Highland Fortitude (The Band of Cousins Book 5) Read online

  How he wished he could convince Constance to come with him.

  He knew what they’d say if he told them of his interest in the lass.

  They’d say he was too young. Aye, he was only seven and ten, but this winter he’d be eight and ten, plenty old enough to marry. If he found his partner in life, why wait? They could grow old together.

  He recalled his sire saying he’d fallen in love with his mother nearly the first day they had met. She’d taken him on a daft dash after some English knight she’d thought she fancied in Edinburgh, but in the end, she’d fallen in love with Daniel’s sire and married him.

  His father’s persistence had paid off. He recalled the number of times that his sire had taunted his mother, claiming if he hadn’t stayed by her side that she would have relinquished her father’s castle and land in favor of some hovel in England. Instead, she was one of the few female clan chieftains in Scotland.

  She was a fine leader. His clan prospered unlike many others.

  Micheil Ramsay had been wise to stand by the woman he loved. Daniel Drummond would not leave Constance either. Something was bothering the lass and he vowed to help her and stand by her side.

  No matter what it took. When he crept back into the abbey in the darkest of the night, they would talk. That’s what they needed to do.

  He had to convince her to follow him.

  ***

  Constance found her way down the stairs and out the back door to the gardens. It was nearly midnight, and no one was about. The entire abbey had been in such a turmoil since the return of the kidnapped lasses—everyone had retired early. There had been few sessions of silent prayer, but mostly because the novices were incapable of sitting quietly.

  Constance knew just how they felt. She was more unsettled than ever. The abbess knew she had a secret, and Daniel’s kiss had made her doubt everything.

  Daniel made her feel like no other lad had. He made her feel alive and special, something that being one of eight children certainly hadn’t done.

  She couldn’t forget that he’d promised to return. And he would. Daniel’s friend called him “Ghost” for a reason—he could sneak past any gate, any closed door. A smile crossed her face as she thought about how much he enjoyed the challenge, the threat of discovery, and the success of victory. Because she was desperate to see him, too much so to leave it to chance, she’d decided to make it easy on him and wait at the bench at the back of the property, the same place where Roddy and Rose had fallen in love.

  If it had worked magic for them, perhaps it could also work for her.

  Less than an hour later, something dropped in front of her, startling her enough to jump out of her seat and search the area for an intruder, but she saw no one. A few moments later, something flew through the air and landed at her feet. Curious, she bent over and picked it up.

  A hazelnut. They kept landing at her feet until she had six in her hand. She couldn’t stop the wide grin on her face because she was quite sure she knew who had thrown them. “Show yourself or I’ll go in, because if you are not Daniel, I don’t wish to see you.” She waited a few moments until a rustling sound stirred the hedge behind her, then Daniel’s face popped in between the branches.

  “You called for me, lass?” He winked, a devilish grin on his face.

  “Aye, Daniel,” she whispered. “Get over here before you’re seen, and I get into more trouble.”

  He leaped over the hedge and landed a few steps away from her. She expected another passionate kiss, but to her surprise he gave her a quick peck on the lips before he stepped back. “No more ravishing of innocent lassies, I promise, Constance.”

  She wiggled her nose and whispered, “Why not? I liked it.” She giggled and he whipped his hand out from behind his back, thrusting a cluster of weeds, twigs with berries, and a few flowers into her hands. “Only the verra best for you, my sweet bluebell.”

  Extending her hand to accept the gift, she brought the bouquet up to her nose and inhaled deeply, then she said, “These are the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever received, Daniel. My thanks to you.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, but he didn’t catch on.

  “How many bouquets of weeds and sticks have you received?”

  “That is not important,” she said, clutching the flowers to her chest. “They are lovely. I shall keep them forever.”

  He reached for the bouquet, but she tugged it close.

  He reached again and explained, “I just wish to show you there was one bluebell inside. It made me think of you, sweet one.” He fiddled with the stalks and pulled out one flower that had fallen over limp already. “See? A bluebell, even if ’tis nearly dead.”

  She laughed, a husky trill to her voice. “Daniel, bluebells don’t grow this time of year. It looks more like a coneflower.”

  “’Tis blue and a flower, is it not? Close enough to a bluebell. I admit I’m not an expert on flowers.”

  She couldn’t ruin his good deed. “I must be wrong. Perhaps ’tis indeed a bluebell.” She leaned toward him and gave him a chaste kiss on his cheek, lingering just a bit to take in his manly scent.

  He set her away from him. “Enough or you’ll get me in trouble.” His gaze narrowed as it caught hers. “I came to chat. Come sit on the bench with me.”

  She sighed but nodded and allowed him to usher her over to the bench. Once she was settled, he sat down next to her. “What must we talk about?” she asked, pushing her lower lip out in a pout, still clutching her bouquet. “I prefer kisses.”

  He kissed her temple and said, “There, one kiss. Will you come to Braden Grant’s castle with me for a brief visit?”

  “Daniel,” she said, rubbing her forehead in frustration. “I doubt it would be allowed. They are quite strict here about visitations, probably more so after the disaster we just had.” She stared at the flowers in her lap, fiddling with them so she wouldn’t have to look at him. In truth, she couldn’t risk being seen outside the abbey. If she ran into the wrong person…Well, she wouldn’t give that thought much consideration because she couldn’t let it happen.

  She could not get caught.

  “I promise I’ll have you back within a sennight.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “You could ask permission, could you not? We’ll just say we’re celebrating the end of the tyranny that was Jean MacDole.”

  “Will Rose be there?”

  He shook his head. “Nay, she’s gone on to Clan Grant to meet Roddy’s family. But there are many members of Clan Grant at Roddy’s house presently. I’ll be staying on there for a wee bit, if they’ll still have me. You would like Braden’s wife, Cairstine.”

  The picture he painted was a bonny one. Could she dare risk it?

  Then he smiled at her, his eyes twinkling, and she knew her answer.

  “I will ask, but only under one condition.” She wiggled her bottom on the bench. Daniel made her do things she just didn’t understand.

  “Good. Name it and I’ll do it if I can.”

  “Your hand. Tell me what happened to your hand. You promised.” The first time they’d met, Daniel had been helping Roddy and Rose. She’d taken one look at his arm, noticed his missing hand, and blurted out, “What happened to your hand?” Daniel had pretended to be shocked, saying he didn’t know where he’d lost it or some other silly response, but that was Daniel. He’d promised to tell her the truth later.

  “I promised I’d tell you if you came to Clan Grant. That was the wager.” He paused to think for a moment, then said, “But I’ll consider Braden as close enough to Clan Grants. If you visit his castle, I’ll tell you.” He crossed his arms, not willing to share his hidden secret yet.

  She glanced at the long sleeve covering his stump. He’d lost his left hand just above the wrist. “Nay, if you wish for me to come with you, you must tell me now.” Her imagination had run wild. Part of her worried he might have been injured as a punishment for stealing or committing some other sort of crime. She couldn’t shake the notion that finding out
how he’d lost his hand would tell her something important about him.

  He stared up at the night sky and brushed his hair out of his face. “All right. I’ll tell you but give me a moment.”

  She guessed this had to be difficult for him. Daniel was a very handsome man. His hair was a deep and rich mahogany, touched by just a hint of red, and his unblemished skin was tan from the sun, a testament to how much time he spent outside. His forest green eyes, surrounded by thick lashes, sparkled with humor. In fact, Daniel’s appearance was very nearly perfect, until one’s gaze traveled lower, past his powerful biceps and broad chest to his left side. The shock of not seeing another hand there had caught her off guard the first time, making her stare at the scarred stump below his elbow. The scars weren’t visible this eve because of the tunic he wore. She couldn’t help but wonder how painful it had been. How he’d learned to adjust to such a shocking loss.

  “Tell me, Daniel. Please?” She reached for his scarred arm, pushing the sleeve of his tunic up. “I need to know this about you.”

  Chapter Three

  Daniel closed his eyes for just a second, taking his mind off the beautiful lass in front of him, and mentally returned to the day it had happened.

  It. That’s what he always called the disfiguring incident.

  It.

  It had happened on a hot day in the summer. They’d had so few warm days that summer, and he and his friend had decided to defy his parents and go to the loch for a swim. They’d been forbidden to leave the castle grounds because reivers were roaming the area. Two of their clanmates had been slain, and his sire had sent out a force of warriors to find them. No person under the age of ten and five was supposed to leave the castle walls until the culprits were caught and punished.

  Daniel and his friend had waited until the guards were out of sight before they snuck outside the curtain wall.

  A quick dip was all they’d wanted. Something to cool themselves down in the heat.

  He hadn’t even told his brother where he was going…

  Constance took ahold of the stub of his arm and caressed his scars. He stared at her in shock. When had anyone other than his parents ever touched his wound?

  “I was six winters when my friend and I snuck out to the loch. My sire had taken a patrol of guards out to search for a band of reivers who were causing trouble on our land. My parents had forbidden us to go outside the curtain wall until the reivers were found.”

  “You found them,” Constance stated.

  “Actually, they found us. I was just about to dive in after my friend when we heard the horses. I tried to get back to my horse before they reached us, but my friend was oblivious to the danger, and I wasted time trying to alert him. When they finally reached us, one of the reivers grabbed my friend by the shoulders and held him underwater. I managed to get to my sword. Instead of running, I foolishly tried to protect myself when the reiver came at me. He played with me for a while, taunting me about my small sword and asking me to swing it. I just kept backing up.”

  He paused, savoring Constance’s touch, and then said, “Things might have ended differently had my brother not followed us out. David had to go save my friend first because the bastard was drowning him. Once he came to my assistance, the reiver stopped taunting me and swung his sword down, cutting my hand off in an instant. David hadn’t reached my side yet, so there was naught he could do.”

  “Oh, Daniel,” Constance said, swiping at the tears that erupted on her face. “How terrible.”

  “I don’t remember much after that. My brother saved my life, or so my aunts told me, because he tied his plaid above my elbow, which stemmed the bleeding. The oddest thing was that my fingers hurt even though they weren’t there anymore. At first, I was furious. Mad at everyone around me, but then I noticed my brother. He considered it his failure. He’s three years older than me, and I heard him crying one day, telling my mother ’twas his fault because he’d gone to save my friend instead of me. I hadn’t considered how the entire incident would affect other people, but the more I looked around, the more I saw the pain in their eyes.

  “So I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and started training in the lists with my brother. I vowed to make up for my loss by building my muscles and learning to swing my sword with only one hand.”

  “I’m so sorry, Daniel,” Constance said, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. He recognized the look in her eyes—pity. He didn’t want her pity, and he almost drew away on instinct, but she kept speaking. “You were too young to blame yourself. ’Tis how I feel. Is David your only sibling?”

  “Aye. He’ll take over the lairdship after my mother, Diana Drummond.”

  “You’re one of those Drummonds? The ones whose laird is a woman?”

  “Aye, the one whose mother is laird. I have wonderful parents. Tell me more about your family. Where are you from?”

  “A long way from here. My parents have eight bairns. They couldn’t feed us all so they gave two of us away. I came to Sona Abbey. My brother wishes to be a monk and went to a different abbey.”

  “Seven brothers and sisters. How fortunate you are. I’d like to hear more about them, but first, I held up my part of the bargain, now ’tis your turn. Talk to the abbess on the morrow. Shall I come for you when the sun is highest?”

  “I’ll talk with her. All of us were upset by what happened with the other lasses. They’ve suggested it might serve us well to take a journey home for a time to overcome the ordeal. Mayhap they’ll allow me to travel with you instead, but you’ll need to bring guards with you, or she’ll never allow me to go.”

  He jumped up, leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips, then said, “Perfect. I’ll escort you to your corridor, my dear, then I shall return on the morrow, midday.”

  “No more kisses?”

  “Nay. I’ll not risk getting barred from your presence.” He hurried her over to the building, and before he opened the door, he whispered close to her ear, “But we’ll have plenty of time at Braden’s to get to know each other better. I promise.”

  If pity was what it took for her to give him a chance, he’d accept it for now.

  ***

  Constance rode in front of Daniel to Muir Castle, where Braden Grant and his wife, Cairstine, lived. She was surprised the abbess had allowed her this visit. While the older women had been hesitant, especially after the incident with Daniel, Brodie Grant, brother to the famous Alexander Grant, had accompanied Daniel to the abbey and met with the abbess. Somehow he’d managed to convince her to send Constance with them, promising she would be returned within a sennight.

  She leaned back against Daniel, taking in his scent of pine and horse with a touch of mint from the leaves he’d been chewing. They hadn’t said much to each other—she’d instead used the opportunity to get as close to him as possible, sighing with each small comfort he offered her—the touch of his hand on her hip, the whisper of his breath against her ear, and the clench of his thighs aimed to keep her in place as they cantered on horseback through the Highlands. It had been an unusually warm autumn, and the trees still boasted many colorful leaves, much to her delight. She hated when they all fell off at the beginning of winter. The cool breeze whistled through the trees, sending another handful of leaves to the ground, rustling as they landed.

  The scenery was forever changing in the Highlands, and she loved it. As soon as she admired the changing of the leaves, they’d move down the path only to be surrounded by a forest of pines, the green of the needles and the scent overwhelming her senses.

  What better place could there be than inside Daniel’s arms enjoying the beauty of the Highlands? Though she was taking a risk by riding out in the open, away from the abbey, there was no doubt in her mind she would be safe at Muir Castle with all the Grants at the keep. She closed her eyes and relaxed against him, pleased to be away from the abbey, if only for a short time.

  Once they arrived, Daniel assisted her down from the horse, but she stumbled and fell agai
nst him. He caught her with his right arm. “I think you fell asleep, lass.”

  Constance muttered, “Did I?” She didn’t wish to admit how comfortable she’d been pressed against him, but she also didn’t lie easily so she felt an evasion was the best way to answer.

  Up until she’d come to the abbey, she’d never told a lie. Why did they come so easily of late?

  The answer was simple. Protection. She had to protect herself since no one else would.

  Introductions were made quickly around the hall. A woman named Aunt Fina announced, “We’ve goblets of ale for all. Platters of cheese and loaves of bread will follow. Make yourselves at home.”

  Cairstine, Braden’s wife, approached her with a smile. “Why don’t I show you to your chamber, Constance? I’m sure you’d like a rest before you eat.”

  She glanced at Daniel, who waved her on. “Freshen up, if you like. Do as you wish here. No one will give you orders or chores to do, I promise.”

  Constance caught him looking at her as she followed Cairstine up the stairs. “’Tis a lovely chamber,” Cairstine said, leading her down the passageway to a chamber at the end, “but it has not been used in a while.”

  “I feel better that I’m not taking anyone’s chamber. I…” Constance almost gave herself away, ready to confess something she knew about the nobility, but she caught herself in time. She couldn’t let anyone know about her background.

  “Hilda just cleaned it,” Cairstine said as she opened the door and stood back. “She’s insisted on cleaning everything. It has fresh linens as well. I’ll send fresh water up for you.”

  A set of footsteps echoed down the corridor as if the person were running.

  Cairstine smiled. “That must be my son, Steenie. He gets quite excited when we have company.”

  Steenie, a wee lad with bright eyes, came flying into the chamber. “Mama! We have guests.”

  He froze as soon as his gaze landed on Constance. “You found her.”

  Cairstine clucked her tongue. “Steenie, where are your manners?”