“What of Duncan?” Isla pressed. “I remember meetin’ him once when I was but a wee lass, and now it seems he’s nowhere tae be found and no one knows how or why.”
“No oneoutside of our clanknows,” Lorna corrected slyly, “for Douglas always insisted that such information be kept secret. Perhaps because he worried it would make us seem weak to the other clans, or perhaps because he was merely personally ashamed that his firstborn abandoned him. Not that anyone could much blame Duncan for doin’ so, given how relentlessly he quarreled with his father. In the end, the pressure grew tae be too much for him, and one night he simply ran off never tae return. Douglas ordered his soldiers to ride out in search of him the followin’ day, but only tae the borders of our lands. Beyond those, he dared not allow them tae make inquiry, for fear that Duncan’s choice tae leave might become common knowledge.”
That was difficult for Isla to believe. “Do ye mean tae say that… he chose to keep the secret of his son’s disappearance,rather than do all he could tae actually find him and bring him back?”
Lorna nodded. “He pretended that the decision didnae plague him, but from that point on, he was even more ill-tempered and insufferable than he’d ever been before. He’d not planned on havin’ Alex succeed him, and so he berated the lad to no end. I did all I could tae soften the damage he was doin’, but…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “When a fellow is denied the love and acceptance of a father, there’s little anyone else can do tae fill that empty space within him. It becomes bottomless, all-consumin’, until the boy grows tae become the very thin’ he despised as a child.”
“Then… that is why Alex acts the way he does?” Isla asked.
“‘Tis a too-simple version of events, but aye, that’d be the truth of it more or less. He feels the crushin’ weight of what will be expected of him when old Douglas perishes, and so he demands perfection in all thin’s… from others, but from himself as well. Or so he’d claim, at any rate,” she smirked, “though personally, I’d never attach the word ‘perfect’ tae him.”
“What of those around him? Are they able tae temper his nature at all?”
“Not overmuch,” Lorna replied. “Oh, they do what they can, there’s no doubt of that. His cousin Kirk is wise beyond his years, and at times he can instruct Alex in ways that change the laird’s mind or mood without lettin’ him lose face. He’s charmin’ in that regard. There’s Bryan Black as well, the captain of the guard. His counsel is respected by Alex, and he’s often able to point him in the right direction where good leadership is concerned. Still, more often than not, Alex’s nature prevails and he does as he pleases.”
Isla’s face fell. “Then I cannae rely on anyone tae make Alex see reason when needed.”
Lorna gave her an impish smile. “Truth be told, lass, I do believe most of the people here—myself included—are hopin’ ye might be able tae do so.”
“Me?!” She frowned, confused. “But… all of ye are far better acquainted with him than I!”
“That’s just it,” Lorna explained. “He’s long since gotten used to our pushin’ and proddin’, tae the point where he can ignore it rather easily. But a new bride? One who’s important for him tae retain, so that the union between the two clans may occur and he may sire an heir? There are many among us who feel that yer presence here might be a positive boon.”
Isla wished that these words could comfort her, but in fact, they only made her heart feel all the heavier. She’d been looking to others, that they might help her understand the laird and how she might live with him without being in a constant state of anguish and uncertainty… only to learn that they expected her to shoulder that burden for them?
The thought of it made her want to cry.
Lorna must have seen this, for she reached out and put her hand over Isla’s. “No one expects such a thing tae happen overnight, Lady Isla,” she assured her. “For now, simply familiarize yerself with this place and his moods as best ye can, and the rest will work itself out, I’m sure of it. And if ye become frustrated with his pig-headedness, never hesitate tae come and talk tae me about it. I’ll always be happy tae listen… and tae agree, since I’ve been dealing with his ill humors for nearly my entire life. He can be a lot to handle, but he is nae a bad man”
That brought a bit of comfort to Isla. Now she knew that even if she was mired in this terrible situation, at least she had someone who was willing to hear her out and assure her that all was not as bad as it seemed.
“Now, I’ll take this down,” Lorna continued, lifting the plate and carrying it to the door, “and I’ll ask Moira tae look in on ye later, in case ye need anythin’ more.”
“Thank ye,” Isla said. “I’m most grateful tae ye.”
Lorna nodded, then left, gently closing the door behind her and leaving Isla in thought.
9
Afew hours later, Moira knocked on the door just as Lorna said she would: “My lady? Is there anythin’ I might do for ye, or fetch for ye?”
Isla opened the door, ushering her in. In the time since Lorna had left the room, Isla had been considering her options and had decided that as long as she was stuck at Castle Oliphant, she might as well do all she could to enjoy herself rather than fretting about the future—for the moment, at least.
“As a matter of fact, there is, aye,” Isla informed her. “Ye might decide upon some amusin’ diversion for us to pass the afternoon.”
Moira blinked, surprised. “A… diversion, my lady?”
Isla nodded. “I’ve had quite enough of sulking in this drafty old room. What shall we do for fun? How do ye generally entertain yourself when you aren’t fetchin’ and cleanin’ and carryin’?”
The servant girl thought it over for a few moments, then blushed. “Well, er… that is, sometimes, mind ye… when there’s nothin’ for me tae do, and no one around tae notice…”
“Aye?” Isla pressed, giggling. “Come, now, out with it!”
“‘Tis around this time of day that the soldiers train together,” she went on, “and…”
“And there’s one in particular ye enjoy watchin’, is that it?”
Moira nodded. “His name is Lachlan, and he’s ever so handsome, my lady!”
