A Nightmare Marriage

by Bethany Hauck

  “I too had to give up my betrothed,” Fiona told the woman. “I would have been happy to marry and stay at Tarmon.”

  “Maybe you can go back,” Isobel said, sneering at her.

  “Stop, Isobel,” Logan said forcefully. “My wife will be staying right here at Dunnottar with me. What are you even doing in here in the castle?”

  “I wanted to make sure you arrived back safely,” Isobel said to him, putting her hand on his arm and stroking it. “I was worried about you.”

  “I’m fine as you can see,” Logan said to her, taking her hand off his arm and letting it fall at her side. “I think you should leave while my bride gets settled.”

  “I’ll walk you back to your cottage,” Gregor quickly volunteered.

  “Thank you, Gregor,” Isobel said smiling at him, “you’re such a gentleman.”

  Fiona couldn’t help but frown. She’d spent the last two days traveling with Gregor Stewart, and she had found him anything but a gentleman. She watched as the two walked out of the hall together, glad they were gone.

  “Would you like me to show you around the keep, Lady Fiona?” Blair asked. “I’d be happy to do that.”

  “That’s alright, Blair,” Logan told the maid. “I’d like to give Fiona a tour of the keep and village myself.”

  “Then follow me, Edith, and I’ll show you to your new quarters,” Blair said to Fiona’s maid and friend. “I had a room prepared just in case.” Edith gave Fiona an encouraging smile before turning and following Blair up the stairs.

  “Shall we, Fiona?” Logan asked as he offered Fiona his arm, which she took before turning to the guards who were still present, “Brody and Seamus you’ll accompany us.”

  “Do you normally take guards to the village?” Fiona asked.

  “Always,” Logan said, “and you will too. My Mither and Da were killed in the village by some enemies from another clan. No one realized there was a threat until it was too late. Since then, it’s been a rule that the Laird and now the Lady of the keep always have guards when they’re going anywhere outside the castle walls.”

  “So I’ll be a prisoner here?” Fiona asked.

  “Nay, Fiona,” Logan said, “when you’re in the castle or within the gates you’re free to go where ever you want unescorted, but if you leave the security of the keep walls, a guard will always be with you.”

  “That seems a bit extreme,” Fiona said. “Did you find who killed your parents?”

  “We did,” Logan said, “it was dealt with, and there haven’t been any other issues for years now.”

  “But still you have guards?” she asked.

  “There will always be guards. It’s not something I’ll negotiate with you,” he said sternly. “Just follow the rule, Fiona, please, and all will be fine.”

  “Aye,” Fiona said, although it seemed foolish to her, she could see how important it was to Logan. He signaled the guards to follow as they headed out of the keep gates and into the village beyond.

  Logan showed Fiona all around the village of Dunnottar, which was about the same size as Tarmon. He took her to many of the local trade shops including the blacksmith, the broom maker, the tanner and the last stop was where the Dunnottar weavers worked. He was usually proud of the people of the village he ruled over but was disappointed this day. Although the people had been polite, they hadn’t been welcoming or friendly.

  “Your weaving machines are different than any I’ve seen before,” Fiona said to him as they watched the women work.

  “They’re something new one of the men we send to trade seen on his travels. He returned with some of the cloth they’d woven to show us. It’s a much tighter weave and better quality. He explained the machines to our carpenters, and they were able to build them. They work better than anything we’ve used before,” Logan said proudly.

  “Can I go in and get a better look?” Fiona asked. She didn’t care if the woman working didn’t seem happy to see her there.

  “Of course,” Logan said as she entered the shop. He waited till she was far enough away before turning to Seamus. “What’s going on with the villagers today?”

  “What do you mean, Laird?” Seamus asked.

  “They’re not making Lady Fiona feel very welcome as the new Lady of the keep,” Logan said. He was frustrated, and it showed in his tone. “I’d like to know why?”

  “Lady Isobel told anyone who would listen while you were gone how you set her aside for Lady Fiona,” Seamus said. “She made it seem like you were only doing it because of the King’s missive. Even I heard the tale.”

  “I never realized that Isobel was so well liked that she could turn a whole village against a woman they’d never even met,” Logan said.

  Seamus laughed softly, then said, “she isn’t. But it’s easier to make people hate an outsider than someone who’s lived here all their lives. She’s also been passing it around how Lady Fiona’s family killed a Stewart. According to her story, it was for no reason at all.”

  “Damn it,” Logan said. “That’s not the entire story. Lachlan deserved what happened to him. I hold no grudge against the McCabe’s, McCarthy’s or Frasers.”

  “I know that, and so do many of the villagers,” Seamus told him. “But there are still those who don’t care what Lachlan did or was trying to do; they just care that he was killed.”

  “So what do I do now?” Logan asked, watching Fiona talk with the ladies running the weavers. Though she smiled as she spoke to them, they answered politely but curtly.

  “She seems like a very kind lady,” Seamus said. “She’ll win them all over in time.”

  “I hope so,” Logan said to him.

  “Those weaving machines are amazing,” Fiona said when she rejoined Logan. “I’d like to come back and try one when there’s time.”

  “You like weaving?” Logan asked.

  “I do,” Fiona said. “I’ve always enjoyed it.”

  “Then I’ll make sure you get a chance to try one,” Logan said.

  “Would you object to me sharing the design with my brother Connor?” she asked.

  “Not at all,” Logan said. “When he and your Da visit, they can look at the new machines, if they’re interested I’ll have the plans copied for them.”

  “That would be very kind of you,” Fiona said, somewhat surprised.

  “I’m sure the ladies will be happy to show you the technique they use while weaving on them,” Logan said. “I hear it’s a bit different than the old machines.”

  “I’m sure they would show me,” Fiona said, “but I doubt they would be happy about it. This hasn’t exactly been a warm welcome.”

  “Once everyone gets to know you it’ll be better,” Logan said to her, hoping his words were the truth.

  “We’ll see,” Fiona answered. “Where to next?”

  “Back to the keep,” Logan answered. “It’s almost time for the evening meal.”

  “I’m a bit hungry,” Fiona agreed, taking Logan’s offered arm once again and letting him lead her back to the keep.

  Once through the gates, Logan went in a direction other than the hall. “Where are we going?” Fiona asked him.

  “There’s something I’d like to show you,” Logan said. They entered what looked like a tower and climbed a tall set of stairs. They entered a large room at the top where Logan led her over to an opening facing outward from the keep.

  “Is that the sea?” Fiona asked him, looking out across the largest body of water she’d ever seen. It stretched so far in front of her she couldn’t even see land on the other side.

  “It is,” Logan said. “This is one of my favorite views from anywhere in the castle. Dunnottar gets a lot of our trade goods from the sea. We catch fish, crab, and lobster. I’ll take you down to the shore one day soon. The water never warms much.”

  “I’d like that. This room doesn’t look like it gets used very often,” Fiona said, looking around at the dusty furniture.

  “It hasn’t been used regularly for
a very long time,” Logan said. “My Mither used to come up here when she needed time away from everyone.”

  “Thank you for bringing me here then,” Fiona said, meaning it. Just then her stomach made a loud growl, making Logan laugh.

  “Let’s head down for our meal,” Logan said. “I think you’ll be happy with the cooks here at Dunnottar.” Fiona nodded and let him lead her out of the room.

  Fiona was hungry and looking forward to the meal until they entered the hall to find Gregor already seated at the Laird’s table. Gregor wasn’t the only problem; there was also the woman he had sitting next to him that Fiona didn’t like. Isobel looked up from where she was sitting and made eye contact with Fiona, giving her a hate-filled glare before smiling at Logan as they approached.

  “Why are you at my table, Isobel?” Logan asked, not happy to find her there either.

  “I’ve been sitting here for meals for a while now, Logan. I’m not welcome to sit at your table anymore?” Isobel asked, giving Logan a pout.

  “We aren’t betrothed anymore, Isobel. It’s not right for you to be at the table with my wife and myself,” Logan said to her.

  “I invited her to be my guest, brother,” Gregor said, almost as if it was a challenge.

  “She can stay and have her meal here tonight, Gregor, but not again. If you want to dine with Isobel, you can do it at one of the tables below,” Logan said to his brother.

  “Are you letting your wife tell you who can and can’t sit at the Laird’s table already?” Gregor asked.

  “Nay,” Logan said, standing his ground. “Fiona had no say in this, it’s my decision, and I’ll not have Isobel causing problems with my wife.”

  “Fine, brother,” Gregor said, “how quickly you replaced the woman you so recently loved.”

  “It was never love,” Logan said, making Gregor wince and Isobel scowl. “Isobel knows why we were going to marry.”

  “That’s right,” Gregor said. “I remember now what happened between the two of you.”

  “Enough, Gregor,” Logan said, glancing over at Brody, and hoping his brother kept quiet. If Fiona was going to hear about him and Isobel, he’d like to be the one to explain it.

  “Although I’m ruined for any other man now,” Isobel said, sniffling, “I don’t want to cause any problems between you and your arranged wife.”

  “What do you mean ruined?” Fiona asked. She had been listening quietly until this point in the conversation.

  “I’ll let your husband explain,” Isobel said, giving her a fake smile, “I’ll not gossip about our Laird.”

  “Blair,” Logan called out loudly.

  “Aye, Laird,” Blair said as she approached.

  “My wife and I will take our meal in our chamber,” Logan said. He then turned to his brother and Isobel. “Enjoy your meal.”

  “Why?” Fiona asked him.

  “Because I don’t care for the company or the conversation at this table tonight,” Logan explained, taking Fiona by the arm and leading her out of the hall and up the stairs into the chamber they would be sharing.

  Chapter 8 A Second Chance

  “This is our chamber, Fiona,” Logan said, as he motioned for her to enter the room in front of him.

  “We’ll be sharing a room?” Fiona asked as she walked past him, seeing the room for the first time.

  “Of course,” Logan said, shutting the door behind them.

  “I was hoping for a chamber of my own,” Fiona told him, wringing her hands nervously in front of her.

  “We’ve had a bad start to this marriage already, Fiona,” Logan said, taking hold of her hands and trying to calm her. “I know that most of that bad start is my fault, I’d really like a chance to make it up to you. To do that, I’d like us to share a room as we get to know each other.”

  “How are you going to make it up to me?” Fiona asked.

  “By trying to change your mind about me,” Logan said. “I haven’t been making the best impression. How would you describe our marriage so far?”

  “It’s been a nightmare,” Fiona said truthfully.

  “It hasn’t been good,” Logan agreed, “but I think a nightmare might be a bit too strong of a description.”

  “You have your opinion, and I have mine,” Fiona said shrugging.

  “Fair enough, but will you give me a chance to make things right between us?” Logan asked.

  “Do I have a choice?” Fiona asked him.

  “Of course you do,” Logan said. “We both have choices to make in this marriage. The way I see it, we can hate each other and only be together when in it’s expected, or we can try to make this marriage a happy one and get to know each other.”

  Fiona looked at him without saying anything for a long time, thinking about what he’d said. “I’m willing to try,” she finally said, even though she didn’t expect it to get any better.

  A knock sounded at the door, and Logan called for the servants to come into the room. They delivered a fine meal which the two sat and ate together quietly.

  “Tell me about Isobel,” Fiona finally said. “What was she talking about when she told me you’d ruined her?”

  “Do you really want to hear about Isobel?” Logan asked.

  “I told you about Brayden,” Fiona said, again shrugging.

  “And look how well that turned out,” Logan said to her. “I turned into a jealous arse and ruined everything.”

  “You were jealous?” Fiona asked, surprised by his admission.

  “Of course I was,” Logan said. “You loved him; you only married me because you had too.”

  “I loved him as a friend,” Fiona explained. “We only agreed to marry because neither of us had found anyone else. Why did you agree to marry Isobel? She doesn’t seem like a very nice woman.”

  “She isn’t,” Logan said. “I’ll tell you, but it isn’t a very happy tale.”

  “I’d like to hear it anyway,” Fiona said to him.

  Logan sat back in his chair, thinking about where to begin. Finally, he sighed and told her the story. “There isn’t much to tell actually. A little over a month ago Gregor convinced me to go to the tavern in the village with him for a mug of ale. I don’t even like going to the tavern, but I thought it would be good to do something with my brother. I’ve drunk many mugs of ale and never had it affect me, but this night I blacked out. When I woke the next morning, I was in Isobel’s bed.”

  “How much ale did you drink?” Fiona asked.

  “I only remember having two mugs,” Logan told her. “No more.”

  “What happened when you woke?” Fiona asked, curious about how the event had turned into a betrothal.

  “Isobel insisted I ruined her. She said the only way for her to save her reputation was for me to marry her,” Logan explained. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I agreed.”

  “Where was Gregor?” Fiona asked.

  “He said he left earlier, but I insisted on staying at the tavern, which is something I’ve never done before either,” Logan told her.

  “And you believed him?” Fiona asked.

  “What else could I do? I had no clothes on when I woke,” Logan said, his face turning red.

  “No wonder Isobel’s so upset you’re not marrying her,” Fiona said. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she didn’t like hearing about Logan with another woman.

  “The thing is, I remember nothing,” Logan told her. “Brody doesn’t believe Isobel or Gregor.”

  “You do?” she asked.

  “I don’t know,” Logan told her. “Can we talk about something more pleasant now?”

  Fiona agreed, and they made small talk through the rest of their meal. She enjoyed their time together for the first time and was glad that they seemed to get along well and the conversation flowed smoothly between them. When they were done the servants again entered, this time with a large tub and buckets of hot water.

  “I thought you might like a bath,” Logan said.

  “I would love
one,” Fiona said, thankful he had thought of it. Before she could move, another knock sounded on their chamber door. Again Logan summoned the person to come in the room. Fiona was happy to see Edith enter.

  “I’ve come to help you with your bath,” Edith said to Fiona. “Are you ready now or would you like me to return in a little while?”

  “I’m ready now,” Fiona said.

  “I’ll leave you two alone then,” Logan said. “I’ll return shortly.”

  “Logan,” Fiona called to him as he walked towards the door, he turned back to her as she said, “thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome, Lady Fiona,” was all he said before turning and exited the room.

  “So where did they put you?” Fiona asked as Edith helped her undress and got into the tub.

  “I’m just two doors down,” Edith answered. “I have my very own chamber; it’s very nice.”

  “Good,” Fiona said relieved. “I was worried about you.”

  “Don’t be,” Edith said, “so far the other servant’s here at Dunnottar have been very friendly.”

  “At least they’re friendly to someone,” Fiona said sinking down further into the water.

  “Lady Isobel has been saying some nasty things about you around the keep and village,” Edith said. “I had to correct a few lies already, I’ve made it clear, I won’t allow anyone to talk badly about you.”

  “I wish I were back at Tarmon,” Fiona said.

  “It’ll get better,” Edith reassured her, grinning, “not everyone at Dunnottar is bad.”

  “What’s that grin for?” Fiona asked, then looking at Edith more carefully she finally said, “there’s something you’re not telling me.”

  “I don’t have to tell you everything,” Edith said laughing and dumping water over Fiona’s head before beginning to work some soap through her long hair.

  “What has you smiling so, Edith?” Fiona asked, studying her friends face. “It’s Brody, isn’t it? You’re sweet on him.”

  “I do like him,” Edith admitted, letting a small giggle escape.

  “And he likes you?” Fiona asked, happy for Edith.

  “I think so,” Edith replied.

  “Then I’m happy for you,” Fiona said as Edith rinsed her hair. “You deserve to find a good man.”