Seduced by the Noble Highlander

by Scott, Ann Marie

  Lewis could only tell by the wheel marks that two different carts or carriages had been there, but after that the trail had disappeared on the rutted surface of the road. Lewis had no idea if it had been a rescue or not. He peered down in both directions, but there was nothing to be seen. He turned for home.

  13

  Salvation

  I am still alive, Crissy thought in disbelief, as she opened an eye to the glare of the sky. She could only open one eye, since the other was swollen shut and throbbing with pain. Every part of her body was aching, especially her neck, where the cruel hands of her attackers had tried to squeeze the life out of her, but they had not succeeded. Why had she thought they were kind? She had always thought of herself as a good judge of character.

  She shook her head and winced as it throbbed with pain, and then she began to feel herself all over to check for injuries. She could feel the broken ribs, but there seemed to be no other major damage apart from that. However, when she tried to stand up, she found it so painful that it was impossible; her legs were covered in bruises and cuts, and she was sure that she had twisted her ankle while dragging Kenzie. Her stomach ached from the punishment it had taken from Kenzie’s fists, but she had no other alternative but to crawl to the side of the road and hope for rescue from a Good Samaritan.

  She turned over on her belly, put her elbows on the ground, then slowly, in excruciating pain, she began to drag herself towards the road, stopping every few seconds to recover her breath and rub her elbows, which were soon rubbed raw by the gritty mud. She put her head on the ground for a moment, breathing heavily, and then felt the vibrations of hooves a few seconds before she heard them.

  Crissy had no idea how she did it, but despite her aching stomach, broken ribs, throbbing ankle, and painful neck, as well as a host of other injuries, she somehow got to her feet, waving and shouting. For a moment she thought the two black horses and the carriage were going to carry on trotting past, but at the last moment they stopped.

  The last thing Crissy remembered was the sight of a big blond man running towards her, then the world swam out of focus; everything went black and she knew no more.

  Isla followed Magnus out of the coach, hurrying toward the unconscious figure sprawled on the ground.

  “Is she dead?” she asked anxiously, bending over the prone body of the woman.

  Magnus felt her throat and shook his head. “No,” he replied grimly, “but she would have been if she had lain here much longer. I can see that she has at least one broken rib, and possibly a broken ankle.” He pointed to the bruises on her neck. “It looks as though someone tried to throttle her then left her for dead.”

  Isla’s face was a mask of fury. “Whoever did this deserves a slow death himself!” Her voice was throbbing with fury as she stood up, then she ran back to the carriage to make room for Magnus and Crissy.

  Her companion, Annie, was waiting for them, holding six-month-old baby Bonnie in her arms. “My goodness!” she cried, horrified. “The poor lassie!”

  Magnus and Isla sat close together—Magnus cradling Crissy’s upper body in her arms while her legs rested on Isla’s lap. Isla and Annie could see the rage in his eyes that he was trying to suppress as he took in the eye that was swollen shut and the red marks of the blows she had received, which were even now turning into purple and blue bruises.

  He stroked her hair gently and she gave a little sigh which Isla hoped meant that she liked it. Her eyelids flickered open for a few seconds then shut again, but they could see that the whites were red with blood.

  “If she can remember what they looked like,” Magnus growled, “they are going to be admiring the walls of my dungeon for a very long time!”

  “It might be just one man,” Isla pointed out.

  Magnus nodded, his brows lowered so far down over his bright green eyes that they were almost black. “Then may God help him if I get hold of him!” His voice, always deep, was like the snarl of a jungle cat. Isla recognized that look and that voice. Magnus was on the warpath.

  Father Patrick, the Irish priest, came in from the village in case he was needed. The local wise woman, Fiona, and her assistant, the midwife Callie, came to tend to Crissy’s wounds and clean her up. The priest prayed over her and blessed her, then he, Annie, and Isla went outside to talk. They did not want to go any farther than a few feet from the door, in case the priest was needed urgently, but he could not be present while Crissy was naked.

  A maid brought them each a glass of wine and left the carafe with them.

  “What do you think happened to her?” Father Patrick asked in his distinctive Irish brogue. He was a tall thin red-headed man whose solemnity was belied by his wicked sense of humor. However, now was no time for humor, and he frowned with anxiety as he spoke.

  Isla sighed. “We all think that she was waylaid, robbed, beaten, and then left for dead,” she replied. “You can see that someone tried to strangle her by the marks on her neck. The poor girl!” She began to weep, and Annie put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

  “She is still alive, Isla,” Annie said, her voice soothing. “Gie yersel’ peace!”

  Father Patrick nodded. “God will decide her fate, but she is a healthy young woman, and that will count in her favor, and the ladies inside that room have powers of their own.”

  “That is comforting, Father,” Isla smiled, wiping away tears.

  Just then Magnus came upstairs to greet them. He was carrying Bonnie, and as usual he looked much more cheerful when he was with her. Isla always thought how strange yet endearing it was that one tiny girl could have one big man wrapped around her little finger.

  Magnus was smiling widely while Bonnie was pulling his long, fair hair, and laughing. Magnus did not feel the pain anymore, since he had been enduring it for years; it had first been pulled by Andrew, Isla’s baby brother, and nothing had changed.

  Now, he came up to them and said, “Who wants this child?”

  Three pairs of arms shot out. Magnus leaned forward and gave her to Father Patrick, who immediately set about tickling her and rubbing his nose against hers. Elspeth chuckled and waved her arms, jumping up and down on the priest’s lap.

  “Bonnie wee thing!” he said, delighted.

  “She likes you, Father,” Isla informed him. “She is very choosy about who she goes to!”

  “She has good taste!” Annie chimed in, and Father Patrick laughed heartily.

  Magnus poured himself a glass of wine. “Have they said anything yet?” he asked, nodding at the door.

  “Not yet,” Isla replied. “Perhaps it will take some time—she is badly injured.”

  Presently they heard a cry from inside the room. They all gasped and looked at each other.

  “She is awake, anyway,” Isla said, trying to keep their spirits up. “If she can feel pain, that is some kind of good news.”

  Just then, the wise woman, Fiona, put her head around the door, and they were pleased to see that she was smiling. “It is good news aboot the ankle, Milady, M’laird. It isnae broken, just a wee bit twisted, so we strapped it up. We hae put salve on the eye an’ the neck. The rib is no’ broke, jist a wee bit cracked, an’ she will need tae rest it. She will be well in nae time. It a’ looks worse than it is.”

  Isla breathed a sigh of relief. “Is she awake?”

  “She opens an’ shuts her eyes fae time tae time, Milady,” Fiona replied. “She had a nasty bump on her heid but an’ is no’ yet awake. I hae nae doot she will be soon.”

  “Thank you, Fiona!” Isla said with gratitude. Fiona smiled and went inside to dress the patient again. “Thank God!” Magnus breathed. He was still angry, but he had calmed down a little, especially since Isla had sat beside him and put her head on his shoulder. They waited for a few more moments before Fiona opened the door, and they all went in quietly to look at the patient. She was very pale, and her bruises were becoming prominent, but her face and hair were clean and she was dressed in a fresh gown that Annie had given her.
The swollen eye was the most disfiguring wound that she had, but Fiona had put arnica salve on it, and the puffiness was already beginning to lessen.

  Fiona wanted to sit by the patient all night, but Isla would not hear of it. Isla put her up in a spare bedroom with every available comfort, and Fiona was thrilled.

  “Annie and I will sit with her in turns,” Isla told her, “and that way we can all get some rest. We will call if we need you.”

  Fiona was thrilled at being treated like a guest in the Big Hoose, and went off to her bedroom to be pampered like a queen.

  Isla put Elspeth to the breast before Annie took her upstairs, then Magnus came in, pulling her out of her chair and kissing her hungrily.

  “Sitting with our patient and neglecting your husband?” he asked.

  She smiled. “She needs my care more,” she whispered. Magnus nodded, gave her one last soft kiss, and left.

  The first thing Crissy saw when she opened her one functioning eye was a very handsome man and a very beautiful woman kissing. She thought she was in heaven and these were angels so she lay still and watched them for a while before she realized that they were an ordinary loving couple.

  Presently, the man went out and the woman came to her bed and sat on it, smiling at her. “I am glad to see your eyes open,” she whispered. She stood up and went to fetch a glass of water, then tilted Crissy’s head up so she could sip it.

  “I am Isla,” she said in a soft voice. “Who are you?”

  “I cannae remember,” Crissy whispered. Her head was throbbing and she passed a hand over her forehead, grimacing with pain.

  Isla passed her a cup of water, helping her to drink it once more. “I am sure it will come back to you. Can you remember what happened?” she asked gently.

  “Aye, a bit.” Crissy’s voice was faint. “I was on the way tae Aberdeen. I wis walkin’, I remember that, then there wis a horse, an’ a fella wi’ hardly ony teeth. I seem tae remember a cart. Aye, maybe they were givin’ me a ride an’ robbed me. They took a’ ma claes an’ a lovely necklace my sweetheart gave me, an’ my wee bit money. I knaw that beat me, but I cannae remember the beatin’ itself.”

  “I am so sorry,” Isla whispered. “Forgetting that part is probably for the best. Did you get their names?”

  Crissy nodded. “Cannae remember them,” she replied.

  “They probably would not have given you their real names anyway,” Isla mused. “Surnames?”

  Crissy shook her head and Isla sighed. “Can you eat anything? A tiny bit of porridge?” Isla coaxed.

  “Aye,” Crissy replied.

  Isla ordered a small bowl of porridge to be brought and fed Crissy as if she was a child. When she had finished Crissy sank her head back on the soft pillow and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them Isla was looking at her anxiously.

  “Where am I?” Crissy asked, looking around her. It was a grand, well-furnished room

  “Galbraith Castle,” Isla replied. “I am Lady Galbraith, but please call me Isla.”

  “Thank ye for yer help,” Crissy smiled at her. “I think I might hae died oot there. It’s gaun’ tae be freezin’ the night.”

  “Indeed it is!” Isla looked at the approaching rain coming off the sea. “But you will not freeze. I will be sitting beside the fire and you will be covered in blankets, and you will not go anywhere until you are better! How do you feel?”

  “Much better, thank ye, Milady.” Crissy simply could not call a laird’s wife by her first name.

  “Drink this,” Isla offered her some valerian tea but Crissy’s eyelids were already drooping.

  “Sleep well,” Isla whispered. “Fear nothing. Goodnight.” Then she smiled, for Crissy was already asleep.

  14

  Good News

  “Has she been able to say anything?” Magnus asked. It was dawn and they had just woken up, but they were both still anxious. Annie had taken the second watch, and Isla was eager to hear what she had to say.

  She found her in her bedroom. “Did she remember anything, Annie?”

  “She didnae stir the hale night, Isla,” Annie replied, sighing. “These things take time I believe, so Fiona tells me.”

  “There was nothing on her to give us a clue, either.” Isla frowned. “I have no idea what to do next, Annie.”

  They went into the dining room where Magnus was going through his post. There was one letter that gave him pause, and he slit it open. He read it very fast, and then looked up at Isla. “Listen to this,” he said, frowning.

  * * *

  “Laird Galbraith,

  I am writing to you on a matter of great urgency. One of my staff members, Crissy Munro, has gone missing and I would very much appreciate it, if you have any sight of or information about her, to let me know. She has fair hair, gray-blue eyes, and is quite tall. She is a very valuable asset to me and I would like to have her back with me as soon as possible. Please let me know if you find her.

  With kind regards,

  Lewis Crawford.”

  * * *

  Isla and Magnus looked at each other.

  “Do you think it could be her?” Magnus asked, frowning.

  Isla took the letter away from him and read through it. “Yes, I do,” she replied, excited. “Look at the description.”

  “Whit are we waitin’ for?” Annie’s voice was high with excitement. “Let us go an’ find oot!”

  “You two ladies can do it,” Magnus answered. “Three is too many. I will stay here and wait.”

  Isla’s heart was almost beating out of her chest by the time she got up to Crissy’s room. Crissy was awake, eating some more porridge. She looked up and smiled as they came in and Isla and Annie noticed that the swelling on her eye had gone down considerably.

  “Good morning!” Isla greeted her cheerfully.

  “Mornin’, Milady, Miss,” she greeted them.

  “We came to ask you,” Isla said gently, “if you have remembered your name?”

  Crissy shook her head. “Naw, Milady,” she replied.

  “Could it be Crissy?” Isla asked.

  All at once, as if a light had gone on, Crissy’s face lit up with recognition, and she clapped her hands. “Aye, Milady, it is! Crissy Munro!”

  It was as though a light had been turned on in the darkness.

  Isla hugged Crissy, then Annie hugged her, then they hugged each other, and that was how Fiona found them when she came in with fresh sheets.

  “Nae huggin’ the patient, please!” she said sternly. “Thon ribs need to heal.”

  “Her name is Crissy!” Annie announced proudly, showing her the letter and beaming proudly.

  “Who is Laird Crawford?” Fiona asked, frowning.

  The same spark of recognition lit Crissy’s face up again. “He is the man that I love,” she replied, then burst into tears

  It took a long time for Crissy to calm down long enough to tell them the whole story, since she only remembered it piecemeal. When she had finished, she looked up at Isla, who took her hands.

  “Forgive me, Crissy, but running away from a good man and leaving him with a pile of stones does not seem like a good idea to me,” Isla said frankly. “He loves you enough to make a huge sacrifice. Why not let him do it if he wants to?”

  “I am a housemaid, Milady,” Crissy replied tearfully. “It is a’ I will ever be. I cannae ask him tae give up a’ his land, his title, an’ his wealth jist for me.”

  “Not even if he wants to?” Isla asked, stroking Crissy’s hair.

  “I cannae dae it,” she burst into a fresh bout of tears, and Fiona came over to them with a concerned expression in her dark eyes.

  “Milady, pardon me,” she said anxiously, “but Crissy has had enough questions for this mornin’. Maybe ye should tell her aboot happier things.”

  “Of course,” Isla smiled at her. “I am being thoughtless.” She looked around her and Crissy took the chance to admire her beautiful face with its lovely dark blue eyes. She and Magnus l
ooked perfect together, and were so transparently in love that Crissy could hardly bear to look at them together because it made her sadness worse.

  “I know what this room needs!” Isla said, clapping her hands and laughing. “Flowers! We need flowers in crystal vases and more candles for nighttime. In fact, we need more light.”

  She sent for a maid, who rushed off to do her bidding.

  “She is daein’ the same as me,” Crissy observed. “She is an ordinary maidservant. Milady, how did you find oot about Lewis?”

  “We got a letter,” Isla replied. “He has been looking everywhere for you. Would you like to read it?”

  Crissy shook her head. “Lewis was teachin’ me my letters but I am still learnin’ an’ no’ very good yet.”

  Fiona butted in. “Milady,” she said sternly. Isla glanced at her and nodded, realizing that she had led the subject back to Lewis again.

  “You and Laird Galbraith,” she said, smiling, “you aye look so happy thegither, but you were a lady first, were ye no’?”

  “I was, but we love each other not for our titles,” she replied, “but for who we are, and now I think that we should stop talking about this or Fiona will throw me out!”

  “As if I would dare, Milady!” she said, laughing.

  Annie had gone out for some wine, but instead she brought Bonnie, who was fussing and hungry. Isla took her from Annie and in a moment she was feeding happily. Crissy smiled as she looked on.

  “I have never seen a noble lady feedin’ her ain bairn afore!” she said, surprised.