The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher
Chapter 27
Elysia’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. This was the moment she was dreading and yet anticipating with happiness as well. This was why she probably waited to tell him, hoping he would realize it himself and ask, freeing her from the burden of delivering the startling news.
She lifted her chin and pressed her hand to her stomach, the slight roundness there giving her courage. “Aye, I carry your bairn.”
Her words slammed into him like a punch to his gut while his heart swelled with an unexpected joy. A joy he had no right to feel. Dread was what he should be feeling, a horrifying dread of the curse claiming his wife and child.
Her husband’s shocked silence gave her a chance to explain. “I took the wrong mixture. I thought I knew the one Bliss gave to women, but I was wrong. Once I discovered my mistake, I didn’t dare take the correct brew. If I had, I could have killed our bairn and that I refused to do curse or not.” She patted her stomach. “This bairn—our bairn—has a right to live. A right to battle the curse with as much strength and courage as his da has done. Besides, I still hold out hope that my tenacious sister will find a way to end the darkness of the curse that has plagued so many.”
Odran’s arm whipped out to snag his wife around the waist and pull her against him. His other arm joined in circling her waist to hold her tight as if somehow his embrace alone could keep her and their bairn safe. He’d do anything, anything he had to, to keep them both from harm.
“I feel joy and dread at the same time,” he admitted.
Elysia glanced up at him with a smile. “You are joyful, not angry with me?”
“You are honest to a fault, wife. You would never lie to me about such a thing. And if I were honest, I would admit how thrilled I am and fearful as well that you carry my bairn. I don’t want to lose you or the bairn to the curse or to those who intend to see the MacBridan legacy die with me.”
“There is one thing, though,” Elysia said firmly as if there would be no debate about it. “Bliss must be here to deliver our bairn. With her delivering our bairn, all will go well,” Elysia said.
Her stubborn confidence in Bliss gave Odran hope that she just might be right.
“I will make certain Bliss is here to deliver our bairn,” Odran said, confident himself that Rannick would not object and might even be grateful for the request. His only fear was that Bliss could fall to the curse before Elysia’s time came to give birth. He would not voice that to his wife and give her more reason to worry. Though, she was wise enough to be aware of the possibility.
Elysia was grateful in so many ways for her husband. She had been foolish to even worry about Odran being far different from the quiet, caring Saber. Their heart beat with the same tender compassion and strong love, and she felt blessed to be the recipient of both.
He lifted his wife in his arms and went to sit on the bed, resting her in his lap. He kissed her gently. “It would be for the best that we keep this news between us for now.”
“Lendra knows,” she said, unwilling to keep any more secrets from him. “She guessed and I didn’t deny it. I suppose I needed to share the news, the burden of not telling you weighing heavily upon me. You should know that she urged me to tell you.”
“I am grateful for her wise counseling. I wish I hadn’t made it so burdensome for you that you kept the news to yourself. It is something you should have been able to tell me without worry or fear.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Promise me you will never fear coming to me with any news, worry, burden. We are one, you and me, and we share everything together.”
“Does that mean you will share the birth of our bairn?” she asked with a teasing smile.
Odran cringed. “If I could, I would. I hate thinking of you suffering such pain.”
“You are a thoughtful husband and I am grateful, and knowing how much you love me will help me brave the birth of our bairn.”
“I fear I might not fare as well,” he said with a chuckle.
“I am confident you will survive.” She kissed his cheek. “I give you my word that I will never fear coming to you with anything. I know you will always be there with me deep in my heart as you will be the day I give birth to our bairn.”
“I do so love you, Elysia.” His heart filled with such joy that it pained him and fear rose up to poke at him. The curse would not allow him such happiness. It would soon raise its evil head and strike. If it struck his wife, the devil himself would not survive the horrific vengeance Odran brought down upon him.
“Not as much as I love you,” she said.
Joy brightened her green eyes and relief lifted off her shoulders. Her husband knew about the bairn and that was all that mattered to her. Now they could face everyone else together when the time came.
“I was so filled with concern for you I forgot to ask about Crissa,” he said.
“She does well, though how well a woman can do when she loses a bairn is difficult to say. The women who assisted Bliss with births often told the grieving mums that they were young and would have other bairns, not so Bliss. She thought differently and told the women that while they would have others bairns, they had a right to hold the lost bairn in their hearts and grieve for the one their arms would never hold, letting their hearts heal and grow full again in preparation for the next bairn.”
Odran couldn’t help but ask, “What if there was no next bairn? What if the woman is left childless?”
She tapped the spot between her husband’s eyes. “You think… what if this happens to me? What if I lose this bairn and never have another? But with how often we make love we will have many bairns.” She quickly pressed a finger to his lips, knowing what he was about to say. “We will not stop if for some reason I lost this bairn. We will have many bairns, Odran. Bairns who will fill this keep with love, laughter, joy, and, aye, sorrow, for sorrow is part of life. But we will share it together—you, me, and our bairns. The curse will not survive our overpowering love. It will die,” —she chuckled— “if Annis doesn’t kill it first.”
“I never would have thought our happiness—our survival—would depend on a courageous woman who battles fearlessly for her sisters.”
“I do hope Annis is doing well and I pray often for Brogan since finding out that he is with Annis. He needs all the prayers he can get.”
Odran chuckled. “Aye, wife, that he does.”
“I am going to look in on Crissa to see how she fares, then we can speak with Stiles or do you still need to speak with Cadell?”
“I’ve heard what I believe is necessary. My da can tell me anymore Cadell has to say. I will send for Stiles and I will see we are alone with him to talk.” His hand went to rest on her stomach. “All is well with you and the bairn?”
Elysia placed her hand over his. “We both do well. A little upset stomach now and then, but nothing more.”
“Good, and you will take no unnecessary chances now that you carry such a precious bundle,” he commanded.
Elysia smiled at his command issued with worry and love. “I will see us both kept safe.”
“I will hold you to that, wife, or you will chance turning my hair white with worry before its time.”
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “I believe you will look even more handsome with white hair.”
“Have pity on my heart, wife, and do not make me suffer,” he teased, though only half-heartedly.
“Never, husband, never would I do that to you,” —she kissed him— “intentionally.” She bounced up off his lap and reached for his hand to pull him up, not that she had the strength to do such a thing, but he bolted off the bed as if she did.
With a joy to his step and even deeper joy to his heart, Odran followed his wife out of their bedchamber.
* * *
“You are feeling well? No pain?”Elysia asked when she entered the room to find Crissa resting in Finch’s arms.
“Well enough and no pain,” Crissa said, holding tight to Finch’s arm.
“You’re drinking the brew I had made for you?” Elysia asked, her eyes darting to the full tankard on the chest next to the bed.
Crissa nodded. “Small sips.”
“Good. That and rest will continue to see you do well,” Elysia reassured. “I leave you in good hands, Crissa. Rest well.”
The woman glanced up at Finch and smiled. “He takes good care of me.”
Elysia was pleased to see Crissa smile and with a smile of her own, she walked to the door, stopping there and turning, remembering something she wanted to ask Finch. “By the way, Finch, did you get Lendra settled in her cottage.”
“I did, my lady, and I made sure to tell Dorrit to see that food was sent to her.”
“Thank you, Finch. I am grateful for your help.” She closed the door behind her, leaving the couple alone to grieve and heal their hearts.
She hurried down the stairs, hoping Stiles was there waiting in the Great Hall with her husband. A smile burst across her face when she saw Stiles seated opposite her husband at a table near the hearth. She hurried and joined them, her husband’s arm going around her waist to easily lift her enough for her to swing her legs over the bench and settle next to him.
“Now that my wife has joined us, Stiles, tell us what you know about Deara’s death,” Odran said.
“My grandmother stopped me this morning to tell me that Deara had not passed by her cottage like she did every morning on her way to the keep. She seemed concerned for the lass, since Deara never failed to stop and share a few words with my grandmother before starting her day at the keep. I promised her I would check on Deara.” Stiles shook his head slowly. “I never expected to find the poor lass as I did. She was repeatedly stabbed, barely holding onto life. I have no idea how long she had been lying there, on the verge of death, all alone. I shouted for help, then bent down beside her. She fought to speak. The single word help spilled from her lips with difficulty. She struggled some more to speak, fighting to get a word out, and I asked who did this to her and with her last breath she said, Lendra.”
“You didn’t see anyone by Deara’s cottage when you approached it?” Odran asked.
“No one unusual,” Stiles said.
“When did Deara usually pass Willa’s cottage in the morning?” Elysia asked.
“Just after dawn. I know because I frequently stop to see my grandmother in the morning and she often mentions Deara and some of the things they have discussed.” Stiles shook his head again. “My grandmother got extremely upset when she learned of Deara’s death and she was astonished to learn that Deara had accused Lendra. She told me that Deara liked working with Lendra in the keep. That Lendra may have been Lady Elysia’s servant, but she also helped others with their chores and that she was kind to everyone. Lendra even admitted to Deara that she was a fool for loving Bram, but that he had been the only man who had ever treated her with kindness.”
Elysia’s heart broke for both women. They had been nothing but kind and neither woman deserved what happened to them.
“Had there been any man interested in Deara?” Odran asked.
“I do recall my grandmother mentioning that Deara seemed happier of late and that meant only one thing… a man had sparked her fancy. My grandmother only hoped it was a good man.”
“When was this?” Odran asked.
“A day or more, I can’t be sure. It could have been later than that or sooner. I just don’t recall.”
“She never mentioned the man’s name?” Odran asked.
“Not that my grandmother said.”
“How has the clan received the news that Lendra’s hanging has been delayed?” Odran asked, having no doubt the news had spread rapidly throughout the clan.
“Not as badly as expected. With Bram gone and another woman murdered, I think the clan worries that perhaps Bram had not been guilty of killing Glenis and a madman could very well lurk within the clan. They are glad to see that extra sentinels have been posted beginning today.”
Elysia was glad to hear that herself. She knew without a doubt that Lendra did not kill Deara, which meant a killer was among the clan.
“Keep an extra guard on Lendra’s cottage,” Odran ordered.
“Aye, my lord,” Stiles said.
Elysia waited until Stiles had left the Great Hall. “You think as I do that Deara could have used her last breath to protect a friend.”
“Deara struggled to speak. She managed to say help, then fought to finish and while she did Stiles asked her who did this to her as she finally managed to say Lendra,” Odran said.
“Help Lendra,” Elysia said. “She struggled to speak her last words to help a friend.”
“But how would she know that?”
“The person who killed her was brazen and confident enough that Deara would die before she could reveal what she’d been told,” Elysia suggested.
Odran made his own suggestion. “I wonder if the man that had entered Deara’s life had anything to do with it.”
“Why would she keep his identity a secret? Most women would be eager to share such news.”
“Perhaps he is wed?” Odran said, his brow narrowing. “And perhaps he fancies more than one woman at a time.”
“Are you suggesting that he also could have been involved with Glenis as well?”
“With Bram on his way to the cursed lord and another murder having taken place, a reasonable mind would absolve him of the crime,” Odran said, his concern growing. “A troubling thought since it seems likely that someone in the clan is responsible for both deaths.”
