by Carmen Caine
~ * ~
As Niall rode through the village with his new wife, he couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking when she saw the poor conditions. Her warm smile and graciousness towards his clansmen appeared genuine. He hadn’t warned her about the rundown state of Duncurra. She had asked him about his home and clan during the evenings they spent together at Brathanead, but she never pushed for more detail than he gave, and he never revealed their desperate circumstances. He expected her condemnation now, but she gave no hint of disapproval. If anything, she appeared concerned.
When they reached the courtyard, he helped her dismount. He led her up the stairs, through a set of large double doors, and into the great hall. The great hall connected the keep’s two large towers. Normally a flurry of activity, it was even more crowded than usual because of all of the people who came to greet them.
“Welcome to Duncurra, Katherine,” he said.
~ * ~
Katherine looked around the great hall with interest. The most impressive feature was a massive hearth standing directly across the room from the entry doors. She noticed four doorways, one in each corner of the hall. “Where do those doors lead?”
“These two in the front lead to the two towers. The left rear door goes through to the kitchen and the other one leads to the buttery.”
“The floors are timber,” she noticed.
“Aye, there is a level below this one, mostly used for storage.”
Katherine noticed a large refectory table surrounded by wooden chairs, standing near the far end of the hall by the hearth. Although it wasn’t on a raised dais, she assumed it was the laird’s table. Benches and trestle tables were stacked against the side walls, but she saw no other furniture. The room’s only adornment, a frayed tapestry, hung over the hearth. While not as richly appointed as Cotharach, everything was clean, and fresh, and sweet rushes covered the floor.
Niall introduced her to Edna, the widow in charge of his household staff. Edna, a tiny ball of efficiency, was shorter than Katherine by several inches. Katherine admired her no-nonsense air. She remembered with amusement that Edna was the object of Turcuil the giant’s affection. Having met her now, Katherine understood why the energetic little woman left him tongue-tied when she was near. She had no doubt Edna could be every bit as fierce as any giant.
Niall also introduced her to an older couple, perhaps close to three score in years. Small, balding, and bookish Hendry, the steward, had an air of authority as palpable as Edna’s. His strong, sturdy wife, Bridie, managed the kitchens, and while she was courteous, Katherine felt stark disapproval from the older woman.
Excited about finally reaching Duncurra, Katherine looked around eagerly. Just as Niall had described to her, the women wore a full belted léine under an airisaidh. Additionally, Bridie, Edna, and many of the other women wore a triangular white veil. She wanted to ask them about it and generally learn more about her new home and clan. Therefore, she felt profoundly disappointed when Niall said, “Edna will introduce ye to the rest of the staff over the next few days. I have been away now for almost a month and I must attend to some business that can wait no longer. She will show ye to our chamber now. I want ye to rest.”
Katherine hesitated; she didn’t need to rest, and there was so much she wanted to know. Her primary concern was what would happen to Tomas. She realized that when she had made the decision to bring the lad, she had not been thinking beyond his immediate safety. She wanted to ask Niall about it now.
When she didn’t leave immediately, Niall arched an eyebrow at her and asked in a chilly tone, “Did ye misunderstand me?”
Surprised by his obvious displeasure, she answered, “Nay, Laird, I was going to ask you a question, but it will wait.”
The look on his face told her the formal address irritated him. His voice was clipped when he responded, “Very well. I will join ye soon.”
Edna cringed and a quick glance around told Katherine others, too, noted the laird’s annoyance.
She nodded, embarrassed, before following Edna to the east tower. As they walked, Edna explained that the ground floors of both towers contained armories and some store rooms. The laird’s family occupied the upper floors of the east tower, where there were rooms for guests as well.
“Laird MacIan’s chamber is on the second floor and Fingal’s is on the third. Although Diarmad isn’t family strictly speaking, he also has a room on the third floor,” she explained. “The unmarried members of the laird’s elite guard have rooms in the west tower. Hendry and Bridie also live in the west tower, as do my children and I. Some of the servants and unmarried men-at-arms sleep on the floor of the great hall, but many live in the village.”
Edna showed her into Niall’s sparsely furnished chamber. It contained a large bed, a chest, a wardrobe, two wooden chairs, a small table, and a washstand. The faded green bed hangings looked threadbare but clean, and a woolen counterpane covered the coarse linen sheets. Katherine walked over to the one window to look out. “Oh, my, the view of the loch is beautiful.”
“Is there anything else ye need, my lady?” Edna asked.
“Nay, not really. I would like to learn more about Duncurra.” Katherine attempted a warm smile, but she felt a little lost. She wished Edna would stay and chat with her a bit.
Edna herself seemed reluctant to go, but said gently, “My lady, there will be plenty of time for that later. Ye have just arrived after a long journey, and ye have been very ill. The laird wishes ye to rest, and so ye should. He would not be happy with either of us if we ignore his order.”
“I suppose he wouldn’t. I am just not in the habit of spending so much time resting.”
“Well, then, take advantage of it while ye can. When ye are fully recovered, I’m sure ye’ll find there is never a shortage of work.”
Katherine laughed. “I’m sure there isn’t.”
“If there is nothing ye need, I’ll leave ye to rest now.” Edna left, closing the door behind her.
~ * ~
Fingal was concerned when he saw the clan’s response to Lady Katherine. Highland clans tended to be very insular; even if Lady Katherine had been from another Highland clan, it would take her a while to fit in. However, being an outsider made it much worse. Niall’s callous dismissal of her as soon as they entered the keep did nothing to alleviate the problem. Fingal knew why. Niall had been publicly humiliated by a woman. Anything that even hinted of disrespect goaded his brother. Unfortunately, Niall’s reaction might have suggested to the clan that he was less than pleased with his new bride.
According to Diarmad, the clan was ecstatic because of the financial security resulting from the union, and they considered Lady Katherine lucky to wed their laird. Lucky? Fingal thought no one who truly knew Niall would consider the lass lucky. The snatches of conversation he heard were impossible to ignore.
“Can ye believe she has the nerve to show herself like that?”
“Lowlanders must all be hussies.”
“She is obviously an embarrassment to the laird.”
Although he hadn’t given it much thought until then, he knew what the women were gossiping about. No decent, married Highland woman would appear in public without covering her hair. For them, the linen brèid, or kertch, was similar to wearing a wedding band. He shook his head in disgust at their reaction. Rather than thinking Lady Katherine might be unaware of the custom, the women saw it as an insult to the laird. Sadly, he realized this would be the first of many “mistakes” the women of the clan would tally against their laird’s new wife.
As he pondered this, he saw Edna reenter the hall. She appeared angry and strode toward the back door leading to the kitchens. Curious, Fingal followed her. He stopped outside the kitchen and was not surprised to find the women had gathered there to gossip, making no effort to keep their voices down. Although overseeing the preparation of the evening meal, Bridie led the charge, saying “A brazen thing she is, walking in here on the laird’s arm like that.”
&
nbsp; “Aye,” said another woman, “then it’s off to bed with her for a nap. Weak she is.”
“Or plain lazy,” added another.
Then to his surprise he heard banging on the table, and in a manner befitting the laird, Edna yelled, “Enough!”
The women fell silent.
“The ‘brazen thing’ about whom ye are speaking is our laird’s wife. Can any of ye holy women tell me how that lass was supposed to know our traditions? Do ye think the MacLennan women would have been more gracious than ye, or did ye expect our laird or the other big eejits who brought her here, worried about whether she covered her hair or not?”
There was only guilty silence.
“Bridie, who tied your kertch on ye and asked for God’s blessing the day after your wedding? Caolan, Seanna, who did yours?”
The women didn’t answer.
“My mother did and I suspect your mothers, or another woman who loved ye, did the same for each of ye. Who blessed this child? The uncle who beat her half to death? She has no mother, nor, it seems, any compassionate clanswoman to guide her.”
Fingal smiled. The silence told him the women were sufficiently embarrassed, but Edna continued. “What other choice words did I hear? ‘Weak?’ Was it ‘lazy’ ye called her, Caolan? The laird ordered her to rest and he was right to do so. Alan said he didn’t think she was going to live through the night when they arrived at Brathanead less than a sennight ago. Do ye begrudge a lass who has been that ill a rest after a long day’s journey?”
Again her indictment was met with ringing silence. “Perhaps none of ye have stopped to think about this, but it seems to me the king, the lass’s uncle, and our laird have all benefitted in one way or another by this marriage, but I am hard pressed to see any benefit to the lass herself. And don’t tell me being wed to him is benefit enough. If ye are honest, most of ye know as well as I do marriage to him will not be easy.”
Well, trust Edna to be blunt, thought Fingal with a grin, but her last weapon was clearly meant to lay them low.
“I suspect Lady Katherine will do many things over the next few months that all of ye might find odd or even insulting, but before ye decide to spew any more venom, remember Lady Katherine’s wealth saved this clan, and see if ye can find a bit of compassion in your hearts for her.”
Chapter 8
Niall intended only to address the most urgent issues, but as usual they were all urgent and it took longer than he thought it would. Just before the evening meal, he finally joined Katherine in his chamber, expecting to find her asleep. Instead, she stood looking out the window and the bed hadn’t been disturbed. “I am fairly certain I told ye to rest,” he said, more than slightly irritated.
“I did rest,” she answered. “You didn’t say sleep, but I couldn’t have anyway. I rested in the chair and now I’m resting looking out the window,” she said with a smile.
He was not amused. “Katherine, ye knew what I meant. If I ask ye to do something, I want no argument. I expect ye to do it.”
Katherine considered that statement for a moment before replying with a slightly cheeky grin. “Perhaps then, you will be more specific with your next order.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Let me try again. Come here and kiss me, wife,” he commanded.
She crossed the room into his arms and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
“That is not at all what I had in mind,” he said, and lowered his lips to hers, giving her a passionate, soul-stirring kiss. “That, my sweet little wife, is a kiss.”
“Do you see how important details are?” she said audaciously.
He gave a low growl, “I would be happy to give ye plenty of details on this subject, but it will have to wait until after dinner.” He kissed her again before asking, “Ye had a question earlier?”
“Aye,” she answered, her expression turning serious. “I was wondering what is to be done with Tomas?”
He, too, had been trying to determine what would be best for Tomas. She seemed fond of the lad and she obviously wanted to protect him from her uncle. However, in general, Lowlanders were as class-conscious as the English. Therefore, as a peasant, the son of a stable hand, Tomas’ social status was only slightly higher than a serf’s. He did not want the lad growing up without a mother’s love. He had warm memories of his own mother and bitter memories of Eithne’s cruelty. Although she hadn’t revealed the harsh side of her personality to her husband, it was evident to nearly everyone else, but perhaps most evident to her stepson. Even after she had a son of her own, nothing changed; she treated Fingal no better than she did Niall. In the lad’s best interest, Niall thought perhaps it would be better for Tomas to live with the family of one of his clansmen, but he didn’t want to discuss this now. He finally answered, “I haven’t decided yet. For tonight he will stay with Fingal as he has been. We will discuss it in the morning.”
Although Katherine didn’t appear happy about it, she said no more.
Wanting to banish the solemn look from her face, Niall kissed her again. Her warm response pleased him immeasurably, and the kiss had its desired effect; she no longer looked troubled. “Ye’re distracting me again, lass. My clan will starve if ye don’t desist.”
“I’m distracting you?”
“Well, the details on who is distracting whom may be a bit fuzzy. We will have to work them out later,” he said with a wink and, taking her elbow, led her downstairs for the evening meal.
Niall walked to the refectory table in the great hall with Katherine on his arm. Generally, everyone who lived or worked in and around the keep ate their meals on the trestle tables, while the laird’s family and invited guests dined at his table. Diarmad and Fingal were seated there, as well as Alan. Niall introduced their other guests, Cairbre, his other captain, Cairbre’s wife, Maude, and Alan’s wife, Effie. Katherine appeared thrilled to see Tomas at the table too, and gave the lad a quick hug before taking her seat.
She seemed to enjoy the company of the two women. Effie and Maude told her stories about their families and the clan and kept Katherine laughing through the meal. Niall conversed with his men, but Katherine’s voice or her musical laughter frequently distracted him and he often caught himself gazing at her.
“Laird, are ye listening?” he heard Cairbre ask.
“Listening? My apologies, I was preoccupied for a moment.”
“A moment? Ye have been preoccupied all evening,” Cairbre answered. “Ye can’t take your eyes off her. Has she captured your heart, lad?”
Momentarily taken aback, Niall recovered quickly. “Make no mistake, Cairbre,” he said soberly, “she is lovely and she pleases me. I am glad she is my wife, but my heart was never part of this bargain.”
The Laird retired with his wife as soon as the evening meal ended. It had been a very long day and his yearning to taste her charms once again had only intensified during the meal. This surely was what Cairbre had perceived. Once they reached their chamber, Niall pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She was so sweet and responsive. He wondered how he had been able to think of anything other than kissing her since he first captured her lips in the chapel at Cotharach. If he thought giving in to into those desires the previous evening at Brathanead would quench his need, he realized now he was sorely mistaken. He explored her mouth zealously with his tongue as she responded eagerly.
He pulled her hair loose from the braid, running his fingers through it. Clutching the silky lengths, he sought her mouth, finding her kisses and mewling responses intoxicating. He undressed her as he had the night before, but tonight she returned the favor, removing his plaid and belt.
“Ye are too tall, bend down. I can’t get your tunic off.”
Bending forward he said, “It is also called a léine, but ye can call it anything ye wish, as long as ye remove it. I love the feel of your hands on me.”
Obliging, she removed the garment, rubbing his shoulders. She ran her hands lightly through the sandy hair on his chest before clasping them behind h
is neck and boldly pulling him into another kiss. He gave a low growl of pure pleasure, as her delicate touch made him shudder with desire. He had never wanted anyone as much as he did this sweet little morsel in his arms. He lifted and carried her to the bed.
As he had the night before, he took a moment to savor the exquisitely beautiful lass lying naked in his bed with her shimmering hair spread beneath her. She blushed shyly, but it pleased him that she didn’t attempt to cover herself.
“I don’t think I will ever tire of looking at you, sweetling.” He lowered himself onto the bed beside her, kissed her forehead, and rubbed his cheek against her hair. “You are sweet enough to eat,” he said, burying his face in her neck, kissing and nibbling at it until she giggled. That musical sound, which had distracted him all evening, was now his alone to enjoy.
She appeared to lose herself in the sensations, responding to his touch and exploring his hard muscled body with her hands. He teased her nipples into hard peaks, flicking them lightly with his tongue. He grinned when he heard her swift intake of air and he continued suckling one breast while he rubbed the firm peak of the other. He slid his hand down her body, finding the spot that had driven her mad the evening before. Moaning, she pushed into his touch, seeking more. “I love your touch, too,” she whispered, her blush deepening.
Her uninhibited response thrilled him. All conscious thought fled and he became aware only of the fire growing within him. As she writhed against him, the almost unbearably intense sensations overwhelmed him. Her unrestrained response increased his own desire until he ached to possess her completely. He pushed her legs apart and entered her with as much restraint as he could muster. He did not want to risk hurting her, but she crushed his good intentions. She was like a wild thing rising to meet him. She drove him deep within her, over and over again, until he felt her muscles contract around him as she reached her climax moments before he exploded with his own release.
