Matthew lay
motionless next to Kaye, clearly hearing her misery and understanding that her anguish went beyond the physical pain that she had endured. His heart broke for her sure wretchedness as he thought of all that she had been through and had suffered. He wished ardently that he could make her life right once again. But he felt helpless and knew that all he could do was to lay by her quietly and be there for her if indeed she ever reached out to him.
*****
It took the small party six full days to reach England, their pace significantly slowed for their injured Kaye. In the late afternoon as they left the final section of the forest they could spy the Devon estates clearly visible in the distance. The horses naturally wanted to quicken their pace for all that was familiar was laid out before them but the Devon men held steady for they did not wish to cause further pain to their Kaye.
The
riders made their way slowly beyond the drawbridge and into the courtyard laid out before the keep and were immediately surrounded by the Devon's men. Lord Devon quickly dismounted and reached up to remove Kaye from behind Matthew, her pain and grief forever etched upon her face.
Glad
yet somber greetings were being exchanged for a safe journey as Lady Marion stepped out onto the landing above the square. With a cry of apprehension as she spied the large bindings on her daughter, she moved quickly down the long stairway and was next to Kaye and cautiously holding her as the tears fell freely down her cheeks. Lord Devon moved over and embraced both of his women at once as he moved them slowly up the front stairs and into the keep knowing there was much information he knew he had to share.
The
three from the Devon family made their way silently into the front hall and retired immediately to the warmth surrounding the great hearth as Kaye stood within the embrace of her mother's arms. For long minutes they stood as such, mother and daughter together tightly clutching and rocking each other as they fervently attempted to draw upon their strengths.
Time dragged by
and Kaye eventually pulled back form Lady Marion as the tears fell from her eyes and a sure exhaustion permeated her body. As she gazed into her mother's eyes, the Lady Marion raised her slight finger and lightly traced the ragged scar that now resided permanently upon her daughter's cheek.
Kaye pierced her
lips and looked away from her gaze for she was both saddened and embarrassed for the hasty decisions that she had made and the trouble that she had unknowingly caused. She breathed deeply as she lowered her head with her shame forever knowing she now had an obvious and permanent reminder for all to see.
Kaye looked sadly up at her
father and in a soft voice she pleaded, "I am afraid the recent weeks and the journey have taken its toll upon me and I am quite weary as of now. I wish to retire to my chamber alone. Father, I do not think I can bear to speak of what has led us to this point once again and I would be ever so grateful if you would share with mother all of the tale upon my behalf."
With a hitch in her throat and tears in her eyes,
Kaye silently turned from her parents and moved across the hall and up to her chamber. She was now left alone to face her sadness and her shame that now resided forever upon her heart.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
It had been over five long weeks after the Bruce clansmen departed their keep t
o protect their eastern borders and the warriors were finally on their way home. Once again they had fought fiercely and were now satisfied that the Grants had successfully been pushed back onto their own lands. Their battle was complete and their mission accomplished as the Bruce lands were rendered safe for at least a little while longer.
Tor and Alec were at the rear of the long line of men a
s was normal and customary for Alec had always proclaimed he would be the first to enter battle and the last to go home. The large troop approached the Bruce keep and crossed over the lowered drawbridge as the women and children lined the road in the bright and cool sun. Faces were cheerful and joyous as their loved ones stood by waiting as their husbands and sons returned from the ensuing battle. Alec and Tor entered the overflowing courtyard and moved their mounts slowly through the throng of people who stood merrily about. Cries of delight were heard as the family's reunions were exuberantly displayed.
Understanding much time had passed but forever hopeful,
Tor carefully gazed about the square as he intently looked for only one. The face of the dark haired and blue-eyed beauty flashed through his mind, the same vision that warmed his heart each and every night during his dreams. He scanned the area and not finding her anywhere he raised his eyes up upon the steps of the keep as his heart constricted with suspense. He immediately spied Bridget with baby Edward tightly held in her grasp standing next to Cameron and his wife. Although the steps were crowded with other reuniting families there was no dark haired one that could be seen and his heart began to crush with despair.
Tor's
eyes continued to search the grounds fervently, scanning about and with each passing moment of him not spying her, his dying hopes tugged further upon his heart. His pulse thundered within his chest for he still hoped that he was wrong but now suspected and sadly conceded that she was truly gone.
Tor moved his steed
to the bottom step and alighted as he handed his reins to the stable boy who stood near. Slowly, he turned and walked dejectedly up the steps of the keep. He moved silently, staying clear of the reuniting families that remained upon the steps as he moved undetected to the landing above.
He felt the reality of
his life for the very first time and the pain for the true solitude that was his. He understood at that very moment that he was most assuredly alone with no special person that had missed him or special someone glad of his return. For Tor found that he was now a Highlander without a bride. In the past that had never occurred to him that it should matter for his clan were his brothers and his clan was his life. Their warmth and support had been quite enough and had always sufficed. But now…the sadness and lonesomeness tore at his heart and for the first time in his life, he felt the true pain of being alone as the loneliness quite consumed him.
Tor
walked beyond the threshold of the keep and into the empty great hall and closed the door quietly behind him as he effectively muffled the happy reunions from all those in the square. With a sadness, he moved through the great hall and walked up the stairs and down the long hallway to the last place he had seen her and the final location he had left his heart. The chamber door at the end of the hall stood partially open as the light emanated slightly into the hallway from within. He moved forward to stand near as he gazed in through the slender opening. His heart began beating wildly, hoping….
The room was empty
the hearth lay cold and all was quite undisturbed for it appeared its lone occupant was now gone. He moved into the chamber and slowly walked across the way to the bed where he had last seen her. He brushed his hand lightly over the fair colored blanket where her body had last lain. With the tips of his fingers he felt of its softness, wishing she were there once again and yearning for the chance to see her one more time so that he could do it all over again. He realized most sadly that if he had another opportunity he would have been bold and taken a chance and woke her on that night so long ago to speak from his heart.
He turned slightly from where she had
been to look at the table where he had placed his medallion and had left a piece of his heart. He was crushed for the reality of what he found began ripping at his heart. Sitting there upon the table and quite untouched was his family's heirloom. The coin he had left for her that was the symbol of his devotion. It sat there exactly where he had left it, undisturbed and he knew that could only mean one thing. This action by her meant that she had soundly rejected him. In that moment he fully realized that she did not want him and decidedly would not have him.
He lifted the coin from the s
mall table and rolled it slightly between his fingers as he tried hard to breathe and to remain calm all the while his heart breaking within his chest. He stood for long moments attempting to curtail the thundering emotions within his body until he heard a slight footfall behind him. He quickly slipped the medallion within his pocket and turned as he placed a hard look upon his face in his attempt to remain emotionless on the outside as his misery raged within.
It was Bridget, followed by Alec
who came walking into the room. She simply said forlornly as her eyes gazed sadly upon him, "Kaye left, Tor and went back home with father. They departed that very same day that the battle broke out. They were afraid of the conflict and needed to return home for they wanted and wished to avoid the warring Grants. It truly was the safest decision for them to make."
All Tor could do was to nod
his head in his agreement and understanding as he pursed his lips and fought for the control of his raging heart. For long moments he said nothing as he struggled to maintain his composure as both Bridget and Alec looked at him sadly with understanding.
After long moments of silence had passed,
Tor took a deep breath and asked, "Did she speak to you of anything before she left?"
Bridget's heart broke for the man standing
now before her for she knew exactly of what he was asking. She recognized most assuredly that this man who stood here now before her was not anything like the one she had come to know for she had never seen him act as such. He was obviously affected deeply by Kaye's departure and she could only assume that he had not reached out and spoken to her before he left. Why had he not gained an understanding when it was obvious in her mind that the feelings were more than likely mutual?
She looked sadly up into his eyes not wishing to prolong what was sure to be his agony
any further and simply said, "No, Tor, she left no message."
With that, he nodded
and turned and exited the room as he left Bridget and Alec quite alone in his wake.
*****
It was a cold and wintry day just three days after the Bruce clansmen had finally resolved the conflict with the Grants. Father Flannigan entered the gates of the Bruce keep as the evening began to descend upon the land. The blustery winds blew the light snow about and dampened his clothing as it sent certain chills throughout his body. The clergyman moved slowly up the path and into the square upon his small pony escorted by several Bruce clansmen.
The group dismounted from their horses
handing their mounts over to the waiting stable boys as they made their way up the steps to the hall. The chamber was quite noisy as it was filling with the clansmen for their evening sup. The clergyman walked through the large doors and into the warmth of the hall with his teeth chattering and his body quite damp and chilled from the chilly air and blowing snow. The full of the winter season of cold was now upon them with its generous and frequent snowfalls all of which were so reminiscent of the Highlands.
As he entered the hall
, he was greeted warmly by the lord and lady of the keep from across the room who were standing leisurely before the large hearth. Their joyful faces were welcoming as they encouraged him to move forward so that he could partake of the flames and warming his body and drying his clothes.
When
Tor spied the benevolent old man entering the great hall, he moved to join the party for he was quite anxious to hear all he had to say. He set a chair quite close to the large flames for the priest so that he could be quite comfortable and quickly warmed. As the elder sat, the Bruce clansmen looked down at him expectantly as he waited to hear the news of Kaye's fate.
Father Flannigan
began to speak as he looked at Bridget, "Is your sister here?"
Bridget
spoke to him replying, "No, Father, she went back home to England with my family."
He
gazed back at her with a strained and disappointed look upon his face. "I see. I am now not sure what I am to do for I had not planned to go to England. And there is much I need to speak to her and council her about."
The Bruce clansmen
looked at Father Flannigan with sadness and fear in their eyes for the news did not sound at all as what they had expected.
It was
Tor who spoke first of the question that was upon all of their minds with a concern clearly written upon his face, "Did the church deny her request for an annulment?"
The benevolent old man
looked back at Tor slightly aghast for he now understood their troubled stares and shocked reaction.
"No, no, my dear son. I have the paperwork right here with me.
I just do not know how or when I can deliver it to her. And the state that she was in when I last saw her was not good. I merely wish to make sure she is alright…for that poor child has been through so much!"
The
Bruce clansmen all breathed a heavy sigh of relief, first acknowledging the full truth for the sadness of her plight but knowing now and for certain that their dear Kaye was considered truly free and could now begin to fully heal.
Bridget spoke
the question that was upon her mind, "Father, does the church insist that you be the one to deliver the missive? Or can it be another?"
Alec looked sideways at his wife, a furrow crossing his brow unsure as to what she was im
plying and wondering what type of plan she was concocting.
The clergyman answered,
"Well, I guess the answer would be no I do not have to deliver it on my own, my dear. I just have to trust that it will be safely conveyed to her."
"Very well, then," Bridget began,
"I am most certain that we can find
someone
who would be willing to make that journey on your behalf…"