“Ye’re not allowed to get up.”
“But I will. I swear I will if he isn’t here within the hour.”
That threat was all it took. Angus arrived to their chamber within minutes.
“Wynda, sweetling, I didn’t want to worry ye with this.”
“What’s worrying me, Angus, is the way ye’re treating that lass.”
Angus opened his mouth to speak, but Wynda cut him off. “Nay, Angus, do not tell me again that she lied. I know exactly what happened. I have known since the day after she arrived. I know the complete truth about who she is and how she came to be here. Neither ye, nor Laird Macrae can say that.”
Her husband sighed. “Then tell me.”
Wynda launched into the tale. When she had finished, Angus shook his head slowly. “From the future? Soul exchange? Surely ye don’t believe that.”
“I do believe it. She knows things that ye firmly believe a lass as young as she is can’t know. She’s shown us that repeatedly. That thing she did with Jessie to get the baby to turn? Morag is an extremely skilled midwife and she had never heard of it.”
“That could be evidence that she is a fraud.”
“Angus, it was yer idea to send a request to Laird Macrae. Ye knew nothing about the midwife ye sought. It’s likely she was no more skilled that Morag. Most people believe that some women simply can’t carry a bairn. Even Morag did until she met Elsie. It’s understandable that Laird Macrae did too.”
“But he sought an alliance through treachery.”
“And Elsie, the real Elsie wouldn’t have gone along with it even though it would have meant severe punishment that inevitably would have resulted in her death. The only reason Elizabeth agreed was because she knew she could actually help.”
“But—”
“Nay! There is one thing I haven’t told ye. Right after Cade left, Gertrude visited and told me the lass would be coming.”
“Gertrude? Really?”
“Gertrude said even though she’d look very young, she’d know what she was doing. She also said if I pushed the lass, she’d tell me a something that was nearly impossible to believe but that I should trust her.”
Angus shook his head. “Someday, someone is going to call Gertrude out as a witch.”
Wynda laughed. “Nay, they won’t. She only brings blessings.”
“Aye, my love. If Gertrude sent her, I will accept that she is what she claims to be.”
“And ye understand why she feared risking Elsie’s life by revealing Laird Macrae’s lie?”
“Aye, I do. That she told ye immediately, eases my mind.” Angus stood to leave.
“Where are ye going?”
“To release Elsie from the dungeon.”
Wynda was certain she hadn’t heard correctly. “Did ye say dungeon? Tell me ye didn’t put her in the dungeon.”
“I…I thought Lilliana told ye what had happened.”
Wynda gritted her teeth. “She failed to mention anything about the dungeon. Angus, how could ye?”
“Sweetling everything indicated that she’d lied to us.”
“But the dungeon?”
“Now, in fairness, Cade was as angry as ye are. He sent Deirdre to keep her company and see to her needs.”
“Well at least one of ye had a modicum of sense.”
“I would be happy to stay here and let ye explain how little sense I have, but I suspect ye’d prefer me to release her sooner rather than later.”
“Aye, I do. Go get her, and bring her here—there are things we need to discuss. But honestly, Angus, the dungeon?”
Her husband was out the door before she could say more.
~ * ~
Elsie paced her cell nervously.
“Elsie, ye must be exhausted. Perhaps ye should try to rest a bit. Ye’ve been up all night.”
“I can’t, Deirdre. I hate being locked up.”
“Ye’re going to make yerself ill.”
Before Elizabeth could respond, she heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and moments later, Laird MacKenzie entered the dungeon. Elizabeth took a step back, away from the bars.
Deirdre hopped up from where she sat and bobbed a curtsy. “Good morning, Laird.”
“Good morning, Deirdre. Ye can go back to yer other duties, I’ll see to Elsie now.” He unlocked the door and stood back, motioning for her to leave the cell. “Elsie, come with me. We have things to discuss.”
Still more scared than she wanted to admit, she nodded. “Aye, Laird.”
Laird MacKenzie headed back up the stairs. Elsie glanced at Deirdre, who shrugged and motioned for her to follow the laird.
Deirdre gathered the blankets and trailed after them.
When they reached the great hall, Laird MacKenzie took Elsie’s elbow and guided her to the tower stairs. Elsie was acutely aware that everyone in the hall had fallen silent, watching. As she glanced around, she expected to see censure or disappointment, but she didn’t. Most of the MacKenzie’s gave her looks of affection or concern. Cade stood near the hearth and she briefly captured his gaze until he looked away. She couldn’t read his expression, and above everything, that scared her.
Laird MacKenzie said nothing to her until they reached the chamber he shared with Lady Wynda. When they entered, Alice jumped to her feet and curtsied. “Good morning, Laird.”
“Leave us, Alice.”
“Aye, Laird.” Alice curtsied again, casting a worried look towards Elsie before leaving the room.
When the door closed behind the maid, Wynda said, “Oh, thank God. Elizabeth, I apologize for the misunderstanding. I’m so very sorry, but I had to tell Angus everything. He understands now. Tell her, Angus.”
“Aye. ‘Tis nearly impossible to believe, but I understand. I sincerely regret how I treated ye, Elizabeth. Still, ye must admit, it certainly appeared that ye’d lied to us, or were at least complicit in Laird Macrae’s lie.”
“Aye, Laird, I know it looked that way, but there was nothing else I could do. When I thought I was going back, I had to do what I could to protect Elsie.”
“I understand that now, but what do ye mean? Are ye not going back?”
“Angus, Elizabeth would like to stay here, with us. Evidently Elsie wants to stay where she is too.”
“Stay?”
“Aye, Laird.” She had done a lot of thinking as paced the cell after seeing Gertrude. “If ye don’t wish me to stay here, I won’t. But I want to stay in this time. Laird MacLennan said if I ever found myself in need I should seek him out. I could go there.”
“Elizabeth, ye misunderstood me. I was just surprised after everything that’s happened in the last hours—after the way I treated ye—ye would want to stay. I believe ye have some time left.”
“Angus, the decision was already made and she told Gertrude that she wanted to stay. It’s too late, thank God, because I want her to stay. Although, if ye still could go back, Elizabeth, I would understand and we would see to Elsie’s safety on her return.”
“Actually, my lady, Gertrude visited me this morning. I had the opportunity to change my mind but I truly do want to stay here. Not only just in this time, but here at Carraigile.”
“Ye chose us twice?” Angus sounded a little in awe.
“Aye, Laird.”
“So don’t ye ever dare throw her in the dungeon again,” warned Lady Wynda.
“Never, my love. Elizabeth, I’m…well ye’re the boldest lass I have ever encountered but I guess I understand a bit better why. I’m humbled that ye’d choose to stay here and I’m grateful. Ye’ll be an asset to us. From now forward, I will consider ye a clanswoman and vow to keep ye safe.”
“Thank ye, Laird.”
“But, Angus, we have to sort out how to keep her. Elsie is a Macrae after all.”
“Aye, that is a problem, but for now we’ll remain silent. I suspect as long as Macrae thinks I believe his duplicity he won’t seek to get Elsie back. That’ll give us some time to plan. But speaking of Macrae, Elizabeth, what do ye know about the
minstrel who followed after ye.”
“Only what Robin told ye. It seems that the young man had grown fond of Elsie and didn’t believe the story Laird Macrae told his clan about me running away with Sir Cade.”
“Ye don’t remember meeting him?”
“Laird, my soul entered Elsie’s body as she was practically being dragged to see Laird Macrae, after Sir Cade arrived. Moments later the laird told me what I had to do, threated to beat me if I didn’t obey, and presented me as his most skilled midwife. I was riding out of Castle Macrae within minutes. I don’t understand why he lied to his clan about sending me here. People saw me riding out of the village.”
“Were there any servants within hearing when he told Cade ye were the midwife we sought?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to remember. “I’m not certain, but I don’t think so. I only remember seeing Sir Cade and his men.”
“So there were no other witnesses?”
“Just the guardsman who dragged me to see Laird Macrae.”
Laird MacKenzie’s expression turned grim. “Elizabeth, The villagers who saw ye riding away with Cade have no way of knowing that their laird sent ye with him. It could be explained by the story he tells—that ye just left. He did what he did to get an alliance with me. He couldn’t risk me ever finding out that he lied. If his clan knew the trick he’d pulled, word of it might eventually reach my ears and not only would there be no alliance, it would have resulted in a feud.”
“But what would he have told them when I returned?”
Wynda smiled sadly. “I expect he would have lied again, and leveled another threat against ye in order to keep that secret.”
“Or worse. He might have ensured yer silence by seeing that ye met with an accident before ye had a chance to reveal his perfidy,” Laird MacKenzie added.
“Then maybe he’ll have no problem with me staying here.”
“We can hope,” said Angus, but he sounded doubtful.
“Hope, Angus? What are ye worried about?”
“Noth—”
“Don’t ye dare say nothing. I can tell it isn’t nothing.”
Elizabeth had watched the exchange silently. Lady Wynda’s concern worried her.
“I didn’t want to bother ye with this Wynda, but I fear I can’t stop ye worrying. If Laird Macrae wanted the secret kept badly enough, he isn’t likely to leave the one person who knows the truth here under my control. If we don’t send her back, I believe he will send someone for her—and if we hand her over, I am not certain she would reach Castle Macrae alive.”
“Oh, Angus, we can’t let that happen.”
“I don’t intend to let it happen. For now I don’t think we have anything to worry about. As long as ye’re pregnant he’s not likely to do anything. He’ll believe Elsie is afraid enough to keep his secret. But just in case, Elizabeth, I don’t want ye ever to leave the village without an escort. I hear ye’re in the habit of taking a walk by the loch occasionally. Ye mustn’t do that anymore. At least not alone. Ye must have a guard with ye. Do ye understand?”
Elizabeth could scarcely believe her ears. After following Laird Macrae’s orders he’d kill her to ensure his secret was safe? “Aye, Laird, if ye think I’m in danger, I won’t leave the village alone.”
“One last thing, Angus. I understand this caused quite a spectacle at the festivities last night. Ye will make certain the clan understands it was all a mistake.”
“Aye, Wynda, I’ll fix things. I’ll also speak with that minstrel. Since Cade and the other men confirmed that Elsie didn’t leave by her own choice, Robin believes that too now. But he mustn’t ever let Laird Macrae know or his life is in as much danger as Elsie’s is.”
Chapter 23
That night at the evening meal, Laird MacKenzie announced that there had been a mistake and that Elsie was exactly who was needed to attend Lady Wynda. He apologized to Elsie and those assembled seemed satisfied. It heartened Elizabeth when it became clear that most of the MacKenzies hadn’t believed the accusations anyway.
When the meal was over, Elizabeth realized how extremely tired she was. She wished she could simple be transported to her bed. Scotty beam me up. She put her head in her hands for a moment and only realized she’d dozed off when Deirdre tugged at her elbow.
“Elsie, ye’re exhausted. Go on to bed now. I’ve just lit the brazier in yer chamber and put a warming pan between the sheets.”
Elizabeth smiled. Deirdre’s thoughtfulness was even better than being beamed up. She stood up and hugged her friend. “Thank ye Deirdre. That is exactly what I need right now. And thank ye too, for staying with me last night. I’ve never had a better friend.”
Deirdre blushed but looked very pleased. “Ye’re welcome. I’m glad ye think of me as a friend. Good night, Elsie.”
“Good night. I’ll see ye in the morning.” With that she walked towards the stairs. She sighed when she saw Cade rise from the head table and walk towards her. Perhaps if she hurried she could avoid this, but he reached the stairs just as she did.
~ * ~
Cade reckoned the last couple days had been among the worst in his life. He had suffered through the previous evening watching the woman he adored from a distance because she’d asked him to. They were from two different worlds.
Then the unthinkable happened. A minstrel called her out for being a fake and his father believed the man. Initially, Cade didn’t know what to think. Even though Elsie seemed to be as skilled as she had claimed, she’d clearly lied to them. Or at least she allowed them to accept Laird Macrae’s lies. She didn’t deny it.
He should have been as angry as his father was—but he couldn’t bear the thought of her being locked in the dungeon. He had tried to prevent it but his father had him restrained. The only thing he could do, while trying to get his father to release her, was to ensure she was made as comfortable as possible.
The rest of the night had been spent arguing with his father, but in the end Elsie was still in the dungeon and his father still believed that she had deceived them. Perhaps worst of all, his own faith in her had begun to waver. He didn’t know what to think and couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed that he had believed her so thoroughly.
It had been midafternoon when his father, after speaking with Wynda, finally escorted Elsie from the dungeon, but he strode through the great hall and up the stairs with her, offering no explanation. Elsie had glanced towards Cade once. She seemed so young and guileless, but he’d allowed himself to be fooled by that before. He had looked away.
Then everything turned upside down again. When his father returned to the hall, he’d announced that Elsie had not dealt falsely with them. She was the skilled midwife and healer they’d believed her to be. Cade had been relieved, but confused. She’d admitted that Laird Macrae had lied to them.
Then too, he believed Elsie had lied to him about something else. While she hadn’t actually said it, she’d led him to believe she didn’t have a suitor among the Macraes when all the while there was a young minstrel who cared enough about her to follow her. Cade tried again to speak to his father—to learn what had happened. He felt compelled to understand why the minstrel had said what he had—that he knew for a fact Elsie wasn’t a midwife. And more importantly, he wanted to know what had changed his father’s mind? But Angus had refused to explain.
The lass herself had been surrounded by people the rest of the day. It was clear the MacKenzie’s loved her and were pleased that she was back in the laird’s good graces. She’d said no more than she had the previous night. The story she told was that Laird Macrae didn’t intend to send his best midwife, but he didn’t know how skilled Elsie actually was.
It was exactly the conclusion Cade had drawn when he first met Elsie. And it was believable enough that the clan had accepted it.
But Cade no longer did. He was certain there was something more.
He’d watched her throughout the evening meal, intending to speak with her privately. Now he finall
y had his opportunity—she appeared to be going up to her chamber alone. He reached the entrance to the tower stairs just as she did.
“Elsie, ye’ve had quite a day.” His tone was sharper than he’d intended.
She frowned. “Aye, I have. I can never thank ye enough for sending Deirdre to me. I don’t know how I would have made it through the night without her. Even so, I didn’t sleep much and I’m exhausted. Thank ye again. I’ll see ye in the morning. Please excuse me.” She started up the stairs.
“Nay.”
She stopped and turned slowly to face him. “What did ye say?”
“Ye heard me. I did not excuse ye.”
Her back stiffened and an angry flush rose in her cheeks.
Even as irritated as he was, he had to suppress a smile. He had enjoyed needling her from the day he met her. Ah, the day he met her—that’s what he was irritated about now.
“Well, if ye have something to say to me, please say it. I need some rest.”
“Ye lied to me. I told ye if ye and yer laird tried to fool us, ye’d both be sorry.”
“And I told ye there was no one better able to assist Lady MacKenzie than I. It was true then and it’s true now.”
“Ye knew yer laird was trying to fool us, and ye looked me in the eye and lied. But ye also said ye had no one special in yer life and evidently that wasn’t true either.” If Cade was being honest with himself, this was the thing that bothered him the most. There had been a man in her life who loved her enough to risk his life trying to ensure she was safe and she had led Cade to believe otherwise.
She frowned. “I’m sure I never said that.”
“Ye implied it on the ride here, and clearly it wasn’t true. Ye certainly haven’t behaved as if ye had someone ye loved at home.”
“Because I didn’t. I had only just met the lad Robin was talking about. I didn’t know he loved me. Sir Cade, I didn’t lie to ye about anything. It is true that Laird Macrae intended to pass me off as my aunt. But as repugnant as this is to admit, when Laird Macrae said if anyone could help Lady MacKenzie it was I, he wasn’t lying either. He didn’t believe that anyone—including Aunt Dolina—could help her. But he was wrong and I knew it. I knew I could help.”
The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Page 19
