Page 4 of Heart of the Highlands: The Rose (Protectors of the Crown #6)
As dawn broke over the rugged Scottish Highlands, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy mist, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The fall air was fresh and invigorating, tinged with the earthy scent of dew-kissed grass. The horse-drawn carriage, its wheels creaking softly on the cobblestone path, embarked on its journey northward. Wisps of fog curled gracefully from the fields, weaving like ethereal veils around the ancient stone walls and timeworn trees.
Abby sat beside her sister inside the old wooden carriage as the sound of the horse's hooves clopping against the stone road filled the otherwise quiet morning.
Perched on the plush, cushioned carriage bench, Abby cocooned herself in a thick, soft blanket. Its warmth provided a fleeting shield against the biting chill that seeped in from the outside. She was never one to like the cold.
Rage simmered just beneath her surface, directed towards her sister. She allowed the tension to linger in her stubborn silence, transforming their journey into a prolonged and heavy solitude.
Just like the monks , Abby mused, proud of her commitment.
As the carriage meandered through the breathtaking Scottish countryside, its wheels creaking over the well-worn path, Abby's eyes wandered out the window, drinking in the rolling hills adorned with patches of vibrant heather and the quaint stone cottages nestled within small villages that dotted the landscape. Each picturesque scene outside seemed to blend into the next, offering her a momentary escape from her thoughts as the beauty of the terrain captivated her weary mind.
“Abby, ye cannae ignore me all day,” Alys said, trying to break the silence between them.
“I sure can,” Abby protested.
“Well, then, I guess I dinna have to tell ye the news I have received this morning from Inverness?”
Abby turned to face her. She hated intrigue.
“What news?”
A mischievous smile spread across Alys’s face as she leaned into a whisper.
“I heard that the Duke of Inverness is hosting a grand ball at Inveraray Castle early next week, and the chieftains of each clan will be in attendance to host a few of our French allies. It is to be a masquerade ball.”
“A masquerade?”
“Aye, and I dinna tell ye the best part. Our cousin Bella and her father will be attending.”
“Bella will be there?”
Abby's eyes widened with surprise and sheer joy as the news reached her ears. It had been years since she last saw her cousin Bella, a figure she had always looked up to with admiration and fondness. The thought of reconnecting filled her with an exhilarating sense of hope. Perhaps this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Bella had always hoped Abby would come for a visit at their chateau in France. If her sister allowed it, she could stay for the holiday and return after the new year. That would at least allow her some freedom and see more of the world than just the boundaries of her front yard.
She knew, however, that Alys would never allow it, but perhaps if she were to convince Leland of such a thing, he could be her voice of reason. Her relationship with her brother-in-law was as close as a father and child. She knew he’d understand.
The carriage slowed to a studded halt. Abby glanced out the window and was greeted by lush green fields and a sandy coastline. Unlike Wick, where Sinclair Hall stood high on a rocky cliff, Mey was a coastal seaport where the ocean lay a blanket of sand between the water and the land. The sea was calm and serene, a tranquil blue expanse that seemed to stretch out to infinity.
Abby removed the blanket from her lap and opened the carriage door.
“What do ye think? I think this would be a perfect place to build a second home for us,” Alys asked.
“It’s wonderful,” Abby replied, unable to rid her smile.
She meandered her way down to the shore. The sun beat down on the sand, casting the beach in a warm, golden glow, and the gentle sea breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. The beach was long and wide, stretching for miles in both directions. The sand was a pale golden color, shimmering in the sun, and littered with seashells of every shape and size. She gazed out at the endless expanse of water, the waves lapping gently at her toes.
In the not-far distance, smoke rose from a small wooden house with a thatched roof made up of bundles of reeds and straw. She observed her sister heading in that direction. Abby walked back to join her.
“I do apologize, my lady that my laird could no’ join us. He had other pressing matters to attend to. I am Trey, the Laird’s cousin,” the landowner explained to Alys.
“That is too bad. I looked forward to meeting the new laird. It is a pleasure. Please accept my utmost condolences on the death of yer previous laird.”
“That is kind of ye to say.”
“Forgive my manners. This young lady is my sister, Abby.”
He turned and bowed his head.
“My lady,” he greeted.
Abby gave a curtsy, customary for anyone above her station.
“One could hardly imagine this one-room hovel would be sufficient to use as a laird’s summer cottage,” Alys speculated.
“The auld Laird Rose was a simple mon, my lady.”
“I understand,” Alys replied.
“Well, if ye wish to come inside, I have drawn up the paperwork if you still wish to purchase the land.”
“May I ask, is there a reason the new laird wishes to sell in such haste? A property as beautiful such as this I would imagine must be hard to see go,” Alys questioned.
“Like all lairds, my lady, Laird McKiernan is making sacrifices for the good of his people. Now that he is to be married soon, he will no’ need a bachelor’s residence,” Trey explained.
“Alys,” Abby interrupted. “Would it be all right if I took another stroll down to the beach while I wait?”
“Aye, of course. This should no’ take long.”
It wasn't long before Abby returned to the water. There was no need for her to listen to business transactions between Alys and the landowner, and it gave her an excuse to find some unique shells to brighten her room. It was beginning to look and feel drab and depressing, like a dark basement…or a prison. As a keepsake for each new place she’d traveled, she used to collect rocks, some with crystals embedded inside, a few red volcanic rocks, and others with unique colors and shapes.Shells would make a great addition to her collection.
“Abby.”
Alys’s voice carried on the wind. Abby looked over her shoulder to see Alys standing near the carriage, waving her hand and motioning for her to come.
“Coming,” Abby replied, falling into step beside her sister as they returned to the carriage.
As they approached the familiar surroundings of Sinclair Hall, Abby's gaze caught sight of Leland’s horse, a majestic figure grazing contentedly in the sun-drenched pasture near the barn. A warm smile blossomed on her face, radiating the joy that bubbled within her. She had longed for this moment, anxious for the wellbeing of her old friend, and relief washed over her like a gentle breeze as she confirmed he had returned safely. When the carriage finally came to a smooth halt, Abby wasted not a second; she leaped from the carriage with an eager heart, her eyes shining as she spotted Leland stepping out from the shadows of the barn.
“Leland!” she called out with excitement. “Yer home.” Abby wrapped her tiny arms around his large midsection. “How is Keira? How is my wee nephew, Erik? You must tell me everything.”
“Everyone is doing well. They are all excited to join us for the holidays.”
“If only that were no’ three months away. I miss them all so verra much. Did you hear the news? Bella and her father are coming to visit us.”
“I have. And I am certain she is just as anxious to see ye as well.”
“I was wondering if I could speak wit’ ye about that?"
“What is it ye wanted to discuss?”
“It’s about Alys,” Abby began, her voice tinged with apprehension as she shifted her weight nervously from one foot to the other. Leland always treated her kindly, but she didn’t want to overstep her boundaries or impose on their close-knit relationship. “I was hoping you’d be willing to speak wit’ her on my behalf. I want to return to France with Bella for the holiday season, just until after the new year. Alys would never agree to this on her own. Could you talk to her for me?”
Leland paused, his brow furrowing in concentration as he stroked his chin thoughtfully, the light of the fading sun dancing in his eyes. “I’ll see what I can do,” he replied slowly, the weight of her request evident in his tone. “But I cannae make any promises. Ye know how yer sister can be when it comes to making decisions.”
Abby felt a flicker of hope igniting within her chest, a smile blossoming on her lips as gratitude washed over her. She was aware that the path ahead would be challenging, filled with potential obstacles, yet with Leland’s support, she believed there was a chance to sway Alys’s heart and persuade her to allow the visit she longed for.