“Elysia, I have missed seeing you,” Lady Margaret said, her eyes sparking with delight as soon as Elysia entered the room.
The older woman was looking better every day. There was a rosy color to her face, a shine in her eyes, and she even looked to have gained a bit of weight. There was no reason for her to remain in her room. It was something Elysia intended to work on.
“Come sit and we’ll stitch,” Lady Margaret said, pointing to the chair near hers by the hearth.
Elysia placed her basket of stitching beside the chair and picked up a piece from Lady Margaret’s basket to hand her before sitting and reaching for a shawl that needed mending. She quickly tucked the garment she had secretly been working on for the bairn down in the basket, worried Lady Margaret would see it.
Her stitches flowed smoothly as did her thoughts. There were things she wanted to ask of Lady Margaret, but she kept the conversation light and waited for the right moment.
“I don’t know why but I have always loved the harvest season in the Highlands. The color and beauty of the land getting ready for winter’s rest somehow manages to soothe my soul,” Lady Margaret said wistfully.
“We should go for a walk one day,” Elysia suggested.
Lady Margaret shook her head. “No. No. I’m not up to a walk outside yet.”
“A walk in the brisk air will bring you more good health,” Elysia encouraged.
“No. No. I cannot,” Lady Margaret argued, continuing to shake her head.
Elysia laid her stitching in her lap and reached out to lay a gentle hand on Lady Margaret’s arm. “What frightens you so?”
Lady Margaret’s eyes danced around the room from wall to wall, corner to corner as if she expected someone or something to be there. She bent her head toward Elysia and whispered, “The curse waits to get me.”
This was her chance, and Elysia asked, “Tell me about the curse.”
“I shouldn’t speak of it,” Lady Margaret said softly.
Elysia kept her voice low, as if they were about to share a secret. “It would help me to know now that I am part of the family.”
Lady Margaret’s shoulders sagged. “I suppose you’re right. You should be aware of what to expect.” She turned tearful eyes on Elysia. “But please, please don’t abandon my son Odran. He needs your strength and love.”
“I love Odran far too much to ever abandon him.” She smiled wide. “He is stuck with me.”
Lady Margaret rested her hand to her chest. “That does my heart good to hear.” She took a fortifying breath and squared her shoulders. “It is not an easy tale to tell. I try not to recall that horrible day. Fergus had wanted no part of it, but he feared for our two sons. Odran was five years and Tynan barely three years. If he didn’t comply,”—she shook her head— “our sons could have met the same fate as the poor MacWilliam bairn.”
Elysia remained silent when Lady Margaret stopped speaking, her eyes drifting off as if lost in the memory, and she waited for her to continue.
“My heart broke for Aila. She and Brochan had wanted a child. Finally, after eight years of marriage and I believe it was two or three miscarriages, Aila gave birth to Wynda. She was only two days old when she, along with any MacWilliam heir, was condemned to death. I don’t blame Aila for protecting her child, but when Fergus told me about how she cursed him, Balloch, and Lochlann,” —she shook her head again— “none of them, not one realized the power of that curse.”
Lady Margaret stopped speaking again, and again Elysia remained silent and waited.
After a few moments, Lady Margaret continued. “Many believe Aila spoke with a wise woman days before she gave birth and asked for help in keeping her child safe and making those suffer who did wrong against her family. The wise woman imbued Aila with the power to cast a spell.” Tears filled her eyes. “It worked. The spell was cast and the suffering began and is never-ending.”
“There must be some way to break the spell,” Elysia said.
“The spell cannot be broken only fulfilled and that is not possible with the MacWilliam lass dead. If she lived, then those who did her family wrong could make it right and the spell would be fulfilled.”
“How would it be made right?”
“I’m not sure, but it matters not. Lochlann had the chance to see Wynda kept safe when he found her and instead he condemned us all,” Lady Margaret said, sadness filling her every word.
“This wise woman you mentioned Aila asked for help, was she the woman they call the witch in the hills?”
“I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible since the woman vanished after that. Many had called for her to be hung or burned so she couldn’t hurt others with her evil.”