then?”
Lachlan shook his head. “It would no’ matter even if there was another lass. I’ll do my duty as an oldest son and heir – just as you will when the time comes,” he added, looking pointedly at Iain, and taking satisfaction at the brief flicker of distaste that crossed his friend’s face. “But I canna help but wonder what my life might have been like if I had been born a second son. To not be burdened by duty or expectations…” he added, his voice trailing off as he stared into the distance.
Iain pushed himself slowly to his feet, and reached out a hand to help his friend up. “Do no’ fash yerself, Lachlan. If you’ve learned naught else from yer father, it should be that once you marry the right lass, and have a legitimate heir, you’ll be free to do as you please.” Lachlan smiled ruefully at his friend’s observation, but it did little to quell his sense of dread at what the future held for him. “I learned a long time ago there is naught to be gained by wishing yer life away. What is, is. There is no’ much you can do about it.”
Lachlan’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he held Iain’s gaze. “That’s easy for you to say, lad. You do no’ have to wed Elizabeth.”
###
Facing her family and the rest of the clan after hiding away for so long had been much easier than Catriona had anticipated. Her parents accepted her excuses of illness, though Catriona knew full well they did this less out of compassion and more from a general disinterest in her life. The only real sign of tension came during the evening meals in the great hall, when Catriona could feel Elizabeth’s piercing stare upon her. It was almost as if her sister was trying to bait her – to push her into responding to the scene she had witnessed. Catriona refused to rise to her sister’s challenge, and instead went out of her way to be pleasant and polite.
To her great relief, she had seen no trace of Calum since the day in the stable. She prayed he’d realized the danger he had placed them all in, and that he had moved on to another keep. But regardless of what he did, Catriona vowed to keep her own counsel. She knew it was unlikely that either Calum or Elizabeth would admit to their transgressions unless forced. Despite the guilt she felt for keeping the truth from Lachlan, Catriona was grateful that she had not been forced to acknowledge her sister’s treachery. The shame it would bring upon the clan was simply not to be borne.
It had been much harder to face her own kinsmen. The day after she resolved to put the incident behind her, she had been approached by several villagers who needed her help with a wide variety of ailments. Thankfully, none of the problems were life-threatening, but the fact that the clan had been left without medical care while she pouted in her chambers was a humbling realization.
Catriona had spent several days dispensing ointments and tinctures to treat the colds, burns, cuts and fevers that were within her power to ease. Though her skills were limited by her age and experience, she took pride in her ability to provide comfort to those in need. When she wasn’t able to help, she usually sent a rider into the city of Banff to fetch a physician. It was certainly more than her mother had ever offered, and she knew the villagers were grateful for her concern.
As the days grew warmer and longer, Catriona found herself busy from sunrise until she found her bed at the end of the day. Lambing season was particularly hectic, and she found herself spending every spare moment helping the servants attend to the animals’ needs. Much of her father’s wealth was derived from the herds of sheep they raised on the grassy pastures surrounding Boyne Castle, and everyone respected the importance of the animals to their own livelihood.
The rains were heavy and merciless for much of the late spring, with thick fog and heavy clouds most days. With
Lachlan shook his head. “It would no’ matter even if there was another lass. I’ll do my duty as an oldest son and heir – just as you will when the time comes,” he added, looking pointedly at Iain, and taking satisfaction at the brief flicker of distaste that crossed his friend’s face. “But I canna help but wonder what my life might have been like if I had been born a second son. To not be burdened by duty or expectations…” he added, his voice trailing off as he stared into the distance.
Iain pushed himself slowly to his feet, and reached out a hand to help his friend up. “Do no’ fash yerself, Lachlan. If you’ve learned naught else from yer father, it should be that once you marry the right lass, and have a legitimate heir, you’ll be free to do as you please.” Lachlan smiled ruefully at his friend’s observation, but it did little to quell his sense of dread at what the future held for him. “I learned a long time ago there is naught to be gained by wishing yer life away. What is, is. There is no’ much you can do about it.”
Lachlan’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he held Iain’s gaze. “That’s easy for you to say, lad. You do no’ have to wed Elizabeth.”
###
Facing her family and the rest of the clan after hiding away for so long had been much easier than Catriona had anticipated. Her parents accepted her excuses of illness, though Catriona knew full well they did this less out of compassion and more from a general disinterest in her life. The only real sign of tension came during the evening meals in the great hall, when Catriona could feel Elizabeth’s piercing stare upon her. It was almost as if her sister was trying to bait her – to push her into responding to the scene she had witnessed. Catriona refused to rise to her sister’s challenge, and instead went out of her way to be pleasant and polite.
To her great relief, she had seen no trace of Calum since the day in the stable. She prayed he’d realized the danger he had placed them all in, and that he had moved on to another keep. But regardless of what he did, Catriona vowed to keep her own counsel. She knew it was unlikely that either Calum or Elizabeth would admit to their transgressions unless forced. Despite the guilt she felt for keeping the truth from Lachlan, Catriona was grateful that she had not been forced to acknowledge her sister’s treachery. The shame it would bring upon the clan was simply not to be borne.
It had been much harder to face her own kinsmen. The day after she resolved to put the incident behind her, she had been approached by several villagers who needed her help with a wide variety of ailments. Thankfully, none of the problems were life-threatening, but the fact that the clan had been left without medical care while she pouted in her chambers was a humbling realization.
Catriona had spent several days dispensing ointments and tinctures to treat the colds, burns, cuts and fevers that were within her power to ease. Though her skills were limited by her age and experience, she took pride in her ability to provide comfort to those in need. When she wasn’t able to help, she usually sent a rider into the city of Banff to fetch a physician. It was certainly more than her mother had ever offered, and she knew the villagers were grateful for her concern.
As the days grew warmer and longer, Catriona found herself busy from sunrise until she found her bed at the end of the day. Lambing season was particularly hectic, and she found herself spending every spare moment helping the servants attend to the animals’ needs. Much of her father’s wealth was derived from the herds of sheep they raised on the grassy pastures surrounding Boyne Castle, and everyone respected the importance of the animals to their own livelihood.
The rains were heavy and merciless for much of the late spring, with thick fog and heavy clouds most days. With
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