Chapter 21 Winter Chill
Càrn Gorm Castle 1816
Some uncommon noises were coming from the hallway, Elizabeth exited the nursery where she had entertained her children reading a book. She wandered down to the foyer to find out what was going on. The menfolk were hurrying back and forth, some carrying rifles, others were cleaning their swords.
"What is happening?" she enquired of no one in particular.
"There's an unknown carriage spotted heading up the hill, our laird thought it might be wise to be ready for all sorts of mischief. It would not surprise me if it is the Farquharson, I told the lad when he let the old dowager live in his cottage that there would be repercussions but did he mind my warnings? No..." the smithy Gordon thundered with a whiny undertone.
"Don't be daft, Gordon, it must be the MacPherson clan if they are sober enough to drive a carriage or it might be the Donnachaidh but Farquharsons has too much debt after he got himself a Sassenach bride. No offence to you, Lady Eilein, but nothing he ever does is good enough for the great lady. She might be braw but not so beautiful to be worth all the trouble poor laird Farquharson is facing." Mr MacGregor mused.
Elizabeth filled with a mixture of dread and excitement; she had never witnessed any kind of unrest in the Highlands although reports had reached them about riots in Ireland in the wake of the famine. Scotland was not untouched by the woes of shortage in the food supply but up here they were more used to it and with fewer mouths to feed, nature provided them with what they did not manage to grow or purchase. The most recent development was that typhus had broken out in Ireland, a disease they were loath to have spread to their little vulnerable community. Elizabeth felt particularly anxious because she had two little souls' depending upon her.
The heir to the Eilein clan, Maddock, had been born in December of 1813 while Inghinn had followed in January of 1816 and was just six months old. Elizabeth's chest constricted at just the thought of the horrid ailment reaching her sanctuary, here, safely ensconced by tall mountains and few visitors. She would not hide though; she would follow the men out into the courtyard and see for herself who had come and what they wanted.
A lone black landau clopped and rattled its way into their cobbled courtyard. Elizabeth fought for breath; her throat had clamped up after a sharp intake of breath had brought her close to fainting. It could not possibly be? Not after all this time had passed without a word?
Elizabeth approached the carriage tentatively.
"Stay back, Elizabeth, until we know if it is friend or foe," the laird warned but Elizabeth paid him no mind. She knew who this carriage belonged to although the driver was unknown to her.
The carriage door opened and a white-haired head protruded from the opening. A head Elizabeth would recognise anywhere, it was her father. Aged almost beyond recognition but it was, without a doubt, Mr Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth is shocked when she lay her eyes on him, he had aged a decade or more in the four years that had passed since she last saw him. He moved stiffly as well, more than one would expect from a long ride in a carriage.
"Papa!"
Elizabeth flung herself around her father's neck, sobbing with relief and gratitude. Finally, some news could be had from home.
"How is Jane? Did she marry Mr Bingley? Oh, how is mama, Mary, Kitty and Lydia? Why have you not come sooner to visit but more importantly, why did you not answer my letters?"
"I could enquire the same of you, Elizabeth. Why have you not come home? I would never have pictured you living in these elegant conditions since you have not once been home to see your poor mama. She has aged grievously, mourning your loss, Elizabeth. Did you not think we would be bereaved by your absence? I am appalled to find you wallowing in such luxury. I thought you too poor to afford the travel, I thought you dead for years. I cannot so easily forget what you have brought upon your family."
Elizabeth staggered back when she realised that her father had not returned her embrace but was admonishing her for her absence. It was like a slap in her face that her father would believe her so deprived of every feeling that she had not done everything in her power to free herself? Except that she had not... Elizabeth bit into her lower lip. She had thought mostly of herself when she delayed the inevitable union with the laird of Eilein. She had known, deep in her heart that it was unavoidable but she wanted to buy herself time to adjust and make some ridiculously futile attempts of escape.
"You want to know how Jane is faring? She did marry Mr Bingley, right before they were cut off from good society because of rumours surrounding your disappearance led people to believe that Mr Darcy had scurried you away to some remote cottage for his own entertainment. Jane and Mr Bingley had to let go of the lease of Netherfield and has relocated to an estate up north near Nottingham."
"You could have shown Mr Darcy the letters I sent you."
"Months after the connection had been broken? They would not have believed me!"
"I would have thought you could recognise my handwriting..."
"All your letters were burned after I came home empty-handed from searching the wilds of Derbyshire for you. Weeks I wasted, looking behind every tree, turning every stone to find you while you were here, resting on your laurels."
"It did not happen like that, father."
"Then what happened?"
"May I suggest we take this inside in the comforts of my study with refreshments to revive you from your long journey," the laird suggested.
"Who are you?" Mr Bennet grumbled.
"I am George Fitzwilliam, laird of Eilein and owner of Càrn Gorm Castle."
The laird gestured towards the house behind him before he approached Mr Bennet with an outstretched hand. Mr Bennet shook his hand, bewilderment grazing his countenance. The laird's grip was firm but his gaze was cold. Mr Bennet was chastened without a word being spoken. He had not noticed the laird was such a tall and imposing man at a distance. He had been too preoccupied with chastening his daughter to pay any attention to his surroundings. The courtyard was filled with brawny looking men although no one looked quite as intimidating as the laird himself.
Abashed, he followed his daughter and her husband into a light and comfortable home, far richer than his Longbourn. He was guided down the gallery of ancestors to a well-appointed study where the laird poured him a tumbler of brandy and offered him a seat.
"So... What brings you to the Scottish Highland, Mr Bennet."
"I have come for my daughter. I do not care how rich you are nor how powerful." It was a bold move but he had nothing to lose but his already failing health.
"I believe it is up to Elizabeth, not you, where she is staying or going."
Both looked Elizabeth expectantly, too soon for Elizabeth to have gathered her wits.
"I will bring Maddock and Inghinn; I am certain my father would like an introduction to his grandchildren."
It was a cowardly escape but at the moment, Elizabeth's thoughts were in a jumble and she opted to buy herself some time to conclude. She hastened to the nursery and lifted Inghinn into her arms and took hold of Maddock's hand. After leaving Evina and the nurse with some instructions, she headed back to the study with a set course.
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"I cannot let you take my children away from me, from their home!"
"Allow me to remind you of the agreement we made in the gallery. I was to act as a proper wife to you and you would let my family visit when a certain event came to fruition. It never stated that the children must stay with you when I left for home, it was never mentioned. I have kept my part of the deal, you have your heir and a spare. Now it is time for you to keep your end of the bargain and let me go – let us all go. I will see to their education. When Maddock reaches maturity I will let him decide if he wants to join you here at Càrn Gorm Castle or if you should reunite in London."
"Running a farm in Hertfordshire is very different from a Highland forest, not to forget to be laird of a clan."
"There will be time for that when he is grown."
"You are denying me access to my children?"
"I have not thought as far. How could I trust you with the children, you may run off with them at a moment's inattention. I will not risk it!"
"You know me! I love you; I love you a whole lot. I am no sentimentalist but your harsh rationalisation is such a dismal way to get what you want."
"This was never what I wanted but you forced yourself on me!"
The laird grew eerily pale before Elizabeth realised what she had said and how it might be perceived. She did not hesitate to elaborate.
"You brought me here against my will, you married me against my inclination and locked me away like a prisoner at war. You bribed me with my family to form a true marriage and against my own better judgement, I conceded. It does, however, not make your actions less despicable."
"So this is what you think of me, I understand better why you, a self-professed romanticist at heart, waste less than no time at all escaping my presence. I guess this is a final farewell before everything falls apart as I will be damned if I fight your leave-taking and I will be damned if I do not..."
What could she reply? He had professed nothing that was not true or his version of the truth. Experience had thought her that sometimes, there was more than one version. Elizabeth turned her back on her husband of four years and walked out the door to the awaiting carriage. She helped Maddock into the carriage before she tucked the sleeping Inghinn into the hanging cot she had ordered Evina to put up. Their luggage had been packed and tied to the back of the carriage and a basket of victuals was brought as she prepared to leave Càrn Gorm Castle and the laird of Eilein behind.
"Send me word if you ever need anything, I will be there before you know it..."
Elizabeth stepped into the carriage, she had not the courage to turn around and look at him. One gaze into his blue eyes and she would cave. This was the plan she had formed when she had been locked away at Eilein Castle. If she could not escape, she would agree to his terms and leave as soon as she had fulfilled her part of the bargain. Yet it hurt like someone was ripping her heart out of her chest.
"You cannot allow her to leave!" MacGregor admonished his laird.
"I have no choice."
He had, of course, he could withhold the carriage and demand her return but he did not. A part of her was surprised but knowing him, she had surmised correctly that he would not stop her if she claimed her freedom.