An hour later she made her way down to the hall with Duncan as her escort. He had been acting as her page since they had come to court and the arrangement turned out to benefit them both. He was allowed to stay in the hall to wait on her at the table, where she slipped him bits and pieces of good food while she in turn used his presence as protection against unwanted male attention. The little rascal could make the biggest scenes to get attention from the assembly when Gusty needed the watchfulness of others to help her escape unwanted attentiveness from her tablemates.
The aromas that overflowed from the kitchen into the dining hall were mouthwateringly delicious. The one good thing about being stuck in Edgar’s castle was that she was treated like royalty, which included having every meal prepared by the best cooks in the land. Her stomach rumbled as she made her way farther into the already-crowded room. Thankfully her appetite was returning. She hadn’t been down to eat her meals in some time due to her lack of hunger.
It seemed every female in the Highlands had flocked to the king’s residence when the war had begun but in reality they were all his wards and their family members. Gusty felt as if she was at a boarding school. Only a handful of nobles were left to see to their safety. They commanded the large number of guards seated at the tables against the walls and at the entrance of the hall, men who were there to keep rogues and outlawed clansmen at a distance.
As she moved to a seat at one of the lower tables, Hagen and Maeve made their way to her side. They had been buzzing around the room, no doubt discreetly prying and making inquiries about the latest occurrences in the surrounding community. Gusty’s polite smile, which she had been refining these last few months, turned into a genuine grin at their appearance. She found plenty of company here but she was always pleased when the two people who’d raised her as their own came for a visit. Being in their presence felt like going home again. Almost.
“Where have you two been? I have missed you so much!”
“We have been here and there.” Hagen hedged.
Gusty gave him a look meant to tell him she wasn’t pleased with his evasiveness. He colored and looked away.
“Don’t worry about us, my dear. We have just been doing what old folks like to do most.” Maeve moved closer and put her arm around Gusty.
Finding herself in her grandmother’s comforting embrace, Gusty fought to keep from breaking down and bawling against the old woman’s bosom.
“What is it that old folk do exactly?” she asked softly.
“We have been visiting with friends we have not seen for a while.”
Gusty knew she wouldn’t get more so she let Maeve take her arm and lead her to three empty seats at the table. They sat down to partake of the sumptuous evening meal.
“How are you getting along here, Augusta? Is your maid taking good care of you? How is the boy, Duncan, doing? Is he playing your champion well enough?”
“Aye. Everything is as well as it can be, considering.” She stopped and frowned at her words. Not until she spoke them did she realize just how fortunate she was to have two such good friends in Duncan and Violet. They were indeed taking good care of her. She had no real complaints about her life at the present, except for the fact that she missed Alexander. “Aye, we are all very well. Thank you for your concern.”
Maeve patted Gusty’s hand. “He will be back, Augusta, and soon. Then you will find the happiness you so deserve.”
“Do you think so?”
“Aye, Gusty…sooner than you think,” Maeve said, then with a wicked little smile she added, “But do you know who will be having a hard time living happily ever after with his new wife?”
“Who?” Gusty asked, her interest peaked by the question.
“The young laird of Clan Ross,” Hagen announced before Maeve could answer.
“Donovan? He’s married? Who? Who did he marry?”
“Nay, he’s not married yet but rumor has it he’ll be getting himself shackled to a very lovely young woman once all our men return. Of course it took a little help from Hagen and me to see to it he met the right woman.”
“We took your advice, my dear. And a better bride could not have been found for the mighty young laird—in this time or any other.”
He gave her a sly wink and it took Gusty a moment to understand what he was saying. She glanced around to make sure no one was listening.
“You brought her here? From the future? Oh. My. God.” The thought that such a thing was possible blew her mind.
Why not? Look at me.
“Why do you say they will not live happily ever after? He’s planning to marry her is he not? He must have found something about her that he liked.”
“They are destined to fall in love, silly girl. But it will be a rocky beginning. Laird Ross is not the only one in the match who has a stubborn streak. His intended is a willful one and he is going to find himself baffled as to how he will handle her.”
“Oh,” Gusty muttered for lack of anything better to say. She supposed love wasn’t always what one expected. Happiness was an elusive emotion. She was finding that out. How awe inspiring to discover she had been instrumental in bringing two people together. Two people from totally different backgrounds and centuries.
Bernadine and Katherine came bustling across the hall. The young women, Black Bart’s non-identical twin daughters, were related to Gusty by marriage and she was pleased to have them as relatives. “We just wanted to come and ask how you were doing, Lady Augusta. You have not come down to the hall these last few days,” Bernadine began. She was a lovely young woman, tall and slender with dark brown hair and moss-colored eyes. Her cheeks were always blooming with color, an eternal blush.
“Bernadine wanted to visit you in your room but I thought perhaps it was best to let you have some private time. Still we have both missed you very much,” Katherine concluded. As pretty as her sister was, but shorter and more curvaceous, she had blue, blue eyes, the color of a northern loch. Her chestnut hair ran to red and sported wild curls.
“That was thoughtful of you. Won’t you sit and sup with us. I have missed you both as well. Please be seated. I would like you to meet my good friends, Maeve and Hagen. They are here for a short visit. Maeve, Hagen, I would like you to meet Bernadine and Katherine. They are cousins of Alexander.”
Gusty caught the startled look that passed between the two elderly people as the two young women found vacant seats on the bench across from her and she wondered what they were thinking.
“Augusta, you do realize who these lasses’ father is, do you not?” Maeve asked.
“Of course I do. Bart Sutherland. They have not made a secret about it.”
“And their mother? Did they tell you who their mother is?”
Gusty glanced at the two young women who had their heads together whispering and pointing at someone down the table from where they sat. “No. I guess I didn’t think it was important. Is it?”
Maeve glanced at Hagen, who gave the older woman a slight shrug.
“Nay. Perhaps it matters not. All three of you are after all in a similar situation.”
Gusty knew exactly what she meant. They were all confined in this household of women and they all missed their men very much. They also had a common foe living in the king’s residence—a widowed woman who happened to be Black Bart’s mistress. Brigitte Urquart was a lying, deceitful witch. That was the consensus of not only Gusty and the girls but of nearly all the young women in the household. The woman usually stayed in her room unless Bart was at court and thankfully he remained absent.
“Bernadine has news from the north,” Katherine began once they had gotten settled across the table from Gusty.
“You catch up on the news, my dear. Hagen and I have business to attend to. We will come and visit with you later.”
Maeve took hold of Hagen’s arm as he was about to take a bite of his bread and pulled him from the bench. They disappeared across the crowded hall. Gusty smiled and shook her head at their odd ways bef
ore she turned back to her friends.
“What have you heard?” she asked, her excitement barely contained.
“There was a terrible battle. A very important conflict,” Bernadine said, her voice low and dramatic. “The clans took the field, pushing the Vikings back farther than on previous encounters. Blood colored the ground and death was everywhere.” She paused and glanced at her sister.
“Tell her the rest, Bernadine,” Katherine urged.
“The messenger said the day dawned dark and gloomy. Storm clouds hid the sun and rain fell in torrents, filling the streams to flooding and making it nearly impossible for all the clans to fill the battlefield. Only half the number of warriors made it to the king’s side, while many were trapped beyond the swelling streams. A bad omen indeed. Bad enough that even the most stout-hearted believed death would find them before the day was over. Edgar feared they would lose all that day.”
“What happened?” The question was but a breath across Gusty’s lips.
“As they took to the field, your Alexander was at Edgar’s right. The Ross and your father, Laird Sinclair, were at his left and they charged onto the moor. They fought like the berserkers they faced. The battle was long and hard and bloody, gruesome, in fact. There were many who lost their lives. But toward the end when the victory could have fallen either way, the clans were given a sign, a reprieve.”
“What, Bernadine? What happened?” Gusty was breathless and her heart pounded with dread. She did not know if she really wanted to hear what came next.
“A lone warrior appeared at the side of the battlefield. He raised his voice in a fierce battle cry and with a few followers at his back he charged into the midst of the fighting, swinging his mighty claymore. His face was painted for battle and his wild black hair flowed long and unruly behind him as if he were an avenging angel. He took the field and cut his way through the invaders. They say his arrival added the spark the clansmen’s lagging spirits needed and they followed him with much zeal. They were able to beat back the demons from the north.”
“Just one man did all that?”
“Aye. They said he fought beside King Edgar and your husband and at the conclusion of the battle he knelt and swore his fealty to the king. But the odd thing is that not a soul upon the field of battle knows who he is. He disappeared just as quickly as he came. Some say he was a phantom.” She sighed dreamily.
All three women sat silently for a long moment. Lost in her thoughts Gusty stared off into space, imagining the battle Bernadine described.
“It has been a long time, Lady Augusta.”
The male voice came from beside her, booming abrasively and interrupting the solemn silence that had settled around the table. Gusty cursed under her breath, receiving an odd look from Katherine.
Bart smiled down at Gusty.
“What brings you to court, Bart?” Gusty asked, trying to swallow her dislike of him for his daughters’ sakes. A quick glance told her they looked as annoyed as she felt over this sudden interruption.
“I thought I would come and see to my family. I am concerned about their welfare since their fiancées are away at war.”
“How considerate of you. But as you can see, your daughters are doing just fine. They are safe and happy in the king’s protection.” Gusty did not care enough to hide the bit of sarcasm that crept into her voice.
“Aye, I can see that. But they are not the only family I recognize residing here for the moment.”
The look in his eyes made Gusty’s skin crawl. He did not even try to hide his lust for her from his own daughters. She glanced around to see if Duncan was nearby. She sighed with relief at the small hand that settled on her shoulder.
“Oh? And who else have you come to check upon?”
“Why you, my child. You are married to my nephew are you not? Therefore you are part of my clan and my responsibility while Alexander is away.”
“How kind of you.” Gusty smiled with gritted teeth at his outrageous claim. “How is it you have the time to come and see to your kinswomen? I would have thought you would be at the king’s side with the rest of his loyal subjects. How did you find the time for such niceties?”
Her words were meant to insult him and they apparently did the trick. Bart’s face turned an angry red, the vein in his forehead bulging.
“The king understands why I cannot be at his side.”
“I imagine he does.” Her tone implied that she did not believe a word he said.
“I find I must be going, now that I know my family is well. I have important matters to attend to.” He nodded once at his daughters but he kept his furious gaze on Gusty for a full minute before he turned and skulked away like an angry bear.
“You should be more careful when dealing with him.” Katherine warned. “We have never been close to either of our parents but Bernadine and I are well aware of our father’s character.”
“Don’t worry about me, ladies. He would not dare do anything to me. He fears Alexander too much. Besides what could he gain from pestering me? I know what kind of person he is. He’s a schemer, looking to gain something for himself but whatever he is after, it cannot be too hard to gain or he would not be interested in it. He’s the kind of man who looks for the easy prey and then goes after it. I hate to tell you this but your father is a coward and a sneaky one at that. He will not bother me.”
“I sincerely hope you’re right, Gusty. He may be our father but he is not a kind man and you are right, he is after something. You can see it in his eyes.”
“Katherine is correct, you must be careful about what you say to him. And no matter what you think, he can only be baited so far before rational thought flies from his mind and he forgets you are Alexander Sutherland’s woman.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are you all right, Gusty?”
Duncan’s voice broke through the red haze of anger that threatened to swamp her. She hastened down the dimly lit corridor, seeking the sanctuary of her chambers and the security of a bolted door. Her speedy retreat from the great hall this evening after the embarrassing confrontation with Black Bart left her gulping back tears of frustration and outrage.
“Damn it, Alexander! Where are you? I don’t think I can take much more of the chauvinistic attitude of the men of this century.” She kept her angry mutterings low so Duncan would not hear the vehemence in her voice. That bastard, Bart, had deliberately taken a seat next to her at the evening meal with the sole purpose of assaulting her where he thought she would be unable to do anything about his unwanted overtures.
About halfway through the meal he’d had the gall to grope her thigh with his big, meaty hand. The first time he touched her she chose to ignore the “accidental” brush of his fingertips on her leg and had merely frowned at him, pushing his hand away. He had smirked at her reaction and pretended to concentrate on his meal and the conversation he was having with his mistress, who sat on his other side. Before long he moved his hand back to her lap, squeezing her leg suggestively.
Gusty had not given him a second warning but had jumped to her feet, placed her hands on the twelfth-century jerk’s shoulders and pushed with all her might. He’d tumbled backward off the bench. She’d let her temper get the better of her, not anticipating the reaction she would get from the assembly at the sound of Bart’s massive body crashing to the floor. It seemed to her that every person in the hall had turned around or craned their necks to see what had caused all the commotion. If that weren’t bad enough, things really escalated when Bart’s mistress began screeching in outrage. The vile epithets that spewed forth from the woman’s lovely mouth had Gusty making a hasty retreat from the hall before things really got out of hand. She had not realized Duncan had followed her but she was not surprised either. The lad was her shadow since they had come to stay here.
Now it was Duncan’s voice behind her that penetrated her anger-hazed mind and she stopped to lean her flushed face against the cool stone wall as she fought to catch her breath and
regain some of her dignity. He touched her arm and attempted to comfort her.
“That great scoundrel! He will not get away with his ill treatment of you, Gusty. Alexander will avenge the insult Uncle Bart has given you. He will pay; make no mistake about it. He will pay dearly.”
As she stood there listening to the small boy expressing his outrage at his relative’s actions, she smiled tremulously. She turned and leaned forward, embracing him in a quick hug.
“You are truly my champion, Duncan. Just having you near is a great comfort to me. Thank you!”
She kissed his cheek, causing him to blush and pull back. Then he apparently changed his mind and threw his arms about her waist, nearly squeezing the breath out of her.
“I do not want you worrying about Black Bart. He will not get the chance to cause me embarrassment again. I plan on avoiding him at all costs.”
Duncan pulled back to look up at her with a questioning expression.
“How about we have dinner in my room? We can make it into a regular affair. Violet can join us and we will enjoy our own company. What do you say?”
“I say, hurrah! Can we have fruit tarts too? I really like the berry ones.”
Gusty nodded in agreement and the pleased look on his face was enough to lift her spirits. She turned and put her arm around his slender shoulders, answering him as she drew him along.
“I like berry pies as well. We will send Violet to the kitchen for some.”
As they made their way along the corridor to her room, Gusty was grateful for the young Sutherland’s company. She did not think she could face the rest of the evening alone. She regretted the momentary loss of her freedom. But she had made a complete spectacle of herself trying to elude the lecherous overtures of that pompous bully and his mistress’ barbed innuendoes. It would be a while before she would be able to face those who had witnessed the incident. She and Duncan would be taking their meals in her room for a long time…that was for damn sure.
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