Ann Carr (15 page)

“Oh, when you put it like that!” she sighed and turned to John, “did Duncan tell you to guard him?” With the look that Colin and John shared with each other she had her answer. “You don’t need to follow him around anymore. We’re going to take a walk around the village and catch up, you can tell Duncan that if he asks”.

“We
cannae do that! Duncan gave us orders not to let him out of this courtyard!”

“And I’m telling you that you are no longer needed here. If Duncan questions it you send him to me!”

Reluctantly the two men stepped back, allowing Richard to pass between them. As they watched the two figures walk away Colin mumbled, “I hope we dinnae live to regret this!”

"How about we follow at a distance just in case we're needed" Slowly, both men followed, hoping they wouldn't run into Duncan.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Where is he?” Duncan bellowed through the doorway. Ewan jumped at the booming echo of his father’s voice, bumping into Elizabeth and almost toppling her off the little stool she was perched on. Once she had steadied herself, Elizabeth turned to the man glowering in the doorway; the sight of him almost caused her to jump back too, for she had never seen him look more furious. Instead she reached out a soothing hand to Ewan, hoping to convey without words that he had nothing to fear, that Duncan would never hurt either one of them.

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth rose shakily to her feet. She didn’t need to ask who he was referring to, that was obvious,
he was looking for Richard. Racking her brains she tried to think of what Richard could have done to cause such intense anger from Duncan. She didn’t know.

Since Richard’s arrival Duncan had withdrawn from her more and more each day. At first the withdrawal had been slight and she had been so happy and caught up in the presence of her brother to notice, but as the weeks had multiplied, so too had the distance between them. The silence between them had grown until barely a civil word passed between them anymore. He still reached out for her in the dark of night and made love to her with such a fierceness and intensity that was so at odds with how he treated her in the light of day. Every night she clung to him with equal intensity, and when he fell asleep in her arms she would cling onto him hoping that the coming day would bring with it a change of attitude. But it never did!

Some days a sense of utter hopelessness shrouded her, she didn’t know what had caused his sudden change of attitude and therefore couldn’t do anything to change it. At first she had suspected that it must be Richards’s presence here, but secretly she had studied the two men, their interactions were always formally polite, too polite, and while the men clearly didn’t like each other, she had never seen any signs of outright hatred between them. Until now.

“He’s not here Duncan!” Was all the answer she could gave.

“I can see that! Though I am surprised! It seems hardly a minute passes without the two of
ye being in each other’s company!” His sarcastic jab worked to rile her.

“I spend more than enough time around here! I happen to live here in case ye
hadnae noticed!” Duncan roared the minute the boy was out of earshot.

“What are you still doing here when you obviously hate it so much!” as soon as the words left her lips she regretted throwing them at him. As bad as things were she didn’t want him to leave!

“That sounds like a good idea because I’m obviously not going to be missed by my wife!” he spun on his heel and marched to the door, forgetting the reason he had come in the first place and not wanting to say anything else that he might regret, not wanting to see the hurt in those eyes spitting venom at him.

“Wait!” he paused. “Why are you looking for Richard?” she asked.

“Because my dear, that darling brother of yers has sabotaged my saddle, no doubt with the hope of killing me!”

“What?” she was astounded, “Why would Richard want to do that?”

“That’s what I’ll find out, right after I find the lad!”

“No! No Richard wouldn’t do that!” she had utter trust in her brother, he might not like Duncan but he certainly wouldn’t try to kill him! “Are you sure it was sabotage?”

“Defending little brother?” he laughed harshly, “Of course it was sabotage! Now I want to find him and get some answers!”

“What makes you think it was Richard?” she wondered at the unjustness of the situation, “
surely it could have been anyone!”

“Aye, it could have been one of the men who have shown loyalty to me over the last ten years, or more likely it was the English lad, who stated the night he arrived that I would never be more than his enemy. And sure all the accidents that have happened since his arrival could have just been a coincidence or more likely they were caused by
yer brother’s hand!” He sneered at her.

“What accidents? This is the first time I’ve heard of any accidents taking place!”

“That’s because I dinnae want ye to hear of them, I dinnae want ye to worry about me!” he laughed again, that harsh humourless sound, “although what a joke that is! As if ye’d spend any time worrying over my wellbeing!” he spat out.

“Why are you saying things like this Duncan!” she pleaded, “you know I would worry about you! You’re the most important person in my life! Why can’t you see that? Why do you keep pulling away?” she stepped towards him but he only turned away.

On a sigh that sounded as though it was torn from his soul he asked tonelessly, “where is he now Elizabeth?”

“I’m not sure exactly. He said he was going out for a ride.
To get some fresh air”.

“So he wanted time alone in the stables to put his plan to work” he scoffed.

“No! Why don’t you believe me when I tell you that he didn’t do it!” Elizabeth couldn’t stop the rising volume of her voice.

“How can ye be sure? Did ye go to the stables with him? Did ye watch him leave?” he questioned.

“No, but he asked me to go out riding with him, the only reason I didn’t go was because I wasn’t feeling so good this morning! Or else I would have been there with him!” she implored him to believe her.

He ignored the pang of worry that pierced his heart upon hearing that she’d been sick. Looking closely at her now he could see that her normally luminous skin had a sickly
greyish colour about it and there were dark rings around her eyes. Wanting to go to her, wanting to forget this whole business of accidents and sabotage Duncan cursed the fates that made it impossible for him to do just that. He had many things to sort out before he and Elizabeth could try and rebuild their marriage, it would have to wait, he knew that, but stilling his feet was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do.

“So ye
dinnae know for sure that he dinnae do it?”

“And you don’t know for sure that he
did
! All you have is a big bunch of coincidences! That is not proof Duncan!”

"Perhaps not but I shall have the proof by the end of this day!" Without a backwards glance he purposefully marched out of the room.  He didn't see Elizabeth drop heavily into the stool, or sink her head in her hands before the tears rolled out of her eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

John pulled his horse up to a halt in front of Duncan, panting from his hasty ride through the countryside and dripping wet from the downpour all around. He cursed the wind which whipped icy drops of rain painfully onto his exposed cheeks and wished the English boy to hell where he wouldn’t be able to cause any more trouble!

“Did ye find him?” Duncan’s question was whipped out of his mouth by the wind. He too was cursing the weather and becoming thoroughly frustrated that they couldn’t find the boy. Where in God’s name could he be? After arguing with Elizabeth, Duncan had left with Colin and John to go in search of Richard. They had been looking for most of the day and had had no luck so far in tracking him down. Soon they would have to turn around and return to the castle because night was creeping in earlier than usual due to the dark clouds above them. Time was running out!

“No!” John shouted over the noisy wind, “I’ve been all through the Western forest, right out to the river and there was no sign of him anywhere. If he’s out there then he’s hiding, bunked down somewhere! He’s certainly not out in the open anywhere!”

Just then Colin joined them and shaking his head he didn’t need to add anything. He’d not found the boy either.

“We’ll take one last look around the farms and then head back to the castle before the gates are closed”, Duncan shouted, not yet ready to admit defeat.

As one, the three men spun their horses in opposite directions and spread out to check the fields one last time.

Duncan was the last to return home. When he arrived at the stables Colin and John were already waiting for him, the stable hands had already taken care of their horses so the three men were now alone in the dark dwelling.

“No sign of him anywhere” Colin piped in, his voice sombre. Duncan had already shared his suspicions with these two men, trusting that word would spread no further. After all he still had no proof to condemn the boy.

“Chances are we’ll have more luck tomorrow though”, John piped in optimistically; ignoring the sour looks sent his way.

“I think he’ll be long gone, if he wasnae, he’d be back here by now” Duncan injected, “we’ll have to try and track him tomorrow. Hopefully there will still be some tracks left after all of this rain”.

“And when we find him?” Colin asked.

“Then I think we’ll all have a little talk! Get to the bottom of this once and for all!”

“Elizabeth won’t be happy!” John decided to play devil’s advocate.

“No! But she’ll have to get over it. My people are far too important for me to just ignore what has been going on for her sake!”

“You want me to take Shadow for you Lord Duncan”, old William appeared out of the shadows as though he was part of them. None of the men had heard his approach, they had no way of finding out how much he had overheard, but none were worried. William would keep quiet, they could trust his discretion.

The three men hurried through the driving rain towards the sanctuary of the castle walls. As soon as they had stepped foot inside of the dry building John pulled them to one side before they could walk into the dining room. Glancing around to make sure he couldn’t be overheard, he smiled in satisfaction when he noticed no other people in the dimly lit hallway. With a lecherous grin on his face he dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small scrap of pristine white material edged with a frilly lace. Holding out the piece of fabric he waved it in front of Duncan and Colin’s face, giving them a good view of what he had gripped in his hand.

“I take it ye and
yer wife are getting along better than ye have these past few weeks!” John gave Duncan a knowing wink.

“I
dinnae know what yer talking about!” Not wanting to think about his wife, Duncan pushed John’s hand out of his face and set to walk away.

“I found this in one of the stable stalls this morning, lying on top of the hay.” Again he waved the piece of fabric in question, “I assume the two of ye had an enjoyable ride in the stable?”

“Oh speak in plain language! If ye have something to say then spit it out!” Duncan was trying to hang onto the last of his patience.

“Obviously ye and she had an assignation there this morning. Look what ye left behind!”

“That scrap of material could belong to anyone! I wouldn’t like to think how many
assignations
take place in my stables!” he laughed.

“But how many women wear such fancy petticoats?” John asked in a sing-song. “I for one am happy to see the two of ye getting along again and...” he was cut off in mid-sentence when Duncan ripped the cloth out of his hand, and was left standing slightly dazed as he watched Duncan’s back recede into the darkness.

“I dinnae think he was in the stable this morning” Colin inserted into the silence.

“But Lady Elizabeth
wouldnae have...” lost for words John couldn’t quite bring himself to finish the sentence. He had acquired much respect for the new Lady Campbell and didn’t even want to contemplate such things.

“Oh stop being a fool John!” Colin declared in exasperation, “
we both know she would never sleep with another man!”

“But who could it have been?”

“According to ye, no one but Lady Elizabeth! I think ye’ve condemned the lassie my friend!”

“Oh no!
What have I done?” he moaned.

“Perhaps
ye'll start thinking about what you say before you open your damn mouth!" Colin shouted and he too marched away into the darkness leaving John standing in the hallway alone.

Chapter Thirty

Elizabeth retired to bed earlier than usual that night in the hope that sleep would help to calm her anxious mind. She had spent the day alternatively worrying about Duncan and then about Richard. Not wanting Duncan to find her brother and then wishing Richard would just return home. She had not seen either one of them since her fateful argument with Duncan earlier that morning, she’d been so certain that they would return in time for their evening meal, but neither man had. Every time someone had entered the large dining hall her eyes had rushed expectantly in their direction, only to be disappointed every time. Her worrying had also rubbed off on Ewan who too was worried about his father’s absence. Impulsive child that he was, Ewan had wanted them to go out in search of his father. Only her repeated assurance that he would return eventually managed to calm the boy somewhat. After they had picked unenthusiastically at their own meals she had suggested that they retire to bed early so that they could be up early in the morning to see Duncan before he left to go about his jobs.

Leaning on her side now, Elizabeth stretched over to blow out the candle beside the bed. As she inhaled the bedroom door was flung open on its hinges, a cold draft of air gushed through the room extinguishing the small flame before she had time to exhale and do it herself.

Duncan closed the door plunging the room into dark shadows, she couldn’t see his movement. But rather felt his presence beside the bed before the room was once again lit up by the candle which had just been extinguished.

“Did you find Richard?” she asked the question upmost in her mind.

“I dinnae give a damn about Richard!” he blistered, “I want ye to explain this!” and he threw a scrap of fabric onto the bed beside her.

Nonplussed, she picked up the material, not quite understanding its significance, not knowing what he expected her to say on the matter, so she uttered a simple “no”.

“Dinnae lie to me Elizabeth! It’s a piece from one of yer petticoats! It was found in one of the stalls in the stable! Does that help to jog your memory?” he spat out sarcastically.

“No. Why ever would....” then she jumped to her knees as the implication of what he was suggesting finally sunk in, “why you bastard!” she took an enraged swing at his head which he easily caught in his own hand.

Struggling, she rose to her feet so that she was standing on the bed towering above him. “You let me go Duncan! You let me go right this minute or so help me....!” she ranted, swinging her other arm without aim, “you tell me, all knowing one, who am I supposed to be sleeping with huh? Tell me Duncan! Tell me!” she screamed.

“I
dinnae know” he yelled back, “but there’s no denying that this is yers!” he once again held up the offending piece of cloth, “and there’s only one explanation for how it got there!”

“Well I’m denying it! That does not belong to me! Go check all of my petticoats for tears if you don’t believe me! Go on! I’ve got nothing to hide!” She jumped off the bed and raced over to the trunk where her petticoats were stored, yanking open the lid, she bent over to pull out as many garments as possibly, throwing them all around her on the floor, “Here! Is it this one?” she picked up another, inspected it and threw it to the ground, “or this one?” another followed, then another.

“Ok! Enough Elizabeth! Enough!” He took her shoulders in his hands to calm her, to try and bring her out of her hysterical ranting. “Calm down Elizabeth. I believe ye. God help me, but I do believe ye!” he groaned, pulling her into his arms and burying his face in her hair. Oh Lord! But he’d been so stupid to even think that she would do something so sneaky, so underhand. “Shh, sweetheart, shh” he soothed.

Effortlessly he lifted her into his arms and walked to the bed where he tenderly set her down so that she was sitting on the edge, legs dangling over the side, not touching the floor. Kneeling down before her he reached out and tilted up her chin so that he could read the emotions in her eyes.

“Oh Duncan!” she whispered, eyes swimming with unshed tears, “how could you ever think I would do such a thing” and then for the second time that night she lost control of her actions and broke down into deep racking sobs. Immediately Duncan pulled her back into his arms, needing to sooth her, he held her for what seemed like an eternity, until eventually her sobs subsided.

Clinging to him, Elizabeth felt emotionally battered; all of her energy just seemed to ebb out of her being, leaving her
limply hanging onto him. How could she both hate and love one man so much? She felt sure she would never understand the emotions he evoked inside of her but she was too exhausted now to even try.

“Come on sweetheart”, Duncan rose and settled her down so that she was once again lying in bed.

“No! Don’t go!” she reached out as he began to walk away from her.

“I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be back before ye know it” he promised as he undressed before he climbed into bed beside her and blew out the candle plunging the room into blessed darkness. Then he pulled Elizabeth into his arms to hold her close.

“You’re sure you believe me Duncan?” she needed to clarify so that there was no chance of any misunderstanding.

“Aye lassie, I believe you Elizabeth. I’m sorry that I ever doubted
ye”, slowly, rhythmically he rubbed the smooth skin of her back.

“Good”, taking a deep breath, she continued, “because I’ve got something I need to tell you. Something I’ve been trying to tell you for weeks now”, she paused,
trying to gain some more courage, she wasn’t sure what his reaction was going to be.

“What do ye have to tell me Elizabeth? It sounds serious.”

Laying her hand on her still flat stomach, she confided, “I’m expecting a baby Duncan. Your baby grows inside of me now”. She held her breath, waiting for his response, every heartbeat pounded in her ears as the silence stretched out between them. Tears once again sprung up in her eyes but she was determined not to let them fall, “You do believe me Duncan? That this baby is yours?” she whispered into the engulfing silence.

Chuckling, Duncan rolled Elizabeth onto her back and whispered joyously, “
Yer with child! There’s really a child in here?” he lay his own hand on top of her stomach in awe.

“You’re O.K with this” Elizabeth whispered between the tears now streaming down her cheeks, she took his face in her hands, wanting to feel his expressions, share his reactions.

“Definitely!” he leaned down and planted a rough kiss on her surprised lips. “How long have ye know?”

“A couple of weeks” she confessed.

“What? Why did ye not tell me when ye found out?”

“Because, in case you’ve forgotten, conversation hasn’t really passed between us since Richards’s arrival! How was I supposed to tell you when you wouldn’t stand around long enough for me to say it?” There was a hint of censure in her voice. Both ignored it, not wanting to spoil the moment by bringing up past actions.

“I guess ye want an apology?” he hedged.

“Would I get one?” she asked.

Laughing, he shook his head.

“How about an explanation?”

“What is there to explain? I dinnae trust yer brother and I resent his being here!” Holding up a hand, he haltered her retaliation, “Now. I dinnae want to argue Elizabeth. Not now when I’ve just learned that I’m gonna have another son!”

“Daughter!” she corrected automatically.

“We’ll see!” he laughed light heartedly, happier than he had been for a long time.

“Oh! You really are an arrogant so-and-so! As if you have any say about the sex of our child!” she chided.

“I know that Campbell’s have only had male children for the last one hundred years or so! So yes! I am confident but not arrogant my love!” he explained.

“But there’s always a first time! I’ll laugh so hard at your shock when I give birth to our daughter!” she teased.

“I wouldnae count on it sweetheart! Now dinnae ye think ye should get some sleep, I’ve heard that women in yer condition need plenty of rest”.

“Humph!
My condition indeed!” She rolled over to a more comfortable position, “you just want me to sleep so that I don’t argue back!”

“Ye could be correct sweetheart!” he shifted so that their bodies were touching from head to toe, his arm thrown across her waste. Sighing he sunk into the mattress, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before he was asleep.

“What about Richard? Did you find him?” Elizabeth twisted to face him, worry in her voice.

“No!” he rolled her back to her previous position, “Let’s not talk about him tonight”.

“But if he isn’t here he must be hurt somewhere!” she continued.

“Or more likely, he
realised we’d figured out his tricks and rode back to his home before we caught him!” there was steel in his voice.

“I know you won’t believe me Duncan, but I promise you, Richard isn’t responsible for the things that have been happening around here lately” she defended.

“The evidence is too damning Elizabeth, I have no doubt that it is him. I had hoped I was wrong, which is why I never mentioned anything to ye before today. On top of all the evidence, how can ye explain his absence? No Elizabeth, I have no doubt!” He replied tiredly.

“What will you do when you find him? You won’t hurt him will you?” she asked anxiously, afraid for her brother.

“I can’t make any promises, but for our sake I hope that I don’t have to kill the laddie” he said with feeling.

“I really can’t believe that he is capable of what you’re accusing him of”, she whispered.

“That’s because ye only see the good in everyone, sweetheart.”

“You think I should only look for the bad?”

“No, I think ye should prepare yerself that everyone’s capable of evil actions”.

“
Yourself included?”

“Especially me, Elizabeth?” he warned.

“I don’t believe that Duncan. You’re a good man!” she disagreed.

“
Dinnae go putting a halo on me! Ye’ll only be disappointed when it slips off!” he felt uneasy with her belief in him.

“It might slip a little, but it’ll never fall off completely” she said with utmost certainty, a smile touching her lips.

Sighing at her blind faith, Duncan pulled her close, “ye put too much faith in me, sweetheart!”

"No, just the right amount" she disagreed and with those words on her lips she drifted into a deep contented sleep, safe in her husband’s arms. He followed her into the dreamlands quickly after, wondering at his great luck at having found this woman beside him.