7. Chapter 7 - Ash

CHAPTER 7 - ASH

BALLOCH CASTLE - MAY 27, 1710

L ochie led me by the hand to the stairwell, and then down the spiraling stair and along a passageway. I was able to pay more attention, my head growing clearer as the painkillers wore off, but that clarity was making my head swim with the reality — I was in the past.

I had been in the past for days. I had been kidnapped, now I was in another place, each different from the last, and nothing like the normal, ordinary, modern world.

I looked down at Lochie’s hand, entwined in mine.

I had known him for hours. It could barely be called a full day, not really. What had I done?

He slowed in the stairwell and turned with one leg up, one down on the steps. He pulled me to his chest in a big embrace and kissed the top of my head. I kissed him back, but just then above us were footsteps as two big guards descended.

He whispered, “Press tae the wall. Turn tae me.”

We pressed and the two men passed. I took a furtive glance to see one looking me over, the other asked, “Lochie, what ye doin’ with the lass?”

“She is mine.”

They laughed and continued down the stairs.

The exchange was short, but tense, common enough, but also my heart was pounding — it had seemed dangerous. “Who was that?”

“Guards, ye canna walk alone in the castle, Ash, the men arna trustworthy. Ye are used tae walking on yer own on the island but this is different, these are Campbell men.”

I grimaced. “That sounds dire. But wait... aren’t you a Campbell man? What about your brothers, wait... aren’t they all Campbell men?”

“Aye, ye ought not trust a one of them unless ye ken them tae be trustworthy, ye ought tae trust three tae five men, tops.”

“Okay.”

He took my hand and began leading us down the steps again.

I asked, “ Why did you stop and kiss me on the stairs?”

“Because I hae been tae yer home and as we came down the stairs I was thinkin’ twas verra different here, ye are far away, and I thought ye needed a kiss, I could tell.”

“I did, you guessed correctly.”

He drew me down the passageway, darkened for lack of windows, but enough ambient light that we could make out our way to the door. He opened and we went in.

He asked, “Would ye like tae go tae bed?”

“In the middle of the afternoon, good sir? But it took so long to get dressed! And won’t there be a meal soon, I am famished, must be all this fresh air, and... no, I don’t think we can go to bed.”

“Och nae,” his face fell.

I smiled. “But we could do something else fun.”

His eyes went wide. His arms went around me and pulled me close. “Like what?”

“We could just—” We were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Lochie dropped his arms and we stepped apart as a maid entered. “Dost m’lady need anything?”

“No, I don’t need anything, thank you.”

“Would ye like me tae wait for ye?”

Lochie said, “Nae, we need some privacy.”

“Aye, sire.” She backed from the room.

Lochie’s arms went around me again. “What were ye sayin’, Ash?”

“I thought we might just access our fun, private parts under our skirts.”

“Tis a verra good idea...” He kissed my neck. “It has been centuries since I...” But then he straightened. “But och nae, Ash, it means I winna get tae see yer form. I hae only gotten the one look at ye, on the one night and briefly in the mornin’, it daena seem fair.”

“Life isn’t fair, Lochie, but we will do our best, next time I am undressed I will let you really look.” I put my good arm up around his neck and we kissed long and luxuriously.

While kissing me, he began drawing my skirts up. There were two layers of fabric, it took a few moments to bunch them up on the sides, and then — we heard many men running down the hall.

He froze.

Men shouted to each other as they passed the door.

Still holding my skirts up he faced the door listening.

I whispered, “What is happening?”

“Somethin’ has caused them tae go on alert.” He let my skirts drop down. He looked down on me. “I must go and check what is happenin’. Quentin and James hae gone on a supply run, and with Sean gone, Lizbeth’s husband, Liam, will need me. He has been left in charge.”

I shook my head. “But... what will I do?”

He kind of looked right and left in dismay as more commotion sounded outside. “I daena ken where tae take ye, ye need tae stay here. I am sorry, Ash, I need tae go see what the commotion is.”

My heart pounded. “I can’t come with you?”

“Ye hae an injury — we daena ken what is happenin’. I canna risk it, I daena ken what tae–“

There was a loud knock on the door and Lizbeth’s voice called in, “Lochinvar, is Lady Ash with ye?”

“Aye, come in!”

She pushed in and closed the door behind her. “A group of men hae arrived, all the women and children are tae go tae the nursery. I came for Lady Ash.”

“I will escort ye there.” We all rushed from the room, Lizbeth in front, Lochie running behind me, looking in all directions — we made it down the steps to the doors of the nursery, now being heavily guarded. Lochinvar kissed my forehead before rushing away.

I called to his retreating back, “Stay safe!” and went into the nursery to sit among a whole bunch of medieval women I had only just met. I felt alone and really alarmed, made worse by more than one baby wailing in despair.

I said to myself, “Och nae,” and slid down the wall to sit on the floor.

Lizbeth sat properly in a chair. “Daena be frightened, Lady Ash, we are safe here. This is only until they can ascertain the meaning of the visitor.”

“Does this happen every time someone visits?”

She shook her head. “Nae, if we hae been sent tae the nursery tis because the visitor seems suspicious.”

I dropped my head back against the wall.

She said, “Usually tis because of some trouble that Magnus has brought, but he inna here.”

Beaty sat down beside me, leaning against the wall, holding her son in her arms.

Sophie sat in a chair beside Lizbeth holding her small infant.

Lizbeth said, “I hae sat here many a day with Kaitlyn, waitin’ with trepidation tae see what trouble has arrived at the gate.”

I asked, “Do you think this involves me?”

Beaty said, “Tis likely, Ash, but it inna truly about ye, tis always about Magnus and his throne. This is part of the excitement of marryin’ one of his men.”

I gulped.