Falling for the Highlander Read online

  Falling for the Highlander

  A Historical Scottish Romance Novel

  Lydia Kendall

  Edited by Maggie Berry

  Contents

  About the Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  About the Book

  When Isla Duggal loses her beloved mother after a long-time disease, her life instantly falls apart. Her father, the powerful Laird of clan Duggal is the only person she’s left with, along with their close friends Laird and Lady McDonald of their neighboring clan.

  Growing up with their son Ewan creates a special bond between them, preparing both families for the inevitable: these two are destined to be together.

  Or so they think…

  When Laird Duggal announces his sudden plans of marrying Isla to the Earl of Edinburgh, the future that both were hoping for seems doomed.

  The threat of war is real and it is closer than everybody thinks.

  Chapter 1

  Welcome, Wee Lass

  “Where are we going?” Ewan asked his mama, as they rode out of the clan boundaries in their royal carriage.

  The sun was rising on the McDonald clan boundaries, basking the vast green lands and its residents with its soothing glow. It was the year of 1432, a year filled with joy.

  “Ye and I are going to welcome a very special friend into this world,” Agatha, the Lady McDonald, told her son, Ewan.

  “A friend?” Ewan asked, innocently, for he was confused.

  “Ye’ll see,” she winked at him, making three-year-old Ewan giggle and hide in her side.

  The truth of the matter was, Agatha was on her way to the neighboring Duggal clan with Ewan to meet the Helen, the Lady of the castle and her newborn child. The Duggal clan and the McDonald clan had a long-standing friendship, built upon years of union, comradery and trust. Unlike tradition in the Highlands, the two clans didn’t have a rivalry, nor did they quarrel over territory or land. The distance between them was a mere mile, and the only reason Agatha had called upon the royal carriage was that a Lady could not go out on foot.

  Agatha and Helen had been friends since the first time they met, almost five years ago. Their respective husbands, the current Lairds, had been friends for even longer than that, having grown up together. Nothing and no one could ever come between or destroy the strong relationship the two clans had not even the strongest of enemies.

  Love and friendship were the defining characteristics of their friendship. Each year in the summer, a festival was held in the outskirts by the two clans, where the young and old would mingle and dance. It was there that many of the youth would meet and fall in love, not being held back by their different origins.

  The two lairds were the fiercest and most hard-working leaders in all of the moors. They put their people above all else, their duty above their personal gain. And the two Ladies? They were adored by the public and admired for their class and elegance. Agatha had given birth to her son three years ago, and now it was Helen’s turn to bring a kin into the world. Lady McDonald was absolutely delighted when she woke in the morning to find a letter had arrived from the Duggal Castle, announcing the birth of their heir.

  “How much longer?” Lady McDonald called out to the coachmen, impatiently.

  The normal twenty minutes carriage ride seemed liked hours long to the excited Lady McDonald.

  It was meant to be for the heirs of the Duggal and the McDonald clans to play together. They were, after all, born best friends.

  “We’re here, Lady McDonald,” the coachmen answered back, pulling the carriage towards the Duggal Castle grounds.

  * * *

  “Lady Duggal,” Sophie whispered, nudging the Helen lightly out of the blissful sleep she had fallen into.

  Fluttering her eyes awake, she replied, “Aye?”

  “They have arrived, Me Lady,” Sophie informed her, opening the curtains and allowing fresh light into the chambers.

  “Help me up!” Lady Duggal ordered, feeling excited that her friend had finally arrived.

  “Where’s the babe?” Lady Duggal asked, running her hand through her ruffled hair.

  “Nay, Lady, ye mustn’t strain yerself.” Sophie insisted as Lady Duggal began to get up. “The baby is in the nursery.”

  “Go on and bring her to me,” Lady Duggal told Sophie, lying back down into the comfortable bedding.

  “Aye, I’ll fetch her while ye stay put,” Sophie conceded, smiling tenderly.

  The whole castle was excited about the birth of the new princess, Isla Duggal, who was now the apple of everyone’s eye. Even though the Laird and Lady had been married for nearly five years, now, the Good Lord had finally bestowed them with the blessing of a child. Lady Duggal was the most ecstatic, for she had finally given her husband a child. A child they vowed to love unconditionally till the time came for them to leave this world.

  Laird Duggal was gone on a hunting trip and hence had not met his daughter yet. Regardless, Lady Duggal had sent him a message the second she felt the baby was ready to come. It wouldn’t be too long before her husband would return.

  Lady Duggal waited for Sophie to return with Isla, already missing having her little bundle of joy in her hands.

  Long ago when the two ladies had become friends, they had discussed a silly dream. At that time, both had not had children. Their dream was to raise their children in hopes to have them marry each other one day. Lady Duggal could only hope this dream was going to come true.

  Sophie returned to the bedroom with Isla wrapped in a woolen blanket and held tenderly in her arms. Lady Duggal held her own arms open to take her baby and cradle her.

  “Bring them in. We’re ready,” she ordered Sophie, who rushed outside to bring in Lady McDonald and Prince Ewan.

  “We have some really special guests here to meet ye, me wee lamb,” Lady Duggal cooed at baby Isla who was stretching her arms.

  Isla was already the spitting image of her mother, with the same red hair and pale complexion. Her eyes, however, paid homage to her father blue and piercing in their gaze.

  There was a brief knock on the door before it opened and in stepped Lady McDonald, Ewan followed closely timid and hesitant.

  “Oh my!” Lady McDonald gasped, clutching her chest in awe as she continued to approach Lady Duggal. “As precious as her mama.”

  “Won’t ye come hold her?” Helen offered, smiling radiantly.

  Agatha giggled, winking as she sat next to Lady Duggal on the bed and took the baby in her arms. “Don’t mind if I do.”

  “Is it a-” Lady McDonald began to ask, but Lady Duggal already knew what her query was and interrupted her.

  “It’s a li’l girl.” Helen told Agatha. “Me wee Princess Isla.”

  “I hope ye remember our deal,” Lady McDonald joked, though she hoped Lady Duggal shared her sentiment.

  “I wouldn’t dare to forget,” Helen replied, resting her head on the bedpost and looking at Ewan.

  “Come here to your auntie, won’t ye?” Lady Duggal asked, opening her arms.

  Ewan ran to her, nestling himself into her side.

  Lady McDonald was concerned.

  “How are ye though?” She asked.

  “I’m fair puckled! She took her time coming out, this one,” Lady Duggal laughed, looking like an angel.

  Helen patted her dear friend’s frail hand. “I can see that. Ye look very tired, Helen, ye should be getting rest.”

  Lady McDonald knew how much pain a woman had to feel to receive such a blessing from their God. No man could have the strength to endure it, as it was a burden meant only for the feminine body.

  “Nay, I feel perfectly relaxed with ye and Ewan, Agatha,” Lady Duggal told her, sincerely.

  “Have ye sent word to Fergus?” Lady McDonald asked, knowing he would be over the moon with joy.

  Lady Duggal nodded. “Aye, I sent a messenger when I felt the first of the pain in me belly.”

  “Aye, I sent word to me Jon as well, in case,” Helen told her, referring to her husband out hunting with Laird Duggal.

  “I can already imagine his smile.” Lady Duggal blushed. “I can’t thank God enough for allowing me this opportunity.”

  “Ye deserve it, me friend.” Lady McDonald announced. “Don’t ever doubt it.”

  Ewan walked closer to the baby who now flaying her arms. He gasped, “It’s waking up.”

  Looking at her astonished son, she corrected, “It’s a girl, Ewan. Her name is Isla, and she is your friend.”

  “Isla,” Ewan whispered into the baby’s ear.

  “Will ye be her friend?” Lady Duggal asked as he smiled wide.

  “I’ll protect her, Mama,” Ewan declared, softly kissing the baby’s cheek.

  * * *

  The messenger raced through the dense forest, onward, searching for his master and the hunting party. The whole castle had been in frenzy when the messenger had been sent off to locate the Laird and bring to him the message the Lady had given.

  He galloped his horse to the camping site, where the Duggal and McDonald tartan flag flew in the wind, marking their territory. The messenger halted the horse outside the entrance of the site, handing it over to one of the stable boys before rushing inside. He found the two lairds sitti
ng next to the fire as the men sang and ate in peace. The messenger met the Laird’s eye, silently seeking permission to approach him.

  “Come hither,” Laird Duggal told him, gesturing forward with his hand.

  The messenger walked to the Laird, happy to be the one to deliver such good news.

  “Sire, this is from the Castle.” The messenger started by handing the message to Fergus, the Laird Duggal, “The Lady has given birth to a princess.”

  A look of shock followed by panic fell on the Laird’s face as he turned to his friend, Laird McDonald.

  “Laddie, welcome to the club!” Jon declared, slapping Fergus’s back, who finally snapped out of his daze.

  “Am a Da! Men, hear ye! Me child has arrived!” Laird Duggal announced, standing up, tall and proud.

  “We must return to the castle immediately!” Jon advised him, as Laid Duggal ceremoniously danced with glee.

  “AYE! A feast shall be held!” Laird Duggal shouted to the boisterous men.

  “AYE!” The men resonated.

  Laird Duggal ordered his hunting party to start packing and prepare to leave. He couldn’t wait to hold his baby daughter in his hands; his little angel, for whom he had waited for so long to arrive.

  * * *

  “Where is she?!” Laird Duggal exclaimed, bursting into his private chambers and making the women present laugh.

  Fergus strode to his beautiful wife, who tenderly smiled back at him. He glimpsed at newborn. His little girl had him in a trance. He wasn’t aware of anyone else in the room. Holding Isla in his arms, he knelt next to the bed, simply gazing and cooing at his daughter. She has the same eyes, just like the eyes on his face that he saw in the mirror so many times in the past.

  He the felt tears running down his face. He whispered, “She’s beautiful.”

  “We’ll be downstairs,” Lady McDonald excused herself, wanting to give the family their privacy and exited with Ewan.

  “Come up,” Helen insisted, wanting her husband to be close to her.

  “How are ye, me dearest love?” He sat on the bed and laid their daughter on her chest.

  “I am tired but relaxed,” Lady Duggal mused, perplexed by her state of mind.

  “Should I be worried?” He teased, moving away.

  “Oh, aye, yer wife has gone to the loony hills,” she snorted.

  He kissed her forehead, “Rest, me love.”

  She balanced Isla on her chest. “Won’t ye hold yer little Isla?”

  His hand shook. “What if I drop her?” Laird Duggal

  Here was a man who had conquered so many clans, taken over so many lands. Yet, he sat in front of his daughter and all that bravery seemed a waste. He couldn’t trust himself to be strong enough to protect his daughter; she was so precious and fragile. Laird Duggal couldn’t ever trust anyone to protect her, not even himself.

  “Ye won’t,” Lady Duggal comforted him, noticing his hesitance.

  Holding Isla in his arms, he whispered to himself, “She’s so little…..”

  Overcome with emotion, He could feel his eyes water “Thank ye, Helen.” Laird Duggal sobbed. He had thought they would never be able to have children. The healer had said that Helen wouldn’t be able to conceive. Laird Duggal had been terrified when they learned Helen was pregnant; he was not willing to lose the love of his life for an heir.

  The Laird had suffered in the past few months.

  He saw how breathless Helen became whenever the baby moved inside her body. She was becoming fragile; she tired easily with little excursions, and he ached to see her in pain.

  “Promise me something,” she said.

  “Anything, me dearie.”

  “If anything happens to me” Lady Duggal began, but Laird Duggal placed his hand on her mouth.

  “Why do ye speak of such times? Nothing will happen to ye,” he insisted, trying to reassure himself more than her.

  “Aye, but, ye must promise me. Promise me ye’ll do whatever it takes to make our Isla happy.”

  He took a big breath. “I promise.”

  She held out her hand to him. “Ye must promise to not let tears enter her eye because of us.”

  He placed his rough hand on her soft one. “I promise.”

  She asked for one last promise. “Ye must promise that never will our Isla be upset because of us.”

  “Aye, I promise,” Laird Duggal swore. He meant every promise he made. “Till the last breath is in me, I will protect our Isla and vow to make her happy.”

  “I love ye, me sweetheart,” she whispered against his lips.

  Fergus couldn’t love this woman any more than he already did. Squeezing her arm; he looked into her eyes. “I love ye, me Lady,” and then kissed her

  Isla began to whine the moment her parents kissed; they pulled back laughing freely.

  “I think she doesn’t approve of the idea of having more siblings,” Laird Duggal laughed, making Lady Duggal blush.

  The small family stayed on the bed as Lady Duggal fed Isla, who quietened down and settled in for her afternoon nap. Her life had only begun, but already it was colorful. She was adored by all, most of all by the little boy waiting downstairs for Isla to wake up. He waited for her to grow big, so they could play together. No one would have it any other way.

  Chapter 2

  Quarreling Friends

  The Great Hall echoed with the sound of the new father, Laird Fergus of Duggal, boasting and entertaining his guests. His wife sat on his right side, holding her head out of annoyance as her husband continued to tell everyone about their first kiss.

  “That’s enough, dearie,” Helen interjected, her faced turned red; he was giving a little too much detail

  “Oh, come on! The world sings praise of our love,” Laird Duggal said to a round of cheers.

  The whole castle was present in the Great Hall, enjoying the first feast since the princess’s birth. This was a cause for celebration and tonight was just the beginning. Another grander feast was being held in three days for the princess’s birth; guests from near and far were invited to help commemorate the event. Helen didn’t know how she would be able to gather the strength to join the feast and play hostess; inside she was dying by the second.

  Even now, Lady Duggal sat holding her seat with a fear of falling and was wincing even at the slightest jostle. She was losing more and more strength, but with it she was gaining determination. Not to survive but to pretend. Hence, she sat and laughed and blushed at her loud husband’s jokes.

  “I’m sure.” Helen rolled her eyes as Agatha giggled, bending over to whisper in Helen’s ear.

  Agatha was fretting over her friend’s health. “Are ye tired?”

  “Nay, nay. I am fine,” Helen lied, shrugging it off.

  “How did ye meet?” Laird McDonald asked Laird Duggal, “I can sense it is a great story.”

  “That, it is.” Laird Duggal agreed, “I abducted her, to extract revenge on her da!”

  “Oh wow!” Agatha stated, surprised.

  “It’s true. Me poor Da had to worry about this oaf abducting me, over territorial dispute,” Helen snorted, making everyone laugh at the expense of the Laird.

  “Served him right! I was young and wanting to win me father’s appraisal.” Fergus exclaimed. “I was to discuss the matter of us taking their lands with her father. The poor lad didn’t listen, so I took what I could!”

  The crowd’s laughing loudly only encouraged Laird Duggal to continue his story with fervor and excitement. He loved to entertain his guests with tales of his adventure, but by far, his most loved story was his love story.

  “Gave me Da a rightful scare,” Helen quipped, making him turn red from embarrassment.

  “Well anyways, I had this one in ropes, and I took her into the forest,” Laird Duggal continued recalling.

  “Force, ye mean,” Helen annoyed him.

  “I’m telling the story, me Lady,” Laird Duggal sighed, much to everyone’s joy.