Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“How long do ye expect the patrol to take?” Tyler asked. He was holding all the weapons Leo planned on taking with him and looked comically overloaded. “In case Miss Beatrice enquires about yer absence.”
“And why would she do that?” asked Leo.
Tyler raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Violet laughed from across the chamber, where she poured herself a whisky. “Aye, Brother. Ye understand so little about women.”
“I understand what I need to,” Leo protested, but felt himself outnumbered. “Tell the lass I’ll be gone for a day if she asks ye, Tyler, though I cannae think why she would.”
Tyler nodded. “Of course, me Laird.”
Leo felt that his head was too full of Beatrice right now.
Long auburn hair and a green dress, swishing into the Great Hall, the warmth of her body against his through a thin nightdress and dressing gown, fiery hazel eyes catching the candlelight in the castle corridors or watching him exercise with his men in the courtyard…
Patrolling was an easy excuse to leave the whole mess behind for a day and clear his head. Leo loved riding through the outlands, alone with his thoughts and left to his own devices.
Nay lasses around to muck it up.
Oftentimes, he went with only a skeleton crew of men, the ones who knew how to take care of themselves, so he didn’t have to keep a close eye on them. He could gallop off into the green wilds and breathe in the cold, foggy air that kept all of Scotland shrouded in its embrace.
“I’ve met Beatrice, by the way,” Violet revealed as Leo finished gathering his accoutrements.
He stiffened. “Aye, and what of it?”
“She’s a wonderful lass. I think she’s too good for ye, actually.”
“Ye spoke to her?”
Violet scoffed, staring him down as if he were being a petulant child. “Of course. Ye didnae just expect me to lurk around and watch her from a distance.”
“I daenae want the two of ye chattering like the old witches in the kitchen.”
“She’s rather beautiful.” Violet tilted her head to the side, studying his face the way she used to when they were children and he was trying to hide something from her. “Do ye nae think so?”
“Beauty isnae useful to me,” he said. He hoped the chill in his voice made his point clear, but he knew Violet too well to believe she’d leave well enough alone.
“Aye, understood. But it doesnae hurt to have a beautiful lass around.”
Leo swung his pack over his shoulder, facing his sister long enough to see how giddy she was.
Why is everyone so keen on me goin' soft for some debtor’s daughter? Forget the council, why does Violet care what I do?
“I’ll be back in a day,” he grunted, ignoring her comment. “Try nae to drink all me whisky and sour the servants on our bloodline.”
“Aye, and come back in one piece.”
They embraced in their brisk, familial way.
Then Tyler followed him out through the courtyard towards the stables, where a few guards were waiting to join him. The guards were talking to each other in odd tones, but they grew silent and wide-eyed as he approached.
“Are ye all ready?” he asked.
The guards nodded, dutiful and alert.
“We follow yer command, me Laird,” one of the men responded.
Aye, at least ye do. It’s more than I can say for Beatrice.
They mounted their horses.
Tyler raised a hand in a farewell salute, and the pack of them trotted towards the outlands, Leo relieved to put some distance between him and the auburn-haired woman haunting his home. And his mind.
A full day without the distraction of Leo MacSween should have been good news for Beatrice, so she was confused when the corridors felt empty.
She wandered the courtyard and garden for a while, studying the flowers that grew in the highland landscape. A few times, she thought she caught sight of a woman peering out the windows at her, but she assumed it was a maid being curious or nosy.
As night fell, she retired to her chambers early. She wasn’t very hungry and couldn’t quite place her mood. A part of her deep down felt lonely, swollen, and tender in a strange, unfamiliar way.
Goodness, I cannae really be missing him, can I? What kind of a lass gets tangled up with a man like him?
She wanted Leo to be a simple means to an end, but her thoughts drifted back to the scene she had witnessed in the courtyard the day before, where he had darted and fought like water.
She remembered the soldiers staring with respect and awe, not to mention Effie whispering in the corner and intermittently watching him command them.
Above the hearth in her chambers, a depiction of Venus stared stolidly at her with painted eyes. Beatrice paced beneath it, turning to return the blank gaze of the goddess.
“Aye, but ye never had to face a situation like this,” she said out loud, slipping her hand into her pocket and feeling the shape of the ring there. “A goddess like ye just has to ride on clamshells and be gorgeous.”
A faint, timid knock at the door shook her out of her musings, and she opened it, embarrassed by what she was nearly caught doing.
Ye’re goin' crazy, lass.
In the doorway stood Tyler himself.
“A letter from yer parents, Beatrice Whitmore,” he said simply, holding it out to her. “Shall I wait here in case ye want to send an immediate reply?”
Beatrice thought for a moment and nodded as she accepted the letter, her chest constricting as she broke the seal and went over to the lantern by the bed to read it.
“Lord in heaven, what now?” she muttered, settling close to the lantern next to the bed to read the letter. “I daenae think I can handle any more bad news.”
The message started with “Dearest daughter,” which calmed her down for a second before she continued reading. It was not the missive she had expected from her parents.
We cannot allow this marriage to go on as you have conspired. We will find a suitable Laird for you to marry, one that will suit our purposes.
She made the mistake of reading those lines out loud with amazement, and then, utterly embarrassed, looked at Tyler, who discreetly dismissed himself.
Better would be an old laird out there with less spirit and sway but plenty of coin. What difference does it make to you? You must return at once, appeal to the elders, and follow their decree. It is for the best, Bea. You know that as well as we do…
Beatrice crumpled the parchment into the smallest ball possible and threw it into the glowing fire under the painting of Venus. Through the whole scene, Venus watched in silence, her face placid. The serenity she radiated made Beatrice want to scream. She had to tell Leo before Tyler did.
First thing in the mornin'.
Collapsing onto the bed, Beatrice surrendered to sleep. Her dreams were fitful, enigmatic, and riddled with nerves.
A second knock on the door yanked her back to consciousness, the room still dark and the fire little more than glowing embers.
“Who’s there?” she called, her voice hoarse from sleep.
“It’s Shona, mistress. I’ve got someone who would like to see ye.”
“Come in, then.”
Beatrice sat up in her bed, squinting at the two shadowed figures entering her room. Shona stood behind Effie, who was shuffling forward before the door was fully open. She took no time making her way over to Beatrice, and in the dim light, Beatrice could see a crooked smile on her face.
“I keep having bad dreams,” Effie croaked, leaning her slight weight against the side of the bed. “Can I stay in here with ye? Just to keep the nightmares away?”
“Of course, Effie.”
Beatrice hoisted the girl up and settled in next to her after Effie made herself comfortable. Shona whispered a goodnight before she disappeared.
Nay doubt happy to get back to her own dreams.
Beatrice rested her head against Effie’s and slept more comfortably for the rest of the night, her dreams appearing in short vignettes with no spike of anger or fear.
But in the morning, when she rested her head against Effie’s like she did earlier, she was alarmed by how hot to the touch the girl was. She rolled Effie onto her back and wiped the sweat beading on her face.
“Effie, are ye all right?” she asked, stroking the little girl’s flushed cheeks. “Ye’re burnin' up, lassie. Ye’re on fire.”
“I daenae feel very well,” Effie managed in a weak voice.
“I’ll go get Shona.”
Effie grabbed her hand, shaking her head earnestly. “Nay, daenae leave me.”
Well, she seems to have enough strength in her. That’s a good sign.
Beatrice settled back next to her, gently wiping her brow and whispering reassurances in her ear. She hoped Shona would come by soon to see if either of them needed assistance, but at the moment, she obeyed Effie’s weak request not to leave her alone.
If she needs more help than I can give her…
Beatrice pushed down the churning panic inside her and did her best to keep steady and calm. Effie burrowed into her, occasionally making small whimpering sounds.
“Let me get Shona,” Beatrice murmured. “If ye’re sick—”
But Effie just grabbed her hand and clung to her. There was nothing Beatrice could say to convince the girl to let her leave.
Eventually, Shona came by, and at the sight of the feverish child, she went about tending to her. The entire time, Beatrice stayed next to Effie, marveling at how tightly her little fingers were interwoven with hers and how determined the small girl was not to let her leave.