Page 40 of The Shadow of a Laird
When they arrived at Elspeth’s door, Gavin kissed her hand.
“Goodnight, Gavin,” she said fondly. “Sleep well.”
17
“Would you like to come for a ride with me today?” Elspeth asked as they were finishing breakfast that morning.
“Is it not too dangerous?” Gavin asked doubtfully. “My enemies may be out there awaiting me.”
“I never go out with less than four guards,” Elspeth reassured him. “And I never go out of sight of the castle—in fact, most of the time I visit my friends in the village. You have not been out of the castle grounds since you arrived here, Gavin. Will you not come with me?” Elspeth gazed into his eyes with a pleading expression, her cheeks rosy and her smile bright.
Gavin realised the truth of what she had said. The castle walls were beginning to close in on him, and a breath of fresh air would be most welcome.
“In that case, I will,” he agreed, and they smiled at each other. They stood up to leave, but at that moment, Laird Jamieson interrupted.
“Gavin, may I speak to you in my office, please? This will only take a moment. Elspeth, go and wait in the stables, please.”
A few minutes later, Gavin and Laird Jamieson were seated in his study.
“I have something important to tell you,” the Laird said, “but I do not want you to breathe a word of this to anyone. Do you understand, Gavin?”
Gavin felt like yelling that he was not a simpleton, and of course, he understood, but he kept his mouth shut and nodded.
“The Jamiesons will come to your aid,” Laird Jamieson told him. “I have yet to finalise our plans because we will have to observe Duncairn Castle for a few days, but I will give you the final details closer to the time. ”
“Thank you, my Laird,” Gavin said thankfully, feeling a weight he did not know he had been carrying fall from his shoulders. “But you must let me take part.”
“Your part of the bargain is to marry my daughter, and treat her well, or you will have me to answer to.” Laird Jamieson gave him a warning stare. “Now, you must not give away anything. Stay here with Elspeth—she must not suspect a thing—and I will keep you updated.”
“Thank you again, my Laird, I promise you won’t regret it,” Gavin breathed. “You have no idea what a service you are doing for me.” He reached out his hand to grasp the other man’s, and they shared a firm handshake.
“I think I do,” Laird Jamieson told him, his expression solemn. “I am not taking this one lightly, Gavin.”
Gavin smiled. “I know, and I am very happy to keep my part of the bargain, my Laird. Elspeth is a good woman, and she will make a wonderful wife.”
When Gavin entered the stable a few moments later he found Elspeth standing by her horse, a strawberry roan mare called Scarlet, who had been specially selected by the Laird for hercalm temperament, which he judged to be suitable for a young lady.
She turned and smiled at him. “Is your secret business finished now?” she asked.
“It is,” he replied. “Now I have other business to attend to, getting some well-earned fresh air and sunshine.”
The Laird had allowed Gavin to choose his own mount, and had he found his perfect match in a bright chestnut stallion called Rusty, who rolled his eyes and stamped the first time they saw each other. Gavin was smitten at once; this was his kind of horse; one with spirit and fire, just like Sable. He often thought of his former companion, and wondered where he was. Hopefully, someone had found him and was looking after him properly.
When he told Elspeth the horse he had found for himself, she had laughed. “I knew it!” she said. “Men never go for the calm, sweet-natured horses.”
“Is he wild?” Gavin asked, frowning.
“No,” Laird Jamieson answered. “But he needs a strong hand.”
“I hope I can give him what he needs, then.” Gavin’s voice was firm.
He did not wish to boast, but he had been riding since he was six years old, and thought that he had mastered the art of controlling a horse by now.
He and Elspeth both mounted their horses and began to ride out of the mighty main gate, and Gavin was reassured to see that four guards on huge war horses were clattering along behind them.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked Elspeth, expecting her to suggest the village.
“I think we should go to see our two feuding farmers,” she answered. “It will make a very good impression on them to seea Laird coming to visit them. It shows that he cares about his tenants.”
