Page 54 of Savage Kilted Highlander

“Then, nine months later, she wrote tae me, tellin’ me she’d given birth tae twin girls. It was a blow, girls, a terrible blow tae ken she had me bairns but couldnae be mine. Anyway, she explained that she could pass off one baby as her husband’s without raisin’ any suspicions. But there had never been any twins in her family nor her husband’s, and him bein’ of a jealous nature, she was afraid he would realize she’d been unfaithful. She asked fer me help in separatin’ ye.”

“Och, poor Maither, she must have been so scared,” Agnes interjected softly, her eyes shining with supressed emotion.

“She was right to be afraid,” Constance said bitterly.

Their father nodded. “Aye, well, sad as it was, we agreed that in order tae safeguard yer maither, it was necessary tae separate ye. Luckily yer stepfaither was away at Court when ye were born. I visited and took Agnes back with me tae Scotland, tae raise mesel’. I tried tae persuade Eleanor tae come with me, that I’d protect her. But she wouldnae leave without all her son, and she knew that his father would never allow it, so she had tae stay.”

“Agnes, ye asked me why I didnae tell ye about Constance after Eleanor died. Ye cannae imagine how many times I almost did. But I stopped mesel’ every time, because I kent if I did, ye’d demand tae see her. That would have meant admittin’ the truth tae ye and Ashbourne. I kent what sort of man he was, and I feared he’d take revenge on me by punishin’ yer sister. I had tae protect her as I protected Eleanor. I thought it better fer ye tae believe yer maither was dead, Agnes, and didn’t change that story when I found out she had really died.”

Agnes, tears running down her cheeks now, put her hand gently on his. Her father picked up her hand and kissed it, holding on to it while reaching out with the other to Constance. It felt momentous when she placed her hand in his large hard palm for the very first time. As his hand enclosed hers, he raised it to his lips too and kissed it. The wave of paternal love washed over her once more, and she felt as though a darker chapter of her life was closing and a new, brighter one just beginning.

But questions still remained. “Father, one thing still puzzles me. Do you know how my stepfather found out about the affair between you and Mama and what happened to me and Agnes?”

He shook his head. “Nay, lass. Naturally, ye bein’ me daughter, I kept an eye on ye all these years in secret. I could live with the situation as long as I was sure Ashbourne was treatin’ ye and Eleanor properly. But when ye were about six or seven, a report came back that suggested yer maither had been shut up in her chambers for weeks, and she was never seen in public again.”

His words hit Constance like a blow to the face. “One day she was perfectly all right, the next, we were told she was ill and had taken to her bed. We children were sometimes allowed to visit her, and she told us herself that she was ill, although she did not seem ill at all, only very sad. She seemed to waste away before our eyes and never came out of her chambers again before she died about a year or so later.”

“Ach, God, she must have died of a broken heart, the Lord bless her dear soul,” Agnes murmured, looking stricken.

“Christ! That bastard Ashbourne deserves tae be lynched,” their father with a flash of rage. “The rumour was put about that she was an invalid, but I didnae believe it fer a second. I realized then Ashbourne had found out the truth somehow and that was his way of punishin’ Eleanor while avoidin’ a scandal. Most likely it was someone who helped at the birthin’ that told him, a midwife or servant who kept the secret for so long, but then maybe fell on hard times and traded the information for a handout.”

“Yes, that would make sense,” Constance agreed with a nod.

“I was powerless tae dae anythin’, and it ate away at me,” her father explained. “Then, I got the news that Eleanor had died.” He paused for a second before going on, “I want ye both tae ken, me lassies, yer maither was the only woman I have ever loved. That’s why I’ve never married, out of respect for her. She was so special, I could never love another after her.”

The girls both nodded, tears brimming in their eyes.

The laird looked down at his plate and speared a piece of meat with his fork to busy himself, embarrassed after his heartfelt confession.

It was then that Constance decided to speak up about what had been tormenting her all evening. She could not stop thinking about Bane, wounded and left alone to sleep in the stables after all he had endured for her. She missed him sorely and was worried about his wellbeing. This would be as good a time as any to intercede for him.

“Father, I know for certain that you have a kind and big heart after the words ye have just spoken. I–I wanted to talk to you about Bane and–”

“Nay, daughter, now is nae the time. Now is our time tae get tae ken each other.”

“But Father, he saved my life more than once and I owe him–”

“Ye and I owe him naethin’!” He slammed his fist onto the table. “He tried tae kidnap nae one, but two of me daughters and I already have gone against me convictions by letting him stay here tae heal enough tae travel home. But he will nae enter the keep or stay longer than needed, and we shall nae discuss it further!”

Constance murmured “Yes, Father” so as not to upset him further.

She truly was grateful for everything he had done for her since her arrival and had not meant to anger him. But she loved Bane and would find a way to see him no matter what. Nothing and nobody could stop her. She had changed the course of her life once already and would do so again if necessary. Especially now that she had discovered the extent of her will and strength.