Highland Heroes by Claire Delacroix

Author:Claire Delacroix [Delacroix, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-927477-47-2
Publisher: Deborah A. Cooke

Chapter 9

Elizabeth tugged at Vivienne’s hand and led her toward the stairs. “I can do better than this noisy hall, to be sure. The castellan’s wife likes me, because Darg has taken a fancy to her and she likes to hear Darg’s verses. I could be Lady of Ravensmuir with such influence!”

“I thought that position was yet held for Aunt Rosamunde.”

Elizabeth shook her head vehemently at that, then glanced back at their uncle in dismay. “Do not so much as utter her name,” she counseled in a whisper. “Uncle Tynan becomes most angry at the very mention of her.”

“Why? He was the one who sent her away,” Vivienne was disinclined to grant understanding to her brother and uncle in this moment. “I heard the cruel things he said to her and I do not blame her for leaving.”

Elizabeth winced. “I think he loves her yet. And Darg says that their ribbons are entwined, for the moment at least.”

Vivienne remembered now this curious matter of ribbons. When their elder sister Madeline had been courted by Rhys, Darg had shown Elizabeth the ribbons that unfurled from each person in the hall. The ribbons of those souls destined to live and love together, according to Elizabeth, were entwined together.

The spriggan Darg could make a great deal of mischief, again according to Elizabeth, by knotting ribbons or shredding them, a feat which created obstacles for the lovers in question. Elizabeth claimed that Darg had attacked the ribbons of Tynan and Rosamunde with a vengeance, a result of her dislike of Rosamunde, and certainly that mortal pair had argued beyond expectation.

“That sounds ominous,” Vivienne said.

Elizabeth nodded. “I do not like how Darg says it. She still holds malice against, Rosamunde, of that I am certain.”

Vivienne could not keep herself from being skeptical. “Darg could be lying.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I suspect not in this matter. She wants dearly to avenge herself upon Aunt Rosamunde and awaits her return so keenly that I cannot bear to hear more of it. She is most excited to be at Ravensmuir, I can assure you, and her wild antics have kept me from sleeping at all.” Elizabeth yawned widely. “Though, of course, it was fear for your welfare that kept me awake in truth.”

“I was hale enough.”

Elizabeth granted Vivienne a long glance but said nothing more on the matter. “Darg is utterly convinced that Rosamunde will arrive at Ravensmuir at any moment, despite the fact that I have told her that Rosamunde herself swore never to return. We have argued about the matter so much that my head hurts, but still Darg insists.”

Vivienne let her sister lead her up the stairs to the chambers above the hall, only half-listening to her chatter.

“Do you know what Darg wished to do last night, in the very dead of the night?” Elizabeth demanded.

Vivienne shook her head, not truly interested.

Elizabeth flung out her hands. “She wanted to descend to the caverns beneath Ravensmuir! Can you imagine greater folly? Alexander would have my head…”

Vivienne halted mid-step as inspiration struck.

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