The Midwife: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  “Ye can dance around the issue with words if ye wish, but the bottom line is that Laird Macrae was attempting to deceive us, ye knew it and ye went along with it.”

  “Aside from the fact that he might have beaten me to death had I done anything else, what do ye think I should have done? If I’d said, ‘Nay, Laird Macrae ye’re wrong, not only can Lady MacKenzie be helped, but I know more about how to do it than my Aunt Dolina,’ what do ye think would have happened? Do ye think he would have let me come then?”

  Cade clenched his teeth. He knew she was right but he was angry and frustrated. Nothing was making sense. “Ye can’t possibly be more skilled than yer aunt. Why are my father and Wynda so willing to believe that?”

  “Because they are and right now, it really doesn’t matter to me whether ye believe me or not. I’m too tired to keep trying to convince ye of the truth. If ye don’t believe me, ye don’t believe me. This conversation is over.” She turned and started up the stairs again.

  Anger flared within him. No clan member could be allowed to show that level of disrespect. He followed her, grabbing her by the arm. “Don’t take another step. Ye forget yer place. Yer impudence knows no bounds, and I did not give ye leave to go.”

  “Frankly, I couldn’t possibly care less.” She yanked her arm from his grasp and ran up the stairs.

  Her defiance stunned him for a moment but he recovered quickly and followed her. She was surprisingly fast; he caught her just outside her door. “How dare ye?” He spun her around, but his next chastisement died on his lips.

  Her eyes blazed with fury, and yet she trembled and appeared to be fighting tears. “If ye have an issue with me, take it up with yer father, but please, just let me go to bed now.”

  He released her arm and took a step back. She was hiding something, he was certain of it, but he didn’t like seeing her so distressed. And it absolutely gutted him to know he had been the cause of it. “Aye, lass. Forgive me. I know ye’ve had a hard day and I’m sorry to have upset ye so. I guess I…well, I’m sorry. Sleep well and I’ll see ye on the morrow.”

  She looked slightly surprised that he had given in. Her voice was little more than a whisper when she said, “Thank ye. Good night,” and entered her chamber.

  ~ * ~

  Cade was not prepared to let the subject drop completely and he did raise it with his father again the next morning. “Why won’t ye tell me what happened yesterday?”

  “With what, son?”

  “By the Almighty, Da, with Elsie.”

  “We discussed this yesterday and I told ye I’d made a mistake.”

  “At the feast ye were so fully convinced she deceived us that ye threw her in the dungeon.”

  “And ye argued with me for hours over that. Why are ye upset now that I’ve let her out?”

  “Because ye argued for hours with me for hours and convinced me that along with her laird, she’d lied to us.”

  “I was wrong and I know now that she didn’t lie.”

  “What gives ye such confidence? I’m dead certain she’s hiding something.”

  “That’s because she is and she has a very good reason to keep it to herself.”

  “But ye know what it is?”

  “I do now and I’m convinced she’s a…unique lass.”

  “But she only chose to reveal this secret after her lies were exposed?”

  “Nay, as it turns out Wynda has known the complete truth from the start. Morag has known for quite a while as well.”

  “So what is the complete truth?”

  “It isn’t for me to tell ye. But suffice to say, when Elsie said there was no one in Scotland better able to attend Wynda, it was the absolute truth.”

  “And so we’ll just send her back after Wynda delivers and accept that the Macrae lied to us?”

  “That’s her home.”

  “That’s not an answer. Do ye intend to send her back knowing what ye do about what the Macrae did?”

  “If she wishes to stay, I will allow it.”

  “She belongs to the Macrae, can ye just keep her?” Although as he said it, Cade hoped fervently that she could stay.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, son.”

  “Ye’re convinced she didn’t lie to us and if we believe the minstrel, we know the Macrae lied to his clan about why she left. Why would he have done that?”

  “I’m not sure we know the complete truth about anything surrounding Laird Macrae. Maybe the story Robin tells is a lie. He could have made up the whole thing because of some grudge he has against Elsie.”

  “I suppose that could explain things, if ye believe Elsie is a skilled midwife. But even she maintains the Macrae intended to deceive ye. What do ye make of that?”

  “I don’t know and I expect it will all be sorted out eventually. But I am certain Elsie is the midwife we needed.”

  “Because of whatever her secret is?”

  “Aye, son. Can ye let this drop now?”

  Cade nodded. “I suppose. But if the lass chooses to tell me herself?”

  “That’s up to her.”

  He’d let it drop for now. He believed Elsie was unique, and he couldn’t help wonder what she had revealed to convince his father of that. Still, this completely changed things. If there was a way she could stay, perhaps there was also a way he could have her as a wife. Aye, this could work, but it required patience.

  Elsie had requested distance and he’d agreed to give it to her. However if chance brought them together, he couldn’t be blamed. If she felt as strongly about him as he did about her—and he believed she did—she would soon grow as frustrated as he was.

  Chapter 24

  Cade began implementing his plan to win Elsie the next day. He knew he could not pursue her overtly, as he had initially. He had to keep her off balance—keep stirring her attraction to him. In essence, he intended to subtly do exactly what she had asked him not to do. Over the next week he took every opportunity to interact with her. Sometimes intentionally, others by pure, blessed chance.

  The very first morning he’d learned that running into her on the tower stairs was pure gold. He had met her on his way up the stairs as she was coming down for the morning meal.

  “Good morning, Elsie.” His eyes roved down her body and back up, taking a moment to appreciate every inch of her lovely form. “Ye’re looking well this morning.” Pleased to see a slow blush creep across her cheeks, he leaned casually against one wall of the stair well while putting a hand on the other wall—completely blocking her descent.

  “Th-thank ye.”

  “And how is Lady Wynda?”

  “Lying flat is trying, but she’s faring well.”

  “Excellent. What do ye have planned for today?”

  She frowned at him. “Well, I thought I’d start by breaking my fast, but ye’re blocking my way.”

  There it was, the cheekiness he adored. “How churlish of me. I beg yer pardon.” He stepped aside to let her pass, but as she did he noticed her blush had only grown deeper. He had flustered her. Perfect. After that brief encounter, he made certain it happened again. Frequently.

  Lady Wynda’s confinement proved helpful in his pursuit. Ever since he had learned Wynda would have to spend months in bed, Cade tried to stop in to see her for a few minutes every day. He could only imagine how hard a confinement like that would. While he had never thought of her as a mother—he’d been away training when his father married her—she made his da happy and Cade liked and respected her. He wanted to do what he could to help break up the monotony of her days. As it happened, Elsie spent a lot of time with Wynda too. It was a very simple thing, to make certain his visits occurred when she was there.

  But occasionally, an opportunity presented itself, which was so perfect he could only believe it was heaven-sent. One afternoon he rode into the village with a hunting party. She stood in front of a cottage, holding the bag of supplies she had begun to carry with her when she visited a patient. She looked wistfully tow
ards the loch.

  He called to her, “Good afternoon, Elsie. Are ye visiting Alma? Is she ill?”

  “I’m just leaving. She has a touch of catarrh but I think she’ll be fine.”

  “Ye look as if something’s bothering ye.”

  “Nay, not really. It’s just a lovely day and a walk would be nice.”

  “Ah, but ye need a guardsman to go with ye.”

  “Aye.”

  “Eric, would ye escort Elsie on a walk to the loch.”

  She shook her head. “Nay, I hate to ask,” but the look of longing in her eyes was unmistakable.

  “Nonsense, Eric wouldn’t mind, would ye, coz?”

  Eric chuckled. “Not at all. However, I haven’t seen ye riding in ages Elsie. Maybe ye’d rather ride than walk?”

  Elsie’s eyes lit with pleasure. If Cade wasn’t much mistaken, the last time she’d been for a ride was weeks ago when he’d ordered her to go with him and she’d asked for distance.

  “I’d love to, Sir Eric. Thank ye.”

  “Then we will. But, it’s a shame to go all the way back up to the stable for Edda. Affric, yer gelding is a fine calm mount isn’t he?”

  “Aye, he is Eric. Elsie, I’d be happy to loan him to ye.” It was a mark of how well Elsie was respected that he was already off the horse and leading it towards her before he’d finished speaking.

  She looked hesitant. “I don’t really have much experience. Edda is the only horse I’ve ever ridden.”

  Eric smiled at her. “’Twill be good for ye to sit a different horse then. Ye really should learn how to read and adjust to other mounts.”

  “I guess—if yer sure it will be all right.”

  “I won’t let anything happen to ye,” assured Eric.

  Cade watched, trying to appear disinterested.

  Once Affric had helped Elsie onto his horse and adjusted the stirrups to fit her, Eric said, “Shall we go, lass?” He clicked to his mount and turned to head out of the village.

  Elsie too urged Affric’s gelding into a walk, following Eric.

  This was the moment. “Lads, now that I think on it, I’d like a ride to the loch too. I’ll go with them.”

  He couldn’t see the expression on her face, but her back had gone stiff. He grinned for a moment, before schooling his features and riding up next to her. “Elsie, have ye forgotten everything? Don’t sit so stiff in the saddle, lass,” he scolded.

  He was rewarded with a scowl from Elsie and a low chuckle from Eric.

  They rode for about an hour. Elsie eventually dropped her guard and enjoyed the ride.

  As they were riding back towards Carraigile, Eric fell back to a discreet distance. Cade knew he owed his cousin a huge debt for his role in orchestrating this.

  “I’ve missed this, Elsie.”

  She sighed wistfully. “I have too.”

  He knew better than to push it more. That she admitted it was a start.

  After that, Cade continued to find ways to coax Elsie into letting her guard down. It required finesse and would not happen overnight. He could afford to be patient. At least he thought he could, until things changed a few days later.

  A messenger from Laird Macrae arrived during the midday meal. His father took the missive, his face grim as he read.

  Cade scanned the trestle tables for Elsie. He realized the messenger too had spotted her and stared her direction.

  ~ * ~

  The thing Elizabeth had been dreading had finally happened. A Macrae messenger had just delivered a message to Laird MacKenzie and now glared at her. She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run from the hall, but she knew that would be foolish. She could only wait to see what the message contained.

  Laird MacKenzie frowned as he read it, giving nothing away. When he had finished reading, he looked up at the messenger.

  “Will there be a reply, Laird?”

  “Eventually. For the time being, find a seat and have some refreshment.” He motioned for servants to bring the man food and ale.

  Without another word to the messenger, Laird MacKenzie rose from the table. Cade too stood but the laird shook his head slightly, indicating that Cade should stay. Cade frowned but sat back down.

  The laird walked to the tower stairs, motioning for Elizabeth to follow him.

  She hurried out of the hall and up the stairs. When she reached the top, Laird MacKenzie waited there for her. “Eliz—er—Elsie, come with me to my solar. We need to discuss this message from Laird Macrae.”

  She nodded, following silently in his wake.

  When they reached the solar, he bade her sit in one of the chairs, taking the one opposite her for himself. “Well, lass, I suppose ye can guess what’s in Laird Macrae’s message.”

  “He wants ye to send me back?”

  “Not in so many words, but, aye, that’s the gist. He says he was pleased to be able to assist me, but surely if anything could be done to help Lady MacKenzie, it’s been done. He says ye’re needed at home as soon as ye can return. If all is well, I’m to send ye back with this messenger.”

  Panic rose. “Laird, I can’t go back.”

  “Don’t worry so, lass, I don’t intend to send ye back. I’m going to tell him, Lady Wynda still needs ye. I just want my message back to him to be accurate, in case he questions a midwife about my response.”

  Elizabeth relaxed a little. “Well, she’s only five months along. Granted that’s longer than she carried the last bairn, but it is way too soon to make any judgment. The next three months are the most critical to ensure that both Lady Wynda and the babe are well. But since it’s commonly believed nothing can be done, he may not believe ye anyway.”

  “Still it will buy us a bit of additional time. I had hoped to have several more months before we had to face this but ultimately I will have to confront Macrae. He might be convinced to let ye stay if he realizes he’ll have a feud on his hands if he doesn’t.”

  Elizabeth was aghast. “A feud? Ye can’t start a feud over me.”

  “It isn’t just over ye. The Macrae sought an alliance through deception. That’s more than sufficient grounds for a feud. Even though we want to keep ye, nothing changes his intent.”

  That didn’t give Elizabeth a lot of comfort. She looked down.

  He leaned forward in his chair and raised her chin until she met his gaze. “This will all be worked out, Elizabeth, I promise. But now that things have heated up, I don’t want ye leaving the castle walls without an escort. I’ll inform my men.”

  “But there are people who need me.”

  “Aye, but a guardsman will always be with ye. ‘Tis for yer safety, lass. Promise me ye’ll abide by this.”

  “Aye, laird, I promise.” The fact that Laird MacKenzie was so worried about her safety unsettled Elizabeth.

  “Now, I am going to prepare a message to send back to Macrae. I want ye to stay out of the hall until that messenger leaves. I saw him glare at ye. I don’t want him to be anywhere near ye.”

  “Aye, laird. I’ll go sit with Lady Wynda for a while.”

  He smiled warmly. “She always loves the hours ye spend with her. She says time speeds by in yer company.”

  Elizabeth nodded, but was too worried to summon a smile. “I’m glad I’m able to distract her.” She rose to leave, but before she reached the door, she asked, “Laird, can I tell her about the messenger.”

  He sighed heavily. “I would rather keep this unpleasantness from her, but that upsets her even more. Aye, tell her if ye wish.”

  When Elizabeth reached Wynda’s chamber, as ever Wynda was delighted to see her and chivvied Alice out of the room so they could be alone.

  Wynda was not pleased by Laird Macrae’s request, but neither was she worried. “We’ll work this out, Elizabeth. I promise ye we will.”

  “I know, I just hope it doesn’t spark a feud.”

  “I doubt that it will, but don’t worry about it for now.”

  “I’ll try, my lady.”

  “Good. Now
ye need to settle my worry.”

  “What are ye worried about?”

  Lady Wynda tilted her head sideways. “Ye don’t know?”

  “Nay, my lady, I’m sorry.”

  “Well that goes quite a way towards making me feel better.”

  “Lady Wynda, I don’t understand.”

  “Do ye know what tomorrow is?”

  Elizabeth frowned, “Nay, I’m sorry, I don’t.”

  Wynda gave her a huge warm smile and tears filled her eyes. “Tomorrow is day sixty. Ye and Elsie have only one day left to switch places if ye wish to.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I committed to staying weeks ago and then again ten days ago. I’ve thought no more about it. Unless Elsie changes her mind within the next twenty four hours, and based on my discussion with Gertrude, that seems unlikely, I’m here to stay.”

  ~ * ~

  Cade kept an unobtrusive eye on the Macrae messenger. The man tried several times to engage MacKenzie clansmen in conversation. Cade had to smile when each time, the messenger attempted to steer the conversation to Elsie, the MacKenzies refused to be drawn in.

  When his father returned to the great hall, he carried a sealed letter. “Here is the return message for yer laird.”

  The man took the parchment but frowning said, “Laird Macrae said I was to escort Elsie home.”

  “Not today. I’ve explained it all in the letter. If ye leave now ye should be able to reach the Matheson holding not long after dark.”

  “Aye, Laird.” The man nodded and took the letter. He looked irritated at being rushed away. Normally, unless a message was extremely urgent, a messenger could expect a bed for the night allowing him to rest and leave the next morning, refreshed.

  When the messenger had left, Cade asked his father, “What was in the missive.”

  “Ye heard the man, Macrae wanted me to send Elsie back.”

  “But Wynda hasn’t had the baby yet.”

  “That’s what I told him in the letter. I informed him that Elsie needs to stay until Wynda delivers.”

  “Do ye think he’ll accept that?”

  “Only time will tell. But I am concerned about what he might do. I’ve told Elsie she’s not to leave the walls without an escort. Now that I think more about it, make sure the men know that a single guard is only sufficient if she is going to the village. If she wishes to venture beyond that, I want at least two or three men with her.”