The Laird and the Lady

   The Larid and the Lady

Suzanne Marsh

The fog was low on the heather as the carriage rumbled down the crag, without warning a lone rider caught up to the carriage. Pistol at the ready, the driver halted the coach and four. The brigand produced a gun of his own:

“Halt, or I shoot, ye will hand over the jewels ye carry.” The driver had no idea what Lady Elinor MacDonald carried with her. The highwayman swung open the carriage door:

“Ye will exit the carriage, my lady, I’ll be wantin yer jewels.” Lady Elinor was not about to be intimidated by this scoundrel. The dark clothes hid his features, she would be unable to identify him. She lifted her gown and climbed out of the carriage:

“Why are you stopping this carriage, I demand to be taken to Castle Clackhannon immediately.”

He laughed softly at her demand:

“As soon lassie as ye hand over yer jewels.” Lady Elinor, her flaming red hair coming loose in the wind, her green eyes wide in anger:

“Sir, you are no gentleman.” He laughed once again:

“Ye miss are no a lady.” She removed her engagement ring from her left hand, throwing it at this highwayman:

“Keep it you scoundrel, I hope I never have the misfortune to meet you again. Now

I wish to be on my way.”

She climbed back into the carriage, anger seething from every pore of her body. Finally, the carriage began to move slowly, Lady Elinor, felt insulted and angry by the insolence of the highwayman.

James MacLeod, Laird of Balt Castle changed quickly into his kilt, shirt, and sporran. He held the engagement ring in his hand, and he thought: ‘If that is the shrew I am to marry I shan’t do it.’ Lady Elinor was due to arrive, and James hoped to send her packing as soon as she came. He had no intention of marrying such an ill-mannered, hot-tempered young woman. His manservant several moments later announced that Lady Elinor MacDonald had arrived. James, or Jamie as he preferred stood by the stone fireplace, his elbow resting upon the mantel as she entered. Elinor curtsied, her high empire waist gown of blue azure barely moving. Jamie acknowledged her presence then turned away:

“Welcome Lady Elinor, I am pleased to meet you.” His voice sounded familiar to her ear:

“The pleasure is mine Laird MacLeod.” He smiled:

“The Laird is my father, I am James MacLeod.” She was silent for several moments:

“Oh, I see. Where is the Laird? It is he I have come to see.” Suddenly like a blast of cold air there stood Angus MacLeod, Larid of Balt Castle. Jamie, felt his stomach lurch as Angus began:

“Och, Lady Elinor, I hope you had a safe trip lassie. I have been awaitin on ye. I take it you

have met my son and heir James?” Lady Elinor, every inch a lady replied:

“Yes, Laird your son greeted me when I arrived.” She gave Jamie a rueful look:

“Yes, Father we have met.” James was never one to mince words:

“Lassie, I have made an arrangement with your sire, you and James are to wed in a

a year and a day, until then ye shall hand-fast to be sure all is well.” Jamie glared at his father as Elinor turned pale. Jamie wished to argue with his father but he knew it would get him nowhere, once Angus McLeod's mind was made up, there would be no way of talking his way out. Hidden in his sporran was the ring Elinor had slipped off her finger. Angus MacLeod admired beauty, Lady Elinor MacDonald was that, she was tall for a lassie, with green eyes, flaming red hair, and a rosebud mouth, Angus knew he had made a wise choice for Jamie, she might just tame his wild spirit. Jamie had thought of his own: ‘damn father, she is not what I want in a wife, I want a sweet docile lassie, not a shrew with a temper, although she is a bonny lass.’ Angus glared at his son:

“In three days, we shall have a hand-fasting feast, I will introduce Lady Elinor to

our tenants and family as your future wife.” Elsie, Lady Elinor’s maid appeared:

“Milady your things are unpacked.” Lady Elinor smiled:

“Thank you Elsie that will be all for now.”

Jamie, his dark brooding visage was not enamored this Lady Elinor but as Laird, he had to be married to inherit the castle and large surrounding estate. He did not really care who it was, just that she had manners and no will of her own.

Jamie wanted Lady Elinor gone, back to wherever she came from. He began to formulate a plan to rid himself of her. Three days hence, Angus cleared his throat and spoke to the crowd:

“Ye are all welcome, I wish to present Lady Elinor MacDonald, James’ bride-to-be. We will

have the hand-fasting now. Lady Elinor place your hand in James’. A small white cloth covers both their hands. Elinor detested James; she also thought back to the day on the road when she had been robbed, the voice sounded so familiar, well she would worry about that later. The hand-fasting vows made, Jamie kissed her lightly on the lips, and she bit his. Jamie glared at Elinor as if she were a shrew. Taking her hand in his they traversed the emerald green lawn toward the castle, as the tenant farmers applauded their new Lady.

Angus MacLeod smiled, there would be a battle of wills but surely Elinor would win. Once inside the castle, a piper began to play a reel, and the guests began to drink in honor of Elinor and James. Jamie was not going to allow Elinor to bite his lip, that was going too far. He decided then he would return the ring he had taken from her. He thought she had already known that he was the dark rider who had robbed her. Angus strode toward Jamie:

“Och son, ye must bed the girl before the night tis done.” Jamie gasped as he attempted to swallow the ale he had been drinking:

“Father, she is a shrew, she bit my lip instead of kissing me.” Angus merely chortled:

“Son, wake ye up, the lassie is of good blood, she will give ye strong bairns. Jamie wished to stop this whole ridiculous situation, he decided then that he would return the ring and hope she understood.

Jamie stood silently in Angus’ study, waiting for Elinor to answer his summons:

“Elinor, I owe ye an apology, here is the ring I took from ye the day ye arrived.” Elinor, her green eyes betraying her anger:

“How dare you!” She screamed as loud as she could. Jamie knew he had made a mistake in thinking she would laugh it off:

“Now Elinor, I said I was sorry, we are handfasted, I just wanted to see what ye looked like

afore we were committed to each other.” Elinor took several deep breaths:

“What makes ye think I wish to be wearin the ring? I was forced to come by my

father William the MacDonald. Do ye understand, forced?” Jamie saw the tears trickling down Elinor’s face, he took her in his arms, trying to comfort her:

“Aye, that is the way of the highlands.” Elinor continued to sob. Jamie regretted that he had done something so stupid. He bent forward and kissed her, this time she returned the kiss. Jamie had met his match, as Angus had hoped