Page 127 of Sighs of the Highland Wind
Norah had seen the carriage in which he was traveling drawing up in the courtyard of the castle while she was speaking to one of the guards. Its glossy outside panels were spattered with mud and it looked as though it had traveled a long way. Such vehicles were not uncommon, since many important people visited Laird McMillan, but there was something about this one that piqued her curiosity. Accordingly, she went outside to see who the important visitor was, and almost fell down with shock as she saw her father alighting from it.
However, he was not the only passenger. A very old, familiar friend was there too, and when she stepped out of the carriage, looking a little bewildered, Norah gave a little shriek and ran to her to hug her tightly, tears of happiness flowing down her face. “Oh, Caitrin! It is so good to see you. I have been so worried about you!”
The old woman laughed, tightening her arms around the young woman whom she now thought of as her granddaughter. “Good to see you an’ a’ hen,” she answered. “I have missed ye.” She cupped Norah’s face with her gnarled old hands and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“Did you get my letter?” Norah asked anxiously. At the same time as she had written to her father, Norah had written a letter to the priest at Rosblane, since she knew Caitrin could not read.
“Aye, I did, hen,” Caitrin replied. “One o’ the boys read it tae me, then the priest asked your father if he could bring me.” She smiled at him, but he ignored her.
Just then, Liam cleared his throat. “Norah? Are you not going to greet your father?” He smiled at her in an uncomfortable, embarrassed fashion.
Norah looked him up and down then curled her lip and said in disgust: “I was not aware I had a father.” Her voice was throbbing with derision. “Are you the man who tried to make me marry a disgusting old lecher? You are not my father!”
“I am sorry about that,” Liam said, having the grace to look ashamed. “But may we talk a little later? I need to explain some things to you.”
Norah nodded. “If you wish,” she replied tonelessly. “Where are you staying?”
“I thought I might stay with the Laird?” he asked hopefully.
Norah almost laughed out loud. “You can ask, but we have told him our story, and you did not fare well in it, so I think you would be better off at the local inn, if they will have you. I will take care of my friend.” She squeezed Caitrin’s shoulders.
“I see.” Once more, Liam Brown looked at the floor and nodded, then he climbed back into his carriage. “I will come to see you later.”
“Yes.” Norah’s voice was frosty as she turned away. Then she looked at her friend and gave her another hug. “Come on, I have so much to tell you - so much has happened since the last time we met.” Then Norah led Caitrin into the castle, where she took her friend to the kitchen. In a moment, a crowd of friendly kitchen maids had set plates of bread, cheese and sweetmeats in front of them, and joined in with their conversation enthusiastically. They added contributions of their own, and made a few distinctly saucy remarks about the wedding night that made Norah blush.
Caitrin began to look a little sleepy after a while. She was an old woman, after all, and had just traveled a long way.
Suddenly possessed by an imp of mischief, Norah had an idea. She smiled at Caitrin and said, “let me show you where you are staying.”
They went down the dusty village street to the Black Hammer Inn, which was the only one in the village. It was mainly used by travelers and made no pretensions of luxury, and Norah knew it was not the kind of establishment in which her father would feel comfortable.
Caitrin was thrilled when she realized that she had a room of her own. “Who is payin’ for a’ this?” she asked, puzzled.
Norah smiled, but shook her head. “Never you mind,” she said firmly. “You are not to worry about it. You deserve all of the wonderful things we can give you, so don’t complain. I will be staying next door, so we can talk for hours.”
The old woman beamed. “What a good lassie ye are!” she said warmly.
Tearlach was delighted when he heard that Caitrin had arrived for the wedding, but somewhat less so when he heard about Norah’s father. When he met the old lady again he threw his arms around her and hugged her so tightly that she squealed in fright. Tearlach let her go and kissed her cheek.
“I am so glad to see ye!” Caitrin cried, “an’ both o’ ye lookin’ so well. An’ gettin’ married too! Well, I wondered how long it would take ye to realize you were made for each other!”
“I think we always knew,” Norah said fondly, looking at Tearlach, who put his hand over hers on the table. They smiled at each other while Caitrin looked on happily.
Norah, Caitrin and Tearlach had a fine supper at the inn, exchanging news and gossip. When they had just cleared their plates, Norah’s father appeared. He hesitated for a moment, and looked as if he would approach them, but Tearlach stood up and glared at him, then pointed to a table further away.
“I have to talk to him,” Norah murmured to Tearlach. “Please leave us alone for a while.”
Tearlach looked very uncomfortable, but nodded. They both kissed Caitrin and the landlady saw her to her chamber, then Tearlach watched from a distance as Norah approached her father’s table and sat down.
His gaze flicked up to hers for a moment then back down to his hands, which were resting on top of each other on the table.
“It is customary to look at someone when you are talking to them.” Norah’s voice was cool. “In fact, it is rude not to.”
Reluctantly, Liam dragged his gaze up to Norah’s. What he saw was a very different young woman to the one who had fled from his house just a few months before. This Norah was not the obedient, biddable girl who he would bend to his will. This was a woman, one who had become independent with a will of her own, and a rather strong one at that.
Liam Brown had somehow thought that there might be some chance of taking his daughter back with him to marry a younger and more handsome man, one whom she would not find so repugnant. However, he could see now that it was a forlorn hope, and would have been even if she had not been promised to the big, wild-looking Tearlach McLachlan.
“Why are you here?” she asked at once, glaring at him.
