by Adele Clee
Lachlan tethered his horse and strode into Hendry’s house.
There were two people seated at a table, their faces unfamiliar. When Hendry glanced up from behind the oak counter, his eyes grew wide; his bottom lip quivered.
“I dinnae want any trouble, Lachlan,” he whispered. “I’ve already given ye an apology for what I said earlier.”
“I’ve come for a drink, Hendry, nothing more.” It was only a small lie.
Hendry raised his chin, filled a tankard from a barrel behind him and slid it across the
counter. “There’s no charge,” he said wiping his hands on the skirt of his apron.
“Nonsense.” Lachlan pushed the coin across the counter. “You’ve a living to make. You’ll not feed your children on charity.”
Hendry pocketed the coin without protest. He was silent for a moment, but eventually said, “There’s talk you plan on returning to Edinburgh.”
Lachlan studied the man over the rim of his tankard. “That had been my intention.” He placed the vessel on the wooden bar. “But Isla has just received news that her husband is dead, and so my plans have changed.”
He had no problem divulging the information. It would soon be common knowledge, and Hendry would appreciate a fresh piece of gossip.
“Yer father will be pleased about that.”
“He’s overjoyed. Besides, it means I can oversee the repairs to Carrick House, make sure he’ll be warm and dry come winter.” Lachlan took another sip of his ale. “Talking of the repairs, I’m told there's a man called Stanthorpe who replaced the eaves on the stable block. Do you know where I might find him?”
If the entry in the ledger proved fraudulent, then there was every possibility Boyd had used a false name.
“Stanthorpe?” Hendry shook his head. “Most men in the village do their own repairs, but John Dunn is the man to speak to for yer more skilled jobs.”
Lachlan knew Dunn. He was of his father’s generation and well respected in these parts.
“The only fellow I know by the name Stanthorpe lives out near Comrie.” Hendry shuffled closer to the oak counter and bent his head. “I hear he’s fond of whisky. Makes his own in some secret location.”
Boyd boasted that his whisky was distilled locally. But surely the steward wouldn’t pay six pounds for the pleasure.
“I’ll speak to John Dunn,” Lachlan said taking another gulp of ale. “See if he can get a few men together to make a start on the repairs.”
Hendry nodded. “Aye. But you might want to go to Crieff to hire men if yer planning to get any work done before winter.”
“Boyd rode to Crieff this morning. Perhaps he’ll have news when he returns.”
Hendry frowned. “Boyd? Yer must be mistaken. I saw him in the village not long ago.”
Lachlan straightened. “When was this?”
“On my return from Castle Craig. I told him about Miss Maclean’s illness. I told him that whoever had been telling him the tales about her thirst for blood must have been in their cups.”
So Boyd had been spreading the stories about the legendary sith. Lachlan shivered as a sudden feeling of foreboding ran through him. “Do you know where he is now?”
“He wasn’t in a mind to talk. He cursed and mumbled to himself and headed off on the road towards Castle Craig.”
Chapter 15
Isla pressed her nose to the window in her bedchamber and stared out across the lush green fields. During the last hour, her vision had grown gradually clearer. Now, other than a slight haze and the need to blink a little more often, her sight was fully restored.
Everything appeared much brighter than she remembered. The sun’s rays created a vibrant yellow hue where it streaked across the grass. It made a change from staring out at a sombre night sky. Today, the brilliant blue dazzled her. Of course, having spent years hiding in the shadows, even a slight hint of colour would radiate exuberance.
Never in her wildest imagination could she have predicted an end to her blood affliction. A laugh burst from her lips: a childish giggle she could not repress. She clapped her hands together rapidly as a way of controlling the excitement rushing through her veins.
“I understand how you feel,” Ivana said from the opposite side of the room. “It’s almost impossible not to jump about, sing, dance and behave in a ridiculous way.”
Isla turned to face the woman who had travelled hundreds of miles to free her from her nightmares. A profound feeling of affection filled her chest. She rushed over to Ivana and pulled the lady into an embrace.
“I cannot thank you enough,” Isla said, the sudden emotion almost choking her. “You have given me back my life, and I will be eternally grateful.”
They stepped apart. Ivana clutched Isla’s upper arms and rubbed them affectionately. “I feel as though we share a connection that goes beyond our experiences with Nikolai.” Ivana shrugged. “I cannot explain why, but I knew I had to come here.”
Isla smiled. “Well, I thank the Lord you did.” She glanced back over her shoulder at the inviting scene beyond her window. “I have spent far too much time indoors. Lachlan won’t be back for a few hours, but I cannot wait to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. Now I can see where to place my feet I shall go for a walk. ”
“I remember those first hesitant steps in the sun. Such a magical moment should not be experienced alone.” Ivana gestured to the window. “I’ll walk with you. Leo has gone to lie down. He’s still recovering from his excessive consumption of whisky, and Douglas is no better.”
“We don’t have to go far.” Isla’s eagerness for company was evident in her tone. “It’s a glorious day for the time of year, probably the last we’ll see before spring.”
Ivana’s eyes widened. “We could examine the old stones around the ancient burial site. See if we can find one with a symbol that looks like our branding mark. Until coming here, I hated seeing it seared into my skin. But after learning that the same image is engraved on the bracelet in the burial chamber, I feel as though it is an emblem of kinship.”
“Perhaps we are distantly related,” Isla said, getting a little carried away with the romantic notion of it all. “Perhaps we are the ancestors of the lady in the tomb.”
They both chuckled. If felt good to laugh after years of misery.
Ivana stepped closer, threaded her arm through Isla’s. “Then let us go and search for the evidence.”
There were a few stones littered around the perimeter of the burial mound. They were all tall and thin, one side covered with an array of images and markings, the reverse almost always bearing the symbol of a cross.
When it came to analysing the pictures carved into the stone, Isla tried to express some level of enthusiasm. But being outdoors whilst the sun was still high proved to be far more diverting. She could not help but stare at the sky in wonder.
“There are numerous symbols, some which are similar,” Ivana said with an air of frustration, “but nothing that resembles our branding mark.”
“Perhaps we should look at the stones surrounding the entrance to the tomb,” Isla said in an attempt to show some interest. She glanced at the detailed scene: men with spears on horseback, a large bull-like creature with horns. “These carvings may be depictions of lore, heroic stories to be passed down through the generations. I imagine those around the burial mound would represent memorials, symbols of clans, lineage or tribal connections.”
Ivana agreed and followed Isla to the tomb. During their recent investigation, it had been too dark to notice the engravings. Weathering had worn away some of the images. Isla ran her hand over the cold, grey surface, her eyes widening as she stopped to trace a shallow indentation with the tip of her finger.
“Here.” She glanced at Ivana, who was busy examining another stone to her left. “The edges have worn away over time, but I’m certain this is the same as the mark we bear.”
She stepped aside so Ivana could inspect the symbol.
“You’re right. It is identi
cal in every way.” Ivana cast a sidelong glance, excitement evident on her face. “We are related to the people buried here. Perhaps not by blood, but certainly by circumstance.”
Isla’s thoughts drifted to the small skeleton in the stone coffin: a woman killed because of her blood affliction. “Do you think Talliano’s need to find a cure stems from a promise made to his ancestors?”
Ivana shrugged. “There is nothing to say that Talliano was not hundreds of years old and knew the lady personally. She must have been important to him. He found her grave and brought her here instead. Perhaps they were persecuted for their affliction, and he managed to escape.” She sighed. “As we’ve already said, we will never know. But it is still incredibly fascinating.”
Isla glanced at the stone covering the entrance to the burial chamber. “The gentlemen did not do a very good job of resealing the tomb. With a little effort, we could squeeze through the gap.”
Ivana shook her head. “It will be far too dark down there, and we do not have a lantern.”
Isla suppressed her disappointment. For some reason, she felt drawn to the lady with the bracelet. Perhaps it derived from knowing they had walked a similar path. “We could stroll to the hunting cabin and take a lantern and tinderbox from there,” Isla said. She knew Ivana would be leaving soon and wanted to make every effort to repay the lady’s kindness.
“Is it far?”
Isla shook her head. “No, just a few minutes’ walk across the field.”
Ivana smiled. “I would like to take one last look inside the chamber.”
They strode through the meadow towards the cabin. Ivana waited while Isla searched inside and returned with the necessary items.
“I decided to light the candle here,” Isla said holding up the rusty lantern, “but I’ve brought the tinderbox, too, just in case.”
They trudged back to the burial site. Ivana spoke of her vivid dreams about the Highlands and the reason she chose to make the arduous journey.
When they reached the entrance to the tomb, Ivana asked, “Had you been at the hunting cabin with Lachlan before you found us inside the burial mound?”
Isla felt the blush rise to her cheeks. “Yes. I … I thought it might be last time I would see him.” Good Lord, she sounded like a naughty child explaining a misdemeanour to her parents.
“I understand,” Ivana said offering a knowing smirk. “You love him. Why wouldn’t you want to lie in his arms when Nikolai’s interference has robbed you of the opportunity for so many years. Now you’ve taken the cure you need never worry. Now, you can live your dreams.”
The mere thought of the time she’d spent alone with Lachlan caused her heart to beat wildly. “I cannot prove Nikolai’s bigamy, but I pray your testimony will be enough to convince the appropriate authorities that my husband is dead.”
Ivana placed her hand on Isla’s arm. “My husband is a marquess. Both an earl and a viscount witnessed Nikolai’s death, too. There will be no issue when it comes to acknowledging your status as a widow. I can guarantee that.”
Isla breathed a sigh of relief. To know there was still a chance for her to be Lachlan’s wife was all she needed to hear.
With a renewed sense of optimism, Isla gave Ivana the lantern. “I’ll squeeze through the gap first.” She shuffled past the large boulder, took the lamp from Ivana so she could do the same. “I’ll ensure Lachlan comes back later to seal the entrance properly.”
Once down inside the square chamber they spent a few moments examining their surroundings.
Ivana put her hands on her hips. “No doubt at one time there would have been various artefacts in here. Items of jewellery, furs, basic objects they believed necessary to succeed in the afterlife.”
“The fact that they are no longer here means someone deemed them necessities to succeed in this life, too.”
Ivana turned to face her. “Those desperate for money often resort to immoral means when all other options have been exhausted.”
“What, like extortion and theft?”
“Yes.” Ivana’s eyes widened. “And murder.”
“Murder?” Isla shivered. A sudden wave of foreboding rippled through her. For a moment, she thought she had imagined the sound of footsteps on the dusty floor behind them. She turned, held the lantern aloft and scoured the shadows. “Who’s there?” All this talk of theft and murder had made her delusional. She turned to Ivana. “Forgive me. I did not mean to cause alarm. It’s just so dark down here that I cannot help but feel a little anxious.”
“No. I heard someone, too,” Ivana whispered, stepping closer until the sleeves of their dresses touched. “We should not have come down here on our own. Perhaps we should leave.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let that happen.” The deep masculine voice resonated through the chamber.
What first appeared as a black shadow suddenly took on the form of a man. With her thoughts a little wild and chaotic, Isla presumed she had seen a ghost. But as he stepped into the chamber, she realised she knew him.
“Boyd.” Isla put her hand to her chest, her shoulders sagging with relief. She hadn’t seen the man for three years but with his long black beard, he was instantly recognisable. “Good Lord, did you have to scare us so. My heart was about ready to burst.”
“I see Hendry was mistaken when he said you had lost your sight.”
“The problems with my vision are only temporary.” She narrowed her gaze. “What are you doing down here? Did Lachlan send you to find us?”
Ivana’s fingers curled around Isla’s forearm. “You know this man?” The odd hitch in Ivana’s voice troubled her as the lady usually held her calm demeanour even during intense situations.
“Of course. Boyd is the steward at Carrick Hall.” Isla turned her attention to the tall, scrawny man in front of them. “When we leave you can help us move the boulder back to block the entrance. It will save me troubling Lachlan.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be leaving here, Miss Maclean. As your friend said, when men are desperate they often resort to immoral means to achieve their goals.”
Isla shook her head, hoping she had misheard. “I don’t understand.”
“He intends to leave us down here,” Ivana replied, her tone brimming with reproof.
Isla gasped. Her frantic gaze locked with his. “But why?”
Boyd fiddled with his cravat, untied the bow and began unravelling the excessively long strip of material wrapped around his neck. “I’ll tell the villagers I saw you heading out on the road to Crieff with your companion,” he said ignoring her question. “Everyone likes to gossip. They will tell Lachlan they saw you, make up a reason for your unexpected visit. Lachlan will go looking for you. He’ll not rest until he knows you’re safe and well. In his desperation, he’ll not think to look down here. By the time he does it will be too late.”
Isla struggled to comprehend what she was hearing. For the first time in the three years, she wished she still suffered from the blood affliction. She would love nothing more than to bare her fangs and watch the blackguard plead for his life.
“That still doesn’t explain what this has to do with me?” she said, drawing on the courage that had kept her sane these last few years.
“I suspect it will have something to do with money,” Ivana said calmly. After battling with Nikolai, Boyd must seem rather tame in comparison. “Or the sort of deep-rooted jealousy that makes a man act like a depraved lunatic.”
Boyd sneered. Reaching into a small leather scabbard at his side, he withdrew a dagger. “I’d say your friend is a good judge of character.” Boyd used the blade to split the cravat into two similar sized pieces. “Put the lantern on the floor beside you.” Demonstrating the dagger’s menacing slash as a means to intimidate, Boyd threw a piece of material to Ivana. “Tie Miss Maclean’s hands behind her back.”
Ivana straightened. “And if I refuse?”
“You won’t,” he replied confidently. “I’m rather skilled with a blade.”
&
nbsp; “It is not the first time a man has threatened me in such a manner,” Ivana said with some arrogance. “I am sure it will not be the last.”
As Boyd waved the dagger back and forth, the sharp edge glistened in the subdued lighting. It suddenly occurred to Isla that Boyd was the one responsible for slaughtering the cattle. “You were the one who turned the villagers against me. You made me out to be a monster when you were the one terrorising the livestock each night.”
Boyd shrugged. “I had to find a way to distract Lachlan. You have always been his weakness. Either the need to prove your innocence would consume him, or he would run back to Edinburgh and drink himself to death. Both scenarios suited my plans. The fact you refuse to go out during the day made my task considerably easier.” He waved the knife at Ivana. “Enough talk. Now tie her hands.”
Ivana inclined her head.
Against her better judgement, Isla placed the lantern on the floor and let Ivana wrap the cloth loosely around her wrists and knot the ends. With her hands now tied behind her back, she was powerless to offer any objection.. She cursed inwardly.
Boyd gestured to the floor with his dagger. “Sit down.”
Begrudgingly, Isla complied. “I still don’t understand why you want rid of Lachlan. Or what any of this will achieve.”
Boyd shrugged. “Not that it is any of your business, but I don’t need him snooping around the accounts.”
“What did I tell you,” Ivana said with a hint of arrogance. “The man is desperate for money.”
Boyd’s face crumpled with disdain. “How can a man better himself when faced with obstacles at every turn? I have spent the last ten years pandering to Ewan Carrick with nothing to show for it but ink-stained fingers and an aching back. Six more months was all I needed to secure new premises for the distillery. But then Lachlan came back and …” He shook his head and grumbled to himself. “I’ve said too much already.”
Ivana cleared her throat. “I often find those with a history of criminal activity cannot wait to bare their soul. The need to justify one’s actions is a sign of man fraught with doubt and uncertainty.”
