by Alisa Adams
Lyle felt a stab of alarm. Could Lyle’s parents have heard the rumors about Davina? Were they deliberately pushing him towards someone else? “About what?” he asked curiously.
“About ‘settling down and doing my duty,” he replied in his father’s gruff, stern voice. “By which he means finding myself a nice girl. He is itching for grandchildren!”
“Mine too!” Lyle laughed. “But they will come soon enough!”
They rode on in silence for a while. It would soon be time for Lyle to turn off the road to go to his own farm. Mary had gone home with her parents, so the last bit of the road was going to be very lonely. When they came to the fork, Lyle turned to grasp Athol’s hand, as they always did when saying farewell.
“I will see you next week, no doubt.” He smiled. “Goodbye, my friend.”
“Goodbye, Lyle.” Athol rode back home, thinking what a wonderful best friend he had, but his mind kept returning to Davina.
15
Attempted Murder
Davina ascended the stairs wearily. At the top, she decided that as it was so cold she would slip into bed with Una, so she fetched her nightgown and went into her mother’s room. The fire had almost burnt down so she banked it up with fresh logs before she put it on. Then she noticed that Una had not even stirred since she came into the room. She was lying on her side with both arms under the blankets, but she was very still. Fear stabbed Davina’s heart.
* * *
No! It cannot be happening again! she thought, confused and desperate. She went to Una and pulled the covers back, then shook her roughly. “Mother! Wake up! Wake up! Please!”
Una woke up with a start, then thrashed about in Davina’s grasp, instinctively trying to push her away. Her screams were so loud and shrill that her maid, Rosa, came in to see what was happening. “Mistress! Milady!” she cried, “is anything amiss?”
Davina sat down heavily on the bed beside her mother. Una had almost recovered her composure, and she put her arms tenderly around her daughter. “It’s fine, Rosa,” she told her, “Davina just got a fright.”
Rosa nodded. “Call me if you need me, milady.” She closed the door softly.
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Davina sobbed, “I thought it was all happening again. You were so still I thought you were dead.”
“I know you did.” Una kissed her. “Be at ease, my lovely girl. I am fine, and we can keep each other company.” Una drew back the covers from the side of the bed where Ruaridh had lain. She had been by herself for the last few nights and the bed had felt big and empty. It always seemed to be cold, no matter how many hot stones were put in it. She simply missed the cozy heat of another human being beside her.
Now, she tucked Davina in as she had done when she was a child, kissing her forehead. The sheets were cold, but it would be only a matter of moments before they heated up and in the meantime, mother and daughter embraced each other, for both comfort and warmth. They said nothing, and neither thought very much either. For the first time in days, both were happy to be just where they were.
Presently, Davina felt herself drifting off to sleep. “This is nice,” she whispered, cuddling even further into Una’s arms. “It feels like I’m a little girl again.”
“Turn around,” Una said, “and we can sleep like we used to.” Davina laughed, then turned over and lay on her side, drawing up her knees. Una put her arms around her daughter then fitted herself behind her so that they were lying like spoons.
“Is it night time yet?” Una asked. She received no answer. Davina was already asleep.
When she woke up next morning, Davina found that Una was still sleeping. She ordered her a cup of milk and shook her awake. Una sat up, yawning. She felt sluggish as if she could slumber all day. She was feeling very nauseous too but mentioned nothing to Davina in case she worried her again.
"How are you today?" Davina asked affectionately. "Are you still tired?"
"Yes, but I think it's just the strain of the last few days," Una replied. "Apart from Ruaridh leaving us, the whole wake and funeral was terribly stressful."
"Indeed," Davina sighed, "Mother, are you sure you are well?"
"Of course, I am, darling," Una replied, "but I think I need a bath. Call Rosa for me please."
Davina still felt uneasy as she called Rosa to draw Una's bath. "What do you think, Rosa?" Davina asked anxiously, "she can hardly keep her eyes open. Do you think she is well?"
Rosa sighed. Her face looked concerned. "Best send for Mistress Elisaid in the village," Rosa said replied, a slight frown on her face, "I am sure she will be able to help. She is likely just overtired. Don't worry yourself, mistress. Would you like me to send for something to eat?"
"Thank you, Rosa," Davina said, smiling slightly. "But food is the last thing I can think about right now."
Rosa excused herself as the bath water came and Davina went to send one of the grooms into the village of Greanoch to send for Elisaid, the local wise woman. Meanwhile, she strode up and down the hallway outside her mother's room, fretting. What if she had eaten something? What if it was the same thing as her father? What if she had been poisoned? Eventually, she went in. To hell with her mother's modesty. Una was sitting on the bed wrapped in a towel, and Rosa was drying her feet. Rosa looked up as Davina came in.
"She was sick, mistress," she said anxiously.
"Oh no!" The same thing was happening again! Una was very pale and her eyelids were drooping. As they watched she fell sideways on to the bed. Davina knelt down beside her and pulled her upright, then shook her furiously.
"You will not die, Mother!" she cried, "you will not leave me! Wake up! Wake up!"
Just then, a small thin woman with faded red hair came in. She greeted neither of them but went straight to Una. She pulled back her eyelids and opened her mouth, then sniffed her breath.
"What's wrong?" Davina asked in a tremulous voice.
"She has been poisoned, mistress," the little woman looked up at her with piercing dark brown eyes, "but I think we hae got here in time. I see that she has been sick an' that is a good thing. Now, she must drink water - as much as she can stomach, to flush it oot. I will give her a purgative tae help her vomit again."
"Which poison is it?" Davina asked.
"I'm no' sure, mistress," Elisaid replied, frowning, "but I think it might hae been arsenic. Thank the good Lord we got it in time," she crossed herself and stood up, then took two small bottles from her bag. "Ye must gie her that ane the night," she instructed, "an’ I will gie her this ane noo. I will come back an' see her later."
She took he stopper off the bottle then poured its contents onto a spoon and trickled it into Una's mouth. "Let her sleep for a wee while longer, then wake her an' try tae make her eat. Somethin' simple like porridge." She put the bottle back in her bag.
Davina nodded and dropped some coins into Elisaid's hands. "My father had similar symptoms," she said worriedly, "could it have been the same thing?"
"Perhaps, mistress" the old woman replied, "but I cannae be certain withoot seein' him."
"We buried him yesterday," Davina replied heavily.
Elisaid stared at her for a moment. "There are wicked people aboot, mistress," she sighed. "I will come back later."
Davina stood looking out of the window when Elisaid had left. Who could have done such a thing, and what was she going to do now? She had no idea who it was, but it meant that none of their food and drink was safe from now on. Worse than that, she now knew that her father had died a horrible, pointless death. But he had eaten in Lyle's house, not his own, so what was going on? She could think of only one answer. Someone was trying to murder her family. The thought bathed her in an icy chill as if she had suddenly had a bucket of cold water thrown over her.
She went in and sat beside Rosa at her mother's side for the next few hours, saying very little and praying silently. Una vomited twice more, but after the second time her eyelids fluttered open and she smiled at Davina. She gave her mother a glass of wate
r and Una drank it thirstily. Rosa went to get a clean nightgown for her while Davina wiped her lips and hugged her, closing her eyes in thankfulness.
"I thought I was going to lose you too," she whispered tearfully, "I really thought—" Then she shook her head as if to clear away bad thoughts. "How do you feel?" she asked.
"Much, much better," Una said as Rosa came back with her nightdress. and helped her into it. Una gave her a smile of thanks and Rosa left quietly. "I heard what the old lady said though."
"I thought you might have," Davina said heavily, "you know what this means, Mother? It means that Father's death was murder and you might have been next if it weren't for Elisaid."
"If it weren't for you, my lovely daughter." Una gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "You were so vigilant and noticed the signs first. But to think my poor Ruaridh died so maliciously at the hands of a monster! Who could it be?"
"Mother, I do not know yet." She was frowning and her tone was heavy with determination. "I intend to find out. In the meantime, I intend to have all the kitchen staff questioned just in case one of them is responsible, but I think it is more likely to have been one of Lyle's guests or the mourners. There were quite a few of the same people at both events. I am going to send for Lyle and Athol today to enlist their help."
Una nodded, then plucked at her nightgown. "I cannot lie here any longer!" she cried. "I am not going to be heartbroken. I am not going to lie down under this pain. I am angry and I am going to fight! Whoever is doing this does now know what he has awakened!"
"You are wonderful, Mother." Davina smiled sadly. "I wish…" She stood up and paced to the widow and back again in a restless, agitated fashion. "A week ago, we were all together, and happy. Now, look at us. I have such a feeling of foreboding too—I dread tomorrow."
Una took her by the shoulders. "You are strong, Davina," she said firmly, "you have never been anything else. We will fight this and we will win. Do you believe me?"
Davina nodded.
"Shoulders back," Una ordered, "we are going into battle, and I am not jesting. Someone evil is trying to destroy us with deceit and with murder. They are using both brute force and weapons of the mind. When Athol and Lyle arrive, I must tell you some truths that you will find painful, but they have to be told. Are you ready?"
"I am," Davina replied.
"Good." Una's face was set. This was war.
16
A Council of War
Davina had never seen her mother look so fierce, and Una had never felt that way before. She had never had to fight really hard for anything; she came from a privileged, wealthy background. Her family owned property, her husband owned it too, and her daughter would marry another laird who also had money and land. That was the way the world worked, the natural order of things. Now, it seemed that some evil being was conducting some sort of a vendetta against them and she had no idea why.
Athol came first, looking anxious. He swept into the parlor, smelling of fresh sea air. "I came as soon as I could," he said, running his hand back through his long dark hair. "What has happened?" His voice was urgent, his expression agitated.
"Let us wait for Lyle," Davina said, "we need to talk to both of you, but especially him."
Athol's brow creased in bafflement. "I don't understand…" He spread his hands. "Why Lyle? Has he done something wrong?"
"No," Una replied, shaking her head. "Rest at ease, Athol. He has nothing to fear from me. I need to ask him about his party. You will forgive me if I do not offer you refreshment, but our wine has all been disposed of."
"Why?" Athol was becoming more and more puzzled. Was she hinting that the wine had been tampered with? Even poisoned?
"We will discuss it when Lyle gets here," Una said firmly.
"He is here, Mother," Davina said as Lyle strode through the entrance and into the parlor. He looked as perplexed as Athol had.
"Sit down, gentlemen," Una said after the curtseying and kissing of hands had been done. "I am afraid I summoned you here to discuss something rather unpleasant. I think Davina should tell you what happened. I slept through most of it." She gave a grim and humorless laugh.
"I have not offered you wine because I have had it all thrown away. I believe someone is trying to poison us and, although I do not believe it is any of my own staff, I am taking no chances. The reason I am sitting here talking to you today is because of the intervention of Davina and Elisaid. I believe that Ruaridh was poisoned and I believe that an attempt was made to poison me." She paused and looked up at their incredulous faces.
Lyle was the first to speak. "Can you tell us exactly what happened, milady?" His voice was quiet, but his face was grim. "We need to understand better."
Davina began to describe the events of the previous night and morning. The two men listened, the expression on their faces changing from grimness to horror. When Davina had finished, she sat back in her chair and looked at them. "That is all I can tell you," she said, sighing. "Elisaid will be back soon and may be able to tell us more."
"This is monstrous!" Athol said hotly, thumping his fist on his knee. "I will find out whoever did this and he shall hang!"
"It may not be a man," Lyle said grimly.
"You think a woman could do this?" Davina asked in astonishment.
"Yes, I do." Lyle's frown was deep as he looked up at her. "I do not trust that Maura woman." He held up a hand as she began to protest, "I am not saying that she did this, but be careful around her please."
Davina was shocked. "I think it will be a good idea to be careful around everyone," she remarked.
Just then a maid came in to announce the arrival of Elisaid. Davina stood up and beckoned the old woman to sit down. There was something otherworldly about her, almost as if she came from the faerie realm. She looked like an elf with her button black eyes and fading red hair which hung in a frizzy mass around her thin face.
"I apologize for not being able to offer you refreshment, Elisaid," Una said regretfully, "especially after all you have done for us. We have had to dispose of all the wine and ale. In milk and water, you can taste poison, but it is less easy in spirits, not so?"
"Aye, milady," Elisaid replied and looked at Una with her dark eyes.
"This morning you said you thought it might be arsenic," Davina asked, "have you changed your opinion?"
"Naw, mistress." Elisaid looked troubled. "But it could be other things tae, or a mixture o' things. My mither taught me everythin' I knaw, so I should be able tae tell ye, but it wid help if ye had some o' the…" There was a delicate pause. "I am sorry, milady, but there is nae nice way to put this—"
"You need some of the vomit," Davina supplied, "I would imagine it has been disposed of, but I will ask Rosa. Excuse me."
There were some things Davina did not want to discuss with Athol and Lyle in the room. She found out from Rosa that all the effluvium had been thrown away, so she went back downstairs. Her mother and the men were in earnest conversation with Elisaid.
"We asked this good lady," Lyle said and indicated the old woman, "if there had been any other incidences of this. She said there had been none."
Davina's heart sank, and the same icy needle of fear passed through her again. "Oh, God," she said breathily, "it is this family only, then."
Mother and daughter fell silent, then Una looked up in desperation. "But why?" She spread her hands and looked around her.
"Will ye be needin' me for onythin' else, milady?" Elisaid asked.
"No, thank you, Elisaid." Una stood up and smiled at the old lady as she walked her to the door and opened it for her. "Thank you for all you have done and if I can ever be of help to you please contact me." She pressed some coins into her hand. "For your advice." She smiled.
Elisaid looked at the coins then up at Una. "Thank you, milady," she replied, giving Una and Davina a smile of such sweetness that they both felt intensely moved.
"A wonderful lady," Athol said, smiling as he watched her walk out of the gate.
&n
bsp; "Indeed," Una agreed.
Athol sat down again. "If this is a war we must have a strategy," he said, looking at the women with intense concentration. "Ladies, if you have no objections, I will sleep outside your bedroom door tonight. I will have wine, ale, and whiskey sent over from my estate. We should be able to manage milk and water here but have only one of your trusted servants touch that and the food. If you like, both of us…" He indicated Lyle. "Can send over food too, until this business is done. Also, it may be a good idea not to go out unescorted for the time being. Take at least two men-at-arms with you."
"Good idea," Davina agreed, nodding.
Athol smiled at her. Adversity seemed to have brought out the best in Davina. Her eyes were shining with a grim light, her cheeks were pink, and her previously diffident manner had gone. She was turning into a soldier. Indeed, this was a woman he might find extremely attractive, but he knew that she thought of him as a vain peacock. Well, he might as well admit it. He was and vanity was not an attractive attribute in most women's eyes. He realized that he had to stop dwelling on the merits of his own looks and appreciate those of others instead.
Suddenly, he realized that he had been staring at her.
"Are you alright, Athol?" she asked, her voice concerned.
He laughed. "Thinking," he replied, then grew serious. "We cannot arrange protection every hour of every day, so we will do as much as we can and make it as visible as possible. Whoever is doing this needs to see for himself that you are being guarded. And now…" He stood up. "For the kitchen staff."
"I am really not looking forward to this," Lyle said grimly as they descended the stairs.
"Neither am I," Athol replied, "but it has to be done."
When they walked into the kitchen the staff looked at them as if they were visitors from another planet. "Milords," the cook said, "Dae ye want somethin’ tae eat? We can send somethin’ up."
