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* * *
Amelia and Marianne walked quickly in silence over the grass, towards her mother’s cottage. Marianne gripped Amelia’s arm tightly, fearing for her friend’s health as they made their way. “Amelia? Shall we discuss it before we reach your mother? Or would you like to be silent?”
Amelia didn’t reply at first, but then she said quietly. “I love him, Marianne. What have I done?”
“It seems you only did what you needed to do to save your father. ‘Tis he that has brought this turmoil upon you. You are not one to knowingly betray. And if Lady Kinnaird is right, Jamie loves you too.”
They kept walking, staring straight ahead as they talked.
“Would you love someone if they did what I did to you? Could you forgive them?”
Marianne was silent, knowing her nature to hold grudges. “I...I don’t know. But I like to think that if I heard their explanation and their apology, that I would. You had a reason to do what you did. ‘Twas a noble reason, as well, Amelia. ‘Twas not selfish. He cannot accuse you of that.”
Amelia spoke even softer now. “And what about my father? It will kill my mother if she finds out what has happened. And now, there is no money to send for my father’s release.”
Marianne did not know what to say at first, but after some thought, she comforted her friend. “We will think of something. Some solution. Don’t worry.”
“I pray you are right.”
They walked in silence the rest of the way until they arrived at the quiet cottage. Amelia’s heart beat rapidly as she opened the door to be met with a dark silence. “Mother? Sophie?” Marianne and Amelia stepped gingerly inside.
Sophie ran to her from the kitchen. “Miss Amelia, thank the Lord ye are here! I was tae send word tae the castle.”
“What? What is it?” Amelia’s heart twisted in fear.
Sophie appeared to struggle with her next words. “‘Tis yer ma. She is sick. She is resting now, but I donnae know what tae do.”
Amelia ran to open the door to the bedroom to see her mother’s small, pale frame, lying amidst the twisted sheets, a sheen of sweat on her face.
She rushed to her side to clasp her hand. “Mother? Mother, can you hear me?” Marianne stood in the doorway, and Henrietta turned her face towards her daughter. “Amelia? Why are you here?”
“No matter, Mother. I want to take care of you. Why did you not tell me you were ill? I would have come right away.” Henrietta closed her eyes.
“I did not want to worry you. I had hoped to make a quiet recovery.”
Amelia rushed back to Sophie in the kitchen. “Please, send for the doctor.”
“But, Miss, the doctor is expensive. We had not enough coin tae pay for him.”
Amelia thought of the money from Donald. It should be put to good use. “I have the coin. Please send for him, immediately!”
Sophie ran out the door. Marianne said, “I will try to make some tea.” She left for the kitchen. Amelia returned to her mother’s side, feeling as if the whole world was ending. Was there no break from tragedy and trouble? She let her tears fall silently as she watched her mother’s chest rise and fall in the rhythm of sleep.
* * *
Fiona and William sat by the hearth in the hall, with Prince Charlie sitting at Fiona’s feet, blissfully unaware of the recent occurrences. All the clansmen had gone home in dismay, and Donald had left to gather his belongings from the fort to bring to the castle.
Fiona’s tear slid down her cheeks as she stared into the flames. William had poured them both cups of wine, and they sat in silence, until William spoke. “I will go, me Lady, and speak tae Jamie. I will bring him back.”
Fiona wiped a tear with her fingers, and said, “No, let him stay where he is. He needs time to think, away from all this.”
William sighed but acquiesced. “Will ye come back to me homestead with me, Fiona? Ye are most welcome. I donnae want ye tae stay here with the bastard as he makes his plans as new laird, head of Kinnaird clan.”
She smiled at William, the young boy who she had watched grow into a man. “You are kind, William. I fear my departure will make it only that much easier for Donald to gain all the clan’s agreement and respect. It will show he has won, once and for all.”
“Do ye think that there was some kind of mistake in the records that no one was aware of?”
Fiona sat thoughtfully for a moment. “I confess I have never seen the birth records in the church, but it doesn’t seem like something James would have done if he’d known. He was an honest man. And he loved his brother. William, we must find out the truth of this. Donald is unstable. He will not make a good leader. If there is any chance he is telling a lie, then you and I must find it out.”
William smiled, re-energized with the task at hand. “I’ve been waiting tae hit that bastard right where it hurts. Aye, I will do my best.” He gulped down the rest of his wine, and the rest of the evening was spent with he and Fiona discussing ideas for how to get justice.
