Breath of Yesterday (The Curse Series) (19 page)

C
HAPTER
24

A
knock on the door startled me from my sleep. The air in my room was icy, and I was worried my toes would freeze to the floor as I tiptoed to the door wrapped in thick blankets. I opened the door a crack and was surprised to find a maid waiting with a breakfast tray.

“
Madain mhath
. With compliments from the laird. He inquires whether there is anything else you might need?”

I accepted the tray containing oatcakes, honey, a pot of steaming hot tea, and a candied apple.

“No, thank you. Please give him my thanks and assure him that I have everything I need.”

The girl curtsied and left me to my tray of delicacies.

I was surprised at Fingal’s generosity. He didn’t treat me like a prisoner at all. On the contrary, I felt like a welcome guest in his house—not taking into account the constant supervision by Payton, which of course I didn’t mind too much.

I was wearing a clean nightgown; there was a washbasin with a pitcher containing fresh water; and there was even a small piece of soap with the fresh scent of pine needles. Plus, I had all the soft, thick blankets; this beautiful room; and a breakfast fit for a queen.…

I was sure that all of this would be considered lavish waste by most people in this era. So—why was he granting me these luxuries?

If I thought back to the type of accommodation Blair had planned for me, the whole setup surprised me even more. Prisoners were sent to the dungeon and were certainly not invited to dine in the Great Hall. I had wondered about this yesterday when I felt the residents of Castle Burragh giving me the evil eye.

But my worried thoughts were dispelled as soon as I tasted the delicious oatcakes smothered in honey. The caramel apple and hot tea drove the cold from my bones.

Once I finished my breakfast and put on Mistress MacQuarrie’s green dress, I felt like a new person. I picked it because it was the warmest of the few clothes I had. Still, I would have given anything to slip into a comfy pair of jeans and a hoodie. When would those be invented?

I opened the window. The cold, clear morning air poured into my room and announced a sunny day ahead. There was not a single cloud in the sky. Typical, just typical. Now that I no longer had to spend my days on horseback, the rain had stopped. I felt joy at seeing the first few rays of sunshine paint the horizon with bright orange brushstrokes. The peaks of the Grampian Mountains glowed red in the early-morning sun, an indescribably beautiful sight. It was one of those magical moments that I had only ever experienced in Scotland.

But this was only the beginning of my day, and I didn’t want to picture what else it held in store for me. Payton trusted me, sure—even though my story sounded less than plausible to him—but I was not one inch closer to saving him, because I didn’t know where exactly Ross had found me. Learning that was my first priority of the day.

To my surprise, the Fates were smiling upon me for a change, because a moment later they brought Ross to my door.

He looked less warrior-ish, as he wasn’t wearing his sword and leather chest piece this morning. This made him look even younger than I had taken him for. He almost seemed my age.

This realization only increased my respect for the young Scot. I had seen him fight men twice as strong and twice as old as he was. He must have been fighting since a very young age if he was that good and that experienced. When I looked into his eyes, I even thought I saw Ross Galbraith fighting every single day of his life. Suddenly, it seemed really important to find out as much about him as possible—and to figure out why I was seemingly destined to kill him.

Such a horrible act seemed unimaginable, especially now that he was looking at me with such kind eyes. I invited him in because he was carrying pieces of fabric over his arm.

“What’s all this?” I asked, following him. On the bed he spread out two beige-colored bodices, a beige skirt, a green apron, and a woolen shawl.

“Your new wardrobe. The laird must be particularly happy with your
services
.”

I disliked his tone as much as I disliked the look on his face. He scanned the room assertively, stopping on the two cups still sitting on the table from my talk with Payton the previous night. As if this had just confirmed his worst assumptions, he nodded and pointed at the cups.

“What the heck, Ross? What are you trying to tell me?”

“Nothing, my dear. I’m not blaming you. If all I had to do was spread my legs to get a nice little bedchamber and all this trumpery, then I wouldn’t think twice about it, either.”

I was acting on raw impulse when I raised my hand and slapped him so hard that the pain traveled from my fingers all the way up to my shoulder.

“How dare you talk to me like that!” I snapped, my voice vibrating with anger. “How dare you even think that about me? I’ll tell you this once, Ross, and you’d be wise to remember it: I’m not ‘spreading my legs’ for anyone around here. Do you get me?”

Ross squirmed under my furious glare as he massaged the bright red handprint on his cheek.

“I am…sorry, Samantha, but I thought…,” he said, making a pathetic attempt to apologize. “This special attention you’ve been getting
…
you were dining at the clan chief’s table.…I thought…,” he broke off.

“I know what you thought, Ross!” I said, still seething.

“All I mean is, I would have understood. You are dependent on their mercy. You are afraid of what might happen when my brothers return and take you away. Being under the great McLean’s protection is nothing to be sneezed at.”

“Shut up already! Of course I’m worried about not knowing of what might become of me. But I would never…”

“All right, all right, I apologize. It’s just that I wish I could protect you. But instead, all I’m doing is hurting you with my rash and thoughtless words.”

“Forget about it. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’d rather you tell me what the plan is for me today. Do you know?”

Relieved to be back in shallow waters, Ross straightened up. “Yes, they asked me to take you into the woods. We are to gather juniper berries and keep an eye out for goldenrod. Nanny MacMillan wants to brew one of her magic potions.”

I still felt miffed from our discussion, but I reached for the shawl and wrapped it around my shoulders. After all, I had questions that I hoped Ross knew the answer to. Maybe I could sound him out during our expedition to the forest.

“All right, then, let’s go,” I egged him on.

I wanted to get him out of my room as quickly as possible, because I had noticed something flashing on the floor. It was the silver tip of the
sgian dhu
that Payton had used to swear his oath to me. It was peeping out from under the blue bed curtains. In passing, I pushed the knife deeper under the curtain so that it was no longer visible. I didn’t know what lay ahead, and I wasn’t planning on having that knife taken away from me a second time. But most importantly, I didn’t want to carry the dagger with me whenever Ross was near. His moment of death was ingrained in my memory all too vividly. Ignoring my goose bumps, I pulled the door closed and followed him into the castle yard.

Payton was standing atop the battlement with the wind blowing in his face. He enjoyed feeling the sunshine on his skin. He’d been up here on guard duty for hours, and he’d admired the unique play of colors during the sunrise.

He knew he needed to reflect on all that was happening. But he was too preoccupied to think straight. He could still feel Sam’s kiss good-bye from the night before. Instead of the grave situation Mistress Cameron had shared with him, all he could do was think about her eyes burning deep into his soul. What was the matter with him?

He had never thought of himself as someone particularly passionate. He had never guessed that he could fall head over heels for a girl. At sixteen, he’d had a brief love affair with the daughter of a traveling showman whose theater troupe performed at the castle. After the performance, during which the girl had juggled burning torches and offered herself as a target for the knife thrower, she had lured Payton behind the troupe’s wagon and seduced him. He had succumbed to her feminine charms, but he had quickly realized that many young men had gone before him in her life. She was skilled in the art of seduction, and she clearly enjoyed the pleasures of their carnal union. The theater troupe moved on only two days later. Payton had no regrets and didn’t shed a tear for this girl. After all, he didn’t really know her, never mind love her.

But then, out of the blue, Sam entered his life and turned everything upside down.

Was it because he’d had a moment of weakness when he noticed her at first? Or was it true what Sam had said—that they were meant for each other? Was that even possible? He did some soul-searching, conjuring up that feeling that had washed all over him when she had stumbled into his arms at McRae’s cottage.

It wasn’t just passion; it went much deeper than that. He wanted to protect her. He didn’t want to ever let her go, because holding her in his arms seemed so right. It was as though she belonged there.

It felt so natural to him to share with her his worries about his father, even though he never normally showed that level of vulnerability to anyone. And despite the stress he was under, she always managed to make him laugh. It had never occurred to him to treat her as his enemy. Instead, his heart must have known right from that very first moment that she was the one he would love. He could barely believe that it had only been a few days; his feelings for her were deep and true.

He leaned against the battlement, closed his eyes, and conjured up her image.

She was so delicate, so slender, like only a few women were. But her courage made her seem big. She had put up a good fight yesterday in the Great Hall, considering how hostile everyone had been toward her. He wished he could have spared her the experience, but his father was convinced that it was the right thing to do, showcasing her like that.

“That way everyone will see that she’s under my special protection,” Fingal had explained. “Also, because she’s a Cameron, they will keep their eyes on her. Thus, I don’t have to constantly worry about her sneaking away.”

No,
sneak
away she would not. But she had told him openly that she needed to leave him soon. That she had to do it in order to save his life.

He still didn’t completely understand what she was talking about. All he knew was that he believed her. Unquestionably. But could he assist her and take her away against his father’s will?

He had sworn an oath not only to his father but also to Blair, who would be Fingal’s successor one day. He’d sworn to accept their word as the law and never act against their will. Could he break that oath?

Once more his thoughts returned to their kiss. Could a kiss be more important than an oath he had sealed with his blood? If he listened to his heart, he already knew the answer—even though his mind was still reluctant to accept this truth. For him it would mean pain and loss to give himself to Sam fully and in all its consequence, but it was the only way to prove himself worthy of her love.

His temples were throbbing painfully, so intensely was his mind working. He looked down into the courtyard.

Sam was accompanied by Ross, strolling through the main gate and carrying a wicker basket. Payton squinted and mumbled a curse. He didn’t like seeing that boy near her all the time.

The forest barely looked like one. Only a few trees rose up into the sky, because a huge woodland area had been cleared, with hundreds of tree trunks piled up and awaiting further processing.

“This is supposed to be your forest? What happened to all the trees? Why have they all been cut down?”

“We’re making room for pastures. Our borders to the other clans aren’t safe, and we need our cattle to be grazing closer to the castle. So, the woods have to go,” Ross enlightened me.

I wasn’t convinced that this approach made any sense, but I continued walking, and I bent down to collect my first batch of juniper berries. At least it wouldn’t take us long to find our berries in this so-called forest. And precisely because it wouldn’t take long, I needed to get to the point.

“Tell me, Ross, what exactly is the story with these cattle thieves? Why do you think it’s the Camerons who are stealing your cattle? Have you caught them in the act? Is that why you advanced that deep into their territory?”

Ross jerked his head up and stared at me with suspicion.

“It
was
the Camerons, that’s for
sure
. That clan has been nothing but trouble for us since forever.”

“Is that why you knocked me down at the stone cottage? Is that the reason you abducted me? Just because
we Camerons
have been causing you trouble since forever?”

Ross scratched his neck and self-consciously tugged on his shirt collar. “I wouldn’t have taken you with us, and I honestly don’t know what Duncan’s plans are for you. But then again, it is none of my business. He made that clear.”

He looked at me, and I saw brief anger flare up in his eyes.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Nothing, don’t worry about it. It wasn’t exactly the first time that they beat me up.”

“They beat you up? Who?”

“Sam! Mind your own business. Just collect your damn berries.”

I stepped closer to him and put my hand on his shoulder because he had turned his back to me.

“Ross? Why do you allow them to treat you that way? They’re your brothers—why would they do such a thing?”

Ross gave a wretched laugh but looked me square in the eye. Many years of anger and hurt were clearly written on his face.

“Brothers? Aye, they might be my brothers, but they’re also the devil’s spawn! And just like the devil, they enjoy hurting people. Don’t ever forget that, Sam. They enjoy the feeling of humiliating you, kicking you, and then seeing you writhe in the mud before them.”

Cold shivers ran down my back. I could tell that they had done all of this to him, and probably more. Misery and suffering were bursting out of him. I couldn’t say anything, didn’t know what words to use to comfort him. But he seemed to appreciate my silence. He bent down to gather some berries and put them in the basket before facing me once more.