Chapter 20
Aweek passed before Finlay recovered fully.
Abigail suggested to Elspeth that she give him some space to regain his strength, for he still needed plenty of rest. Since she didn’t feel the need to be at his bedside at every waking moment, she returned to her task of restoring the courtyard’s beauty and took great delight in spreading happiness around the place.
However, she also knew there was still enmity between the townspeople and the clansmen who lived in the castle, and it didn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
Finlay was going to have to do something about it.
In the meantime, Elspeth shared the good news with him. As soon as he regained full consciousness, she told him that she was with child. His face broke out into a wide smile, and he fell back in bed, relieved.
“I’m glad ye are happy,” she said.
“Happy? I’m overjoyed. Ever since we’ve been married, I hae been thinking of the future, and when I imagine a future with ye, there is always a wee one with us.
” He caressed her forearm and gazed into her eyes while she averted hers and subconsciously twisted her body away from him.
“Is the same true for ye?” he asked, a tremor of uncertainty in his voice.
“Of course,” Elspeth replied quickly, but then her words faltered. “It is just that I…I…”
“What is it, lass? Ye can tell me anything.”
Elspeth pulled her arm away and buried her face in her hands.
She revealed to him the final secret that had been held in her heart all this time.
She poured out the trauma of having to listen to her mother die while she was giving birth to Eoin.
Elspeth spoke of the horror of seeing the sheets covered in blood and the way her mother’s body was so limp.
One moment they had been planning for the future as a happy family, the next, they were plunged into despair and grief.
She also told him about the dreams that had haunted her ever since then and how she was so afraid that the same thing would happen to her.
As soon as she revealed these fears, Finlay reached around and hugged her so tightly, it seemed he might be able to burn away all her pain with his love. Wet tears stained his tunic as Elspeth buried her face into him.
“I haed nae idea ye felt that way,” he said in his low burr.
“But ye know that’s nae destined tae happen.
I will dae everything in my power tae make sure that ye are safe.
I wilnae let anyone take ye from me, not even fate itself.
We still hae a lot of life tae live, and I’m nae ready tae let it end yet.
” She found his words comforting, and in his embrace, she did actually believe that he might be able to fend off the forces of fate.
After all the gloom and miseries they had suffered,, they were due some good luck, and she felt a little better for speaking with him.
“Elspeth, my love, we hae both been tormented by bad things. This child is a blessing.” He placed his hand on her abdomen.
“And we shouldnae let that be ruined by worry and fear. We should think of all the good things that can happen.” He kissed her softly, and the tears subsided, replaced with a smile.
Elspeth nodded and pressed her forehead against his, closing her eyes to linger in the scent and the feeling of him.
Love swelled inside her, and she told him that she loved him again.
She told him again and again, vowing to herself that she would never go a day without saying it as she never wanted him to forget, and she never wanted to leave it unsaid.
After spending some time in each other’s arms, talking about the future and what they would like their life to be with a child, matters turned to the current situation.
“There is still much tae be done until then,” Finlay said with a stern look on his face.
“Hae ye decided what tae dae with the prisoners?” Elspeth asked.
“I hae been thinking on the matter a great deal, and I hae taken intae consideration what ye told me. My instincts are tae hang the lot of them, but ye’ve taught me that my instincts aren’t always right.
I’m gaeing tae listen tae ye, Elspeth. If ye truly believe that nae all of them meant ye harm, then I will show them mercy.
But nae Angus. The man has a cruel heart. ”
“Aye, but ye dinnae.” Elspeth placed her hand on his chest and looked up at him with doe eyes.
“I’m nae saying tae let him go unpunished, but I think the way ye treat him is just as important as the way ye treat the others.
If ye show him mercy tae, then they will see that ye are a man of yer word and that ye are devoted tae this new way. ”
“Are ye saying ye want Angus tae stay in town? How could ye ever walk intae town again without feeling afraid?”
“I didnae say he should stay, I merely said ye should show him mercy,” Elspeth said with a twinkle in her eye.
“How would ye feel about exiling him? Tell him tae leave and never come back. If he ever darkens our clan again, we will kill him. Tell him tae make a new life if he is sae unsatisfied with ye being laird. We can send him away with his troubles, and we never hae tae hear of him again.”
Finlay considered the matter a moment, pursing his lips, and then he nodded. “I can see the wisdom in what ye suggest. I hae also thought on what ye told me about Kilin. I will hold a ceilidh tae begin this new era, and everyone will see that they can trust me.”
Elspeth smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea, Finlay, but I fear that a celebration wilnae be enough tae appease them, nae after all that has passed.
I think what the townsfolk want more than anything is tae be heard.
They want tae hae a connection with ye and know that ye listen tae them.
I think ye should open the castle tae them at least once a month where ye can meet with them and talk about the matters that concern them.
Ye can help the ones ye think are deserving of help.
Some of them might even hae suggestions about how tae improve things.
Ye will be a man tae them instead of some shadow that lurks in the castle. ”
Finlay nodded. He seemed less certain of this suggestion than he had been of her earlier one, but he seemed content to see it through, and Elspeth was glad that her opinions were being heard like this.
“Is there anything else that ye hae on yer mind while we are speaking of the future?” Finlay asked with the hint of a tease in his voice. Elspeth chuckled and nestled into his arms.
“There’s only one thing. I received a letter from Kilin recently, and it made me think of home. I would like tae return there and see my family and the laird, tae. I want tae thank yer uncle for arranging this marriage, and tae show him that it haes been a success.”
“Elaine did tell me about the letter ye received and how happy it made ye,” Finlay said.
“I’m sure that can be arranged, but I was considering something else as well.
Ye hae always spoken fondly of yer brother.
I dinnae think it’s right that ye should be kept apart.
There’s plenty of room in this castle. What dae ye say we invite yer aunt and yer brother tae stay with us? ”
Elspeth almost cried, she was so overjoyed with happiness.
“Oh, Finlay! That’s a wonderful idea!” She grinned and hugged him, once again peppering him with kisses.
They drowned in their bed of love and gave in to the natural instincts and desire that came with love.
They slipped into the warmth and stayed there for a long time.
They would have spent a lifetime there if they could.
When Finlay released the prisoners, they were uncertain whether they could trust him.
Finlay did not have a reputation for mercy, so the prisoners thought their punishment would come at some point and be very cruel.
It was only when they were allowed to return to their homes that they began to believe Finlay meant what he said.
The only one that did not get to return was Angus.
In front of everyone, Finlay laid out his crimes and why he was being exiled.
He described how Angus had taken a knife to Elspeth, and everyone gasped at the brutal cruelty of the man.
Angus was a bully, and as soon as he was faced with the prospect of being forced away from his home, he broke down.
He fell to his knees and clasped his hands together in supplication, begging and pleading for his life.
He said that he had nowhere to go, that everything he knew was here.
Finlay stared at him coldly, telling Angus that he should have thought about that before he plotted against his laird.
Angus was forced to trudge away out of town.
His shoulders slumped, and every step seemed to take all of his energy.
Everyone watched him leave in silence. Elspeth had mixed feelings.
Even though the man had treated her so cruelly, she knew what it was like to lose everything, and pity swelled in her heart as she watched him disappear beyond the horizon.
Elspeth penned a letter to Islay, telling her of the good news and that Aileen and Eoin could come to the castle and live with her and Finlay.
The trip to Kilin had to be delayed until the punishment had been meted out.
Finlay was reluctant to leave just after as he wanted to be prepared in case any of the prisoners still had lingering treasonous thoughts, and he also wanted to share the news of the celebration.
Elspeth couldn’t wait for Aileen and Eoin to arrive, so she suggested that they come to her rather than wait for her to get to Kilin.
To her delight, they didn’t waste any time and arrived mere hours after the letter had been delivered.
When Elspeth saw Eoin again, she thought her heart was going to explode.
They ran to each other and hugged each other tightly.
She picked him up and whirled him around, his legs sweeping through the air. He giggled and laughed.
“I’ve missed ye,” Elspeth said, setting him down onto the ground again and hugging him tightly. “Hae ye behaved yerself?”
“Oh, he’s been a good lad,” Aileen said with a smile. Elspeth hugged her too and then introduced them both to her new family and friends. Eoin looked up with wide eyes at Finlay, who bent down and put out his hands.
“It’s an honor tae meet ye, sir,” Finlay said.
Eoin smiled, dazed, for nobody had ever called him “sir” before.
He shook Finlay’s hand, and Finlay promised to take Eoin hunting and teach him how to wield a sword—with Elspeth’s permission, of course.
It warmed Elspeth’s heart to see Finlay and Eoin getting on so well.
It showed her that Finlay was good with children, and it only increased her anticipation for time to hasten so that their child was in her arms.
Elspeth showed them around the castle. She could tell from the first instance that Aileen wasn’t impressed with the dark hallways and the grim shadows, although Eoin seemed to be in awe of the place.
Elspeth explained to Aileen her plans to add a splash of color and make it a place filled with love and joy again, for it had been too long since they had filled the hallways of this home.
Aileen commented that she didn’t think anyone was more suited to succeed at this task than Elspeth herself.
Elspeth took Aileen and Eoin to the courtyard as well and explained her vision for the area.
Since she hadn’t been able to work on it as much as she wanted, the place was still overgrown with vines and shaggy grass, but Elspeth spoke with passion and excitement. Aileen smiled kindly at her.
“Ye truly are yer da’s daughter,” Aileen said.
Elspeth smiled. Even though her parents were dead, she still had much of them within her, most notably their love of nature.
She knew that as long as she kept those qualities alive, her parents were never truly dead, and this thought provided some solace to the anguish in her heart.
The celebrations were grand. Everyone in the town arrived and took part in the great feast and the games.
The mood was a little tentative at first; the townsfolk didn’t quite know what to expect as Finlay had never done anything like this before.
However, they soon settled into the atmosphere, and the mood was a jovial one.
Elspeth had had a dress made especially for the occasion and had actually declared that the young seamstress was always going to make her dresses, which perturbed the senior seamstress to no end.
Eoin was happy to take part in the games and watch the men put on displays of sword fights and horse riding.
Jesp led calves around to give children the experience of riding a horse.
Bards sang songs, and people danced in the fields.
There was enough food to ensure that everyone had a full belly, and nobody went home without a smile on their face.
At one point, Abigail came up to Elspeth with a wide smile. There seemed to be something different about her, although Elspeth couldn’t decide what exactly it was. She didn’t have to wait long to find out as Abigail was bursting to share the news.
“Elspeth, ye hae inspired me,” Abigail said.
“How sae?”
“Well, what ye and Finlay are gaeing through…suffice it tae say that yer wee one is gaeing tae hae a best friend,” she said.
It took Elspeth a few moments to understand the meaning of Abigail’s words, but once she did, she embraced her friend and beamed widely.
She called Ian and Finlay over, and many congratulations were shared.
As the night wore on, the celebrations died down as people returned to their homes.
It had been a huge success, and Finlay was already planning the next one.
Elspeth was tired, although it was the good kind of tired that came from a life well lived and a feeling of satisfaction.
She felt entirely relaxed as she sat upon a grassy knoll with her husband and her brother.
They gazed up at the twinkling stars. Eoin was nestled in the crook of her arm, while she leaned against Finlay.
This was all she wanted, all she had ever wanted.
Her family was together and she was in a place where she knew she could flourish.
“I always watched the stars, Elspeth. I remembered what ye said about Ma and Da watching down on us. Did ye look at the stars tae?” Eoin asked in a sleepy murmur.
“I did, Eoin.” Elspeth kissed the top of his head. She looked up at them again and smiled, knowing that somewhere in the infinity of the heavens, her parents knew that she was happy and loved.