Chapter 15 Persuasion
She was living here now, in what her mother would have pronounced to be the end of the world. She had better make the most of it if it was to be her permanent home.
The chest with her possessions had thrown her off course. What could the Darcys or her family mean by it? Had Laird Eilein concocted a story where she had somehow left voluntarily? The only scenario she could think of was ruination as a consequence of an accident. If the Laird had described a scene where Elizabeth had fallen off a cliff and Laird Eilein had portrayed himself as her knight in shining armour, would her father have believed him and given him his blessing?
No, he would have come to Scotland to see for himself, or would he? Her father loathed travel in general, even the short trip to London was lamented upon. Scotland, in comparison, could just as well have been the West Indies.
Elizabeth strolled to the only window in her chamber. An E was carved in the window sill, not by herself though. Elizabeth imagined it to be Euphemia who was forced to marry Alexander. Had he been young and handsome or an old toad? Not that it mattered much when the marriage had been arranged against her will.
Elizabeth heard Miss MacGregor singing in her chamber, probably while tidying up her room.
"Over the mountains and over the moors. Hungry and barefoot I wander forlorn."
Elizabeth felt forlorn, living in her smallish old castle. A thought her childhood self would have sacrificed a limb to experience, how naive she had been. Dreaming about a prince charming, a knight in shining armour, coming riding to Longbourn to bring her to his castle because he had fallen desperately in love with her—and here, she was. Locked in a tiny castle on a tiny island with a beast lurking in the shadows. A beast that needed a broodmare to carry his heir and a spare. Elizabeth chuckled mirthlessly; she did not want to think about the laird of Eilein but there were little else to occupy her mind. Neither had she much to occupy herself with. Her wardrobe was complete and she had no more thread to embellish her garments with embroidery. She rose with a sigh and walk out of doors. The dogs are eager to follow her wherever she goes but is baffled when she hurries back inside to fetch her shawl. The late October air is so cold it smells like it is going to snow. Elizabeth cannot believe the snow will come this early, it is autumn still.
She did not notice the boat approaching but the dogs alerted her that someone was coming by the wagging of their tales and mad barks.
"Whist!" she tried to quiet them as she has heard Miss MacGregor do but they paid her no mind and sets off to greet their guest. So much for watchdogs when they were thrilled as puppies when a guest arrived.
She had not expected Laird Eilein back so soon but she should not have been. He probably expected an answer to his ridiculous request. She had no intention of letting him off lightly. He would have to enquire a second time and she would have the pleasure of rejecting him most cruelly. She was fantasising about what she would say to him, a retaliation for all the misery he had caused her and her family. There were no words harsh enough to suffice though.
Laird Eilein overlooked her and walked into the castle to speak to Miss MacGregor. He stayed only a few minutes before he arrogantly left the island, hardly sparing her a glance.
Vexing man! She had finally found some disparaging words to reject him, the unfeeling beast, but he had not given her an opportunity to deliver them.
#
Two days later, Elizabeth awoke to a light dusting of snow covering the ground. It lightened the surrounding area, making it seem more welcome but it had melted the next day. She would have missed it had it not brought with it the bitingly cold air. Her chamber had no fireplace and she huddled under the covers at night, not even bothering to undress or she would surely freeze to death. She wondered what Moira did but the Scottish lass seemed unfazed by the cold weather and carried on as nothing was amiss.
Elizabeth found an axe and chops tirelessly for two minutes at the stem of the largest tree she could find. Miss MacGregor came running and ripped the axe from her hands, claiming to be worried she would chop off a leg before the tree. The axe was carried safely back into the outbuilding. Not that she had much fate in her floating raft theory of escape but neither had she any other ideas. If she managed to get off the island. The weather did not seem cooperative at the moment and it was about to get much worse.
The Scottish winter proves a merciless enemy. Coming much earlier than the Hertfordshire winters with harsher conditions. Elizabeth was chilled to the bone when she awoke in the morning, the cold was gruelling inside the castle and the blistering gales made walking out of doors practically impossible. Elizabeth has to admit to herself that she would probably not survive if she managed to escape during the winter. It was a futile endeavour to cross the mountains alone with little to no experience and there was not any form of attire that could keep the cold and the wind at bay.
The laird of Eilein visits every day now but he never approaches Elizabeth in private. Just exchange pleasantries a break in the mundane life on the castle on Loch an Eilein.
Elizabeth has to admit that she is less lonely when he is around than when she is alone with the quiet Miss MacGregor. She has become dependant upon him in a most disconcerting way. He never approaches her in an invasive manner or rather has not since he grabbed her at Pemberley's Hunting Tower. She better remember that significant tidbit of information.
#
One morning, a thin layer of ice graced the edges of the island and stretches a few yards into the loch. Elizabeth tests it with a stick, it breaks easily but it sends her in search of Miss MacGregor as it raised some questions in her mind.
Elizabeth found Miss MacGregor in the hall in front of the fire, darning socks that had been sent down from Càrn Gorm.
"Miss MacGregor, ice have settled on the loch."
Miss MacGregor's eyes widened and she practically threw her mending in her basket, donned her shawl and hurried out of the door. Elizabeth followed in bewilderment.
"Thank heavens," Miss MacGregor muttered.
"What, why were you worried?" Elizabeth demanded to know.
"When the loch freezes over, we are cut off from the mainland until the ice is safe to walk upon."
For a blink of an eye, Elizabeth pictured running away across the ice before realisation dawned.
"How long will that be?"
"Impossible to say, in rare winters it has been days but it usually takes a few weeks."
"How do we get supplies delivered if we are unreachable by boat and on foot?"
"We do not which is why we need to order some more flour and dried meat before it is too late. Let us hope your suitor arrive today or tomorrow at the latest. We do not have enough to last us for many weeks."
"Laird Eilein is not my suitor," Elizabeth denied.
Miss MacGregor scoffed and went inside. It was clear she felt little sympathy for Elizabeth's plight which was partially her fault for not telling how she had come to be on Loch an Eilein Castle. She doubted even the truth could sway Miss MacGregor from her admiration of Laird Eilein. Might the quiet Miss harbour deeper feelings for the reserved laird? It was possible but she would never admit to it to Elizabeth, of that much she was certain.
Laird Eilein did not come that day, neither did he come the next day. Both Elizabeth and Miss MacGregor paced restless waiting for him while Elizabeth had much time to ponder her situation.
Could she spend the rest of her days in quiet coexistence with Miss MacGregor or would life at a modern, warm castle with every convenience, not to forget children to look after, be worth the inconvenience of a true marriage to the laird of Eilein?
If she was to compare a lifelong coexistence with Miss MacGregor with nothing to fill her days to a few years of hell with freedom lurking at the end, what would be the most unattainable option?
Elizabeth felt like the walls of Loch an Eilein Castle were caving in on her. Her breathing grew into rapid and uneven bursts. She needed to settle her frazzled nerves.
Elizabeth no longer felt so certain her stubbornness was leading her in the right direction. It was not like she was the first lady married off to someone she could not abide. Mary came to mind although she had not given the impression she disliked her husband, Elizabeth could not imagine her being in love with the obsequious toad. Mary probably opted to marry Mr Collins because it would take her away from Longbourn. A childhood home that might not have been such a happy home for Mary as it had been for Elizabeth. Mary, the invisible child. Often forgotten and not respected although she had not done anything to deserve their scorn but being pious and a tad self-righteous. In retrospect, Elizabeth felt the injustice of how her parents had treated their middle child. She would never favour one child over another. Children were different which was not all bad. It would be a dull world indeed if everyone was the same.
Children... Elizabeth wanted children, someone to love and cherish for all eternity. Laird Eilein had not made any claims to the children once they were born other than he would have an heir to leave his clan and castle. A devious plan formed in Elizabeth's mind but could she tolerate the abasement? Elizabeth willed herself not to feel, not to think...
#
Laird Eilein has been on a short trip to Aviemore that had turned into an overnight stay because of a combination of icy roads and early nightfall. It had not been his intention to be away for so long although it could not be helped.
He believed Elizabeth was mellowing towards him which had been his purpose by coming so often to visit the ladies of the lake. He believed if Elizabeth got to know him, the real him, she would not be so averse to the union. She must realise that his behaviour at Pemberley was an anomaly, not likely to be repeated. He was careful not to importune her or make her feel pressured in any sense. He would show her both patience and fortitude to sway her to agree to his terms. Then, when she accepted him, he would pay her every deference in the world to make sure she would never regret her choice. It would be easy enough as his emotions had long since been engaged although it had taken him some time to admit it to himself.
Laird Eilein thought back to their sojourn north. He had acted unfeeling to her plight while he was secretly impressed by her stamina and ability to overcome her fear. He had never seen anyone quite so terrified as Elizabeth had been climbing those rocks. He had worried her legs would give in as they were trembling incessantly until they had reached the planes of the Yorkshire moors.
He guessed even Moira would suffer during such a gruelling journey with no comforts to speak of. As a genteel lady, born and bred, she was an apt walker. Laird Eilein chuckled as he walked the path towards the lake. He could name a few Highland ladies who would not have done half as well as his Elizabeth. In the future, he hoped she had not lost all penchant for walking. He would love to show her the sights in his beautiful homeland.
The sight that met him was disconcerting. The lake was about freeze over and the ice lay several feet from the edge. He found a stick and hit the ice who, fortunately, gave in easily. It would not be long until the boat would have to be stored away for the winter. It might be his last chance to visit for days or weeks even.
He threw the stick on board, pushed the boat ashore and jumped in. The boat rocked precariously before it settled while he breathed a sigh of relief. The waters did not entice him to bathe at the moment. With languid but forceful strokes, he reached the bank of Eilein. To his surprise, Elizabeth was walking purposefully towards him. He half expected a scolding for his tardiness by the grim set of her mouth. What came out of her mouth surprised him though.
"I have decided to accept your offer, laird of Eilein. You will have your heir, I will have my family, eventually..."
"Thank you," he managed to croak out. He tried to force his countenance into a natural expression but doubted he met with much success.
"You should pack your possessions; I will have MacGregor fetch it later."
"I have already packed, the decision was made a few days ago."
He cursed his untimely sojourn to Aviemore. He could have had her days ago.