Page 99 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

“I pray a child grows safely within you, my lady, and you can find Ida two cottages away from mine. It is the one with a fresh winter wreath on it. Ida’s fingers may be gnarled with age, but she still makes the loveliest wreaths.” Breann bobbed her head and headed for the door.

As Esme suspected, Ryland, though the stern look he wore spoke more of Torrance, stopped her. As Breann spoke, Ryland’s eyes darted to her and Brack grinned like a fool.

Brack continued to wear the grin as he approached the table with Ryland.

“Some possible good news among such unpleasant matters is most welcome,” Brack said.

“The news also leaves her more vulnerable,” Ryland said annoyed. “Since there is no news to spread just yet, I want no word of this getting around.”

“Aye, my lord, a wise decision,” Brack agreed.

“Now take some men and see if you can find Patrick,” Ryland ordered. “And we will not linger here. Prepare the men to leave tomorrow and send the tracker ahead to make sure no surprises await us.”

Brack nodded, then hurried off.

Ryland swung his legs over the bench to sit next to Esme. “Did you ask those questions because you believe you may be with child or to mislead?”

She smiled gently and took hold of his hand. “To mislead, though after I asked, I realized there is a chance now I could be. But I won’t know for a while yet.”

“I would be pleased to hear that you carry our child. It was something I thought about when I planned to wed you. That we would have many bairns together, sons and daughters,” —he grinned— “since I knew I’d never be able to keep my hands off you, and also that our keep would be full of laughter and love.”

“I would love that,” Esme said, her heart swelling with the possibility of such a good life with him.

“As would I. Now tell me what you truly asked Breann.”

“I asked about the eldest person at Clan Purdom and Breann told me it was a woman called Ida and that she has seen many chieftains come and go.”

“Which means she would know about my mother,” Ryland said, nodding.

“We’ll eat and go speak with her,” Esme said. “She might know the healer who attended your birth.”

Ida’s facepaled when she opened the door to see Lord Torrance standing there, though her worry eased some when she saw that Lady Esme was with him.

“How can I help you, my lord?” Ida asked.

“I have a few questions, if you don’t mind,” Ryland said and ushered his wife in, leaving Ida unable to deny him.

Ida stood staring at them for a moment, then closed the door. “Please sit, my lord and lady. I will get you a hot brew.”

“Nay, Ida, you sit along with my wife while we talk and a brew is not necessary since we just finished the morning meal,” Ryland said and pointed to one of two benches.

Esme hurried to sit knowing Ida would not sit before she did, and the woman looked too frail to be standing yet there was a spryness in her eyes that suggested she had strength despite her advanced age.

“What can you tell me about my mother?”

Ida smiled, gently. “Lady Claire. She was a lovely woman, kind, generous, thoughtful to all in the clan.” Her smile faded. “Her life was so sad. I wept along with others when she passed.”

Ryland nodded to his wife, leaving the conversation to her, knowing Ida would talk more easily with her. He took a step back closer to the corner of the small hearth where Ida might forget he was there and speak freely to Esme.

“What do you mean, Ida, when you said that her life was so sad?”

Ida got teary-eyed. “When you’re young, you dream about the future, how you see it, how you hope it will be.” She shook her head. “It never turns out how you dreamt it. Fate has far different ideas. Mistress Claire fell in love with someone outside her station, but she dreamed her father would grant her permission to wed him. Her father had different ideas. He arranged a marriage for her, one that benefitted the clan. Lady Claire was heartbroken. She had no choice but to do her duty and our hearts broke for her again when we discovered that her husband could be a cruel man. Some believe it was his fault that she lost their first bairn.”

Ryland’s eyes turned wide, alerting Esme that he was not aware of that.

“Lord Torrance is not the first-born child of Lady Claire and Lord Randall?” Esme asked.

“Nay,” Ida said, shaking her head. “She gave birth to a daughter, though she barely took a few breaths. She had delivered her at Purdom Keep just as she did Lord Torrance.”

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