Highland Harmony: Avelina and Drew (Clan Grant Series Book 8) (4 page)

“You believe that foolish fable?” Drew scoffed. “We have plenty of swords and daggers. We do not need one of such an odd size.”

Lachlan strolled over to the table and settled onto the bench beside it, his thumbs hooked in the belt holding his sword. “Fable, aye? When was Clan Burnes last attacked? Cannot answer that, can you? ‘Tis because the fae protect us. As soon as my mother set eyes upon it, she blessed herself, saying we are protected forever. ‘Tis the first time she’s ever been proud of me.”

“When and where did you find it?” Aedan asked.

“It fell out of a landslide at my feet. ‘Twas meant to be. My mother is so happy, except now she has dreams about the sword. They keep her awake at night. Blames it all on me.”

“So what goes with your sire?” Drew sat on the opposite side of the table, his arms crossed.

“He’s madder than a hedgehog at my mother, so I left home. My mother says the faerie have advised her in her dreams of an imminent attack on our clan if I do not find a wife, but he refuses to listen to her and I cannot watch any longer.” Lachlan’s head drooped.

Drew hated to ask the question, but he could not help himself. “Cannot watch what?”

Lachlan let out a deep breath. “Cannot watch him beat my mother. Much as I dislike her, I do not like to see him beat her.”

Aedan sat next to Burnes on the bench. “You’re stronger than your sire. Why do you not stop him from beating your mother?”

“I have tried, but he threatened to take the sword away. I know you believe ‘tis naught but a foolish legend, but I’ll never let this sword go. ‘Twas meant to be in my hands. My mother says I must marry within two moons of possession, or tragedy will befall the clan of the holder of the sword. She tells me I have to marry soon. ‘Tis all I need to do to satisfy the legend. I was hoping to find a lass here. You know I’m no good with the lasses, but Aedan, you could find me one.”

“Burnes, I’ll not send a lass into the middle of the fae wars, whatever they be. You’ll have to find your own lass. Why not one from your own clan?”

Drew answered, “Because they all know his ways and they do not want him. Am I right, Burnes? You have a reputation of being rough. And if I recall from the fable, the lass must be willing.”

“Aye, she must be willing. But I do not want one of my clan. Now that I hold the sword, I want a special lass, one of the most beautiful in the land, one that would have spurned me before. Aedan, you are the one the lasses love. Menzie’s too much of a drunkard. You can help me, please. ‘Tis the true reason I’m here. You’ll help me, will you not? I must marry soon.”

Drew was surprised to see Lachlan in such a state. “Tell us more about your mother’s prediction. Things seem quite peaceful, of late. How could the circumstances change that quickly, just because you found a sword?”

Lachlan‘s gaze lifted to the beams of the great hall. “I’d never believe it if I hadn’t heard my mother’s words myself.”

“What?” Drew prodded.

“My mother did not only warn us of an imminent attack. She says the faerie has predicted the end of Clan Burnes because I will not marry in time. My sire scoffs at her.”

“But you just said the sword will protect you from all.”

“True, but the faerie is predicting that I will not be able to find a willing wife, which is another reason my sire wants it, but I refuse to give it up. Especially because I do not trust him in his drunken spells, and he agreed ‘twas safer with me.” He rubbed his chin and glanced over his shoulder as if afraid of being overheard. “But my mother says if I do not marry, we will be brought down by something near to impossible, which is why my sire is so upset.”

Aedan and Drew tipped their heads toward Lachlan, awaiting his explanation.

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “She says the fae came to her in a dream and told her Clan Burnes will be brought down by a lass, the mightiest in all the land.”

Chapter Four

Avelina breathed a sigh of relief as soon as they stepped outside of the hall. She tugged on her plain wool gown, finally able to do her practiced move now that they were away from the lads. Several times a day she pulled on her bodice, attempting to ensure the material would not cling to her large bosom. She would do anything possible to discourage men from gazing at her chest within moments of meeting her.

“Lina,” Jennie whispered. “Why are you always pulling at yourself?”

Lina shrugged her shoulders and hugged her arms around her chest.

“I’ve never seen you do that before this visit, but now you do it frequently.”

“I know. I can’t seem to stop myself, but I just want to…” Lina glanced over her shoulder to be sure they weren’t being followed. “I just wish to hide my breasts,” she continued in an undertone. “Lads always leer at me and I do not like it.”

“Lina, you’re so beautiful. Lads are such fools. Ignore Lachlan. Aedan does not like him much.”

That lad’s stare had made her most uncomfortable. The look in his eye had not been too different from her attacker’s expression. She peeked at the others in the bailey to see if anyone besides Jennie had noticed her fidgeting with her clothing, but no one was watching them. She breathed a sigh of relief to calm her trembling hands. At least she had managed to escape the hall without revealing her shameful secret to Drew. He did not yet know that fear often gripped her vocal chords and prevented her from speaking.

While her dream knight had been kind and sweet at first, the look he’d given her before she left the hall—as if she were wearing naught but slippers—had caught her off-guard. Aedan had jested about Drew’s intimacy with women. Mayhap he was like all the others.

Once they were sequestered in the quiet of the herb garden, Jennie reached for her hand and tugged her over to a nearby bench. According to Jennie, Aedan had built this bench for her after he found out she was carrying. “Lina, you told me you were attacked by a lad, but that your brother stopped it. Is there aught else you wish to tell me about it?”

Lina shook her head as she stared at the stone path under her feet, clicking her slippers back and forth, hoping to keep her eyes from misting. “Nay, there is naught to tell.”

Jennie held on to her hand, squeezing it tight. “Lina, Maddie has told me about the attacks she suffered. You are not alone. Maddie believed that talking about it helped her to heal. Are you sure you don’t wish to speak of it?”

Lina thought for a minute, then sighed. “Nay, Logan stopped him in time. I was just a wee bit bruised. I’d rather not talk about it,” she whispered.

“But you do not seem yourself. Is aught bothering you? Why did you not speak to Drew? He is one of Aedan’s closest friends. ‘Tis not like you to ignore someone.”

Lina fanned her face, hoping to dry her eyes, but to no avail. Tears spilled onto her cheeks, so she leaned into Jennie, hoping that somehow, in some way, her friend could help her with her problem.

“What is it?” Jennie wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

“I cannot…” Lina stuttered. “I cannot…it seems…” Her breath hitched several times before she was able to finish her sentence. “Every time I try to speak to a lad my age, naught comes out.” She cried all over Jennie’s shoulder for a few moments and then picked her head up to see how her friend was reacting.

“How long has this been happening?”

“It started sometime over the last year, but it just seems to get worse. I am tired of this. I want to answer them, but naught comes out. ‘Tis as if my voice freezes. Can you help me, Jennie?” Lina gripped her friend’s arms. If only she could change this one thing about herself, she was certain her life would improve. Mayhap she could fall in love and find a spouse. She was the only one in her family who was still alone. Jennie’s family was connected to hers through the marriage of Quade and Brenna, and all of the Grant siblings were married as well. She just couldn’t accept that her purpose in life was to be the caregiver of her siblings’ bairns.

“Aye, we shall think of something,” Jennie said with a big smile. “Do not worry, I am certain ‘tis a reaction to your attack and all the lads who have been leering at you. ‘Twill improve. I’m sure of it. Please do not fret. Mayhap Aedan can help.”

Lina nodded and stared at her hands, but she was not convinced. Her world was spiraling apart and she had no control. “Jennie, you are doing such a fine job as mistress of Clan Cameron, are you not?”

“Aye, ‘tis a smoother transition than I expected. I thought I would make a mess of it all, but everyone here is so willing to help.”

Lina swiped away more tears, unable to banish the twisting feeling inside her.

“Talk to me.” Her friend’s small voice broke into the storehouse of her fears, that private part of herself that she tried to keep away from everyone.

“What shall I ever do? What skills do I have to bring to a marriage?”After wiping her tears away, she dropped her gaze to her lap and started to play with the material of her gown.

“Why, you have much to offer a lad! You have skills with flowers that I could never equal. All the bairns just love you, and some even prefer you to their parents. You’ll be a wonderful mama to your bairns.”

Lina’s lips set in a grim line.

“What is it?” Jennie asked.

She locked gazes with her friend, needing Jennie to understand how important this was to her. “Not those kinds of skills.”

Jennie’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The kind of skills that are important.” Avelina stood and paced on the stone pathway. “Look at my family. Your sister Brenna is a healer, one of the most renowned in the land. Gwyneth is the best archer in the land of the Scots. None would dare go against her. My brother, Micheil, married the laird of the Drummond clan. You are the mistress of Clan Cameron
and
a healer.”

“Aye.”

“What am I? I have no skills, no specialty. What can I do other than tie flowers into hair?”

Jennie frowned. “You are not being fair to yourself. You have the biggest heart of anyone. Aye, I’m a healer, but I am just learning what a laird’s wife must do, just as you would if you married. What makes you think that you do not measure up to the women you know?”

“My brothers constantly speak of the talents of their wives, and I know I cannot possibly measure up to their achievements.”

“But you have an unusual family, Lina. Your mother had no healing or archery skills.”

“Nay, but she still runs much of the Ramsay keep, allowing Brenna the time to heal our clan and mother her bairns.”

“But she learned that skill over the years. When you marry, ‘twill take a while, but you will learn.” She stood and leaned toward her friend, brushing the wisps of fine hair back from her face. “You are an intelligent, warm, compassionate lass who will make a wonderful wife and mother. No lad could ask for more. Look at Caralyn and Celestina, my brothers’ wives. Caralyn discovered she has a talent for healing, and Celestina has developed a passion for creating fragrant oils. Both are skills you could learn. But you cannot make yourself love something. You have to find out what you love to do, which takes time.”

“But you adapted so quickly to being mistress of the Cameron keep.”

“True, but I have made many mistakes.”

“Truly? Tell me. ‘Twill make me feel better.” Lina wanted to hear that she wasn’t so unusual. To her, Jennie seemed almost perfect.

“Aye, there was the time I insisted Cook follow my recipe for a stew, and all the men spat it out it was so bad.”

Lina slapped her hand against her cheek and giggled. “They did not. How rude of them. I would have eaten it.”

“Nay, you would not have. I could not eat it myself. It tasted so sour that some of the men ran outside to heave. I was so embarrassed. Now they always jest about it, asking me each night whether Cook is using her own recipe.” Jennie chuckled. “Once I wanted to pay Aedan back for something he said, so I told him I’d tweaked the recipe for the stew to make it better. ‘Twas something my mother used to make, so I wished to try it. You should have seen him. He tried to come up with every excuse in the world to leave the keep. He had to go see the monks, there was a sick lad in the lists, and his mother was sending him on an errand. Finally, I made him taste it in front of all the guards. It was actually good, and his eyes bulged out of his face until the entire hall was laughing.”

Lina was laughing so hard, she had to stop and take a deep breath. “Sorry, Jennie. You must have felt terrible at the time. I do not mean to laugh at you. But watching Aedan try to sneak away would have been funny.”

“‘Tis all right. None of us are prefect, Avelina. You’ll find your way, just as I have, but your path may be anything but straight. As you know, I struggled with whether or not I wanted to be a healer, so I understand how it feels to be lost. I promise to help you. We just need to build up your self-confidence, and you will be fine.”

Lina stood and hugged her friend. “Thank you. I feel much better.”

“Good, and our first experiment will be with Drew. He’s such a nice lad, he will not tease you at all.”

Lina’s stomach dropped right to her toes. Nay, anyone but Drew. She’d never be able to talk to him.

***

Jennie and Avelina worked in the garden for much of the afternoon. Avelina had brought many of her seedlings to share, and they planted many flowers and herbs for healing before weeding the rest of the garden.

Jennie stood up from her spot and moved over to the bench, where she plopped down with a huff. “Lina, we have worked too hard.” She brushed her hand across her face to remove the sweat dripping over her brow. As soon as she did, Lina broke into gales of laughter. “What?”

Pointing at Jennie’s face, she choked out, “Your face.”

“What’s wrong? Why are you laughing?” Jennie’s eyes widened.

Lina did her best to control her giggles, and was finally able to choke out a few words. “Dirt. You wiped dirt all across your face.”

Horrified, Jennie tried to wipe off her face, but she only made it worse. “I’ll return quickly,” she told Lina, and she raced the short distance back to the keep.

Lina removed her gloves and wiped the sweat from her brow, still chuckling over her friend’s aghast expression. It had been a long time since she had laughed so. How glad she was to be here, away from home. She breathed in deep, enjoying the warm summer air as she left the garden and stepped onto the stone path. But just then a rough arm grabbed her from behind, catching her just underneath her breasts.

“You wee tease, are you not just what I have been looking for? What a delectable morsel you shall be.”

Lachlan Burnes spun her around and kissed her hard on her lips. She shoved at his shoulders, but to no avail. The man was like an immovable wall. When he finally let her go, she attempted to scream, but naught came out. She had failed herself again.

“How’d it feel to taste a real man? Now you just need to agree to marry me, and I’ll let you go.” Lachlan grinned, apparently hoping she would be agreeable.

Outraged, Lina shoved against him and attempted to run away. “I’ll not marry you, you lout.” Shocked that she’d actually spoken to him, she had to force herself to focus on getting away from him.

“You think you’ll get away without giving me what I want? I’ll not take your maidenhead this time. You’ll agree to marry me before I’m done and then you’ll see. But for now, I would just like a quick feel. Be agreeable, would you? I hate having to force lasses, but I will if you make me.” His grip on her arms tightened, and he pulled her in closer, rubbing his chest against her breasts.

Lina brought her boot down hard on his instep and kicked him in the shin, just as Gwyneth had taught her. His hands fell away from her and she whirled around, tearing back toward the keep.

Again, it had happened
again
. What was wrong with her? Why did lads always target her? And what was he talking about? Marry him? Never!

“Do not worry, I’ll have what I want, lass. Those tits belong to me, as you do. I’ll make Aedan give you to me as my wife. He’s a friend of mine.” Lachlan’s voice echoed over her shoulder, making her move even faster. As soon as she made it through the door, she almost ran into Jennie.

“Lina, what happened? What’s wrong?”

Lina grasped her friend’s arms in a death grip, afraid to let go. Tears misted her eyes again. She hated crying, but she could not help it. She had been so wrong to think visiting Jennie would free her from the memory of her attack. Aye, Lachlan might not have tried to rape her, but he’d kissed her against her will and attempted to invade her private area, then had the audacity to suggest she would marry him.

How would she ever get past this?