Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Arrian shuddered and buried her face against the man's shoulder. "Can you tell me what happened to our outriders? We lost sight of them before the accident."

  "Na, they must'a been lost in the storm. Most likely they made it to safety somewhere."

  She pressed her body against the stranger, hoping to borrow from his warmth.

  "You're no' to worry, little lassie. We'll take you to shelter. Them at the big house, they'll attend to your aunt and see you're made comfortable."

  Arrian only knew she was cold and her body ached, but mostly she was worried about Aunt Mary.

  Then she thought of Ian. If they had continued with the voyage, she would now be in his arms.

  Ian paced the deck of the Nightingale. "What do you mean, they left the ship?"

  Captain Norris secured a rope while a strong wind snapped at the sails. "Lady Mary refused to continue after the storm blew us off course," he said. "I made certain that they had a coach and driver and two outriders. More than that I could not do."

  "That meddling old woman," Ian mumbled. "I'm of a mind to ride out to meet them."

  "I'd not do that, m'lord," Captain Norris said. "The weather was fierce all the way down the coast. I have a notion Lady Mary and Lady Arrian are snugly installed in some inn waiting for the weather to clear."

  Disappointment showed in Ian's face. He left the Nightingale with Jamie a step behind him. They climbed into a waiting carriage, and Ian angrily tossed his buff-colored coat across the seat.

  "Don't worry, Ian, Arrian will come to no harm," Jamie said.

  "This isn't the way I planned our meeting. I went to great expense for the ball tonight. I wanted to parade Arrian before Edinburgh and watch the envy in my friends' eyes."

  Jamie stared at his brother. "That's where you and I differ, Ian. I would never want to parade Helena before others."

  "Helena isn't Arrian."

  Jamie hesitated before he asked the question that had been bothering him. "Do you love Arrian or are you merely influenced by who she is?"

  Ian was not offended. "I love Arrian passionately, and I'll make her a good husband. Still," he added, "I can't discount the enormous fortune she brings with her, as the only daughter of the duke of Ravenworth. But even if Arrian had nothing, I would want her." A possessive light came into his eyes. "She's mine, like the air I breathe."

  Jamie studied the passing scenery, wondering if Arrian was aware of Ian's jealous nature. He turned to his brother and saw that his jaw was clamped tightly. Ian didn't like it when his plans went awry.

  4

  The ride seemed endless as Arrian leaned against her rescuer. It was so dark, and the cold was almost unendurable as the wind whipped up the falling snow and flung it in her face. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, praying that her aunt had not been badly injured. She tried not to think about the poor coachman, or the missing outriders.

  At last the man halted his horse, and Arrian was handed down into other arms. She was assisted up the steep steps into a dimly lit hallway. A woman rushed forward and drew Arrian into a room where a warm fire was blazing.

  "Are you the mistress of this house?" Arrian asked, holding her trembling hands out to the fire.

  "Och, no," the woman said in accented English. "I'm only the housekeeper. Name's Edna Haddington. Your aunt told me her name and yours."

  Arrian was flooded with relief. "Then my aunt is all right?"

  "As ta that, I dinna, m'lady."

  "Please take me to her."

  "She's being tended. God love you, lass, you're near ta frozen. Sit you down by the fire and I'll serve you some nice hot tea and put a warming pan at your feet."

  Arrian looked at the white-haired woman who fussed about her with gentle concern. "I must be with my aunt. Take me to her at once."

  Mrs. Haddington appeared doubtful. "You'll no' be wise to leave the fire. You'll surely catch your death if you don't first look to yourself. After you're warmed, I'll take you to your aunt."

  "I want to see her now," Arrian demanded, her voice trembling because she was shivering with cold.

  The housekeeper relented and picked up a candle to light their way. "Very well, follow me. My daughter Barra's helpful with the ailing, and you can trust her doctoring."

  Arrian climbed the stairs behind Mrs. Haddington with difficulty because her legs were numb with cold. Her ribs were sore, and there was pain in her shoulders, but she would not rest until she saw her aunt and knew her condition.

  Mrs. Haddington opened a door and bade Arrian to enter. Lady Mary was lying on a bed with a woman bent over her. The housekeeper quickly introduced them. "This is my daughter, Barra, and this is the poor woman's niece, Lady Arrian."

  The dark-haired woman merely nodded and continued to tear strips of linen.

  Arrian moved forward with dread in her heart. Lady Mary was pale, and her eyes were closed. Arrian reached out to touch her, but Barra put a restraining hand on her arm.

  "Have a care, m'lady," Barra said in clearer English than that spoken by her mother. "Her leg's broken, and it's bad. I was about to set it when you came."

  Arrian felt tears well in her eyes when she softly touched her aunt's cheek, noting the bluish bruise on her forehead and several deep wounds. She turned pleading eyes to the housekeeper's daughter.

  "Why is she unconscious?"

  "It's a blessing she's not conscious, m'lady."

  "Please help her."

  "I'll do all I can, m'lady."

  "Have you a doctor?"

  "No, m'lady. Not within two days' ride. But even if we could get word to him, he couldn't come in this storm."

  Feeling the panic rising in the young girl, Barra spoke with assurance. "I know some about healing, m'lady. I'll give what comfort I can to your aunt." She pulled back the bed clothes to expose Lady Mary's leg. "It must be set without delay if you'll trust me to do it."

  Arrian gasped when she saw that her aunt's leg was discolored and swollen. Summoning her courage, she threw off the fur robe she was wearing, no longer mindful of the cold. "Tell me how I can help."

  "If you'll just hold the candle, I'll do what needs doing."

  Arrian swallowed the sickness that swelled in her throat. She had been protected and sheltered all her life, never having had to face such a difficult, heart-wrenching situation. Closing her eyes, she drew in a deep breath. Aunt Mary needed her, and she had to be strong. She watched as the woman grasped her aunt's knee and foot. There was a quick jerk, and she heard a soft snap.

  Arrian fought against the dizziness that threatened to overcome her. I won't faint, she told herself, I won't!

  Barra placed a smooth, narrow board under Lady Mary's leg and bound it with clean white linen. "That's all I can do for her. We'll need to keep her warm, and she'll need watching tonight."

  Arrian gently brushed a white curl from her aunt's forehead. "Will she . . . recover?"

  "I don't know about head wounds, m'lady. And the leg's bad. We'll have to wait and see. I'll just build up the fire and bring you something nice and hot to eat. I'll send someone for the doctor, though it could take days for him to arrive."

  Arrian sat in the chair beside her aunt's bed, clutching her hand and trying not to give in to fear. "Dearest Aunt Mary," she whispered in a trembling voice. "You will be all right—you just have to be."

  Somewhere a clock chimed eleven. The candle had burned low, and still Lady Mary had not awakened. Arrian heard voices in the corridor and jumped to her feet as Barra entered, accompanied by a gray-haired man.

  "We're fortunate, m'lady. My son discovered that the doctor was visiting his daughter in the village, and he agreed to look in on your aunt."

  With a stiff professional manner, the doctor moved toward the patient. It seemed to Arrian that it took him an eternity to unwrap and examine her aunt's leg. He gave a nod of satisfaction at the housekeeper's daughter. "Well, Barra, you did as well as I could have done under the circumstances."

  He then proceeded to examine e
ach of Lady Mary's limbs. Next he gently touched the bluish swelling on her forehead. He leaned closer to lift her eyelids and look at her pupils.

  Arrian clasped her hands tightly. "How is she?"

  The doctor noticed Arrian for the first time and gave a quick nod. "Folks hereabouts call me Dr. Edmondson. Is this your ma?"

  "No. She's my aunt. Can you help her?"

  "She's had a severe blow to the head, and it's always hard to tell with this kind of injury. Sometimes all we can do is wait and see. As for her leg, it's a bad fracture, and it doesn't look good. If only we could get her to Edinburgh where the doctors know about such injury."

  Her heart skipped a beat. "What are you saying?"

  "I'm saying that she may be crippled or even lose her leg or life if she doesn't get the proper care."

  "But you are a doctor, you can help her."

  The doctor cleansed the head wound and applied ointment. "So I am, but I've never seen a worse break."

  "I have money, and I'll pay anything if you'll help her, Dr. Edmondson—anything!"

  He looked at her, bristling with indignation. "I'll not take that as an offense since you're obviously distraught, and on account of you being English and not knowing better."

  She realized she had insulted the man. "I'm sorry, Dr. Edmondson."

  He applied a bandage to Lady Mary's wound before he spoke again to Arrian. "I'd help your aunt the same if you owned the whole of England or if you were without funds."

  Arrian's cheeks flushed. "Forgive me. I was impertinent. It's just that I'm so worried about her."

  "Can't think why two females would be traveling alone in the worst storm of the season. I should have thought your aunt would be old enough to know it was folly."

  "It does seem a bit foolish now, but it didn't when we started out, Dr. Edmondson."

  At last he smiled, and his eyes softened with kindness. "Perky little lassie. Were you hurt in the accident?"

  "Nothing but bruises."

  He hoisted his bag on his shoulder. "I'll be back tomorrow to see the patient, unless her condition worsens sooner. I still strongly advise that she be moved to Edinburgh as soon as weather permits."

  "You aren't leaving, are you?"

  "I have other patients, and I don't expect to see my bed until morning." He looked at her. "You should get to your bed though, lassie, you look ready to collapse."

  "Thank you for your concern, but I'll remain with my aunt tonight."

  "You can't do anything for her that Barra can't. And you surely won't be helping her if you become my patient yourself."

  Arrian extended her hand. "You have my gratitude for ministering to my aunt. I'll expect to see you tomorrow."

  He shook her hand and gave a nod. As Arrian watched him leave, she moved to the fire and held her hands to the warmth, then glanced over her shoulder at her aunt. Lady Mary groaned, and Arrian ran to her. But her aunt didn't open her eyes, and Arrian feared for her aunt's life. At that moment Arrian longed for the strength of her father and the comfort of her mother. She did not realize that she had not thought of Ian throughout this horrible ordeal.

  Lady Mary slowly opened her eyes and blinked in confusion at the stranger who bent over her. Where was she, and who was this man?

  "I see you're awake." He smiled and patted her hand. "I know, I know. You're wondering who I am. Well, I'm Dr. Edmondson, and you have had me worried till now."

  "How did I—" She groaned suddenly, remembering the accident. "What's wrong with me? Why am I so weak? Why is there so much pain?"

  His soft Scottish accent was welcome to her ears. "You have a broken leg, m'lady, and a nasty bump on your head. Beyond that, I'd say you also have lesser cuts and bruises."

  Lady Mary tried to rise, but weakness pinned her to the bed. "Where is my niece?"

  "I sent her to rest. She was with you all night."

  "She is uninjured?"

  "I can assure you that she is only concerned about you. Your niece is a right spirited lass, going about demanding that we all help you. I'd like to have her on my side if I were ill."

  Beads of sweat popped out on Lady Mary's upper lip. "I am in a great deal of pain."

  Dr. Edmondson held a glass to her lips. "I'd expect you to be after what you've endured. Drink this."

  "What is it?"

  "It's opiate."

  "I don't want to be drugged."

  "Tis mild, but will take the edge off your pain. You'll need this many times before you heal."

  Reluctantly Lady Mary drank the bitter liquid, which began to take effect almost immediately.

  "To whom do I owe my thanks for their hospitality?" she inquired drowsily, looking about the room.

  "Why, m'lady, you're at Ironworth Castle, home of the chief of Clan Drummond."

  Lady Mary's eyes widened in shock. "No," she whispered, trying to fight off the effects of the drug. "I must see my niece at once—at once, do you hear me?"

  The doctor nodded at the maid who stood nearby. "Get the young lady. Perhaps she can calm her aunt."

  When Arrian rushed into the room a short time later, it was to find her aunt struggling to rise. She hurried to her side and grasped her hand while gently pushing her back against the pillow.

  "Dearest Aunt Mary, the doctor assures me that you must not overexcite yourself. You are going to recover. But you must rest for a time so your leg will heal properly."

  Lady Mary's eyes were wild, and she gripped Arrian's hand. "Got . . . to tell . . . you . . ."

  "Shh. Don't fret. Anything you have to tell me can wait until you are stronger. The doctor has given you something to make you sleep. I'll stay with you."

  Lady Mary was helpless against the potion. Her tongue felt thick, and it was hard to keep her eyes focused. "Arrian, you must listen . . . to me. You must . . . That . . . man . . ."

  Arrian's brow knitted with concern. "I know what's bothering you. You want me to send someone to inform Grandfather where we are so he will not worry. I promise you, I'll speak to our host today and ask him to send a message to Davinsham as soon as the roads are passable. Does that make you feel better?"

  "No . . . you must not tell—" Lady Mary struggled, but the drug was doing its work. Unable to fight any longer, her eyes fluttered shut with the terrible truth she had been unable to utter still poised on her lips.

  Arrian stepped into the dimly lit hallway and stood at the top of the staircase. She had been too concerned about her aunt to notice her surroundings. She now observed the castle, thinking there was nothing extraordinary about it. There were many castles in Scotland, and most of them were more magnificent than this one.

  The rugs were threadbare, and it appeared that the housekeeper was lax in her duties, for there was dust on the banisters. Still, she was grateful for the owner's hospitality and wanted to thank him.

  The storm had lessened during the night. Perhaps she could keep her promise to her aunt and ask their host if he would send a rider to inform her grandfather that they were safe.

  As Arrian descended the stairs, a man came through the front door. He removed his hat and coat and handed them to the housekeeper. Only a single candle glowed on the hall table, and she could not see him clearly.

  Even so, there was no doubt in her mind that he was the master of this castle.

  "Sir," she said, descending the last three steps to stand before him, "if you are lord here, may I speak to you?"

  His face was still in shadows, so she could not see his features.

  When at last he spoke, it was in a clipped Scottish accent. "I am lord here. Come into my study where it's warm," he said, leading her to a room off the entryway. "I'm told my men have gone back for your trunks and will deliver them shortly."

  There was a warm fire crackling in the fireplace and several candles burning in wall sconces. Arrian walked to the fire and turned to the man. "You are most kind. I wish to thank you, sir, for your hospitality. If not for you and the care of your servants, my aunt and I would most
probably be dead."

  He stepped into the light, and she was surprised to find him so dark. Black hair curled against his tanned cheek, and although he was clean-shaven, his thick black sideburns met at the edge of his high collar. He wore a white cravat and a green frock coat that fell to his knees. His gray trousers were tapered down his long legs to fasten beneath his boots.

  He was probably the most striking man she had ever seen. She stared at him for a moment before realizing that he was also assessing her. He had expressive gray eyes that, in this light, looked like liquid silver.

  Mrs. Haddington had informed Warrick that the girl his men had rescued was titled and English, but she had not informed him that she was a beauty. His gaze moved down her golden hair that seemed alive as the reflection of the firelight played on each strand. Her eyes were pale blue and had the tranquility of innocence. She wore a crimson velvet gown that made her skin appear shimmering white.

  His gaze dropped to her hand, where he saw, to his shock, a ruby ring on her finger. How well he knew that ring, for there could not be another like it in the whole world. The last time he'd seen that ring it had been on Gwendolyn's finger. It was the Maclvors's ring!

  He spoke with practiced control. "I can assure you that no one could be more welcome than you, my lady. In fact, I count myself fortunate that you have come to . . . my home."

  "You are most kind."

  "Not at all. The doctor has told me of the severity of your aunt's injuries. As soon as she's recovered sufficiently to travel and the roads are passable, we shall discuss transporting her to Edinburgh for the care she requires."

  "We are both indebted to you." She thought to offer him money for his hospitality but, remembering the doctor's reaction to payment, decided against it. "I wanted to inquire what happened to the body of our driver."

  "He was known by my steward, and his body was returned to his family in Rattray Head."

  "I seem even more in your debt."

  "Is there anything you desire?" he asked.