A Scottish Love Read Online Free PDF

Sir Gordon MacDermond lives,” she said. “His father, the general, named it Rathmhor.” She smiled, remembering the barely veiled derision in the village when the plaque had been affixed to the outer gate. “He liked the sound of it.”
    She looked toward Gordon’s home. “It’s said that after the Forty-five, the Laird of Gairloch befriended a man, a Lowlander, named MacDermond. He convinced the man to come north and live within the shadow of Gairloch. MacDermond was a piper, and a very accomplished man.” A tale she’d offer up to the Americans. “So MacDermond came north, with his family and the remnants of his clan, and settled in Invergaire Glen.”
    “The story doesn’t end well, does it?”
    She shook her head. “The piper fell in love with Invergaire Glen and made his home here. But he fell in love with the laird’s wife as well.”
    She and Gordon had wondered once, in the little crofter’s hut they’d made their own, if the tale was true. Perhaps the MacDermonds had been lured to Imrie land for just such a time, for Shona Imrie and Gordon MacDermond to fall in love. Back then, it had been easy to believe in fairy tales.
    “What happened to them?”
    She turned to Helen. “They disappeared,” she said.
    When Helen didn’t comment, she continued. “The laird let it be known that his wife had been unfaithful and refused to allow anyone to speak of her from that day until his death.”
    “Perhaps he died of a broken heart,” Helen said. “Can you die of a broken heart?”
    No, it wasn’t possible. The heart only ached unbearably for years and years, a comment she wasn’t about to make.
    “Don’t worry about getting lost,” she said. “We don’t use the east or west wings. Fergus and I closed off most of Gairloch and only lived in a small part of it. In addition, we have a caretaker there who knows Gairloch better than any of us.”
    Old Ned had offered to act as caretaker for the castle when Fergus went away to war, and had done so in the intervening years.
    What was she going to do with Old Ned?
    “Will the Americans want to buy such a large place?” Helen asked.
    “Evidently, he’s a very wealthy man,” she said, recalling the letter from her solicitor. “He’s made his money in a variety of ventures and now pines for the land of his ancestors.”
    The words sounded bitter, so she modified her tone. “His grandmother was a Scot and he wants to buy a castle for his little girl.”
    “Too bad Gairloch doesn’t come with a resident ghost,” Helen said. “No doubt it would add to the atmosphere.”
    Gairloch had ghosts, both those of the spectral world and of memory. But she’d let Helen warm up to Gairloch first before learning all its secrets.
    “We’ll have just enough time to clean Gairloch a little before they arrive,” she said, glancing over at Helen. “I’m sorry to ask for your help in this chore. I know it isn’t the duty of a companion.”
    “I like a variety of duties,” Helen said with equanimity, tugging down her bodice and straightening her spine. “I’ve no objection to acting as a housemaid for a Highland castle.”
    She felt a surge of affection for the other woman, and wished there was some way to thank her for her willingness to help.
    Four years ago, Helen had arrived on their doorstep, dry-eyed but announcing to her second cousin that she had no other option.
    “I’ve no other place to go, Bruce,” Helen had calmly announced. Her father had died, leaving her without funds, and her money had run out. She was, as she’d said, dependent upon her more affluent relations.
    Bruce had turned to Shona with a helpless look.
    “I could use a companion,” she’d said, stepping forward to greet Helen. From that day to this, she hadn’t regretted the decision. She wondered, now, if Helen did.
    What a pity she didn’t have a relation of two to whom she could appeal. The three of them would be a sight standing on an uncle’s doorstep, pleading for