The Laird of Lochandee (18 page)

‘Twins? Two boys?' Rachel stared incredulously.

‘So small,' he repeated. ‘They say … one might survive.' He kept shaking his head. ‘My poor Meg.' He shuddered. ‘Please God let her be all right.'

‘Does she know? About the twins, I mean?' Rachel asked. Peter shook his head. ‘It took so long. They seemed to need so many – “things”.' He shivered. ‘Could only wait outside. They wouldn't let me in. She's sleeping.'

‘Sleep is the best cure, Mr Sedgeman,' Mrs Jenkins assured him. ‘Now you drink this cup of tea – hot, sweet and strong. It'll put new life into you.'

‘The minister is going …' Peter sipped the tea, then drank thirstily. ‘He's going to the hospital first thing,'

‘You've chosen names?' Rachel asked. Peter shook his head and brushed away the tears with a shamefaced glance. ‘Don't know. I must get back to Meg …'

‘Not before you've had an hour or two of sleep,' Mrs Jenkins said firmly.

‘I'll make some toast,' Rachel offered, ‘For all of us. Mrs Jenkins is right. You must have a rest so that you'll be strong for Meg. I'll waken you as soon as it's dawn.'

Chapter Eighteen

M
EG WAS BARELY CONSCIOUS
when the minister visited her in the little hospital room. Peter had to choose the names alone. He named the stronger twin Maxwell, after Meg's family. The smaller baby he named Ruairidh, after Doctor Gill.

‘If he lives long enough to go to school he will not thank you for it,' Doctor Gill grimaced, ‘Though I am known as Rory to all except my lawyer now.'

‘He will live, and he'll thank you for both your name and your skill, Doctor,' the matron vowed. ‘He may be a wee mite, but he's a fighter. Isn't that so, Nurse Laine?'

‘Indeed he is. In fact he may be a better feeder than his big brother, who's showing signs of being a sleepy, lazy infant.'

‘Is he now? We must watch for signs of jaundice when they are born early.' Doctor Gill frowned, but he summoned a reassuring smile as he turned to Peter. ‘I believe your wife was aware of the christening. She seems more at peace now. Her pulse is settling nicely.'

‘That's the best news yet, Doctor.' Peter breathed a huge sigh of relief. ‘Meg is the most important person in the world to me.'

‘I trust you mean that, because she will require a longer spell of nursing than usual after such a difficult birth. Can you afford to keep her here, at the hospital? It would be the best place for her. She will need to rest.'

‘We will work out the most favourable terms we can, Mr Sedgeman,' the matron promised. ‘My two nurses and I would like to see your little family well on the road to good health after being so near to losing them.'

‘Even if it costs me my business and everything I have, Meg must have whatever she needs to make her well,' Peter declared with feeling.

Rachel had written to Ross the day after the birth of Meg's babies. He replied by return. She was dismayed to hear he was expecting her to travel to Lochandee immediately. She thought she had explained Meg's critical condition and the smaller of the two babies was hanging to life by a mere thread. She wished she had not sent him news of the birth so promptly.

It was nearly three weeks before Meg was pronounced well enough to return home. During that time Ross had written several letters, each more impatient and exasperated than the last, demanding to know when Rachel would be at Lochandee.

‘An important matter has arisen. Mistress Beattie and the Factor insist you should be consulted,' he wrote. Rachel felt torn in two. She sensed Ross was piqued that she should need to be consulted on anything to do with his work at Lochandee, while she could not think of anything more important than Meg's recovery.

Eventually Alice Beattie wrote to Rachel. The tone was kind and understanding of her dilemma:

“
The matter which has arisen affects you, even more than Ross. I feel you must be free to express an opinion. However there is no necessity to tear yourself away from Mrs Sedgeman until you feel she is well enough to manage without you.

Mr Shaw has agreed to my request to make Ross a joint tenant. However the Laird's health is deteriorating more rapidly than we expected and he has advised me to bring forward the agreement. He fears there will be changes in the running of the estate when it passes to the young Laird. These may not be to our liking or advantage. Mr Shaw is trustworthy and I respect his opinion, but I am concerned that Ross may not have considered all the implications. The decision affects both of you, and your son.

To become a joint tenant Ross would be required to pay half the valuation of all the stock and equipment at The Glens of Lochandee as well as being responsible for paying half of the rent at the end of each six months term.

Naturally he would receive half of the profits. He is confident, with you to help him, that he will be able to pay off the debt within a few years. Mr Shaw assures me a valuation of one thousand pounds for Ross's half-share is a generous offer – certainly a much better opportunity than he would have if he rented a farm entirely on his own. You may wonder why I am being generous – or you may consider me a selfish woman. The truth is I have grown very fond of Ross and I am sure his happiness here will be complete when he has you at his side.

For my part, my dearest wish is to spend the rest of my life at The Glens of Lochandee. I have begun to hope that may be possible with Ross's help.

I understand both of you will wish to pay off your debt as soon as possible. Mr Shaw has promised to reinstate the original boundaries to The Glens of Lochandee when the lease is up for the present tenants. Ross was already planning to increase the herd but this means we need to hire another man. The Hiring Fair is May the twenty-eighth so time is running out.

The question which really affects you is this: Ross wishes to hire a married man with a wife to assist with the milking and dairy work. This would mean they would live in the cottage, which was to be your home. Would you be content to live here with me and rear your family under my roof? Or would you prefer to furnish the cottage and make it your own home? I should be happy to have you here. I admire and respect the loyalty you have shown to Mr and Mrs Sedgeman. But the decision must be your own
.”

There were a few more sentences. Rachel read and re-read the letter and then she showed it to Meg and Peter.

‘I can understand how wary you must feel about sharing your home and family, dear Rachel,' Meg said, ‘after your experiences with my mother. At least Mistress Beattie is honest enough to tell you what she hopes to gain from such an arrangement. Do you feel you could get along together? Would Conan annoy her, or other children when you get them.'

Rachel blushed at that and Meg chuckled.

‘I am sure you and Ross will have lots more babies. I expect they may be irritating to elderly people though.'

‘Mistress Beattie has never had children of her own but she seemed very patient with Conan. In fact she appeared to enjoy his visit,' Rachel added remembering the crib.

‘It's an excellent opportunity for Ross to get started in a farm,' Peter commented, ‘though I think he would require a formal agreement with Mistress Beattie. He should make sure he has the opportunity to buy her share of Lochandee when she no longer needs it – just in case a long lost relation turns up and claims it when she dies.'

‘Yes, that does happen sometimes, if there is money to be gained,' Meg agreed. ‘I had not thought of that.'

‘I will mention it when I write to Ross,' Rachel nodded.

‘It would save you the expense of buying your own furniture,' Peter reflected, ‘and it ought to be cheaper if you all live in one house – but as Mistress Beattie says, lassie, it depends how you feel about it. Two women in one house do not often get along without friction.'

‘We have got along splendidly,' Meg told him indignantly.

‘Yes, my love, but you are exceptional women. Anyway you have both been too busy to quarrel.'

‘I expect I shall be busy when I go to Lochandee,' Rachel smiled. ‘Ross is hoping I shall make butter to sell in the village. I shall enjoy that. Beth Pearson, the maid, is little more than a child herself and she was wonderful with Conan. He really liked her.'

‘Well don't reply in a hurry,' Meg advised. ‘Think about it tonight. Make your own decision – not just to please Ross. He always liked to have his own way, even when he was a very small boy,' she recalled with a smile. ‘By the way, Rachel, will you go with me to see Father before you leave? I know he would like to see you again, and Conan.'

‘Yes, I would like to see him too,' Rachel agreed. ‘I expect he wants to see your fine sons?' Rachel teased, glancing down at the two tiny heads in the pram.

‘Yes, Peter thought we could make a bed for them in a washing basket and put it in the back of the van. He's going to teach me to drive when I get my strength back.'

‘That's a good idea,' Rachel agreed, thinking how well Meg was progressing in spite of the demands of two hungry babies.

Soon she would be able to move to Lochandee and Ross with a clear conscience. She felt the familiar yearning and smiled inwardly. She understood one of the reasons Ross was so impatient.

Cameron Maxwell was almost speechless with emotion when he saw Rachel and Conan, as well as Meg and the two tiny babies, snuggled head to toe in a large, well padded wicker wash basket.

Ruth and Willie were delighted to see them. Although the babies were very tiny Rory was feeding well and holding his own.

‘Doctor Gill is astonished at how well he's progressing,' Meg told them all proudly. ‘And Max is wonderfully contented.'

‘Well, that's a blessing, lassie,' Cameron Maxwell told his daughter gruffly. ‘Though I seem to remember you were always a good-natured wee bairn yourself. Maybe you take after me. I've always thanked the good Lord for a contented soul – even though I was never a great one for attending the kirk.'

‘Meg and I certainly have plenty to thank Him for,' Peter said with real sincerity.

‘Aye, you're a good lad, Peter,' the old man smiled at him, ‘I'm glad things have worked out so happily for the pair o' you.' He reached out a hand towards Rachel and she went closer. He took her hand in his. ‘I canna tell you how sorry I am for the way you were treated under my roof, lassie. I promised your father …' He shook his white head in distress. ‘Can you forgive us?' he pleaded.

‘You were always kind to me.' In her heart Rachel knew she would never forget his wife's cruelty. One day she might be able to forgive her, but not yet. She perched on the arm of a chair beside him, bouncing her small son on her knee. ‘And see I have Conan. He's called after you and my father but the girls shortened his name to Conan.'

‘He's a fine boy. He's just like Ross was at that age. He even has that mischievous twinkle in his eye. I expect he'll lead you a merry dance before he's grown. Ross liked his own way.' Rachel smiled back into his twinkling eyes. ‘Ah, but you're a bonnie lassie and no mistake,' he sighed reminiscently and fell silent.

After some consideration Rachel had written to Alice Beattie accepting her offer and Alice Beattie replied by return, briefly but warmly.

‘She reminds me of Granny Ferguson,' Rachel told Meg when the reply came. ‘She was always fair and kind.' She sighed heavily. ‘I do wish I had been able to collect the vase she left for me – just as a reminder. Ross said he would bring it if he ever went in that direction to play the fiddle, but he never got the chance.'

‘No, he even left his fiddle behind, but I know he took it with him to Lochandee when he returned after Mother's funeral.'

‘He did,' Rachel smiled. ‘But he wonders whether he will ever find time to play it again.'

Peter was very late home from his rounds the night before Rachel and Conan were due to leave for Lochandee. Meg did not seem concerned and Rachel understood the reason when Peter handed her a package containg the vase. Rachel felt tears well into her eyes at the unexpected kindness.

‘Mistress Carmichael, your old neighbour, sent this letter for you Rachel, and a “wee minding” to wish you happiness in your marriage.'

Ross was waiting at the station to meet them with the pony and cart. Conan had been sleeping. He wakened from his nap feeling disgruntled and fretful. Rachel's heart sank. Ross had greeted her so eagerly, but he barely looked at his pouting young son.

‘I think the pair of you are more alike than I had imagined,' she said tartly as she tried to soothe Conan while helping Ross get their baggage into the trap.

As they jogged along the leafy lanes bordered by purple rhododendrons and beech hedges with their newly unfurled leaves and golden buds her spirits rose.

‘The countryside looks so beautiful at this time of year,' she sighed rapturously.

‘It's beautiful at any time of year in this area,' Ross grinned cheerfully. ‘I just know you will grow to love it as much as I do …' He reached out and squeezed her waist, ‘Especially now we are together.' Conan shot out a chubby fist and tried to push his arm away. ‘Mama,' he said indignantly ‘Mine.'

‘Mmm, a possessive wee fellow, isn't he?' Ross remarked with raised brows, but he could not help but laugh when Conan raised his own small brows in perfect imitation. Rachel's heart lightened. More than anything in the world she wanted Ross to love their son as she loved him.

Alice Beattie welcomed them with a warmth which surprised Rachel, considering they scarcely knew each other. She did not know Mr Shaw had confided a little of her story.

‘In my opinion she deserves some good fortune in her life. If I am any judge of character I'd say she is the type to repay it many times over,' he had told Alice.

‘I respect your judgement, especially when it bears out my own. I should have known Ross would choose wisely, but love can cloud the clearest mind when we are young.'

Although Rachel missed Meg and the little girls badly it was good to get back into the old routine of milking and butter-making. Beth Pearson welcomed both herself and Conan like long lost friends and Rachel quickly settled into life at The Glens of Lochandee. Conan was not so easily uprooted from his familiar environment. He missed the company. When Rachel wrote to Meg she told her how he had asked several times for “Sam – shoes,” and Polly was constantly mentioned.

Gradually he began to settle down but Rachel saw that his presence in their bedroom seemed to irritate and even inhibit Ross.