Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes (30 page)

“As soon as I saw ye sitting under that tree, I knew ye had to be Catriona’s daughter.”

Annice’s face lit up. “She is Aunt Catriona’s daughter?” She ran across the room and threw her arms around Grace. “This is wonderful. Oh, Grace, we’re cousins.”

Grace was still having trouble grasping what was happening. She looked at Ranulf. “Ye’re my uncle?”

“Aye, Grace. I’m sorry I didn’t tell ye right away. I thought perhaps Eanraig needed to realize yer value solely as the woman Bram loved first. Otherwise, ye’d never see it yerself.”

“Tristan Murray is the one who ran off with yer sister.” Eanraig said, as if still trying to believe it. “I couldn’t believe the Tristan Murray I knew would cower from anyone. It was one of the reasons I didn’t want to believe Grace was his daughter. But by all that’s holy, I never would have believed he’d cross Kynan Sinclair. Grace, lass, yer da was no coward. He was a reckless eejit.”

Bram was affronted. “Da!”

“In fairness, Bram, my father was…well he was fractious. Few men willingly crossed him. He took offense easily and when offended, he was ruthless. It tore my heart when Grace told me how much Catriona feared our father, but as much as I hate to admit it, her fears weren’t ungrounded. I was there the day Tristan asked for Catriona’s hand. Da was furious. I fully expected him to kill Tristan at that moment. Oddly enough, it was probably my father’s love for Catriona that stayed his hand. His anger when he eventually learned she had already gone knew no bounds.”

Grace said, “I think what my parents feared most was that others would suffer because of their choice.”

Laird Sinclair nodded. “And they were right to fear that. Da mounted an extended search for them. First he accused the MacNicols of harboring them.”

“I have a vague memory of that now,” said Lady Sutherland. “At some point didn’t he get the idea that MacLeod was sheltering them?”

Ranulf agreed. “Aye, that’s what started the feud with the MacLeods.”

Lady Sinclair added, “And it’s why Ranulf’s father pushed for our Joan to marry Andrew MacLeod. He wanted to resolve the feud he started.” Lady Sinclair blinked back tears.

Rodina crossed the room and put her arms around Lady Sinclair. “Lara, I am so very sorry.”

“She was unhappy?” asked Grace.

Annice, who also had tears in her eyes, answered. “Nay, actually she and Andrew grew to love each other. She died in childbirth two years ago, God rest her soul.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Grace.

Everyone was silent for a moment before Laird Sinclair continued. “So ye see, our father’s temper was terrible. As much as I missed my wee sister, I prayed he would never find them. If he had, I have no doubt he would have killed yer father and exacted revenge on whomever gave them refuge.”

Laird Sutherland shook his head sadly. “Aye, that was his reputation. Grace, now that I know who yer mother was, I understand why yer parents didn’t ever contact Innes. If Kynan Sinclair found out Tristan was a Sutherland, we would have had an all-out war on our hands.”

The elderly Lady Sinclair took Grace’s hand. “Come, sit with me child.”

Grace followed her to the refectory table, and helped her into a chair, but remained standing to one side. It seemed inappropriate for Grace to sit with her.

The elderly woman patted the table beside her. As if reading Grace’s thoughts she said, “Ye belong here, Grace. Ye are my granddaughter. Please sit with me.”

Bram appeared at Grace’s side, pulling out a chair for her. He placed the box on the table in front of her but stayed with her, his hands resting on her shoulders.

Her grandmother said, “Grace, yer grandfather was a rigid man with a short temper and a long memory. He was guided more by his pride and his need for revenge than anything else. I begged him for years to forgive yer parents—to let it be known that they would be welcomed home. He refused me. I knew she was out there, somewhere, with the man she loved. That gave me a little consolation but oh, how I missed her. I had hoped someday, after Kynan died, I would see her again. From things said earlier, I know ye came here after her death. Please tell me she was happy.”

“Oh, she was. Until my da died last year she was blissfully happy.”

The old woman smiled and nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Would ye mind terribly…may I look at the things yer mama kept in the box?”

Grace smiled at her. “Of course ye may.”

The elderly woman pulled the box toward her, removing the lid. She laid the letter to one side, picking up the gold brooch first. She touched the ring of leaves with its sprays of tiny flowers reverently. “This belonged to my mother. My father gave it to her when they wed. It’s bog myrtle—a symbol of Clan Carr. I was a Carr.”

Next she removed the coin, smiling. “Ranulf, tell her what this is.”

He crossed to the table, taking it in his hands and smiling broadly. “This is a gold florin. When Sheena, Catriona, and I were little, our grandfather Carr gave us each one. He told us to keep it forever and we would never be poor. I still have mine. I expect Sheena does too.”

“Sheena?” asked Grace.

“My other sister, yer aunt. She is married to Laird Gunn—another clan with whom we had had a long, bloody feud until it was ended with a wedding. Speaking of which, I will send a messenger to her later. She will want to know, and I expect she’ll be here nearly before the messenger returns.”

Grace’s grandmother removed the silver brooch. “That was my father’s,” said Grace.

The old woman nodded, laying it aside before removing the last item, the pendant. “Yer grandfather and I gave this to Catriona on the last Epiphany before she left. Kynan wanted her to have a pearl. In spite of everything, Grace, he did love her. I think the pain of losing her fueled his anger and he wanted to blame everyone else. He was never willing to see the role he played.” She looked at Grace. “Yer mama could have sold these or even just used the florin. That she saved them tells me she remembered us with love too.”

“I’m sure she did,” said Grace.

Her grandmother returned each article to the box, picking up the letter last. “What is this, lass?”

“It’s a letter from my father to his mother,” Grace answered.

“May I see it?” asked Laird Sutherland.

Grace wanted to say no because it was a private letter and Innes should be the one to grant permission to read it. However, Innes wasn’t present and Grace knew she would show it to Laird Sutherland if he asked. “Aye, I don’t think my grandmother would mind.”

Eanraig read it. Frowning he asked, “Bram did ye know about this?”

“Not until a day or so ago.”

To Grace, he said, “Ye knew ye were a noblewomen?”

“I knew my mother was.”

“Why didn’t ye tell us?”

She glanced around the room, her eyes resting finally on her grandmother Sinclair. “I was afraid ye would try to seek them out. I promised my mother I wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry, Grandmother.”

“Aye, well I would have,” said Laird Sutherland. He gave her a stern look. “And it would have been the right thing to do. Look at all the difficulties we would have avoided.”

“Eanraig, she couldn’t have known that,” said Rodina. “Her mother was afraid for good reason, so Grace was too. Frankly, we would have avoided quite a few difficulties if ye hadn’t behaved
exactly
as Grace expected a nobleman to.”

Ranulf said, “Grace’s choice was entirely reasonable, Eanraig. When Da died a few years ago, he left many relationships to mend. Grace had no way of knowing what she would have faced and I don’t either. Da would never have hurt her, but he definitely would have used her for his advantage to restore an alliance. Grace, the fact is, I too would have sought an advantageous betrothal for ye, but as important as restoring alliances may be, I vowed never to force my children into an intolerable marriage. I never wanted to lose a child the way we lost Catriona. Eanraig, by some incredible miracle, we have our alliance as well as happy children.”

As Bram thought back over the last few hours, he could scarcely believe how things had turned out. When he and Ian returned to the keep, their father had been relieved to hear Grace was safe but positively furious to learn of the wedding. He insisted it could be annulled on the grounds that banns hadn’t been posted. He ranted on, trying to convince Bram of the wisdom of that path using every threat in his arsenal.

When Grace entered the great hall with Laird Sinclair, Bram’s heart had fallen. How had Sinclair found her? Bram had wanted to protect Grace from this ugliness and she had appeared in the middle of it.

But when Laird Sinclair goaded Da with his threat to kill Grace, Bram was certain his heart stopped altogether. Up until that moment, his father seemed to have nothing but contempt for Grace. However, when she was in danger he had practically begged Sinclair for her life. Da publically accepted her and promised to repair the damage he had done. Even his mother had looked like an angry mother badger when Laird Sinclair threatened Grace. Of course, some of her anger was very rightly directed at Da.

The next thing Bram knew, Sinclair kissed Grace’s cheek, called her “my love”, and let her go.

After all of that, Bram thought nothing could shock him, then he saw the lid of the box. Grace was a Sinclair. The strife of the last few weeks, the heart wrenching fear of the last few moments, all of it could have been avoided if he had only seen the box earlier. But in spite of all that, this meant one thing. Grace was his. Forever. This was the alliance his father wanted from the start and Bram was overjoyed.

Finally the story began to come together, but one thing Sinclair said to Grace continued to echo in Bram’s head even now.
I thought perhaps Eanraig needed to realize yer value solely as the woman Bram loved first. Otherwise, ye’d never see it yerself
.

Laird Sinclair was right. Bram remembered Grace’s words from weeks ago,
I am nothing to ye. I am the cook’s granddaughter
. If his father had only accepted her after learning she was a Sinclair, Grace would have always felt like
the cook’s granddaughter
in his presence.

Now, his beautiful wife, the heart of his heart, sat surrounded by her mother’s family, answering their questions and looking…befuddled. She had been through so much, Bram knew she needed to rest. He wanted the joy of holding her in his arms, knowing all of her fears were gone. However, he was equally as sure it would be nigh on impossible to pry her away from the Sinclairs for a while. But there was something that would both settle her and give the Sinclairs something else on which to focus. “Grace, my love, I’ll go get Kristen and Innes.”

She looked up at him and nodded. “Aye, Kristen should be here.”

As he started to leave the hall, his mother stopped him with Ian at her side. “Bram, let me get them.”

“Mother, I—”

“Nay son, I need to start repairing some of the damage we’ve done. Ian will go with me. Stay here with Grace. This has been overwhelming and she needs ye.”

Bram kissed her cheek. “Thank ye, Mother.”

Ian said, “Besides, when the conversation turns to the events of the last few days, ye may have to stop Laird Sinclair from killing Da.”

It wasn’t long before they returned. Kristen came skipping into the hall holding Ian’s hand, followed by his mother who had her arm around Innes. Kristen let go of Ian’s hand and ran to where Grace sat. “Mama, Wady Suverwand says I can caww her
Gwan
now, and Sir Ian says I can call him
Uncoe
Ian.”

As Bram predicted, her daughter was the balm Grace needed. She put her arms around Kristen, lifting the child onto her lap. “Aye, he is yer uncle now.” Grace smiled at his mother. “And Lady Sutherland is yer gran.”

“Can I caww Sir Bwam, Uncoe Bwam?”

“Kristen, do ye remember this morning I told ye Sir Bram and I were married?”

Kristen nodded.

“Well, since yer da is in heaven I figure he would like for ye to have a da here to take care of ye, would ye like for Sir Bram to be yer da?

Kristen’s eyes grew big, her face split into a huge smile, and she nodded vigorously. She looked up him. “Wiww ye be my da?”

Bram thought his heart would burst. He lifted her into his arms. “Aye, if ye’ll be my sweet, wee lassie.”

She giggled. “I’m aweady yer sweet, wee wassie.”

Bram grinned. “Of course ye are, how could I have forgotten?”

“Grandmother, Kristen, there are some other people I want ye to meet. This is Laird Sinclair, he my mama’s brother.”

Innes curtsied, “Good afternoon, laird.”

“I didn’t know gwamma had a brover.”

Grace smiled. “Neither did I, pet.”

Kristen whispered loudly, “I don’t fink I can say Waiwd Sincwaiw.”

Laird Sinclair laughed. “Well, ye needn’t then, sweetling. Ye can call me Uncle Ranulf.”

“Uncoe Wanuff.”

“Grandmother, this is Laird Sinclair’s wife and mother and his daughter Annice.” Grace turned to the Sinclairs. “My ladies, this is my father’s mother, Innes Murray.”

Innes curtsied to the noblewomen. “My ladies.”

“It is a pleasure to meet ye, Innes,” said Lady Lara Sinclair.

To Kristen, Grace said, “This is Aunt Lara.”

“Aunt Wawa,” echoed Kristen.

Lady Sinclair came to where Bram stood, still holding Kristen, and touched her cheek. “Oh, my precious child. It is lovely to meet ye.”

“I know,” said Kristen, nodding.

Grace laughed. “Kristen, ye should either say thank ye, or it’s lovely to meet ye too.”

“It’s wovewy to meet ye too.”

Lady Sinclair smiled.

Annice came around the table and introduced herself to Kristen. “I’m Annice and ye can just call me Annice. I’m yer mama’s cousin.”

“Annice,” said Kristen. “That name’s easy.”

Annice laughed. “I guess it is. Can I have a wee hug, poppet?” Kristen reached her arms to Annice who took her from Bram. Annice gave her a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek before putting Kristen down to stand next to Grace.

Grace reached out and took the elder Lady Sinclair’s hand. “Kristen, this dear lady is my grandmother.”

“I fought Gwanny was yer gwammuver.”

“Granny is my grandmother. She is Grandda’s mama. This is Gramma’s mama.”

“I miss Gwamma,” said Kristen somberly.

Bram was reminded poignantly of the day he found Grace and Kristen playing with kittens in the hayloft.

Tears stood in Malina Sinclair eye’s as she reached out and stroked Kristen’s hair. “I do too, Kristen.”

Without preamble, Kristen climbed into the old woman’s lap and touched a tear that spilled down her cheek. “But we aren’t going to cwy anymore. Do ye wanna know why?”

“Aye, tell me, sweetling.”

“Becuz, they are in heaven wiff God and the angels and heaven is a wuvwy pwace.”

Bram remembered this was exactly what Grace had told Kristen in the loft.

Malina kissed Kristen’s cheek. “Aye, that’s a very good reason not to cry.”

Kristen settled into her lap as if she had done it many times before. “My mama told me that.”

“Yer mama is right. Has yer mama ever told ye what matters most?”

“Aye. Kindness matters most.”

Malina smiled. “And what never helps?”

“Panicking never helps. My mama says that to me.”

Malina hugged her close. “My mama said that to me too.”

*

At one point in the afternoon, Michael entered the hall and approached Bram.

Bram smiled. “Michael, ye’re looking much better.”

“I can’t say the same for ye. Rough few days?”

“Indeed.”

“Bram, I—”

“I know Michael, I’m sorry for what my father did.”

“Ah, well, he meant well and he was right, I would have cared for Grace. We are friends, and as she told me, marriages have been built on less. But Bram, I need ye to know, I don’t love her. What I mean is, I do love her but not romantically. I would protect her with my life, but I am thrilled that ye married her, because she loves ye without reserve.”

“Thank ye, Michael. Thank ye too for trying to help her when the Morrisons came.”

“Like I said, I will protect her with my life. And while it seems she has a few more people on her side now, I just need ye to know my friend”—Michael gave him a huge grin—“if ye ever hurt her, I will kill ye.”

Bram laughed. “Aye, I’m afraid ye might have to get in line behind her uncle, and once they meet her, her cousins, but I do love her and I swear, I will do my best to see that no one ever hurts her again.”

“See that ye do, because I am serious.”

Bram sobered. “I know ye are, and ye’re a good man, Michael.”

Michael grinned again. “The absolute finest and who knows, maybe I’ll find a bonny lass among the guests for the wedding feast yer da is planning.”

Michael left the hall but at his mention of a wedding feast, Bram realized his father had been absent from the hall much of the afternoon. In fact, both of his parents disappeared for a while with Innes. Bram assumed they were giving Grace some time with the Sinclairs and thought no more of it. He returned to Grace’s side, unwilling to be separated from her for long.

When time came for the evening meal, much to Bram’s surprise, his da escorted Innes to the refectory table, showing her to a place between his mother and Ian. He signaled for Bram to join them. To his surprise his father said, “Bram, I want Grace seated beside me tonight.”

“Aye, Da, whatever ye wish.”

As the hall began to fill, Kristen sat at one end of the table chatting happily with the Sinclair women. Grace stood to one side, her arms clutched at her waist. She appeared worried. Bram returned to her and put his arms around her. “What’s upsetting ye, Grace?”

“I’m just…well, the last few weeks haven’t been pleasant. The clan…well, I’m worried. I don’t want Kristen to hear the names people have called me.”

“That will end tonight, Grace. If I’m not much mistaken, news of what happened here this afternoon is already spreading. Come to the table with me.” He led her toward the place where his father sat.

She stopped short. “Nay, Bram. Please, let’s sit somewhere else. Yer da won’t like it.”

“My da
requested
it. He wants ye seated beside him.” The look of horror on her face nearly made him laugh. “He’s trying to make amends.” At her incredulity he added, “I’ll be right beside ye.”

“But—”

Bram put a finger to her lips. “Grace, ye argue too much.”

She sighed and took the seat he held for her. She looked so nervous, Bram began to worry about the wisdom of granting his father’s request.

*

When Michael arrived for the feast, he wasn’t surprised to see much of the clan in the hall. As a guardsman, Michael often sat at the laird’s table during meals. But with the addition of the visiting Sinclairs, and in light of all that had happened, he had intended to sit at one of the trestles, which were rapidly filling. Then Kristen caught his eye. She waved and called, “Sir Michael,” from the end of the Laird’s table where she sat next to one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Fair skin, chestnut hair, and eyes as green as Grace’s.

He approached the table and bowed. “My lady, Kristen, ye look very happy tonight.”

“I am happy. My mama came home. And I found out wots of new fings.”

He grinned at her. “Like what?”

“Wike, this is my cousin Annice.” She gestured to the breathtaking lass beside her. “I wike Annice. Annice, this is Michael. I wike him too.”

“Good evening, my lady,” Michael bowed low.

Lady Annice blushed and smiled. “Good evening, Sir Michael.”

“And I found out, I have anover gweat gwandmover, and new uncoes and a new aunt, and Waird and Wady Suverwand are my gwandpawents too. That’s because Mama mawwied Sir Bwam. Oh, and he is my da now.”

Both Michael and Annice chuckled at her litany. Michael said, “It seems ye have much to be happy about then. Please excuse me. I need to find a place to sit for this fine feast.”

“Sit here,” said Kristen, pointing to the chair beside her.”

“Nay, Kristen, I—”

“Oh, please join us,” said Annice.

“If ye insist,” said Michael. Only a direct order from his laird would have prevented him from denying that request.

“It has been quite a day,” said Annice, “and I’m sure Kristen will like having a friend close.”

Michael smiled. “Kristen is a fine wee lass, I’m certain she has adapted well.”

“Aye, she has,” said Annice.

“And what about ye, lass? I fear none of this is what ye were expecting. How have ye fared today?”

She laughed merrily. The sound was enchanting. “It is so very kind of ye to ask. No one else has, but I am fine. It isn’t as if I was longing to marry Bram. I didn’t even know him. Well, I suppose I met him a few years ago at my sister’s wedding, but I was just a lass. Nay, I’m not the least bit upset. On the contrary, finding my cousin has been wonderful. The fact that she and Bram love each other…” Annice sighed. “Well, that is just the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” She blushed. “I suppose that sounds silly.”