course,” Lady McDorn said, “how foolish of me. But she is such a retiring woman that I always think of Mr. Bryden as a bachelor.”
The Minister smiled.
“Many people make that same mistake, but Mrs. Bryden likes being alone and she was determined that her rooms at The Castle should be inviolate.”
They all laughed.
They knew the story of how Mr. Bryden, as a young man, had approached the old Earl when he wished to be married.
He had then been informed that it was absolutely forbidden in any circumstances for him to live outside The Castle.
“I need you and I want you here with me,” the Earl had stipulated firmly.
He could be very ferocious when he wished and most definitely intimidating.
Mr. Bryden, however, had stood his ground.
“I am sorry, my Lord, if this means I have to leave your service.”
“Leave my service?” the Earl thundered. “I have never heard such damned nonsense! Of course you cannot leave my service. I trust you and you suit me. You will stay here if I have to lock you up in one of the dungeons!”
Mr. Bryden had laughed and then capitulated.
“I intend to be married, my Lord,” he said, “but, if it does not suit you that I should have a cottage on the estate, which is what I had hoped for, I could perhaps have one of the Towers for myself and my future wife.”
The Earl considered this for a moment and then agreed.
There were four Towers, one at each corner of The Castle. The rooms within them rose one to each storey, but they could be made extremely comfortable and most certainly provide a picturesque and original home.
Mrs. Bryden, who was a local woman of over thirty, had accepted the situation because there was really no alternative.
She, however, had made it perfectly clear that her home was her own and intruders were barred.
Mr. Bryden had therefore continued as secretary to the Earl, which meant that he coped with everything, the large estate as well as The Castle.
Because his wife was so retiring and her Tower was certainly her Castle, it was easy for most people to forget that she existed.
“Yes, of course, Mrs. Bryden is there,” Lady McDorn said, “and I am sure, dearest Vara, should you need any advice or help she will be willing to assist you as best she can.”
“I shall be all right, Mama. Don’t worry about me,” Vara answered, “and I have every intention of riding home every day to tell you what is happening at The Castle.”
“You will have to ask his Lordship’s permission first,” Lady McDorn warned her,
She spoke a little anxiously because there was a glint in her daughter’s eyes, which told her that Vara intended to get her own way.
She had a strong determination which she had inherited from her father and the General had acquired a reputation when he was in the Army of winning every battle in which he was engaged.
The reason was that he never knew when he was beaten.
Even as a very small child, Vara had shown her determination.
As her mother had once said,
“You can persuade her by love but never by force.”
Now, as Lady McDorn looked quizzically at her daughter she thought that, even in the months during which she had been away, Vara had grown more beautiful.
Her fair hair with just a touch of red in it accentuated the whiteness of her skin and she never seemed to burn with the sun.
Her eyes were very large and green with a touch of gold in them.
They seemed to fill her small pointed face, so that anyone meeting her remembered her eyes more than anything else about her.
‘She is really beautiful,’ Lady McDorn thought and could not help feeling that it was a pity that the Earl would not be able to see her.
Then she told herself severely that this was no time for matchmaking.
Anyway it was extremely unlikely that the Earl of Dornoch would be interested in a local girl of local Scottish descent and a member of his Clan.
‘I expect,’ she thought, ‘that as soon as he can see again he will be off to London, like so many of the young Chieftains today, who neglect their duty to their Clans because they find the big City more alluring than the moors and salmon rivers.’
It had been a subject for condemnation all through the last century and it was, of course, quite understandable that the young Scottish Chieftains so wanted to enjoy themselves and be with their contemporaries.
They found it more fun than dealing with all the local difficulties and endless problems of a Scottish estate.
Yet Clansmen relied on them to the point where they hardly thought for themselves.
Vara was well aware of how much the McDorns had been looking forward to having a new Chieftain and how disappointed they must be feeling now.
“Do your best, darling,” her mother said, “and naturally if you want us at any time, your father and I will come and help in any way we possibly can.”
“I know you will, Mama,” Vara replied, “but, if the Earl thinks my English accent is not good enough for him, I may return home tomorrow morning.”
“If that happened,” the Minister said, “his Lordship will have to talk to the gulls for there is no one else I can turn to on his behalf.”
“I am sure, Minister,” Lady McDorn said, “that Vara will do what you ask of her very successfully.”
She had risen painfully to her feet and then shook hands warmly with the Minister.
Then she put her arms round her daughter and held her close.
“Take care of yourself, my darling. Your father and I will be counting the days until you come back to us.”
Vara kissed her mother.
“I will be over to see you tomorrow,” she promised, “come hell or high water!”
Feeling perhaps that she had been indiscreet in front of the Minister, she turned to look at him.
He was smiling.
“Come along, Vara,” was all he said. “It may not be as difficult as you think and you will certainly be taking a great deal of weight off my shoulders.”
The General accompanied them to the door.
The Minister’s carriage was an old one, drawn by a horse that was too fat to move very fast. A groom was holding
