Page 50 of Bride of the Sinful Laird
“Of course. Elizabeth always wished fer a life behind convent walls.” Catarine reached across the table and took Edmund’s hands in hers.
“She was raised by the nuns at Haddington nunnery, after her own mother left this mortal realm. She was taken there as a wee lass of nay more than six years old, all but forgotten by her faither, the laird. Like so many noble-born lasses, she was valued solely fer the purpose of making a marriage that was useful tae the clan.
Beside him he heard Annora take in a breath.
“She was betrothed to Baldur when she was twelve years old and he was nay more than seventeen. They had never met at the time of their betrothal. It was nae until five years later they first laid eyes on each other, when she was brought from the convent tae Scorrybreac tae prepare fer her wedding.”
His mind on fire, Edmund shook his head. “I kent naught of their betrothal. All me life I believed I was some lad’s by-blow,and me maither and her wean had been abandoned by a rogue tae their fate. ‘Tis only now am I learning me parents were betrothed.” He looked up at Catarine who was observing him carefully. “Why did they nay marry?”
“When Elizabeth Sinclair came to Scorrybreac she was a bonny beautiful lass of seventeen. Until I caught sight of yer wife today, I’d nay seen such a beauty. Baldur loved her from the first moment he laid eyes on her. He courted her, desperate tae win her heart.”
“Did she love him?”
“She came tae love him, yet she didnae wish tae marry. Her wish was tae return tae the convent and tae spend her days there.”
Edmund’s heart was pounding. This was all sad news to him.
“When she found she was with child, she persuaded Baldur tae postpone the wedding ceremony until after the birth, and he agreed. It was his mistake, but he’d have granted her any wish.”
“She confided her plans tae me and gained me help in finding a man who would sail her tae the mainland once the babe was born.”
“And Baldur kent naught of this?”
Catarine shook her head. “The babe – that was ye – was born in the dark of night. Elizabeth went straight from her bed tae the shore wi’ ye, a caterwauling newborn.”
“Why did she nay leave me wi’ me faither?”
“She had made her mind up that she’d leave nae trace of herself, fearing he’d ne’er marry if he thought she’d return. She believed it was best if she took ye away so there’d be nay heir tae cause trouble in later years, should he marry and have another son.”
Tears trickled down Catarine’s wrinkled cheeks. “She was utterly determined this was the best course of action and there was nay swaying her, fer all that I tried.”
“And me faither?”
“Once he learned she’d fled wi’ his newborn son, he was a broken man. He searched fer her fer years, but there was nae trace tae be found. In time he married again. He was kind tae his wife, but he ne’er loved any another lass but Elizabeth Sinclair.”
Edmund nodded. For a moment he’d felt his father’s despair and the double loss he’d suffered. That night Baldur lost both the woman he loved and his only son.
Yet, this story had brought home to him, at last, that hewasthe true son of Baldur. Only now did he fully understand why he was born out of wedlock and why his father had declared him to behis heir. He was the true and the rightful heir to the lairdship of the MacNeacails.
Something inside him that had been closed tightly began to bloom like a flower – the recognition of who he was and who he was meant to be.
“And ye didnae disclose this tae another soul?”
“Elizabeth made me swear I’d say naught of her intentions and, until this moment, I’ve never betrayed her trust or told the full story tae any other.”
There was no more to be said. Annora reached across the table and folded her hand around Edmund’s. He gave her hand a squeeze.
The silence hanging over the room was broken as Catarine rose to her feet. Her face was gray and drawn.
“Ye must forgive me, milord. Now that I’ve told the story I’ve been hoarding all these years, I am sore tired out. I wish tae reclaim me bed.”
Annora and Edmund rose and followed the old one as she hobbled to the doorway to see them out.
“I thank ye fer yer truths, Mistress Catarine.”
She brushed his arm with her weathered hand. “I am glad tae have at last released the burden Elizabeth Sinclair left me.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
