The day after Christmas, Lachlan took Christina to Torwood Castle, explaining that he had an errand to do for his mother. After greeting Lord Forester and presenting him with a Yuletide gift of sweetbread, they were granted leave to stroll through the snow-dusted gardens.
At least Lachlan made a pretense of strolling through the gardens. As soon as they were alone, he took her hand and led her to the kitchens. Slipping into the rear door, he found a stairwell. “It must be this way.”
“This is so mysterious. Are ye looking for Eva in the cellars?”
He pulled the lead box from a satchel draped over his shoulder. “I’ve hidden the medallion in here.”
“Are ye planning to bury it?”
“Yes and I hope to high heaven she finds it.” He glanced back at her and grinned. “This castle fell into ruins toward the end of the eighteenth century. Mum provided an endowment and worked to have it restored. She told me the only things remaining from the original fortress were the cellar foundations. The rest of the castle masonry that remained when she found it was dated to the sixteenth century. If I hide something in the cellars, she’s more likely to find it.”
Christina drew her hand to her forehead. “My heavens. So many hundreds of years. How do they ken when things are built?”
“It would take me the rest of my life to explain seven hundred years of progress. I think it’s best if you just believe that they can tell by the style of masonry and by other tests which have been developed by chemists.”
“Chemists?”
“Similar to apothecaries, but far more scientific,” he explained while they continued, his gaze shooting through each chamber branching off from the chilly passageway.
“I should hope so. Apothecaries are Satan worshipers.”
“Unfortunately, that is the errant view of medieval society, but they set the groundwork for future advancements.” He stopped and faced her. “I haven’t told you much about my time, but men have walked on the moon. If you want to travel from Scotland to…to any place in the world, you would fly in an airplane.”
“A what?”
“It is like sitting in a chair in rows, say, six chairs across in a long sea galley that is enclosed on the top as well as the bottom, and rather than oars and a sail, there are wings.”
Her bow-shaped mouth formed an “O”. “Flapping wings?”
“No need for flapping. Jet fuel propels them.”
“Fuel? Like an oil lamp?”
“Similar, but far more flammable. Anyway, people fly in planes and drive horseless cars—like covered wagons, but they travel far faster than a horse can run.”
Shaking her head, she ran her fingers over her face. “Ye are right, ’tis difficult for me to believe, let alone imagine.”
“Well, there’s no need to worry. I don’t miss any of it. Perhaps I wouldn’t mind buying one of those destrier horses. They look a lot sturdier to carry someone my size.” Lachlan continued to peer inside the vaulted chambers until he recognized an arched window. “Here.”
“Have ye written Eva a missive?”
“I have.” His heart twisted. The only thing he would truly miss with his decision to stay was he’d never share another Christmas dinner with his parents again. “I told her how happy I am to be with you and aside from Mum and my stepfather, I have nothing to return home for. I said I love her and will always cherish her in my heart, but I was meant to be with you.”
Christina brushed a wee tear away. “She’ll be heartbroken.”
“Perhaps, but if anyone will understand, it will be my mother.” The dirt floor in this cellar was packed solid, but at least it wasn’t made of stone. He knelt down beneath the window and began to dig with his dirk. “It all makes sense to me now. She stayed with William until the end and when he was convicted, she had nothing left. Nothing keeping her here.”
“Except, mayhap for the bairn in her belly.”
He chuckled. “I’m certain she decided she was doing the right thing by me. I had an outstanding education and Mum had the support of my grandparents. Not to mention, in my time, it is rare for a woman to die in childbirth.”
“Truly?”
He grinned. “Truly.”
After digging a hole three times the size of the box, Lachlan checked inside to ensure the medallion was secured with his note, then sealed it, kissed it and placed it in the dirt. “Will you help me?”
Christina chewed her lip. “What should I do?”
“Hold my hand and concentrate on my words.”
Kneeling together beside the hole, they grasped hands and closed their eyes. “Hiya, Mum. If you can hear me, please be happy. I now realize how much you loved my father and why you loved medieval history. I share with you in that love. I have married the bonny Christina de Moray and am returning the medallion, for I never want to wake up away from my true love, my wife, my dearest friend.”
“That was beautiful.” Christina cupped her hand on Lachlan’s cheek and kissed him. “Thank ye for giving so much for me.”
He kissed her. “Thank you for believing in me.”
Before he pushed the dirt over the box, he looked inside one more time. “My God. It’s gone.”
Gasping, Christina reached inside and pulled out a slip of paper. “This vellum is so fine like nothing I’ve ever seen afore.” She unfolded it. “’Tis from Eva. And look at the writing. How is it so smooth?”
“Ball point pens are another advancement that ceased the need for inkpots and quills.”
Christina did nothing but take in a deep inhale and cover her mouth with her fingers. How could she possibly imagine all he had told her?
She doesn’t need to. My wife is perfect just the way she is.
He took the note and read aloud:
My dearest son,
You cannot believe how overjoyed I am to hear you have found love and a life with Lady Christina. I always thought her to be a woman of fine character. You will be overjoyed to learn that her son, Andrew de Moray, becomes one of the most powerful men in Scotland and a fierce and loyal knight of Robert the Bruce. I am proud of you, Lachlan, and will miss you more than life itself.
Though we are not together in body, know that I will always be with you in spirit. I will be in the whistling wind and in your dreams. Think of me in the joy of watching snow fall and know that I am thinking of you always.
I wish you and your delightful bride all the happiness and joy that life will bring.
Merry Christmas, my son.
Love,
Mum.
The End.