Page 12 of Stolen Highland Dreams (The Highlanders #9)

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D ashiell couldn’t believe he had injured Ella so. He prayed to all the gods that she would come through this okay.

Paige covered her with blankets.

“Let me know when she is awake again.” He was glad to know Ella had helped Olivia in childbirth. Was she a healer? If so, they could use her on his staff in a heartbeat. Though he really would keep her here for any reason. She just had to be well again.

“Aye.”

Paige sat beside the bed and began to sew on a tapestry. Dashiell left the room, nearly running into Lady Yvaine, who waited beyond the door. “I am sorry, I didna mean to startle you so.”

“What have you to say about Ella now, my lady?”

“Naught at all.”

“Come now, you always have an opinion on any topic. What are my clansmen and women saying about the lass?”

Dashiell and his aunt walked toward the stairs, and she said, “They think ‘tis remarkable that Ella wished to help another lady in need, especially after what happened to Lady Lynette. Though, of course, none of us believe her tale. Ella did help Olivia, I am told. Lady Olivia wishes her to be her maid, now.”

“She does, does she? We dinna even know who Ella is. Were you told that the lass collapsed in the ladies’ chambers?”

“Aye, and that she fainted at the sight of a piece of parchment in the guest chamber as well. I thought that particularly odd.”

“What do you make of that?”

“A piece of parchment is nothing to be afraid of unless she has some memory of parchment that she fears.”

“Perhaps a fire was started with a piece of parchment.” Dashiell had wracked his brain, trying to come up with a reason for Ella’s frightened reaction.

“Or something terrible happened when she was writing on parchment.”

“Mayhap someone gave her a piece of parchment that had a particularly bad bit of news for her,” Dashiell said.

“Aye. There are many possibilities.” His aunt looked up at him, adding, “What if she can read and write more than just MacAfee’s name?” She shook her head. “It would mean a great deal and make the situation all the more curious.”

“I believe she can. Unfortunately, it means we canna get her to communicate with pen and parchment with us.”

“Did you know that Olivia says Ella spoke to her?”

“She did? What did Ella say?” Dashiell asked.

“Olivia didna remember her words. The oddest thing is that none of the other ladies, nor Mai, even heard Ella speak to Olivia,” his aunt said.

“What did the lass do exactly?”

“From what anyone could gather, she calmed Olivia to the point that she could have her baby without further difficulty.”

“I wish I knew who she was,” Dashiell said.

“She is Ella, the Nymph of the Forest, naught more.”

“Somehow, I dinna believe that is so. Nor do I think you believe that either.”

Lady Yvaine smiled. “Nay, I think she is quite an extraordinary creature. She might even make someone a good wife someday.”

“If you are referring to me…”

“No’ you.”

“No one would marry such a lady without knowing who she truly is.” However, he was quickly reassessing the notion.

“I understand she is very beautiful. Once a man sees her, he desires her both night and day.”

“Who?”

“You for one. You canna get through a day without thinking of the lady.”

After practicing sword fighting with the MacNeills and his own men, Dashiell—though he had fought valiantly, his mind had been on Ella to such an extent that he lost most of his battles, which had concerned everyone who had fought him—returned to the guest chamber to see Ella later that afternoon but found her still deep in sleep.

He sat beside her bed for some time, then retired from the bedchamber. “I will have court this afternoon,” he said to Quinn in the entryway of the keep.

“As you wish. How is the lady?”

“She is sleeping soundly. The healer says it is what she needs most now.”

His advisor nodded and then left to gather the necessary staff to begin the court proceedings. Dashiell sat and waited to hear the first case while the MacNeills watched the proceedings. James had told him that he wanted to learn how Dashiell handled his people’s conflicts to see if he could learn anything from him.

Dashiell knew James to be a fair and non-judgmental clan chief who decided matters in the best way possible.

The clerk cleared his throat as the accused man knelt before Dashiell. “This man was caught poaching wild boar. He said the boar killed several of his sheep.”

“You must let us know about such a dilemma if this happens again,” Dashiell said. “I would have had hunters take care of the matter.”

“I beg your forgiveness.”

“Aye, well, I will let you off this time without a fine, but the next time…what did you do with the boar after you killed it?”

“I shared it with the villagers at a feast.”

Dashiell nodded. “You may be dismissed. Next case.”

The sheepherder left the room while two men and a woman bowed to Dashiell. “In this case, this man sold his wife to this farmer for the price of two pigs. Now, he wants to have his wife returned and wishes to pay for the pigs he had received in payment for his wife. The farmer doesna want to give up the woman.”

Dashiell raised his brows. “Why would you sell your wife…never mind. Pay the farmer for the pigs, and the farmer will release your wife back to you. I dinna wish to hear of this again in the future. Next?”

The farmer, the man, and his wife hurried out of the room. A young woman and her husband came before Dashiell.

After genuflecting to show their respect to the clan chief, the clerk said, “In the next case, this man's wife willna consent to conjugal relations with him. She says it is because he has been seeing other women, most of a disreputable nature. She wishes to have nothing further to do with him. He says she constantly ridicules him, making his life nothing more than a living hell at home.”

“Cease your wanderings, sir. If you will promise this…”

“Aye, I will.”

“And you, young woman, must quit your derision of your husband and make his home pleasant enough that he willna wish to be anywhere else when his workday is through.” Dashiell said, “The next case?”

A clansman approached Dashiell, bowed, and waited for the clerk to read his petition. “Torrington states that his wife is too close a relation to him and wishes to have his marriage to her annulled,” the clerk said.

“He does, does he? You have been married five years and have three children with your wife, Torrington. What made you decide that your wife is too close a relation to you suddenly?”

“I didna know of some of her relations on her mother’s side until recently.”

“I see. It isna that you tire of your wife's affections and desire the intimacies of some other, is it?”

James, his kin, and Quinn smiled at Torrington.

Dashiell said, “You will stay with your wife and have many more fine sons. Next.”

The clerk read the next complaint as Torrington stormed out of the room. “This butcher states the boy stole a berry pie from his windowsill that his wife set there to cool before they sat down to supper.”

“Has the boy done such a thing before?”

“Nay.”

“Why would you do such a thing?” Dashiell asked the lad of about seven.

“My mother was ill. We hadna anything to eat for several days.”

“Is this true?” Dashiell asked his clerk.

“We checked his story out. It is true.”

“Then the boy willna be punished. Is your mother well enough now?”

“Aye.”

“And your father?”

“He died last year.”

“If you should need help in the future, we have a food surplus we give to those less fortunate than ourselves. I dinna wish to hear of any who steal to avoid starving to death. Are you the eldest of your brothers and sisters?”

“Aye.”

Dashiell shook his head. “If you were starving, would you no’ appreciate it if some kind man offered you a pie to help you out?”

The man glared at the boy and reluctantly nodded.

“Next case.”

“This man was caught stealing from a laird’s purse while he shopped at the market. The thief normally would have been in the woods and stolen from any who use the trails through the Caledonian Forest, but since the strange happenings there of late, he has targeted the villagers.”

“Since you desire to steal from the hard-earned wages of those who work for their living and dinna seem to have any intention to work for your own keep, you will be confined for three months. Mayhap a stay in our dungeon will encourage you to find honest work in the future.”

Dashiell glanced at the clerk, who shook his head. “There are no other cases.”

“Good. Then,” Dashiell said to Quinn and the MacNeills, “I will check on our guest before supper.”

“I applaud you for your handling of these cases,” James said. “Though I’ve never had anything as interesting as the case of the farmer who bartered his wife for a pig.”

“Aye, truly, me either. I will see you in a bit.”

“Good luck to the lass,” James said, Niall and Angus offering well-wishes to her also.

When Dashiell arrived at the chamber, he found Ella sitting in bed, eating a slice of buttered bread. Relief washed over him. She looked so much better. “Ella has finally become accustomed to the notion that she will stay here with us.”

“Aye.”

“She has not spoken yet?”

“Nay.”

Dashiell approached the bed and asked, “Would you like to eat supper with us?”

Paige cleared her throat. Dashiell and Ella looked at her. “Do you no’ think the healer would object?”

“She slept for several hours. She seems to be eating well. Why could she no’ eat with us?” Dashiell asked.

“Do you wish for me to ask Mai?”

“Aye, do it.”

Paige curtsied, then left the room.

Dashiell sat on the chair beside the bed, then took a deep breath. “You smell like violets. Do you collect the flowers you place in the stream from the meadow by the loch?” Ella looked back at her bread, then took another bite and nodded. “I am glad to see you are eating so well. Would you like to eat with us?”

She nodded, looked at Dashiell’s shirt, and reached out to touch it. He leaned forward to allow her to feel it. “Do you like my shirt?” She stared at his face for a moment, then frowned. Dashiell sighed. “I wish I knew what you were thinking.”

She drank mead out of a mug.

He reached over, took her hand in his, and turned it over to examine it. “Your hands are so calloused. It appears you do much hard labor with them. You are a mystery. I wish to know who your people are. You wrote MacAfee in the soil by the stream. Do you belong to his clan?”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head vigorously.

He frowned. She seemed frightened at the mention of his name, but he was glad he had brought it up. Maybe he could get to the bottom of the mystery now.

“Why did you write his name in the soil then?” He thought for a moment and guessed he would have to ask her in ways in which she could answer yes or no. “Was he in my forest?”

She quickly nodded.

“For what purpose?” He couldn’t believe the man would be in his forest and had not asked permission. It just wasn’t done.

She drew her hand across her throat.

“To…kill?” He frowned. The land he gave to MacAfee had plenty of game to hunt. Why would he travel this far to hunt on Dashiell’s lands illegally?

She nodded.

“So he was hunting on my lands?” He couldn’t understand it.

She nodded, drew her hand across her throat again, and mouthed, “Me.” At the same time, she pointed to herself.

Dashiell just stared at her. He had to be “hearing” her wrong. “You? He was hunting for you?” Dashiell couldn’t believe it as he tried to clarify the matter.

She nodded.

Then again, Dashiell had hunted for her, though not with the notion of killing her. Mayhap, she was confused about MacAfee’s intent. He would have no reason to hurt the lass unless she had witnessed him hunting in the forest without Dashiell’s permission, and MacAfee wanted to silence her. “Why? When?”

She held up two fingers.

“Two days ago?”

She nodded.

He didn’t know what to think.

Then the lad he’d seen in the inner bailey before rushed into the bedchamber, startling Dashiell and Ella.

“What are you doing…” Before Dashiell could finish his sentence, Finnegan fled. Thinking the boy knew Ella, which was why he had plowed through the men to get closer to her when she’d been wounded, and Dashiell had held her in his arms on his horse in the inner bailey, Dashiell hurried out of the chamber.

The lad had disappeared down the hallway. Dashiell took off running, priding himself on being fleet of foot, but when he reached the stairs, he found the boy had disappeared.

No one else was in sight who could tell him where the boy had run off to.

Then the redheaded maid, Flora, headed up the stairs and frowned at Dashiell. “My laird, what ails you?”

“Did you see a wee lad race down the stairs? Blond-haired, blue eyes? They say his name is Finnegan, and he’s working for the blacksmith.”

“Nay, but it sounds like the boy who came to see Ella earlier. I chased him away.”

“Did you ask him what business he had in the woman’s chamber?” Dashiell asked as Flora climbed the stairs.

“Nay, I’m sorry. I thought it best to chase him off as quickly as possible. I believed him just to be curious.”

“I believe he may know the lass.”

“Och,” Flora said, framing her face with her hands in surprise. “Do you want me to search for him?”

“Nay, I know what he looks like. I’ll find him.” Then Dashiell returned to the room to see Ella for a bit longer. He wished she could tell him who the lad was. “Is the lad kin of yours?”

Ella didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she slowly nodded.

“Cousin? Son? Brother?” He rephrased it. “Is Finnegan your cousin?”

She shook her head.

“Son?”

With another shake of her head, she told him no.

“Your brother?”

She nodded.

“Has he been living with you?”

She nodded.

Dashiell sighed in exasperation. He was certain her condition of not being able to speak was just as frustrating for her as it was for him, he reminded himself. Then he remembered the young girl. “What about the young lass you were protecting in the forest? He sighed. “Is she your daughter?”

Ella shook her head.

“Sister?”

Again, she said no in her way.

“A cousin?”

She nodded.

The young girl couldn’t be in the woods on her own. “Is she alone?” Dashiell asked.

Ella hesitated, then shook her head.

At least he was glad someone was taking care of her. But who and where were they? “Aye, well, get your rest until the meal.”

“Mai believes it best she remains here for supper as she is still so weak. Perhaps tomorrow will be better. She doubts she would be comfortable with all our people in the hall during supper.”

“She wants to eat with us. She will have supper with us, and if she begins to feel poorly, we’ll return her to her chamber.”

The supper bell rang, and Dashiell said, “Can you have her dressed and brought down to the great hall then?”

“As you wish.”

Dashiell returned to the great hall and asked his cousin, “Do you remember the lad who approached me when I carried Ella in on my horse in the inner bailey? Finnegan, apprentice to the blacksmith? He’s new here.”

Fallon frowned, appearing to try and recollect the lad.

This made Dashiell wonder what was going on. She lived in the forest, and now her brother was working for them. She said he had lived with her also. He had to know where the girl was and who she was staying with. Then there was the mystery about MacAfee. Was that why the lad had sought work at the castle? To flee from danger? What had the brother and sister done?

“Nay. I noticed the gathering of our men, but I was on the other side of you and missed seeing the lad. Is he trouble?” Fallon asked.

“He’s Ella’s younger brother.”

“You dinna say.”

“Aye. If she canna talk, I must speak with the lad and learn why they lived in the forest and more.”

“Do you see him in the great hall now?” Fallon asked.

“No’ that I can see. He might miss the meal to avoid me. He ran out of Ella’s bedchamber when he saw me there.”

Lady Yvaine tsked. “You must have given him one of your fiercer scowls.”

“I reserve those for battle.”

“So you say,” Yvaine said.

James said, “I’ve seen his scowls. When I’ve beaten him at chess.”

“Nay, that’s when you’ve knocked over the table when I was winning,” Dashiell said, everyone laughing.

Dashiell delayed the serving of the meal until Ella was carried down to supper and brought to the head table. Dashiell motioned for her to sit between Niall and himself while Lady Lynette sat to his right on the other side of James and Angus and glowered at the situation.

“I canna believe you have brought this…this forest creature here like this after what she had done to me,” Lynette said, scowling at Dashiell.

Now she scowled more fiercely than Dashiell ever did, even in battle.