The Fox, page 18
“Go see if Miss Glynis’ maid has retrieved the item, I had Greer cook for her.”
The young man hurried out as he lowered into the hot water.
It was his habit to rise early. He enjoyed the peaceful silence of the morning, just before everyone woke and the activities of the household began.
He was dressing when there was a hurried knock on the door. When he called to whoever it was to enter, he was surprised to see Agnes.
“Mister Caelan,” the woman said, her face pale. “Ladies Ross are with Miss Glynis. She is unwell—”
He did not let her finish, rounding her and racing to Glynis’ bedchamber. He pushed the door open and immediately knew something was horribly wrong. The smell of blood filled the air and Glynis moaned and then sobbed.
“Oh, dear,” his stepmother said upon seeing him. “Ye must go. Leave at once.” She hurried to him pushing him out the open door. “Do not reenter. I will speak to ye as soon as this is over.”
“Over?” He knew what happened, but his mind would not accept it. “The bairn?”
His stepmother closed her eyes and waved to a woman who arrived to enter.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“A midwife. The bairn arrives.” His stepmother met his gaze. “Go find her mother. Please.”
He mentally calculated how far along Glynis was. If she’d become with child the first time, they’d been together, it was only nearing four months. Not long enough to ensure the wee one would survive.
Somehow, he managed to find out where Glynis’ parents were, but by the way her mother rushed past him, she’d gotten the news from someone else.
Instead of returning upstairs, he slumped into the nearest chair to await news.
He wasn’t sure how long it was before his worst fears were confirmed. Darach guided him into the parlor, where his other brothers joined them.
“The bairn was a boy. He did not survive.”
When Caelan attempted to leave, they blocked his exit.
“There is more,” Darach said, his face stoic. “Glynis’ life is in peril. She is losing blood.”
He didn’t allow anyone to block his way as he raced through the corridors until bursting into the room.
The women in the room looked to him, but no one made to stop him. Caelan rounded the bed, ignoring the glare from the midwife who was stuffing a cloth between Glynis’ legs.
She was pale, but awake. Her eyes widening at seeing him.
“Son . . .” his stepmother began, but stopped talking when Glynis held out her arms to him. He closed the distance and hugged her to him, allowing her to cry softly. “I lost the bairn. What will happen now? The poor, poor wee one.”
She kept repeating questions, not waiting for a reply and he remained steadfast whispering encouragements into her ear.
“The bleeding is stopping,” someone said.
“Thank God,” Glynis’ mother replied sniffing loudly.
The room was cleaned up by silent maids and a window opened to allow for fresh air. Then one by one everyone left.
Glynis slept, her hand clutched in his. Caelan feared that she’d lost too much blood and would perish at any moment, so he refused to leave her side even when first her parents came for a while, and then his stepmother.
It was late when Glynis awakened, her swollen eyes meeting his. “Where is he?”
He looked to his stepmother, who shook her head.
“He is bundled and will be buried in the morning. Ye can watch from here.” She pointed to the small window.
A maid entered with broth and bread. After prodding, Glynis ate most of it. Her gaze kept moving to the window and Caelan knew she thought of the child.
“Caelan?”
He woke with a start, his aching neck, from falling asleep in a chair, made him grimace. Glynis studied him, her gaze clear. “Ye should go to bed. I am fine.”
“I will not leave ye.”
“I’d prefer it.”
The words stung, but Caelan ignored it. He would not allow her to use words to push him away.
Unfortunately, three days later, when he went to check on her, Glynis was gone.
There was a letter on the table next to the bed with his name on it.
Dearest Caelan,
I have returned to Barra with my parents.
It is time for me to take responsibility for so many things. I must face my fears and only then can I be what someone like ye needs.
Dare I hope that ye will wait for me?
Glynis.
He crumpled the letter and with it in his fist, he rushed out and down the stairs. When he saw his stepmother, she looked at him with alarm. “What is the matter?”
“Did ye know Glynis was to return with her parents?”
“Glynis is gone?” Her eyes widened. “No, I did not.”
Barra greeted her with rain and gloom. It matched how she felt. It had been horrible of her to leave without telling anyone. She’d not even told her parents, instead stealing into the carriage before them and surprising them when they’d climbed into it.
“Ye should say something,” her mother had scolded. But upon her adamant refusal, she had relented as they were anxious to return to Barra.
“What do ye plan to do Glynis?” her mother asked as the familiar surroundings of her village came into view. “Nothing reckless, I hope.”
She met her father’s gaze. “I plan to rest and get my strength. Then I will help with the household.”
Her parents exchanged a strange look.
“What is it? Am I not welcome at my own home?”
“Of course, ye are welcome. It is yer home,” her mother said. “However, there have been some changes. Despite the bairn not surviving. Ye are betrothed.”
Her father frowned. “The young man seems honorable. Stood by ye for days. Why are ye running from him?”
“I am not running from him. I need to ensure things are made right between Gavin and myself. I must ensure the attackers pay for—”
“That is not yer fight,” her father interrupted slashing his hand across. “Ye must not interfere in what is Gavin’s right to see about.”
The air in the carriage seemed to lessen, but Glynis took a deep breath despite it. “It was all my fault.”
Her father took her hand. “It was all the fault of the men who attacked ye and yer brother. None of the burden should be on ye.” His gaze was gentle as it moved from her to her mother. “Stop blaming yerself.”
It was as if the last of the air was sucked out of the carriage and Glynis fell back and closed her eyes. Later she would sob with the relief that came from her father’s words. It was as if the burden she’d carried was lifted and her entire body felt light.
When she opened her eyes, her father smiled at her. “And when Caelan Ross comes for ye, I do not want any argument. Ye will marry him.”
The carriage came to a stop and they climbed down assisted by her brother, Gavin, who smiled warmly at her.
The scarring seemed less prominent than she remembered. Yes, there was the cut across the side of his face, but it wasn’t as horrible as before she’d left. When she examined his face, she realized that while Gavin was as handsome as before, somehow the scar gave him a roguish appeal.
“Not sure what to think of yer study of me,” he said frowning. “Have ye missed my façade that much?”
Glynis laughed and allowed his tight hug.
“I did not expect ye,” Gavin said. “What are ye planning to do?”
“A wedding,” her mother interjected. “We must plan for a wedding. It will be within a day or two at the most.”
Two days later, Glynis stood in the front of the small chapel in the nearby village and exchanged vows with a very handsome man she had no doubt loved her.
Caelan stood tall and proud, his wide shoulders touching hers as they repeated after the clergy. Next to him stood Gideon, who’d barely made it in time after disappearing into the village, no doubt at the invitation of one of the local women.
Dressed in a lavender gown with flowers in her hair, Glynis felt beautiful. Upon meeting her new husband’s gaze there was little doubt she was in fact the luckiest woman in the world.
That night after a huge meal, they went into the bedchamber that used to be hers alone.
Glynis felt shy when undressing. She could not fully undress as she still bled from the miscarriage. But she donned a nightdress and slipped into the bed.
“I suppose we will not be able to have a proper wedding night for a bit.” She did her best to put on a brave front, but any reminder of the loss of her child made her tear up immediately.
Caelan seemed not to notice. “I do not mind. What is important to me is that ye recover fully. There is no hurry.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips.
It was to be the first of many nights they’d spend together. She anticipated his warm skin against hers. But Caelan did not undress fully either and wore a soft tunic to bed.
The weather was cold, so it made sense, but there was a nagging feeling something else was wrong.
“Do ye always sleep with a tunic on?”
“It is quite cold in here.”
She lifted to look at the fire in the hearth. “Add a log.”
“I am fine.”
“Is it because ye do not wish for me to see yer back?”
Caelan turned to his side and gazed at her. The glow of the fire made him look like a marble statue of a god. With perfect slashes for eyebrows, long lashes, and a well-formed mouth, an artist would be hard-pressed to duplicate his features well.
“I am not comfortable for ye to see my scars. Although I am aware it will not change how ye feel. They may be repelling.”
She doubted it, but decided not to push him. He would undress fully when he was ready.
They would not make love that night, her body still recovering, however, holding each other as they fell asleep was just as intimate a moment.
A loud sniff woke her the next morning. She opened her eyes and at first did not see anything. Caelan had obviously gotten up to place a new log into the fire because it burned brightly.
He stood halfway turned with something in his hands. It was one of the wee one’s blankets that she’d knitted. Glynis had kept one and left the rest behind. Not that she needed a reminder of the bairn, but more that she needed something physical that she could hold.
Caelan had stood next to her, watching as they’d buried the bairn. Both her parents and her aunt surrounded by the rest of the Ross family had stood in the rain as the tiny box had been placed into the ground.
Glynis squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them to study Caelan. He grieved in silence, head bent and wide shoulders shuddering. Unable to not comfort him, she slid from the bed and went to him.
“I know,” she said, and they held each other until the waves of grief passed and allowed them to return to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Spring 1604
Glynis peered out the carriage door and didn’t recognize any of the passing terrain. “Where are we?”
“Heading west. We are about two or three hours from where Stuart and Cait live.” Caelan leaned back and closed his eyes.
She gave up trying to talk to him about this unexpected trip. In the months of knowing him, it became clear that once he made up his mind about something, Caelan could not be persuaded otherwise.
A long while later, when Caelan opened his eyes, she smiled at him. “Are we to visit Cait and Stuart?”
He slid closer and peered out. “Perhaps. Ah, yes, almost there.”
In the four months since they’d married. They lived at her parent’s home for a month. Once her body felt back to normal, they returned to Caelan’s house, where they’d remained for three months. Caelan continued to keep the clan ledgers, while training an apprentice. Now he’d claimed it was time for them to go on a trip. Before she could have a say in the matter, they traveled to the east coast of South Uist.
After the first few hours of the familiar route, they’d turned and taken a route that seemed different to Glynis than when they’d visited Cait and Stuart previously, but she wasn’t well acquainted enough with the area to know for sure.
She nudged Caelan’s shoulder and peered up at him. “Are ye glad to have married me?”
Leaning to the side, he rested his head on hers. “If ye do not believe it by now, then I have not been pleasing ye enough.”
“Oh, ye have not failed when it comes to lovemaking.”
Tipping her face up, he peered into her eyes. “I love ye, Glynis, and am fortunate to have ye for a wife.”
Despite how many times Caelan repeated how he felt, it was surreal to her. “I am the fortunate one. Ye are the most beautiful man I have ever met. I love that ye do not stand in my way when I wish to do things but give guidance instead. With ye I have become less impulsive, I believe.”
His brow lifted. “Like when ye and Beatrice hid in the bushes and spied on Duncan and I when we bathed in the loch?”
Glynis’ felt her eyes widen. “Ye know about that?”
Just then the driver knocked on the carriage and Caelan stuck his head out and said something. Glynis slid to peer out, but Caelan took the opportunity to lift her onto his lap and took her mouth with his.
A tryst in the carriage would have been delightful, but Glynis was aware they’d slowed to a crawl. As adventurous as she was, it would not do for one of Stuart’s men to catch them in the act.
“Stop, Caelan. We are obviously almost there.” She pinched his bottom lip between her teeth. “I promise to make it up to ye later.”
His low growl made her tingle with excitement. Her husband knew exactly how to make her forget everything.
The driver knocked again and Caelan opened the carriage door.
“What a beautiful view,” Glynis said catching sight of the sea in the distance. When she turned, her mouth fell open and tears immediately burned her eyes.
It was the cottage. The ugly cottage where they’d first made love. But it was very different now. Some of the same frame remained, but it was larger now. The stables to the side of it had been rebuilt and were now a bit further from the home. There was a corral with two horses, cows grazing nearby, and a smaller pen with goats.
She stood silent taking it all in, her gaze returning to the house. It reminded her of the house Stuart and Cait lived in, with a beautiful front door and large windows that would afford views of the sea. Craning her neck, she realized a second floor had been added, along with a balcony from which one could stand and enjoy the view.
“Oh, goodness,” she said and took off at a run toward the house. Just before she entered, Caelan scooped her up into his arms and together they crossed the threshold to the inside.
It was furnished beautifully. Glynis immediately recognized Caelan’s tastes in dark woods and thick rugs.
“It is breathtaking,” she exclaimed. “Put me down so I can explore.” When he did, she rushed from one room to the next, her smile so wide that after a while, her face ached.
“Caelan, how did ye do it?”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “When I told ye I was going to patrol with my brothers, this is where we went. A large group of the guards and some men from the village worked tirelessly to complete it.”
There were voices outside and she hurried to the door and then outside.
Cait waived with enthusiasm. “I am so glad we are to be close to one another.” She frowned at her husband who greeted Caelan with a hug. “Stuart, help me down.”
It was comical to watch Cait attempt to climb down from the carriage when so heavy with child.
“Ye should not have come. Ye are much too close to the bairn’s birth to be out,” Glynis chided, but it was accompanied with a happy smile and hug. “Have ye seen it inside?”
Cait shook her head. “No, this is the first time I’ve come here. It is beautiful.” They walked into the house arm in arm, behind them Clara and Cait’s companion, Cora.
They’d brought food, so before long everyone sat around the dining table and enjoyed the first meal at the house.
“Clara, I hope ye can accompany me to the village to shop for necessities,” Glynis inquired of Cait’s mother. “We do not have servants. I suppose that is another thing we need. Someone to help me. I do not require more than one or two at the most.”
Caelan gave her a knowing look. “Agnes is coming to live here, she and Bram will arrive in a few days. If ye wish to hire a chambermaid, then ye should find someone from the village who can go home daily.”
“How far is it?” she asked.
“I thought ye were here before,” Cait said.
When Caelan cleared his throat and Glynis’ cheeks turned red, Cait laughed. “Ye did not see much I take it?”
“It was raining quite hard,” Glynis replied giving Caelan a warning look, not to elaborate.
“The village is within walking distance,” Caelan said. “Ye can visit often with Bree.”
Glynis had never felt so happy in her life. She sighed and glanced at Caelan. “I have so many questions and yet this is the happiest day of my life.”
When Stuart burst out laughing, Glynis realized she’d not considered her wedding day. “Next to our wedding day, of course.”
“Of course,” everyone repeated, while chuckling. Glynis gave up and joined them.
There were loud bangs at the door and both Stuart and Caelan immediately got to their feet. The door opened and Artair walked in.
“Why wasn’t I invited?”
The brothers exchanged looks. Stuart shook his head. “Because I did not know ye were back.”
“Where were ye?” Caelan asked.
Artair shrugged. “On patrol. I found a family living south of here. Trouble.”
“Oh, no,” Cait said. “Do not tell me. Another encroacher bent on no good?”
Everyone waited until finally Artair replied. “A young lad stole my clothes. I had to ride naked to find where he lived. The mother did not bat an eye when I demanded my clothing back. Instead, she practically ran me off.”
Both Stuart and Caelan fought to keep from laughing by pressing their lips into tight lines.
