Forty-Two
“Hello, Maddie. Welcome home,” Miriam said gently when Maddie tried to open her eyes. The familiar voice warmed Maddie and she smiled before her eyes opened.
“Is this a dream or are you really here?” Maddie asked groggily.
“That is what I asked myself when I saw Connor holding ye in his arms as he came in,” Miriam said smiling.
“Where is Connor?” Maddie asked quickly, trying to sit up.
“Easy, Maddie. He hasna left yer side since both of ye returned. I told him to bathe. He made me promise to get him immediately when ye awoke.” Miriam stood up.
“No, don’t leave!” Maddie said, grabbing Miriam’s arm.
“I will return within a moment, I promise. Ye know Connor. If he finds out that ye awakened and I didna tell him after I promised to, he would never leave yer side again.” Miriam laughed and squeezed Maddie’s hand.
“One little moment, Maddie,” Miriam promised again.
Miriam left the room and there was a knock on the door. Katie poked her head in.
“May I?”
Maddie’s face lit up and tears chased down her cheeks.
“Oh, Maddie! I have missed ye sorely!” Katie became tearful immediately and hurriedly rushed to Maddie’s side.
“Katie. ‘Tis been difficult these last months. My only solaces were the sisters at the convent and this little miracle I carry within me.” Maddie rubbed her belly.
“What is the meaning of these tears?” Connor asked as he stepped into the room. His concerned eyes appraised Maddie to make certain she was all right.
“It is a reunion with my sister, Connor,” Katie said, looking at him.
“I hope more can join this reunion,” Malcolm said from the doorway. Then Kiel, Iain, and Miriam entered behind him.
“For a short while. She needs to rest,” Connor said rigidly.
“Connor, doona be such a spoilsport,” Katie said and they laughed.
Connor immediately locked eyes with Maddie and went to her side. He sat next to her on the bed.
“Connor, please help me sit up. The further I get along, the less agile I am.”
He grabbed Maddie gently underneath the arms and hauled her up slowly. He rested plaids behind her back so that she could lean on them.
“Maddie, I must ask this, for I’ve wanted to do this since ye first came two days ago. I would-”
“Two days!” Maddie exclaimed. Connor placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort. She looked up at him with questioning eyes.
“Aye. Ye woke up often and ate. Ye doona remember?” Miriam asked.
Maddie shook her head. “Nay!”
“Easy, Maddie. Esther mixed a sleep potion so that ye rested as much as possible. Once it wore off, ye ate and went back to sleep. Ye were verra fatigued, love,” Connor said gently, running his fingers slowly through her beautiful black silky hair. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the crown of her head.
“I don’t remember,” she said and turned to Katie, “I’m sorry, Katie, what is it that you were saying?”
Katie blushed a little. “I was wondering if I could touch yer belly.”
“Yes. Here, give me your hand,” Maddie said and brought Katie’s hand to her stomach.
Katie shouted with glee when she felt the baby kick. She looked up at everyone in merriment.
“May I?” Miriam asked.
“Why doesna everyone come have a turn?” Connor grumbled.
Maddie shoved him playfully and everyone laughed.
“That’s a wonderful idea! Everyone come forward. The baby will reward you!” Maddie said and laughed as Connor became disgruntled.
Each had a turn feeling the somersaulting baby. After a long heart to heart family reunion, Connor rushed them out of the room.
“Finally. You’re all mine,” he said, closing the door after he kicked his family out.
She smiled and his heart melted.
“I have missed you, Connor.”
“I have lain by yer side every night since returning home,” he said slowly.
A knock sounded at the door. When Connor didn’t look annoyed, she immediately became suspicious.
“What are you up to?”
He feigned an innocent, insulted face.
“Do ye always suspect me of something?” he asked as he crossed the room again and opened the door.
A tub was placed and it was slowly filled with buckets of warm water. Once the servants were done and the door was shut again, she rewarded him with a smile.
“Why are ye smiling?” he asked innocently.
“Because I have the most wonderful and thoughtful husband in the whole world,” she said, her smile growing wider.
“This bath is for me,” he said seriously and she burst out laughing. He smiled in reaction.
“You just came from your bath, don’t jest!” she said laughing.
She slowly tried to get out of bed but failed. He saw her puny efforts and started laughing. She looked up, annoyed.
“‘Twill only get worse, husband,” she said, peeved.
He helped her up slowly and then he moved down on his knees and kissed her belly.
“I look forward to it,” he said, feeling his child move within the woman he loved.
Connor helped her into the tub and slowly took her a bath. She reveled in the way he paid attention to every part of her body. He lightly massaged her shoulders, working out the knots with gentle strokes. The rose scented warm water and his slow ministrations were very soothing and relaxing for her. She moaned with pleasure. She looked over to him and held his eyes.
“It feels now as if we hadn’t been separated, doesn’t it? The four months without you seemed as if I had died, though.”
“Shh…my love. Doona think about it. It does feel as if we havena been separated at all. I will fall to my knees each remaining day of my life and thank our Lord that he returned ye and the bairn to me. I am a fortunate man.”
She kissed him slowly. It was a lazy and sumptuous kiss.
“I have missed that so much,” she whispered, her lips barely a hair’s width away from his.
“So have I.”
After the bath, Maddie settled down on the bed and slept. Connor was grateful for her return. It felt as if he’d been given a second chance. He looked at her as she slept, amazed that a mere week ago he’d thought she was dead. How many men were gifted with this? How many men had lost the loves of their lives, and been reunited with them later while they still lived and breathed? He didn’t know, and he didn’t question it any further. It was purely a miracle that he had been given, and he would make certain to treasure and protect it and her until the last breath left his lungs.
Connor had many things to consider. How would he tell her about Menzies? He’d gone to the Laird. Their meeting had been awkward since their clans had never communicated much. They weren’t enemies but nor were they strong allies. He’d asked for an audience with Laird Menzies.
Connor remembered standing in the great room as the Laird strode in. Connor almost shook his head from incredulity. Iain was also dumbstruck. Maddie’s eyes stared back at them as they looked at the laird. It was not just one pair of yellow eyes, but two.
“Laird Ramsay,” Menzies nodded in his direction, “To what do I owe this visit?” He then walked over to help himself to ale. “Is yer thirst in need of ease?”
“Aye. ‘Twould be welcome, Laird,” Connor responded. He was trying to figure out a way to tell this man that he had a daughter with his eyes, his hair, and his blood.
After Menzies handed him and Iain the ale, the laird sat down facing them at the table. Menzies nodded at the empty seats, and they sat opposite of Maddie’s father. The other man with yellow eyes, whom Connor guessed to be Menzies’ son, also sat at the table. He had to be Maddie’s half brother.
Menzies noticed Connor’s gaze resting on his son.
“Laird Ramsay, this is my son, James.”
The men nodded at one another.
“Menzies,” Connor began, finding himself at a loss for words for once. “I have a bit of information that ye may find difficult to believe.”
At this, Menzies sat up straighter and leaned in. Connor studied the man for a moment. His hair, which appeared to have been dark at one time, as dark as Maddie’s, was streaked with gray hair. His sharp yellow eyes weren’t as vibrant as Maddie’s, but Connor was unsure whether that was because of his age or the sadness he saw within them. He was tall and broadly built. Malcolm had never had many relations with the laird, and neither had Connor. Connor had scarce seen him a handful of times. He perceived within the man a sense of honor, duty, and loyalty, which Connor immediately respected. For Connor, this was good since there would be more relations between the two clans now that he knew Maddie was Menzies’ daughter.
“What bit of news, Laird?” Menzies asked after he grew a bit impatient under Connor’s scrutiny.
Connor sighed. “I’ll ask that ye hear all that I have to say before coming to any conclusions. What I have to tell ye will change all of our lives.”
It felt as if Menzies saw through Connor. It was awkward to have his wife’s eyes stare back at him from another face.
“Verra well, Laird, then get on with it.”
Connor sighed, which increased Menzies’ and James’ interests.
“I am aware of yer ransoming of Anne Wynton over twenty years ago,” Connor began.
Connor saw Menzies tense automatically. He immediately shook his head when Menzies began to rise.
“Laird, my visit here, I assure ye, is not a farce or meant as an affront. What I have to tell ye is verra important, and I expect it would make ye verra happy.”
Menzies’ apparent anger was halted momentarily. He sat down again. “Out with it, Ramsay,” he said, tightly. “I’m not known for my patience.”
“I mean to cause ye no hurt, Menzies, for I am verra much aware of yer sentiments where Anne was concerned.”
Menzies sighed loudly. “Ramsay, I suggest ye say what ye’re hedging about. I am fast losing my placidity. Ye speak of Anne as if ye knew her, as if ye knew what I had with her. I am telling ye that ye’re mistaken,” he whispered, almost menacingly. “Doona speak as if ye knew my Anne. Proceed with caution, Laird, before my legendary anger shows itself.”
Connor didn’t want to prolong the man’s torture.
“Anne was expecting yer bairn, ye know that much,” Connor said. At Menzies curt nod, Connor continued. “Ye were told that both Anne and the bairn perished during childbirth, but ‘tis not so.”
Menzies stood, and his chair crashed to the floor. “Ramsay, what is the meaning of this? They both died. The bairn and my sweet Anne,” he said pausing, a far away look in his eyes. “I was sent word.”
“Whomever sent word, lied, Menzies. The bairn lived.”
Menzies’ face went pale and he quickly sat down.
“Ramsay, ye’re upsetting my father. Ye better hurry and explain, else ye’ll find yer arses thrown out,” James said, chugging his ale. “Father, have some more ale.”
“It is no jest, James,” Connor said tightly, looking sternly at both. His patience was wearing thin as well.
Menzies sat back, crossed his arms over his chest, and focused on Connor. Still, his face remained pale, his lips tight, and expression pinched. Connor saw the sadness in the laird’s yellow eyes.
“Explain, Ramsay. Quickly.” His breath was heavy and rough.
“We both hate Wynton, Menzies. He’s a vile man. Knowing this about him, ‘twould not be so difficult for ye to see that word about both Anne’s death and that of the bairn’s would reach ye, even if it was lacking truth. Wynton knew when Anne gave birth that the bairn wasna his. He counted the months she was ransomed by ye, and knew that the bairn must have been yers.”
“Did he kill Anne?” Menzies bellowed, standing.
Connor shook his head. “Nay. He didna.”
Menzies sat back down and looked at Connor. His gaze was intense and heated.
“How did ye become involved in this, Ramsay? How does this have anything to do with ye?” James asked.
Connor sighed. “It has much to do with me. My sister was violated because Wynton’s horrid son believed that it was my father who sired Anne’s bairn.”
Menzies and James leaned in. Menzies’ penetrating stare remained on Connor.
“I am sorry that horrible fate befell yer sister,” Menzies said.
“As I am,” Connor said, nodding gravely. He looked over at Iain and continued. “I sought revenge for my sister’s violation. I schemed to take Wynton’s daughter and ransom her. When I took her, however, she had already been kidnapped.”
Connor took another sip of ale.
“The minute I saw her, there was something familiar about her that I could not place. After speaking to Athyn Kerr, who took her from her home, it was then that I discovered the truth. I knew why she looked familiar. She is yer daughter, Menzies. Her name is Madeleine.”
Both Menzies and James remained wide-eyed but quiet for a long while, absorbing what Connor said.
“I have a daughter?” Menzies said hoarsely.
“Aye, ye do.”
“Ye’ve seen my sister? I was verra young when my father ransomed Lady Anne, but I remember her. Anne was verra sweet.”
“Aye, I have seen yer sister,” Connor said.
Menzies eyes jumped to Connor’s sharply. “Did ye violate my daughter for vengeance, Ramsay?”
Connor was relieved that the laird was not only interested in his daughter but protective of her as well. He needed to know this. He wouldn’t allow the man, whether father or nay, to get his Maddie’s hopes up for a real father, and shatter those hopes in the next moment when he began treating her like Wynton had. His Maddie was beginning to forget her horrible ‘father’ and he would not allow her to suffer another disappointment.
“Nay.”
“Is she happy? Hale?”
“Aye. Verra happy and verra hale.”
“Is she a sweet young girl? Quiet, shy, docile? Anne was verra much like that.” Menzies said almost wistfully, eagerly wanting to know about his daughter.
Connor smiled and laughed for the first time since he walked into Menzies’ holding. “Nay, she isna.”
Menzies head perked up a little. “What?”
Connor continued to laugh and Iain joined in. “Hellfire she is, Menzies. Sweet, aye, as the sweetest honey. Docile? Shy? Obedient? Nay.” Connor shook his head, laughing. Tears nearly welled in his eyes and Menzies also began to laugh. “That would be the furthest from the truth and I would do ye injustice by telling ye anything less. She is intelligent, witty, cunning, and utterly magnificent.”
Connor looked away thinking about his wife. He missed her greatly. Dear God, how he looked forward to returning home.
“So, she is safe?” Menzies asked. “She is not with Wynton?”
“Verra safe, as safe as I can keep her because the biggest threat to her is herself,” Connor jested, laughing again. He turned serious. “Wynton was abusive towards her.”
Menzies’ face grew red. Connor told him about Wynton’s lies to Maddie about saving Anne and herself from purgatory. He also divulged the information about Binouix.
“Bastard!” he roared.
“Aye, he is a bastard. He knows that if he ever returns, he will die at my hand,” Connor spat, nodding. Menzies and James saw the satisfied look that came across Connor’s face.
“Where is she?”
“Keisealle. My mother and sister are verra much fond of her. My mother thinks of Maddie as her daughter, and my sister calls Maddie her sister.”
“Maddie,” Menzies said, testing the name on his lips. “She always loved the name, my Anne. Always wanted a girl, she said.”
Sadness crept into the laird’s eyes again.
“How is it that ye know so much? She no longer has to be a burden on ye. I want her here with me,” Menzies said. He looked at his son. “With us.”
“She isna a burden, Menzies, and I wouldna allow her to leave Keisealle. She lives there now, and there she’ll remain.”
Two pairs of cold yellow eyes glared at Connor. “She is my daughter, Ramsay. I want her here, under my protection.” Menzies’ tone was curt and almost hostile.
“I wouldna allow any harm to befall her, Menzies. I would barter my life, my soul, for hers. I canna and willna allow her to live elsewhere. Daughter she may be to ye, but wife she is to me.”
Menzies stared at Connor for a long while. Connor thought Menzies would rage against him but he was surprised. Menzies nodded his head.
“Then I am satisfied and relieved that my daughter has an honorable chieftain and clan behind her, even if ye tried to kidnap and ransom her.” He paused and gave Connor a look of disdain. Inhaling, he continued. “Grateful to ye I am, Laird, for keeping her safe. I am elated that I shall have Anne’s daughter to look upon as my eyes weaken in my age. It is my desire to see her, speak to her, and to form a bond with her.”
Connor nodded his head. “Absolutely, Menzies. This is why I am here. I needed to first know that ye would accept her. I could not tell her and then have another disappointment like she experienced with Wynton.”
“She doesna know?”
Connor shook his head at James.
“Nay. I needed to make certain that both of ye were men of honor before I chanced my wife’s emotions and feelings being trampled upon again.”
Menzies nodded approvingly. “‘Twas clever of ye.”
“I will tell her about ye and send word once she knows. Ye will always be welcome at Keisealle. It is my expectation that clans Ramsay and Menzies will be the strongest of allies.”
Menzies nodded. “We shall be.”
After some additional talk of clans, Connor told Menzies that he would send word so that he could meet his daughter.
It was then that Connor had returned to his clan and faced the anguish of discovering his precious wife missing. Connor never sent word to Menzies for him to come meet his daughter. Instead, he’d sent a message informing him of her death.
Coming out of his memories, Connor looked at his sleeping wife, swollen with their child. He’d have to send word to Menzies that Maddie was indeed alive. The problem was, how did he tell his Maddie about her real father? She was in such a delicate state and he feared telling her. What if she cramped? What if she lost the bairn, or worse, her life?
Mayhap he should hold off on telling her. He would delay word to Menzies as well.
Connor would have to think more on it. He wasn’t convinced that keeping the truth would be the best option. Connor was told by the messenger whom he’d dispatched to tell Menzies of Maddie’s death, that he had fallen to his knees in devastation, cursing the fates for never having met his daughter. Connor’s messenger had stated that the laird had tears in his eyes.
Nay, he would have to find some way to tell her delicately. God-willing, she would be hale and safe.
He kissed his wife on her forehead.
Connor marveled at the little woman in his bed. How could one mite of a woman mean so much to a man? To men, he acknowledged, thinking of Menzies and James.
For so long he felt dead without her. Now, she was blessedly in his life again and carrying their bairn. Connor felt lighter than he’d felt in months.