The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  “I have more skills than Laird Macrae is aware of.”

  “Really? That’d be hard for anyone to believe but I know for a fact it’s false—ye’d barely begun yer training. Ye said so yerself. What’s more, it doesn’t match the Laird’s version of events.”

  “I don’t care what story he tells—it isn’t true. Laird Macrae sent me. He threatened to beat me if I disobeyed. I had no choice.”

  The musician frowned and shook his head. “Geordie was worried about ye, Elsie. God’s teeth, he was barely more than a green lad but he fancied himself in love with ye and ye led him to believe ye were fond of him too.”

  “What?” Dear God. Elizabeth had no idea who the minstrel was talking about but she couldn’t say that. “Wh-what happened?”

  “He didn’t believe Laird Macrae and thought ye were in danger. He followed ye on foot, but evidently he never arrived here. Most likely he’s dead. I expect he froze or was attacked by wolves.

  “Nay. By all the saints, I had no idea. I swear to ye, Laird Macrae forced me to go with the MacKenzies. I didn’t imagine he’d lie about it to his clan. What does my aunt think happened?”

  “She doesn’t want to believe Laird Macrae’s version of events but there really is no other explanation. Frankly, now that I see ye here, I do believe the laird.”

  “Please, just ask Sir Cade or Laird MacKenzie. They’ll tell ye the truth.”

  “Oh I have every intention of speaking to Laird MacKenzie.” He grabbed her by the arm, dragging her towards the laird’s table. “He needs to know that ye’ve been lying to him. Ye aren’t the midwife he sought. Ye aren’t a midwife at all and a fine lad has likely lost his life because of yer lies.”

  Elizabeth’s mind was whirling. She could barely process what was happening. Why had Laird Macrae sent her here and then lied to his clan about it?

  When they reached the laird’s table, the man said, “Excuse me, Laird, I have information about this wench that I think ye’ll want to know.”

  Laird MacKenzie who had been laughing with his brother, turned his full attention on the minstrel. “What information?”

  “She isn’t who ye think she is. I understand ye think she’s a midwife but I know for a fact, she’s only an unskilled apprentice. ‘Twas her aunt ye sought. She clearly chose to pass herself off as something she wasn’t.”

  “What are ye talking about?” Demanded Laird MacKenzie.

  “She told yer men that she was a skilled midwife so she could leave castle Macrae.”

  Laird MacKenzie’s eyes narrowed. Clearly angry he turned on Elizabeth. “Is this true?”

  “Laird, I—”

  “Is it true?” he roared.

  “Not exactly.”

  “What does that mean? Did ye lie about yer skills?”

  “Nay, Laird, I did not.”

  “Ye’re not a midwife, Elsie, yer Aunt Dolina is,” said the minstrel. “Laird Macrae didn’t send ye and yer lies have likely resulted in a man’s death.”

  Cade had been on the other side of the hall, but the commotion drew his attention. “Da, what’s wrong?”

  “Robin, here, says that Elsie isn’t a midwife, she sought ye out and lied to ye.”

  Cade frowned. “She didn’t seek me out. Laird Macrae presented her as his most skilled midwife.”

  Robin frowned at this. “Laird Macrae told his clan she ran away with ye.”

  “Well she didn’t. Laird Macrae sent her with us, assuring us she had the skills required to help Lady Wynda. Ask any of the men who were with me.”

  Laird MacKenzie turned his attention back to Elsie. “Are ye the midwife I sought or not.”

  Elizabeth swallowed hard. “Laird Macrae believed ye sought my Aunt Dolina. He thought there was nothing that anyone could do to help Lady Wynda and therefore it would be a waste to send someone with her skills. He threatened to beat me if I told ye what he’d done.”

  “Ye lied?”

  “Laird Macrae lied, or he thought he did. He wasn’t aware of the skills I have when he sent me.”

  “Ye lied. Even out of his reach, ye lied. Ye gave my wife false hope.”

  His accusatory tone ripped at Elizabeth’s heart. “I did not lie. I absolutely know what I’m doing and I did not give her false hope.”

  “And what’s this about a man dying?” Laird MacKenzie demanded of Robin.

  “Another minstrel, a young friend of ours, had fancied himself in love with Elsie. He didn’t believe Laird Macrae’s story, was worried about her safety and followed her here but never arrived.”

  Cade frowned. “He didn’t believe Elsie ran away, and he was right in that. But following us in the dead of winter, alone, was foolhardy. If he didn’t reach his destination, it most certainly was not Elsie’s fault. Da, Laird Macrae assured us Elsie was the most skilled midwife he had.”

  “Well, she isn’t,” insisted Robin.

  “But, Da, if her Laird forced her to lie, she isn’t to blame.”

  “Son, even after she was away from Macrae and in no danger, she still lied to us about her skills.”

  “Nay, Laird, I didn’t. I swear I didn’t. Robin doesn’t know the truth and neither did Laird Macrae. I admit he thought he was trying to deceive ye. He believed nothing could be done and simply by sending someone ye would be in his debt. Now, if I am ever returned to him, he is likely to beat me to death. He would have if I had not agreed to his plan.”

  “I think I will send ye back to him—with a declaration of war.”

  “Da, please, ye can’t do that,” Cade insisted.

  Morag, who had worked her way through the crowd also came to her defense. “Laird, I don’t care what this minstrel says. I assure ye, Elsie is more skilled than I am. She knew how to get Jessie’s baby to turn and she delivered the bairn expertly. Not to mention that her assessment of Lady Wynda’s condition not only makes sense but seems to be working.”

  “She lied to us!” roared Angus.

  Morag tried again. “Laird Macrae lied. She didn’t. Before ye make any decisions, please speak with yer lady wife.”

  Laird Macrae shook his head. “She wants Elsie’s lies to be true.”

  “Nay, Laird, she knows they aren’t lies,” said Morag quietly.

  “Please, Da, ye know Morag is right. Talk to Wynda.”

  “I will not bother Wynda with this. It will crush her. What’s more, until I decide what’s to be done with Elsie, I want her kept away from Wynda.” He scanned the crowd that had gathered, his eyes lighting on someone. “Sully, lock her in the dungeon.”

  Cade stepped forward, pulling Elsie behind his back. “Nay, Da. Ye’re making a mistake. Please don’t do that.”

  “Cade, I am at the limits of my temper and I will not tolerate defiance from anyone—not even my son.” He motioned to two other guardsmen who grabbed Cade’s arms, restraining him while Sully took Elizabeth by the arm, pulling her towards the stairs to the lower level and the dungeon.

  Elizabeth didn’t fight. She could barely believe what was happening. She hadn’t lied about her abilities and had only helped since she’d arrived at Carraigile. She hadn’t done anything wrong. That’s not completely true and you know it. You allowed Laird MacKenzie to believe Laird Macrae had helped him. But what else could she have done? When she arrived, she’d had no choice. She’d had to ensure that Elsie didn’t suffer a punishment because of Elizabeth’s actions.

  Sully finally spoke. “I knew Macrae was lying to us. Ye weren’t the midwife we went there for.”

  “So, ye’ve said.” Elizabeth’s world was caving in and Sully’s accusations were the last thing she needed.

  “But, lass, ye told me ye were absolutely, without a doubt, the best person to help Lady Wynda and I believe ye weren’t lying. Ye’ve done wonderful things here. William is so chuffed about his grandson, he talks of nothing else. If the baby hadn’t turned—”

  “—she would have had a more difficult delivery. That’s all.”

  “That’s no small thin
g. And ye know as well as I do, she might not have been able to deliver the baby breech. Ye’re a blessing to us Elsie.”

  Nothing could have shocked her more. “I…I…thank ye, Sully. Hearing ye say that means a lot to me.”

  “Aye, well it doesn’t help this situation. I still have to lock ye in the dungeon. But I’ll leave a torch so ye have light and I’ll see that ye get a few items to make ye more comfortable.”

  Frightened and miserable, Elizabeth could only nod her head.

  “I don’t expect ye’ll be here long. The laird will come around. If Cade and Morag don’t convince him, Lady Wynda will.”

  “But he said he didn’t want her told.”

  “He said that after Lady Lilliana had already slipped from the hall. I suspect Lady Wynda knows even now.

  “I wish I was as certain and ye are.”

  “Ye wanted us to have faith in ye. Have a little faith in us.”

  “Aye, Sully, ye’re right. I’ll try. Thank ye.”

  He locked her in one of the cells. “I’ll send someone down with fresh bedding shortly.”

  There was a low wooden platform in the cell that must have been intended to be a bed. She sat down on it, hugged her knees to her chest and in spite of her promise to Sully, she couldn’t keep from giving into despair and burst into sobs. She had never been in such a bad predicament. You’re an idiot Elizabeth. You chose to stay in the dark ages where you are little more than chattel and why? Because you wanted this life? I repeat, idiot.

  Ten minutes hadn’t passed when she heard the sounds of footsteps hurrying down the stairs. She swiped at the tears on her face but couldn’t suppress a sob just as Deirdre emerged from the stairs.

  “Oh, nay, Elsie, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

  “I-I-I’m s-sorry, Deirdre. I’m sc-scared.”

  “I know ye are, and I’m going to stay with ye.”

  “That’s kind of ye, but it’s cold down here. I couldn’t ask ye to stay. Ye’ll miss what remains of the Easter celebration.”

  Deirdre, her sweet, scatterbrained friend smiled. “I don’t care about the celebration. Not when ye’re here. And I’ve brought some blankets, so we won’t be cold.”

  Elsie sniffed. “I don’t want the laird to be angry with ye.”

  “He doesn’t know. Besides, Sir Cade is the one who sent me. I couldn’t very well defy him could I?”

  “Sir Cade?”

  Deirdre grinned. “Aye, he didn’t want ye to be by yerself while he tries to convince the laird to release ye.”

  Having Deirdre with her through the night was an incredible comfort. Even though Deirdre dozed while Elizabeth couldn’t sleep to save her soul, it was just nice not being alone.

  Hours later—it must surely have been morning—she heard footsteps on the stairs.

  Deirdre woke and jumped to her feet. “Who do ye suppose that is?” she whispered. While clearly a little frightened, she stood with her hands on her hips, in front of the cell door, as if to protect Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth smiled even as tears welled in her eyes. Deirdre was a good friend and she owed Cade her gratitude for sending the maid.

  “Gertrude? What are ye doing here?” asked Deirdre.

  Of all the people who Elizabeth thought might step into the dungeon this morning, she would never have imagined it would be Gertrude, or that Deirdre knew her.

  “Good morning Deirdre. Ye’re such a sweet lass to have stayed with Elsie as ye did. I know ye were a great blessing.”

  Deirdre blushed and said shyly, “She’s my friend.”

  “Aye, I know that and that makes her very fortunate indeed. Now, shall I stay with her for a bit, while ye break yer fast? Then ye can bring something down for her as well.”

  Deirdre nodded but turned to Elizabeth. “Elsie, this is Gertrude. Is it all right if she stays with ye while I fetch our morning meal?”

  “Aye, Deirdre. Gertrude and I have met before. I’ll be fine while ye’re gone. And, thank ye for staying with me. Gertrude is right, ye were a great comfort. I don’t think I could have stood it without ye.”

  “Ye’d have done it for me.”

  Elizabeth gave her a broad smile and said, “Aye, I would have,” knowing it was absolutely true. “But I hope I never have to,” she added.

  Deirdre grinned and called, “Me too,” as she ran up the stairs.

  Gertrude turned to Elizabeth. “Ye do have very good friends here. I understand why ye chose to stay.”

  “Aye, but now I fear I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

  “And why’s that lass?”

  Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. “Are ye trying to tell me ye don’t know what’s happened?”

  Gertrude laughed. “Of course I know what’s happened. Why do ye think ye’ve made a terrible mistake?”

  Elizabeth looked at her, askance. “Oh, I don’t know…I suppose it has something to do with being locked in the MacKenzie’s dungeon.”

  Gertrude pursed her lips. “Sarcasm does not become ye, Elizabeth. Ye chose to stay for a very particular reason. Ye loved the community and the difference you could make in it. Has that changed?”

  “Well, I can’t make much of a difference locked up here.”

  “Ye still have a little time left. Do ye want Elsie to say the word?”

  Elizabeth thought about this for a moment. Gertrude was right. She still loved these people…well most of them—she wasn’t overly fond of Laird MacKenzie right now. Even with circumstances as they were at that moment, the thought of leaving caused her heart to ache. Not to mention the fact that if she escaped, it would leave Elsie in a mess from which she had no ability to extract herself. She wasn’t a midwife with special skills.

  “Nay, Gertrude, I don’t want her to say the word. It wouldn’t be fair to her. I made this choice and I will see it through.”

  “That’s what I thought ye’d say.”

  Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes. “But I’m afraid.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  Gertrude reached through the bars of the cell and caressed Elizabeth’s cheek. “Oh, my sweet lass, I know ye are.”

  “I don’t understand what happened. I felt sure Elsie didn’t have…anyone.”

  “Elizabeth, he was a minstrel. They had only know each other for a matter of weeks. She hadn’t had time to do more than have the first flutterings of growing affection. Ye needn’t worry. She is happy where she is.”

  “But the young man…it appears he lost his life trying to keep her—me that is, safe. No one knows what happened to him, and I feel responsible.”

  “Ye aren’t responsible. Ye knew nothing about him.”

  “Is what Robin suspected true? Is he is dead?”

  “Aye, Geordie is dead. Suffice to say, it was his time to leave and ye couldn’t have changed that.”

  “But—”

  “Nay, Elizabeth. If ye had known that by agreeing to come here, the young man would not have died, but ye wouldn’t have helped Kelvin, or Wynda, or Jessie, would ye have chosen to stay?”

  Elizabeth shook her head slowly. “Nay, I suppose not.”

  “The fact is, there is a time to live and a time to die. He made his choices. Ye made yours. That’s all any of us can do. The universe unfolds as it should.”

  “That doesn’t make it easy.”

  “Nay it doesn’t. Ye can only make the best decision possible with the information at hand. Looking back now and second-guessing those decisions serves no purpose.”

  “Aye, I suppose that’s true.”

  “Of course it’s true. I only speak the truth.

  “What do I do now? What if Laird MacKenzie sends me back?”

  “Do ye honestly think Wynda will allow that?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Nay, I don’t suppose so.”

  “Just as Sully told ye, have a little faith in the people who love ye.”

  Gertrude was asking a lot but Elizabeth reckoned it was all she could do. “Aye, I’ll do my best.”

 
“That’s all ye can do, lass. I’ll leave ye now.”

  “Thank ye for coming to see me.”

  “’Twas my pleasure.” She started up the steps, calling back over her shoulder, “Take good care of yer clan, lass.”

  “Aye, I will.”

  A moment later Deirdre emerged from the stairs carrying a tray. “Ye will what?”

  “I was talking to Gertrude.”

  Deirdre looked around. “Where is she?”

  “She left.”

  “Then why were ye talking to her.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “She just left. She was on the stairs. Ye must have seen her on yer way down.”

  “Nay, she wasn’t on the stairs.”

  “But—nay, never mind.”

  Chapter 22

  Until this moment, Wynda had never resented having to lay flat for months. She looked at each day in bed as a gift to her child and her husband. If she’d had to hang by her feet for six months she’d have done it. But now the fact that she couldn’t get up and force Angus to listen to her tried her patience sorely.

  “Lilliana, please, go to him again and tell him I want to see him. I must see him.”

  “Wynda, I’ve told him repeatedly. He won’t listen and he’s already furious with me. After I’d left the hall to tell ye what was happening, he gave an order that ye weren’t to be told anything. He didn’t want ye to lose hope.”

  “I haven’t lost hope. I have every confidence in Elsie. Angus is wrong.”

  “But, she did lie. She admitted it.”

  “She didn’t lie.”

  “Fine, she allowed us to believe the Macrae’s lies.”

  “Lilliana, ye don’t understand. None of ye do. I must speak to Angus. I have something important to say and I can only tell him.”

  “Please don’t get yerself so upset, Wynda. Wait a day or two until Angus has calmed down.”

  “Nay! He might decide to send her back and I will not allow that.”

  “I don’t think he’ll do that.” Lilliana’s tone of voice didn’t convey any confidence.

  “Ye don’t know that. Please, try one more time. Make him understand how urgent this is. And before ye say he won’t listen again, tell him if he won’t come to me, I’ll go to him.”