Free Blue Bonnets by Marie Laval Page A

eyes filled with tears, her voice shook.
    Her mother-in-law squeezed her hand. ‘We still have one another, which is more than some folks can say.’
    Remembering the two women who were burned alive in front of her very eyes the day before, Rose’s resolve to see Morven punished hardened. The heartless man would pay for what he was doing to Cameron’s people, she’d make sure of it. For now, she would brew some tea and offer the McKenzies a little comfort.
    She opened a jar of preserve, took biscuits out of McGunn’s bag and turned to the children. ‘Now, I was wondering if you three were hungry.’
    They clapped and cheered and wasted no time in grabbing hold of a handful of biscuits and covering them with a thick layer of jam.
    â€˜Fancy meeting Lord McGunn here!’ The older woman remarked in a quiet voice as she sipped her hot tea. ‘We heard so much about him. Garbhan’s younger cousin was in his regiment in the Punjab, you know, and he swore Lieutenant McGunn, as he was then known, was the bravest and the most fearless man he’d ever met. No doubt you know what they used to call him.’
    â€˜The claymore devil?’ Rose poured a cup for herself and sat down.
    â€˜That’s right. My nephew never got over the way he was discharged for dishonourable conduct. He said it was shameful the way the other officers made a scapegoat of him, and that he took the blame for one who had deserted the field.’
    Rose frowned in surprise and leant across the table.
    â€˜An officer deserted the battlefield?’ McGunn hadn’t said anything about that.
    Alana nodded. ‘Captain Frazier, he was called. He ordered his unit off the battlefield instead of charging to the aid of Lieutenant McGunn, but as he was the son of a general and had important connections he got off lightly. It was claimed he suffered from heat-stroke and didn’t know what he was doing.’ She paused and sipped her tea. ‘A friend of mine, a lass from the village, is a laundry maid at the big house. She said that the same Captain Frazier is a guest of Lord McRae’s at Westmore Manor right now, along with a very smart crowd.’
    â€˜They must be here for Cameron’s ball – I mean, for Lord McRae‘s birthday…’ Rose sighed. ‘Do you often see him…Lord McRae? I believe he takes great interest in his estate and his people.’
    The women looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
    â€˜Lord McRae? He’s hardly ever at Westmore,’ Alana replied. ‘And when he is, he has better things to do than trouble himself with the likes of us. Of course now he’s getting married to a grand lady from London, he’ll be up there even less. I heard the woman hates Scotland and only agreed to come because of his Lordship’s birthday ball and the reading of the banns in church.’
    â€˜What grand lady? What wedding?’ Rose’s hand started to shake and a little tea spilled onto the table.
    â€˜His Lordship is getting married next week. The banns were read at church on Sunday… Lady Sophia Fairbanks, she’s called. Apparently, everyone at the manor house is afraid of her. She has terrible tantrums and thinks nothing of slapping her maids and throwing her fancy silver hairbrushes or silk slippers at them when the mood takes her.’
    Rose tried to breathe, but her chest felt too tight and the room danced and spun around her as she rose to her feet.
    Alana frowned. ‘Are you not feeling well, Miss Rose? You look pale all of a sudden.’
    Rose’s cup shattered on the table and scalding hot tea splashed all over her dress, soaking the fabric. Her knees buckled under her and her fingers gripped the edge of the table for support.
    â€˜Miss Rose, what’s wrong? Are you ill?’ Alana’s voice seemed far away.
    â€˜Of course, she’s ill. Look at her!’ The older woman scolded. ‘Help me get her