A Promise in Midwinter

by Alyssa Stark

  Elizabeth felt color flush her face. The thistle prickled her palm. Lachlan’s hand rested upon hers. His touch enflamed her, causing her to lose the ability to think.

  “I will accept it,” Elizabeth said as she smiled fully. She was taken aback by Lachlan’s gift. It was as if he had seen right into her heart. Elizabeth wondered how Lachlan MacFarland had managed to steal her heart so nimbly. “Yes, Lachlan. I will accept your promise,” Elizabeth whispered.

  Butterflies went wild in her stomach.

  Lachlan broke into a smile and squeezed her hand.

  The door flew open with a loud creak. Elizabeth dropped Lachlan’s hand and sprung guiltily to her feet. She hid the hand that clasped the thistle in the folds of her skirt.

  “Hello, Father,” she said as she tried to regain control of her scattered emotions.

  “I’ll speak with you later. Leave us,” John Campbell commanded dismissively as he motioned for Elizabeth to take her leave.

  “The MacFarland has done no wrong,” Elizabeth said calmly. “He asked for me to fetch the book from his sporran and…”

  “Leave us!” John thundered.

  Elizabeth cast a longing look over her shoulder. There were so many things that she had wanted to say to Lachlan! She clasped the thistle tightly, feeling its precious scratch against the palm of her hand. The tiny gift held such immense promise.

  John Campbell ushered Elizabeth from the chamber, barring the door quickly behind her as he sent her into the hallway.

  The sound of the bar being forced into place reverberated through Elizabeth’s bones, settling in a giant knot of fear that gripped her completely.

  What price would Lachlan pay for her actions?

  ..ooOOoo..

  Elizabeth ran up the stairs to her chamber, her shoes clicking against the flagstone steps. She barred the door behind herself and collapsed on the bed.

  She was too numb to cry.

  Opening her fist, she looked down at the thistle.

  Lachlan had all but said that he loved her.

  With this tiny thistle, he had promised her his love.

  Could it be true?

  Lachlan felt the same overwhelming emotions that she did!

  He had said that the thistle was a promise of love.

  Elizabeth knew in her soul that she loved Lachlan MacFarland already.

  She hoped that he would still want her when she told him her dreadful secret.

  Her green eyes were fixated on the thistle.

  She had meant to tell Lachlan the awful news today.

  John Campbell had betrothed her to marry his distant cousin.

  Elizabeth had been given the news of her betrothal this morning. She would be married to Alexander Campbell on Hogmanay, when the clan was gathered together. Hogmanay was but two days away.

  She hadn’t found the courage to tell Lachlan of her betrothal when she had been with him this morning in his chamber. The very idea of telling him broke her heart. She had planned to tell him and then he had surprised her with the thistle, which further complicated the situation.

  Elizabeth closed her fingers around the thistle.

  Perhaps she could help Lachlan escape.

  Perhaps they could escape together.

  Trying to escape with Lachlan would ignite another clan war between the Campbells and the MacFarlands. John Campbell would lose a valuable prisoner in Lachlan and a valuable pawn useful in securing an alliance with his cousin in Elizabeth.

  Campbell would not let them go without a fight.

  Closing her eyes, Elizabeth ran the thistle over her lips ever so lightly. It scratched her, but the strange sensation sent tingles down her spine. She imagined what it would be like to kiss Lachlan.

  She would lose everything if she married Alexander Campbell.

  She would lose a chance at loving Lachlan and knowing her real father.

  Elizabeth opened her eyes. She was determined to find a way.

  Love was something that she would fight for.

  ..oo Chapter Six oo..

  Elizabeth rushed into Lachlan’s chamber like a whirlwind. Her chest was heaving from running up the stairs. She barred the door quickly and leaned against it. Her eyes were rimmed with red.

  She had been crying.

  “What’s amiss, lass?” Lachlan asked with concern. He closed Elizabeth’s copy of The Taming of the Shrew and let the volume rest beside him on the bed.

  He could tell from Elizabeth’s expression that something was terribly wrong.

  Elizabeth raced towards the bed and took Lachlan’s hand.

  “Tell me, sweetheart. What’s amiss?”

  Elizabeth wiped at her eyes with her free hand. Tears were now flowing readily down her cheeks.

  Lachlan had just called her sweetheart.

  Elizabeth’s heart melted.

  Her chest constricted as the burden of the horrific information weighted her down. She wanted nothing more than to revel in her fledgling happiness with Lachlan, but it was all not to be.

  “Tomorrow,” she whispered. “They plan to kill you tomorrow at the Hogmanay feast!” she said as her eyes searched Lachlan’s face helplessly.

  “Twas as I figured that it would be,” Lachlan sighed.

  At twenty-four, he was not ready to die, but he had expected Hogmanay to be the day that the bloody Campbells would put him to death. It would meet their needs perfectly. The clan would be gathered from far and wide for the celebration of the coming year and the prospect of killing the next in line to the MacFarland Lairdship would be a mighty cause for celebration.

  “It will be alright, lass,” he said quietly as he stroked the back of Elizabeth’s hand.

  “Alright?” she asked incredulously. “How will it be alright? They plan to kill you! Tomorrow!”

  “Tis as I expected. Quite predictable, really. Campbell will make an example of me at the Hogmanay feast, glorifying himself in front of the gathered clan.”

  “I cannot bear it, Lachlan! Are you not upset?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief. Lachlan appeared calm and collected, not the least bit upset that he would face death as soon as tomorrow morning.

  “Of course I’m upset,” Lachlan chuckled. “Tis not as if I planned to die so young! I had hoped to have a wife, bairns, tae live to be an auld man. But lying here in this bed, knowing that those dreams were not to be, well, I suppose that I have accepted it. Death, I mean. I’ve accepted that I’ll die here.”

  “And you plan to give up? Just like that?” Elizabeth asked desperately, her eyes searching his face.

  “What am I to do, Elizabeth?” Lachlan asked as he raised his hands, demonstrating the constraint of the leather lacings. “I can choose an honorable death, walking to the place of my death as a proud MacFarland warrior, or I can cower in Campbell’s shadow and beg for mercy. I willna give him such satisfaction! I will meet my death head on, without fear, for I am at peace in my heart.”

  Elizabeth bit her lip. She wiped at her tears with the sleeve of her gown.

  “You’ve given me peace in my heart,” he said with love burning in his eyes as he looked at Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth’s heart broke at Lachlan’s sweet words.

  How could the world be so cruel?

  How could John Campbell be so cruel?

  Elizabeth could no longer ignore the truth that beat with every pulse of her heart.

  She had fallen in love with Lachlan Macfarland.

  And he was about to be taken away from her forever.

  “Will you not fight, Lachlan?” she begged. She squeezed his hand. “Perhaps if your father knew, perhaps he could make a deal with my step-father….there must be something that we can do!” she sobbed.

  “Doona cry, sweetheart,” Lachlan said softly. “It breaks my heart to see you so,” he whispered.

  Lachlan swallowed hard as he watched Elizabeth. She had been so kind to him, so pure and so righteous. Elizabeth had kindled feelings within him that he had not known that he was capable of feeling.
She was everything that embodied peace, love and light in the world.

  Lachlan did not fear death.

  But he did fear leaving Elizabeth Campbell behind.

  His heart wrenched as he watched the beautiful lass cry over their clasped hands.

  He was in love with her.

  “There is one thing that you could do, Elizabeth,” Lachlan said softly.

  “Anything!” she said hopefully. Her face lit up and she wiped at her tears.

  “I would like to know what it is like to kiss you before I die,” he said, smiling lop-sidedly as he looked upon her with love in his heart.

  Butterflies went wild in Elizabeth’s stomach.

  She had never been kissed.

  Never before had she wanted to kiss a man. The need to feel Lachlan’s lips pressed against her own overwhelmed her and she boldly leaned towards him, her heart beating frantically in her chest.

  Elizabeth reached up and brushed a strand of hair from Lachlan’s face. He smiled up at her, highlighting the handsome dimple on his left cheek.

  He was breathtakingly handsome.

  Elizabeth had to remind herself to breathe as she leaned closer.

  Lachlan growled low in his throat.

  Elizabeth closed her eyes.

  She was so close now that she could feel his breath, warm and inviting against her lips.

  Her heart raced.

  Lachlan fought the urge to claim her lips hungrily. He wanted to stake claim to her and kiss her with all of the pent up desire that resided in his heart.

  He would have gone to his death proudly, gladly almost, save for this beautiful, sweet lass. Elizabeth Campbell had single-handedly caused him to question everything that he had ever stood for.

  She was all that mattered now.

  Her full, pink lips hovered a breath away from his own.

  Lachlan parted his lips and watched Elizabeth.

  She was waiting.

  Her eyes were closed. Her heavy lashes rested on her cheeks.

  Damn she is beautiful!

  Lachlan closed his eyes.

  “Closer,” he whispered.

  Elizabeth moved closer. Her lips were almost brushing against Lachlan’s now.

  “Tomorrow,” he whispered.

  Elizabeth’s eyes flew open.

  Her heart threatened to beat right out of her chest.

  “Kiss me tomorrow so that I have something to look forward to on the day of my death.”

  ..ooOOoo..

  Lachlan awoke abruptly to the feeling of cold metal against his chest.

  His eyes flew open.

  Elizabeth jerked the key out of his reach and took a step away from Lachlan’s bed. There was a wild look in her eyes that Lachlan had not seen before.

  It was a look of desperation.

  His muscles were tense as he strained against the leather restraints. Lachlan growled low in his throat. He was not used to being helpless.

  “Not fair, lass,” he whispered with annoyance. “I’ll warn you not to provoke me, especially if that key unlocks what I think that it might.”

  “It appears to me as if you are not in a position to make idle threats, Lachlan,” Elizabeth teased as she slipped the ribbon on which the key was tied over her neck and dropped the key beneath the safety of the neckline of her gown.

  Lachlan’s eyes followed the key beneath the fabric of Elizabeth’s gown.

  He knew that it was resting right between her lovely breasts.

  “Unlock my restraints,” Lachlan said, holding Elizabeth’s gaze.

  She stood frozen next to his bed. Her fingers trailed up the red velvet ribbon and she toyed with it as it hung about her neck, pulling the key up slightly so that it peeked above the neckline of her gown.

  Lachlan’s eyes focused on the key.

  His eyes dropped to the creamy skin of Elizabeth’s breasts.

  He wanted to touch her.

  His arms ached to be free.

  And at the same time he wanted to kiss her senseless and teach her not to toy with him.

  “Unlock my restraints. Let me go free,” he repeated, his steely eyes never leaving Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth was acting in a most peculiar manner. Her eyes told Lachlan that she wanted to release him, but something was holding her back.

  She seemed to be considering something.

  “Tis the eve before the Midwinter celebration,” Elizabeth began as she continued to run her fingers over the velvet ribbon that held the key. “Every Campbell from here to Inverness is gathered at the keep for the Hogmanay feast. “Twould be the worst night to escape.”

  Lachlan’s heart thundered in his chest.

  Her words told him the truth. She was contemplating releasing him.

  “Do not toy with me, Elizabeth,” he warned as he narrowed his gaze. “Release me.”

  Lachlan would not beg.

  “I am to be married tomorrow,” Elizabeth said hollowly, her voice detached as she completely ignored Lachlan’s request for release. “I am to be married on Hogmanay as part of the celebration of the coming year. Tomorrow I will be a bride, married to a man old enough to be my father.”

  Lachlan said nothing. Anger pooled within him, gathering and needing release. The barely perceptible quiver in Elizabeth’s voice said everything. John Campbell was forcing her to marry against her will.

  Jealousy burned within Lachlan. The thought of Elizabeth with another man, the thought of another man touching her, kissing her as he longed to do enraged him.

  Elizabeth was meant for him.

  She had accepted his gift of the thistle and over the course of his recovery from his battle wounds, Elizabeth had completely stolen his heart.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way,” Lachlan suggested, his words hanging heavily between them. “Give me the chance to make you happy, Beth,” Lachlan said, his voice sultry.

  “I have a proposition for you, Lachlan MacFarland,” Elizabeth said as she stepped forward. Her knees shook as she moved to stand next to Lachlan’s bed. She stood so close to him now that his restrained arm brushed the fabric of her gown. Elizabeth’s heart beat faster. She knew that Lachlan could reach out, that he could grab her and wrench the key from around her neck.

  But she also knew that he would not.

  “I will release you,” she whispered as she lifted the metal key from between her breasts. She took the velvet ribbon from around her neck and dangled the key in front of Lachlan’s gray eyes. “I will release you, but on one condition,” she continued.

  Lachlan’s eyes were trained on the key.

  The key was the promise of his freedom.

  “Aye? What condition?” he asked as his eyes darted up to meet Elizabeth’s.

  “Take me with you,” she said with conviction as she dropped the velvet ribbon. The key landed on Lachlan’s chest. The red velvet ribbon pooled on top of his battle scar, the only evidence left of the grievous injury.

  It would be the second time that Elizabeth had saved him.

  First, she had tended his wounds and brought him back from the brink of death.

  And now, she offered him another gift.

  She offered Lachlan his freedom and in doing so, she offered him his life.

  ..oo Chapter Seven oo..

  Elizabeth stood, cloaked in the shadows of the horse stable, her body trembling uncontrollably. It was not the crisp winter air or the heavy snowfall outside that caused her body to tremor.

  It was fear that iced the blood in her veins.

  What if Lachlan was not able to slip out of his chamber?

  What if he had been captured?

  A lump settled in Elizabeth’s throat.

  John Campbell would know that she had given Lachlan the key.

  She would pay dearly for assisting Lachlan in his attempt to escape if he was caught.

  Elizabeth closed her eyes and pushed the horrid thought from her mind.

  He will make it. He will make it.

  She chanted the sile
nt hope over and over again.

  Her heart nearly stopped when the stable door creaked open.

  For a moment, the trembling of her muscles subsided. Her heart beat erratically in her chest, hoping that the intruder was Lachlan.

  “Elizabeth?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  “Aye,” she whispered, sighing a shallow breath of relief.

  “Where are you?” Lachlan asked as he stepped into the blinding darkness of the stable and closed the door securely behind himself.

  “Here,” Elizabeth said in a hushed voice as she stepped from the shadows.

  Lachlan rushed towards her and grabbed her by the elbows.

  “We have but little time,” he said urgently. “I was almost discovered as I fled from the keep. I fear that the guards will notice my absence soon.”

  Elizabeth nodded in understanding, her teeth chattering from the cold.

  Her disappearance would also be noticed soon. She had watched numbly as the keep had been prepared for her wedding. Hogmanay was tomorrow. Fir boughs had been draped across the mantles and wrapped in a garland down the banister of the great staircase. The tables in the great hall and been laid out for a feast, decorated with red velvet and the rich trappings of the Hogmanay celebration.

  John Campbell would arrive at her chamber door soon. He would be anticipating the challenge of dragging an unwilling bride to the feast that would celebrate her impending marriage. Tonight was the night that she was supposed to meet her intended, Alexander Campbell for the first time.

  He would be sorely disappointed.

  When Lachlan was discovered missing all Hell would break loose.

  They had but precious little time.

  “Are you certain that you wish to do this?” Lachlan asked, his eyes searching Elizabeth’s face in the dim light of the stable.

  “Aye,” Elizabeth said sternly. Tears welled behind her eyes as she contemplated the leap of faith that she was taking. She trusted Lachlan MacFarland. Although she had not yet dared to tell him, she knew that she loved him. He was her only hope. “I am sure.”

  “I will keep you safe, Elizabeth,” Lachlan vowed as he pulled her towards his chest and placed a kiss atop her forehead. Her skin was chilled from the cold. She smelled so sweet, like lavender.