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But he would have to go on. Mrs. MacLean was tending to the people, and he would begin helping the villagers to make repairs and start planting on their land. It was imperative that he begin soon, for he knew that the Campbells would be after them in the next week or so. There was yet no word from Calum, but he hoped there would be within the next few days. And when he wrote back to him, he would need to let him know that all was well.
The land was ripe and fertile, and after the long rainstorm, it was ready for seeds. Ah yes, the rainstorm in which Charlotte Andrews had hit her head and had laid in a bed, in a beautiful state, as Angus had stumbled words out that hadn’t quite made sense but only added to that warm tension that had turned him inside out and made him feel as though he had not remembered words at all.
Back to Charlotte again. He stood abruptly, and the wooden chair nearly fell back against the wall. He looked at it briefly but then turned toward the door, his expression practically glowering. He wished that he could focus. Each day, he had spent his physical energy with the sword against his men, and it still wouldn’t erase the pain he felt at Charlotte’s abrupt departure. It was like she was a true thorn in his side, but in this case, she was sucking peace from him.
As he left the study, he nearly crashed into Mrs. MacLean. “Oh!” She yelled out sharply, and Angus pulled back quickly to avoid a collision.
“Do forgive me, Mrs. MacLean. I fear I was in a hurry tae get upon my horse this morning.”
She nodded, adjusting the state of her hair. “Nae bother, Sir. I completely understand. I wanted tae give ye this.” She handed him a paper with her modest scratchings of food lists. “These are what we usually need for each season, and as of right now, we are nae doing too badly. I’d say we need a few more hunts and a few more times tae sell the wares, and our accounts will be within balance. But, of course, ye will be the judge of that, Sir. Our main need is food other than meat.”
He nodded, scanning the page as he did so. “Thank ye, Mrs. MacLean. Ye have been most helpful. I dinnae know what I would do without ye. I am glad tae hear that we are doing well. The last hunt was most fruitful. Taeday, I wish tae go and see what repairs can be made tae barns and houses and begin the planting, if possible. Has Fen returned the animals tae their masters?”
“Aye, Sir, he has done so, although he was sad tae empty Lady MacLean’s beautifully planned stables.” A few months before, Julia had created a design for a wonderful set of stables to protect the island’s animals from the harsh winter. It had impressed everyone so much, especially Fen, the stable boy, who was a self-proclaimed slave for life to Lady MacLean.
“Excellent. Thank ye. I will be off for a few hours.”
“I shall have food ready for yer return.”
He walked off and then stopped, only slightly turning back. “Have ye heard from Mistress Andrews?”
Mrs. MacLean sighed. “I’m afraid nae, but I’m sure she’ll write when she has the time. I have begun a letter tae her tae inform her of the patients’ progress. I hope she fares well at the Fort with her father. I’m sure she was happy tae be reunited with him.”
He nodded quickly and then left, a pang of disappointment at the fact. If Charlotte had written, then he could somehow know that she was well and happy in her new home. But the fact that she remained silent felt ominous somehow as if she was trapped or unhappy now that she’d gone. But enough thoughts of the woman. It was time for thoughts of planting and protecting his clan from ruin.
* * *
After a walk with her father by the shore of the Sound, Charlotte sat at her small writing table in her chamber and gripped onto Julia’s letter excitedly. Finally, it had come! It was quick but loving, and she felt just a little bit lighter after her rather gloomy time of grieving for her loss of the Isle.
Dear Charlotte,
All is busy here in London. Uncle stands trial, and they deliberate, even though he has confessed. His lawyers are trying to use insanity to keep him from hanging, but I do not think they will succeed. I will be testifying soon. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to have Calum with me, but his eyes are widened by the hugeness of the world. He has never been anywhere, and so London feels strange to him. He seems rather like a fish upon land, but I think he’s rather enjoying it. How goes the clan? How is Angus faring? Have you sorted out your differences yet?
Write to me,
Julia
Even though she knew that Julia was hoping to glean details about her and Angus, she was happy to have gotten word from her cousin. It made her feel like all was well and would soon return to the way it was. Well, not quite, but she knew that this trial meant a lot to Julia, and it would be a time for her and Calum to be together. They could return to the clan more whole and more devoted to each other than ever.
Hopefully, they had a clan to return to. If Angus could do his job, then all would be well. And if she had stayed to help too, it would have been better. She brushed that thought aside and looked down at the letter again. It warmed her heart. She would return the letter as soon as possible. She was just about to set her pen to do so when she heard footsteps on the stairs. It was one of the lower soldiers. He knocked on the door and then called out, “Mistress, your father wishes to see you in the hall.”
She dropped her things and left the room, following after the hurried footsteps of the soldier in front. When she arrived in the hall, she was met with her smiling, rather obsequious father, a tall thin man with large hands and a keen stare, and a lovely red-headed woman with spectacles on her nose and a book in her hand.
She paused in surprise, afraid her appearance was a little too inappropriate for meeting strange guests, and her father said, “My dear, please welcome Lord Mortimer Darling, Earl of Oxford, and his daughter, Elizabeth Darling. They will be staying with us for an indefinite period.”
Charlotte curtsied as elegantly as she could, hoping her blush of embarrassment wasn’t too obvious. She did not like to be surprised in such a way, and she eyed both of her new guests with curiosity. The young woman was beautiful but seemed shy and reserved and had curtsied as well but with slow hesitation. As for the older man, he bowed stiffly and haughtily, as if he knew a secret that Charlotte did not. And when she’d looked into his eyes, she could see a coldness that made a sick feeling climb into her stomach and tell her that all would not be well at Fort William.
