Chapter 10
Trevor had been pleasantly surprised when Emma had shown up out of the blue.
Her presence had been a most unexpected and welcome delight to his adventure in the Highlands, and if he was only going to be here for another week, then he wanted to ensure that he spent as much time with her as possible.
He just had to prepare to be challenged to another fight if David came across their path again.
They left the inn, and Emma took him through the village and beyond, walking along a grassy plain toward the forest. The trees were lush, and their trunks were thick.
Birds fluttered in the sky, and occasionally, he saw a flicker of movement in the undergrowth as some small animal scurried about, evidently having urgent business to attend to.
The air was cool, for Scotland could rarely be said to enjoy warm weather, but the sun was pleasant and the company made the day even brighter.
“It’s nae far, just through these trees and up ahead,” Emma said.
“I hope you understand that I’m placing my entire trust in you. The Highlands look all the same to me, I’m afraid, and if I was left alone out here, I’m not sure I would ever make it back to England.”
“I’ll be sure nae tae leave ye alone, although ye need tae be sure tae nae say anything tae upset me,” Emma teased.
“I’m not sure what I could say to upset you, and I have no desire to do so. But I am curious about one thing. What do you think of this whole matter? After all, it does not just affect your parents. It will have far-reaching consequences to your life as well.”
He noticed that Emma’s smile faded a little, and he wondered what had occurred after he had left the farm. These matters were never easy to resolve, and if Douglas was indeed being difficult, then it might well have incited an argument.
“Tae be honest, I’m nae sure. I suppose overall I think it’s a good thing.
My Ma will have land, which means that my family will hae a wee bit of wealth, and that can never be a bad thing.
I’m nae sure what it means for me, though.
I suppose it means that I would be a more attractive proposition for a husband who doesnae live in a village. ”
“It undoubtedly would, and it would also allow you more freedom as well, especially when you actually inherit it if your mother decides to accept the inheritance. It would be yours to manage and run. You could have servants rushing about the house, traders coming into the courtyard, gardeners planting an array of bright and colorful flowers in the garden. That’s not to mention all the balls and events you would be invited to as a landowner. ”
“Balls?” Emma asked, her eyes growing wide at the thought.
“Oh yes, life in England is far different to the life you live out here, at least from what I’ve seen.
There are always events happening where people socialize and share their gossip.
Those who own land are always welcome. There is a certain prestige for anyone who has wealth.
Others are always seeking good favor and to improve their station, so I’m sure your company will be sought out.
I daresay it would shake things up considerably as well, for the arrival of your family would be a surprise, and nobody would know what to expect from you. ”
“I suppose that sounds quite amusing,” Emma said, although concern was etched upon her face.
“What’s wrong?” Trevor asked.
They stepped over a fallen log and watched beetles creep across moss that had grown there.
“It’s just that this is all sae new and sudden. What ye are talking about is a whole other life. I hae only known this one.”
“Have you ever even been to England?” he asked.
Emma shook her head. “I hae only seen it from the border. Da took me there once when I was younger. We went out riding, and he told me that beyond the border lay England, a land filled with danger and people who only wanted tae hurt me. I begged him tae take me beyond the border sae that I could see where I came from, but he never would. I was only ever able tae see it from afar.”
“So you’ve never learned about the land you came from?”
“I was born in the Highlands. I’m a Highland lass,” Emma said.
“Yes, but your mother is English. We all inherit things from our parents,” Trevor said, pushing back a dark memory as he said this.
“It’s not fair that you should be denied the knowledge of your history.
England isn’t exactly filled with enemies either.
It’s not as though you would be stormed by arrows as soon as you crossed the border.
Of course there are going to be those who bear ill will towards Highlanders, but that is the same over here.
Most people only want to get on with their lives and not suffer through any trouble.
What they want most of all is coin. As long as you can pay your way, there’s no trouble.
Think of me. I’ve been in Scotland for a while now, and the only trouble I’ve faced is that matter last night. ”
“I suppose,” Emma said.
“But I’m sure your parents had their reasons for this. So tell me, is there anything you’d like to know about England? I may as well help reveal the mystery while I’m here,” he said.
“Ye will?” Emma gasped. “I…I dinnae know where tae begin.”
Trevor smirked. His heart went out to her as he realized how much of her own life had been denied to her because of her parents.
It seemed a shame because she was such a bright, curious girl.
He had no idea how anyone could deny her anything.
It struck him as odd that even Lyndsay would never have taken Emma back for a jaunt in England, just so Emma could at least plant her feet on English soil and know what it was to be home.
“Well, I suppose I could begin by telling you some general things. London, where I come from, is a sprawling city where more and more people move. There are parts of the city that have impossibly high buildings, spires that touch the heavens, especially the cathedrals. There are other parts that are dirty as well, where the unfortunate people live.”
“What makes them unfortunate?” Emma asked.
Trevor shrugged. “Sometimes it’s their own mistakes.
Sometimes they’re born into misfortune and they’re unable to pull themselves out of it.
Sometimes there are accidents and they’re shunned by society because they’re different.
But it does not mar the beauty of the city.
There are many estates throughout the country that are home to wonderful gardens and pleasant people.
It is true that to the North, where the land borders Scotland, the people are harder and more ornery, but they are still good people.
I would not wish to live anywhere else, and I’m proud to call myself English. ”
“I wouldnae say that tae loudly around here,” Emma warned. She wore a smile, but Trevor could tell there was some deeper thought in her mind.
“Why not?” Trevor asked.
“They dinnae take tae kindly tae the English around here.”
“Have they not taken kindly to you?” Trevor asked. The moment the question slipped between his lips, Emma looked away and began to play with her shawl, adjusting it nervously, as though it were a shield. “May I ask you something, Emma? Why do you wear that shawl?”
“What dae ye mean?” she asked without looking up at him.
“Well, I hope I am not being too forward, but when I saw you without the shawl this morning, you looked a different woman. Your hair is such a pretty shade, and when it frames your face it makes you look like a work of art. I think it’s a shame that you should hide such beauty from the world.”
Emma blushed at the compliment. “Dae ye really think sae?”
“I do, and I would not lie to you about such an important matter.”
“Well, that is rather kind of ye tae say. Unfortunately, nae everyone thinks sae. When I was wee, people teased me because my hair color was different than theirs. They knew my Ma was different, and they mocked me for being half-English. They hae never respected me or accepted me, sae all this time I hae been ashamed. I’m glad that ye are able tae be proud, but I hae never been able tae hae such a luxury,” she said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Trevor said. “I have known cruelty in the past, and in my experience, there is always a better way.” Something clicked in his mind then. “Wait, there’s something you said to David last night. Was he one of the ones who teased you?”
Emma nodded. Anger twisted in Trevor’s heart, and he could feel the old thunder beginning to rumble inside.
“Then I’m sorry that I ended the fight so quickly,” he said through gritted teeth. “I cannot believe your parents would allow such a thing to happen.”
“I dinnae think they realized how serious it was. I tried nae tae tell them when I was wee because the adults were all kind. It was just the kids. I thought it would stop once I was older, but even now I still get looks sometimes…”
“From David?”
“Oh no, as far as he’s concerned, it never even happened.
It clearly didnae mean as much tae him as it did tae me.
He just dismisses me whenever I bring it up.
I meant from other girls. I hae tae admit that the thought of enduring these looks for the rest of my life doesnae fill me with much excitement. ”
“Then perhaps this place isn’t as much of a home to you as you thought it was. You know, if Lyndsay does decide to come back to England, you are welcome to come as well. It might do you good to see another part of the world, and it might give you a greater connection to your home,” he said.
Emma’s eyes lit up at this. She had been hanging on his every word while he had been talking about England, although her mind had drifted somewhat as she shared her tale of woe. But the prospect of returning to England with him clearly brightened her day.
“I hae always thought about seeing England. Can I really come?” she asked.
“Of course. I would be delighted to have you. It seems about time that you should witness something of the land of your blood.”
“Aye. Can I confess something, Trevor?”
“Of course, you can tell me anything. As you know, I am good at keeping secrets.” He flashed her a winning smile.
“I’m nae sure I’ve ever felt I truly belong here.
I mean, it’s my home, and I love my parents dearly, and the village haes always been safe, but there haes been an unease in my soul that I hae nae been able tae shake.
I hae always felt as though there’s something wrong about all this, that I’m meant tae be somewhere else.
I hate thinking it because I dinnae want my parents tae think I’m ungrateful or that I’m unhappy with them.
I just…I just dinnae feel at peace here. ”
They were profound words, and Trevor was quite taken by the fact that Emma would share something so personal with him. There were parts of him that remained guarded against her, but he decided to show her a little more of his private thoughts.
“I think we all feel that at times. There have been periods in my life when I have been restless and have wanted to experience something else. I think in part that’s why I am here in Scotland.
There’s nothing wrong with it.” He took a moment to gaze around at the world surrounding them.
“In fact, a thought occurs to me. I think that some people are born like trees, content to be rooted in the same spot and to watch over the same area all their lives. Others are more like birds, eager to spread their wings and soar to distant parts of the world, wherever their whims take them.”
“Sae ye think we are both birds?”
“It’s not an undesirable thought, is it?” Trevor said.
Emma shook her head and wore a smile. They continued on, a gentle and peaceful silence settling over them.
The fragrance of the world was a pleasure, and the flowers seemed to burst in color before them.
The grass was soft underfoot, and ripe fruit blossomed on trees.
As they walked along, Emma picked a few berries she knew were safe to eat and passed them to Trevor.
They smiled at each other as the juice swam along their tongues.
When Trevor looked at Emma, he was quite certain that he had never seen anyone more beautiful in all the world, and the prospect of leaving her behind in this village seemed wrong to him.
He dearly hoped that when the time came, she would join him in returning to England so that he might spend more time with her.
She carried her pain well, almost as well as he carried his, but she did not deserve such treatment.
He wanted to castigate all the people who had ever done her harm, and he hoped that another opportunity to fight with David would present itself as he wanted to teach the man a stern lesson.
He could well imagine Emma attending a ball in England, dressed in the finest gown, shining with beauty and putting all the other women to shame.
Her presence may well even encourage him to attend a ball, and in his imagination, it was he who stood with Emma, he who stepped onto the dance floor with her, and he who received envious glances from every other man in attendance.
However, he was sure that if she did end up in England, then she would be flooded with marriage proposals and romantic overtures from more handsome men than him and men with better prospects.
It seemed to him that she was wasted out here where people couldn’t appreciate her.
She was Scotland’s best-kept secret, and at the moment, he was the only one who knew it.