Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Before he so rudely arrived uninvited,” the Old Woman said with a tilt of her chain.
“My apologies,” Esme said and gave Ryland’s arm another squeeze when she felt him stiffen beside her. “Understandably, his concern was for me. He means you no disrespect.”
“Is that true?” the Old Woman asked, her eyes glancing at Torrance.
He stared at the woman, Esme’s grip on his arm warning him to watch his words. But the woman had asked if that was true and lying would do him no good.
“Nay, it’s not true. How do you expect me to respect you when you summon my wife and command that she visits with you alone? I would be a poor husband to let my wife go alone to a stranger, especially when the information we seek concerns me, not her. Respect works both ways.”
“A truthful tongue, surprising and confirming,” the Old Woman said with sly smile.
His brow scrunched. “Confirming?
“Aye, your truthfulness confirms what I already knew. You are not Torrance. You are Ryland.”
Ryland stiffened.
“Torrance never spoke the truth, and he would have burst in here and threatened my life if I didn’t tell him what he wanted to know.”
Esme’s face betrayed her surprise as she spoke, “You knew Torrance?”
“I know of him and his family.”
“What do you know?” Ryland demanded.
“There you go demanding again,” the Old Woman chastised.
“And you not telling me anything, tells me you know nothing,” he accused.
The Old Woman stood so fast the bench she sat on toppled back. She stood straight, her height impressive, no hunch to her shoulders, and a flare of anger in her eyes.
“Here is something you should know, Chieftain Ryland of Clan MacLeish… you and Torrance are twins.”
The silence cracked like thunder.
Esme stared bewildered. “Twins?”
Ryland shook his head, stunned by her remark. “That’s not possible.”
“Isn’t it?” the Old Woman asked, not that she expected a response. “You have never wondered why you and Torrance looked so much alike. Never gave thought to him being your brother.”
“I can’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind a time or two that the rumors about my mum and Torrance’s father could be true. But that would make us half-brothers, not twins.” He shook his head again. “It makes no sense. That would mean my mum and da were not my true parents.”
“Therein lies the secret that must be revealed if you and Esme are ever to know peace.
“Could there be another to claim the title?” Esme asked, recalling what Ryland had told her about Lord Randall’s deathbed remark.
“Pretenders, liars, fools,” the Old Woman said dismissively. The true heir to Clan Glencairn is the firstborn twin. With your brother dead, it truly doesn’t matter whether you are the firstborn twin or not. The problem is… proving you are Torrance’s twin and rightful heir to succeed him as leader of Clan Glencairn.”
CHAPTER 25
“How are we to find the answer to a secret so long buried?” Ryland asked, still trying to comprehend the shocking news. “And why was Torrance and I separated?”
The Old Woman glanced at Esme. “Where do you think you could find such answers?”
Ryland turned his attention on Esme as if she had the answer.
It came to Esme without much thought. “I would start with the healer who delivered the twins.”
The Old Woman smiled, though it soured when she shifted her attention to Ryland. “Pay heed to Esme, for she is wiser than most.”
“It is why I don’t hesitate to seek her counsel,” Ryland said proudly, “and one of the reasons I love her so much.”
That he believed she was wise stunned her and it showed in her expression, her eyes turning wide. She never thought herself wise. Her mum often reminded her to hold her tongue around men and pay them no mind. But when alone with her grandmother, she would tell her that her mum only got part of that right. She cautioned Esme to hold her tongue around men and pay heed to everything they said and learn from it. Perhaps she had gained more wisdom than she believed.
“You don’t know who the healer was who attended the birth, do you?” Esme asked.
“It pains me to admit I do not know,” the Old Woman said with a touch of annoyance. “All healers seek my help, not so this particular healer. But she may have been sworn to secrecy and healers do hold on to their secrets.”
“If you can’t find her, how can we?” Ryland asked.
“We start with Torrance’s mum’s family,” Esme said, the slight scrunch of her brow and the brightness in her eyes a sign that her thoughts were churning rapidly. “We find out if she had any siblings and if so where we can find them. Then we find out where your mum gave birth.”
“Torrance spoke about a room in the keep where all heirs to Clan Glencairn are birthed. I assume that was were Torrance and I would have been born, but Patrick informed me that Torrance was born at Purdom Keep due to a snowstorm that stranded her there.” Ryland shook his head, still finding the news that Torrance was his twin brother difficult to digest.