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Turning to Fergus, she said, “I will find a way tae pay ye back, friend. I promise.”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Just get yer daughter and yerself tae safety, milady. Worry aboot the rest later, if ye must.”
Elspeth nodded and turned to make her way to the horses. Florence looked up as she approached. She appeared haggard, her eyes hallow with dark circles around them, her face drained of what little color it usually possessed, and there were small cuts all over her from their hike through the forest to safety.
“Are we leaving now?” she asked in a soft, broken voice.
“Aye,” Elspeth answered. “Tis a long journey where we are going. We need tae get going right away.”
She did not bring up the danger they continued to be in, though she knew Florence was an intelligent girl and would likely know they remained at risk. Still, Elspeth did not want to say anything to further remind her daughter of their loss. It was clear she was struggling enough as it was.
Elspeth was struggling as well, but she had experienced enough pain and death in her life that she was able to hold onto her emotions more easily than Florence could. As much as it pained her to admit it, she knew that Florence would learn that control in time. This was likely not the last tragedy she would experience in her life as life in the Highlands could be fraught with conflict and uncertainty.
The two mounted their horses and directed them away from the blacksmith’s home. Elspeth glanced over her shoulder at him one last time. He was watching them go, his expression twisted with clear concern.
She focused back on the road ahead of them, sending up a silent prayer that the man did not suffer any consequences for sheltering them.
Florence did not say a word as they made their way out of the village, and Elspeth debated whether or not she should leave the girl to wallow in her grief. She was certainly entitled to it, but it would be a difficult enough journey, and Florence would need to be aware and alert to help them avoid danger.
Before Elspeth settled her inner debate, however, Florence broke the silence herself.
“How long has it been since ye have been home?” she asked softly.
Surprised, Elspeth did not know what to say at first, but then she managed to stammer, “Ah…seventeen years, actually.”
Florence appeared thoughtful for several moments. “Ye left when ye were pregnant wi’ me.”
Elspeth frowned. “Aye, I did.”
It had never been a secret that she had kept from Florence. She had been rather open about fleeing her home...though not so open as to why she had done so.
And just like that, William entered her thoughts.
She had been so concerned with escaping the McClarens’ attack, she had not even considered the fact that she was headed straight back to him. Well, no that was not quite right. She intended to avoid him and keep her arrival home from getting spread around the countryside for as long as she could. Still, he would be nearby. They could conceivably run into each other. He could accidentally stumble upon Florence…
Elspeth shut that thought down immediately. She could not handle the idea of William meeting his daughter. He likely would not believe that Florence was his, and that would crush Elspeth. If he looked at Florence and accused her of being Roberth’s daughter…
Elspeth was not sure she would be able to contain her temper. She would likely kill him right then and there.
“Will they welcome ye home?” Florence questioned.
Elspeth glanced at her before answering, “I cannae say for certain. They will no’ be able tae turn us away, regardless.”
Florence turned and studied Elspeth for several moments. Elspeth found the scrutiny unnerving, but she did not say a word to dissuade her daughter.
“Will ye demand they give ye yer title back?”
Elspeth arched a brow, curious as to where all these questions were coming from. Was Florence just trying to distract herself from her thoughts? Very likely. Elspeth decided to continue indulging her.
Shaking her head, she replied, “Nae. I do no’ wish tae be Laird. Besides, the clan likely would no’ like for me tae come in after so much time and simply take over again.”
“But it is yer birthright.”
Elspeth shrugged. “It was. Once. I relinquished all that tae marry yer da.”
Florence seemed to accept that explanation.
Looking ahead once more, she said, “We will have a hard go o’ it, will we no’?”
