Highlanders To Surrender To: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance

by Alisa Adams

  She sobbed for a long time against his shoulder, then she looked up. “Thank you,” she whispered. He smiled, realizing for the first time how pleasant it was to be holding her. He did not realize until later that what he was feeling was desire.

  Then she stood up, seeing Una running, almost tumbling down the hill towards them. She nearly lost her balance, but Athol saved the day again by catching her in his arms. Davina and Una clung to each other for a moment, then Athol took each of their hands and led them silently back up the hill.

  Towards the very top, Una began to flag. She leaned over, hands on knees, to catch her breath, but Athol picked her up without effort and carried her to the top of the hill, where he set her down. She smiled at him gratefully, shaking her head.

  “I cannot believe you did that, Athol!” she said, shaking her head in admiration. “You are not even out of breath!”

  “There is no magic to it, milady,” he replied, laughing. “Lifting sheep, baling hay, harvesting barley—it all helps. I work alongside my men. They are wonderful fellows. In truth, I could not sit behind my father’s desk all day and I am far too restless to sit and gamble with other young men. They have other pastimes which I despise too. No, I like the outdoor life.”

  Una felt the muscles on his upper arms. “I think it likes you too,” she said, smiling.

  Father Anthony had waited for them to come back. He was used to interruptions of this sort; grieving relatives were notoriously unpredictable. They often did the strangest things in the middle of the service and especially at the graveside, when the finality of the situation hit them hardest. Now, he quietly resumed the service while Athol put an arm around Davina and her mother, standing between them for the rest of the service. Davina found his presence wonderfully distracting.

  However, when it was their turn to throw a handful of earth on the graveside and they saw it landing on top of the coffin, Davina and Una broke down completely and half-walked, half-ran back to the castle.

  Lyle came over to offer assistance, so between him and Athol, they supported the two women until they got back to the castle. Once there, they went into their favorite parlor and sat down by the fire. Lyle went, unbidden, to receive the mourners and see to their repast, then Athol ordered some hot mulled wine and sweet biscuits before closing the door. He settled a blanket around each of their shoulders and sat down, holding his hands out to the fire.

  “Were you ever a maidservant, Athol?” Una asked, smiling.

  “I am hoping to be one someday, milady,” he joked, “I am still in training.”

  They all laughed then. Athol’s attempt to cheer them up appeared to be working. They sat by the fire reminiscing for a while, talking about when they were younger and the escapades they had got up to. When they mentioned Ruaridh, Una became tearful, but she did not lose control. The wine was sweet and spicy, and biscuits redolent of honey and ginger. After a while Una became sleepy.

  “It’s been a hard few days,” she remarked, standing up and yawning. “I think I could sleep for a week. No—” She put her hand up as Davina started to accompany her. “Thank you, sweetheart, but I can manage to get up the stairs on my own.” She turned to Athol. “Thank you for all your help today, Athol. I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

  “My pleasure, milady.” He smiled and kissed her hand. “Please look after yourself, and if you need help with anything send me a message at once.”

  “May I kiss you?” Una asked shyly.

  “Of course.” Athol was taken aback and slightly abashed, but he offered her his cheek. To his surprise, she took his face in both hands and kissed him lightly on the lips.

  “You are a good man,” she said warmly, then turned and left quietly.

  Athol put his fingertips to his lips. “My goodness,” he said softly, “I did not expect that!”

  “She is a very affectionate person.” Davina smiled.

  Athol pulled Davina down to sit beside him and she found herself very unexpectedly pressed against him with his arm around her shoulders. What is he doing? she thought, tensing up immediately. He felt it at once.

  “Davina, we are friends, are we not?” he asked. She began to pull away from him, but he resisted her and she sat where she was, frowning in puzzlement.

  “Yes,” she replied, wondering where this was going.

  "I wondered why you treated me with such disdain sometimes," he frowned, then looked at her straightforwardly.

  She sighed. "I was not aware that I did," she replied, "but I always felt that you were a bit too… vain."

  “You are not the first person to say it," he replied, "it is my demon, but I am conquering it, I hope. But may I say that you are blooming these days, in spite of the circumstances."

  She blushed. "Thank you," she replied, astonished.

  He hesitated for a moment. “What do you think of Maura MacKay?” he asked the question in a matter-of-fact way, but he was frowning with concern.

  “I am going to see her before she leaves again,” Davina replied, “I think she’s a warm person and very lovely.”

  “That was the impression I got too,” he replied thoughtfully.

  “But you know she is betrothed, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I know," he replied, sighing theatrically. "My heart is broken—yet again!" They laughed.

  “You will have to find yourself another lady to dote on.”

  “You, perhaps?” he asked, smiling.

  Looking into his greenish-brown eyes, she wondered if he was jesting or if there was a purpose behind his suddenly flirtatious manner. Probably jesting, she decided. “No,” she answered, “not me. I am not spoken for but nobody seems to want me. Too fat, probably!” She laughed sadly.

  “I told you before you’re not too fat!” he said sternly, "Maura is beautiful, but it is in the eye of the beholder, so they say. There are many types of beauty and yours is one of them."

  “To what do I owe all this flattery?" She laughed then changed the subject. “I am thinking of starting a horse-breeding business. I bought a mare who was in foal a few months ago, you remember? Well, it gave me the idea. I love horses, and I have the capital, so why not?”

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” he replied, “and you are just the person to start it, Davina. You have ambition. You will do well.”

  She hugged herself and smiled. “I am so glad you think so,” she replied, “it will be good to have some moral support.”

  “I will help you in any way I can. You just have to ask.” He smiled at her. "It will be my pleasure."

  “I am so glad to hear it,” she said, sighing with relief. “I think I am going to need all the help I can get!”

  He left a few minutes later. As she watched him galloping away, she reflected that tonight's was the most intimate conversation they had ever had, and her heart raced at the thought.

  I must be going mad, Athol thought. Davina? But there had been something between them tonight and suddenly the thought of Maura seemed much less attractive.

  54

  Three Friends and a Mother

  When Una went outside she hoped that some of the guests had dispersed, but she was disappointed. Lyle had done a sterling job of circulating between them, chatting to everyone and introducing strangers to each other while gently hinting to them that it was time to go. When Lyle saw Una come out he looked relieved.

  “You are a fine young man,” Una said warmly, “I should have done this myself but I—”

  He held up a hand. “Do not think of it, milady.” He shook his head. “When my sister died I did the same thing, so I have experience.” He smiled at her. “Now, are you going to say goodbye to some people or shall I escort you upstairs? You look very tired and I dare say it has been an emotional day.”

  “I will say goodbye to them all at once,” she replied and went to the main staircase. She climbed five steps then Lyle called for silence. “Friends,” she began, “thank you all so much for coming. I know Ruaridh would
have appreciated it very much; Davina and I do too. Please feel free to stay as long as you wish but forgive me if I retire. It has been a long few days. Goodbye.” Then she turned and fled up the stairs to her bedroom.

  Lyle went into the little parlor to stand in front of the fire. “It’s freezing out there,” he complained.

  “Thank you for all your help, Lyle,” Davina said, “I do not know how we could have managed without you—both of you.”

  Lyle smiled at her. “Think nothing of it, Davina,” he said, “your mother is a good woman. She will recover from this, not for a long time, I think, but she will. And by the way, you are a good woman too.”

  “A good woman that nobody wants!” Davina’s laugh was bitter.

  Lyle fought down a white-hot spasm of anger. He hated unfairness in all its forms, and this went beyond unfairness; it was plain cruelty. His answer, he knew, was inadequate in the extreme, but there were no fitting words for a situation like this.

  “That will happen in its own good time,” he told her and smiled, cursing himself for being a hypocrite and a liar. What could he do? He hated lying to her, but until he found out what was going on he had no weapons with which to fight. This was his mission solely because he had made it so and that was only because he thought Davina was a worthy enough person to deserve his help.

  He had contemplated telling Athol but decided against it. Athol was simply not a person who could keep a secret, so he and his father were tackling the problem by themselves. He was glad to hear that Davina was starting a business of her own; it was a very unusual thing for a woman to do, but it was not completely unknown. Maybe when she was a well-known horse dealer she would be better regarded by the many men who were spurning her now. Until then, he intended to find out who was spreading the scurrilous rumors, and when he did, God help them!

  They sat for a long time, talking softly about times gone by and plans for the future. Lyle was full of them. As the oldest and only son, he would inherit all his father’s property, and he hoped to have at least four children including at least one son.

  “What does Mary say about your love of children?” Davina asked, smiling at Lyle. “She is the one who has to do all the hard work, after all!”

  “She cannot wait to be with child,” he answered warmly, “I am a lucky man, Davina. She is a wonderful woman and I could not ask for better.”

  “I am so happy for you, Lyle,” Davina said sincerely, “she is a lovely girl and I am very fond of her. Tell me, what do you think of Maura? She is very beautiful, is she not?”

  Lyle shrugged, feigning unconcern. “I concede that, Davina,” he replied, “but beyond that, I know very little about her. I believe she lives in Fort Augustus, does she not?”

  “Yes, but Grant wanted the marriage to take place here,” Davina replied, “because he has family here. Her father passed away a while ago and now she has no-one but Annabella.”

  Athol stretched and yawned, then looked out of the window. “Time to get back to work!” he announced.

  “And me,” Lyle sighed, “with great reluctance!”

  “Indeed, I am sorry to see you both go,” Davina replied, “in spite of the occasion, it has been pleasant to sit and talk.”

  “We must do it again,” Lyle said fondly, “it has been lovely.”

  “And if you need anything,” Athol repeated, “remember, we are both here.”

  She nodded. “I will,” she replied, smiling. “Thank you both very much and I hope to see you very soon.” She ushered them out of the room, to discover, to her dismay, that there were still some stragglers in the Great Hall.

  Davina’s face must have given her away because the two men looked at each other and nodded. The past three days had been exhausting for both Una and Davina and neither man wanted any more of it to pile itself on top of them. They began to approach the little knots of people and ask them politely to leave, but Maura, one of the very last, turned back to speak to Davina.

  “Before I go…” She smiled winningly. “I must tell you how much I admire you. You have organized everything very well under trying circumstances. Now, I have overstayed my welcome and so has Grant, thanks to me. Forgive me. I will send you an invitation to the wedding. Goodbye, Mistress Davina.”

  “Goodbye,” Davina replied, smiling. As soon as Maura’s back was turned she allowed the smile to drop from her face. She sighed as Athol and Lyle came back.

  “Thank you again.” Her voice was relieved and she hugged them both at once.

  "Go to bed,” Athol ordered in a mock-stern voice. Lyle smiled and gave her a little wave then both men walked away, leaving her feeling bereft. She hugged herself. If only Nanny were here! she thought.

  “I don’t like that woman,” Lyle said firmly, “that Maura.”

  “Why not? You must admit she is very… decorative!” Athol commented, laughing. Lyle did not laugh.

  “There’s something sneaky about her,” he replied, “I cannot put my finger on it but I do not trust her.”

  “You do not know her!” Athol pointed out. “She may be one of the finest people on God’s earth, for all you know.”

  Lyle shook his head. “I feel it,” he said uneasily, “I’m going to have as little to do with her as possible and I advise you to do the same.”

  Athol stared at him in annoyance. “I think I will make up my own mind,” he stated firmly, “are you going to the wedding?”

  “Yes, but not because I want to,” he said grimly. “Mary wants to go.”

  Athol was silent for a moment. “Do you not think,” he said thoughtfully, “that by getting married you are giving up your freedom? It sounds as if Mary tells you what to do most of the time.”

  “No,” Lyle replied, laughing. “It may seem like that, but we both give and take. She comes with me to buy livestock and puts up with the wives of all my elderly colleagues. She is the soul of tact and diplomacy. And I am looking forward to taking her in my arms and making love to her, lying with her in our bed with her warm body next to mine. I want to fall asleep with her and wake up beside her in the mornings. I want to have children with her and grow old with her. I love everything about her.”

  Athol was incredulous. “But your marriage was arranged, was it not?” he asked.

  “It was,” Lyle admitted, “but it soon became a love match. I liked her as soon as I began to talk to her, but it only took a few more weeks before I realized I could not live without her.” He paused. “Athol, have I not told you all this before?”

  “In a way,” Athol answered, “but never with such passion. Well, it seems that you are most fortunate, and this is the kind of union I should strive for. But not at the moment!” He added hastily, “I have too much to do first. My parents drop a lot of hints, though.”

  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.

  55

  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 fres
h 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.