Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes (14 page)

Bram followed her, placing himself between Ian and Grace. “Ian, keep yer voice down. Kristen is sleeping and for that matter what the hell are ye doing here?”

Ian shut the door and in a quieter voice said, “What am I doing here? I’m searching for ye, and I prayed I wouldn’t find ye here. Da has been told that ye returned this evening and is furious that ye haven’t bothered to show up for supper yet to give him a report.”

“There is nothing to report. All is well and I had something more important to attend to.”

Ian shook his head. “Bram, this”—he motion towards Grace—“is pure folly.”

“That’s what I have tried to tell him,” said Grace. The plaintive note in her voice tore at Bram’s heart.

Bram turned towards her, taking her in his arms again. “Grace, please don’t lose hope. Let me speak with my father. I love ye and I will see this through.” He lifted her chin and kissed her. It was their first kiss, and far too brief to satisfy him, but her response thrilled him. When he broke the kiss, he rested his forehead on hers. “I swear to ye, I will do what I must to see we are together. But I understand yer fears. Give me a little time to deal with my father.” She nodded but the look of doubt and fear in her eyes spoke volumes. “Good night, my love. Tomorrow is St. John’s Eve. There will be bonfires and dancing. Ye’ll go with me.” He kissed her again, before leaving with Ian.

They were barely out of earshot of the cottage when Ian confronted him. “Have ye completely lost yer mind? What in heaven’s name possessed ye to promise Grace that the two of ye can be together? Ye know that isn’t possible—not unless ye mean to have her as a mistress.”

“I mean to have her as a wife,” snapped Bram.

Ian gave a mirthless laugh. “A wife? Da will never stand for that. How could ye even suggest it? Please tell me ye didn’t say that to her.” Ian cast a glance at him. “By the Almighty, Bram, ye did. Have ye no regard for her or Innes at all? Ye can’t marry her and I saw the way she looked at ye just now. She thinks she loves ye and it will break her heart.”

“I will marry her Ian. I will convince Da.”

Ian shook his head. “This is heading straight for disaster.”

“Thank ye for yer support, Ian,” Bram said bitterly. “If the situation were reversed—”

“Ye would be lecturing me about my responsibilities to the clan. At least one of us is worried about what this will do to the lass.”

Bram stopped and faced his brother. “Don’t ever suggest that I am not concerned about Grace. I told her and I’m telling ye, I will do whatever it takes. I am going to tell Da now.”

“Bram, ye can’t do that.” Ian put his hand up to stop Bram’s argument. “Nay, listen to me. If ye march into that hall and declare in front of the clan members present that ye are going to defy yer laird and marry Grace Breive, what will happen? Da won’t stand for it. He can’t accept that from anyone and maintain the clan’s respect. He could banish ye, and before ye say ye’ll go happily with Grace, think about it. He could refuse to let her go. He is her laird, not ye. Perhaps worse than banishing ye, he could force Grace to marry a man of his choosing immediately. He could drag her up here tonight.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“Keep thinking that way and she could be wedded and bedded before ye can get yer head out of ye arse. Ye might have a hope of swaying him privately but if ye push him in public, he’ll push back. Harder.”

Ian had a point. Bram would willingly face any punishment from their father, but he couldn’t risk Da’s wrath falling on Grace. He had to ensure she was safe before he did anything. “Ye’re right. I will discuss it with him privately, after I am sure he can’t harm Grace.”

“So, what are ye going to tell him now when he asks why ye’re so late for supper?”

“I’ll tell him the truth. Grace and Kristen had been caught out in the rain this afternoon and I brought her home. I just stopped by to make sure the child was well.”

Ian snorted. “That would explain why the child was tucked up in bed and the mother was curled up on yer lap.

“Fine. I stopped by to check on them both.”

Ian nodded. “That’ll raise a few eyebrows but at least it is believable and superficially true.”

Although it had rained all night, by terce on Friday morning the sun began to break through the clouds. Even though Bram had assured Grace the previous evening he was not betrothed, she thought it best to finish making the ribbon Lady Sutherland had requested.

Just as she had for the last three days, Teasag arrived to help with Kristen but she was more excited than usual. “Tomorrow is the Feast of Saint John the Baptist so tonight there will be bonfires and dancing. I love bonfires and dancing.”

Her enthusiasm was contagious, setting the tone for the day. Grace too began to feel the anticipation. The previous evening, Bram had declared his love for her and even though it scared her, she wanted him in her life. Tonight she would be able to dance with him again and knowing that caused a flutter of excitement in her belly that she hadn’t felt in ages.

When time came for the midday meal, Grace decided to take a break so she walked to the kitchens with Teasag and Kristen. The atmosphere in the kitchen seemed tense. Innes said very little and seemed anxious and hurried. Initially Grace thought it might simply be because of the extra work that always led up to a holiday. There would be a feast tomorrow and the preparation would have been underway for days. However, then Grace noticed that several of the women stared boldly at her, disapproval written on their faces.

Something was amiss and now, while she was accompanied by the two lassies, was the wrong time to address it. “Grandmother, I thought we’d just take a wee bite with us and stay out from underfoot today.”

The relief on her grandmother’s face surprised her. Innes’ standard answer to comments like that was that they were always welcome underfoot. Today she said, “Aye, that’s the best idea today.” Then she quickly wrapped bread, cheese, and some smoked fish in a cloth and handed it to Grace. “Oh, and Grace, will ye be able to help me this evening?”

“Aye, of course, Grandmother.”

Something was definitely wrong. Even before Grace had started working on the ribbon, Innes had never asked for her help. Grace had just offered it. For the last few days, when Grace offered to help when daylight waned, Innes refused. Whatever it was, Grace felt sure Innes would tell her later that afternoon. There was no reason to worry about it.

Later, while Kristen napped, Innes came from the kitchens. Teasag had finished weaving her belt and Grace was showing her how to finish it.

Innes smiled at the lass. “That is lovely, Teasag.”

“I’m going to wear it to the festival tonight,” said Teasag proudly.

“Aye, ye should. Are ye excited?” Innes seemed distracted.

Teasag nodded. “Oh, aye. I can’t wait.”

“Well, then, why don’t ye hie yerself home a bit early today. I’m sure Grace can do without ye for the rest of the afternoon.”

Teasag looked to Grace for approval. It was clear to Grace that Innes wanted to speak with her alone. “Aye, Teasag, that is a wonderful idea. Ye can finish knotting this off at home.”

“Will I come tomorrow?”

“Nay, sweetling, ’tis a holiday. When ye come on Monday, bring yer empty loom and I will teach ye how to thread the warp.”

“All right, I will. Maybe I’ll see ye tonight when I’m wearing my new belt?”

“Maybe,” answered Grace.

When Teasag had left, Grace looked at her Grandmother. “What is wrong?”

“Am I so obvious?”

“Grandmother, I love ye and I can tell when ye are upset.”

“Aye, I am upset, Grace. There are whispers passing through the clan today.”

“Whispers?”

“Whispers about ye. They are saying that Bram came here yesterday before even speaking to his father. They say he had been back for hours and he didn’t even show up when supper was served. He didn’t come to the great hall until Ian went looking for him.”

“And what did Bram say?”

“That he had come across ye and Kristen walking back from the village in the rain and he had only stopped in to check on ye both.”

“That is true. We walked Teasag home when the rain stopped yesterday afternoon, but it started raining again. He saw us home.”

“Aye, lass, but then he came back. Why?”

Grace looked down. She hadn’t considered that Bram’s presence in the cottage yesterday might start whispers. Grace firmly believed the truth was always best. “I had been angry with him. When he left, he gave an order that Kristen and I couldn’t walk on the headlands alone.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He thinks it’s dangerous. I only found out about the order when Kristen and I started to take a walk one afternoon.”

A smile flirted at Innes’ mouth. “I expect ye were a bit angry over that.”

Grace smiled. “Aye, and I made it clear to him.”

“That poor man.”

“Anyway, he brought us home, but after he had taken care of Goliath and changed out of his wet clothes he came back. He wanted to talk to me, to explain why he did it.”

Innes looked serious again. “But surely that didn’t take hours.”

“It didn’t. At least it didn’t feel like hours. But I did lose my temper, and well…”

“Ye didn’t listen to him right away.”

“Something like that.”

“Well, he has done ye no favors. The whispers will die soon enough if ye stay away from him. That’s why I asked ye to help me in the kitchen tonight. I will let most of the women go early because of the celebration. They’ll know then that ye’ll be here. Folks are already speculating about what might happen between ye this eve. They say he danced with no one but ye the night of Pentecost. Ye mustn’t be seen with him tonight.”

Grace’s heart fell. As much as she had looked forward to spending the evening with him, Innes was right. Bram might be planning to declare his love for her to his father, but he clearly hadn’t yet and until he did, Grace would suffer the sting of wagging tongues. “Aye, Grandmother. I will help ye in the kitchen.”

*

Bram had found this day to be nothing but frustrating.

After holding his tongue about Grace the previous evening, he hoped to find a chance to speak to his father privately today, but his father managed to avoid him. Bram knew Da was avoiding him because he had spent so much time recently trying to avoid Da, he recognized the signs.

By early evening, he gave up, instead seeking out Grace. He needed to tell her of Ian’s concerns and why he hadn’t spoken to his father yet. He intended to take Grace and Kristen to the bonfire on the village green. However, there was no answer when he knocked on the door.

He wondered if perhaps she had already left and asked the guardsmen on watch but she hadn’t left the castle walls. He thought she might be in the kitchens but he knew the admission he made the previous evening had probably started threads of gossip that would only be fed if he sought her out in front of the women working in the kitchens. He would try again after the evening meal.

Even that didn’t work. Just as the meal ended, his father, who had managed to disappear for the whole day, decided that the family should go to the village celebration together. There was nothing for it; he had to try to bring Grace with them. “Da, Grace doesn’t know many people yet. I thought I would accompany her to the festivities.”

His mother laughed. “Ye are so very thoughtful, Bram. Someday ye will make a truly great leader for this clan, but ye needn’t worry about Grace. I understand Innes gave many of the women an early evening so they could join in the celebration with their families. Grace will be helping her finish up in the kitchen tonight. After all, they have been apart for so long I’m sure they want to spend as much time together as possible.”

“Mother, if ye were so worried about their time together, it surprises me that ye gave Grace a colossal task to complete that would keep her out of the kitchens.” Ian kicked him under the table.

“Ye heard about the ribbon? Oh I wanted that to be a surprise. But, Bram, she
likes
weaving ribbon and she is very skilled at it. Just imagine what Annice will think of such a lovely gift. Twenty ells of silk ribbon. It would turn any lass’s head.”

Bram struggled not to lose his temper. “
Twenty
ells? That is quite a gift.” Grace had only mentioned ten.

“Aye. I thought so. At first I asked her for ten ells of blue ribbon with a quatrefoil pattern woven in cream and gold. When yer father saw it, he was so impressed, he thought ten more in another color and pattern would be simply perfect.”

“Twenty ells. Ye don’t think that is asking a bit much, Da?”

“Nay, I do not. She arrived at our door with nothing but two extra mouths to feed. She can earn her keep like every other member of this clan does.”

There was a difference between expecting someone to earn their keep and requesting something completely unreasonable. He was on the verge of telling his parents this when Ian kicked him again and said, “Da, I’ve been meaning to ask ye, have ye had any news from Boyd recently. Is his training going well?”

Ian had effectively changed the subject and prevented a public confrontation but Bram had difficulty reining in his temper. His parents’ callousness, particularly his mother’s, had frankly shocked him. She was normally a warm, generous, kind woman. Bram remained quiet and irritable for the rest of the evening, refusing to be pulled into the festivities. He hoped vainly that Grace would come to the village on her own.

As the night wore on and the celebration became more raucous, his parents returned to the keep. Not long after that he found Ian. “I’m leaving. Ye’ll have to represent the family for the rest of the night.

“Bram, I’m sorry the evening didn’t go as ye had hoped.”

“This can’t go on, Ian. If Da keeps avoiding me, I will see Grace safely off Sutherland land and once she is safe, tell him my intentions. He can banish me if he wishes.”

“Bram, don’t do anything rash. Please. Ye may be able to talk him around. I don’t want to lose ye and Da won’t either. Besides, I don’t want to be Laird Sutherland. That is yer cross to bear.”

“Good night, Ian.” At this point Bram refused to promise anything.

When he returned to the castle he walked around the outer bailey, past the little cottage. It was dark and quiet. He knew it would be—they were long asleep. He walked to the rear entrance of the inner bailey, heading to the keep. To his surprise there was a light in one of the kitchens. He went to the door. There she was, illuminated by the soft light of the dying fire, sitting in a chair by the hearth. For a moment he thought she had fallen asleep, but she turned her head to look at him.

“Grace.” He crossed the room and knelt in front of her.

She caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave. I so wanted to dance with ye tonight.”

“Oh my precious lass, I’m the one who should apologize. I left yer cottage yesterday prepared to tell my father I intend to marry ye. But Ian—he thought I might be putting ye into jeopardy if I defied Da publically. He pointed out that even if Da was inclined to let us marry, he couldn’t give in if I showed that level of disrespect. I don’t care for myself, but Grace, Da could force ye to marry someone else. That would kill me. I have to speak with him privately to have any hope of a life with ye.”

“I’m glad Ian stopped ye. I don’t think I could have—how could I have…” She leaned forward and to his heart-stopping delight, kissed him.

He stood, pulling her from the chair and into his arms, returning her kiss, deepening it.

She responded in full measure. She put her arms around his neck, entwining her fingers in his hair.

When he finally broke the kiss, he drew a ragged breath. He had never desired a woman so intensely.

She laid her head on his chest and he rested his cheek against her hair. “Grace, there is another way.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There is another way we can be together and my da would not be able to interfere.”

“How?”

“Marry me. Tonight.”

“Father Damien wouldn’t risk yer father’s wrath by marrying us without permission.”

“Then we won’t ask him. We can go to the Dominican abbey a few hours ride away.”

*

Grace wanted to marry Bram more than anything. They could do this. They could be married before morning and nothing could part them.
Aye
was on the tip of her tongue. “But Bram, won’t that be the same as defying him publically? There will be no chance for ye to prevent a rift if we do that.”

“I don’t care. Grace, we will return for Kristen and Innes and make a home elsewhere if we must.”

Grace’s heart fell. That was exactly what her parents had done, which had caused so much pain. “How can we do that? Ye will be banished from yer clan, yer family.”

“It is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

“Ye aren’t the only one who will suffer, ye must realize that. It’s what my parents did. I know the pain it caused Innes, the pain it will cause yer mother. I’m not sure I can inflict that on anyone. Maybe it is best to at least try another way first.”

He stepped back from her, cupping her face with both hands. “I don’t want to risk losing ye.”

“If yer da cannot be swayed, I will marry ye at the abbey. But ye owe it to the ones ye love to try to convince him.”