Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)
Page 16
Andrew looked around for a sign of Nairne, she was not sitting on the opposite bank as he had pictured her, nor was she swimming in the pool. Everywhere was quiet, save for the sound of the water and the gentle breeze blowing the trees above.
“Nairne,” he called tentatively, the words echoing back across the water, as he gazed around again in search of the elusive lassie.
Splashing across the stream, he came to the other side and looked back across to the path.
“Nairne, it is I, Andrew,” he called again, “I have come as I promised.”
But still there was no answer, where was the lassie who had so captivated his heart? Andrew looked up at the sun high above the trees, he was too late. Perhaps she had been there, and he had missed her by only moments, maybe she had sat from the early morning, waiting for the sun to creep up above the trees and when there was no sign of Andrew she had departed in sorrow.
Sitting down upon a rock near the pool side, a tear formed in his eye. Would he ever see her again? Or had she been punished for helping him? Was she even now a prisoner as he had been, subject to the cruel whims of her father. There would be no one to help her escape if it were discovered that she had assisted Andrew to flee the castle, Murdoch Mackintosh would show her no mercy, of that, Andrew was sure.
He looked around again in sorrow for any sign of Nairne, desperate to know what had happened to her and mourning the loss of that bonnie lassie whom he feared he would never see again.
Chapter Twenty-One
‘The Long Suffering Wife’
“The man has confessed, tae this treachery and tae a whole host of others these past months,” Murdoch Mackintosh spoke gleefully rubbing his hands together as he came to dinner on the evening before Nairne was due to meet Andrew by the poolside.
“Ye mean that ye tortured it from him, Murdoch?” Una shook her head in dismay.
“Tortured is a strong word, Una, be careful, not tae use it without due cause, the man has confessed, and he will be punished accordingly, no one makes a fool out of the Laird, no one, ye hear me?”
The young lassie was pleased to hear this news, though the captain’s fate was an unfortunate aside. But the man had behaved dishonorably to her in the past, and she had little qualms in seeing him punished for the escape of an innocent man. It was clear to Nairne that Andrew had escaped; certainly, she would know if he had been recaptured and her father seemed in the most admirable of moods, despite the loss of a prisoner.
“It seems that in losing a prisoner I have found a traitor amidst the ranks and for that reason, I can only thank ye, Nairne, for bringing that laddie tae me. Tis’ better tae find the enemy within even if it means losing a prisoner, dinnae ye agree?”
“Aye, father, it would seem so, and I never liked the captain of the guards, he quite ill-used me in the forest on that day when he found Andrew and me together.”
“That laddie was not so bad, I was probably tae harsh upon him, the forest folk mean no harm, a curious people though but at least he was not a Cameron. If he were, then I’d have him strung up on the battlements as warning tae others.”
“Would ye begrudge me walking in the forest again, father?” Nairne smiled sweetly, her father’s good mood seeming to play into her hands.
“Tae walk in the forest? When ye have cavorted with strange men? I think not, have ye heard yer daughter Una? She wants tae see the laddie again, she thinks I am stupid.” Murdoch laughed, “whatever that treacherous captain might have done is irrelevant when it comes tae ye and yer dealings in the forest. That laddie might have been an innocent forest dweller, but next time the laddie ye meet might be a Cameron or those forest folk might be out for revenge on me for holding one of their own, ye will remain here at the castle until I deem it safe.”
“But ye can see it is not safe even here, what if all the guards are treacherous? What if the captain has them all in his sway? One of them might let him out, and then we should all be murdered in our beds,” Nairne attempted to turn the tables on her father who grimaced at her and shook his head.
“When ye are the Laird ye come tae know that danger lurks on every side, and it especially lurks in those forests, where the Cameron’s hide amongst the trees.”
“Ye cannot keep her here all the time, Murdoch, the castle is no safer than the forest, the captain’s treachery has proved that has it not?” Una beseeched her husband.
“I can do as I please, lassie,” and dismissing them both, he strode from the Great Hall, leaving his half-eaten breakfast behind.
“I am not afraid of him,” Nairne watched defiantly as her father left them alone.
“Ye should be, Nairne, ye can see what he is capable of, dinnae test his anger, not now when he feels that others are against him.”
“But I want tae meet Andrew again,” Nairne finally confessed the words her heart had longed to speak to the one person who might understand.
Una looked at daughter in surprise, and Nairne taking hold of her hand implored to be allowed to meet the man she loved.
“The laddie means something tae ye, does he?” her mother’s tone softened.
“Aye, he is sweet and kind, and when I am with him, I forget all the troubles of this sorry place, am I not allowed tae find some happiness, mother? I love him, truly I do, and I want for nothing else, but tae be with him.”
Una shook her head and sighed.
“Ye cannot marry a forest dweller, ye know yer father would never allow it, but perhaps there is a way of ye seeing him again.”
“It is all I want, I only want tae see him and tell him how much I love him, it … it was I who helped him tae escape,” Nairne cast her eyes down lest her mother should grow angry.
“Ye who helped him? Ye mean the captain had nothing tae do with it? But how?” Una looked worried.
“The captain’s keys. Did ye not wonder why I was so sweet with him on the night of the feast? I let him have his lecherous talk, and when he fell asleep, I took my chance and spirited away the keys, Andrew was long gone before anyone realized.” Nairne smiled at the memory of Andrew’s escape.
“Nairne, ye placed yerself in such danger by helping the laddie, if yer father had discovered that it was ye who had helped him then nothing I, or anyone, could have helped ye, ye understand that, dinnae ye?”
“I knew the risks, but I had tae mother, I couldnae see Andrew used in such a cruel way, he has been so kind tae me, and couldnae bear tae see him in that dungeon.”
Her mother fell silent, a tear in her eye as she took hold of Nairne’s hands and smiled at her daughter.
“Ye … ye are a sweet girl Nairne, and I wish that I had fallen in love as ye have done. I have led a sad life at the hands of yer father, a sad life indeed, and my one hope has always been tae see ye happy. Sadly it seems that yer father is as intent upon making yer life a misery as he has done mine, he has always resented us both for neither of us are Rhona Cameron. That is where his true desire lies.”
“Then let me be happy mother, I shall take the blame for running away, not ye, but I must see Andrew, I canne bear tae be without him any longer and if I am not there tomorrow morning then I wonder if I shall ever see him again.”
Her mother smiled and seemed deep in thought, but then she turned to Nairne with a determined look upon her face.
“I have an idea, ye will go intae the forest, and yer father will have no cause tae suspect ye.”
It was Nairne’s turn to appear confused, but her mother assured that all would be well, all Nairne had to do was play her part.
* * *
That afternoon Nairne was surprised to hear a flurry of activity in the castle corridors, there were shouts and calls for hot water from the servants. She had been sitting weaving wool, trying her best to take her mind off the thought of Andrew and her fear that she might never see him again if her father had his way.
Laying aside her wool, she opened the door onto the corridor, just as two of the servants rushed past bearing blankets.
“It is yer mother, she is very sick, a high temperature, ye must come at once, mistress,” the woman said, rushing down the corridor towards Una’s chamber.
Nairne wasted no time in following, and as she arrived at her mother’s side, she found her in a state of much distress.
“Oh, Nairne, thank goodness ye are here, the sickness had struck me terribly, and I am fearful for my life.”
Nairne knelt at her side.
“Mother, ye are so warm tae the touch, dear mother, here let me mop yer brow,” Taking a cloth, she dabbed her mother’s forehead as the servants rushed around, trying their best to make their lady comfortable.
“The fever came upon me so suddenly, I feel almost delusional,” Una spoke weakly, taking her daughter’s hand.
“Can I bring ye anything, my lady?” one of the servants said.
“No, please leave Nairne and me alone for a moment,” Una winced again as though in much pain.
“I dinnae understand, ye were well at breakfast, mother, what a terrible thing tae come upon ye,” A tear appeared in her eye as the thought of losing her mother was almost too much to bear.
The servants left them alone, and Nairne began to weep as she clutched at her mother’s hands.
“Stop crying Nairne, ye must have inherited yer deceptive streak from yer mother, I am quite alright,” Una whispered, laughing a little, as her daughter looked up in horror.
“Mother … ye? Nairne began.
“The whole castle thinks I am sick, but I couldnae tell ye of my plan else ye might not have reacted as ye did. A woman this sick needs the help of a wise woman and the healing herbs of the forest, when yer father comes tae see me I will tell him that I am sending ye intae the forest to bring back herbs from the woman who helped me all those years ago if indeed she is still alive. It matters not though, but ye shall be able tae see Andrew, then simply return with some harmless sorrel, or similar, yer father will not know the difference, and I will make a miraculous recovery,” Una beamed at her deception.
“Mother, ye are the kindest of souls, ye really are, but for a moment I was worried.”
“I can play my part well, I have always had tae these long years past.”
Suddenly the door burst open, and Murdoch stood before them.
“Ye are sick, woman? The servants have just come tae tell me, what is that ails ye?”
“She has a fever, father, her brow is warm, and she is in much pain, dinnae come tae close to her lest the whole castle be struck.”
Murdoch stared down at his wife.
“Una, what is this? A sudden fever? I have heard of such things,” a genuine note of worry caught in Murdoch’s voice.
Una coughed feebly, raising her hand as Murdoch kneeled at her bedside.
“I feel very weak,” she played her part impeccably, “and as though my senses are dulled, the light is blurred.”
“Ye cannot suffer like this, what must be done tae help ye, I shall send for the priest tae say prayers.”
“I need herbs from the forest, there is a wise woman there, one who will know what tae do, send Nairne first thing in the morning tae seek her out and bring the plants I need to make me well,” Una coughed violently as she finished speaking.
Murdoch looked up at Nairne who gave him a grave look, trying her best to appear as worried as he was. She was surprised to see the worry in her father’s face, as though his cruelty were a mask for a genuine affection towards the woman he called his wife and who now lay so convincingly ill before him.
“Do ye know where these herbs are? Where this woman is, Nairne? I will go myself.”
“And scare her half tae death, father? I know where she is, and I know the herbs which mother needs, ye must stay and care for her, it will be much easier if I go alone, first thing in the morning when the plants are gathered fresh.”
Murdoch looked down at his wife and back at Nairne, as though weighing up what he was agreeing to.
“Ye shall leave here at first dawn, and ye shall go tae this wise woman and bring the herbs which yer mother needs, but there shall be no running off intae the forest, ye go there, and ye come back immediately, do ye hear me?”
“Aye father, I hear ye, and I promise I will, anything tae make mother better.”
“Thank ye, Nairne,” her mother spoke weakly, reaching out a hand to her daughter as Nairne looked on with concern, kneeling and taking a cloth to her brow.
Murdoch remained silent, standing watching Nairne at her ministrations.
“Ye are certain these herbs will help ye?”
“Aye, they have helped me before, and the woman to whom Nairne goes was kind tae me many years ago.”
“Very well, the servants will keep me informed, and I will visit ye later on, and Nairne, see tae it that ye make all haste first thing in the morning.
“Aye father, I will,” Nairne’s eyes briefly met those of her mother, a knowing look exchanged between them.
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘A Mysterious Mark’
Una continued to play her part throughout the night, restlessly crying out in pain and Nairne went to her on several occasions, to maintain the illusion of the dutiful daughter. But as dawn approached, she prepared to run into the forest, not in search of herbs but desiring only to see the laddie for whom her mother was so willing to deceive her husband.
“Ye will not have long, I suggest that ye and Andrew agree tae meet again, yer father goes away on the hunt these next few days, but at least ye shall both know the other is alive and well,” Una advised as Nairne visited her one final time before departing for the forest.
“All I want is tae see him,” and kissing her mother, one of the servants bustled into the room.
“The Laird is waiting for ye, mistress, he says ye are to leave now.”
Nairne kissed her mother once more and left her chambers, the sun was just rising as she emerged into the courtyard where her father was waiting
“Ye are sure ye know the herbs yer mother needs?” Murdoch asked as Nairne placed a shawl around her shoulders.
“Aye, father, she needs willow root and sorrel, the wise woman will know of anything else. It is a fever that mother has and the heat must be driven from her.”
“Come straight back, mind, dinnae linger in the woods, we shall be waiting for ye,” Murdoch watched as she ran through the gates of the castle to freedom.
* * *
Nairne wasted no time, she had brought a woven basket with her and stopping beneath one of the trees gathered several bunches of sorrel, a harmless herb which could be made into a tea to aid her mother’s ‘recovery.’
The sun had not yet broken through the trees, and the forest was still dusky, the morning light just beginning to penetrate the canopy. She took to the familiar paths, running as swiftly as she could. How she hoped that Andrew would be waiting for her by the pool. She imagined their first embrace and the kiss they would share. Not the snatched moment of his escape from the castle, but the lingering caress of two lovers who have finally been reunited.
She paused again to collect further herbs, for Nairne knew enough of the forest ways to make sure the deception looked convincing. Her mother’s illness would soon be cured, and her father would be none the wiser.
Nairne was grateful to her mother, not only for understanding her deception but also for helping her. Without her mother, life would be intolerable, and Nairne knew that she had much to thank the woman for who had protected her these years past. How she longed to see them both happy, and in her wildest dreams, she thought of them both escaping into the forest, far away amongst the forest folk to safety. It was a wistful dream, but for today, Nairne was happy to know that she would see Andrew, and all would be well.
Soon she found herself on the familiar path towards the pool, and she imitated the sound of a cuckoo, as though calling through the trees for him. No sound came back, but she ran on down the track, emerging
shortly into the glade where the waterfall gushed into the water.
She expected to see Andrew just across the water, waving to her, or perhaps he would even be swimming in the pool, calling to her to join him. But there was no sign of anyone by the water, and she looked up at the sun just rising above the canopy of the trees.
“Andrew?” her voice echoed back across the water, “Andrew, I am here,” but no answer came, and she sat down dejectedly on a rock by the pool.