Highlander’s Broken Love by Fiona Faris
Chapter Four
Magnus and his mother rode side by side through the gates into the castle courtyard, dismounted from their horses, and handed the reins over to waiting groomsmen, who led the horses away to the stables to be fed and watered.
Magnus took his mother’s arm and walked across the courtyard to where a man with greying hair and a full beard was standing waiting for them, with a young woman with fair hair and a shy smile at his side. His mother squeezed his arm tightly as they approached; he wasn’t sure if she was nervous, or excited, or a little of both. A blushing young bride she was not, but it was a big change that they were both about to enter into, and it was to be expected that she felt some trepidation, just as he did.
“Greetings tae ye!” Edward announced with a broad smile on his face. “Joanne, it pleases me very much to see ye here!” He kissed Joanne formally on both cheeks, then took a step back and looked at Magnus. “And Magnus, ye are also most welcome! This is my daughter, Aileen.”
They followed Edward inside the castle to the great hall where there were fires roaring, and candles lit all around. The light outside was beginning to fade, and Magnus was glad of the warmth of the room, as it had been a long day’s journey for them, making such slow progress with a grand entourage.
Servants rushed about hither and thither, carrying luggage from the carts up to the bedrooms and welcoming the various members of the MacBaine household who had accompanied Magnus and Joanne in their entourage.
Edward led them towards a fireplace at the far end of the hall and bid them remove their riding cloaks and sit down. A servant appeared swiftly to offer them a goblet of wine. Magnus gladly took his and noticed his mother’s hand was shaking slightly as she reached out to take her own.
Edward raised his glass to them. “Welcome, once again, to our castle!” He took a deep draught of his wine and sat down opposite them, with Aileen taking the chair next to him.
They exchanged pleasantries about the journey and the weather for a little while, then Joanne took a deep breath, looking around the hall. “Is your other daughter, Nairna, not come to meet us?”
Magnus noticed Aileen’s pale face flushing crimson as she stared at the floor. Her father coughed, then said, “Alas, Nairna is indisposed. She caught a chill while out riding, so she is abed at present, I am sorry to say.” He paused for a moment. “ ‘Tis my hope she will be recovered enough to greet ye properly on the morrow, at the great feast we have arranged tae welcome ye both into the clan.”
Joanne frowned. “I do hope she feels better soon, poor lass!” she said, her grey eyes full of concern.
Magnus looked again at Aileen. She really was very pale, with fair hair cascading down her back. But her eyes remained fixed to the floor. Something was not right here; he was sure. It was most unusual for the eldest daughter of the laird not to be present when greeting guests. And they were guests who were about to become family! It must be that Nairna was not keen on the idea of a marriage between their parents and had made herself absent to make a point, to spite them somehow. Magnus thought that perhaps his instincts were right, after all, about not being fully welcomed by all the members of the clan.
The conversation between Joanne and Edward limped along a little while Aileen stayed almost entirely silent, and Magnus made interjections only as politeness required. The notable absence of Nairna made things rather awkward, and Magnus breathed an inward sigh of relief when Edward rose from his chair and summoned a servant over.
“Please take Lady Joanna and Magnus to their rooms, so they can rest before dinner,” he said with the authority of a man used to being obeyed by all around him. The servant bowed and stood to one side while they took their leave.
“Please, rest for as long as you wish. We can dine late!” Edward gave a jovial grin, but Magnus sensed that his jollity was somewhat forced, and Aileen stood back from them, looking a little lost. He thought, on looking more closely at her, that her eyes were a little red. Poor lass must still be grieving her mother, he thought, then looked away quickly as she met his gaze and flushed crimson once again.
It was a strange situation he found himself in, he reflected, as he followed the servant up the grand central staircase of the castle towards the bedrooms. At the top of the stairs, a great window casement stood, letting in the kaleidoscopic light of the setting sun. He caught a glimpse of the view of the darkening loch through the window as they crossed the hall. The castle really was in a fine location, he thought. It would be a grand thing to be laird of this place and all the land around. But he pushed the thoughts away as he thought again of the absent Nairna and her tear-stained and silent sister. He felt that the path before him and his mother was not going to be an easy one, to win the hearts of this family and their clan's people and persuade them to accept them as their own.
* * *
A while later, after he had washed and changed his clothes, Magnus flopped down onto the bed in his private room and allowed himself some time to think at last.
The room he was in was grand, with rich damask hangings around the windows and heavy animal furs on the bed. He was used to some grandeur at his uncle’s castle, but here at the MacEwan castle, things were grander still. He smiled as he felt the softness of the bed beneath him. He could be comfortable here, at least, even if he remained somewhat conflicted about his position as the laird in waiting in a family where it was clear that some of the members did not want him there at all.
His thoughts turned to the two girls who were to be his sisters. Aileen was clearly trying to support her father in his plans for a new marriage but was simply not able to hide her sadness, no matter how hard she tried. It was only natural, he thought, that she should still be grieving for her mother. The loss was still fresh and raw, just like his own, and Nairna had not even been able to bring herself to show up to welcome them. Undoubtedly it was rude and not befitting behavior for the daughter of a laird. Magnus could tell that Edward had been embarrassed to be having to make excuses for her. But he felt some sympathy for her. Her whole life had been turned upside down in just a short time, and now she had to accept these strangers into her home and into her life. Well, he would wait and see when she finally made an appearance, and he would do his best to be kind to her. He was to be her brother, after all, and her protector, and eventually the laird of her clan.
His mind flickered back once again to the flame-haired girl he’d met on the hillside. He could not keep her from his thoughts for more than a few moments at a time. He wished that he had at least asked her name or where she lived before he had hurried away, but he was not even sure that she would have told him. He was certain that she had found him as attractive and intriguing as he had found her to be, but he sensed that she was holding something back. He longed to know more of her, and a sense of restlessness took him over as he thought of her more.
He rose from the bed and crossed the room to stand by the window. The night was beginning to draw in now; spring was only just beginning, and the days were still short this far north. He knew that he would have to go down to dinner soon, even though the last thing he was in the mood for after such a long and tiring day was more stilted conversation. He would check in on his mother on her way down and escort her to the hall. She seemed so nervous still, and he wanted to support her, even though he still had so many qualms about this venture they were on together in this strange but grand place.
The moon was rising over the loch, and he stared out of the window into the distance, thinking of the red-haired girl and imagining what she might be doing. Perhaps she lived on the other side of the forest, or maybe her home was in the woods itself? She had a sense of wildness about her, underneath her cultivated air. He looked forward once again to exploring the surrounding lands and trying to find a trace of her. The blood coursed more quickly through his veins as he thought of her shapely form astride her horse. He shook his head, trying to dismiss such thoughts. He had duties to attend to here, a family to win around, and a whole clan to familiarize himself with. It would not do to allow himself to be distracted by such feelings for a strange and mysterious girl of whose identity he knew nothing at all. And yet, he allowed himself a few more moments of vivid imaginings before reluctantly leaving his chamber and setting off down the corridor to find his mother.
* * *
Just a little further down the corridor, Nairna crept into her room as quietly as she could, having stolen her way into the castle and escaped the notice of anyone thus far. She knew she couldn’t hide forever, but she needed just a few more minutes to compose herself before she faced her family.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a breath of relief. It had been her biggest fear that she would run into her father on her way back to her room, or worse still, one of the MacBaines. That would be beyond awkward to meet these strangers without even having been formally introduced!
She took off her boots and cloak and sat on the bed, her thoughts returning again to the handsome Highlander she had met earlier on that day. Try as she might, she could not seem to free herself from thoughts of him, even though she knew it was futile to dwell on it. She had no idea who he was or where he lived. She rose from the bed and went to look out of the window, gazing at the crescent moon as it rose above the loch. She wondered if he was somewhere looking up at the moon, thinking of her.
She blinked and let out a puff of frustration. What foolishness it was to indulge in such romantic nonsense! Even if she were to meet him again and develop a connection with him, her father would surely never permit it. She had known all her life that her marriage would be arranged for the benefit of the clan and that her father would not allow her to marry someone so totally unknown. But still, sometimes, she allowed herself to daydream that she might find true love. And if she were to find it, she fancied that it might be with a man who looked like the stranger with the honey-colored eyes, sitting so proudly astride his mount, with such shapely legs beneath his kilt. She flushed, shocked by the thoughts that flew into her mind, and she was almost relieved to have them interrupted by a sharp tap on the door.
She went to open the door, hesitant in case it was her father come to berate her for her absence. But a surge of relief passed through her as she saw Aileen outside. She ushered her quickly into the room and closed the door behind her.
“Nairna, you’re back! I’ve been so worried!” Aileen said with feeling. “Why didn’t ye tell me where ye were going?”
“I’m sorry, Aileen,” Nairna replied, taking her sister’s hands in hers and gazing into her clear blue eyes, still red around the rims from all the tears she had shed over the last few days and weeks. “I just couldnae face it, being there to welcome them and standing about prettily as if everything was fine! How was it, was it awful?”
Her sister’s face said it all, and Nairna could tell that it had been an ordeal for her. She began to regret her decision to absent herself and leave her sister to deal with it alone.
“I must tell ye, though – Father, he’s so angry wi’ ye, Nairna! Ye must prepare yourself!”
Just at that moment, the door of the room burst open, and Edward entered, his face taut with fury. “Ach, ye are home at last!” he roared fiercely. “I have some things tae say tae ye, lass!”
