Page 1 of Forgotten Secrets (Secrets of the Heart 4)

Chapter 1

England, Spring, 1387

Spring couldn’t come fast enough as far as Morag was concerned. And although she loved being back home in Scotland with her family and Fia’s new baby, all she’d been able to think about all winter long was returning to the secret garden. It had been excruciatingly hard to keep quiet for so long about Mazelina. Morag felt extremely excited and wanted more than anything to tell her sister. But what was even harder than keeping her secret was trying to think of an excuse to go back to England once winter was over.

She had been at her wit’s end trying to come up with a story that would allow her to return. It wasn’t going to be easy since her mother was thrilled to have her home after so many years. And her father swore he would never let his children live in England again, even if it was by order of a king.

Morag had just about given up hope of ever being mentored by Mazelina. Then, one day in spring, destiny poked its head out of the snow like a seedling pushing its way through a crack in the ground, searching for the sun. Aye, an opportunity arose that she never thought would happen for her. She was determined to use it to get back to England after all.

“Da! Mathair! Someone approaches,” called out Morag’s brother, Conall.

“They’re bluidy Sassenachs,” added his twin brother, Dugal, rushing up behind him. The boys were almost six and ten years of age now and already much taller than Morag. They were turning into men quickly and were no longer boys. Conall had red hair like their father and Dugal’s hair was dark like their mother’s. Both boys were slim but Morag noticed muscles forming in their arms from all the time they spent practicing with the sword.

“There’s someone here?” asked Morag excitedly, handing baby Oletha back to Fia and rushing for the door. Her father got there first and stepped in front of her to block the exit.

“I’ll take care of this,” announced Reed in a low voice, sliding his sword out of the sheath. “If they’re Sassenachs, it can only mean trouble.”

“Faither, ye’re a Sassenach, as well as yer brathairs and their wives,” Morag reminded him, getting a nasty glare from him in return.

“Laddies, Morag, get away from the door,” called out their mother. “Fia, take the bairn into the back room and hide until yer faither tells ye it is safe to come out.”

“Aye, Mathair,” said Fia, picking up the squalling babe. “I wish Alastair were here to protect us.” Fia had been visiting her family with the baby while her husband, Laird Alastair MacPherson, had stayed with his clan in the Highlands.

“I wish Uncle Duff was here,” said Conall, speaking of their mother’s brother.

“Haud yer wheesht, all of ye,” snapped Reed. “Ye make it sound like ye dinna think I can protect ye. Have ye forgotten who I am?”

“Nay, Da,” said Dugal. Then the boys answered in unison and in a monotone as they rolled their eyes. “Ye are a Legendary Bastard of the Crown.”

“Come on, lads,” said Maggie, heading to the back room of the cottage.

“We ken how to fight,” complained Dugal.

“We’ve got our own swords,” added Conall. “Let’s get those bluidy Sassenachs.”

“Ye heard yer mathair, now go!” commanded Reed, sending the boys hurrying off after their mother. “Ye, too, Morag,” said Reed, keeping his attention focused on the approaching traveling party.

Morag peeked around her father, sticking her head out the door. Two mounted English guards and a messenger approached the cottage. Another man traveled behind them atop a horse, but she couldn’t see him well from her position behind her father’s massive form. As the English came closer, Morag recognized the messenger boy as well as the crest on the horse’s trappings.

“Da, that’s Barnaby, Lord Beaufort’s messenger,” she told him anxiously.

“It is?” asked Reed, pushing her behind him in a protective manner. He squinted his eyes and held tightly to the hilt of his sword as the party rode closer.

“Aye, and if I’m no’ mistaken, isna that Branton behind the guards?” Morag poked her head under her father’s arm this time to get a better look.

“Why in God’s name would Lord Rothbury send them here?” mumbled Reed, reaching out and holding on to the doorframe to keep Morag from leaving the cottage.

“Let’s find out!” Morag quickly ducked under her father’s arm and ran out to greet the visitors.

“Morag, get back here!” shouted Reed, hurrying after her.

“Branton!” Morag waved a hand in the air as she hurried to meet with the travelers.

“Morag, how are you?” Branton slid off his horse and ran over to greet her. She felt so happy to see him that she threw her arms around his neck in a hug. “Where is Fia?” asked Branton, releasing her and looking toward the cottage. “I can’t wait to see her and her cute little baby again.”

“Fia?” Morag dropped her arms to her sides, feeling defeated. Branton looked right past her as if he didn’t even know she was there.

“Fia is in the house with the rest of the family,” Reed answered for her, joining them. “Go on in, Branton,” he said with a nod of his head. The boy hurried off into the house more excited to see Fia and the baby than he was to see Morag. It didn’t feel good to Morag at all. She was the one, along with her cousin, Maira, who had the closest relationship with the boy. Yet, no one would know it by the way he acted.

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