“It feels odd, to be alone with ye. I am so very happy right now.” She met his gaze and tingles traveled through her.
Stuart smiled. “I agree, it is different. Spending time alone together will ease us into our marriage.” He looked around. “Once we eat, what do ye wish to do?”
Cait giggled and looked to the bed. “We could sleep a bit.”
They slept until later in the day and once they woke, Stuart dressed and stood at the window. Cait brushed her hair while watching him in the mirror. “When do ye wish to return to… Do yer lands have a name?”
“Aye, Eilean Daes,” he responded with a wide smile. “Lovely Isle.”
“I like it. Yer mother says there is a huge loch nearby.”
“Loch Bee and a smaller one as well.”
“I wonder why Keep Ross was not built there?” Cait mused.
Stuart shrugged. “At one time, my great-grandfather and his brother split the isle. One living here and the other up there in the larger house.”
“Did ye ever live there while growing up?”
Her new husband shook his head. “No. My grandfather moved there eventually, giving lairdship over to my father. We visited on occasion.”
“Interesting,” Cait said.
Stuart stretched. “I never found out why my grandfather gave up lairdship. At times I wonder if my father had something to do with it.”
Cait had heard that the late laird was not well-liked and noted that the family rarely spoke about him. This was the first time Stuart mentioned him and she decided not to ask any more questions about him. “What should we do until last meal?” she asked.
Her husband turned from the window meeting her gaze. “I do not know.”
“What if we sneak out and go for a walk. It looks rather sunny outside.”
Stuart looked to the door, his lips curving. “We will be caught.”
“I find it hard to believe that as young lads ye and yer brothers did not have ways to escape without anyone seeing ye.”
His face brightened when a thought came.
“Come, I know a way to avoid the others.” He took her hand and they walked out of the room. Once in the corridor, Stuart guided her down to a dark corner. Then he pushed at what looked like a wall and it slid open.
“There may be some bad smells,” he warned, before pulling her into the darkness behind him. They crept down steps and he reached out for a torch. Moments later the flame lit their way.
“How did ye light it?” Cait wasn’t sure why she whispered.
“Flint,” he replied holding up a small stone. “It is kept here in case there’s need for a fast escape.”
Then moments later, the distinctive salty smell let her know they reached the sea. When Stuart opened a second door, they were in a small cave. He placed the torch into a holder as they no longer needed it and guided her past a pair of boats and out to the open field beside the house.
“I knew it,” Cait said with a smile. “I came here to the side of the house one day and saw the boats. I wondered if there was a hidden entrance into the house.”
“Who goes there!” a stern voice called out and moments later a pair of guards with swords drawn appeared. The men relaxed upon seeing it was Stuart.
One of them gave them a knowing look. “Escaping the confines of the marriage chamber so soon?”
“I required fresh air,” Cait replied.
“And the window is quite small,” Stuart said with a grin.
A fortnight later.
The packing was complete. Already a pair of wagons had left for Eilean Daes.
In the sitting room, Cait sorted through several baskets. “I cannot believe all these things are wedding gifts,” she repeated. “For us.”
Lady Mariel sniffed. “I cannot believe ye are leaving so soon. I will miss ye dear lass.”
As excited as she was to leave, Cait dreaded having to say farewell to the people at Keep Ross she’d grown so close to.
But after hugging Lady Mariel, Beatrice, and Isobel, she then went down the stairs to find Annis, Greer, and Finella. Every single one of them made her cry as they wished her happiness and a great new life.
She was almost grateful that Stuart sought her out and announced it was time to head out if they were to arrive by sundown.
Already her brother, Brice, had left with one of the wagons and a pair of horses he planned to breed. Her mother and Cora were already inside the carriage when Stuart helped Cait inside.
Eyes bright with excitement, her mother patted her leg. “Can ye believe it lass? We are to move once again. To start anew and this time to live a privileged life.”
Cait reached to touch her mother, noting her hand shook. “I am still waiting to wake from this wonderful dream.”
Stuart was to ride ahead of the party with three warriors, there were an additional four guardsmen behind the carriage and one on either side.
As they headed away, Cait stuck her head out the window to peer at Keep Ross. The beautiful structure became smaller and smaller as they rode away, and she sighed silently thanking it for the time there.
“Did ye see Torac?” Cait asked her mother. “I sent someone with a message, but he never came.”
“He is right there.” Her mother pointed to the opposite side of where she’d been looking. Cait slid to the other side and peered up to see that her half brother rode atop his huge warhorse beside the carriage.
Torac glanced at her and nodded.
“Is he to live at Eilean Daes as well?” Cait looked to Cora, who pretended to not be listening.
Her mother shook her head. “I asked him, but he plans to return in a few days. The reason he came was to ensure our safety. I am sure Brice asked him to come along. He has developed a rather strong attachment to his older brother.”
“Oh, Cora, how do ye feel? I know ye were looking forward to not seeing him daily.”
Her friend let out a long breath. “I suppose it will be only temporary. I will have to do my best to keep my distance from him.”
It was quite late by the time they arrived at Eilean Daes. Cait and Cora looked out to the passing shoreline of a large loch on one side and the sea was visible in the distance on the other side.
The carriage slowed down as they traversed the uneven road to a path between tall trees. Upon arriving at a large clearing, a house on a hill surrounded by sheep, large planting fields, and corrals with horses came into view. There were several other structures that included stables, guard quarters, and a smaller house.
When they neared the front of the house, the driver pulled the horses to a stop.
“I can barely keep from throwing myself out the door and begin exploring,” Cait exclaimed clasping her hands together.
They remained seated in the carriage, until the servants finished lining up just outside the front door.
Torac opened the door and helped them from the carriage. Just as Cait stepped onto the ground Stuart joined them. He took her elbow and Torac took her mothers and together they went to the line of servants and were introduced.
Two women, who were the housekeeper and the cook, Maisie and Grace, beamed at her. “Finally, ye arrive Mistress,” Grace exclaimed with a bright smile.
“We have been anxious to meet ye,” Maisie said by way of greeting.
Other than the two women, there was only one other woman, Bree, who lived on the property. Bree was married to Stuart’s cousin, Dougal. Apparently back at Keep Rosss, they’d been living in the village, which was why Cait had never met her.
Bree was soft-spoken and seemed sweet. “I am glad that ye are here,” she told Cait.
There were several guards and a stable worker, as well as Brice, Anton, and Lyall that rounded out those who would live there.
Once inside, Cait was shocked at how beautiful the house was. It was spacious, with high ceilings and large hearths in every room. The great room was divided by a half wall with an arched doorway. On one side a gathering room, on the other a large dining room.
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She allowed Stuart to take her to their bedchamber as Bree went with her mother and Cora to show them theirs.
The room was large with shuttered windows that looked out to what Stuart had described as a future flower garden. Currently, the soil was tilled but nothing was planted. In the bedchamber there was a large four-poster bed, a small fireplace, and in one corner there was a screen for privacy. Also, a large wardrobe dominated one wall, and her trunk joined his at the foot of the bed.
Two chairs with a table between them faced the fireplace and there was a small table on each side of the bed.
“The room is beautiful,” Cait said, and meant she it. “The house is well built and every aspect of it quite pleasing.”
She opened her mouth to tell him that she wished to have been part of it, to have helped rebuild the home back to its former beauty, but he hugged her close. “I did this for ye.”
Cait held her tongue as he took her hand to show her more of the house.
After she had a chance to wash up and change, they went to the dining room as Maisie and Grace were quite anxious to serve them their first meal.
They sat at a table with her mother, Torac, and Lyall. Cora chose to stay in the kitchen and Cait understood her not wishing to eat in the same room as Torac.
Moments after they sat and began nibbling from a platter of cheese and fruit, Bree and Dougal joined them.
The cooks bustled out to serve each a large bowl of rich stew with warm baked bread and freshly churned butter. The meal was wonderful and Cait informed the women that she enjoyed every bite.
“How fares Artair?” Stuart asked his cousin.
Dougal shook his head. “He is most anxious for ye to appoint someone else to the post. Says he cannot abide village life.”
“Tomorrow Cait and I go to the village. I will give her the choice of continuing to live here or there. The house there is most spacious.”
Cait gave him a curious look. “I cannot imagine living in a village. I can already tell ye that I will prefer to remain here. However, if there are duties to be performed, then I will go wherever ye decide is best.”
When he gave her a warm look, her insides melted.
“What about ye Bree?” Stuart asked. “How do ye feel about living in the village?”
Dougal gave Stuart an incredulous look. “Do ye mean for me to take over as constable?”
“Only if Bree wishes to live in the ostentatious house in the village.”
Bree giggled. “I must admit to finding the house quite out of place. Almost like a castle amongst shacks. It looks quite strange.”
“Can anything be changed about it?” Cait asked. “I would not wish to live in a place that would make those around me feel less than.”
“Quite so,” Bree agreed, then her eyes widened as she addressed her husband. “Would we live there if ye is to become constable?”
Everyone paused when Dougal shrugged. “I am not sure. What say ye, Stuart?”
“I will leave it up to ye. But it is a grand house.”
The interest was obvious when Dougal looked to his wife. “Would ye live there?”
Bree waved his worry away. “I would. However, we must find a way to make it more welcoming. Perhaps house orphans or something.”
“Off to find orphans then,” Dougal announced, and everyone chuckled.
Chapter Twenty-One
The party of five rode to the village the following day. While the men rode horses, Cait, Bree, and Cora rode in a carriage. Although Cait had recently learned to ride, Bree was not at ease doing so.
“Oh goodness, how quaint,” Cait said as the village came into view. “This isn’t at all what I expected. Although the homes and shops are clustered together—like most villages—here all of them face the sea.”
There was one road along the shoreline, lined with small buildings, and a second one on higher ground with more cottages.
“I find it pretty,” Bree said with a smile. “I suppose that’s good as it is to become my home.” Peering out the window, she pointed. “There it is.”
A large stone house with a wall around it and ornate gates stood atop a small hill overlooking the village. There were a few sheep grazing inside the wall, and a pair of horses in the back area. Cait supposed one was Artair’s.
“It is protected,” Cait said, not sure she could find anything positive to say about the way it did not seem to fit with its surroundings.
The brick structure looked strong, so at least there was that. She looked to Bree who also studied the house. “Ye will not have to worry when a storm comes. Ye can offer harbor to the villagers.”
Bree frowned. “Honestly, I am not sure how I feel about living there. The people may not accept me.”
“I am sure once they get to know ye, they will soften swiftly. Ye should host a gathering for women. Good food melts many a reserve.”
Bree brightened. “That is a fabulous idea.”
“I will come and help ye,” Cora added.
Once arriving at the village, the women went to the square. Cait introduced herself and Bree followed suit. They found a pair of women who sold baskets and other trinkets. The women were quite talkative. Cait was sure not long after she and Bree walked away, they would inform the entire village of their conversation.
“Miss Bree Ross and her husband Mister Dougal Ross will be moving into the large house on the hill,” Cait told the women, who leaned forward in anticipation of being the first to hear the news.
“If ye are aware of someone wishing to work there, inform me,” Bree added. “I will be hiring a pair of hands to assist with cooking and cleaning. My husband will also be seeking help with the surrounding lands. We will offer fair pay.”
The women grinned with glee and shoved their purchases into their arms in an obvious attempt to get rid of them so they could spread the news.
By the time they reached the last shop, several women had already approached Bree asking questions. And across the square where Stuart and Dougal spoke to Artair, men had gathered as well.
Cait stopped listening to the women gathered, to study Stuart. He stood listening to the men, his shoulders back. The men gathered often bowed their heads when addressing him as he had an air of authority. The sea air blew his hair away from his handsome face and she noted how at ease he seemed.
It was as if he was meant to be here, with people that were eager for fair leadership.
“My husband will enjoy duties of constable. He has always admired Stuart’s even nature and his ability to give good counsel,” Bree told her.
“There is so much about him I have yet to learn,” Cait replied.
“It can be quite a journey,” Bree said looking across toward Dougal.
When they made it to the house, the anticipation of what would be inside was tangible.
The house was large and overly decorated. Both Bree and Cora yelped several times when stepping on a rug that still had the animal’s head attached.
“Those must be removed at once,” Bree said with a shudder. “The bear is staring right at me.”
Cait laughed when Bree hurried around the dead animal.
Once they completed the tour, it was decided that Dougal and Bree would move into it within the week.
Artair would move into the small house at Eilean Daes that they currently lived in.
On the ride back to their home, Bree talked excitedly about her upcoming move, making mental lists of what she needed to change in the house. Cait felt a bit tired, so she allowed her eyes to close while Cora spoke with Bree.
When they arrived back at the house, Cait felt refreshed. She went in search of her mother to inform her that the next day, they would help Bree pack.
Her mother was in her bedchamber, sitting in a chair with her arms crossed. She glared up at her when she walked in.
Alarmed, Cait hurried closer. “Is something wrong? Are ye ill?”
“No,” her mother said. “I feel perfectly fine, do not worry ove
r me.” She motioned to a rather oversized bouquet of wildflowers, artfully set in a pitcher with springs of berries sticking out from several sides.
“Is there something crawling on the flowers?”
“No. Grace put it together, I am sure she ensured nothing harmful is in them.”
“Why does a beautiful bouquet of flowers annoy ye Mother?” Cait gave her a worried look. “Should I worry about yer mind?”
“For goodness’ sake.” Her mother huffed indignantly. “That man, Lyall, he collected them and handed them to me in front of Maisie and Grace. I was mortified at his frivolous display.”
When Cait giggled, her mother glared. “It is not in the least bit funny Cait. He should be banned from entering the house.”
“Mother, he is a Ross and therefore cannot be banned. If ye wish, I will speak to him and let him know ye do not wish his attentions.”
Her mother considered it for a moment. “That is a good idea.”
Cait enjoyed last meal though admittedly, she was anxious to spend time alone with Stuart. She ordered a bath so that once the meal was over, she could wash up before bed.
“I will have one as well,” Stuart told her. “I smell of horse and fish. Did ye see the fishermen ask me to come and see their catch? They had quite a few fish.”
“I am well aware of it, husband, as ye insisted we bring those they gave ye in the carriage,” Cate grumbled.
“Did ye enjoy traveling to the village today?” Stuart asked as they climbed into the bed after their baths.
“I did, and look forward to going often,” Cait replied with a smile. She moved closer to Stuart. “There was something about ye that was different when ye were there.”
“Different? How?”
“Ye looked as if it was the place ye belong. That yer destiny is to be here and along with yer cousins attend to the needs of these poor people who have been neglected and mistreated for far too long.”
“They were eager to speak to us,” Stuart said. “I found that despite what happened with the constable, they are willing to trust me.”
Cait kissed him. “I am very proud of ye.”
“I realize it was a long day, but I am hoping that ye are not too tired.” Stuart nuzzled her neck. “Seeing ye bathe brought me to arousal and I nearly pulled ye from the water to have ye.”
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