Page 8 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER EIGHT

T he evening had been a disaster. In fact, Evelyn felt relief when Edward abruptly excused himself and stormed out of the great hall. A great hush was left in his wake. Clearly feeling the tension, Michael stood and garnered everyone’s attention.

“It has been a long few days for our new laird. We must remember that without his presence, our clan would whittle away tae nothing. Things are going tae feel somewhat awkward fer some time,” Michael continued, “but I implore ye all tae try and make the laird feel welcome.” The older man then turned to the musicians. “And now, some music tae lift our spirits.

Immediately, the music had started, and, once Michael had seated himself again, a low hum of conversation grew in volume as the minutes ticked by. Soon enough, there was loud chatter and laughter across the great hall. It almost sounded normal. As though everyone in attendance wasn’t feeling a sense of trepidation as to what their future held.

Not long after that, Evelyn caught Michael’s attention. Joining her at the elevated table while everyone else was distracted, he looked at her inquiringly.

“I am going tae retire now, Michael. I dinnae want a big fuss made. I am tired, and would like tae slip out quietly.”

The old man smiled knowingly. “Then might I suggest using the side door.” He nodded across the room to the door in question. “It will be less noticeable for everyone.”

“Thank ye,” Evelyn replied.

She tried to smile, but discovered she could not bring herself to do it. In truth, she felt there was nothing to really smile about. Michael returned to his seat, and, moments later, Evelyn and Caitlin made a swift exit. No doubt, a few noticed, but it was not so much of a dramatic exit as her husband had made earlier.

Caitlin performed her duties, gathering Evelyn’s night clothes, readying Evelyn for bed, and untying her hair and brushing it. When all was done, the young maid hesitated at the bedchamber door.

“Are ye all right, me lady?” Her tone was laced with concern.

Evelyn paused for a long second. The truth was, she didn’t really know how to express what she felt. One emotion ran into the other. If anything, she felt utterly confused.

“I’ll be fine, Caitlin,” she concluded eventually. “Thank ye. Good night.”

“Good night, me lady.”

Soon after that, Evelyn slipped beneath the coverlets. Pulling them up over her shoulders, she nestled her head into the soft, down-filled pillow. Her mind still raced, but she was so exhausted, her eye-lids closed, and the natural need for sleep took over far quicker than she imagined it would.

Evelyn’s eyes flickered open. When she managed to focus fully, she took a deep breath in at the sight of Edward beside her. Perched up on one elbow, he gazed down at her, though she struggled to read his expression.

Automatically, Evelyn shifted herself back, creating a larger gap between them.

“What are ye daeing?” she demanded, her voice thick with sleep.

“This is our bed,” he said calmly. “I intend tae go tae sleep.”

Her eyes flew wide at his reply. Surely, she had made herself perfectly clear earlier on.

“Ye cannae possibly be serious?” she gawked, now pushing herself to a sitting position in both astonishment and frustration.

“Would ye have yer laird sleep in the stables with his horse?” he countered sarcastically. “Am I nae afforded the same rest as ye, given what we have both faced these last few days?”

Evelyn discovered that she had no reply to those questions. His points were valid, and thus, feeling a little flummoxed as to how to respond, she remained silent. Edward looked at her for several more seconds. When he realized she was not going to answer him, he turned away from her, lay his head on the pillow, and settled himself into a comfortable position.

It felt like only a few minutes passed before his breathing shallowed. Clearly, he had been exhausted and appeared to have fallen asleep almost immediately. Which was well for him. Evelyn was now left wide awake and fuming.

How the devil am I tae be rid o’ him?

She remained in that state of mind for quite some time, and yet, no matter how long she thought about it, she could not come to any conclusion. Eventually, she settled herself back on her own pillow. It took her far longer to let sleep overtake her.

Evelyn was woken the next morning by something gently shaking her shoulder. When she finally managed to open her eyes, still tired after her sleep had been disturbed the previous night, she saw Edward standing over her at the side of the bed.

“Caitlin is here tae get ye ready,” he said.

Edward was fully dressed and looked as though he were going somewhere.

“Where are ye going?” she asked, pushing herself up in the bed and rubbing the remaining sleep from her eyes.

Holding her gaze, he said, “Ye are coming too, Evelyn.”

“Coming where?”

“I need tae survey the lands. Besides, it will be good tae meet the people. Nay doubt, rumor has spread o’ our wedding. It will be good fer us tae be seen by them as their new laird and lady.”

Admittedly, she couldn’t argue with his suggestion. That being said, she was only half awake. But even in that state, she knew he was right. Whether she liked her circumstances or not, their presence would help the clan accept the huge change in their governance.

“Very well.”

Edward nodded. He opened his mouth to speak again just as Caitlin entered. At her arrival, he paused, closed his mouth, and then, taking long strides across the room, left the bedchamber.

“Good morning, me lady. Did ye sleep well?” Caitlin asked, while at the same time, pulling the drapes wide open to let in the bright light of a new day.

“Hmmm,” Evelyn replied absently.

She could tell her maid that her sleep had been wracked with disturbance. That she had woken several times with whirling thoughts running through her mind. That she had hated having to lie beside a stranger. But at that moment, she was too busy considering Edward’s proposal.

Though she had not shown it in her expression, she was secretly pleased that Edward was taking an interest in her people.

They are his people too, now.

Yes. She supposed they were.

An hour later, Evelyn found Edward standing outside the stables. On one side of him was his own steed, but she was surprised to discover her own mare on the other, for she couldn’t imagine he would know which horse was hers.

Clearly, he has asked the stable hands.

Of course, he had.

“Good morning,” he said brightly. “I apologize. Those ought tae have been me first words tae ye this morning.”

Evelyn shook her head. “The apology is unnecessary. Good morning back tae ye. So, where are we heading?”

He grinned then, and held the reins to her mare. “Let us get mounted first, and we will figure that as we go.”

Moving towards her mare, Evelyn stepped onto the small wooden box beside it that she always used to help her into the saddle. Edward lingered, however, taking hold of her waist and assisting her.

“I can manage tae get ontae me own horse, ye ken,” she said once seated.

She kept any animosity from her tone, which is likely why Edward then beamed a smile up at her.

“I’m sure ye can. There’s naething like a little helping hand now and then though, is there?”

He turned and smoothly jumped onto his own steed with what looked like little effort. No doubt, those huge muscles that bulged from his arms and shoulders had something to do with that.

Once through the castle gates, Evelyn let Edward take the lead. She knew those lands like the back of her hand. But Edward had brought a map. Evidently, he had a plan of where he wanted to go.

They rode over the glens in comfortable silence. Evelyn was grateful, for it gave her a little time to grieve. Since Uncle Alistair’s death, her mind had been so consumed with the upcoming union between herself and Edward, she had not really taken any time to reflect on her uncle’s life.

The buildup and worrying feelings about her wedding day had passed now. It hadn’t come to pass in any way that she had imagined it might. It had been quick, as though hardly of any importance at all. She knew that wasn’t true, and yet, that was how yesterday had felt.

Now, she gazed at the beauty that surrounded her. The lush foliage, the breathtaking greenery of the lands that went on as far as the eye could see. The varying colors of the many trees that decorated the glens around them. As the soft breeze tugged at the tendrils of her hair, she took a long breath in.

I am grateful tae ye, Uncle Alistair, fer all the blessings ye gave me in me life. Fer daeing yer best tae raise me as yer own child, fer being a faither tae me. Fer being everything tae me. I swear I will tak’ care o’ these lands with the same tenderness ye did.

They had been riding for an hour when they came upon the first farmland.

“This farm belongs tae the Crowley’s,” Edward said, gazing at the map in his hand. The parchment flapped in the wind. So much so, he let go of the reins and used his other hand to steady it.

“Aye.” Evelyn nodded. “They’re a small family. A kind family. They raise beef here. John and Sarah have two daughters. One aged nine, the other six. They’re hard workers.”

Edward cast a glance in her direction. A glance of surprise, she deduced. But he said nothing more, and the two continued until they reached the farmhouse.

After introductions, they were welcomed warmly inside. John, a large, broad man with a thick beard, led them into their humble home, offering them a seat. Sarah hurried away to the kitchen.

“Please, dinnae mak’ any great effort on our account,” Edward said kindly. “We dinnae want tae impose.”

“Nae at all, me laird,” Sarah said from a few feet away. Already, she was slicing bread. “It’s nae every day we have the laird and lady visit us in our home.” She cast a soft smile over her shoulder as she spoke.

The girls were curious, but shy, hiding behind the breadth of their father as he settled into a chair at the table.

“What’s yer name?” Edward asked the youngest.

She dipped her head behind her father’s thick arm, fidgeting with her hands that covered her mouth.

When he got no reply, Edward softened his tone. “Me name is Edward.” Screwing his face up playfully, he continued, “I never liked the name. I think I’d been better if me parents had named me…” he paused, looking up at the ceiling, “Fred or… toad.”

The little girl giggled at his silliness, which, Evelyn suspected, was exactly the reaction Edward was looking for. Even Evelyn found herself smiling.

“This is Lady Evelyn,” he said, taking Evelyn by surprise. “Dae ye ken what Evelyn means?”

The little shook her head. She had now been joined by her older sister, who watched on with curious amusement.

“Evelyn means desired child , strength , and wished fer . Are ye nae glad that the lady o’ yer clan is wished fer?”

The girls nodded eagerly with beaming smiles. Meanwhile, Evelyn could feel herself blushing beside him, feeling more than a little taken aback. He cast her a soft glance, and then turned his attention back to the two sisters.

“Ye have an interest in the meanings o’ names, me laird,” Sarah said, placing a basket of buttered bread on the table.

Edward smiled. “Some more than others.”

This only made Evelyn blush even more, especially when Sarah glanced over at him knowingly.

“I believe Edward is a fine name,” Sarah continued, as she sat and joined them. “Dae ye ken the meaning?”

Edward smiled and nodded.

“What is it? What is it?” the little girls asked, bouncing up and down now all shyness forgotten.

Sarah smiled at her daughters. “It means wealth , fortune, and guardian and protector .” The woman then turned to look at Edward. “I think the gods have sent ye tae us, me laird. We are grateful that ye are here tae save our clan.”

“Thank ye, Sarah. Yer words are very kind.”

The discussion continued. But while Evelyn pretended to listen as Edward, John and Sarah conversed, her mind was somewhere else entirely. First and foremost, he knew the meaning of her name. Clearly, the meaning of names interested him. But unless he had some sort of talent for remembering the meaning of every name he had ever come across, it was evident that he had looked up her name specifically. When he had done that, Evelyn could not know. But the when didn’t really matter. It was the very fact that he had bothered to do it at all.

It ought not to come as such a huge surprise. He had, to her near utter despair, tried on many occasions on their journey to get to know her better. In fact, under the circumstances, he had handled the entire situation far better than she had.

What surprised her the most was Sarah revealing the meaning of his name. and then, her words afterwards. Evelyn had been dead set against this marriage from the beginning, but Sarah’s words hit her hard.

Could the gods really have sent him to save their clan?

Wealth, fortune, guardian and protector are all very specific qualities, after all.

Indeed, they were.

Still.

Would their clan have needed saving if Edward’s brother James had not slaughtered Alistair? That thought brought Evelyn back to reality, and quickly, she dismissed the softer feelings that had begun to creep into her mind.

Edward was still the enemy, no matter what his name meant. She would make certain he did not forget it.