The Eagle by Hildie McQueen
Chapter Seventeen
Stuart paced across the front of the stables. The crisp air helped to cool his temperament, but only a bit. He was too angry to do much more than continue walking back and forth, the dirt crushing under his leather boots.
Darach appeared from the house and Stuart braced himself for whatever lecture was forthcoming. He began to wish not to have come at all. He should have accepted that Cait no longer wished to marry him.
His brother’s purposeful steps made short work of the courtyard. When close enough to speak, Darach’s expression was warm. “It hurts me when ye or any of our brothers hurt. I wish I could take it away.”
If not for being outdoors, Stuart would have embraced his brother tightly. Instead, he swallowed past the huge lump in his throat the words had brought. “Thank ye, Darach. I suppose ye have to learn that every one of us will have to traverse both hills and valleys.”
“I am not prepared for being a father,” Darach admitted. “If what I feel for ye, Ewan, Gideon, Duncan, Ella, and even Calean is any indication, I will surely go mad.”
“Ye will be an extraordinary father to the wee bairn.”
“Cait loves ye Stuart,” Darach said. “However, she is hurt, and it makes her reluctant to give in.”
“I love yer as well. I do not have any idea what to do.”
“Do not flee. If ye can learn anything from my experience with Isobel, and Duncan’s with Beatrice, know that going away is not the answer right now.”
Stuart chuckled without mirth. “Why do we all run away at the most important times in our life?”
“A family trait?” Darach said shaking his head.
“Like both ye and Duncan, I must seek redemption and pray that the woman I love forgives me.”
“She will. She loves ye,” Darach said turning to the house. “Are ye going back inside?”
“In a moment. I must walk some and clear my head first.”
While walking through the trees, Stuart considered how much he missed the familiar landscape. He’d spent his entire life there, traipsing through the forest with his brothers. First, playing games as children then later hunting as men.
There were so many memories scattered throughout the woods and on past at the village. However, it was time to move on and forge his future, but he was glad to be close enough to be able to visit.
He’d been a fool. It was clear to him now that he should have done more than send a missive or message here and there. Instead of assuming, he should have asked Cait what she wished to do. And though he suspected where she’d prefer to live, she should have been part of remodeling the larger home to help make the decision clearer.
It hurt that she barely gave any acknowledgment for all he’d done. Then he realized, she had no idea what he’d been doing apart from what he’d written in his letter. The notes had been short, mostly a small passage about the house, with closing comments about missing her, wishing her well, and an assurance he would return soon. In return, her letters had told him of her days, of missing him and wishing for him to come and see her.
All along, she’d been asking for him to visit, to see him and he’d been too intent on the house and the land. He didn’t shoulder all the blame, because she could have come and visited when one of his brothers traveled to his lands. At the same time, she was new to life as a member of the laird’s family and probably not used to asserting herself.
A deer appeared and looked at him for a moment before scampering off into the trees. Stuart looked after it and for a moment was a bit jealous of the animal’s freedom.
It shook him to realize that he’d been free of any responsibility most of his life and yearned for what he had now. The responsibility of lands, servants, a village, and a wife. Was it possible that he too had to learn to be different?
When arriving at a clearing, he lowered to a fallen tree and closed his eyes. The last time he’d been at that particular spot, he and Cait had been together. It was the day he’d realized beyond a doubt that he loved the pretty lass.
She’d changed so much since he left. No longer meek and trying to fade into the background, the new Cait was a graceful beauty. Upon entering the parlor that morning, he’d almost not recognized her and started to introduce himself. Once he looked closer, his Cait was still there, only now she looked even more stunning than the beauty he’d left behind.
Before he’d left, she’d had a hard time hiding her awareness of him, now she was aloof and distant, and he had no idea what she was thinking.
When she looked at him, her eyes were clear and penetrating, but he could not read her expression because it was guarded. How terrible that he caused her to change in that way.
She admitted to still having feelings for him. There was hope. He would not give up. It could be that he would remain much longer, but no matter what it took, Stuart was determined to gain Cait’s full love back.
A horse and rider came upon him and stopped. He immediately recognized Torac, Cait’s brother. The warrior dismounted and walked closer. “I was not aware ye had returned,” the man said.
“I returned only yesterday,” Stuart replied. “Where are ye headed?”
Torac shrugged. “Returning from the village. I went to visit my mother.”
The man studied Stuart for a moment. “Are ye and my sister to marry while ye are here?”
“If I can convince her. She broke off our betrothal.”
Torac’s eyebrows rose. “I was not aware.”
“Aye, my fault for staying away so long.” Stuart wondered about Torac’s opinion of their marriage. “Have ye spoken to her lately?”
Torac shrugged. “Cait and I are not close. Despite her living at the keep, she and I do not spend much time together. It has been less than a year since I met her and my half brother. It is not immediate that one feels a familiar connection.”
“I plan to convince her to marry me and regain her trust again. I love Cait. My plan is that she along with her brother and her mother will be leaving to live in the northwest.”
Torac’s lips curved. “It will be good for her. I am glad.”
As Cait’s half brother rode away, Stuart felt stronger about his plans to win Cait back.
He stood and looked up to the cloudy sky realizing he needed to head back to the keep before the rain fell. By the darkness of the clouds, a storm was about to hit.
The rain began falling hard as he started the trek back to the keep. He’d not realized how far he’d walked and now regretted not bringing his horse. Especially when it became dark, the rain falling so hard he could barely see.
Finally, he gave up and sought shelter by a grouping of trees that safeguarded him from the downpour. It was a long while before he gave up waiting it out and decided to continue his trek back to the keep. The rain was not relenting, and he could no longer control his shivering from the cold.
Each step was a struggle as he fought the pouring rain and lashing wind that pushed him backward. His foot slipped on the mud, and he tumbled down the side of a small hill, cursing the entire way.
When he came to a stop, flat on his back, he stared up at the darkened sky. The rain continued, ridiculously hard, the drops pelting him like small stones.
By the time he walked out of the forest, he could barely keep upright. It took monumental effort to put one foot in front of the other. He felt foolish that his teeth chattered, and in a way, he felt like a stupid lad for not keeping better track of time, distance, and the weather.
Just as he walked into the house, Cait was crossing from the parlor to the stairs. She stopped and stared at him, taking him in head to toe. “What happened to ye?”
“It’s raining,” he replied unable to keep the annoyance from his tone. The last person he wished to run into at the moment was the one who’d caused him to walk so far in the first place.
“Go to the kitchen door, Greer will instruct them to pour a hot bath for ye.”
She made shooing motions with both hands forcing him to walk back outside and to the kitchen doorway. He burst through the door and into the kitchen. “I-I…n-need a b-bath,” he said between chattering teeth.
Greer’s wide eyes did the same as Cait, running from his face to the trail of mud he’d created from the doorway. “Of course, dear.” She ushered him closer to the hearth, the heat from the fire permeating his freezing wet clothing.
Quickly instructing the servants to fetch water, and a pair of lads to drag the wooden tub to the adjoining room, she then began helping Stuart undress, peeling layer after layer of sopping wet clothing from his shivering form.
A few moments later, he sunk into the warm water and had hot cider warming his belly. The smell of a delicious meal—he hoped to soon be enjoying—was coming from the other room.
He heard Cait speaking in the other room. He didn’t respond or pay attention, as it was doubtful she deemed him worthy of her time.
Instead, he stepped from the water and draped a cloth around his midsection. Once that was done, he took a second cloth and began drying his hair, face, and chest.
“Stuart…” Cait had walked in and now stood frozen. Her gaze locked on his chest. Then slowly it traveled down to the precarious hold the cloth had on his hips. Finally, she dragged her eyes up to meet his.
Then he saw it, the attraction she still had for him.
“Yes?” he replied nonchalantly. “What is it Cait?”
“My brother spoke to me…” She stopped speaking when the towel around his hips slipped a bit. “Uh…he said to have seen ye in the forest.”
Afraid the cloth would fall to around his ankles, Stuart gripped the cloth where it joined and pulled it closed tucking the end back into place. The entire time Cait watched not realizing he observed her.
“What did yer brother say?”
“What?” She blinked rapidly. “I should allow ye to dress instead of standing here like a ninny.”
Stuart walked closer to her. “Tell me.”
Her eyes seemed to glaze over before focusing on his. “My brother?”
He moved closer until barely a breath between them. “Aye. What did ye say?”
“Oh.” Her lips parted. “That ye…” She swallowed when he reached up with both hands raking his fingers through his too-long hair. “That ye told him about plans for me, my mother, and my brother…” Again, she stopped mid-sentence when he wet his bottom lip.
“I should allow ye to dress. We can speak later.”
Stuart let the corners of his mouth lift just a bit. “Good, I have much to say to ye.”
Her eyes widened when his cloth slipped a bit too low, and the patch of hair just above his sex peeked out.
“Goodness.” Her eyes rounded as she back out of the room running into the door before turning and escaping.
Stuart chuckled.
“Here are some clean clothes,” Greer said in a flat tone.
“Thank ye,” Stuart said still smiling.
Greer shook her head. “I do not know what ye did to that poor lass, but her face was red when she flew past me and out of the kitchen.”
He shrugged then grinned wickedly at Greer when she rolled her eyes.
Once dressed, Stuart decided to search for Cait. Planning to take advantage of every moment that he could spend with her.
“I heard ye were soaked through.” His mother neared automatically feeling his brow. “I pray ye do not become ill.”
“I feel much better now that I’ve had a hot bath. Greer gave me something to drink to dispel any sickness.”
In the great room, there were people milling about taking shelter from the hard rain outside. He searched the faces, noting that Cait was not among them.
“Where is Cait?”
His mother gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I do not know. I am caring for Isobel. She is feeling a bit poorly. I suppose either in the parlor or upstairs in the sitting room.”
He walked through the great room, stopping twice to speak to people who asked about his new home.
In the parlor, Gideon was with a woman Stuart did not recognize. By the look on his brother’s face, he’d interrupted something.
Stuart nodded in acknowledgment. “I am seeking out Cait.”
“She is not here,” Gideon replied. Realizing his lack of manners, his brother motioned to the woman. “May I present, Margaret McLeary. This is my brother, Stuart.”
The woman bowed her head. “It is nice to meet ye.”
Whoever she was, the woman was much older than Gideon; but by the way she looked at his younger brother, they were well acquainted. Gideon had a penchant for getting into trouble with women.
“Is everything well?” Stuart asked.
“Perfectly fine,” the woman replied sliding a glance in Gideon’s direction.
With a bored expression, Gideon said, “Aye. Miss McLeary was just about to leave.”
“I cannot possibly,” the woman interjected, motioning to the window. “I must wait for the storm to pass. Sit with me, Gideon.”
When Gideon sat, Stuart walked out and went to Darach’s study. His brother was pacing but stopped at seeing him.
“Do ye know who the woman is in the parlor with Gideon?” Stuart asked. “I got the feeling she is up to something.”
Darach frowned. “I saw her walk past. She is a widow that I believe Gideon has been going off to meet with. When he stopped visiting, she came here.”
“Is our brother once again in a quandary?”
“Aye,” Darach replied. “She will be disappointed if she tries to force him to do anything.”
Feeling better at knowing Gideon was protected, Stuart hurried up the stairs in search of Cait. She was in the sitting room with another woman. She seemed familiar, one of the kitchen maids, if he remembered correctly.
“Mister Stuart.” The woman rose and curtsied. “May I fetch something for ye?”
He looked to the sideboard. “No thank ye, I will pour myself a brandy. If ye could please excuse us.”
“Of course.” The woman turned to Cait and smiled before walking out.
“Cora,” Cait said looking at him. “She is my companion now.”
He took his time pouring brandy into two small glasses while pondering what to say to her. She was composed now, but her gaze followed him.
“I went to the clearing in the woods.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Where?”
“The place where ye and I enjoyed time together. Do ye remember?”
Stuart held out the glass to her and she took it, their hands touching. Cait inhaled sharply.
“I do,” she said taking a dainty sip. “Ye should have ridden instead of walking.”
“I know that now,” he said lowering to sit next to her. “I was angry and needed time to think.”
She studied her glass. “I am glad ye returned relatively unscathed.”
“I saw a beautiful doe. She reminded me of ye.”
It was obvious she didn’t know what he’d say next by her questioning look. “How?”
“Innocent, delicate, and beautiful. Looking perfect as she walked through the trees, cautious of anything that crossed her path.”
“Our first conversation was out there,” Cait said. “Ye were chastising yer horse.”
“Aye, I remember.” He placed his hand on her forearm. “Cait I cannot express how much I regret hurting ye. Will ye forgive me?”
“I do understand that ye wished to make everything perfect at the house before I came. Yer family has reassured me and explained it. However, I feel as if I was not part of your life while ye were away. Ye have worked hard for a home for us but left me here alone for months. I had no idea what ye were doing.”
“There is so much I wish to share with ye.” Stuart waited for a moment. “I should have come for ye. I should have visited. I can become so very short sighted when working on something that is important to me.”
Turning toward him, she met his gaze. There was something in the way she looked at him that made him want to kiss her, hold her, and reassure her. However, he knew to tread lightly.
Finally, she said. “Tell me about the house and the lands.”
