Page 139 of Highlanders for the Holidays
From the expression on Bridgett’s face, she thought Onnleigh’s question odd, but kindly enough, she did not remark.
They sat opposite one another at the little table, while the babe slept in the cradle not far from Onnleigh’s feet. She could not remember a time in her life when she experienced such delicious food, nor could she ever remember being in the presence of someone who talked as much as Bridgett.
“I ken it has been some time since ye’ve been in the keep,” she began. “Much has changed over the years.”
Onnleigh gave a slight nod of understanding. “Aye, Connor be the chief now. I dinnae ken William had passed.”
“William, Connor’s mum, his wife and babe as well, all within the past four years.”
Onnleigh felt a tug of regret at hearing the news about his wife and babe. “I dinnae ken he had married.”
“Aye, they were married less than a year. ’Twas such a difficult time fer him. He loved Maire verra much.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Maire?”
Bridgett laughed. “Aye,Maire,Helen’s eldest daughter. Though I must tell ye, Maire was much nicer than her mum or her sister, Margaret. Och! Never have I met two women as cold-hearted as they.”
Helen. She had been the woman who had taken the switch to Onnleigh’s rear end and legs that day more than ten years ago. It had beenhergarden she had taken the leeks from. An involuntary shudder traced up and down her spine at the memory.
“Connor’s brother, Braigh be married now, to a verra fine woman named Lorna. She’s with child, and due in a few months. Ronald, his other brother, he is nae married.”
Onnleigh was still trying to rid her mind of the vision of Helen whipping her out of the gates, not really paying attention to much of what Bridgett was saying. And poor Connor. Having lost his wife and babe.
“Louisa, she be in charge of the kitchens now, and a verra nice woman. If ye ever need a thing and ye cannae find me, just ask Louisa.”
“How did Connor’s wife and babe die?” she asked.
Bridgett’s smile faded. “’Twas so verra sad. The babe came way too early. Maire died just a few hours after birthin’ him. He died the followin’ morn.”
Dying alone, in childbirth, had been one of the things she had worried about when she was carrying Nola. Her biggest fear was that she would give birth to a living babe only to die minutes later, leaving her babe all alone in this world, with no one to care for her.
Before they had finished their meal, Nola began to stir. Onnleigh went to her immediately, lifted her out of the cradle and to her chest. “How be our bright babe?” she asked soothingly.
Nola looked up at her before thrusting her fist into her mouth. Onnleigh’s heart felt near to bursting, she was so thankful and happy to be reunited with her babe. But that little voice still warned against becoming too at ease among these people.
* * *
Later in theafternoon Onnleigh was summoned to Connor’s study, with the request that she bring the babe with her.
When she had first entered the keep that morning, no one had paid much attention to her. However, when Bridgett led the way to the study, she could not help but feel a distinct difference in attitudes toward her. Though none uttered a word, those few people in the gathering room glared at her with piercing gazes and pursed lips as if to say,We do nae want ye here.
She had been correct in her early presumption that once word began to spread, the hatred her clanspeople felt toward her would come shining through. It turned her skin cold, bursting with gooseflesh with each step she took.
Bridgett left her just outside Connor’s door with a promise to see her for the evening meal. If what she had just witnessed were any indication of how these people felt about her, she would prefer to keep to her room.
She gave a light rap on the door as she prayed silently for her legs to quit shaking.
“Come!” came Connor’s booming voice from within.
With Nola in one arm, she slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
He was sitting behind a grand desk with candles all ablaze, even though a good amount of sunlight streamed in through the open windows. Candles had been a rare commodity as she grew up, and she could not see much sense in burning them in broad daylight. Still, ’twasn’t her coin they were burning, so she kept her thoughts on the matter to herself.
“Ah! Onnleigh,” Connor said when he looked up from the large, open book before him. “How be ye this fine afternoon?”
Instantly, she felt relaxed. He seemed genuinely happy to see her, unlike the folks in the gathering room. “I be well, thank ye.”
“And yer room? Are ye settled in to yer likin’?” His lips curved into a warm smile that formed creases around his eyes. Eyes that near sparkled with kindness.
