“Milord,” Roth’s voice barely rasped out his greeting. He feared that he might have overheard what Edmond had suggested.
“I came to see for myself how things fared.” Dougray was rather impressed how clean and orderly the kitchen appeared.
“We are just finishing up the final touches.”
“Good, for I am famished.” He was about to make his leave, but at the door, he turned back with a smile. “If I were in search of a new wife, it would be an honor to have Lady Aislinn at my side. Slán leat, Roth, Edmond.” He was gone before the two of them could recover from their lord’s admission.
“He heard us,” Edmond choked.
“Aye, and be glad that it wasn’t an insult he was hearing. Now stop yer daydreaming and give me a hand.”
Abbot Kirwan waited for Dougray to leave the kitchen and fell into step beside him. “Ye are really going to let this woman, who is barely civilized, prepare an elaborate banquet and for all the servants?”
“I did grant her permission. I see no harm giving to those that have served our needs well. I for one am most interested in knowing how the lady handles the duties of a home.”
His beady eyes looked even smaller for he had narrowed them to slits. “To what curiosity do ye have for this? Ye are not entertaining a thought of marriage to this chit?”
“Nay, marriage is the last thing on my mind.”
With Moira and Rhiannon’s help, Aislinn was able to decorate the banquet hall in a festive mood with the tables adorned with garland of fresh greens and ribbons intertwined. The goblets were readied upon the tables for the honeyed wine to be served, and Hamish saw to the lighting of every torch on its sconce to make the room feel warm with its welcome.
While the women were busy with the decorations, Roth saw to each and every preparation of the meal. He checked on the progress of the venison that had been roasting on the sharpened spits. Using a large spoon, he personally poured rich meat juices to ensure it would become a tender morsel. He removed the oak cakes from the open hearth only when they were browned to a golden hue, and he placed the honeyed pears in bowls for the final course. He had been pleased that Aislinn had decided on the sweet. It was a personal favorite of his.
Everything was going as planned until Aislinn informed Roth that she would help with the serving. He was fuming muttering beneath his breath of how stubborn the Lady Aislinn was, but he could see no other way around it without upsetting the evening. She had smartly arranged for the servants to take shifts, so that everyone could enjoy the feast that was being laid out before them.
Dougray had scowled when Aislinn had told him that she would not sit at his side, but he ended up accepting her explanation for she nearly shone with a sense of pride for what had been accomplished. He had to admit that he was impressed how every course was elegantly served in a smooth, effortless way. It was like watching a dance in motion, as every wooden trencher that was filled with the mouth-watering meat was delivered to each and every hungry man, woman and child.
Aislinn lifted her head to find him watching her. The reflected light from the torches glimmered over his handsome face, like beams of icy radiance, and his Celtic grayish-blue eyes seemed to hold an invitation in their smoldering depths. His lips broadened in approval and he raised his goblet to her in a salute.
Chapter 26
It was the second week and Hamish was already a changed boy, his whole demeanor, not only his attitude, but his physical strength as well. Aislinn had been relentless with him and she would have never accepted anything less. “Come on, Hamish. You can do one more push up.” She actually got down on the damp earth and looked him in the eyes. “One more.”
“I cannot.” He squeezed his eyes shut, his limbs already shaking.
“Yes, you can. Now do it!” The command seemed to push him, and he lowered himself to the ground and somehow he found the strength to push himself up again.
“I did it.” His face lit up with his accomplishment and he relaxed letting his body fall. “That’s how many now?” He moved to a sitting position.
“Twenty-five, Hamish.” She threw her arms around him. “I’m so proud of you.”
He beamed with pride. “Thank ye.”
“Now we don’t want to be late. Padrig is supposed to have that surprise ready for you.”
“Did someone say me name?”
Hamish and Aislinn both turned at the same time to see the gray-haired man was walking toward them. “I decided to see for meself what was going on. He pulled the shoes out of the leather bag that he had slung over his shoulders. “I did as ye said.” He handed them to Aislinn, who was now inspecting them. The left shoe was thicker in the sole, just as she had requested. She looked up at the old man with a generous smile of appreciation. “Perfect, Padrig. It’s perfect.” She turned to Hamish then and handed him his new pair of shoes.
“They’re for me?” He looked at the items in awe.
“Of course. You have proved to me that you are serious about your decided career in life, and I would say that a man who will one day wield a sword had better have a pair of shoes. Now try them on.”
The boy sat down on the ground and quickly secured them to his feet. He glanced up, unsure if he should move, but once he saw Aislinn nod, he slowly stood. “I’m standing on both me feet at the same time.” He looked up at Padrig then to Aislinn. “I cannot remember a time that I could do that.” Joy bubbled in his laugh. Aislinn was caught up in his excitement and took his hands in an affectionate grip.
“Are you ready to take your first steps?” The words were meant to encourage him, but he looked startled, almost panicked. “Well you didn’t think that you were just going to look at them, did you?”
Aislinn’s gentle teasing reassured him. He decided that if she felt he could manage to walk like everyone else that he would do all that was in his power not to disappoint her. He took a few steps and realized that he was walking without awkwardly throwing his hip. “I’m not limping.” He took a few more steps, faster and faster. He was laughing for he was so wonderfully happy that for once in his life, he actually felt normal.
“It is truly amazing,” Padrig agreed. “I would have never thought that it would be possible.” He gazed at the remarkable woman that had taken the time to look upon a boy and see that there was more to him than just his imperfection. His face beamed with pride. “Ye did well, milady.”
Aislinn put her arm around the older man. “No, Padrig, we did well.”
She then cupped her hand over her mouth and yelled, “Run, Hamish.” He lifted his feet, but it was still quite awkward for him. He ended up stumbling over his own feet falling to the ground. Aislinn let go of Padrig and tore off in a full gallop.
“Hamish!” Panic was in her voice that he might be injured. But when she reached him, she could see that he was perfectly fine. Even though he was lying there flat on his back, there was a large smile spread across his face.
“I ran. I never thought…I ran, milady.” “Yes, you did, Hamish.”
“Is the lad goin’ to live to see another day?” Padrig was out of breath by the time he finally caught up to them.
“He’s all right, Padrig,” Aislinn assured him. She offered Hamish a hand and brought him once again to his feet. “I think you should start out at a brisk walk, just until you break those shoes in.”
“Then I can run?”
“You may do whatever you wish. I’ll give you a few days to get used to balancing your body weight, then we’ll go to work strengthening your leg muscles.”
“When will I be able to wield a sword?”
Padrig looked at Aislinn wondering what the woman was planning.
“One thing at a time, Hamish.” She ruffled his fawn-colored hair. “One thing at a time.”
Chapter 27
Dougray was pacing back and forth in the library waiting for Teige to report back to him with Aislinn’s whereabouts. He had important matters to tend to. Like the raiders who were becoming bolder in the
ir insults, and the tenet disputes he had to settle, but he couldn’t concentrate until he knew that Aislinn was safe. Why did she always refuse to obey his orders?
Finally Teige returned escorting Aislinn into the room. Relief washed over him giving him the inclination to grab her and kiss her soundly before he took great pleasure in throttling her. She didn’t even have the decency to look chastised for making him fret.
Dougray dismissed Teige and he closed the door behind him. Aislinn sauntered in like there was not a concern in the world. “We need to talk,” she had the nerve to say to him.
“Aye, and I intend to go first.”
She plopped herself down on the velvet cushion that was a little more comfortable than the hard wooden seats. “What happened to ladies first?”
He ignored her sarcasm. “Where were ye?”
She was studying her fingernails, obviously bored with the whole conversation. “I told you that I was meeting with Hamish.” She saw his blank look. “The boy. Don’t you remember?”
“Aye, Hamish.” He waved his hand with impatience. He had forgotten about her teaching the lad, but he wasn’t concerned with that. “Ye went without an escort. Teige had no inclination to where ye had run off to.”
Something in his voice made her take pause to look at him. His brow was creased in a frown and he was running his hand through his long strands of hair. Her eyebrow winged up. “You were worried?”
“Worried? Dar Dia, ye infernal lass! There has been trouble in these parts.” He pointed toward the window slit, like she could see what he was talking about. “It’s just not safe for ye to be running around by yerself.”
“I was with Hamish and Padrig.”
“Ach!” He threw up his hands. “I feel so much better now. Ye were with an old man and a cripple.”
She came to her feet in one swift move wagging her finger at him. “The cripple, as you so elegantly put it, has a name.”
“Fine, Hamish. Is that better?”
“Yes, for a start. The boy is doing well by the way. That’s why I wanted to speak to you.” He just stared at her in utter disbelief. She had dismissed him and his worries as if they were passing comments about the weather. “You’d hardly recognize him now,” she had continued not even taking a breath.
“We are not finished discussing the reason that ye should not be without Teige or Cormac at your side.” “Oh? I thought that we were.”
“Dar Dia, lass, are ye trying to age me? I have taken care of tenets, livestock and made trades without as much trouble as ye have caused me.” She sat back in her seat and looked at him intently. “I don’t know why you’re getting your hoses all tangled up in a knot.” She glanced at his attire of an Irish lord, bare legs and all. She chuckled. “Oops, you aren’t wearing any today.” It seemed to be the wrong thing to say for his face turned red with fury. He raised his finger in a lecturing position and just shook it at her without uttering a single word. “Okay, already. Settle down.” She shook her head at him. “You look like you’re ready to have a coronary. I promise you, I’ll make sure Teige…or Cormac tag along.” She raised her right hand and actually saluted him.
“Why do ye do this?”
“What already? I promised you, didn’t I? What else do you want? Blood? Here.” She offered him both her hands. “Just slice my wrists now and be done with it.”
“Ye sorely tempt me, Aislinn Hennessy. Ye have no idea.” He stood over her, hands on his hips. Slowly his anger seemed to evaporate. She looked at him so innocently that it was hard to stay angry with her. She was safe after all. She smiled then successfully disarming him completely. “Put your hands down. Ye look ridiculous.”
“Am I forgiven then?” “Aye.”
“Good. Then there is something else that I would like to speak to you about.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“I would like to have Dermot show the boy how to wield a sword.” She held her breath as she waited for the answer. She had to do something to change the man’s status. She refused to have him groveling in the corners and all because of a misunderstanding.
“Dermot!” He recalled how the man had been sprawled on top of her, his hands sliding down her body and not a move did she make to stop him. Was it a mere accident? Most likely, but his stubborn pride saw it as a deliberate slight, when only moments before that incident, she had seen fit to claw him for trying to give her a kiss. And now she adds insult to injury by coming to the man’s defense. “I would sooner have him tied and quartered. Ye are not to speak of this man in my presence. Not ever!”
“What in the world is wrong with you? Dermot did nothing improper, but yet you have ostracized him. I thought I had explained the situation.”
“Do not question me, Aislinn,” his temper rising again. “What I say stands, and furthermore, ye are not to leave the grounds. Ye will stay put so that I can keep an eye on ye. I don’t have time to be searching the area to see if the Butlers have put a knife to yer throat.”
“I just told you that I’d take someone with me.” “I changed my mind.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I can and I am. If ye so leave without my permission, I will lock ye in the dungeon.” With that he turned on his heel and left her fuming in the now empty room.
“Oooh!” She screamed her frustration stomping her feet in the process. “The man is impossible!”
“Most are, milady.” Rhiannon had just passed the fuming Dougray in the hall.
Aislinn was glad to see her. She had grown quite fond of Padrig’s daughter. “He’s the worst. He says that I am a guest here, but he treats me like a prisoner.”
“He worries about ye, is all. There are situations that ye may not be aware of. He does not wish ye to be in danger.”
“The Butlers?” “Aye, for one.”
“And what about the way he is treating poor Dermot?”
Rhiannon sighed. “I am not to question milord, but the punishment seems a bit harsh.”
“I’d say. It doesn’t make any sense to me at all, but I plan on fixing it.”
“I am not sure if there is anything we can do. Murrough has told me that it would take something short of an heroic deed to set Dermot back into milord’s good graces.”
“A heroic deed?”
“Aye,” Rhiannon said slowly as she watched Aislinn tap her fingers on her leg. “What are ye plannin’?”
“What? Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud is all.” “Methinks that it is dangerous when ye do that, aye?”
Aislinn just chuckled. “Don’t worry, Rhiannon. I may just have a plan that will set things straight.”
“Hmm. It will have to wait. Ye have a private dinner tonight with honored guests, and ye need to look yer best. One of the gowns that I made for ye would be appropriate.”
“Are you suggesting that my unconventional trews are not the highlight of feminine attire?” She looked down at her comfortable garment. How she hated to put on one of those dresses that had so much material that she feared she would end up getting all tangled up in it. “Who’s going to be here tonight? Do you know?”
“The Chieftain Owen Dubhdara, and one of the Burkes will be in attendance also. Because of the raids, milord is in need of more men to help guard Dunhaven. If he can insure their support, it will also take care of his other dilemma. Clans that have not given their oath to serve the the Tudor King are suspicious of one another. The Chieftain Dubhdara is well respected. He controls the region on the two Umhalls. He is wise in many ways. He knows the waters and ways to bring in needed products. He is fair with matters of conflict. He is not hot tempered like the O’Flahertys that fight at the drop of a hat. An alliance with him would ensure others that milord will not so readily relinquish his lands to the English though he has sworn fidelity to the king there.”
“I’m little confused. Dougray was fostered in England, and it is no secret that he has secured his lands from King Henry. So why all the fuss that he will just hand them back again?�
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“It is a long story,” she sighed, and then decided that Aislinn maybe needed to hear it so that she could possibly better understand the man that housed her. “Shane Fitzpatrick and Mary Halstead had two children, milord Dougray and his sister Lady Miriam. Henry Tudor was against Mary Halstead’s marriage to an Irish chieftain, especially one who refused to consider him his king. But the two were in love and were not going to be apart. Shane literally stole Lady Mary from her home and hid her away until she was with child. This infuriated both her father and the Tudor King, but the damage had been done and Mary’s father would not have his daughter harmed. A deal was struck. Shane’s first-born son would be fostered in England, and if daughters were all to be had, Sir Halstead would see to the marriages himself.
“Not exactly what Lord Shane would have liked to agree to but he relented, for he had not only a wife to worry about, but also a child.
“For many years, Lord Shane thought of one way and then another to stall sending his children into the hands of the English, but it had to come to an end. Sir Halstead convinced him that it was the only way to keep the family safe, for Henry Tudor was after blood. Sir Halstead assured Lord Shane that he would see to young Dougray’s care in England.
“Arrangements were made and milord was taken hostage insuring his father’s loyalty to the crown. Lord Dougray was but a small boy when he was fostered out, but he was lucky enough to bring a friend with him so not to be lonely.”
“Let me guess, Murrough?”
She nodded. “But his poor sister was not so fortunate. She was given to marriage to a man that was more than twice her age. But he was a man who would die whispering his fidelity to Henry Tudor and that seemed all that her grandfather cared about.”
“What happened to Dougray’s parents?”
“Two years ago, Lord Shane and Lady Mary met an untimely death. They were visiting in Dublin, staying at an inn, and a fire swept through the quarters where they slept. There was not a thing that anyone could do about it. Some feared it had something to do with the FitzGeralds for Lord Shane was fond of Oliver FitzGerald and tried to intervene with the sentencing that the Tudor King put forth, but nothing could be done. All FitzGeralds, Gerald Og, and his four brothers James, Oliver, John and Garrett and his son Silken Thomas were put to death at Tyburn, but one male child of the FitzGerald’s was still left and the Tudor King wanted his head as well. Shane would not let
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