Page 35 of Savage Kilted Highlander

“’’Tis a shame we cannae read a man’s mind, eh? In me own experience, I’ve found life is rarely as simple as it seems and understandin’ folks’ actions even less so.”

“That is true, as I now know.” She smiled at him, finding his words of reassurance comforting. An unusual warmth blossomed inside her as she realized that by talking like this, they were building a bridge that spanned their vastly different experiences. By finding common ground, they were drawing closer together, and she found she liked it far more than she knew she ought to.

Later that night, while Bane leaned back against the tree stump and sharpened his blades by the fire, he heard Constance humming a lilting melody. At first, he was struck by the sweetness of her voice, and then he realized he recognized the tune.

“I ken that tune very well. I remember hearin’ at as a bairn,” he broke in. She stopped humming at once, her blushing cheeks making her embarrassment at being caught in such an unguarded moment obvious.

“It is a tune my mother used to sing to me,” she said finally, adding with an air of sadness, “I do not know where it is from though.”

“I dae. ’Tis an old Scottish air.”

She looked at him keenly. “Is it? That is quite surprising. Perhaps Mama learned it from my father. Do you think you remember it from when your mother sang it to you as a child?”

He shrugged, casting his mind back but finding no answer to her question. “It would be nice tae think so, but in truth, I can remember hardly anythin’ of me parents, let alone what lullabies me maither sang tae me in the cradle.”

“That is a great shame. I know my younger sister Amelia regrets not remembering our mother,” she replied sympathetically.

“I sometimes wish I could, but I had Tav tae look after me.”

Constance gave him an encouraging smile and said, “I should like to hear more of this famous brother of yours.”

Bane could not help smiling back as he thought of Tav and all he had done for him. “I was but five years old when our parents died, and Tav was ten. We were kicked out ontae the street tae fend for ourselves, just two lads with naught but the clothes on their backs and me faither’s knife. We lived on the streets, beggin’ and stealin’ tae survive. Somehow, even though he was so young, Tav was clever. He used his wits tae keep me safe. He taught me how tae survive against the odds. He always made sure I had something warm in me belly and somewhere safe tae sleep at nights, whatever it took.”

“He sounds like a fascinating man,” Constance put in, seemingly rapt by his tale.

“Aye he has all the brains in the family, he’s a man of many talents. Of course, with the life we were livin’, there was often a good reason tae keep movin’. Eventually, when Tav was about twelve or thirteen we had a stroke of luck that changed our lives forever.”

“Oh? What happened?” Constance asked curiously, paying close attention.

“We came tae a village in the lands of Laird Stewart, up in the Highlands. Tav got caught stealin’ food from the house where the blacksmith’s family lived. I was scared, I thought he was gonnae be beaten and I’d be left all alone. But the blacksmith turned out tae be a kind man. He and his wife could have nae children so there was nay son tae leave the forge tae. He gave Tav a job, and over the years, he taught him all he kent about smithin’. And where Tav was, so was I, so pretty soon I was followin’ in his footsteps. When the old couple died, they left us the forge.”

“What generous people they must have been,” Constance observed. “But wise as well.” He saw her eyes flicker over his well-toned muscles on his shoulders and arms before she added, “I can see that you must have worked very hard.”

“When ye grow up fightin’ fer all ye have, ye learn the value of workin’ hard. Anyway, ye can understand why Tav is everythin’ tae me, and this year without him has been very hard.” Tae tell the truth, I’ve been lost.”

“But why did you not try to find him sooner?”

“Because of our sister. She still needed me. I couldnae leave her.”

“Oh! You have a sister?” she asked, her face a picture of surprise.

“Aye, Fia. She’s nae our sister by blood, mind ye. Tav found her wanderin’ the streets half-starved when she was about fourteen. He felt sorry for her and brought her home tae live with us. We’ve been together ever since. Well, up until Tav went missin’ and Fia got married.”

“She got married?”

“Aye, tae our own laird, Knox Stewart himself nay less.” Bane could not help the flash of pride her felt at his sister’s great accomplishment.” He looked at her. “That is a great love story as well, like yer maither and Laird Kerr perhaps.”

“How wonderful!” Constance exclaimed, seemingly delighted. “I should like to meet your sister.”

Bane did not say it, but he thought it highly unlikely since they would be parting forever in a few days’ time. “Aye, she and Knox got married about a month ago. After that, I was free tae pack up and come and find him at last.”

“So, what will you do when Tav is finally free?”

“Return tae our forge and build the business up again, I suppose. It was too much fer me tae run alone. But it depends a lot on him.”

He was deeply touched by her kindness when she said with the utmost sincerity, “I really admire you for being so single-minded, Bane, and loving your brother enough to go to such lengths to free him. Although, of course, I cannot wholeheartedly approve of your methods.” The twinkle in her eyes told him she was joking. “As you know, I have never met my father, but I assure you, if I have any power over his decision, I shall do my very best to make sure you and Tav are reunited. You deserve to be back together after all you have been through. And I am sure Fia feels the same.”

Bane felt an unusual rush of heat to his face. He was unused to the tenderness she was offering him. “Thank ye, Constance. I appreciate yer kind words.”

“I know what a special bond there can be between siblings. Even though Henry and Amelia are technically my half-siblings, I do not love them or miss them any the less. My only regret at leaving Ashbourne Manor was having to say goodbye to them and not knowing when we will meet again. Sadly, I cannot see it happening while their father is alive. He would never allow us that happiness.”

Bane listened attentively while she talked some more about her upbringing, and it sounded to Bane as if she was better off out of Ashbourne’s hands. Whatever sort of man Kerr really was, Bane thought he could hardly be worse than the cruel, manipulative Englishman with his fine manners and court connections. It made his heart break to think what she had suffered at his hands.

“I admire yer strength fer leavin’ that place,” he told her. “It must have been very difficult, leavin’ all those comforts behind when ye knew so little of the outside world.”

“I cannot say that I was not afraid. But though it sounds strange to say it, once I was far enough away from him, I felt happier. Even though my future with my father was by no means assured. But I kept the thought of seeing Agnes in my heart to drive me on.”

“So, ye see, I am right. Ye have a brave spirit, Constance, and ye should be proud of yersel’.”

“Proud of having let myself be kidnapped? Oh yes, I suppose I should,” she said, laughing, a sweet melodic sound that sent a shiver down his spine.

They talked a little more, for which Bane was grateful because it made him forget the pain for a little while. As darkness fell in earnest, they laid down to sleep. As he lay beneath his blanket, conscious of Constance’s nearness, he felt his defences dropping. They had learned more about each other, and it worried him. There was no denying that a connection had formed between them. He felt it intensely but with sorrow, knowing it could come to nothing and that they would soon have to part.