Don’t miss your link for the whole book at the end of the preview.
Chapter 1
Me dearest Moira,
The news of me faither’s death must have reached ye and due tae the circumstances of this unfortunate event I am left without choice but tae ask fer yer hand, as promised. Everyone at Castle Fraser is awaiting yer arrival, meself above all.
Yers wholeheartedly,
Roderick
The letter had been opened and folded so many times that it bore faint creases, not too dissimilar from the lines of worry etched across Moira Wilson’s brow.
After hours of travel, Moira found herself unfolding the letter once again. The monotonous clatter of the horses’ hooves and the rhythmic sway of the carriage had done little to quiet her restless thoughts. She needed something—anything—to occupy her mind.
It might seem foolish to read the letter again and again, as it was the source of her unease. But reading calmed her, giving her scattered thoughts a direction and, most of all, the chance to try and figure out what to expect.
What would she find at Castle Fraser?
Of course, her mind pondered the worst.
As she traced the spidery letters on the crumpled page, Moira’s fingers lingered on the ink. She couldn’t help but notice how rushed Roderick’s writing was. Messy even. Was that a clue? A sign of Roderick’s state of mind?
And then, despite herself, another thought intruded: How will he look after all these years?
It was frivolous—perhaps the least important question she’d considered yet—but it lingered nonetheless.
Moira exhaled slowly, folding the letter with care and slipping it back into the equally rumpled envelope. She turned her gaze through the oval-shaped carriage window, her eyes settling on the vast, sun-dappled expanse of the Highlands. Rolling hills and wild greenery stretched endlessly before her, and although her eyes were looking out at the scenery, she wasn’t really seeing. She was lost in her thoughts, her mind busy conjuring visions of possible future events.
Moira was confident in her ability to analyze situations and at this point in her life, she was rarely wrong. But she could not fathom why she had been summoned. Or rather, she had an inkling but could hardly believe it. All she knew was that she had to go, for promises made long ago still held their importance.
The memory of when she had made her promise resurfaced, causing her to wince. She felt the bitter taste of regret and would have expelled it if she could have. Had she met Roderick now, she would never have made such a promise. She knew better.
But that was neither here nor there. She had learned there was little use torturing oneself with one’s past. She would have to enter Castle Fraser with a positive attitude, an open mind, and free from remorse for the regretful choices she had made.
The carriage jostled slightly as it moved along the uneven road, her body swaying with the motion, and Moira sat upright, her gaze fixed firmly ahead.
Not much longer now.
The carriage rumbled along a winding, muddy path, the wheels jolting as they neared their destination. Castle Fraser loomed ahead, large, turreted, and grey, its towering stone walls half-shrouded by the dense trees that crowded its edges.
When it finally came to a halt, Moira unlatched the door without waiting for assistance. She stepped out quickly, her movements both confident and efficient as her boots touched the frost-bitten earth.
She hesitated, taking in the towering grandeur of the castle before her.
Then, Moira noticed a finely dressed woman emerging from the castle’s tall doors. Her step was light, her long blonde hair flowing in the chill air, her eyes warm despite their intense blue hue.
“Welcome to Castle Fraser, Lady Wilson! I am Lady Fraser, though ye may call me Isobel,” she called out, her voice carrying on the breeze. “It’s a joy tae finally meet ye! Roderick’s spoken so many wonderful things about ye.”
Moira nodded, nervously adjusting the sides of her woolen skirt. She wasn’t sure how to deal with praise, especially given the situation she was in. Nevertheless, Lady Fraser continued, eager to make Moira feel at home.
“I’ll tell ye, lass, we were all so surprised when Roderick announced he was ready tae marry, and tae a woman he claimed tae love at that! But when we heard yer family name, well…” Lady Fraser smiled wider, clasping her hands together. “We couldnae think of a finer match. It’s like it was meant tae be.”
Moira smiled, her expression pleasant and composed, exuding the quiet ease she had mastered over years of navigating freshly spun lies. “Thank ye kindly,” she said softly.
“Come on inside. Everyone’s been waitin’ tae meet ye,” Lady Fraser said, gesturing toward the heavy wooden door. “We have prepared a grand welcome fer ye.”
Looping her arm gently through Moira’s, Lady Fraser led her through the castle’s main hall. Their footsteps echoed off the smooth stone floor as Moira took in the splendor of her surroundings. She gazed in awe at the high vaulted ceilings, while in contrast the glow of the hearth and the richly woven tapestries gave the room a welcoming warmth.
A cluster of smiling faces awaited them, gathering eagerly as Isobel began introductions. Moira managed polite nods, but her attention kept drifting to a figure at the far end of the room.
Roderick.
He was leaning against a pillar, his honey-colored eyes fixed intently on her, as though trying to unravel her thoughts. Moira stole a couple of glances at hi, as she continued to greet the others. She’d have stared longer if she could have.
Eventually, after they had all been introduced, with Moira offering polite smiles and a few kind words to each, Lady Fraser redirected her attention.
“Now lass,” Lady Fraser said, “I’m sure this is the one ye’ve been waitin’ tae greet. An’ what better than tae save the best till last?”
With her arm still looped through Moira’s, Lady Fraser guided her through the small crowd toward the pillar where Roderick stood.
Finally, Moira could truly look at him. Face to face, she took in the man she faintly remembered from years ago. He was bigger now, both his presence and stature, towering above her— so much so that Moira had to crane her neck to meet his gaze.
Despite his size, and the faint scar etched across his right brow, he exuded the type of authority that Moira immediately recognized as benevolent rather than oppressive. She remembered that about him—that he had seemed like a good man.
A faint smile tugged at Roderick’s lips, softening his sharp features as his eyes held hers. He gazed at Moira with an expression that was both welcoming and calm, his steadiness causing the crowd and the rest of the room to fade away.
“Ah, I’m glad ye could make it,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “It’s good tae see ye again.”
“And ye,” Moira replied softly. She wasn’t entirely sure how she was meant to behave, so she opted for subtlety—at her core, Moira was well versed in theatrics after a lifetime of training. She hesitated, wondering if she ought to add more, but Roderick quickly bridged the silence, turning toward his mother with an easy authority.
“Maither,” he began, his tone warm yet firm, “Lady Wilson is likely worn from the journey. She’s met everyone now, and I think it’s best she be shown tae her chambers. A bit of rest would dae her good before the feast tonight. Dinnae ye agree?”
“Aye, that’s a wise thought,” Lady Fraser agreed, her face softening with pride as she glanced between her son and the young woman by his side. There was a fragile hopefulness to her expression, Moira noticed, as though this moment of joy was one that Lady Fraser desperately needed.
Roderick turned to one of the maids standing nearby, his commanding tone calm but firm. “See tae it that Lady Wilson is taken tae her room and has all she needs afore the betrothal feast this evening.”
“Aye, me laird,” the old maid replied, dipping her head and stepping forward. “Follow me, miss. I’ll show ye tae yer chambers.”
Moira let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful to have been spared further conversation. While everyone had been kind enough, she still felt out of place, unsure of what she was doing there and wary of questions she might struggle to answer. Though part of her yearned to be back home, she followed the maid through the hall and up a grand, winding staircase.
She resisted the urge to glance back at Roderick even though she was certain his gaze lingered on her. Instead, she focused on keeping up with the maid, who was moving at an increasingly rapid pace. After a while, for the stairs felt as long as they were wide, they reached the third floor. The maid led Moira to the end of the corridor, where she opened the doors to a large bedroom adorned with rich burgundy tapestries and heavy oak furniture.
In the center of the room stood a grand four-poster bed with deep purple curtains, tied back neatly. A hearth on the far wall opposite the bed glowed with a crackling fire, giving the space a comforting warmth.
“This’ll be yer room, me lady,” the maid said with a warm smile.
Moira nodded. “Thank ye.”
“I’ll unpack yer bags,” the maid said, heading over to Moira’s cases, which had been carefully placed by the foot of the bed. Moira had almost forgotten about those.
“That’s quite alright,” she interjected quickly, stepping between the maid and her belongings. “Nay need tae worry about that.”
Confusion flickered across the maid’s face. “But it’s nay trouble at all,” she replied. “It’s me duty tae help ye get settled.”
“Ye could greatly ye help me by preparing a bath, if that is nae too much of a bother?” Moira suggested, her tone deliberately slow and calm. “What I really need is a nice, warm bath.”
The maid nodded, satisfied. Of course, it made sense that Lady Wilson would want to get washed and prepared for the feast. Lowering her head in a slight bow, she left the chambers, closing the heavy doors behind her.
Moira sat down at the edge of the bed, about to take her boots off, when a firm knock suddenly echoed through the room. She jumped slightly, then quickly rose to her feet. Her heart was beating fast, for there was only one person who could be behind that door when she opened it.
Roderick.
His commanding presence was a bit intimidating but also familiar. His soft honey eyes were trained on her with a serious intensity that caused her body to tighten. They were alone, for the first time in many years.
“It’s good tae see ye again, Moira” he said, his voice low and steady. He stepped inside without hesitation, his broad shoulders seeming to fill the room. “I cannae tell ye how long I’ve waited fer this moment.”
He closed the door behind him and Moira turned to face him, her expression guarded. “I wish it were under happier circumstances, Roderick,” she replied, her tone even. “But nay joyful occasion could have brought me here, I ken that much.”
Roderick didn’t respond, but he walked slowly across the room toward the fire, his boots sounding loudly across the floor. Despite the tension, Moira felt more comfortable alone in his presence than she had among the rest of the people downstairs.
“There was much delay tae me journey due tae some uprisings on the road,” she said. “I apologize fer the wait.”
“Nay apologies necessary,” Roderick said, “ye got here, that’s all that matters.”
Moira nodded, silent, taking in Roderick’s frame with her deep green eyes.
“Dae ye think the trouble will be reachin’ us here?” Moira asked. It took a lot to frighten her, but she was curious, and the uprisings truly had caused her much delay.
“It is unlikely,” Roderick assured her, his jaw tightening. “The Fraser lands are well-protected. Ye’ll be safe here.”
His tone left no room for doubt, and for a brief moment, Moira felt a flicker of reassurance that she hadn’t known she had needed. She had further questions, but she let them circle her mind, intrigued as to what Roderick had to say.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he continued to move around the room, surveying it as he walked. “We have much tae discuss,” he said.
“Indeed,” Moira replied, standing still. His presence was commanding, and she could tell it was natural for him to take charge. He was likely accustomed to leading, she thought, and that was probably when he felt most at ease. As for her, she’d always preferred to remain in the background, helping quietly from the shadows.
“The dinner tonight. It’ll be a formal affair, and I imagine it might be overwhelming at first,” Roderick said., “I’d like us tae approach it… strategically.”
Moira arched her brow, “Strategically?”
He nodded, turning back to her. “Everyone will be watching, and we need tae discuss how we’re going tae handle that.”
“What did ye have in mind?” She asked, stepping closer to him. She reminded herself that she was here for a purpose, not for a marriage. Her purpose, she told herself, was what mattered most. As someone used to keeping others at arm’s length, she wasn’t about to let her walls down just yet.
While something in her had warmed to Roderick already, there was always the possibility that she might be wrong—and the large-framed laird might indeed be wasting her time.
“We need tae make it clear that we are a strong match,” he said. “We must present a united front, Moira. Our engagement will draw attention, and there’ll be questions—some polite, some less so.” His eyes softened as he added, “I dinnae want ye tae feel overwhelmed. If there’s anything ye’d prefer I handle, tell me now.”
Moira appreciated his candor, though it caught her slightly off-guard. “I’ll be fine, Roderick. I’ve dealt with curious stares before.”
“Aye, I dinnae doubt that,” he said, his lips curving into the faintest smile. “But this is different. Ye’re stepping into me world now, and it can be… difficult tae navigate.”
“What exactly are ye worried they’ll ask?” she ventured.
Roderick paused, his gaze drifting momentarily to the fire before returning to her. “Questions about our past, about how we met. About why I chose to call ye here, now of all times. I’ve nae doubt some will dig fer reasons beyond what I’ve given them.”
Moira’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And what reasons have ye given them?”
He hesitated, and for a brief moment, Moira thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his expression. “That I need a partner by me side,” he admitted. “That it’s time I fulfill me obligations—and that ye were the one I chose tae create a family with.”
“I see,” Moira said softly, as she felt a pang of something she couldn’t quite place. “It all sounds like a good plan. I willnae speak too much as I believe it best tae stay quiet, but I am looking forward tae meeting everyone, both yer family and friends.”
Roderick nodded. “I, personally, am looking forward tae figuring out who killed me faither,” he said with cool detachment.
There it is, Moira thought to herself. Let someone talk, and they’ll tell ye whatever it is ye want to ken.
Chapter 2
1708, Dornoch
The narrow cul-de-sac was in a secluded and forgotten part of town, far from the nearest streetlamp.
A salty breeze swept through the air, stinging the sides of Roderick’s face, as he stood facing the woman concealed by her long black cloak. Her hood was pulled so low over her face, that Roderick could barely make out her features.
He narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing. Who was this mysterious woman? Why had she been tied up in that cellar, left to her fate?
“Here,” she said in a tone so soft that it was barely louder than a whisper, extending her hand.
Roderick frowned as he stared at the small golden coin in her outstretched palm. The coin, although barely visible in the darkness of the night, shone with a slight gleam.
Carefully, he took it, his fingers momentarily brushing hers.
As he turned the coin over, inspecting it as thoroughly as he could, Roderick noticed strange markings on its surface: three circles arranged in a perfect triangle.
His eyes darted to hers, sharp with suspicion. “What is this?”
She glanced over her shoulder, scanning the shadows behind her as though expecting someone to emerge. Once satisfied that they were alone, she turned back to Roderick and continued.
“Ye rescued me, and now I owe ye a favor. The Triad,” she said, her voice extra hushed, “will be there whenever and wherever ye need it.”
Roderick hesitated. “I dinnae understand. The ‘Triad’?”
The woman sighed, trying not to reveal too much. “If ye encounter a problem that appears tae be impossible tae solve, the Triad can help ye. This is a secret, reveal it tae anyone and the favor is revoked.”
Roderick nodded slowly, still confused by the words coming from the mysterious lady he had just rescued.
“If ye need help, ye can send a letter here,” she slipped a small piece of parchment into his hand, her eyes narrowing, her tone steady but urgent. “Use this coin tae stamp it.”
Roderick opened his mouth to speak, but she glanced behind her again, ensuring they were still alone before continuing. “There should be absolutely nay information in yer letter that could expose us. If ye dae, it’ll be considered a breach of contract, and we willnae be able tae help ye.”
“I understand.”
“Nay one aside from yerself should have any information whatsoever about the mission ye have called us fer, nay information on why ye have reached out. If ye reach out tae us, it must be under those terms.”
“Are there any limitations?” Roderick asked quickly, conscious that their time was limited. “What if I ask fer too much?”
The air went still, and her face grew somber. “Just hope ye never have tae use the coin, fer yer own good.”
Roderick nodded, tucking the coin and parchment into his pocket.
“I hope,” she said, her voice thick with gravity “that I won’t ever have tae see ye again.
Without another word, Moira turned and vanished into the night, her cloak dissolving into the darkness like smoke.
Roderick stood still for a moment, his hand slipping into his pocket once more, and turning the cool coin between his fingers, he quietly reflected on the mysterious gift he’d just received. Roderick didn’t understand much, but he knew better than to breathe another word of what he’d been told.
***
All that Roderick recalled of Moira from the night they’d met was her hooded cloak, her face half hidden beneath the darkness of the night. But her eyes—he had noticed them even then—were just as piercing.
Now, as she stood before him, her posture straight, her chin slightly raised, Roderick tried to understand what she might be thinking. All those years ago, her presence had left him bewildered. But this time, her expression was cold, a mask of indifference that betrayed nothing.
Time, it seemed, had not softened her. If anything, it had sharpened her into something else. Something impenetrable.
He thought back to when he first wrote the letter to her. Ever since his father’s death he had been convinced that it wasn’t the mere accident that had been reported. He knew his father better than anyone, and he needed answers—not just for his own closure but for reasons he knew to be critical. Roderick had never been one to simply accept what he was told; there was something in him that always guided him toward the truth.
Moira’s lips twitched, but she didn’t speak. Instead, her silence stretched taut between them, thick as the tension in the room. It was Roderick who broke it again.
“When the doctor said it was possible me faither might have eaten something bad on the road,” he began, his tone hardening as he stepped even closer, “I kenned there was more tae the story.”
Her gaze didn’t waver, but the subtle tightening of her jaw betrayed her intrigue, Roderick noticed, perhaps more than Moira thought.
“That’s why,” he continued, his tone hardening, “I kenned that there was only one solution. I had tae send fer ye and collect the favor ye owed me. I needed the Triad’s help.”
Roderick noticed her body flinch, though her face remained the same.
“It is nae small thing that ye have done,” Moira said, inclining her head ever so slightly. Her words came out as coldly as her expression.
“I’m aware,” Roderick replied curtly, turning away from Moira and toward the fireplace. “But me faither’s death is nae small thing either.”
He rested one hand on the stone mantle, staring into the flickering flames. There was something distracting about Moira—be it her mysterious manner or her graceful demeanor. He decided that it was best for him to focus on the matter at hand.
“Since we last met,” he began, his voice steady, “I’ve done some research about yer… Triad.”
“And what have ye found?” She asked, her voice steady, betraying no sign of concern.
“It took time,” he replied. “Ye didnae exactly leave me with much tae go on. But eventually, in these five years since we met, I managed tae piece it together. The Triad—a secretive organization of investigators. Mystical, some call them. They’re hardly kent, even among the upper class. And they only take cases that interest them. Unless…” he paused
“Unless what?” replied Moira.
“Unless there is a favor involved,” he replied.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her lips tighten into a thin line, but she remained silent.
“I understand the need fer secrecy, and I understand the weight of what I’ve done by calling ye here, but we both remember the night ye gave me the Triad’s coin, and why ye did it.”
“Aye,” Moira said, her composure faltering, if only slightly, for just a moment. A brief crack in her mask, her apparent stoicism betrayed by a tiny expression of frustration, alongside, Roderick noticed, a subtle hint of regret.
He had anticipated that bringing up that night might alter her composure, for it seemed as though she had been trying to pretend it had never happened at all.
“At the time,’” Moira continued, “I was nay more than an apprentice. If I had kenned better… I would have never made such a promise. If we’d met today…”
Roderick’s jaw tightened. “But that’s nae the case,” he replied firmly. “Without me help that night, ye wouldnae have been alive long enough tae even progress tae the position ye hold now.”
“Nay,” Moira responded, her tone icy. “I appreciate what ye did fer me at Dornoch. But if ye think that I couldnae have found a way out on me own, then ye’ve seriously underestimated me.” Moira crossed her arms, the air growing thicker by the moment. “I could’ve escaped without ye.”
“Maybe,” Roderick allowed, his voice cool. “But ye made me a very important promise. I’m redeeming it. Or are ye telling me the Triad doesnae honor its debts?”
“Careful, Roderick,” Moira warned. “I dinnae take kindly tae threats.”
“I dinnae mean tae threaten,” he said. “But ye made a promise that I ken ye have tae uphold. Ye have tae find out who murdered me faither.”
The words hung heavily in the air, a weight pressing down on the space between them. For a moment, neither of them moved, the flickering firelight casting long shadows across the room. Moira’s sharp eyes locked onto his, searching for some crack in his resolve, but his expression remained unwavering, his jaw set like stone.
“Murdered?” Moira finally cut through the silence, her expression filled with doubt. “But there’s nay reason tae believe that. Isnae it a wee bit far-fetched given the circumstances?”
Roderick edged closer to Moira, a faint edge of frustration creeping into his voice. “Aye, maybe, but I kenned me faither well. He was strong, hale. He was cautious in ways that others werenae. Yet somehow, after one hunting trip—one he’d made a hundred times before—he falls ill and dies? Doesnae that seem far-fetched?”
Moira didn’t speak, considering his words.
“Everyone thinks he died of natural causes, but I ken that’s nae the truth. I will find out who did it and bring that person tae justice.”
Roderick typically had rather a calm, collected, and gentle nature, whilst also being a natural leader. However, since his father’s death, he had become almost completely consumed by thoughts of vengeance. So much so that he found it difficult to control his frustrations.
“Roderick,” she began, her voice softening, “Ye cannae be sure. Just because ye dinnae want tae believe that yer faither’s death may have been nothing more than a careless mistake on the road, doesnae mean that it’s nae possible it’s true. I understand yer hurt, but, honestly, this may lead tae nothing more than a wild goose chase.”
Roderick took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Somehow, the room became smaller, the air heavier—and his eyes searched hers, hoping to connect to the part of her that might understand.
“This isnae just about what I want tae believe,” he said, his voice dropping even lower, somehow becoming more intimate. “I didnae just ask ye here on a hunch. Trust me, Moira, I ken.”
Roderick hadn’t known what to expect when he had asked Moira to go there, and part of him had thought she wouldn’t come. But he’d assumed that she would have been used to situations like his, so he couldn’t make sense of why she was so reluctant to help.
For a moment, Moira looked away from Roderick, off to the side of the room, seemingly trying to collect herself for reasons that he couldn’t understand. Then she visibly calmed and changed her demeanor. She straightened and looked back at him confidently. “Tell me everything ye ken, then. Every piece of information ye have about his death.”
Roderick’s jaw loosened, the tension was still palpable, but somehow he had gotten through to her. He knew that despite her cold approach, she’d be willing to help. After all, she had promised she would, and he sensed that she was a woman of her word.
“Me faither returned from a camping trip two days before he fell ill,” Roderick began. “The healer claimed that it’s possible fer a sickness tae take a long time tae settle in the body, but I dinnae trust his opinion at all.”
“And why nae?” Moira asked, arching a brow.
“Because he once nearly bled me dry after a skirmish,” Roderick replied sharply, spinning on his heel. “I was lucky tae survive. His competence is… questionable, tae say the least.”
“I see,” Moira continued. “An’ did yer faither go on this trip alone?”
“He always took councilmen with him when he went hunting. And they all returned in perfect health. Even though they had shared food and water, nae one of them fell ill besides me faither.”
Roderick noticed a glimmer of intrigue flicker across Moira’s face. He’d sparked her interest, and he watched as she appeared to be analyzing, lost in thought. She parted her lips as though she was about to speak but remained silent.
Roderick continued. “Right after returning from the trip, he spent some time in deep discussions with his Council. The issue was primarily that two of his councilmen, Lennox and MacDougall, were pressing him tae lease his lands.”
“So ye think they poisoned him?” Moira asked.
“I dinnae ken,” Roderick replied, running a hand through his hair. “But the timing is curious, is it nae?”
Moira sighed, consumed with her thoughts. “Curious daesnae mean proof, Roderick. Ye’ve asked me all this way fer what ye tell me isnae just a hunch, but it’s very likely that this may have been nay more than just a tragic accident. Just because we look fer meaning, doesnae mean that it’s there.”
Roderick’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, he felt a rise of frustration. His anger slowly simmered, but he managed to keep calm. He knew that his hot-headed nature would work against him rather than for him when it came to Moira.
“Ye might be right, Moira. Maybe in the end, we’ll find out that there was nae more tae me faither’s death than a careless, tragic mistake. But ye are the one who gave me that coin, and while ye may suspect that I’m wastin’ yer time, until I have answers, yer time is mine tae waste.”
Moira inhaled sharply, her cheeks flushing with what Roderick assumed was irritation. But before she could respond, there was a soft knock at the door.
Both of them turned sharply as the maid entered, her eyes widening in shock at how close they had been standing together. They were almost touching, Roderick’s tall, bulky frame towering over hers.
“Me lady,” she stammered, averting her gaze to the floor. “I apologize, I didnae mean tae interrupt.”
“That’s quite alright,” Roderick quickly answered.
The maid bobbed a quick curtsy and backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
With the tension broken between them, Roderick relaxed a little, thrown off guard. Moira glanced to the corner of the room, her cheeks still flushed a light pink.
“I’ll leave ye tae it now,” Roderick said promptly, though his curiosity about Moira remained. “I look forward to seeing ye at the feast.”
With a polite bow Roderick exited the room.
Perhaps, he thought to himself, this investigation is going tae be a little more complex than I thought.
