“Or vulgar,” Georgia added as she stepped next to Elena.
“Uncle was never one to mince words, was he?” Elena asked as a smile tickled the corner of her lips. She glanced at the babe in her arms and sighed.
“That was yer great uncle,” Elena whispered to the babe as the archers made ready. In the corner of her eye streaks of fire flew through the air and landed soundly in the boat carrying Darragh’s remains. Although Elena knew she wouldn’t miss her uncle, she had a fondness for him. After all, it was Darragh who brought Gabriel to her and for that, she would be forever grateful to him.
“And so life goes on,” Iona said as the boat caught flames as it made its way to the center of the loch. Elena couldn’t help but find the moment beautiful as the sun kissed the mountain ridges setting the whole loch ablaze with golden light. It was as if heaven opened to receive Darragh to his eternal resting place.
“It’ll be a hard winter for sure,” Iona said as the water swallowed the boat and Darragh. Elena turned with her mother and made their way to the carriages. Sadness pricked Elena’s chest as she handed her son off to her mother while she climbed into the carriage. Once settled, Iona handed the child back and slipped in.
“How is Gabriel fairin’?” Iona asked as she settled into the seat with Georgia at her side.
“Better than Darragh had,” Elena answered as she coddled the child back to sleep. “The healer says Gabriel will be just fine in a few more days. Of course Gabriel is itchin’ to get back to his duties.”
“I suppose he’s been wantin’ to spend time wit’ his son too,” Georgia said as she smiled at the sleeping babe.
“He has,” Elena said. “Every time I go down to visit, I brin’ Darragh wit’ me.”
“Is that wise?” Iona gasped as she gripped her chest.
“Aye,” Elena answered. “The poison does nay harm if touched, it’s when it gets into the body that it causes problems. But Gabriel is strong and has so much to live for, I’m nae worried about him.”
“Did anyone else notice Anna wasnae there today?” Georgia asked as she batted her eyes and quickly wiped away the tears from her cheeks.
“Aye,” Elena said. “I planned to check on her as soon as we got back.”
“Odd daenae ye think? She was closer to him than any of us, I’m surprised she dinnae come,” Georgia said as she shifted her weight to get a bit more comfortable.
“Suppose she feels guilty,” Elena said, tucking the blanket around Darragh to keep the babe warm.
“About what?” Georgia gasped.
“That is nae my story to tell,” Elena said. “If ye want to ken all that happened, ye’ll have to pry it out of her, nae me.”
“Georgia, dear,” Iona’s voice turned into a sing-song tone as she turned her attention to Georgia. “Did ye ever wonder why Darragh is nae wit’ us today? How he might have come to an untimely death?”
Georgia’s eyes squinted a moment as Elena watched the wheels in her head turn. It took a few moments before understanding flashed before Georgia’s eyes.
“Oh,” Georgia said, pressing her hand to her mouth. “It was Vincent’s fault.”
Iona shook her head and patted Georgia on the knee. For the life of Elena, she could never understand why Georgia was always two steps behind everyone. She thought it had something to do with being dropped as a baby but, of course, she’d never say such things out loud.
“Aye, I ken ye’d catch on eventually,” Iona said.
“This may have happened due to Vincent, but Anna had nothin’ to do wit’ it. We all saw how Vincent treated her. How he punished her and neglected her.”
“Aye,” Iona said. “It was a poor match. But Vincent had the money to make her happy. And Darragh wanted the families united.”
“And look where that led us,” Elena said as she tilted her head to study her mother’s face. “We need to change that.”
“However do ye mean?” Iona asked as her eyebrow arched.
“Well, I’m speakin’ about Isobel. She was to be married to another, but what is goin’ to happen now that the Baxter clan has nay Laird to give her away? And what of the dowry that is due? Without a leader, it would seem that deal is gone.”
Iona chewed her lower lip as she shook her head. “I see yer point.”
“So, without a Laird for the Baxter clan, why cannae we let Isobel choose whom she will marry? Let it be for love and nae gain.”
“And whom does Isobel have her eye on?” Iona asked. “Surely ye’d nae be brin’ this up, unless there was someone who wanted to care for her.”