Free Resisting the Highlander: A Scottish Romance by Marian McBride

come at all. He had seemed annoyed that she didn’t ask to have a party at the castle when she invited him, but she had reminded him that her birthday was coming soon and asked that they do something then instead. After reminding him that she was not comfortable being spoiled, he had readily agreed with her solution.  
    The next day, she went to meet with Miss Wallace. The older woman was overcome with pride as Bridget was her first pupil to pass the exam.
    “Well done, my dear, well done. Now sit down, I have something to tell you.”
    Bridget sat, not knowing what to expect. Her teacher handed her a cup of tea and took one for herself before sitting down.
    “I’ve decided to go on holiday this summer instead. I have confidence that you are ready to fill in for me now,” said Miss Wallace, looking over the top of her steaming cup of tea, “and it will be a wonderful opportunity for both of us. Your final exam is over and you passed with flying colors. There is no one I would rather entrust my beginning students to than you.”
    Bridget sipped her tea and sat quietly, mulling things over in her mind. She had planned on take time off to rest up from her studies, but Miss Wallace’s request to have her take over lessons this summer instead of next was something she could hardly refuse.
    “Of course,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity.” She looked around the pleasant room she had spent so much time in the last few years. The piano she had played on so often stood across one corner between the fireplace and a large bay window. On the opposite side of the window stood the old pump organ and directly across the room from it, there was a handsome side board, used mostly for storing miscellaneous music books.
    The iron kettle, black with soot, rested near the side of the open fire, always at the boil, ready for a quick cup of tea. The large table in the center of the room served as a desk for students written theory lessons before their half hour at the piano. Miss Wallace living quarters adjoined this room, making it a very convenient way of life for a single woman.
    She looked at Bridget speculatively and continued, “There is something else I want you to do for me, Bridget, while I am away.”
    Bridget now felt the excitement rising in her. She looked across at her teacher with a smile, “Yes, Miss Wallace, what is the other thing you would like me to do?”
    “Well, don’t get frightened at what I am about to say, but I would like you to be acting organist at the church also while I am gone.”
    The two women looked at each other, Bridget’s eyes popping wide, mouth flying open.
    She stammered, “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m afraid I would be too excited and nervous to play in front of all those people.”
    “Nonsense, my dear, you have no need to be afraid, you are a fine player, and since I won’t be leaving for a few months yet, you will have ample time to come to church once a week for choir practice. I shall let you take over a few weeks before I do leave. Wouldn’t you like that?”
    Bridget felt much relief at the plan. Her eyes shone with excitement at the thought of this golden opportunity. She smiled, saying, “Thank you so much, Miss Wallace, for your confidence in me. I think I shall try out for the job, and you will still have time to get someone else if I don’t work out to please you.”
    The older woman laughed, transfiguring her usually austere face, “I am not afraid of that, Bridget, and wouldn’t have asked you to do this if I thought you were not capable of it. Off  you go now, it’s almost supper time.”
    With a gentle push, she propelled Bridget towards the door.

SIX

O n a blistering evening in March, Robert and Aidan finished their evening meal and sat at the table talking casually, although both of them had the same thing on their mind: Bridget.
    Although they had not discussed it, both men felt that Bridget, for some reason, was purposely staying away