A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) (16 page)

Maidie smiled at the gentle maid. “Aye, Nellie. Love can make
one miserable indeed.”

Nellie went to a table beside the bed, opened a drawer and
pulled out a clean kertch. As she brought the kertch to Maidie, her lips
lightly brushed the three corners and she made the sign of the cross. She then
tied the kertch around Maidie’s head so that the three points, symbolizing the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hung close on the back of her neck.

“The Lord will be with you wherever you go, Madam. You wear
the sign of the trinity on your hair to remind you of His presence.” Nellie
patted Maidie’s shoulders, then walked back to the table, and retrieved a small
gold crucifix, securing it around Maidie’s neck. “Have you worn this necklace for
a long while, Madam?”

“Aye, Nellie. My mither gave the cross to me when I was a
child before she died of the fever. Please pray the Lord will show me the path
to tread. And if I must return to my father, help me forget this love I carry
in my heart for the laird. It is so futile to feel such for one I canna have.”

“I’ll pray for you, Madam. You can count on that.” She gave
Maidie’s shoulder one last pat. “Now you must go break the fast. Sven waits
with Alan in the great hall.”

“Aye, and I wish to visit Anne and the babe. I’ll see them no
more after this day.”

The two women left the chamber and made their way to the great
hall where food for the morning was being served. Maidie spotted Davina sitting
at the table on the dais. Gavin was nowhere to be seen. Maidie felt relief. She
had no desire to face him again. Hopefully, he would let her leave without
another confrontation. Davina motioned for Maidie to join her. Nellie walked
with her to the chair Davina pointed out and then left to attend her serving
duties.

“You look tired this morn, Davina,” Maidie said as she sat
beside the young woman.

“I slept no’ at all last night. Gavin told me you had to be
exchanged for Andrew. I am verra distraught over your leaving.” Large dark eyes
searched Maidie’s face.

“I too, am distraught. I thought about returning to my father
when the trouble over my healing began. Someone hates me and may do harm to
both Sven and me. I canna let that happen. Sven must be kept safe, but now I
wish to stay.” Maidie turned to take a boiled egg from a platter and began
peeling it.

“Why did you change your mind?” Davina continued to stare.

Maidie sought words to answer Davina while she took a bite of
the egg then drank a sip of ale.

“Why did you change your mind?” Davina asked jerking on Maidie’s
arm.

She turned to look into Davina’s questioning eyes. “I must
tell you the truth. After this day it wanna matter anyway.” She paused, but
Davina’s eyes did not leave her face. “My heart is filled with love for the
chief.” She could look at Davina no longer and turned back to the egg.

“I ken it.” Davina spoke loudly. “I ken you loved him, and he
loves you. I could see how he looked at you with the calf eyes of a lover.”
Davina jerked Maidie’s arm so she dropped the egg. “Gavin loves you also. Both
my brothers are taken by your charm.” Davina let go of Maidie’s arm and looked
away. “Why, I canna say, but you have captivated the hearts of both.” She
turned to look directly into Maidie’s eyes and moved her face closer. “’Tis
best you leave then. They’ll get over their loss and wanna be contending with
one another over your affection. Aye, best you leave. Best you leave.”

She did not know how to answer, because Davina spoke the
truth. Maidie rose. “I’ll check on Anne and the bairn. ‘Tis the last I will see
of them.” She turned quickly to leave before tears poured from her eyes for the
second time that morn. Nellie followed.

Anne lay quietly while her son nursed. Maidie sat gently on
the narrow pallet beside her and watched the tiny bairn take nourishment from
his mother. A sweeter sight she had not seen in a long while. The wee head with
a tuft of dark hair moved in rhythm to the sucking motion of his mouth.

“Randal looks fine this morn.” Maidie reached out to stroke
the small head. The hair felt like silky fuzz under her fingers.

“He’s a hungry one. A pig he is,” Anne said with a smile.

Maidie sat quietly for a moment thinking of the words to say
good-bye to Anne. They would not come forth. How could she leave and never see
them again? These people were her family now. She did not remember much about the
ones she left, except for her father who stayed angry and distant after her
mother died.

Maidie remembered the many times she cried for her mother
while walking the forest trails around Glen Uaine, gathering herbs in the
castle garden, making the potions and salves in the way her mother had taught
her. She had planted a red running rose in the garden along the wall so it
would grow, covering the stones with sweet blossoms in memory of her mother.
When she left her childhood home to marry Kenneth, the rose blossoms filled the
garden with a sweet aroma. Maidie wondered how it grew now. The rose was one
thing she would be happy to see again.

“I must leave on the morrow, Anne. Sven and I are being
exchanged for the chief.” Maidie had to look away from her friend.

“Nae! You must stay. I need you and so does Randal. I will let
nae one touch my bairn.” Anne moved Randal away, resting him gently on the bed
beside her. The wee one let out a whine then drifted off into sleep. Anne
straightened her gown and sat up. She grabbed Maidie’s hand. “You must no’
leave!”

“I canna stay, Anne. I must go for the sake of the chief’s
life. You and Randal are fine now. Both of you are doing well enough. Angus
will look after you.”

“I hate Angus. He’s a brute. I’ll no’ let him touch me or
Randal.” Anne’s large eyes filled with tears. “Randal and I will never see you
again, in this life. You’re a dear friend. A dear friend.” She reached out,
taking Maidie’s hand, then with quiet resolution said, “God bless and keep you.
You’re a fine woman and healer.”

Maidie embraced her friend while her heart filled with pain.
She bent to plant a tender kiss on Randal’s tiny pink cheek. She watched him
sleep for a moment, smiling at the sucking movements of his mouth. He seemed
hungry even in his sleep.
A fine one, this
bairn. He will grow up learning to fight like his da, and mayhap die in battle
also
. God help us.

Maidie hugged Anne once more, rose from the bed, and left the
chamber with Nellie. Maidie heard her friend sniff. She turned to Nellie. “Take
good care of Anne and the wee lad. He’s a fine one.”

“Aye, Madam. I’ll take verra good care of both. Wee Randal
will have a playmate in a few months.”

Maidie stopped in her tracks and turned to the blushing maid. “Are
you pregnant, Nellie?”

“Aye. A bairn is coming in late spring. Alan’s verra happy. He’s
wanting a son. He thinks the world of Sven and can hardly wait for a son of his
own.” Nellie smiled with her deep dimples growing even deeper.

Maidie reached for her friend’s hands, grasping both in her
own. “You’ll be a fine mither and Alan a fine da for a laddie. But what if the
bairn is a lass? Will you be happy?”

“Aye, I’ll be verra happy. A lass wanna learn to fight and go
to war. She’ll stay with me. I can teach her many things.”

 
“Aye. I ken your
feelings, Nellie. I wanna trade my son for all the world, but I must find some
way to keep him from fighting.
Maighstir
Tam promised to find Sven a patron who would send him to university where he
can learn the skills of a physician, but now we must leave. My father has no
plans for my lad except training him to be a warrior, I’m certain.”

Her plans and dreams for Sven would never materialize. He
would someday inherit a large Cameron estate, and had already inherited the
lands deeded to Kenneth in the Munro barony. Maidie planned to make certain the
deed to the two-pennyland grant went with her and stayed in her keeping.
Someday, if she found a way, she may wish to return to the Munro lands with
Sven. The two women reached the kitchen.

Maidie entered to find Sven. He and the cook’s two children
played with the hound pups. “I need you to come with me, Sven,” Maidie said,
bending to pat the pup her son held. This was the last time he would play with
the wee hounds. The thought made her sad. He loved those dogs.

Maidie looked around the large kitchen where scullions worked
cooking the noon meal under the direction of the head cook, Effie and Dan’s
mother. This castle felt like home to Maidie now, with familiar faces and
friends she had come to love. She thought about leaving and wanted to many
times, but her heart wished to stay. Andrew lived here, which made staying more
desirable. Just when she had come to grips with the awareness of her love for
him, she must leave.

Sven placed the pup close to the mother and turned to his
friends. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

Effie and Dan nodded their heads. Cook called to both, giving
each a chore. Maidie took Sven by the hand and walked with him across the great
hall then up the stairs. They passed Andrew’s chamber door. She wished to enter
and find him there. His wound may need tending with the plantain salve. Her
fingers could feel the touch of his skin as she applied the soothing
medication. She imagined washing his hair and running her fingers through the thick
strands. Maidie shook her head and walked faster down the passageway.

Low, deep voices engaged in conversation came from inside
Gavin’s chamber. She had no desire to face the tanist or his sister another
time this day, so decided to take the noon and evening meals in her chamber. A
tangled web of emotions ran rampant through her being. She needed to be alone
and make plans to leave on the morrow.

Chapter Fourteen

The faint pink light of a new morn
broke through the chamber window when Maidie heard a knock on the door. Alan
and Nellie were gone—he to make arrangements for her trip, and she to
fetch food from the kitchen. Maidie sat beside the fireplace fully dressed in a
split worsted skirt, linen blouse, quilted vest and boots. Nellie had pinned her
hair into a tight chignon at the nape of her neck. Her arisaid and riding
bonnet lay on a nearby chair with Sven’s clothes. She waited until the last
minute to rouse Sven and dress him for a full day of riding. The three-day journey
would be very tiring for both. Sven would get his fill of riding horses for awhile.
Maidie opened the door to Nellie with a tray of food. The maid made her way to
a table and placed the tray upon it. She straightened with a sigh rubbing her
back. Maidie remembered doing the same while carrying Sven.

She walked to the bed where Sven lay, then shook the small
shoulders gently. He rubbed sleepy eyes and looked at her. “Up now. ‘Tis morn.
We have a journey to make.”

“Will we be riding horses, Mam?” He sat up.

“Aye. We’ll be riding horses for a long while.”

The lad jumped out of bed and rushed to his clothing. He made
haste in dressing for the day. “I must tell Dan and Effie good-bye and pet the
pups. When will we be back, Mam?”

Maidie’s voice caught in her throat. “Not for awhile. You must
eat first. The journey will be long.”

Sven finished dressing, used the privy, and washed his face in
the basin. Maidie smiled at the tuft of red hair sticking up from the cowlick
on the crown of his head. Her son looked so much like his da. She remembered
trying to get the hair on Kenneth’s crown to lay down, but it usually defied
her efforts. She grabbed a comb, dampened it with water, and ran it through
Sven’s hair, giving the unruly tuft greater care.

Maidie took a step backward, examining her work. “There, you
look handsome just like your da.” She gave Sven a hug, which he brushed off and
ran to the food tray. “Eat with the manners you’ve been taught, Sven.”

He turned to her with a mouthful. “I have to hurry, Mam, if I
tell Effie and Dan good-bye.” Sven looked around the room. “Where’s Alan?”

“He’s helping make ready for the trip,” Nellie said.

Sven swallowed and a crease appeared between his brows. “Must
I wait on Alan? I need to see Effie and Dan.”

“I’ll go with you to the kitchen when I take this tray back.”
Nellie looked at Maidie. “If you care no’, Madam.”

“Aye, and I shall walk with you. I want to tell Cook and the
children, good-bye again.”

Maidie sat on the chair and motioned for Sven to do the same.
She bowed her head, saying a short prayer of thanksgiving for the food, then
asked for a safe journey and the chief’s safe return.

Sven looked up after the prayer. “Will we see Chief Andrew?”

“I dinna ken.” Maidie’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of
Andrew’s name. She hoped beyond hope to see him, although doing so would rent
the very fabric of her soul. A thousand questions concerning him rushed through
her mind. Foremost was that of his safety. She prayed earnestly for his safety
and well-being since he first left on the quest to oust the reivers from Munro
lands. Davina said Gavin told her the fire had been a trap set to capture the
chief or himself. The MacKenzies and Camerons needed a hostage of high value to
get what they desired from the Baron of Fàrdach

The door opened and Davina rushed in without bothering to
knock. Maidie rose, Nellie curtseyed and backed away to let Davina pass.

She embraced Maidie then stepped back. “I dinna wish for you
to leave, Maidie. I’m sorry about what I said when last we spoke.” Davina’s
voice and eyes held a cold, insincere expression.

“I canna stay, M’Lady. Your brother’s life depends on my
going.”

“Aye, it does indeed. I may never see you again.” The girl
looked thoughtful. “And then I may come for a visit, if this senseless feud is
settled and we can live in peace. Andrew would have me marry the MacKenzie’s
son, but I refused. I’m in love with another, and I wanna be dissuaded.” She
paused, searching Maidie’s eyes. A line creased her brow. “Come, Gavin waits for
you in the bailey. Your trunk is packed in a cart and ready.”