Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal (12 page)

Duncan was not. As winter drew out, the gray weather wore on his spirit. More than once, Jenny saw him stare out at the water, and she knew he was restless. He had spent time at sea, and she feared that he missed it. She had always assumed that his restless spirit was caused by his troubles with Brodie. She saw now it was not. His parents were settled and happy, with a means of supporting themselves. Come the spring, she would not be surprised if he wanted to leave their new home, but she would not be happy about it. No matter what he decided, she had made her own decision. She would be by his side.

*

Spring crept in with a lingering chill, but the air smelled of new life. Duncan hitched his horse to the cart. They needed provisions. They were nearly out of food, and soon they would need seed for planting.

Jenny trailed behind him as he made preparations, clutching her arisaid about her. “You cannae go without me.”

“I’ve made up my mind, and I’ll not argue with you.”

“Well I’ve made up my mind, and I will! You’ll not leave me here alone!”

“You’ll not be alone. My parents are here.”

“And I love them, but I want to be with you.”

“What happened to the timid girl I married?”

“I’ve learned to be strong.”

Duncan gave her an admiring gaze. “So you have, and I’m proud of you for it.”

Jenny leaned close so her lips nearly touched his. “Then take me with you.”

Duncan shook his head and gently held her at bay.

“I want to go.” She was quiet but firm.

No.” He turned and exhaled.

“Och, dinnae heave sighs at me.”

“Will you tell me how to breathe now, woman?”

“I will. And you’ll not breathe at all unless I am with you. And if I go with you, I may let you breathe heavily.” Jenny smiled.

Duncan could not help but grin as he turned and pulled her into his embrace. “Jenny, darlin’.” He kissed the frown on her forehead. “I would like nothing more than to have you at my side, but we dinnae know what state of mind your father is in, let alone Tavish.”

“It’s been months. Do you really think they’re still angry?”

“Clans have fought for generations over less.”

“But I’m not a laird’s daughter. I’m not worth a clan war.”

“You are to me. I would fight for you, but I’d rather not do it today.”

Jenny did not try to hide her disappointment. She would not give up. “Let me talk to my father.”

Duncan shook his head resolutely.

Jenny said, “If you let a wound fester, it only gets worse. If we go home together, we can make amends with my father and perhaps even Tavish.”

Duncan could not deny that it might make things better, but it could make matters worse. Still, he considered it.

Having gained ground, Jenny went on. “He’ll forgive us when he sees how happy I am with you.”

“Perhaps he will, but Tavish will not. I’ll not put you in danger.”

With frank disbelief, Jenny said, “Tavish wouldnae hurt me, and he cannae hurt you. You’re much stronger than he is.”

Duncan looked squarely at her. “Do you think you can flatter me into letting you have your way?”

“I was hoping.”

Duncan laughed and gazed up at the sky. “God help me.” To Jenny, he hastened to say, “I’m not fool enough to be swayed by your flirtatious ways.”

Jenny shook her head and whispered, “No, you are far too strong-minded for that.” She had won, and she knew it. A smile bloomed on her face.

Duncan shook his head, but a faint smile betrayed him. “I’ll let you come because what you said makes some sense.”

“Of course it does. Now, about your breathing.” She leaned close and hooked her hands over the waist of his trews. I thought we might stop on the way.”

Duncan raised an eyebrow. “Have you planned the journey for me, too?”

“No, just one part of it.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll go pack now.”

“Hurry,” Duncan called after, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

*

They arrived at Callum’s house, after passing the burned shell of Duncan’s old cottage. Duncan was in no mood to discuss Jenny’s family, which was all she could think of. She had not left them in the way that she should, and she felt badly for it. All she wanted was to rush home and throw her arms about her mother and tell her she was sorry for the trouble she had caused. Her father would be displeased with her, but he would forgive her. She felt certain of it.

They reached Callum and Mari’s house as the dusk settled about them. Mari fed them a hearty meal and asked all about how they had fared for the winter. The large fireplace warmed away the chill of the early spring night.

At last, Jenny said, “Tell me more of my parents. You’ve said very little about them.” They had talked about nearly everyone else, until it was clear there was something amiss.

Callum looked at her directly, and did not mince words. “There is trouble.”

Jenny braced herself.

“They are well enough.” Callum reached out and put his hand on Jenny’s to calm her. “It’s to do with money. I know only because I have been helping my father to manage the estate. Between a laird and his tacksman, there are certain financial dealings. Funds have gone missing that were under your father’s care.”

Jenny said, “I am sure he will right any wrong that has happened on his watch.”

Callum smiled sympathetically. “Money doesnae go missing like that unless someone is doing something they shouldnae be doing.”

“Are you saying my father stole from your father?”

“I’m sorry, Jenny. I only know that money is missing. If there’s a proper reason, your father has yet to offer it.”

“You make him sound like a common thief.”

“That was not my intention. I meant only to prepare you. Unless your father can restore the missing money, he will no longer be tacksman.”

“But our home…”

Callum delivered the news as gently as anyone could. “You must know that he lives there at the pleasure of the laird. As it is, I have convinced my father to show mercy, as it is his first offense.”

Duncan went to Jenny and stood behind her chair with his hands on her shoulders. No one spoke of it, but they all knew that thieves could be punished by having an ear or a hand cut off, by being branded on the cheek and banished, or even by hanging.

Callum said, “But there is still a matter of the missing funds, I’m afraid. If they are not restored, your parents will be banished.”

Too shocked to absorb what she was hearing, Jenny said, “My father a criminal? My mother must be distraught. I must go to them.”

Duncan said, “We will go in the morning.”

Bereft, Jenny tried to absorb it.

Duncan thanked Mari and Callum for their hospitality, and urged Mari not to trouble herself. They would find their own way to the same room where they had spent their wedding night.

How different tonight was. Jenny was already weary from traveling here. This news had shaken her too much to express it. She simply readied herself for bed and curled up close to Duncan.

Duncan held her in his arms. “Your father is a very smart man. He will see his way through this and take care of your mother. And I will always take care of you. You need not worry yourself.”

But she did, for the life she had known was unhinged. She said softly, “What will they do? I cannae imagine them poor, having to live in a croft somewhere.”

Duncan took her words like a sharp blow. She was too weary to think of how she had sounded to Duncan. She drifted asleep to escape from her worries, but Duncan did not. He lay awake thinking of how he had dragged her down to a lowly life in a croft. She had been raised for a much different life. He had taken for granted that she would adjust and be happy, for they were in love. Now he wondered if love would always be enough.

*

The MacRuer house was a good walk away from Callum’s house. Callum had offered one of his horses so the two could reach Jenny’s parents sooner. Jenny silently rode. Duncan took note, and assumed the weight of her silence as his own. He could not forget what she had said before falling asleep. It put distance between them, which he had never felt before. She was higher born. He had always known it. But growing up as they had, the wall between them had been long ago breached. There had only been love between them. So, when she spoke of her parents not having to stoop to his level, the words cut him.

They now rode along the same paths they had ridden before. The landscape was the same, but so much had happened that could not be undone. They had changed. It was no longer the home they once knew.

*

Duncan gave Jenny’s hand a squeeze as they stood at the door to her house.

Her mother answered the door and threw her arms about Jenny. She gave Duncan a warm nod, but no more. As she invited them inside, she said, “I’m sorry. The servants have been given the day off.”

Jenny took a seat beside Duncan. “The day off, Mum? Tell me the truth.”

Rowena MacRuer’s expression crumbled as she shook her head.

Jenny said, “What happened?”

“You should hear that from your father. I know very little. He willnae talk to me about it.”

“Will he see us?” asked Jenny.

“I dinnae know, lass. He was so angry with you when you left.”

“I’m sorry.” Jenny wanted to say more. There was no denying the pain she had caused, even though they had left her no other choice.

Jenny’s mother reached out and clasped Jenny’s hands. “Are you happy?”

“I am. But I’m worried about you.”

“You’ve a life of your own. You need not worry about us.”

“You’re my parents. Of course I will worry.”

Rowena smoothed her hair back from her face. “I’m certain your father will sort it all out.”

Jenny nodded, as if agreeing, although she could not be so sure. “May I see him?”

“He’s not himself.”

“Please. I must see him.”

Her mother was hesitant, but led them to the study. Andrew, with hair in disarray, looked up from his desk and closed the drawer gently. His blank look did not reveal any emotion toward her, but his sharp glance at Duncan left no doubt how he felt toward him.

Duncan was first to speak. “Mr. MacRuer, I beg your forgiveness for the pain I have caused you and your family.”

Andrew regarded him quizzically, but said nothing.

Duncan went on, “I love your daughter, and would give my life to see her safe and happy.”

“You might better have done that before you stole her from us and a life that was worthy of her.”

Duncan took his sharp words without flinching. Only a dark look in his eyes betrayed his reaction. “She wanted to go.”

“She did not know what she was doing.”

Duncan took a moment to tamp down words he would regret. Instead, he said, “We had promised ourselves to each other.”

“What did you promise her? A croft with walls blackened by soot, where she’d spend bitter winters huddled by the fire for warmth? Did you promise her hands rough and callused?”

Jenny hid her hands in the folds of her skirts.

Duncan said, “I know it was not what you’d hoped for your daughter. I can promise you that she is dearly loved.”

Andrew scoffed.

Jenny leaned forward. “Father! Dinnae laugh so at my husband!”

Andrew was visibly taken aback. He stared at her, first with shock, then with scorn. “Listen to you, bold as brass. Why, you’re ready for life as a merchant’s wife, hawking your wares in the mercat.”

Duncan took in a sharp breath, but Jenny spoke before he could. “I would be proud to do it, for there is no better life than to stand beside the man I love and to know he loves me. Duncan’s love is far dearer to me than all of your money.” She stopped short.

Andrew had no retort, for he had no money. In that moment, they all knew that any station Andrew had held had been lost. He was no higher than Duncan, and he knew it. Jenny had not intended to do so, but her words had brought him down to a place he did not want to be. Thus bitterly humbled, words failed him.

Andrew was no longer the commanding father to whom Jenny had always looked up. He was powerless now, and she felt pity for him. Jenny sank into a chair and leaned her hands on the desk. “Father, what happened?”

Duncan stood stiffly by her side.

Andrew poured himself a drink and offered one to Duncan. “Years ago, my friends and I formed a tontine. We pooled our money and shared the dividends every year. I was charged with keeping the account and disbursing the money. I was once short of money, years ago. So I borrowed from the principal. No one knew, and I paid it all back from the rents I collected. It was always temporary.”

“Always? So you did it again?”

“Many times. No one was hurt. I paid it back. That is, until a few years ago. I was short. But I always made the dividend payments, so no one found out.”

“Some months ago, before the lads all went to the lowlands to fight, I was late with the dividend payment. Malcolm MacLean demanded to see the ledger.”

“Tavish’s father?”

“He and I were the last members of the tontine.”

Duncan put a hand on Jenny’s shoulder as he guessed what was coming.

“He knew what I’d done. I owed him far more than I could ever repay.” Andrew’s eyes rested on Jenny. “Tavish fancied you. Quite a lot.”

“Enough to accept her as payment?” Andrew looked down and nodded.

“Father, you sold me?”

Andrew looked at her. “We made a marriage arrangement. Such things are done all the time.”

“Not to satisfy a debt. Men do not barter their daughters.”

With sorrow, Andrew said, “But they do.”

“Jenny, dear, it was a very good match,” said her mother.

Her words were of no use. For all of her life, Jenny had trusted her father. But he was a thief, and she was no more than a business commodity. Jenny leaned back in her chair and studied her rough, callused hands. She said softly, “I would rather sell whisky at mercat than to be sold.”

“Jenny, please understand.”

“Do you think Tavish would have loved me knowing that he’d won me like a prize?”