Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes (16 page)

Grace wanted to be thrilled at the thought of marrying Bram in a month’s time without angering his father. But she couldn’t help but worry. Laird Sutherland was a powerful man and that power scared her. Still, Bram was so happy it was hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.

She didn’t doubt that his parents were not remotely pleased and she soon learned they had no intention of shielding her from their displeasure. When she went to the keep the next afternoon with the completed ribbon, Lady Sutherland scolded Grace in front of everyone at work in the hall.

“I am extraordinarily disappointed in ye, Grace.”

“I’m sorry, my lady, is the ribbon not as you wanted it?”

“The ribbon is fine, it’s lovely, that’s not what I’m talking about. How dare ye seduce my son? Who do ye think ye are? Ye have no business setting yer sights on him.”

“My lady, I—”

“I did not give ye leave to speak,” she snapped, “and it is high time ye remembered yer place. Ye are a weaver, the daughter of a fisherman, the granddaughter of a cook—a servant in my household. Ye will start behaving as befits someone in yer station instead of playing the wanton for my son. Have I made myself clear?”

A wanton? “But I haven’t—”

“Don’t dare argue with me. I want an answer. Have I made myself clear?”

“Aye, my lady.” There would be no changing her mind anyway.

“Now ye will come with me to my solar. I will give ye the thread and a sample for the next ten ells of ribbon.”

Grace followed quietly in her wake.

Lady Sutherland gave her a sample of ribbon that had extremely intricate vines and flowers worked in shades of gray on black ribbon. “I want something like this, only I want the background to be cream, the vines worked in silver and green, and the flowers worked in shades of rose. Can ye do it?”

“My lady, this is a very difficult pattern.”

“That’s not what I asked. I asked if ye can do it.”

“Aye, my lady, but—”

“Ye will learn to hold yer tongue. The answer is aye or nay. Nothing more.”

“Aye, my lady.”

“Good.” Lady Sutherland handed her a basket containing the silk thread. “I want it in ten days.”

While it had taken her ten days to weave the first ten ells, what Lady Sutherland was asking now was much more difficult. “Pardon me, my lady, but I don’t think I can do that.”

“Ye completed the first design in ten days.”

“Aye, but the weather was mostly fine, so I had good light. Also, this design is more intricate and ye want more colors. It takes more time.”

“I will see that ye have plenty of candles if necessary. Ye will complete this in ten days. I’m sure ye can do it if ye focus on yer work instead of my son.”

Ah, this was punishment. Grace simply nodded. “Aye, my lady.”

Lady Sutherland’s attitude softened a bit. “Grace, this can only end in heartache for both of ye. Surely ye realize that.”

“I pray it doesn’t, my lady.”

Lady Sutherland shook her head in frustration. “Go. Ye need to get to work. I want to see a hand’s width tonight. I will come by Innes’ cottage after the evening meal.”

“Aye, my lady.” Grace curtsied and left the solar. As she walked through the hall, she was not surprised by the critical stares and whispered comments.

At the cottage, Teasag still worked her little loom while Kristen slept. “Did she like it?”

“I think she did. She asked me to make more.” Grace showed her the sample of ribbon and the beautiful silk thread.

“This will be even prettier than the last,” gushed Teasag.

“Aye, and a lot more work. I was hoping to take a break this afternoon, but I need to get started. Would ye like to see how I warp the loom?”

Teasag nodded enthusiastically.

So Grace spent the rest of Kristen’s nap time warping the loom with cream colored thread while she described the steps to Teasag. By the time Teasag left for her home, Grace had the pattern started but to complete the “hand’s width” that Lady Sutherland asked for, she had to keep working. Kristen played nearby, carrying on a long conversation with herself. Teasag had helped her build a tiny village from rocks, twigs, and leaves.

Grace wasn’t sure how long she had been working like this when a shadow fell across her loom. “Grace, have ye fed the child her supper yet?” asked Michael.

“Michael, ye have an awful habit of standing in my light.”

“Aye, well someone should or the two of ye will starve. New colors? Ye’ve started the next ten?”

“I have and she wants to see a hand’s width tonight. I need to work, as long as the light is decent.”

“Ye have to eat. Both of ye do.”

“We’ll be fine for a bit longer.”

“Would it help at all if I took Kristen to the kitchen? Innes can see she gets her supper and send her back when she’s done—preferably with a wee morsel for Kristen’s mama.”

“I couldn’t ask ye to do that.”

He gave a mock sigh. “Grace, will ye never learn?”

She laughed. “All right. It would be very helpful if ye took Kristen to the kitchen. Thank ye, Michael.”

“Ye’re welcome, Grace. Kristen, my fine wee lassie, would ye mind terribly showing me the way to the kitchens?”

Kristen giggled. “Mama, Michael doesn’t know where the kitchens are.”

“Well then, ye’d best show him so he doesn’t starve.”

Kristen took his hand. “Ye go this way.”

A few minutes to focus her undivided attention on her work was just what Grace needed. She had almost finished with the sample Lady Sutherland requested when another shadow fell across her work. “Why are ye still working, Grace, and where is Kristen?” asked Bram.

“I’m working because yer mother wants to see a short length of the new pattern she requested, by the time the evening meal is over. Kristen is with Grandmother, eating her supper.”

“Then ye should be eating yer supper too. Grace, I’ll talk to mother. This can wait until tomorrow.”

“Nay, Bram, it can’t. She wants another ten ells in ten days. I need to work as long as I can to finish it.”

“That is ridiculous. Ye don’t need to do this, Grace.”

“Aye, I do. I don’t want to make her angry and I don’t want ye to argue with yer mother over something as silly as ribbon.”

Bram frowned. “I don’t like this at all.”

“Just let it go. When I finish this, if she asks for ten more in ten days, I may need yer help, but let me try to appease her.”

“If that is what ye wish. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Ye can carry the table inside for me.” She picked up her loom and the basket of thread.

“Gladly, if it means ye are stopping for the day.” Bram carried the table into the cottage.

“Well, I’m not stopping. I will work by candlelight until yer mother comes.”

“My mother is coming here?”

“I told ye, she wanted to see a sample after the evening meal.”

“I didn’t know she was coming here. I will at least ask her to set more reasonable expectations.”

“Please don’t, and please leave before she gets here.”

“Grace, my parents know I intend to marry ye. They shouldn’t be surprised to find me here.”

“But she’s upset. She…” Grace couldn’t tell him that his mother accused her of shameful behavior. “Please, let’s just try to do what they wish for the next month. Perhaps I can earn their respect.”

“Even if ye don’t immediately, ye have mine, love, and they will come around.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that caused her toes to curl. She didn’t think she would ever get enough of his strong arms and tender kisses. Before Grace was ready to let him go, Kristen pushed the door open, and Moyra followed her into the room. Kristen grinned and threw her arms around Bram’s legs. “Sir Bwam!”

“Oh, my. Sir Bram. I thought Grace was working and couldn’t come to the kitchen.”

“She was, Moyra. I just helped carry her work table inside.”

“Oh. Well, here, Grace. Innes sent ye a bowl of stew and said ye were to stop and eat it while it’s warm.”

“I heartily agree,” said Bram. “I’ll stay with ye while ye eat yer dinner. Moyra, I’m sure ye’re needed back in the kitchen.”

“Aye, sir. Goodnight, sir.”

When Moyra left, Grace sat down wearily at the table. “That will start quite the story.”

“I love ye, Grace. That’s not a secret so I don’t see this as a problem.”

Grace nodded but she knew better. He was the laird’s son and she was the cook’s granddaughter. Any unkind words wouldn’t be attached to him.
One month, Grace. One month
.

She ate her stew quickly while Kristen sat in his lap listening raptly to a story he told her. When he reached the end, Grace had finished and washed the bowl. “Say goodnight to Sir Bram now. It’s bedtime.”

“Goodnight, Sir Bwam,” she said, giving his neck a hug and kissing his cheek.

“Goodnight, my sweet wee lassie.” He stood, still holding Kristen. “Good night to ye too, love.” He kissed Grace’s cheek and put Kristen in her arms. “I’ll see ye tomorrow.”

Once Grace had Kristen in bed, she lit candles and continued working on the new ribbon. She had a hand’s width completed—enough to show the full pattern—by the time Lady Sutherland knocked on the door.

Grace opened it and was surprised to see Lady Sutherland hadn’t come alone.

“G-good evening my lady, Laird.”

“Good evening, Grace,” said Laird Sutherland. “Lady Sutherland said she was coming here to see a sample of the new ribbon and I decided to come with her.”

“Please come in. Can I offer ye a seat?”

He stepped inside, looking around appraisingly. “I haven’t been in this cottage for years. I had forgotten how small it is. Hmm.”

“We won’t be staying long, dear. May I see the ribbon, Grace?” Lady Sutherland’s icy aloofness was the complete antithesis of the woman Grace first met, the woman who laughed about serving roasted neeps to her husband.

“Certainly, my lady, the loom is here.” Grace motioned to the table. “It will be easier to see the pattern in the candlelight.”

Lady Sutherland moved past her husband, taking the loom in her hands to get a closer look at the ribbon. A fleeting look of delight crossed her countenance before her stern mask returned. “This will be fine. Ten ells, Grace. I will not be happy if I hear ye’ve been slacking.”

“Aye, my lady.”

“Grace, ye can weave on a cloth loom too?”

“Aye, Laird.”

“Hmm. I suppose there really isn’t room for one here though, is there?” he said.

“I suppose not, Laird.”

“Well, goodnight, Grace. The ribbon ye wove is beautiful. There is a large market for finery such as that. We will have to consider the best way forward.”

The best way forward?
What did he mean by that?

Grace barely had time to think over the next few days. She had to complete an ell of ribbon a day to meet Lady Sutherland’s request and as she had tried to explain, this pattern was quite a bit more difficult. Every evening Bram stopped by to see her. It was the brightest spot of her day, but it was also the most difficult. Bram became increasingly worried about how Grace pushed herself, urging her to let him speak to his mother. Grace became increasingly committed to completing the ribbon without interference.

Still, she looked forward to the knock on the door that signaled at least a temporary stop to work. Kristen too became excited every evening, wondering when “Sir Bwam” would get there. After putting Kristen to bed, Grace had a few quiet moments alone with Bram. They kissed and talked of the future, and kissed and argued about ribbon, and kissed a little more. For four evenings, she had a glimpse of heaven and she cherished each moment. When they argued about ribbon on Saturday evening he had managed to extract a promise from her that she would take a break and go for a walk on the headlands after Mass.

So as usual on Sunday, Grace walked to the church in the village with Innes and Kristen. However, this morning something was amiss. Villagers gave her hostile stares and whispered behind their hands. Innes seemed confused, but Grace heard the epithets uttered by several less discreet Sutherlands. Words like wanton, harlot, and whore were being bandied about and clearly they were referring to Grace.

Innes seemed unaware so Grace held her head up and ignored the insults. Apparently Bram’s visits, as brief and chaste as they were, had not gone unnoticed. She would have to tell him to stop, and then maybe it would blow over. When Mass was nearly over, she whispered, “Grandmother, I need to get started on the ribbon, would ye mind if I went ahead?” She had ignored all the spitefulness she was capable of.

“Nay, of course not, pet,” Innes whispered back.

So as soon as the final blessing was spoken, she picked Kristen up and hurried out of the church, avoiding as many people as she could.

Bram caught up to her before she reached the outer curtain wall. “Grace, love, what’s yer hurry?”

“I have work to do.”

“Sir Bwam,” squealed Kristen, reaching her arms to him.

He took Kristen from Grace and walked beside her. “Hello my sweet wee lassie.” He greeted Kristen with a kiss on the cheek. “Grace, ye promised to take a break today.”

“Are we going to cwimb the hiww?”

“Aye, we are,” answered Bram.

“But not until later, Kristen. I need to work for a while first.”

“Grace, this has to stop. Ye just need a few more days. My mother will understand.”

“Nay Bram, she won’t. She made herself very clear. Please, I don’t want to talk about this. I just need to get to work.”

He stopped, grabbed her shoulder, and turned her to face him. “Ye’re upset. What’s happened?”

“Nothing. Come, Kristen, come with Mama.” Grace reached for her.

Kristen frowned. “I wike Sir Bwam.”

“I’ll carry her to yer cottage.” His statement brooked no argument. “And Grace, clearly something is wrong.”

“I can’t talk about it now. Little ears.”

Kristen tugged on her ears. “I have wittle eaws.”

“Yes ye do, sweetling,” said Grace.

“Then we will talk about it later, while Kristen naps.”

“Fine.” Grace worried that she shouldn’t be seen walking the headlands with Bram, but at least that was out in the open where no one could speculate about what they were doing.

When they reached the cottage, Bram put Kristen down. He reached out and caressed Grace’s cheek. “I’m worried about ye, love.”

She leaned into his caress. “I know. It will be all right. We’ll talk later. I’ll get a packet of food from the kitchen and meet ye at the gate after the bells ring sext.”

*

Grace was able to get several hours of work in before midday. Just as she was putting her loom away, Peggy appeared at the open door. “Laird Sutherland asked me to fetch ye. He has an announcement to make before the midday meal and he wants ye and Innes both there.”

This worried Grace but there was nothing she could do. “Aye. I’ll just get Kristen and go to the kitchens.”

When Grace and Kristen arrived at the kitchens, Innes was in the midst of the usual flurry of activity, which occurred just before a meal. Grace was not warmly welcomed as she had been until a few days ago, although several of the women called greetings to Kristen.

When Innes saw her she said, “Ah, there ye are, lass. The laird has something important that he wishes us to hear.”

“That’s what Peggy said. Do ye know what it concerns?”

Innes laughed. “Nay lass, I’ve never claimed to know his mind except where his preference in food is concerned. But we shouldn’t keep him waiting. Come now.”

Grace followed Innes and the other women from the kitchen into the hall. Kristen walked beside her, holding her hand. When they reached the hall Laird Sutherland stood and called for quiet. Bram was at one end of the long refectory table but his expression revealed nothing.

“Innes, before we begin our meal, I have an announcement that I would like everyone to hear. But first, remind me, how old were ye when ye started working in the kitchens here?”

Innes smiled broadly. “I was ten and four, Laird, but then ye knew that.”

“Fifty years. Ye’ve been serving this clan, keeping bellies full, and creating wonderful feasts for fifty years. I was just a bairn the age of yer lovely wee Kristen when ye started.”

“Now, Laird, did ye call me in here to remind me of how old I am?”

Laird Sutherland gave a warm and genuine laugh. Clearly Grace’s grandmother had enjoyed a long and friendly relationship with him.

“Nay Innes, never that. I just want to recognize yer long and faithful service to my household. And I would like to reward ye. Ye have recently discovered yer granddaughter and great-granddaughter and after so many years of separation from yer family, I realize that time with them is precious and ye spend much too much of yer time working. I think after fifty years, ye deserve an opportunity to rest and spend time with yer family.”

“Oh, Laird, I’d like that.”

Grace did worry that her grandmother worked long strenuous hours. It was time for her to let others carry the load. She glanced again at Bram, who now wore a slight frown.

The laird winked at Innes. “I thought ye would. So, it is with deepest gratitude that I announce this will be the last meal ye preside over here at Castle Sutherland. Maisie will take over the running of the kitchens. Furthermore, it has come to my attention that yer cottage, while perfect for one, is a tad small for three. I want ye to have space to be comfortable so I have had a cottage in the village prepared for ye and will see ye moved in there tomorrow.”

Grace glanced at Bram again. His face now wore a scowl.

“Laird, I have lived in my wee cottage for so long, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

“I know it will be a change for ye, but I’m thinking of yer lassies too. Grace has demonstrated excellent skills as a weaver. I would like for her to be able to practice her craft and there simply isn’t room for a cloth loom in yer cottage. However, a new loom and an abundant supply of wool and flax has already been delivered to yer new home.”

Grace was floored. This was extraordinarily generous and she was thrilled at the idea of weaving more than just ribbon again. “Thank ye, Laird. That’s very kind.”

“Ye’re welcome, Grace. Yer skills are truly extraordinary.”

“Thank ye, Laird.”

“Now, ye may return to yer duties and serve the meal.”

Grace followed Innes back to the kitchen. Innes was thrilled. “Grace, pet, this is wonderful. Now ye can weave to yer heart’s content and I can help mind the little sprite.”

Grace wasn’t sure she could fit another minute of weaving into her day, but it would be nice to spend more time with Innes and have help minding Kristen. “Aye, Grandmother, it will be perfect and I must admit I am thrilled at the idea of having a cloth loom again.”

“The laird has seen all the hard work ye’ve done, lass.”

Grace couldn’t help but think the Laird had other motives, but she wouldn’t dim Innes’ joy by mentioning them. “Aye, I suppose that’s it.” She hugged Innes. “I am so happy this pleases ye.”

*

Bram wasn’t waiting for them when she and Kristen reached the gate in the curtain wall. Of course he wasn’t there. What had she been thinking? He had been in the great hall. Calder was one of the men on duty. “Where are ye heading, Grace?”

“We’re going on our Sunday walk.”

“We’re going to cwimb the hiww,” said Kristen.

“Grace, I can’t let ye go alone. Ye know that.”

“I didn’t intend to go alone. Bram asked us to meet him here. I guess he was delayed. We won’t go far.”

“Ye won’t go at all. And Grace, spending so much time with Bram is a mistake. Go on home now and leave him alone. I understand ye have a lot of work to do anyway.”

“But—”

“Ye heard me, Grace.”

Taken aback, all she could say was, “Aye. Good day, Calder.”

It occurred to her that once they lived outside the castle walls, there wouldn’t be guardsmen to stop her taking a walk with her daughter. If it hadn’t been for the hostility she had encountered that morning, she would walk to the village just to give Kristen some sort of outing but she couldn’t face that again. Instead, she turned back toward the cottage but Kristen pulled hard on her hand. “Mama, we were going to cwimb the hiww.”

“I know, sweetling, but we can’t right now.”

“But Sir Bwam said we could.”

“We misunderstood him, Kristen. We’ll do it another time.”

“But I wanted to eat on the gwass and Sir Bwam said we could.”

“I’m sorry, sweetling, but Teasag’s papa says we can’t right now.”

Kristen was spiraling downward as only a tired, frustrated three year old can. “Nay! I want to cwimb the hiww and Sir Bwam said we could,” she yelled, sitting down on the ground and crying for all she was worth.

Grace understood her disappointment but there was no point in trying to reason with a screaming child. She picked Kristen up and carried her back to the house, garnering plenty of stares.

Eventually Kristen calmed down. They ate the meal that they had been taking with them, and Grace put her to bed for a nap. She had barely taken out her loom when Bram appeared in the doorway. “Grace, love, I’m sorry. I was leaving the keep to meet ye at the gate when Da told me my presence was
required
at the midday meal. I had no idea what he had planned.”

After having dealt with a petulant child for the last hour, Grace was feeling a little petulant herself. “It wouldn’t have mattered if ye had lifted that ridiculous order about me walking on the headlands alone.”

“It’s not ridiculous. We’ve been through this. It’s in yer best interest.”

“I can promise ye, dealing with a disappointed child who’s screaming ‘Sir Bwam said we could’ loud enough that everyone in the village could hear, is not in anyone’s
best interest
, least of all mine.”

“It’s no reflection on ye. It was my fault.”

“Why she was screaming doesn’t matter. All small children breakdown now and again. The problem was what she was screaming.”

“Why was that a problem?” He came inside the cottage and sat on a stool at the table by her.

“For the same reason that ye being here with me alone is a problem. Apparently I am the subject of clan gossip at the moment. That is what upset me this morning.”

“What’s being said?” he demanded.

“I don’t know exactly, but after hearing words like ‘whore’ and ‘harlot’ I can guess.”

“
What
? This will stop immediately.”

“Bram, ye may be the laird’s heir and ye can control a lot of things, but ye can’t control what people think. Trying to quash rumors with defensiveness is likely to make things worse. The only way to quiet the gossip is to stop the behavior causing it.”

“But ye haven’t done anything.”

Grace rolled her eyes. Men could be incredibly dense sometimes. “I danced with ye at Pentecost, I’ve walked the headlands with ye on Sundays, and ye’ve spent time with me here, every evening for the last few days.”

“There’s nothing wrong with any of that.”

“I guess that depends on yer point of view.”

“Dancing, walking, a few minutes spent together of an evening? I enjoy yer company—I love ye and intend to marry ye, what point of view am I missing?”

Grace actually laughed. “I love ye too but I expect that is the crux of the problem. I am the daughter of a fisherman and the granddaughter of a cook—or a former cook now.” She echoed his mother’s sentiments from a few days ago. “I have no business falling in love the laird’s son or seducing him into fall in love with me.”

“
Seducing me
?”

Grace frowned and nodded toward the bedroom. “Wheest.”

Bram lowered his voice. “If anything, I did the seducing. Ye dragged yer feet the whole way.”