Page 44 of The Shadow of a Laird
Gavin looked up at him, astonished. “But I’m a coward!” he protested.
The Laird shook his head. “No, Gavin. A coward is a man who slinks away and hides to avoid facing danger. A brave man is afraid, but faces up to his fear and goes on to fight anyway. You are most definitely not a coward. In fact, I am frightened, too. It’s natural and normal, so be at ease—there is nothing wrong with you.”
Gavin smiled widely. “Thank you, my Laird,” he said as they shook hands.
He strode out of the room and looked at the clock, then realised that he had been in the Laird’s study for two whole hours. He was late for his meeting with Maura. He looked down at himself; he was covered in grime and stank of stale sweat, but he had no time to change.
Less than two minutes later, he was riding Rusty as fast as he dared in the half-dark towards Ardneuk, hoping that Maura had not abandoned all hope of seeing him.
Maura sat looking at the glass of ale in front of her, racking her brains to think of a reason why Gavin was taking so long.
She was just about to give up hope when a young woman sat down in front of her. “Good evening,” she said in a polite, cultured voice, and smiled at Maura.
She was extremely pretty, with wide, deep brown eyes and glossy dark hair which was piled artfully on top of her head in an elaborate bun. Her clothes were expensive, Maura noticed;she was wearing a thick fur cloak over a dark blue woollen dress that was beautifully tailored, and her hands were tucked into a fur muff. She looked cosy, even on this freezing night, whereas Maura, in much thinner clothing, was beginning to feel the need to sit closer to the fire.
She stared at the woman, who seemed familiar; Maura had the feeling she had seen her somewhere before.
“I see you are wondering who I am,” the young woman said, still smiling. “My name is Elspeth Jamieson.”
As she heard the name, Maura started violently, and felt as if a stone had dropped into her stomach. This was who she had glimpsed sitting with Gavin as she dashed outside the night before.
“Ah, I see you recognise my name,” Elspeth said, with a touch of smugness. “What is yours?”
“Maura Hislop,” Maura answered, summoning up a smile.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Elspeth asked as a waitress approached them.
“No, nothing, thank ye,” Maura replied. She was as tense as a bowstring, waiting for Elspeth to speak, and she had the impression that she was being played with.
The wine arrived a moment later, and Elspeth took a sip before addressing Maura again. “You know that I am Gavin Forsyth’s betrothed?” she asked.
“No, I didnae,” Maura answered with a pinned-on smile. “Congratulations, Mistress Jamieson. Gavin is a good friend o’ mine, an’ I wish ye both every happiness.”
Elspeth frowned. “Good friend, you say? Is that why I saw you standing outside yesterday, making plans to meet here tonight?”
For a moment, Maura could think of nothing to say; she looked down at her hands to avoid Elspeth’s stare for a moment,and when she raised her eyes, the other woman was glaring at her with open hostility.
“You know that if you pursue a relationship with Gavin you will destroy his chances of being a Laird? After all, you are only a working-class woman, and that will make our sort of people despise you.
If you love him, and I think you do, you will do what is best for him and let him marry a woman of his own class. Anyway, if my father finds out about your affair he will not help Gavin, and he will never get his estate back.”
Maura was furious, but she said nothing, and tried to keep her face expressionless. The upper classes had always talked down to working people as though they were pets or slaves, and she had had enough of it. “He will make a fine Laird,” she remarked.
“I will make sure of it,” Elspeth assured her.
“Can I just wait here an’ say goodbye tae him?” Maura asked. “After that, ye will never see me again, I promise.”
Elspeth shook her head and took another sip of her wine. “He is not coming, Maura,” she replied. “He and my father have been spending time making plans for dealing with his rebel clansmen. He has been with my father all afternoon, and they will likely not be finished for hours. Forget him—it is not your destiny to be with him. He is mine.”
Maura felt sick with sadness. The thought of never seeing Gavin again was devastating, yet she had known all along that it was inevitable. She looked up at Elspeth again, and swallowed her tears. She would leave with her dignity intact, and not let the other woman see that her heart was irretrievably shattered.
Elspeth smiled, triumphant. “Thank you, Maura,” she said, then she downed the last of her wine as she watched her rival leave. She had won.
Gavin was breathless by the time he reached the inn, and he almost fell through the door. He stood for a moment, recovering his breath and looking around for Maura, but as soon as his gaze fell on Elspeth, he knew that all was lost. He moved over to sit across from her, keeping the table between them, and for a moment, they stared at each other before Elspeth spoke.
“She is gone, Gavin.” Her voice was firm and certain, and her expression was triumphant. “I saw you both last night as you talked outside, and I could see by her face that she truly loves you. But I told her what would happen if she tried to have a relationship with you, or marry you, and she realised that it was impossible. You are promised to me, and without me, my father has no reason to help you.”
“I know,” he replied. “I just wanted to explain all that to Maura.”
