The Highlander's Servant: Book One of the Highlander Possession Series (25 page)

             
Neil shrugged, piling his plate with lamb and other meats, “Ye mean before or after ye told her she was betrothed to yer son?”

             
She gave him a stern look that suggested he better hold his tongue, and then he sighed putting down his fork, “She is fine, Lady Ruskin, just a bit,” he thought for the right word, “overwhelmed.”

             
Jean frowned slightly at that, “And did ye explain what needed to be explained?”

             
This time, Neil frowned, “No’ all of it, but the parts concerning me. I had run out of time.”

             
“Then mayhap ye can visit her in the morrow?” she suggested, pushing the matter further.

             
Neil smiled wryly, “Mayhap, but only if I can get away from my duties here.”

             
They ate in silence after that, not wanting to be heard by anyone in the room. They had been careful of their tones, and were quite positive that no one had overheard them, especially since the several men in the room were all drunk on ale.

             
When the time came, they retired to their chambers. They parted separate ways, unknowing of what the next day would bring.

Chapter Thirty

              Rainclouds hovered over the once blue skies, making them gray and dull. This only increased Kirstin’s own dullness as she became uninterested in just about everything. She had found herself meandering the hallways of Lachlan’s manor, and even that was becoming tiresome.

             
Lachlan was off fulfilling duties as Laird, duties that Kirstin never questioned but had thought them to be just as dull and boring as strolling down the hallways. The servants paid her no attention, including Alana who was busy baking like she always did.

             
Right when Kirstin was about to retire to her chambers to lie on her bed in a state of tedium, Roderick appeared around the corner.

             
“Kirstin,” he greeted with a wide smile plastered on his face, “How are ye and the laird these days? I have hardly the time to speak to ye anymore.”

             
She grinned back at him, finding his smile contagious, “We are quite well but I fear he is out at the moment. Any idea how much longer he will be?”

             
Roderick shrugged, “Nay, but I ken what we can do while we wait for his return.”

             
Kirstin became full of hope, “Aye?”

             
He motioned for her to follow him, “Come this way.”

             
She followed him down the long hallways and up a flight of stairs. The rain pounded heavily against the walls and windows, but in a sense it was relaxing.

             
They finally arrived to two tall doors made of wood. Roderick pushed the doors wide open, and inside revealed a library, with each wide wall adorned with shelves and books. Kirstin’s mouth fell agape, and she gawked, “How is it that Lachlan can afford so many books?”

             
Roderick winked in return, “He is the most well known of the lands, is he no’?”

             
She began to walk towards one of the shelves, “But I thought he was well known for his merciless ways, no’ his endless amount of wealth.”

             
“For both,” Roderick corrected, “For he is great in more than one way.”

             
Kirstin ran her fingers down one of the walls of books. Her fingers grazed the thick bindings, and she finally took a decent sized book from the shelf. Not only did Lachlan have so many books, but the books were also from various places and times.

             
It amazed her how one person could afford such an estate, a manor, and a library.

             
“How does a man, such as the laird, become so rich?” she asked blatantly.

             
Roderick opened his mouth to answer but a strong, male voice answered for him, “By generations of family ties and deeds.”

             
They both turned around to face no other than Lachlan himself. He leaned against the doorway, his white shirt unbuttoned slightly, and his dark hair disheveled. He looked wet from the rain, and his boots were coated in a thin layer of mud.

             
“Leave us, Roderick.” Lachlan said once more, his voice low.

             
Like always, Roderick winked at Kirstin, as if he knew something she did not. Then, he left Kirstin alone with the laird.

             
“How is it,” Lachlan began, taking steps towards Kirstin in a predatory kind of way, “That a woman, such as yerself, becomes even more beautiful day by day?” She realized then that he was mocking her earlier words, but had completely turned them against her.

             
“Mayhap,” Kirstin replied, gathering her confidence, “”tis because I try to impress a certain man.”

             
Lachlan reached for her, pulling her closer to him. He looked down at her and asked good-humoredly, “And who might this man be? Tell me now so that I may defeat him and take yer heart, for ye have certainly taken mine.”

             
Kirstin teasingly replied, “But sir,” and then her voice dropped an octave for emphasis, “Ye have already taken my heart.”

             
Lachlan’s smile widened at that, “Then surely I am this man that ye speak so openly about.”

             
Kirstin brought her lips close to his own, “’Tis true,” she said, putting a light kiss to the side of his mouth, “Yer the man.”

             
Without another second to waste, Lachlan crashed his lips down onto Kirstin’s. The moment became instantly heated, with Lachlan pushing her against one of the shelves, causing a few books to fall. Kirstin laughed into the kiss when one of the books had almost fell between them, and then she brought her lips back to his.

             
Lachlan stopped the kiss long after it had begun, and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck as if smelling her sweetness, and then he looked intensely into her eyes, “I will never leave ye, Kirstin, as long as ye promise to never leave me.”

             
She gave him a reassuring smile, “How could I ever love another?”

             
He grinned widely at her words, and then offered her his hand. She easily took it, her smooth fingers grazing his calloused ones. He guided her to the small table and armchairs that were placed within the center of the library. As they took a seat, Kirstin figured he wanted to talk more and she spluttered out, “Did ye ken about my mother and her wrongful ways?”

             
Lachlan nodded, a blank expression on his face, “Aye, I did.”

             
“How?” Kirstin pressed.

             
Lachlan gave her a firm look, “’Tis why I sat ye down. I need to tell ye some things before it becomes too late to tell ye at all.” Kirstin waited for him to continue, with a mixture of curiosity and uneasiness.

             
“Now, what I am about to tell ye may seem confusing at first, but bear with me.” Lachlan began, his voice serious. Kirstin nodded in understanding and then he continued, “As ye ken, yer father wanted me to take ye away because ye were of age and he had become fearful of the day Graham would find ye. One would think that Graham wouldna want ye because yer parents betrayed his, but he wanted ye more so out of spite and hatred. I believe now that he is actually attracted to ye, which is why he is pushing the matter so far. Anyway,” he waved his hand in the air, “Neil, yer brother and my spy, knew that yer mother regretted marrying yer father, because he ultimately betrayed the Ruskin clan and was forced to live a life of poverty. Yer mother originally married him for his status and wealth, but when that was all taken away from him, she did no’ want to remain as his wife. She remained loyal to the Ruskin clan, and still wishes for ye to marry Graham instead of me.” Lachlan frowned at that.

“When I took ye away, Neil visited her. He said that she was planning on killing
yer father in secret, and I thought she did.” Kirstin covered her mouth with a hand, interrupting Lachlan. She was shocked, and Lachlan reached a hand out to put it on her knee in a comforting gesture, “Neil came to me one day and notified me that she did no’ kill him.  Instead, Neil had told yer mother that he would kill yer father so that she wouldna need to get her hands dirty, but he only made it seem that way.”

             
By now, Kirstin’s eyebrows were furrowed and she asked, “What do ye mean, ‘seem that way’?”

             
“I mean, Kirstin,” Lachlan said gravely, “That yer father is alive. Neil took him into hiding and faked his death, originally blaming the false murder on Graham.” Kirstin’s mouth had fallen agape, and all she could do was stare at Lachlan. For a while, Lachlan stared back, concerned for her.

             
“Where is he?” she finally asked, soft-spoken.

             
Lachlan answered honestly, “He is staying with Ewan, the cordwainer.”

             
Kirstin shot out of her chair and breathlessly said to Lachlan, “I must go to him this instant. Will ye take me to him?”

             
Lachlan was quiet for a long time, “Aye.” He finally said, standing up from his chair. So many different emotions were running through Kirstin’s mind, and so many thoughts as she came to accept that her father was not dead, and Graham and her mother had intended to murder him.

             
“Did ye really believe he was dead for so long?” Kirstin asked, more upbeat as they walked to the stables.

             
“Aye,” Lachlan answered, “We all did. Neil had spread rumors that Graham had killed him, despite yer mother thinking Neil had done the deed. It turns out that yer brother has his own scheming ways, but for yer best interest.” Kirstin was beaming. She made a mental note to thank Neil when she saw him next, and to scorn her mother for her defiance in the family.

             
Lachlan helped Kirstin onto Jack, and then guided Jack from the stalls. He pulled himself up to sit behind her, grabbing the reins and giving them a tug. They rode at a consistent pace, despite the fact that Kirstin wanted to go faster. She was eager to see her father, and found herself teary-eyed from the happiness that swelled in her.

             
It took them several minutes to reach a path amongst the rocky terrain, and beyond a stream, Kirstin could make out a decent sized house. They crossed the bridge and Lachlan gave the reins another tug, until they were trotting up to the house.

             
Lachlan left Jack tied to a tree, where he could graze on the fresh grass that was there. Then he helped Kirstin down, who had become nervous upon their arrival. Together, with hand in hand, they walked to Ewan’s front door. Kirstin took in the rustic home, made of wood and stone that contained at least two levels. The birds sang and chirped in the bushes out front, and beyond the home she could see land of fields and pastures.

             
Breaking Kirstin from her thoughts, Lachlan knocked on the door twice. Shuffling could be heard from beyond the door, and then it opened.

             
Ewan looked appalled by their arrival, and gazed distantly at Kirstin, “Ye told her.” He said, his words coming out more of a statement. Kirstin could feel Lachlan nod next to her, “Aye, I have.” He confirmed.

             
“Then please, come in!” Ewan said, opening the door wide for them, “Yer father is in the kitchen, dear.” His sudden change of expression startled Kirstin, but nevertheless she walked inside the country home.

             
“Down that hallway there.” Ewan pointed, and Kirstin followed his instructions. In the background, she could faintly hear Ewan ask Lachlan about the wellbeing of Alana, which in turn made Kirstin chuckle under her breath.

             
At the end of the hallway, was the kitchen, and there sitting at the small wooden table was her father. He looked calm as he sipped off a cup, holding it between both hands.

             
“Pa?” Kirstin whispered, tears once again brimming her eyes. Mr. Croft looked up at the sound of her voice, and Kirstin exclaimed, “Oh, Pa! ‘Tis really ye!”

             
Her father was stunned as his daughter wrapped two arms around him. He almost spilled his drink but quickly put in on the table and steadied himself. It took only a second of hesitation before he embraced her back, “Kirstin,” He cried, “my daughter.”