Highland Lies (The Band of Cousins Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  “What else did she tell you? Anything about the cargo or where the boats come from?”

  Maggie directed her attention to Roddy. He sighed and said, “Nay. She does not speak. We conversed with her and did our best to communicate, but that was all she could tell us. She only knows that they come in the night and use a beacon.”

  Connor said, “But the situation is more complicated than that. There is an abbey not far from there, about an hour. We stopped and spoke with the abbess. She indicated there are usually over thirty lasses there, yet we only saw a handful. One of the serving lasses told us they were all at the new abbey, Abbey of Angels.”

  “I’ve never heard of this,” Maggie said, looking confused.

  “Braden never mentioned it either,” Roddy said. “We headed south and located a group working on what appeared to be an abandoned building. The lasses were sprucing up the inside while the lads and monks worked on the roof of a new section just added. Other lads were inside building doors and shelving.”

  “So, they are expanding a new building that no one knows about.” Maggie glanced at Will, then back at Roddy.

  “The workers were afraid of getting into trouble if they didn’t finish in time. An Englishman appeared out of nowhere, instructing them to finish in less than a fortnight.”

  Connor added, “Mayhap a sennight.”

  Will nodded. “An isolated castle, a sea loch with a dock, boats in the night, and a new abbey for young lasses who wish to become nuns. Hmmm. Sounds like a new location for the Channel of Dubh. Mayhap Lamont is involved.”

  “That’s exactly what came to our minds. We thought it best to update you before we investigate further.”

  They let their words settle as they poured ale for all who were present.

  “I think we should all head north,” Maggie said at last, “though Will and I will travel to Ramsay land first to inform my father of the situation. Daniel was planning to report back to us tomorrow, so he can join us. In fact, I’ll send him off with the two of you, Roddy and Connor. You three can investigate Sona Abbey further and keep watch for any ships in the sea loch, or anything else unusual. I’m going to have Gavin and Gregor search the area, see if anyone else knows about this new abbey.”

  Daniel Drummond was a new member of the Band of Cousins. Of all of them, he was the best at sneaking and spying, known in jest as the Ghost, so it was a relief they’d have him around to help.

  The sound of horses brought their attention to the outdoors. A few moments later, Will’s grandfather knocked on the door and stuck his head inside, “William, ye have a visitor.”

  The door burst open moments later, and Gwyneth Ramsay pushed her way in, Molly behind her.

  “Molly?” Maggie said, rushing forward to hug her sister and her adoptive mother. She was clearly as surprised about the visit as the rest of them. “Is something wrong? Why are you here?”

  Molly moved inside and sat in an empty chair, holding her head. The gesture sent a wave of foreboding through Roddy. Every Grant and Ramsay knew Molly was a seer. Headaches preceded her premonitions. “Headaches again, Maggie. Bad headaches and I’m worried about you.”

  Gwyneth said, “I couldn’t deter her, stubborn lass. She’s convinced something bad is about to happen. Maggie, she’s especially worried you may be involved.”

  Maggie took the chair next to her sister and hugged her lightly. “Molly, you need not worry about me. Mayhap we’re about to come upon more trouble, but Will and our cousins will be there to protect me.”

  Molly teared up, still rubbing the front of her forehead. “I’m glad you are hale. I was so worried. But please be careful. Something nasty is coming. Promise me you’ll not take any risks.” She gripped her sister’s upper arm.

  “I promise, Mol. Why don’t you lie down? We have mattresses on several pallets. I’ll tell Mama everything while you rest.” She helped her sister to her feet and led her into one of the adjoining chambers. Their mother followed them and closed the door behind them.

  Will’s gaze followed the door, concern in his eyes, but he smiled when he turned back to face them. “I think you all need something in your bellies before you leave, lads. Who’s the best cook?”

  “I’ll make a stew if somebody catches a rabbit or two,” Gregor offered.

  Connor said, “I’ll do the hunting.”

  Roddy pushed back from the table and said, “I’ll see what vegetables I can find to chop up. Will you join me, Gavin?”

  Gavin agreed, but not without some grousing about being sent on the less exciting task.

  Will headed for the door. “I’ll get Grandpapa and have him join us.”

  They spent the rest of the day strategizing, keeping their conversation pitched low so as not to disturb Molly. They planned their patrols so they wouldn’t cross each other’s paths, conscious of the Englishman’s comment about something happening in a fortnight. All of them were anxious to catch more of the blackguards involved in this Channel.

  At dinner, Gregor said, “I cannot ignore the fact that Molly is having headaches. What think all of you about that?”

  Roddy glanced at Connor, who glared at him. He didn’t have trouble interpreting that look. His cousin wouldn’t thank him if he revealed they’d seen a ghost.

  Instead, Roddy said, “Have any of you met Paddy the pony? Connor and I can vouch for the fact that he is a bit different than your average Highland pony.”

  “What exactly do you mean by that?” Gregor asked. “Does he cast spells or something?”

  Gavin added, “If so, I need to become friends with him. See if I can convince him to cast a spell on a few lasses.”

  “You cannot get any on your own, Gavin?” Gregor asked, a wry grin transforming his usually serious face. “But I thought all the lasses liked you better?” he taunted, clearly repeating something Gavin had said.

  Gavin ignored him, offering a quick short, “We shall see.”

  Will said, “I don’t ignore unusual gifts from animals, but that probably does not surprise any of you, given my falcons. Remind everyone about Paddy.”

  Roddy said, “Steenie, five summers old, was lost in the dark and the pony found him. He brought the lad straight to Grant land.”

  “Steenie probably guided him,” Gavin said.

  “Impossible. Steenie had never been to Grant land. We still don’t know how the two of them found their way in the middle of the night.”

  The group chewed their food, giving the comment serious thought.

  Connor sighed and said, “Anyone who’s seen that pony with Steenie knows ’tis an odd relationship. I cannot deny it, no matter how I try.”

  Gregor said, “A strange pony, Molly having headaches. What’s the connection, Roddy?”

  Glancing again at Connor, who shot him an even dirtier look, Roddy only said, “I believe Molly, is all. There are strange things in this world, things that cannot be explained.”

  Connor bolted out of his chair so quickly he knocked it over.

  The rest of their time was spent in light banter until they left the following morn.

  “Maggie, I hope your sister feels better. For all of our sakes,” Roddy said.

  Maggie thanked him and wished them luck on their journey. “I’ll send Daniel along as soon as he arrives.” She returned to her sister’s bedside, leaving the travelers alone.

  “Godspeed to you,” Gavin said to Roddy and Connor, waving once he and Gregor had mounted.

  “And to you,” Roddy said, saying a silent prayer for God’s help, too.

  He had two things on his mind—a lovely lass with violet eyes, and a ghost who’d come to them in the night and told them to help a lass.

  He had a sinking suspicion both had something to do with the Channel of Dubh.

  ***

  The day after Rose shared a kiss with Roddy, her mother brought her to the abbey. Her mother had barely spoken to her at all since confronting her in the great hall. Rose did her best not to dwell on the thought that s
he was being sent to a different prison. Despite her mother’s threat, there remained a slim possibility they were attending the abbey for religious reasons or for her mother to make a donation to the abbey.

  Sona meant joyous in Gaelic, but what was joyous about a church full of nuns and monks? There were no cliffs or pounding waves there, none of the rough, rugged beauty she loved at home. She’d been eager for something more, aye, but she knew she’d not find it here. Thoughts of the warm lips of a warrior in red plaid were foremost in her mind.

  Once they arrived, the stable master sent for two nuns to escort them into the abbey. The abbess met them at the door, and the two other nuns peeled away. The abbess was a short, rotund woman with fair skin that stood out against her dark robes. Rose had the sense the woman was quite strict, but she didn’t seem unkind. She wore a smile that did not reach her eyes, though the tiny lines at the edges seemed to deepen. Her presence filled the small foyer they stood in, empty other than a narrow bench and table.

  “Mother Marion, I’m so pleased to see you again. This is my lovely daughter, Rose. I’ve mentioned her to you before.” Her mother always referred to the mother abbess as Mother Marion.

  “Aye, good day to you, my dear.” She stood as straight as an arrow, her hands folded in front of her and hidden inside the bell sleeves of her robe.

  “Please remember that my daughter cannot hear or speak.” Her mother’s chin lifted a bit as though she wished to challenge the abbess. Was this to be a battle of wills of some sort? Her mother was quite controlling, but she guessed the abbess was accustomed to being in control, especially here.

  “I do recall that, Lady MacDole, but I do not wish to treat her as though she doesn’t exist.” She smiled directly at Rose again.

  She had a sudden urge to hug the abbess. Most people tended to ignore her once they learned she couldn’t hear or speak. Mayhap that was her mother’s reason for telling the lie. If her mother did leave her here, at least she’d be around other people. Anyone would be better company than her mother, even the mother abbess.

  Lady MacDole sighed and folded her hands in front of her, mimicking the abbess. “Your consideration for her feelings is commendable, Mother Marion, but I know her best. She often becomes anxious if she doesn’t understand what others are saying to her. That is exactly the reason I have kept her secluded at home of late. It would be too troublesome for her to be around others where she cannot communicate.”

  “Perhaps we could teach her to read,” Mother Marion said as she led them down the passageway and up the stairs to the chambers for the lasses who were to be novices in the nunnery. “While we do not usually instruct our students in reading, perhaps an exception could be made in Rose’s case due to the unusual circumstances.”

  Rose knew how her mother would respond to that suggestion. Rather than listen, she directed her attention to her surroundings. The passageway was well lit with candles in sconces, the ornate shape adding a regal feeling to the surroundings that seemed out of place.

  How long would she be expected to stay here?

  Her mother’s voice, presently a pleasant lilt, broke into her awareness, “Her dear sire attempted to teach her, but he was unsuccessful. There’s no reason to waste anyone’s time on lessons. Come along, dearest.” She ushered her daughter in front of her as they followed the abbess through the network of passageways.

  Rose wished she could speak, because if she could, she would shout loud enough for every nun and monk inside the abbey to hear her declare that she wanted to learn how to read. That nothing would please her more, that she would work harder than any student they’d ever seen if someone would just take the time to teach her.

  They passed the open double doors to the great hall, and she peered inside, hoping to see others her own age.

  Rows of trestle tables filled the halls, but they were empty. As they neared the staircase at the end of the passageway, singing voices rang out from the chapel. She steeled herself not to respond to the beautiful sound echoing down the passageway. Her mother clucked her tongue, but the abbess only quirked her brow. “We sing to the Lord.”

  The abbess stopped, paused, then pivoted on her heel to face Lady MacDole. “Heavens above, how will we be able to get her to say her vows when the time comes?”

  Rose nearly stopped in her tracks at this pronouncement, but she forced herself to continue, casting a sideways glance at her mother.

  Her mother’s threat from the other night popped into her mind again.

  You’ll regret this. I think the time has come for you to move on.

  So, this was what she’d had in mind. She would force her to become a nun.

  Rose’s mother didn’t even flinch. “You’ll have plenty of time before you need worry about that. She can do basic signs to indicate what she needs. For instance, food or drinks, or if she is cold, she’ll shiver for you. I’m sure you get the idea.” Those last sentences were delivered with a bite. Sometimes, Rose wondered if her mother would prefer it if she’d just freeze to death out on the cliffs.

  The abbess reached over and patted Rose’s shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll get along well here. I’ll introduce her to the other novices at the evening meal. The two of you must be tired after your long journey. Perhaps you would like to rest for a bit. I’ll have one of the maids assist her with her trunk. She’ll be staying in this chamber,” she added, indicating an open door off to the left.

  The chamber was small and chilly with no hearth in sight. There were two pallets on opposite walls, a plaid and a fur folded on the end of each, and there was a large gold cross on the far wall. A table with two chairs sat underneath the cross. Her trunk would sit at the end of one bed, but beyond that, there was very little room.

  Her mother said, “No need for anyone to attend to me. I’ll be on my way, as I wish to return before dark. I’ll just say my goodbyes and leave. If you’ll summon the maid to have her trunk brought up, they can quickly arrange her chamber for her.”

  The abbess gave a slight bow and headed back through the passageway toward the stairway. The poor woman started to say, “Rose, if you are in need…” She stopped mid-sentence, apparently thinking better of speaking to a supposedly deaf woman.

  “I’ll give my darling girl one last hug before I leave.” Lady MacDole waved as the abbess descended the staircase. Rose wished to grab the woman’s arm and reel her back, but she knew better. She knew her mother.

  As soon as the abbess was out of hearing range, Rose’s mother gripped her arm and shoved her into the chamber. “Now, you will remain here until the Lord has forgiven you for your transgressions. You must beg His forgiveness, or I’ll be forced to have you take your vows and remain here as a nun for the rest of your days. Think on that and decide what you will do.”

  Rose nodded, the same way she always did with her mother. If she were not agreeable, she’d be punished accordingly. As much as she wished to reveal her secret to the mother abbess and petition her for help, her mother was a frequent visitor to the abbey. If Rose were to reveal her secret, this would not be the best place. Her mother would know before the day was out. Of that much she was certain since she visited both Father Seward and the mother abbess frequently. Nay, she would have to continue the pretense of being deaf, at least for the time being.

  “Remember,” her mother said, “it is your fault you bleed every month. Shame on you for causing it with your disgraceful sins. Until it ceases, you’ll remain here.”

  She dropped her hand as if glad to be rid of her and departed without another word.

  Rose’s eyes misted as she sat on the pallet in this small, stuffy room where the one person left in her family had abandoned her. While she would never take her own life, she did often wish she were dead. It would be much easier.

  Chapter Six

  When Roddy and Connor arrived at Muir Castle, they informed Braden of all that had transpired, including their meeting with the Band of Cousins. Braden asked, “I still don’t understand why you
returned to MacDole Castle. What made you suspect something underhanded?”

  Connor just arched his brow and grinned, turning toward Roddy and giving him the chance to answer.

  Roddy couldn’t deny the truth of the matter. “I met a dark-haired lass who caught my interest. We met on the cliffs, but I frightened her. I became more intrigued with her when I saw her inside the castle.”

  “Just because of her beauty? Is that why Connor is guffawing?”

  “Nay, not just because of that, though she is quite bonnie. Her mother told me she couldn’t speak or hear, but I sensed it wasn’t the complete truth. Besides, Connor hadn’t uncovered anything at all, so I wished to go back. The castle is directly on the sea loch, which seemed like a possible loading point for the Channel. Connor agreed with me.”

  “About the lass?” Braden teased him.

  “Nay, you fool. But speaking of the lass, when I returned, she explained to me that she can indeed hear, but she cannot speak. So, you see, I was right.”

  Connor chided, “We were both right. Both of us suspected something strange was afoot at MacDole Castle. If the Channel is active in the area, they must know something. Maggie and Will agree, so we’re going back.”

  Braden asked, “Why did she lie about not being able to hear?

  “’Tis her mother who insists on the lie, although I have yet to determine why. I managed to get Rose alone and she explained the truth to me. We do have trouble communicating, but ’tis much easier now that I know she can hear my words. Lady MacDole is a strange woman. She keeps herself isolated from everyone and everything. She’ll not give us any information at all. I wish to speak with the household help.” Then he grinned at Connor. “And if I happen to see a beauty with violet eyes along the way, then so be it.”

  What he didn’t say was that a new dream had haunted his sleep, much more pleasant than his nightmares of the water. Rose spoke to him in the dream, and her voice was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. He always awoke feeling the urgent need to see her.