Resisting the Highlander: A Scottish Romance (8 page)

“Of course,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity.” She looked around the pleasant room she had spent so much time in the last few years. The piano she had played on so often stood across one corner between the fireplace and a large bay window. On the opposite side of the window stood the old pump organ and directly across the room from it, there was a handsome side board, used mostly for storing miscellaneous music books.

The iron kettle, black with soot, rested near the side of the open fire, always at the boil, ready for a quick cup of tea. The large table in the center of the room served as a desk for students written theory lessons before their half hour at the piano. Miss Wallace living quarters adjoined this room, making it a very convenient way of life for a single woman.

She looked at Bridget speculatively and continued, “There is something else I want you to do for me, Bridget, while I am away.”

Bridget now felt the excitement rising in her. She looked across at her teacher with a smile, “Yes, Miss Wallace, what is the other thing you would like me to do?”

“Well, don’t get frightened at what I am about to say, but I would like you to be acting organist at the church also while I am gone.”

The two women looked at each other, Bridget’s eyes popping wide, mouth flying open.

She stammered, “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m afraid I would be too excited and nervous to play in front of all those people.”

“Nonsense, my dear, you have no need to be afraid, you are a fine player, and since I won’t be leaving for a few months yet, you will have ample time to come to church once a week for choir practice. I shall let you take over a few weeks before I do leave. Wouldn’t you like that?”

Bridget felt much relief at the plan. Her eyes shone with excitement at the thought of this golden opportunity. She smiled, saying, “Thank you so much, Miss Wallace, for your confidence in me. I think I shall try out for the job, and you will still have time to get someone else if I don’t work out to please you.”

The older woman laughed, transfiguring her usually austere face, “I am not afraid of that, Bridget, and wouldn’t have asked you to do this if I thought you were not capable of it. Off  you go now, it’s almost supper time.”

With a gentle push, she propelled Bridget towards the door.

O
n a blistering evening in March, Robert and Aidan finished their evening meal and sat at the table talking casually, although both of them had the same thing on their mind: Bridget.

Although they had not discussed it, both men felt that Bridget, for some reason, was purposely staying away from the castle much more than usual. Robert was concerned, but Aidan, thinking of his encounter with her the night after the Burns dinner, felt sure he was the reason for it. He kept quiet, worrying that mentioning the events of that evening could jeopardize his job if Robert thought it the cause of Bridget’s behavior.

They sat quietly for a few moments each busy with his own thoughts. Sounds of rattling dishes same from the kitchen where Besse was busily washing up before going out for the evening.

It was evident Aidan was in a glum mood, but Robert broke the silence with a question he had long wanted to ask, “How are you and Bridget getting along, lad?”

Aidan pushed back his chair and started to get up from the table before answering, “Not too well sir, seems everything I say or do just irritates her, and we usually wind up snapping at each other.”

He went over by the fireplace, took his pipe off its stand on the end table, and put fresh tobacco in it before continuing, “She seems to have something against me, has had form the start, and apparently doesn’t want my company or my attentions.”

Robert strode toward the fire and savagely kicked a large lump of coal with the heel of his boot, breaking it into small pieces, causing the red sparks to fly up the chimney.

He then sat down in his chair across from Aidan he said, “I’m sorry to hear that, laddie, I thought she would be happy to have someone like you pay court to her. Have you any idea what the trouble might be?”

“No, sir, none whatever.”

“Well, give her time. She’s young yet and if she’s never had a lad before, she could be shy of you. She’ll come around.”

“Ach, she’s no shy by any means,” muttered Aidan, “and to tell you the truth she can be a little de’il when she wants to.”

Robert smiled good-naturedly at his words. 

Aidan went on, “Maybe she’s just too young to understand the ways of a man and a woman. All Bridget thinks about is her precious music.”

“That’s understandable, Aidan. She has worked very hard to get where she is in that field and wants to make her parents proud of her. They are a very close, loving family. I wish she wouldn’t take on all the work she is planning to do for her teacher though. We won’t be seeing much of her at all this coming summer if she does.”

Aidan, only slightly interested asked, “Will she be teaching the bairns here?”

“I told her she could if she wanted to, but she turned down my offer, saying she would be doing it at Miss Wallace’s house where everything is set up for teaching and where the children are used to coming for their lessons.”

Besse interrupted their talk as she came through from the kitchen, adjusting her shawl about her head, expertly pinning it under her chin. “I’ll be off now, sir, if ye don’t need me for anything else.  There’s fresh crumpets in the bread box, if ye would like some later.”

“Thank you, Besse, that’s fine. We’ll have them with tea when Bridget comes in. Enjoy your visit with your friends, lass, and there’s no need to hurry back.”

“All right then, I’ll be on my way,” and off she went by way of the kitchen door.

Aidan got up off his chair, stretching himself as he said in a detached manner, “I think I’ll talk a walk to town and see what’s doing. Would ye mind? I feel a bit restless tonight.”

“No laddie, I dinna mind. I think I understand what’s bothering you.”

Aidan put his unfinished pipe on its rack and was about to go get a jacket from his room when they heard voices coming from the direction of the front door. One was Bridget’s and the other unfamiliar to them. 

They heard her say, “Put your macintosh on the chair, Kevin, and come on and meet my grandfather.”

Bridget walked through the hallway door on the arm of a tall young man. His straw colored hair and blue eyes evidenced his Viking ancestry. His was a pleasant countenance, especially when he smiled, as he was doing now, as they came toward the fireplace.

“Grandfather,” she began, “I want you to meet my friend Kevin Anderson. Kevin, this is the Robert I’ve been telling you about.”

Robert got to his feet, looking intently at the young man as they shook hands.

Kevin said, “I’m very pleased to meet you, Mr. MacDonald. Bridget never tires of talking about you and some of your seafaring experiences.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, too, laddie, and hope I am worthy of all my granddaughter’s praise.”

Bridget broke in on them. “Kevin, this is Aidan MacLeod, Robert’s right hand man. He also lives here at the castle.”

She looked at Aidan as she spoke. His face was expressionless. The two younger men shook hands each appraising the other. Kevin’s boyish appearance made a strong contrast to the older and more experienced Aidan, who had apparently forgotten his urge to go out and sat down again. Bridget and Kevin seating themselves on the settee.

Looking across at Robert, Bridget said, “I had an early supper with Mum and Father tonight, then went to Kevin’s parents’ home. He plays violin and the two of us have played together quite often for some of the socials and things at the church. We are getting up something special for Easter, which will take a lot of practice, and that’s what we were doing tonight. Then, Kevin walked me home.”

“That’s fine, lassie, and remember you can practice here all you want. You are very welcome too, Kevin, anytime.”

“Thank you, Mr. MacDonald, that is very nice of you. You have a grand house here. I’ll be glad to come,” he smiled.

“Do you teach violin, Kevin?” asked Aidan quietly.

Kevin laughed. “Ach no. I wouldn’t have the patience for that, but I do have a great love for playing it, and get lots of pleasure doing so. Bridget and I are much alike in our love for music.” 

“Tell me, Kevin,” Robert broke in, “what kind of work do you do? Are you a fisherman?”

“No, sir, I’m afraid I haven’t much liking for the sea, although I might have had when sailing ships were on the go,” he answered, looking up at the painting of Robert’s clipper above the mantle. “Those must have been romantic days. My father is a seaman though, just like Bridget’s. I’m at the tool works out the south road. Been there for almost three years now.”

Robert looked at him closely. “That long, eh? You don’t look old enough.”

“I’m twenty, sir, and hoping for a promotion sometime soon.”

He smiled at Bridget as he spoke, and Aidan, taking everything in, thought he knew just what he was insinuating.

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B
ridget had told her grandfather about taking over lessons that summer but not about the other task Miss Wallace had asked of her, knowing Robert might not like knowing there was yet another thing he’d have to share her with. She said directly to him, “Grandfather, my teacher, who has asked another favor of me.”

She looked at him for any reaction but there was none at the moment, so continuing on she told him about being organist at the church during Miss Wallace’s absence.

“Looks like I am to have a busy time of it, doesn’t it?”

Robert looked at her seriously and asked,“You have been working so hard up to now, do you think this is all worth it? You don’t have to work at all you know, if you would rather not.”

Not expecting such a reaction, she promptly replied, “Oh, Robert, this is what I’ve been studying so hard for, and it is a grand opportunity for me. I just hope I am good enough to cope with it, and you know it will make me very proud to earn some money of my own. How I would love to put one or two pound notes in my father’s hand, just to show my appreciation for what he has done for me.”

“That’s a mighty fine thought, lassie, but if I know your father, he is not expecting you to pay anything back. I’m right proud of you for even thinking such a thing. Now will you make us a cup of tea before Kevin goes home? Besse said she left fresh crumpets in the bread box, so let’s have those also.”

As she went to do his bidding, she noticed that Kevin and Aidan were deep in conversation. Kevin was apparently very interested in Aidan’s work with the animals and was asking innumerable questions. He didn’t notice her leave.

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A
short time later when Kevin had taken his leave, Bridget carried the dishes to the kitchen for washing up. Aidan was right behind her.

“I’ll give you a hand, lassie. You must be tired after your big day.”

She looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he was really trying to be nice, or just making fun of her. As their eyes met, he said, “You didn’t tell me you had a lad, Bridget.”

“Am I supposed to tell you everything about myself? Besides Kevin is just a good friend whose company I happen to enjoy, but I don’t think it’s any of your business what our relationship is.”

“Perhaps not, but I mean to make it my business. I don’t intend to let you go that easily.”

“Ach, Aidan, yer daft, and I’m too tired to fight with you now. So goodnight, I’m off to bed.”

Walking away from him, she went to where Robert was seated by the fire. Putting her arms around him for a moment and kissing him on the cheek, she said, “Goodnight Robert, you better get to bed too, it’s getting late.”

“Aye, lassie, I think I’d better.”

Then as she turned to go upstairs, she was confronted by Aidan. He grabbed her by the shoulders and said “What! No goodnight kiss for me?” He boldly pressed his mouth against hers.

She pulled away from him, face red with embarrassment because her grandfather had witnessed the kiss, and ran upstairs.

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“D
o you see what I mean, sir?” said Aidan bitterly, turning towards Robert. “I think she hates the sight of me, and if you hadn’t been here just now, I’m sure I would have got a terrible tongue lashing, and possibly a good slap into the bargain. It’s funny, though. I never had such trouble getting a girl before,” he mused.

“Laddie,” laughed Robert, “maybe you don’t know as much about girls as you think you do.  Sometimes they take great pleasure in repulsing a suitor if he is too attentive. Why don’t you try a different tack and see what happens? But first tell me, are you ready to settle down, and is Bridget the one you want for good?”

“Aye sir, to both questions,” he said, running her fingers through his black hair. “She is driving me wild.”

“All right, son, try a little indifference towards her and see what happens.”

Aidan looked questioningly at Robert. “That’s right lad, I’ll wager then she will see things differently.”

After a moment’s reflection, the younger man mused, “It might be worth a try at that, I’ll do it!

Robert slapped him on the back. “That’s a good lad, sometimes indifference can work wonders.”

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W
hen Bridget got to her room, she threw the latch shut to lock her door and then threw herself upon her bed. Anger and embarrassment warred inside her, one demanding she go back downstairs and tell Aidan MacLeod off once and for all, and the other wanting to crawl under her covers and stay there forever. She thought that if she had a piano in her room she might never leave. Life would be simpler.

The impulse to crawl into bed won out and quickly made herself ready. Almost as soon as her head hit the pillow she was asleep.

Sometime that night, when the moon was high and the house should have been quiet, Bridget awoke to loud noises outside her window. To her half-awake brain, it sounded like something was trying to get in. She shook her head to clear it and listened intently. Noises came from outside, but farther away this time. She couldn’t make out what they were and hated to admit to herself that she was frightened. Suddenly Aidan’s arms around her didn’t seem so unwelcome. She chided herself for such a foolish thought. It was just the wind, she told herself, or perhaps some owls flying close to the castle.