Kirstin had been so distraught that Alana had to explain to Lachlan what little she knew of the occurrence between Kirstin and Graham. Without doubt, Kirstin knew that Lachlan would eventually try to pry more information out of her, so it was no surprise when he showed up at the door of her bedroom. He did not knock before entering, as her door was slightly left ajar, and he could see his betrothed sitting on the side of her bed. She had obviously been sobbing but had calmed down because Kirstin was left wiping the tears away from her eyes.
Lachlan said nothing at first, as he took a seat next to her. He put a hand over hers and placed it in his lap, stroking small designs into her palm. The motion seemed to calm her even more because her shoulders relaxed from their tense state, and she breathed out a relaxed sigh. Kirstin put her head against his shoulder, and then he finally spoke.
"Why did ye no' tell me of Graham before?" he asked calmly but Kirstin could tell he was angry by the slight resonance his tone held.
"I," she began but hesitated just briefly, "I did no' think much of it. I thought he was just another suitor until he made it clear that he was Laird of the Ruskin Clan."
"Mayhap ye should have told me of him?" Lachlan said, tensing.
Kirstin sat up to look him in the eye, "I told ye before, I did no' think much of him. I always shun him away when he talks to me. Lachlan," she said, realizing the odd timbre in his tone, "Ye donna think me of betraying ye?"
Lachlan shook his head, "No' in the way that your heart beats for another, but Kirstin," he squeezed her hand, "Ye need to tell me if something doesna seem right, and ye need to tell me if another man is being a nuisance to ye."
A guilty look spread over her face and she once again regretted not telling him about Graham sooner, "I apologize," she whispered, "I honestly did no' think it would get this bad."
"Aye," he said, letting go of her hand to caress the side of her face, "but it has and now we must do something about him, and before he finds out whom yer parents are, too."
"Aye." Kirstin agreed, fearful for her parents now, "Mayhap I should write them a letter to explain everything that has happened in the past several weeks?"
"That would be a good idea," agreed Lachlan, "I will give ye some ink and paper."
Kirstin gave a small smile in response, as if to thank him for his kindness and understanding. Then, Lachlan placed his lips against hers leaving a light kiss that left her flushed.
"I will send someone for yer ink and paper, but for now, I must get back to my duties as laird." He said, standing up.
Kirstin watched him leave but before he had gotten the chance to open the door, she called out to him, "Will I see ye at dusk?"
"Aye," he assured her and flashing a grin, "I will come for ye myself."
His response only made Kirstin all the more flushed as he left.
v
Ma and Pa,
Both something great and terrible has happened. I have become betrothed to Laird Bateson, and though my dowry is small, he doesna care for his heart beats for me with such heaviness. I feel the same way towards him but no' as strongly yet. Though, I have no doubt that I will one day love him as much as he loves me.
I fear that I donna have much time to write, but all I can say is that I ken of our past and now our fate. Laird Ruskin, whom ye may ken as Graham, has found interest in me. This interest has now turned to mere hatred and has led to surprisingly possessive ways because of my betrothal to Laird Bateson. Ye must stay alert, for we are the Crofts, and if word gets out to Graham of who we are then he may ruin not just me, but the both of ye because of the deed ye did for the better of the Bateson Clan.
I fear for ye. Mayhap ye should move from the lowlands and come stay with Laird Bateson and me in the highlands. Together we could celebrate my matrimony with him.
Be Safe,
Kirstin Croft
Kirstin set the quill down and read over her letter once more before sending it off with a messenger. She had just said farewells to the messenger when Roderick showed up at her side, much too eager to talk of her newest betrothal. He had wrapped his arm with Kirstin's and began walking her in various directions, as if to stall for her time.
"I just knew ye and the laird were to marry off. Now tell me, when is this wedding of yers?" He began blabbering with an over joyful tone. At least Kirstin had his approval, but she hoped that she had everyone else's consent as well. She did not want to be hated amongst the manor, may it be by man or woman.
Kirstin answered thoughtfully, "I donna ken when exactly it will be but we have decided that it shall be before the next winter, which will give us a few more months to plan and get to ken one another better."
Roderick gave her a puzzled look and said, "Well, why would the two of ye need to get to know one another better? He loves ye and ye love him!"
"Aye," She answered, as she now realized he was taking her towards the kitchen now, "But I donna think my heart beats as hard for him as his does for me."
"Nonsense!" Came another voice as they entered the kitchen. The voice was Alana's, "I have seen the way ye look at him and the way he looks at ye. Mayhap ye just donna ken yet, but ye love him just as much."
Alana was cooking over a hot fire, and two other servants were kneading dough by her side. Kirstin blushed when the two servants giggled in response to Alana, and Kirstin had almost forgotten that her arm was in Roderick's until he said, "Aye, what Alana said."
Kirstin sighed, "Mayhap the both of ye are right. Mayhap, I do love him just as much, but why does it feel that I donna? Why does it seem that I could never love him as much as he loves me? The man has dreamt of being with me for an eternity and I? Well, I just met him but a few weeks ago."
Roderick turned her around to face him, "Never," he said putting a hand to her heart, "let time define how much ye love a man, but instead only how long ye have loved him. Just because the laird has loved ye since he was a boy, doesna mean that he loves ye more. Understand?"
"Aye," a small smile crept way to her face, "I understand."
"Good." Roderick said, putting a hand to each of her shoulders and looking sternly into her eyes, "And ye better no' forget what I just told ye."
Alana, Roderick, and Kirstin continued on with conversation until Roderick was pulled away for business and Alana had to finish her daily duties. Kirstin had offered to help, but Alana did not take her seriously as she was to be the lady of the home. So, with being pushed away, Kirstin found comfort in Lachlan's study. He was absent from his chambers but this did not stop her from taking a book from his shelf and reading it. In fact, she had read not one book, but skimmed the pages of at least a dozen others. By the time she could hear hard footsteps of many men coming from down the hall, she had made a stack of books in the corner of his study.
Fearing that she may get scolded for sneaking into his rooms, Kirstin ran to his sleeping chambers and had meant to close the door all the way but instead, it stayed cracked open as three men piled into Lachlan's study. One of the men was no other than Lachlan himself.
"What do ye mean my messenger has been killed?" Lachlan roared out, throwing his arms in the air as apart of his rage.
The smaller of the two men answered, "We fear that Laird Ruskin is behind all of this. Another death threat was left with the body of the messenger, and we fear that whatever he had been delivering was taken."
Kirstin gasped at hearing the news, and on instinct she pushed the door open and almost tripped coming out into the men's presence. She wasted no time for her embarrassment and got straight to the point, "My letter was taken by Laird Ruskin?"
This time the taller of the two men answered, "We fear so. Is there anything of importance on that letter?"
"Aye," she rushed, meeting Lachlan's grave look, "Everything." It seemed that only Lachlan understood what she meant by her response.
Kirstin took a step towards them, "Ye donna think that Graham is going to my home this instant, do ye?" The question was more so directed to Lachlan but instead, the taller man answered, "Only if he got word out of the messenger as to where exactly he was going."
Kirstin covered her mouth and squealed. Oh, how she wished that she could faint right then and there, and wake up as if it had all been a horrible nightmare. For the second time that day, Kirstin was on the verge of going into hysterics, and Lachlan had rushed to her side almost instantly. He took her into his arms and demanded that the two other men leave. Kirstin barely had time to realize that the door had shut after them until Lachlan picked her up into his arms and took a seat at the chair by his desk, "It's going to be all right. Everything will be fine." He shushed her sobs constantly, and when Kirstin finally calmed down to sniffling and tears, she said, "My parent's lives are in the hands of fate itself, and it seems that only fate can save them."