Forgiving Hearts: Duncurra 1-3

by Ceci Giltenan

  “It is hard to believe Lana could be involved, but she did put a lot of faith in that blasted prophecy. She has always favored Fallon,” Daniel said.

  “She denies any knowledge of Rhiannon’s plans,” Fingal said. “I don’t want to believe she could willingly harm one of her daughters but I will not risk Gillian’s life on what I wish to be true. I must know.”

  “I don’t believe Lana played any part in this. I think it is another attempt to shift blame. Ye yerself could have been the one poisoning Gillian. Ye didn’t want to marry her any more than she did ye. Perhaps now that ye are laird of this clan ye wanted rid of her,” suggested Owen.

  “Owen, ye are out of line,” Daniel said. “First, ye are forgetting he was laird by royal decree before he married her. Besides, it’s clear he has come to love her. He would not try to kill her.”

  “Are ye suggesting her mother doesn’t love her?” demanded Owen.

  “Enough!” shouted Nolan. “There is no denying I was not happy when the king made Fingal MacIan our laird. However, there is also no denying Lady Gillian was given poppy yesterday, enough to kill her if she had consumed the whole mug. By all accounts she was awake and alert until after Rhiannon saw her. Therefore, the laird could not have given it to her before he left the keep in the morning.”

  Owen backed down. “Fine. I’ll accept that the laird didn’t give her the poppy.”

  “And if Rhiannon tried to kill Gillian,” Archie said, “it stands to reason that the laird is telling the truth about her attempt on his life and Coby’s involvement in that. But I refuse to believe Lana was involved without proof. Rhiannon must be questioned.”

  “Unfortunately, we can’t find her,” Niall said. “Tarmon was the last to see her. She told him Coby was out searching for a cow that wandered off. She left her cottage ostensibly to look for him. If ye believe she attempted to kill Fingal, then clearly this was not true. She knew Coby had gone to the cliff and that is where she went. She must have realized her intrigue was discovered when Fingal was not there but Coby lay dead in the gully. She didn’t return to her cottage. My men have searched through the night and haven’t found her.”

  Owen started to interrupt him, but Niall cut him off. “Before ye say it, if she was innocent and merely lost, searching for her cow, she would have been found. I can only conclude she is in hiding somewhere.”

  “Then we must allow Lana to defend herself,” Archie said.

  “I want to speak with Lady Katherine as well,” Nolan said. At Niall’s scowl he added, “don’t get yer dander up, Niall. I know she is a good woman. The men who were captured after the siege on Duncurra said she was nothing but kind and cared for them well. I just want to hear her thoughts on all this from her own lips.”

  After a moment Niall agreed, so Fingal sent men for both of them.

  Gavin brought Lana to the hall. Her eyes were red and swollen as if from crying and she appeared to have had little sleep. Eadoin arrived minutes later, looking grim. Not only was Katherine with him, but a pale and drawn looking Gillian was as well with the ever present Bodie at her side. She went to her mother, wrapping her arms around her, causing Lana to burst into sobs. The hurt in Gillian’s eyes tore at his heart.

  “I’m sorry, Laird. I found Lady Katherine with Lady Gillian,” Eadoin explained.

  “Gillian, sweetling, ye don’t need to be here,” Fingal said. “Katherine, I’m surprised ye stood for this.”

  “I do need to be here, Fingal, and although she tried, Katherine could not stop me. I gather that ye suspect my mother had something to do with all of this?”

  “I told ye I intended to make certain no one else was involved,” Fingal tried to reassure her. “I don’t want to believe she would ever hurt ye, but I must know for sure. Please, love, go back to bed.”

  “Nay, this concerns me and I will stay.”

  In spite of her current frail state of health, she stood tall, the picture of strength and dignity. He was reminded of how she looked standing on the wall the night he arrived and as she left the keep on Daniel’s arm the next afternoon. “Ye are right. It concerns ye. Come sit with me. If ye get too tired we will take a break.” She nodded and joined him at the table.

  “Laird, ye can’t believe I would harm my ch-child,” Lana said, her voice catching with a sob.

  “Lana, I don’t want to, but I must know. Rhiannon clearly tried to kill both of us yesterday. Someone has been poisoning Gillian for weeks. Rhiannon admitted to Gillian that she intended to see Coby and Fallon wed and thus Coby made laird. Ye yerself have pushed for such a match for ages. Can ye at least understand why we might be concerned?”

  “Aye, Laird, I can. I agree I wanted Fallon to wed Coby. I told ye that last night. Rhiannon was my friend. I thought it was a good match. I never intended for Fallon to replace Gillian as Lady MacLennan.”

  Owen scowled. “That’s not true, Lana. After we learned that both Malcolm and Duncan were dead and we were argu—er, discussing—who should become chief, Meara suggested Gillian and ye were firmly against it. Ye said Fallon would be a better choice.”

  This did not come as a shock to Fingal. Eadoin had told him as much.

  Lana sputtered, “Aye, I did. I always believed it was her destiny.”

  “Because of Rhiannon’s prophecy?” Daniel asked.

  “Aye—nay, not just that. Fallon is special. Ye don’t understand.”

  At Gillian’s soft gasp, Fingal took her hand in his. More than anything this is why he didn’t want her here for this. There was no way to avoid hurting her. “Help us understand, Lana.”

  “I can’t,” she spat, some of her old defiance showing. “No one can understand. Rhiannon believed Fallon would be special and she is. That doesn’t mean I love Gillian less. Gillian, I would never hurt ye. Surely ye believe that.”

  Gillian sighed. “Aye Mother, I do.”

  “We are getting nowhere,” Nolan said. “Lana, what was supposed to be in the herb mixture?”

  “Mint, thyme, comfrey, and chamomile.”

  “And Lady Katherine, ye are sure there was more to it than that? Ye are certain Gillian was being poisoned before yesterday?”

  “Aye. I tasted foxglove in the herbs.”

  “I would like to taste them.”

  “I thought ye might and I brought the packet with me. Do ye know what foxglove tastes like?”

  Nolan frowned. “Nay. Now that ye mention it, if it is a poison how do ye know?”

  Katherine laughed. “I began learning healing arts from my mother as a little girl, then from an old healer in my clan. Both of them made sure I could identify poisonous plants, especially those which can be confused with others. Young foxglove plants are very similar to comfrey but they taste different. You can tell instantly if ye crush a leaf and just touch it to yer tongue. There is a bitter burn to it.” She gave him a pinch of the herb mixture. “Rub it between yer fingers to release the oils in the leaves.” He did as she instructed. “Now just touch yer tongue to yer finger. Ye will feel a very slight heat.”

  “Aye, I feel a bit of something.”

  “If ye did that with a fresh leaf it would be much stronger. There isn’t much foxglove in that blend, but it doesn’t take much to make someone sick.”

  “And the rest is as Lana says? Mint, thyme, comfrey and chamomile?”

  “Well, there are some other herbs too.”

  Katherine had only mentioned foxglove to him. “What else is there?” Fingal demanded.

  “There is also pennyroyal and tansy. Neither of them are poisons, but they are known to bring on monthly fluxes.”

  “Ye mean it could have caused her miscarriage?” Archie asked.

  Fingal felt Gillian begin to tremble. He leaned close to her and whispered, “If this is too much, my love, we can stop.”

  She shook her head, blinking back tears, waiting for Katherine to answer.

  “Aye, Archie, it could have caused a miscarriage. But Gillian, it could have been the foxglove that bro
ught on the sickness ye thought was morning sickness.”

  “Are ye saying I wasn’t carrying?”

  “I don’t know if ye were or not but it’s possible that ye weren’t.”

  Fingal wasn’t sure it mattered. Either way they felt a terrible loss.”

  Nolan shook his head. “So we are certain there was foxglove, among other things in the herbs Gillian used for the tisane, but we don’t know for certain who put them there.”

  “I think we do,” Gillian said. “Mother, the packet that Katherine has, that isn’t the one ye have been using to make the brew recently.”

  Lana shook her head. “Nay. Rhiannon took that one upstairs yesterday. I couldn’t find it in yer chamber last night, but I found this one.”

  “That proves it,” Gillian said. “Nolan, Rhiannon gave me this packet the day after the wedding. I have had it the whole time. Mother never had access to it. She couldn’t have put the foxglove in it.”

  “Is there any chance she made a mistake?” Archie asked. “Lady Katherine, ye said foxglove and comfrey appear similar when they are young. Could it be she made an error? Perhaps all of her store of comfrey has foxglove mixed in?”

  Fingal shook his head. “Archie, I don’t think Rhiannon’s recent actions suggest this could be an accident, but I am happy to check. I can have her herbs brought here for Katherine to review. Do ye mind, Katherine?”

  “I would be happy to, but I would learn more by seeing her stores for myself. However, it may take a while for me to sort through them. Fingal, both ye and Gillian need rest to recover. Perhaps we can address this tomorrow after I have had time to assess things.”

  “Aye, that’s an excellent idea. Gillian and I will retire.”

  “Not yet, Fingal. Are ye all convinced yet that my mother played no part in this?”

  “I’m convinced,” Daniel said. “If the first herbs Rhiannon gave ye were tainted and yer mother never had access to them, I don’t see how she could have.”

  Archie and Owen both agreed.

  Nolan eyed Lana shrewdly. “I’m not completely convinced.” At the surprised looks on the other elders’ faces he added, “oh, I believe Lana didn’t adulterate the herbs, but I’m not sure she and Rhiannon weren’t working together.”

  “Fingal, what do ye think?” Gillian asked.

  The hope in her eyes gave him pause and he considered his answer carefully. “I love ye with my whole heart. I want ye to be safe and happy. Like Nolan, I still worry. However, I also respect ye and yer judgment. What do ye think?” She opened her mouth to answer, but he stopped her. “Gillian, I haven’t been married to ye long, but I have learned ye rarely think of yerself first. This time, I am asking ye a question and I only want ye to answer what yer head and yer heart tell ye. I don’t want ye to give me the answer that ye think a good daughter or a good clan leader would give. Do ye understand?”

  “Aye, I do.” She took a deep breath. “My mother has hurt my feelings, perhaps without meaning to, on many occasions. It has always been obvious to me as well as to Ailsa and Fallon that Fallon is special to her in some way. I know she would have been happier if Fallon had been recognized as the leader of this clan.”

  Fingal glanced at Lana. Gillian’s words were honest but they held bitterness. Lana’s mouth was set in a tight line and her chin quivered, but she did not interrupt.

  Gillian continued. “Still, I have never doubted that my mother loves me and I do not believe she would ever knowingly attempt to kill me. Fingal, she is not involved in this.”

  Fingal nodded. “Fair enough. Nolan, are ye satisfied with that?”

  “I am for now. If other information comes to light, we may all need to reconsider.”

  Chapter 33

  Perhaps it was still the effects of the foxglove, which Katherine had said would linger for several days or it was the after effect of the poppy Gillian had consumed yesterday, but she was exhausted. At Fingal’s urging she had a bit of soup and drank as much water as she could stand. Katherine assured her it would help wash the foxglove from her body. When she could not swallow another mouthful, she curled up in bed. Bodie climbed up to lay at her feet as he usually did.

  “I know it’s still early, Fingal, but ye need rest as much as I do. Come to bed.”

  “Ye needn’t ask me twice. I just want to speak to the guards for a moment first.”

  He stepped out of the room and when he returned, he removed his plaid and climbed into bed.

  “Fingal, if Coby is dead and Rhiannon is missing why are there still guards posted at our door?”

  “Mainly because I still don’t know if Coby and Rhiannon worked alone.”

  “Ye said ye believed my mother wasn’t involved.”

  “And I do. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have other help and I won’t know for sure until Rhiannon is found.”

  “If she is never found, will ye post a guard in the hall forever?”

  “Nay, my love, I won’t. But right now, I’m not in prime fighting condition. I’m not able to guard ye adequately. So until I have healed sufficiently, I will ensure ye are guarded by other means.”

  She sighed and rested her head on his chest. “I love ye.”

  His good arm encircled her. “I love ye too.”

  ~ * ~

  Gillian woke to Bodie’s low growls. She wasn’t sure how long she had been asleep, but the room was dark. “What’s the matter, Bodie?” She glanced around the room. Only the moonlight streaming in the window lent any light at all but still, there was clearly no intruder.

  Fingal was awake too. He sat up and reached to scratch Bodie behind the ears. “He did this last night too. I think he hears the guards in the hall. Good dog, Bodie, letting us know when ye hear something.”

  They settled back into sleep easily, but Bodie woke them three more times during the night.

  The sun was well up the next morning when they awoke.

  Fingal yawned and stretched before giving Gillian a gentle kiss. “How do ye feel this morning, my love?”

  “Considerably better than I have in days, in spite of the interruptions to my sleep,” she teased, rubbing Bodie and pulling him into an embrace. “Ye need to heal quickly so we don’t need the guards in the hall or Bodie will never let us sleep through the night again.”

  “Yer wish is my command.” He gave her another kiss. “I don’t think I have ever slept this long past sunup. I’m sure it was good for both of us.”

  When they had dressed and left their chamber, they met Quinn standing guard in the hall. “Good morning, my Lady, Laird.” His smile seemed strained.

  Fingal must have noticed it too because he asked, “Quinn, what’s happened.”

  “Nothing, Laird. It has been a quiet morning.”

  “But something is troubling ye. Please tell me what it is.”

  Quinn sighed heavily. “It’s Fallon.”

  Gillian’s heart leapt to her throat. “What’s wrong with Fallon?”

  “Nothing. Well nothing physical. Yesterday evening she heard about what happened in the hall. She knows that Rhiannon did all of this hoping to see her become Lady MacLennan, with Coby at her side. She is distraught and she blames herself.”

  Gillian huffed. “It is certainly not her fault. Did ye tell her she isn’t to blame?”

  “Of course I did, my Lady. She won’t listen. She insists that she is going to enter a convent.”

  “I understand why she feels this way. I felt the same way when I learned what Malcolm and Eithne had done supposedly on my behalf. Don’t worry. We will talk some sense into her,” Fingal assured him. “By the way, I haven’t had the chance to ask ye yet. What was yer father’s answer to my request for a betrothal?”

  Quinn grinned. “As soon as he read it, he flat out refused. He accused ye of using a bonny bride to try to lure me away for good.”

  Fingal frowned. “And that pleased ye?”

  Quinn laughed. “Nay, Laird, not in the least. We argued several times. My mother tried ta
lking him around but he would not hear a word of it. Then all hell broke loose at Rowan’s wedding.”

  “What happened?”

  “My lady, it is a long story for another day. Suffice to say, after it was all over, he decided there was some merit in allowing me to choose my bride. He signed the betrothal.”

  “Perhaps Fallon will reconsider the convent when she hears the news.”

  Gillian shook her head. “The two of ye are daft. This has been a terrible shock to all of us. Give her time. We will not allow her to make any permanent decision until things are sorted out.”

  “We?” Fingal asked with a smirk.

  “Do ye disagree?”

  “Nay, my love, I don’t.” He kissed her and her irritation melted. “Quinn, ye are officially off duty. I suspect today’s discussions will be no less stressful than yesterday’s. I’m not sure we have a hope of keeping Fallon away, but I would appreciate anything ye can do to keep Ailsa occupied.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. When Katherine returned from Rhiannon’s yesterday evening, she brought little Blaze with her. Ailsa has already declared she will care for him until Rhiannon returns.”

  Gillian smiled at this. “She has always loved that wee beastie. Aye, Blaze and Duff should be able to keep her attention today.”

  ~ * ~

  With her illness and everything which had happened over the last few days, Gillian had completely forgotten that today was Pentecost. Second only to Easter in importance, it celebrated the birth of the Church, commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s disciples after His Ascension. Such an important feast day couldn’t pass without at least a small celebration. They acknowledged the gift of the Holy Spirit at Mass with the sprinkling of red rose petals, symbolizing the tongues of flame. Gillian herself had not been able to plan the traditional huge feast. Still, with Jeanne’s help, Fallon and Tira had managed to plan a modest midday feast to mark the occasion. All discussions of Rhiannon and what Katherine discovered at her cottage were put off until afterwards.

  Quinn sat with Fallon doing his best to charm the haunted look from her eyes. When the meal was over, he was able to coax her into leaving the keep with Ailsa and the dogs.