Page 41 of Flanders’ Folly (The Curse of Clan Ross #7)

41

A SHRINE TO TRUE LOVE

* * *

T hat evening, Brigid insisted on joining everyone for dinner, despite the doctor's reservations. She didn’t want any more injections of that drug that took away her wits, and besides, the pain was decreasing all the time. The man admitted that she was through the worst and finally let her have her way.

A chair with large wheels on the sides made it even easier to escape her room, and she wasn’t so sure she would let anyone take her back again.

The nurse insisted on delivering her to the dining room, then positioned her in an empty corner to avoid the risk of anyone bumping into her raised legs. Word had spread, apparently, that she had escaped because Bella and Flanders rushed into the room soon after her wheels were locked in place.

“I’ll feed her,” Bella shouted, before Flanders could. But he wasn’t paying her any attention.

His eyes found Brigid and he fell to his knees. “Ye’re well, then?”

“I’m improving all the time.”

He blinked tears from his eyes and just looked at her for a long minute. When others started through the door, he climbed back to his feet.

James laughed at him. “Pull it together, man. No one dies from minor burns in this century.”

Bella insisted the nurse leave her sister in her hands and come back in an hour. The woman only left after Brigid insisted, but she paused at the door to scowl at Flanders. “Keep yer germs to yerself, all of ye.”

No one else got a dirty look.

James suggested Bella go with him to the kitchen to find some things that might tempt the patient. And one by one, everyone else found a reason to leave the room, since dinner had yet to be served, leaving Flanders alone with her.

He glanced at the empty doorway, then rushed to her side. She knew they didn’t have much time, so she lifted her chin and closed her eyes, in case he had any doubts about what she wanted.

The press of his lips was the finest of balms, and the ache in her legs was forgotten. He kissed her again and again, choosing action over words, stopping only a time or two to look deep into her eyes and whisper her name.

James, the clever devil, laughed loud and clear on his way back to the room, so Flanders had time to kiss her hand and give her a wink before taking a step back.

Bella nudged him aside with a full tray that she laid across the sturdy arms of the wheeled chair. Brigid looked at the round chargers covered in odd foods and laughed. “Am I this hungry?”

“Yes,” Bella said, at the same time Flanders said the same, and everyone laughed.

Others filed into the room and found seats at the beautifully polished table. James introduced her to his wife, Phoebe and his son, Wee Flanders. Although, no matter what his age, he looked as if he would be anything but wee in a few years’ time. They procured a strangely small chair on tall legs and locked the laddie in place by adding a small white tray that attached.

So clever.

Wickham took the place of honor at the far end of the table. James and Phoebe sat on his left with Wee Flanders between. And Flanders sat opposite with Bella closest to Brigid in case she needed help.

The older sisters who had delivered meals to the sickroom pushed two rolling tables through the doorway. Both were covered with plated meals. Wickham introduced them as his sisters, but they chose not to join the party so no one would be required to interpret for them. They were kind and cheerful and the streaks of red in their hair made Brigid wonder if she and Bella would look the same when they grew old.

They were called Lorraine and Loretta, and they bustled in and out, serving dishes that smelled heavenly, even if they looked strange.

The conversation flowed in a mixture of Norman French and Gaelic, with occasional English phrases that she, Flanders, and Bella practiced. Phoebe was fluent in the modern French and Gaelic and didn’t have much trouble understanding everyone else.

At one point, James leaned forward with a mischievous grin for Flanders and said, “Ye left all husbands lackin’ when ye leapt into that fire, ye great madman."

Brigid gasped. “He what?”

“After Laird Rat was dead, yer man here ran into the flames. Of course, he was hopin’ Wickham would be there to collect him,” his grin widened, “but ye didnae ken for sure, did ye?”

Flanders held up his hands and shook his head. “Now, tell it right. Don’t leave out the small detail that I looked to ye first, and ye gave me a nod. Ye knew what I meant, and ye encouraged me.”

“Encouraged ye?” James scoffed. “I thought ye were askin’ if ye should go after Atholl, ye great bampot! How could I know Wickham would come back?”

Brigid suddenly felt light-headed and blinked rapidly to steady herself.

“Ah, lass,” James said, as Bella rushed to her side. “I but tease. I did give the nod. I did believe Wickham would come.” Then he lowered his voice. “Though, had I not, I fear my friend wouldn’t have changed tack.He wanted nothing more than to be with ye again.”

When Bella was satisfied, after Brigid had remembered to breathe again, she returned to her seat and slyly elbowed Flanders as punishment for causing a scare. But he ignored her.

“So, tell me. What happened after I left?" Flanders asked.

“Chaos, plain and simple.”

Brigid exchanged a look with Bella, then Flanders. They both knew the vision. Now they knew it had been completely fulfilled.

James continued. “Moray was furious—or pretended to be. He let the fire burn, though, didn’t he? Had to give Wickham time. Of course, when we found the remains the next mornin’—”

"Remains?" Brigid blurted.

"Two skeletons," James said, “embracin’ in the ashes."

Flanders frowned. "But who?”

"Wickham's doin’," James said with a nod to their host. "A bit of theater for the benefit of the witnesses. We buried them together, in a fine coffin. Verra romantic, like Malcolm III and Margaret. I have no doubt yer graves will become a shrine to true love. On the hillside, feet away from the pyre. Each time anyone looks up the north hill, they'll remember the witch and the laird who loved her." He winked at Brigid. "No doubt Robert will laugh over it often."

"And Atholl?" Flanders asked. "What became of him?"

"He came out of hidin’ the next mornin’. Moray had some stern words for him, but he could only punish him so much. After all, the Stewarts are important. Uh, were important.”

"But here, now, ye can tell me if the Bruce Dynasty still reigns.”

Wickham shook his head. "Not for long. But we must slowly work up to those details. History is a disgusting drink. Best ye take it in sips." He cleared his throat. "I should confess something, however." He glanced between Brigid and Flanders. "We told ye both to keep the plan secret from each other. Not because we expected ye to obey, but because we knew ye'd put more effort into the pretense. I believe it worked well enough, but I do apologize for the deception."

"Ye tricked us." Brigid shuddered. She probably shouldn’t have taken the man’s word for anything just because he was a fellow witch. But then again, if she’d doubted him, she would have tried harder to escape on her own, and she wouldn’t have seen Bella again.

"For yer own good," Wickham said, unrepentant. "No one will be searchin’ for either of ye, and every witness believed yer anguish was real."

"It was real," Flanders muttered.

James turned to Wickham. "Speaking of manipulation, where did those skeletons come from? They looked authentic enough to fool the gawkers."

"They were authentic, from a more recent century.”

James nodded. “As I thought. One of them wore a ring that couldn't possibly have existed in the fourteenth century. Naturally I worried, albeit briefly, that ye hadn't saved them after all. And if something had happened to ye, I would never get home again to my family. But the ring eased my mind."

“This was why it was important that ye and Robert be the ones to bury them.”

After the past was settled, they enjoyed a sweet dessert before James introduced the next subject.

"What about this house?” He gestured at the walls. "Ye said it's not occupied at the moment?"

"It's a long story," Wickham said. "But I have more business to finish as Grandfather of Clan Muir, so I cannot stay long. Don't worry, I won't leave ye three defenseless. Ye couldn’t ask for better guides in this new world than these two. And my sisters, when they’re available."

Bella took note. "Ye dinnae intend to be Grandfather all yer life?"

"I am working on a plan to pass on that duty."

"What will ye do then?”

"It's not as if I will give up my powers," Wickham said, but he clearly didn’t wish to elaborate.

James’ wife leaned to the side with a sly smile. "Ye should open a school—Wickham’s School for Time Travelers. Each time one of yer sisters causes trouble, ye can fix it."

The man choked on a laugh, then recovered and took a drink. "Fixin’ problems caused by other Muirs is our life's work," he said. "And has been for generations, Grandfather duties notwithstandin’."

"But don't ye think there are others out there?" Phoebe pressed. "Not just witches, but other time travelers? If ye can do it, and James has done it, others can use tomb?—"

James cut her off by placing a hand on her arm, then addressed the rest. “We already know of another mechanism for traveling from one century to another. It's in the caverns beneath a particular castle near the Black Isle. I used it a number of times with our fifteenth century friends. Who knows who might emerge from there...if they unblock the tunnels..."

"Let's not invite trouble," Wickham said quickly.

"Invite?" Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "What if someone is stuck in there, looking for a way out?"

"We would know it," Wickham said confidently. "My sisters would surely know it."

Brigid was less interested in the conversation than in the Viking seated by her sister. And her mind finally felt clear enough to reach out to him.

I wish we could be alone .

As do I.

But my sister will make it difficult.

She worries for ye. She’s kinder than she wants me to know.

She worries I'll choose ye over her.

And will ye?

Surely, I can have both.

Of course. Flanders smiled.

Bella was watching her. It’s charming that ye think ye’re the only two who can hear ye.

And just like that, their precious link was as good as gone. Brigid had thought convincing Bella her love was true would be a simple thing. But now, she worried. And worse, she didn’t know how much time she had left to accomplish it.

Bella was a clever woman. If she wanted to destroy her bond with Flanders, she would find a way to do it.