Page 1 of Highlander's Captive Bride
1
Bright spring sunshine streamed through the high windows of the healing room at Castle Rottrich, illuminating the scene taking place within. A young, fair-haired woman dressed in the simple garb of a village wife was sitting on a chair next to a large table, smiling as she bounced a gurgling baby on her knee.
Next to her stood another young woman of about the same age. She was small and slight in stature, wearing a green sprigged gown covered by a voluminous white apron. Her long, wavy, dark-brown hair was tied back from her face by a green ribbon. She, too, smiled as she bent to tickle the baby’s rosy cheeks, apparently delighting in his toothless chuckles.
“Well, little Michael’s looking right bonny now, Sheena. I think—” she began, only to be cut off by a loud echoing bang coming from somewhere below. She frowned, then shrugged, recognizing it as the sound of the heavy keep doors slamming.
Some careless person had either entered or left without regard for the disturbance caused to others.
“As I was saying, I think he’s recovered from the infection—” Daisy started again, but this time, she paused and looked towards the door, as did Sheena.
The sound of raised voices and hasty footsteps could be heard growing louder as they came down the hallway towards the healing room.
“What is that commotion out there?” Daisy muttered, growing concerned, for the scuffle had an urgent air.
She decided she had better cut things short with Sheena, just in case.
“Just keep up the good work, Sheena, and he’ll be running around, playing the wee devil before ye ken it,” Daisy told the young mother, hurriedly bidding the pair good day and seeing them out the door. She waved after them as they set off down the stone-flagged hallway, peering curiously beyond them for the source of the voices and rapid footsteps.
It soon became clear when she spotted her elder sister, Dakota, the Lady of Castle Rottrich, hurrying towards her. Daisy was surprised to see that she was accompanied by a red-faced young man dressed in what appeared to be the travel-stained livery of a messenger from her home, Castle McGunn, where their brother Dominic was Laird.
The pair were talking rapidly together in low, urgent voices as they walked.
Feeling a touch of apprehension at the sight of the messenger from home, Daisy watched as the pair paused to allow Sheena to pass them on her way to the staircase before continuing their progress towards her. Her fine features creased into a frown to see their air of urgency, and she wondered what their business could be.
“What is it, Sister? Has something happened? Is someone hurt?” Daisy asked anxiously when the pair drew level with her and stopped.
She looked curiously from one to the other. Dakota was slightly out of breath, her dark-brown eyes filled with worry. Daisy noticed that the messenger’s face was covered with a thin layer of grime from the road, evidently after a fast ride. Her apprehension turned into an anxious knot in her belly.
Dakota gestured towards the messenger. “Aye, ’tis an urgent message from Dominic,” she said, her tone urgent.
“What is it?” Daisy asked, a tendril of fear snaking through her as she regarded the messenger.
He bowed hurriedly. “Lady Daisy, the Laird says ye must come home at once. Lady McGunn is very sick, and ye’re needed right away to come and heal her,” he told her.
“What?!” Daisy exclaimed, the knot in her belly tightening as apprehension became outright fear. Her hand flew to her mouth as she turned to her sister and said, “Ach, what can be so wrong with Violet for Dominic to summon me like this? She’s one o’ the best healers in the land, so it must be something serious if she cannae cure herself.”
Their sister-in-law, Violet, was one of the people Daisy loved most in the world, along with their brother Dominic. Daisy had started her official career as a healer under Violet’s tutelage nearly five years ago. She owed her success to her, and she knew Dominic would be devastated if anything happened to his beloved wife.
“I have to get home, to help her, as soon as I can,” Daisy said decisively as Dakota gripped her hands and squeezed them.
“Aye, ye must hurry. We cannae lose Violet. Dominic will go mad,” Dakota urged.
Daisy squeezed her elder sister’s hands back before dropping them and casting about her wildly, trying not to panic as thoughts raced through her head. “I must leave today as soon as I can be ready. Could ye have a horse prepared for me, Sister?”
Dakota nodded. “Aye, but ye’re nae traveling alone, Daisy. The roads are full of dangers, as I ken from me own experience. I’ll get William to organize some armed men to escort ye. With good going, ye can be back at Castle McGunn by sunset tomorrow.”
“Aye, thank ye,” Daisy told her.
She was just about to add something when she saw over her sister’s shoulder a portly, middle-aged woman with steely gray hair and a stern expression approaching them. She was dressed in a black gown covered by a large, stained cotton apron and was carrying a basket of greenery slung over her arm.
As soon as she saw them, her stern expression turned into one of deep concern, and she hastened to join them.
“M’lady,” she said to Dakota, bobbing a respectful curtsey before peering questioningly at Daisy. “What is it, lass? Not bad news, I hope,” she asked.
“I’m afraid it is, Margie,” Daisy replied, then briefly explained the situation to the old woman, who had been the principal healer at Castle Rottrich for almost fifty years and had taught her much.
“Well, of course, ye must go at once,” Margie told her without hesitation.
