Read Online Lucy and Her Scottish Laird by Margo Maguire - Free Book Online
Authors: Margo Maguire
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her aunt and uncle with Dr. Henderson. He examined them both, pronounced her uncle to be well on the mend, but said it was still too early
to move Lady Kildrum. He took his leave with instructions to send for him if her condition changed.
“Lucy, you do not need to stay and watch over us. Arden is resting, and I will just stay here and read. Perhaps nap a wee bit.” Her
uncle’s voice held the weight of sadness, and Lucy knew he would never get over his feelings of guilt for MacLean’s death. “You could
probably use some air. Why don’t you take a walk now, while Arden is sleeping?”
Her heart sank at the sadness in his voice, and she realized he wanted to be left alone. “All right, Uncle, if you’re sure.” He nodded
and Lucy went to her room for her hat and gloves, and then started down the stairs. There was nothing to do but what her uncle suggested – go for a
walk outside.
She reached the great hall and saw Dr. Henderson exiting the castle when Mrs. MacRae stopped him at the door. “Dr. Henderson, will you look in on the
duchess before you leave? She is quite poorly this morn.”
Lucy understood what it was to have an ill mother. She’d worried terribly last spring when her mother had been unable to rise from her bed. Lady
Stillwater been wracked by fever and aches, and she’d had difficulty breathing. Though her mother had improved a great deal in the past couple of
months, Lucy still worried about her. She could easily imagine how Lord Broxburn felt, knowing his own mother was ailing. And his father was not well,
either.
Dr. Henderson turned around and followed Mrs. MacRae through the great hall, possibly to another wing of the castle. Lucy proceeded out the door, but did
not go far as she became enchanted by the incredibly well-preserved medieval buildings. She had seen drawings and diagrams of medieval castles and knew
quite a lot about them. It was an interest she shared with Joshua Parris, who was something of an expert on the ancient ruins near their home.
Sometimes when they explored the crumbling structures, Lucy felt as though she could sense the lives that had been lived in them eons ago – she could
almost hear their voices. They’d been human beings, just like her and Joshua, with joys and sorrows, victories and failures.
Joshua sometimes told her she was too fanciful.
Perhaps she was. Craigmuir Castle roused the imagination unlike any of the old structures she’d explored with Joshua in Berkshire. Lucy stood in the
courtyard, picturing knights gathering there in their armor, preparing for battle. Her heart fluttered a little when she realized that William Wallace and
Robert Bruce might have stood right where she was, some five hundred years ago.
There were stone steps up to the battlements, and Lucy climbed them to get a better view of the castle compound. From there, she could see the gatehouse, a
chapel, two towers, and several low buildings, including a stable and blacksmith shop.
It all took her breath away.
Lord Broxburn strode across the courtyard and went into a door leading to one of the towers. Lucy considered following him into the tower through a door at
the top, but decided against it.
Instead, she walked across the high battlements to the gatehouse where she found a thick wooden door with a heavy brass latch. Lucy lifted the latch and
the door opened.
She stepped into a room furnished with wall tapestries that were nearly threadbare, a long, scarred bench, two large wooden chairs and a table, all of
which looked to be hundreds of years old. The fireplace did not appear to have been used in years, and the windows were mere arrow loops, designed for
defense.
Lucy could hardly contain her excitement. She couldn’t believe she’d stumbled upon such a well-preserved medieval structure and wished she knew
more about its history. It did not keep her from imagining it.
She could almost feel the presence of the first lord and lady of Craigmuir up
to move Lady Kildrum. He took his leave with instructions to send for him if her condition changed.
“Lucy, you do not need to stay and watch over us. Arden is resting, and I will just stay here and read. Perhaps nap a wee bit.” Her
uncle’s voice held the weight of sadness, and Lucy knew he would never get over his feelings of guilt for MacLean’s death. “You could
probably use some air. Why don’t you take a walk now, while Arden is sleeping?”
Her heart sank at the sadness in his voice, and she realized he wanted to be left alone. “All right, Uncle, if you’re sure.” He nodded
and Lucy went to her room for her hat and gloves, and then started down the stairs. There was nothing to do but what her uncle suggested – go for a
walk outside.
She reached the great hall and saw Dr. Henderson exiting the castle when Mrs. MacRae stopped him at the door. “Dr. Henderson, will you look in on the
duchess before you leave? She is quite poorly this morn.”
Lucy understood what it was to have an ill mother. She’d worried terribly last spring when her mother had been unable to rise from her bed. Lady
Stillwater been wracked by fever and aches, and she’d had difficulty breathing. Though her mother had improved a great deal in the past couple of
months, Lucy still worried about her. She could easily imagine how Lord Broxburn felt, knowing his own mother was ailing. And his father was not well,
either.
Dr. Henderson turned around and followed Mrs. MacRae through the great hall, possibly to another wing of the castle. Lucy proceeded out the door, but did
not go far as she became enchanted by the incredibly well-preserved medieval buildings. She had seen drawings and diagrams of medieval castles and knew
quite a lot about them. It was an interest she shared with Joshua Parris, who was something of an expert on the ancient ruins near their home.
Sometimes when they explored the crumbling structures, Lucy felt as though she could sense the lives that had been lived in them eons ago – she could
almost hear their voices. They’d been human beings, just like her and Joshua, with joys and sorrows, victories and failures.
Joshua sometimes told her she was too fanciful.
Perhaps she was. Craigmuir Castle roused the imagination unlike any of the old structures she’d explored with Joshua in Berkshire. Lucy stood in the
courtyard, picturing knights gathering there in their armor, preparing for battle. Her heart fluttered a little when she realized that William Wallace and
Robert Bruce might have stood right where she was, some five hundred years ago.
There were stone steps up to the battlements, and Lucy climbed them to get a better view of the castle compound. From there, she could see the gatehouse, a
chapel, two towers, and several low buildings, including a stable and blacksmith shop.
It all took her breath away.
Lord Broxburn strode across the courtyard and went into a door leading to one of the towers. Lucy considered following him into the tower through a door at
the top, but decided against it.
Instead, she walked across the high battlements to the gatehouse where she found a thick wooden door with a heavy brass latch. Lucy lifted the latch and
the door opened.
She stepped into a room furnished with wall tapestries that were nearly threadbare, a long, scarred bench, two large wooden chairs and a table, all of
which looked to be hundreds of years old. The fireplace did not appear to have been used in years, and the windows were mere arrow loops, designed for
defense.
Lucy could hardly contain her excitement. She couldn’t believe she’d stumbled upon such a well-preserved medieval structure and wished she knew
more about its history. It did not keep her from imagining it.
She could almost feel the presence of the first lord and lady of Craigmuir up
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