Page 60 of Tempting the Highland Captive

“See that ye dinnae,” Ron growled, then released the man with a shove to the chest. He did not actually intend to hurt the man, but he did want him scared of what he might do to him. Straightening his own attire, he left the house and joined Father Jacob at the well where he was sitting waiting for him.

“Did ye discover anything?” the priest asked him as they fell in step together back toward the castle.

Ron shook his head. “The man claims tae nae ken anything about it.”

Father Jacob nodded his head.

“Do ye believe him?”

“I have known Robert for many years. He is nae a kind man, but he is an honest one.”

Ron sighed but accepted the priest’s evaluation. “I must speak with Amelia, then we can bury Ysenda.”

“I will be ready.” The priest turned toward his kirk and Ron continued on toward the castle.

When he walked into the chapel, he found that Ysenda had been placed in a coffin and the lid had already been nailed down. “I took the liberty o’ havin’ my apprentice bring the coffin we had made for another woman of similar size who died in childbirth. We will make another for the mother and her bairn,” Angus explained as he and Amelia came to stand behind him.

Ron nodded. “That is good.”

“Ysenda’s family?” Amelia asked, coming to place her hand on his arm.

“They dinnae wish tae claim her.”

Amelia’s eyes filled with tears, but she did not let them fall. “E’en in death they could nae forgive her?”

“Apparently, they could nae.” He took Amelia into his arms and held her close.

Angus stepped out of the chapel into the great hall and shut the door to give them a moment of privacy.

“Did ye discover anything?” Amelia asked, turning her face up to his.

Ron shook his head. “They believe the bairn tae have died upon birth. They did nae claim tae ken anything further on the matter.”

“Let us hope that the midwife kens the truth o’ the matter.”

“The family has requested that nae one be told the true cause o’ Ysenda’s death. They dinnae wish tae bear the shame o’ it.”

“And what o’ our nae lyin’ tae the clan?”

“I made nae promises tae her family. I warned them that we might need tae reveal the truth o’ her death for the protection o’ the clan.”

“Time will reveal what we should do, for now let us tend tae Ysenda.”

“Angus,” Ron called through the door and the blacksmith entered, “we are ready.”

Angus nodded and called to the men he had waiting in the great hall to carry Ysenda’s body to the kirkyard. Unlike when Stuart was buried, the small group were not joined by the village. Some curious children stared at them for a moment, but then went back to whatever they had been doing before. The early morning hours had been in their favor for discretion, but word would eventually spread that Ysenda was gone, and questions would be asked. Ron hoped by then that they would have answers to give them. Their small group lowered Ysenda’s body into the ground and Father Jacob performed the necessary words. Ron held Amelia close, her body shaking with shock of everything that transpired.

“I will nae allow anyone tae harm ye,” he swore for her ears alone.

Amelia leaned into him. “And I ye,” she murmured.

Ron kissed the top of her head and they both turned back toward the castle.

* * *

They broke the fast together, then Amelia summoned the midwife. They met in the quiet of the chapel so that no one would overhear their conversation. The midwife stood studying Amelia with an assessing eye as if she knew something that Amelia did not. Amelia wondered if she already knew what they wished to speak with her about. Could she be a part o’ this? Shaking her head, she motioned for the midwife to sit down.

“We thank ye for coming, Agnes.”