Highland Lies (The Band of Cousins Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  “Well, anyway, she made Rose think that…” she paused, blushing as she looked at Rose, who indicated with an urgent wave of her hand that she should continue.

  Constance took a deep breath, then reached for Rose’s hand before she finished speaking. “Her mother told her God would make her bleed every month until he forgave her for her transgression.”

  Roddy was quiet for a moment, unable to process what Constance had just told him. She couldn’t be referring to a woman’s monthly courses, could she? Why, that would be…that was…what kind of monster would tell a young lass such a thing? Nay. He had to be wrong.

  “You mean she convinced her that the reason she bleeds every month as a woman is because the Lord is angry with her?”

  “Aye, apparently she caught her kissing another lad a few days back. She sent her here because she had sinned, not because she wants to be a nun. She told her that if she stops bleeding every month, it will mean the Lord has forgiven her and she can return home.”

  Roddy frowned. “The second lad is me. Rose, I’m so sorry…”

  Rose shook her head with a vehemence that told him her time away from home had been good for her. She’d gained some confidence. Then the larger meaning behind Constance’s words struck him hard. “But that would mean she would be here…”

  Constance filled in his thoughts. “Aye, that would mean she’d never go home.”

  Roddy brought his gaze up to meet Rose’s, trying so hard to hide the revulsion he felt for her mother. What kind of twisted creature would tell their child such a bold lie? “I’m so sorry, Rose. I’m stunned. Why would your mother want you out of the castle?”

  Rose made a series of gestures and made a few words with her lips, but he couldn’t understand what she was trying to say. “Constance? Are you comprehending any of her signs? Reading her lips?”

  Constance shook her head, but then two of the words Rose was trying to get across finally registered.

  “Boat” and “night.”

  A strange sensation crawled down his spine. Rose herself thought there was a connection between her mother and the boat she’d seen at the dock.

  As soon as Rose’s tears started, he said, “Enough, Constance. I don’t want to frustrate her any longer. Those two words tell me much. Why don’t you go back inside?”

  The girl shot him a look, then shifted her attention to Rose. “Do you want to stay with him?”

  Rose held up her ten fingers.

  “All right. Ten minutes. I’ll go inside and wait, but I’ll be just inside the door.”

  As soon as Constance took her leave, Rose fell against Roddy and sobbed. Hell, he didn’t know what to do, so he just held her while she cried. Her head rested underneath his chin and he took in her sweet floral scent, breathing it in deeper. It reminded him of the violet hue of her eyes. He brushed the hair back from her face, rubbing his thumb across her cheek.

  A few minutes later, she stopped crying and pushed away from his chest, her eyes red and her cheeks drenched. Somehow, she was still the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. She peered up at him and touched her lips with her fingers and then moved them to his lips.

  Confused, he said, “Kiss?”

  She nodded, her gaze forlorn and confused.

  “Do you want me to kiss you?” He pointed at himself, then to her.

  She nodded, the confused expression changing to one of hope.

  “You understand that the Lord won’t think badly of us for kissing?”

  A brief smile crossed her lips and she nodded.

  Roddy cupped her face and covered her lips with his, tasting her slowly so as not to frighten her. He moved his lips over hers and she parted her lips just enough for him to slip his tongue inside, giving him the chance to taste her. He could tell she was an innocent, so he did his best to move slowly rather than ravaging her the way he wished to do.

  Rose melded her body against his, and he wrapped his arms around her back to tug her closer. At first, she was stiff, but once her body met his, it was as if a match had been lit within her. Her passion ignited his own.

  He couldn’t get enough of his sweet Rose, but he knew he had to stop. He did not wish to cause any more trouble for her, especially since they were inside the walls of the abbey, so he ended the kiss. She whimpered, a slight gasp in the back of her throat that fueled his desire.

  He forced himself to set her away from him and then pointed to the door. “You must go back. Constance is waiting for you.” He couldn’t help but wonder what other twisted views the lass had been taught about relationships between men and women, but he wouldn’t upset her any more this night.

  She took his hand in hers and led him over to the door that led into the abbey. Leaning against him as they strolled, she sighed, which he took as a good sign. When they arrived, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him briefly on the lips, then waved goodbye to him.

  He asked, “How old?” Pointed to her chest.

  Constance opened the door and said, “She’s ten and seven, nearly ten and eight.” She blushed a bit, having revealed she was listening to them, and closed the door again.

  He pointed to his chest and said, “I’ll be back.”

  She smiled and opened the door, looking back at him over her shoulder as she slipped inside. That last fleeting glimpse of the beautiful lass tempted him to grab her and never let go. He wished to help her, to fix this chaos that had thrown her life into disarray. He couldn’t imagine what she might be thinking.

  What could be worse than your own mother lying to you to get rid of you?

  ***

  Roddy and Daniel met up with Connor and Braden in front of the abbey, but Braden motioned for them to move a distance away before talking. They followed the path until they reached a clearing near a bubbling burn, where they stopped to water their horses and share their discoveries.

  “What did you learn?” Braden asked.

  “I found Rose,” Roddy replied, “and discovered she’s there because her mother forced her. The MacDole woman told her she’s sinned and has to beg the Lord for forgiveness.”

  Daniel’s jaw dropped open. “That sweet thing I saw running into the infirmary has sinned? I don’t believe it.”

  Roddy jolted with surprise. “You made it all the way to the infirmary?”

  “Aye, and I saw the two of them sneak back in. One lass with really dark hair and one with curly red hair. And one looking as though she’d been thoroughly kissed, if I had to guess.” Daniel winked at the other two lads, but Roddy did not respond.

  “And what else did you discover?” he pressed.

  “Och, that there are at most thirty guards, quite a large number for an abbey this size. This makes me question the activities going on here. The priest and abbess who run the abbey have one verra large benefactor who controls much of what they do, but I could not uncover that person’s name.”

  “Could be anyone,” Connor noted.

  “I will find out when we go back,” Daniel said, an impish grin dancing across his face.

  “We will be going back?” Braden asked.

  “We sure will. Roddy will insist on it.” He shot him a meaningful look. “And even if he didn’t, there’s most certainly something going on there. I could feel it in every person I saw. They’re all afraid of something.”

  “Aye,” Connor said. “Something to do with Abbey of the Angels, no doubt. Who are the other neighbors in the area, Braden? Do you know them?”

  “Some, but not all. There’s one family north of me, but I would not call them wealthy. No one directly to the west because the landscape is so poor. Loki is east of us, but a bit of a stretch. Don’t know who’s to the south.”

  “Why haven’t you sent out any patrols yet?” Daniel asked.

  The other three chuckled. “Braden does not have many guards to patrol for him yet. He’s gained mayhap five. Loki patrols for him on occasion.”

  Daniel stroked his chin as he thought. “Hmmm. Mayhap I should stay with you
for a while. ’Twould be interesting.”

  “You are most welcome to join me. I have plenty of empty chambers in the castle and even two huts remain unclaimed,” Braden offered. “Think on it.”

  “Back to our topic, Rose mentioned something else interesting,” Roddy said.

  “How so?” Connor interrupted wryly. “Has she suddenly learned to speak?”

  “Nay. We had an interpreter in a sense. She’s been working with another lass from the abbey. They’ve developed their own systems of signs and they also use picture books to communicate with each other. Constance was able to tell me most of the story, and it’s not a good one.” That caught their attention, and he had to force himself to calm down as a righteous fury blossomed inside him. Steeling himself, he told them what he knew.

  “So her own mother sent her to the abbey for the rest of her life without her agreement?” Connor asked. “I thought Lady MacDole was a nasty woman, but I didn’t suspect anything like this.”

  “Aye,” Roddy said, “And she’s only ten and seven.”

  Dead silence met his revelation. He didn’t blame his cousins. It was just as shocking to him to speak this truth as it was for them to hear it.

  Braden shook his head, staring at the ground, and whispered, “Unbelievable.”

  “Anything else?” Connor whispered.

  “Aye. I asked her if she knew of any reason why her mother wouldn’t want her at the castle, and she became quite animated over something. Neither Constance nor I could make much of what she was saying, but I did pick up two words. Boat and night. It’s clear she suspects her mother’s involved with whatever’s happening beneath MacDole Castle.”

  Braden said, “There must be something going on at the castle, some reason her mother wanted her out. This could all be connected. We must follow up on this.”

  “Aye, my feelings exactly,” Connor agreed. “In fact, I think we ought to head back to Muir Castle and send a messenger to Will and Maggie. They need to be here soon.”

  Three other heads nodded in agreement.

  They took off at a good canter. With luck, they’d arrive back at Braden’s shortly after midnight. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t with them that night.

  They hadn’t gone far when they were attacked.

  Eight reivers to the four of them.

  Chapter Ten

  Roddy nearly choked with fear. One rider headed straight for him, his weapon raised.

  Connor cut the reiver down with one swing of his sword. “Roddy, wake up!” he shouted.

  It felt as if everything around Roddy had sped up—but he’d slowed down. As if the very air around him had grown heavier. He stared at the melee, swinging his sword, but not with a fraction of the drive and conviction he had in the lists.

  He managed to knock one reiver off his horse while Braden took down two each. Daniel stuck his sword in the belly of another of their attackers. That only left only one.

  And he was charging straight toward Roddy.

  The reiver had already ascertained which of them was the weakest link—and it wasn’t the warrior with only one arm.

  The reiver swung his sword from the side aiming to cut Roddy in half, but he blocked the swing and plunged his sword deep into the man’s chest, killing him instantly.

  That was the last one.

  The other three bellowed and shouted as they glanced at the eight men they’d taken down, but Roddy couldn’t celebrate.

  Anyone looking at him would guess he panted from exertion, but he didn’t. He couldn’t catch his breath because the fear of nearly dying had once again overpowered him, and he fought to gain his equilibrium back.

  When would this stop?

  ***

  Rose woke up the next morning with a new sense of purpose.

  Roddy’s kiss had awakened something inside her—something she wished to explore further. This was someone who was not only kind to her, but someone who believed in her.

  Someone who hadn’t been stopped by her mother.

  She would stay strong for herself, but also for Roddy. They deserved the chance to explore their relationship further. If she could just find a way out of the abbey, they could have that chance.

  She would join Clan Grant if they would accept her. Anything to get away from her mother.

  She also needed to focus on learning how to better communicate. Constance had helped her immensely, but she’d still struggled to get her words across to Roddy.

  Frustration exhausted her.

  When she climbed out of bed, she did so carefully so as not to awaken Constance, who was still sleeping soundly. She made her way to the nun’s area, to the private chamber where she could finish her morning ablutions.

  She had three goals: to finish learning to read, to find out for certain why her mother wished to get rid of her, and to get to know Roddy Grant better. She’d done her best to explain to Roddy that she’d remembered something about the boat’s visits to the dock. It had occurred to her that her mother always told her to go inside on the nights the boat came. It had never stopped her from sneaking out, however. While she’d never seen much, she’d heard a strange noise coming from the area around the docks one night.

  Lassies crying. She hadn’t been able to identify the sound then, but now she was certain she was right. What had the men done with the lasses? Where were they sending them?

  And what did her mother have to do with all of it?

  She had a feeling Roddy and his cousins were the only ones who could help her answer her questions.

  When she finished her ablutions, Sister Murreall came along and said, “I know you cannot hear me, lass, but brush your hair and put on the nicer gown. Your mother is here, and I’m sure she’ll be up to see you before she leaves.” She took her hand and said, “Come along with me. I’ll find you something to wear.”

  Rose was careful not to react, though she wished to run out of the infirmary. Nay, she wished to run out of the abbey and keep running until she was far, far away.

  Sister Murreall led her down the passageway, selected a nice gown for her from the ones hanging in her chamber, then brought her back to the sick room. “Here, this should do nicely. Your mother is with the abbess presently, so no need to hurry. Our regular gowns aren’t nice enough for you to wear to meet your mother. This one you brought with you will show off your eyes.” The kind nun meandered back down the passageway, muttering to herself. “I do not know why I insist on talking to someone who cannot hear me. I must be daft in my old age.”

  Rose wished to hug the nun, but the woman left as quickly and quietly as she’d come. Constance sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

  “What is it? Why did Sister Murreall bring you back to our chamber for a nicer gown?”

  Rose gave her the sign for her mother, tracing an M in the palm of her hand, then pointed to the ground.

  Constance groaned. “Your mother is here.” She fell back onto her bed as Rose removed her night rail and reached for a shift and the wool gown. “What will we do?”

  Rose hated to lie to Constance, but she feared her friend would insist on coming if she were to admit she intended to eavesdrop.

  To protect both of them, she merely told Constance she was going for a walk.

  She crept down the back staircase, listening for anyone along the way, but since it was time for mass, she didn’t expect to see people moving about. Once she made it to the passageway without being seen, she hurried to the end, toward the chambers reserved for Father Seward and Mother Abbess.

  No one was around, so she crept stealthily until she was outside the mother abbess’s door. The room was silent, so she continued on to the priest’s chamber. There, she heard voices, so she settled in a small alcove and listened.

  Father Seward said, “She is doing quite fine, but I believe you are too hard on her, my lady.”

  Her mother said, “I’m quite worried about her. She takes it verra hard when she is unable to communicate with others. ’Tis why I recommended
she be left in her own private chamber, and that all her meals should be brought to her.”

  “I believe you expect too much from her,” Mother Marion said. “She’s not much more than a child because of her failings. I assigned another student to help her find her way here. ’Tis important she feel welcome. She’s lived a sheltered, lonely life. Would you not agree?”

  “But that is my fear. Once she is among others, they’ll mock her because she cannot hear, so ’twould be best if she were left alone. Or assign her to work in the kitchens, and she can chop vegetables all day. Being around other lasses, lasses who can do what she cannot, it is just too painful. Have the other lasses taunted her yet?”

  There was a pause, after which Mother Marion quietly admitted, “Aye, there was an incident. But I fear ’tis only because of her inability to communicate and her lack of experience with other young people.”

  “And since it has already happened, you can see that I am right,” her mother insisted loftily. “I want her kept away from the others.”

  Father Seward cleared his throat. “I would suggest we teach her to read. She could point to words to get her message across. Mayhap someday she could learn to write. That would give her the means to communicate, the chance to have a more meaningful life. She could at least read books.”

  “Absolutely not,” her mother replied. “You would upset her by giving her something that is too difficult for her to learn.”

  Someone gasped, then Mother Abbess said, “Are you suggesting your daughter doesn’t have the mental ability to learn to read?”

  “I know my daughter,” Rose’s mother insisted. “She is a lovely child, but she is… How shall I say this without appearing cruel.” The silence echoed loudly, and Rose had to use all her self-control to keep herself from pushing the door open and screaming at her mother.

  If she only could scream.

  “Stupid. I feel horrible saying the word, but she is not an intelligent child. I fear reading would be too difficult for her, and I’ll not have it. I’ll visit her today, if you please.”