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CHAPTER NINETEEN

“What does he say in his letter?” she asked, desperate to know because so much of her fate depended on Everard and Maxwell’s attitude towards her.

Haldor gave her the letter. “Ye can read it fer yersel’,” he told her. He and Arne sat down nearby, waiting patiently for her to read the whole letter.

As she took in Everard’s words, the leaden weight in her stomach dissolved, but she was so overcome with emotion, she could not hold back the tears of joy and relief that fell from her eyes. She drank down the whisky and put the goblet aside, her hands shaking as she finished reading and lowered the letter to her lap.

She looked up at them both, dashing away the tears as best she could. “I want tae go and see them,” she said, the desire coming fully formed to her mind. “I ken it is a risk, fer that is an obvious place fer Struan tae come lookin’ fer me againbut I must see me braithers.”

“Aye, of course,” Haldor agreed, nodding.

“It would be too dangerous fer ye tae travel alone, with MacDonald and his men still lookin’ fer ye,” Arne said.

She appealed to them both. “Could ye spare some men tae guard me on the journey?” she asked, knowing Arne was right. Her father might be dead, but her husband was not.

“Aye, ye’re still under me protection, so I’ll be happy tae arrange it fer ye,” Haldor assured her.

“Nay, I’ll go with her,” Arne suddenly said. “I dinnae trust anyone else tae keep her safe from MacDonald.”

Raven turned her head to stare at him in amazement, hardly able to believe her ears. She wondered why he would make such an offer when he had made it quite clear he despised her. To her added surprise, Haldor agreed with alacrity.

“Aye, all right then. It may be better if there’s just the two of ye. It’ll make it easier tae evade MacDonald and his men,” he said. “’Tis at a least a full day’s journey from here back tae yer braither’s lands. When would ye like tae leave?”

Raven’s tears had dried, and a new sense of optimism was starting to infiltrate her being despite the continuing threat hanging above her head. “It’ll be hard tae be separated from Thorsten so soon after bein’ reunited with him, but I must go and see me braithers. I’d like tae have a few more days with him if ye dinnae object,” she said finally.

“I’ve nae objection, but he’s nae me son,” Haldor said, looking pointedly at Arne.

“Of course. We can leave whenever ye feel ready,” he told her, surprising her with his almost kindly attitude. It was certainly very different to the way he had acted earlier.Likely he’s just pleased at the prospect of me leavin’ here soon, she thought a little cynically. Nevertheless, she wanted to thank him.

Putting the embarrassment of the kiss aside, she turned to him and smiled. Their eyes met, and he smiled back. It was so unexpected and seemed so genuine, her heart turned over in her chest. “Thank ye, Arne, fer savin’ me life, but most of all fer lettin’ me see Thorsten and spend time with him. I’m very grateful.”

“Ye’re welcome. Ye’re his maither after all,” he said simply.

“Even so, I ken it’s nae been easy fer ye.”

He made no response to that but replied, “Thank ye, Raven, fer finally tellin’ me the real truth about yer past and everythin’.” He stood up suddenly. “’Tis Thorsten’s bedtime. We should go and say goodnight.”

“Och, I’d love tae,” Raven said, delighted. She too stood, and after she had thanked Haldor, they left the study together.

“Are ye glad yer faither’s gone?” Arne asked her as they headed to the vestibule.

She gave a small laugh. “I’ve wished him dead many times in the past, so I’ll nae lie and say I’m sad about it. He was always cold and cruel tae me, even as a wee lassie.”

“Why was that?” Arne asked as they reached the vestibule and started up the staircase.

“I’m nae sure, but I think because me maither died givin’ birth tae me. I was lucky tae have Everard and Maxwell. We were always close, and they showed me a lot of love. They used tae try tae stick up fer me. But when I was still quite young, Faither decided tae send Maxwell away tae train as a warrior, so he was gone an awful lot while I was growin’ up.

“Of course, he came home now and then. Everard often went tae visit him—they were very close and so alike in looks that many folks assume they’re twins—so I was often left alone with Faither. When they found out he was plannin’ tae wed me tae Struan, Everard had a terrible fight with Faither. He still bears the scars on his back from where Faither had him flogged fer goin’ against him.” She shivered, recalling the nightmare.

“Christ Almighty! Yer faither was a bastard right enough,” Arne exclaimed with disgust as they came up to Thorsten’s door and stopped.

“Aye, he was, and devious too. He waited until Everard was away visitin’ Maxwell tae marry me tae Struan, so they couldnae dae anythin’ tae stop it. By the time Everard got home, I was gone tae Barra as Struan’s wife.”