Love Letters from Largs: Brodie and Celestina (Highlander Clan Grant Series Book 3) (21 page)

First, she needed to listen. The one thing she had always wanted was within her grasp, two loving parents. She would give them a chance to explain.

“Aye, I thank you, daughter, for allowing me in.” He stared at Celestina as if he wanted to memorize her features, but perhaps he was just unsure of what to say. “I apologize for no’ having been in your life all these years, supporting you as an honorable father should, but circumstances prevented that from happening.”

Celestina stared at her mother, unable to retain the question and longer.
“But why, Mama? I understand why Papa—umm, may I call you Papa?”

“Aye, lass, ‘twould honor me if you did.”

Turning back to her mother she asked, “But why did you leave? Or why did you not take me with you?”

“’Tis a complicated story.
You read my letter on how your father and I met, aye?”

Celestina nodded.

“Walter left me for dead after injuring me with his own hands, so your father and I believed in our own hearts ‘twas as good as cancelling our marriage vows. Mind you, we were young and naïve. Walter had changed so from his head injury, anyway; he was no’ the man I had wed. He clearly did no’ want me as his wife any longer, no matter the laws of the church.

“Your
sire and I fell in love, and as you know, I soon found myself carrying you, our first bairn. We were so excited.” She squeezed her husband’s hand before returning to her story. “We admit we did our best to hide our relationship to his clan, because we were no’ sure how the clan or the church would feel about our relationship since Baron Lunde still lived. In fact, I was carrying before anyone found out about our love for each other. We were advised at the time that the church would no’ support what we had done, but we were in love and blind to all.

“
A few months later, the baron showed up on our doorstep demanding my return. You see, Walter and I had tried to have a bairn, but we had been unsuccessful. As soon as word reached him that I was carrying, he wanted me back. He was obsessed with having a bairn to carry on his name. When he learned the child was not of his loins, he still wanted to claim you even though timing would prove otherwise.

“Ranald went to the church
, requesting an annulment based on desertion, but the church would no’ grant it. They gave me no choice but to return to the baron, and I gave birth to you in his home. Years passed, and Ranald and I continued to share letters so I could update him on your progress. When Walter found those letters, he destroyed most of them and went to the church requesting my removal from his house, but he wanted you to stay with him.”

She glanced at her husband. “Th
e very thought broke my heart, and I refused to leave you behind. Ranald supported me in this as he was most concerned about your welfare. However, the church did no’ grant the baron’s wishes and decreed that you were born when he and I were married, so both of us were to stay with him.

“Walter was furious. Again, he was no’ the man I married because his mind had become so twisted. He began to rant and mutter to himself, and he was desperate to get me out of the house. He did the only thing he could think of
, he beat me again and left me in the forest to die. I had sent a note to your da about Walter’s crazed mind. To be safe, he had sent someone to watch over the two of us, his brother, Father Padraig.”

Celestina’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. Ranald nodded, “Aye, lass, Father Padraig is my brother. One day, he came flying home on his horse. He could no’ find your mama, though you were safe. We took a group of guards back and searched the area. Again, I found your mama near death at the hands of that evil man.” He stopped, pausing to take a deep breath, unclenching his fisted hands.

Celestina’s heart broke as she watched the emotions flicker over her da’s face. He loved her mama, and he could no’ deal with what the baron had done. She stared at her hands in her lap, wondering what Brodie would have done under the same circumstances. She did not have to think long; he would never have allowed her to return. Her da had no’ allowed her mama back either. It was all beginning to make sense. He had done what he needed to keep her mama alive.

Ranald pushed on after gathering his thoughts. “After nursing your mama back to health, I kept her here by my side. The baron did no’ want her
anymore. The church did no’ need to know, I was no’ sending her back.” His eyes misted as he glanced over at her mama. “We did what we thought was best. We arranged for Inga to care for you and sent my brother to check on you regularly. He watched over you along with our lord up above. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Your mama had naught to do with it. I would no’ allow her to return to Baron Lunde.”

Her mother took over the tale. “We did ask the church, but they would no’ force the baron to give you up. Father Padraig watched over you and kept us updated. I am sorry the baron was
rough with you, but the church would no’ intervene. They did no’ deem his discipline to be abusive. Years later, we discovered Walter’s true motivation for keeping you.

“Besides punishing me, the main reason was because he wanted the money he would get from your betrothed. You see, your beauty became legendary in Ayrshire and beyond, and many lads wanted your hand. Walter made sure you went to the one who would pay him the most.”

Celestina stared at her mother. “My beauty? I know Brodie believes I am beautiful, but all of Ayrshire?”

Her father spoke up. “Och, lass, men came from miles away to beg for your hand. ‘Twas part of the reason the baron basically
kept you as a prisoner. Many knew you to be my daughter, and he did no’ want you to find out. He also wanted you to feel dependent on him. When Ivarsson came to town, the baron believed his opportunity had finally arrived.”

Her mother held her hand. “You have learned that your marriage to
Fredrik Ivarsson is false? Father Padraig did us another favor and made sure the documents would no’ stand. You are free to marry who you wish and we will support your choice.”

Celestina
shook her head. “Brodie Grant and I have handfasted. I love him; he is the husband of my heart. Mama, the baron is dead. He held a knife to my throat and Brodie killed him. He will bother you no more.”

Her mother sighed and closed her eyes,
murmuring a brief prayer of thanks. When she opened her eyes, she smiled at her daughter. “We were blessed with two more bairns, both lads, but you were our only lassie. You have two brothers, my dear.”

Celestina rubbed her
temples, trying to absorb all the new information she’d been given. She glanced at her mother than and noticed the beautiful necklace she wore. The charm was a circle of etched laurel leaves. “Mama, where did you get this? “Tis just like the door knocker on the baron’s house in Lennox.”

Her
sire spoke up, “Och, laurel leaves are the badge of the MacLaren clan. I must confess that I sent my brother with that and asked him to place it somewhere in the house when Walter was unaware. I believed it was another way to protect you, almost a halo of laurel leaves to wear on your head, as an angel would wear it.”

“Just as your name, my dear.
Celestina, our angel from heaven.” Her mama smiled and kissed her cheek.

He
r da moved over to sit on the side of the bed so he could enfold her hands within his giant ones. “Aye, we have done the best we could in view of the church and the royal palace’s wishes for you. We hope, more than anything, that you will forgive us both and allow us to be a part of your life.” His eyes flooded with tears and he choked out, “Naught would make us happier than to be in your life again. We will do all we can to support you and make you happy.”

Celestina reached over and placed a kiss on her
da’s cheek. How could she not? She had never seen a grown man cry as he was, and he held her hands as if afraid she would disappear. He was different from Baron Lunde in every way possible. “Papa, I verra much would like to have you be a part of my life. Brodie will be so surprised to hear my mother and sire are both alive.”

Her mother whispered, “He already knows, lass. Father Padraig told him.”

“What? Brodie knew?” She twisted the sheets in her hands as she tried to make sense of that information. “Then he lied to me? Did he know he was sending me to you?”

“Aye, lass.”
Her father patted her hand. “Please do no’ be too harsh on the lad. My brother swore him to an oath of silence. He gave his word of honor no’ to tell you. There are no guarantees with a war on, and we did no’ want you to find out we were alive only to finally make it to our keep to and discover otherwise. ‘Twould be too much for a person to handle twice.”

Celestina stared at her hands
, confusion clouding her mind.

“Celestina,” her mother said, “he did no’ want to send you, even though he cares verra much about your safety,
but he promised Father Padraig he would allow you to meet us. I think he must be a strong man to have stuck to his word. After all, he must be afraid you would choose us over him. His willingness to possibly sacrifice his own happiness for yours tells me much about his character. Do you no’ agree with me?”

Aye, she had to agree with her mother. She had been so
upset with Brodie when he sent her away with Father Padraig. She recalled his last words, something about remembering that he loved her forever. He had known she was leaving him to meet her parents. Aye, he must have feared he would lose her to her family—to the mother she hadn’t seen in years and the sire she had never met. So this was likely the most unselfish decision anyone had ever made for her.

He
had given her the gift of choice, and she was so confused, she wasn’t sure of her answer.

Was her
proper place with her husband or with her parents?

Chapter Twenty-Three

October 1
st
, 1263

Late the next night, Brodie searched the middle of Ayr for any sign of Nicol or wee Loki. His journey had taken longer than expected due to a storm that had hit with gale force winds and drenching rains. He had slept in a deserted cottage while the worst of it raged outside, which had also given his horse some much needed rest. Some blamed such storms on magic, but Brodie just considered them part of nature’s eerie beauty. The storm continued well into the morning hours, but he headed back to Ayr in the rain, anxious to locate his friends and his brother.

H
is friends caught up with him not long after he arrived. Loki threw himself at Brodie, obviously excited to see him.

“Any word from Robbie, Nicol?”
He trusted his brother’s abilities, yet the uncertainty was making him anxious.

Nicol shook his head. “Nay, they
should have returned, but I haven’t seen any clansmen yet.”

“M
aster Brodie, we brought missy angel a cart to ride in, and she was very sad.” Loki stood at his side, tugging on his arm.

Brodie
thought about how unhappy his wife had been upon their parting. The poor lass had never been able to trust many people in her life, and she had always been under the direction of an overbearing lout. Adjusting to life with a caring partner, one who loved her and would always return to her, would take time. He thanked God again that she was now finally safe and with loved ones.

He wondered how the journey
with Father Padraig had gone. Would Celestina forgive her mother and father? Brodie had no idea about the circumstances surrounding the family’s separation, but he expected his wife would be very happy to see her mother again. A beautiful spirit existed and would blossom inside his wee wife; she just hadn’t had the chance to discover it yet. He hoped her father was a kind man. Another cruel one could destroy her.

Above all, he hoped she would
be able to find it in her heart to forgive him for not revealing the truth about her parents. With time, she would learn to trust him, and she would realize they could be apart and still love one another. Living in the Grant keep with him as his wife would help her to thrive, but would she still be willing to live with him?

Nicol patted him on the back
, as if he could read his mind. “She’ll be back, friend. You can count on that.”

“I hope you are right. I have to admit I miss her already.” He gave Nicol a sheepish grin, but
it was the truth. If he could just settle things in his mind, he would be more efficient in battle. He didn’t like distraction. Now he understood his brother’s philosophy—focus on your opponent only.

Father Padraig had mentioned her true father was a chieftain of his clan in the
Highlands, so would the man accept Brodie as his daughter’s mate or would he try to find a more suitable match for her?

Whatever the situation, he would fight for his wife
just as he always fought for his clan. Her soul had wedged a very deep place in his heart, and he planned to keep it there.

He glanced at his
wee friend, who was still staring up at him. “Aye, Loki, she was verra sad, but a lass does no’ belong in battle. She understands that we will return to her—the three of us.” Loki burst into a wide grin at this declaration. His heart swelled at the sight. Celestina was attached to the lad, and so was he. The boy had to belong to someone—and it was going to be him and his wee wife.

Nicol’s voice broke into the middle of his thoughts. “Och,
there will be five of us together. Do no’ forget my Inga.”

Brodie’s furrowed brow made Loki laugh. “Master Brodie, you d
id no’ see the moon face Nicol has for missy Inga? ‘Tis almost as bad as yours for missy angel.”

“’Struth, Nicol?
You and Inga?” Brodie grinned.

“Aye, and do no’ look so surprised. Inga is a beautiful
lass with a big heart,” Nicol said.

“Och, she does have a big something you would like, but her heart is no’ what I was thinking of.” Brodie wondered how much jesting his friend would tolerate about Inga, but before he finished his sentence, a stone whizzed by his ear.

“Cram it, Grant, or I will.” Nicol’s face now was as serious as Brodie had ever seen it.

Loki laughed so hard he almost fell over.

Brodie held his hand up to Nicol.
“Fill me in on your heartstrings later, Nicol. For now, I need to hear everything you know before I find the Sheriff for my new orders.”’

“
Fine, much has happened in your absence. Haakon’s fleet has moved further north and anchored off the Cumbraes. Last night’s storm drove several boats aground near Largs. Our king sent a small force of local archers as soon as word reached us this morn. Apparently, they did well enough with their bows to cause many casualties on the shoreline. King Alexander expects Haakon to send more longboats to salvage what they can and assist their wounded. Some galleys went under coming down from Loch Lomond, but some linger near Loch Lomond, awaiting instructions. Alexander has ordered all forces to Largs, and we will be headed that direction shortly. You arrived just in time.”

“Those boats driven aground, where were they coming from?”

“I do no’ think anyone knows. Why?” Nicol waited as Brodie paced in front of him.

“The
traitor Ivarsson is on a boat coming from Loch Lomond. I need to find him.”

Nicol gave a malicious grin
. “Fredrik Ivarsson’s just due is coming soon, is it no’?”

“Aye, it is,” he glanced at Loki,
who seemed fascinated by their conversation. “I need to have a talk with Ivarsson.” Though Celestina hadn’t given him all the details yet, he suspected he owed Fredrik Ivarsson quite a bit of pain.

“
’Tis suggested that some of the longboats ran aground because they were heavy with goods from pillaging. Ivarsson could be at Loch Long or Largs, or he could have been in one of the boats that went down in the storm. He was the traitor who told the Norse where to find gold and riches, after all.”

“H
e made her scream, I heard her,” Loki said, poking Brodie in the thigh to get his attention.

Brodie’s
gave the lad his complete attention. “How do you know this?”

“Remember I told you I followed her for you?
Well, right after the wedding, before they left the castle, I snuck into the hallway outside the room where they were and I heard her scream. Only once, then I heard her grunting like this.” Loki did his best to imitate the sound. “You understand? When you try so hard no’ to scream, but you can no’ stop it? ‘Tis what she was doing, and then I think he slapped her.”

Brodie’s blood pounded through his body. His fists clenched at the thought of anyone hurting his angel.

“Master Brodie? I protected her for you. I hit him with a stone when he came out and he yelled, but he could no’ catch me. ‘Twas before you met me. ‘Tis the other reason I followed them. He was mean to her.”

Brodie ruffled his hair. “Good lad.
You saved her.”

He tried to focus on
the Scot’s battle, but his mind was only on one thing at the moment. Ivarsson would pay for hurting his angel.

***

Celestina sat at the dais in the great hall at the MacLaren keep, still trying to wrap her mind around all that had transpired in such a short time.

Her mother leaned over
her. “My dear, have you had enough to eat? Is this fare not to your liking?”

She glanced at the trencher in front of them full of turnips and mutton with apple tarts on the side.
“Nay, Mama, the food is delicious. I am just not very hungry.” She smiled to ease her mother’s worries. “Believe me, this is much better fare than I ever had at Baron Lunde’s.”

Everything about her
mother was just as she remembered. She had the biggest heart and now that Celestina had finally been returned to her, she had made certain her daughter had everything she could ever want, including new kirtles, surcoats, boots and slippers. They’d had such fun choosing the fabrics and ribbons.

Celestina
had been introduced to her two brothers, Rory and Roderick, but her father kept them busy in the lists, so she hadn’t been able to spend much time with them. Rory was ten summers and Roderick a year older. Both her parents had fussed over her every wish. She didn’t know how to tell them that they had already given her more than she’d ever had in her whole life up until now.

The great hall was full of members of the
MacLaren clan. Her father had declared it a day of celebration in honor of her return. She had been introduced to so many people, her mind blurred with their faces and the names. They had brought her gifts of warm pelts, candles, sweet lavender soap, pear tarts, a woolen shawl, slippers, and even jewelry. All were wonderful, and she had admired each one and thanked the giver profusely.

Now that she
had a quieter moment to stop and think, she realized the true gifts her family had given her. Peals of laughter, smiles of happiness, bairns giggling, words of kindness, hugs of warmth, applause, shouts of joy, a sense of belonging, children running—all these things surrounded her in the hall and left her in awe. She recognized them as the very things that had been missing in her life for the past twelve years.

Inga had made fast friends with a few of the lasses, but Celestina held back.
For years, her only friend her age had been Inga. How did one go about making friends? She lacked the most basic skills possessed by almost everyone in this room.

Her mother grasped her hand
beneath the table. Her sweet voice, which sounded just as Celestina had remembered it, whispered, “Do not panic, you will learn.”

How could she have known what she was thinking?

Her mother said, “He kept you prisoner all those years, didn’t he?”

Celestina nodded.

“You will learn. You will learn because I can see the love and kindness in your heart.” She leaned in and kissed her cheek. “This must be confusing for you, but I will help. Together, we will laugh and sew and bake and garden and hug and love. There are so many new things for you to learn, but you can do it.” She brushed a lock of hair out of Celestina’s eyes. “I suspect your heart already knows how to love, aye? You love Brodie Grant verra much, do you no’?”

Celestina’s eyes misted and
she did the only thing she could. She nodded her head and fell into her mother’s embrace, allowing her to do what she had always done best, comfort her when she was hurting.

“I miss him so.”