Page 39 of A Two-Faced Laird
“I am afraid that will not be possible,” Roy said. “Edina, there is not just the social aspect to consider, although that is bad enough, but there are secrets within the Findlay family that you are unaware of.”
“What kind of secrets?” Edina asked. “Tell me, Father. You cannot deny me the man I love without giving me a reason why. Is Lewis a criminal? Does he have a wasting disease? Is he dying? Tell me! I think I have the right to know.”
Roy looked over to the window. There were storm clouds gathering outside, which suited his mood perfectly, and he wished the room were a little bigger so that he could pace up and down. He stood and went to look outside anyway to avoid looking at his daughter as he told her what he hoped he would never have had to divulge to anyone, especially not one of the dearest people in his life.
“This is not something I ever wanted to tell you, Edina,” he began. “And if the Laird found out, there would be hell to pay, so I must ask you not to tell him that you know.”
“I promise,” Edina said solemnly.
“It is a long and very sad story,” her father said.
He paused for a moment before he went on, “You see, a while ago, Lewis and Aidan were—they came under the influence of a crowd of disreputable young men who frequented the Fatted Calf.
It started with a game of cards, which Lewis lost, so he had to buy drinks for everyone. You have never been a young man, Edina, so you do not know how much fun it is to be among others who are just like you. This is not something that girls, especially well-brought-up ones like you, usually do, but we men are much coarser and much more stupid creatures.
Anyway, after a few games of cards—which, strangely enough, Lewis always lost—he began to love the fellowship of the young lads, and the drink they all enjoyed. Alas, he was too silly to realise that his friends were cheating. The Laird noticed how much of his allowance Lewis was spending with nothing to show for it.
Anyway, Aidan told him. He had also been spending time with the lads, but he began to distance himself from them, and tried to persuade Lewis to do the same thing, but he refused.”
Roy gave an angry sigh and thumped one of his fists into the palm of the other hand.
“It was pathetic to watch, Edina. A young, strong, intelligent man was falling to pieces before our eyes. However, the Laird was not going to stand by and do nothing. One night he sent his guards in to capture them all, and they each spent a month in the dungeons. They were not quite as cocky when they came out as they were when they went in!”
He turned back to her. “The Laird shut Lewis away in a chamber in the west wing of the castle for a while to keep him away from all alcohol. I realise that it is hell to recover from that addiction, because I know people who have managed to do it. Most do not. ”
Her father looked at Edina with such pity in his eyes that she was suddenly aware that he was about to tell her something dreadful.
“Lewis was isolated for three months,” he said gently. “And the Laird hoped that would be the end of it, but the lure of drink was too strong, and even the fact that the Laird locked away all the wine in the castle did not stop him from getting hold of it.
After a while, it was decided that he would have to go somewhere else to recover, and he was sent to a sanatorium. For that period, Aidan was to take his place as an heir, and continue working along with his father, to keep the clan running peacefully. Aidan agreed because he loved his brother and felt it was his fault Lewis was found in that situation. Aidan was willing to sacrifice everything—his identity included—and pretend to be someone else, till his brother came back and resumed his position.
Unfortunately, though, his brother did not want to come back to this life. Edina, I’m so sorry to tell you that Lewis is no longer with us.”
Edina felt a shock so overwhelming that it seemed as though a massive weight had been rammed into her chest. She collapsed into a chair and put her head in her hands, and after a few moments she looked up, her eyes glittering with tears. Her father handed her a small measure of whisky. Usually, she hated it, since the fiery spirit made her throat burn, but now she hardly noticed it.
“Tell me more. Please, Father,” Edina forced the words out.
“He was found dead in his bed one night. We are not quite sure how he died, but the healer in the sanatorium said that he was becoming weaker and weaker, and one day his heart just gave out. He had no will to live, any more, Edina. I was watching him all this time struggling to please his parents, his friends, his people… Ale was his way out. We would only smile genuinely at Aidan, and when they separated them, Lewis had no motive to live no more.”
“So the man you have been seeing and talking to since you came here is Aidan. Not many people know this, and those who do are trusted allies of the Laird.”
She had already known he was not Lewis, but she could never guess that matters had come to this. Lewis was dead… She felt utterly devastated.
“I had suspected something was not right, Father,” she confessed. “I know people’s faces change as they grow older, but I knew as soon as I saw Lewis—Aidan—that something was not right.
His habits are different too. Only Aidan wanted to hunt big game. Only Aidan was scared of heights, and only Aidan hated sweet foods. Lewis was always more respectful to his father, andAidan was much less so. There are many other things that give him away too.”
She shook her head and sighed. “At least now I can grieve for Lewis. Does Aidan know?”
“No, my daughter. His parents feared his reaction. He is the future of the clan, he can’t back down now.” Roy gave her a sad smile.
“That is cruel to say the least! Lewis—Aidan—is still waiting for his brother to come back! He has the right to grieve!”
Edina’s tears were escaping her eyes uncontrollably now. She was shaking from anger and frustration. Poor boys…
“There is one more thing, Edina.” Her father tried to change the subject. “The Laird has chosen a bride for Lewis—or Aidan.”
Edina’s heart sank. “What does he say about it?” she asked, trying to keep her tone level. “Is he happy about it?”
