her to a table and seated her with Molly and Hamish, then went to bring her a plate.

  As they sat eating venison, beef, and samples of neighbors‘ dishes, they talked and enjoyed the balmy weather and a starry sky.

  The fiddler began to play again, accompanied by a bodhran. After the first few notes, Hamish and Cat‘s eyes met in alarm.

  ―The Sean Triubhas?‖ Cat whispered to Hamish.

  ―I‘m afraid so,‖ Hamish answered, apprehension thick in his voice. He began to rise from the table along with Cat, but it was too late.

  Olivia stood in the center of the dance floor wearing a great kilt wrapped around her waist, belted, and the plaid draped and pinned over her right shoulder. A dark blue velvet bodice completed the thrown-together Highland costume.

  With a defiant confidence, she danced the steps of the Sean Triubhas, a dance that meant ―Old Trousers,‖ and told the story of the prohibition of the kilt and the subsequent wearing of trewes, or trousers. And when the dance became freer and faster, the story of the Highlanders‘ right to wear the kilt again after the Act of Proscription was repealed.