“What exactly do ye think ye are doing?”
“I was having a conversation, until you so rudely interrupted me.”
“It’s not what it looked like from where I was sitting and where our guests were sitting as well.”
“Really, Dougy, you shouldn’t be so worried what other’s think.”
“Well I do, and ye would be wise to stop calling me Dougy. That is not my name.”
“Just what is your problem? Do you want me to be miserable in your God forsaken time? Is that it? I never wanted to be here in the first place. I’m trying desperately to survive here, but all you ever do is yell at me. Nothing I ever do pleases you. Do you hate me so much? Is that it?” All at once the events that had occurred in the last month came washing upon her like a tidal wave. She was at her breaking point and couldn’t take anymore. She turned away from him, not wanting him to see that she had become so emotional. When a sobbed escaped her, Dougray hesitated. He was equally put back as she was. He was by now used to her angry tirades and knew how to respond to them. But to see her cry, he didn’t know what to do.
“I don’t hate ye, lass.” He put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it away. He moved in front of her forcing her to look at him. “I don’t hate ye.
I am worried about ye. I am responsible for yer safety, but ye make it very hard for me to protect ye. I know that ye want to go back to yer time, but I don’t know if it will ever be possible. Ye need to adjust to here…now. It’s the only way ye will survive.”
She didn’t respond like he had hoped. “I wish to retire now,” her voice void of any emotion. “If you will excuse me….”
He let her go, but he motioned to Teige asking him to make sure that she arrived safely back to her room.
She was awfully quiet, making Teige wonder what Dougray had said to her. At her bedroom door, she turned to him with a half smile. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“Ye are welcome at our table anytime.” He bowed.
“Thank you.” She entered her chambers bolting the door behind her. The fire was still burning bright, illuminating the room with dancing shadows that almost looked like people. “Am I destined to live my life here in this castle?” The fiery shadows did not answer.
Dougray was just about ready to be seated again, when Abbot Kirwan intercepted him. “I happened to hear the suggestion that O’Malley made to ye.”
“Which suggestion is that, Kirwan?” Dougray of late had lost patience with the abbot. The man seemed too interested in his business.
“The Hennessy woman, of course. I must speak for I fear for yer soul.” Now Dougray couldn’t help but chuckle. “My soul is not in any danger from Aislinn.”
“Forgive me, milord, but ye have been away too long in England. I fear that ye have been influenced by the Protestants and their ways.”
Dougray’s brows creased and his eyes narrowed. “Are ye questioning my judgment?”
“Nay,” Kirwan was quick to answer. “I only suggest that ye feel responsible for the woman since Hennessy has given ye guardianship, but she is different in her thinking. She may be influenced by these foreigners.” Dougray again laughed. “She is not from England. So therefore, she is not influenced by them.” He tried to move passed the abbot, but he prolonged him further.
“I have heard of lands that have savages. How the woman behaves is proof abundance.”
“Enough, Kirwan, ye tread on dangerous grounds. The lady is from a family of good standing with me and with the O’Malley. To say anything to discredit her is to cause undue problems for ye.”
“Is this a threat?”
“Kirwan, ye are thought highly of in the sept. Ye have served the clan of Fitzpatrick well, but ye must keep to the teachings of the church, and let me handle the affairs of the clans and what is best for all of us.”
“The church must have a say in the matter….”
“Enough, Kirwan. I have guests.” This time he was successful in moving on. Kirwan was not at all pleased at being brushed aside. He straightened his robe and removed a piece of lent that was on his sleeve.
“The man speaks rashly.”
The abbot turned to see Robert Burke. He was not pleased to have to converse with the Anglo-Norman. It didn’t matter to Kirwan that the Burkes were so much a part of Ireland now that they were every bit like the Irish. “He has much on his mind.”
“He does,” Burke agreed. “But the question is, where does the man’s loyalties fall?” He left the question open as he moved back to the long table.
Chapter 30
Regan was teasing his sister again, chasing her around the marketplace. Finally, Lynelle found sanctuary under one of the tables that lined the wall. Aislinn happened to see her fly beneath it, only seconds before Regan came to a screeching halt. The freckle-faced youth looked one way then the other, trying to figure out where his sister could have hidden herself. Aislinn purposely walked over to the particular table looking at the baskets. Regan sidestepped. He didn’t want to have another episode with the warrior woman, but it seemed that he wasn’t going to have a choice. “How are you doing, Regan?”
“Grand,” he answered carefully wondering if she was going to trick him in some way.
“And how is that wonderful sister of yours? Lynelle, isn’t it?” He nodded. “Lynelle is well.”
Aislinn picked up an item like she was interested in purchasing it. “I sure hope that she remains that way. You wouldn’t be chasing her or anything, would you?”
“Nay.” He gulped sure that she knew that he was lying to her.
“Are you sure? Because I thought I saw you running. It looked like you were playing another game and I wanted to join in.”
“Nay, no game.” He backed up another step.
“I think it’s time to chase you.” She made a lunge toward him. He immediately bolted in the other direction.
Moira laughed. “I never thought I’d see it: Regan running away.”
“It never hurts to let him know that there is always someone bigger than him and that no one’s invincible.” She bent down and lifted the covering to take a look at the girl. “It’s safe to come out now, Lynelle.”
She still didn’t seem too sure and cautiously peek out to see for herself. “He’s always picking on me.” She brushed her red strands out of her eyes. “That’s what brothers do.” Aislinn could recall many a time that Connor sent her crying to her parents.
Lynelle tilted her head to one side. “How do ye know?”
“I have a brother of my own. Used to pick on me until I stood up to him.”
“Regan is bigger than me.”
“Size does not matter. If you have the courage, yer suddenly ten feet tall.” Aislinn urged the child to follow her. “Let’s walk for a while.”
Moira stayed close and Lynelle took hold of Aislinn’s hand. “Where are we going?”
“Do you remember Hamish?”
“Of course. I’ve seen what ye have done with him.” The girl looked up at her with awe.
“All I did is give the boy respect. The rest was all his doing.” “But he is so strong now. He’s not at all like before.”
“Did you ever think that it was because you never allowed yourself to know him?”
Lynelle looked almost ashamed. Of course, they didn’t bother with Hamish. They didn’t think he was worthy of their company, but now…well now she was beginning to see how wrong she had been. “We never gave him
a chance, did we?”
“No, you didn’t and what a shame that has been, but you can change all that now. Want to see if you can find some of the other children? We’ll play
a game. Would you like that?”
“It’s not like the game ye played on Regan, is it?”
Aislinn chuckled. “That kind of playing is for someone that doesn’t always abide by the rules. I have a hunch though that Regan will soon come around.”
“I don’t know about that. Regan has a pretty thick skull.
“Time will tell. Now scoot and round up a few friends. We’re going to play soccer.”
“What is soccer?” The girl was intrigued.
“It’s a game that you use a ball. You do know where we could obtain one?” “Aye, ’tis not a problem.” She ran off to find some of the children. In the meantime, Aislinn rounded up Grania and Hamish. In about a half an hour’s time there were enough players to start a real game. Of course, Aislinn was the only one that knew how to play. So for the next twenty minutes, she explained the rules. The children gathered around, eyes wide with interest. Teige stood guard while Dermot and Cormac set up a kind of field with fishing net for the goal and penalty area. With Aislinn’s direction, they attached the net to poles and firmly put them in the ground. Once the field was set up, she led the children around to indicate everything she had been telling them.
“The line is the center.” She pointed to a long rope that was placed on the ground. “One team on each side. Now, Lynelle, you will be fullback, which is the left and back. Hamish, you will be halfback and Grania you can be forward left, which is right up there close to the line. Edmond you’ll be forward right.” She recruited Moira to be halfback, though she had to practically drag her onto the field.
“I just couldn’t,” she kept on insisting.
“Oh, Moira, you have to learn to loosen up a little. You’ll have fun. I guarantee it.” Moira still didn’t seem sure, but she decided it was easier not to argue the point.
Aislinn was about to pick someone to be fullback right when Regan came to see what everyone was doing. Aislinn decided to make the effort and walked over to him. “Would you like to join us? We still need another player.”
“Ye would let me play too?” Regan looked at the other children who were already in position. He glanced back at Aislinn. “I would like to give it a try.”
“Good. Run out to the field and I’ll join you.
After a few trial runs, the kids were ready for a real game. Aislinn would referee, for she volunteered Dermot to play on one of the teams. Teige, who took his guarding seriously, came to stand by Aislinn and Cormac joined them.
“Ye have a way with children,” Cormac spoke the obvious and with admiration.
“Children are easy to please. You show them some attention and they come alive. You’ll be amazed how much they can show you. Look at Lynelle for instance. Do you see how her eyes light up, when she has the ball? Then you take a look at Edmond and you see the determination on his small face. He wants to win and would do about anything to see it happen. Even Regan seems to be enjoying himself. Children can open up a whole new world.” Aislinn put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. “All right, Moira. You scored.”
Cormac looked at Teige who was eyeing him suspiciously. He had already mentioned to his friend that he needed to find a place for the young MacKenna boy. He hadn’t thought of asking Aislinn, but now maybe it would be the best for the child. Maybe she could even help him. She had already done wonders with Hamish and even Dermot, who had been such a clod, but now showed a sense of confidence.
“Milady?”
“A.J., Cormac, remember?”
“Aye. A. J., I would ask a wee favor of ye.”
Her curiosity was piqued and she turned her attention toward him. “What might that be?”
“Seeing how ye are taken with children, I was wondering if ye might help a small lad. He lost his ma and da, ye see. He does not speak and stares without seeing. Do ye know what I mean?”
“He’s in shock? Did his parent’s die suddenly?”
“Aye. They were murdered in front of the boy, we be thinking.”
Her hand flew to her chest. “That’s horrible. No wonder the poor child can’t speak.”
“Will ye see if ye can help?”
“Cormac, I am not a professional in these matters and….” “I’m sorry that I bothered you, but Fiona…”
“Fiona?”
“Aye. Fiona is taking care of the child and she is beside herself what to do.”
Aislinn had no doubt and did not hide her disgust that the woman was given the chance to try. Fiona didn’t strike her as the nurturing type. “I’d like
to see the boy. I can’t promise you that I can do anything, but I will try.” “Thank ye.” He felt a sense of relief.
Dougray was with Murrough and Robert Burke, when he came across the game that Aislinn had instigated. He stopped his horse for a moment and leaned forward to watch. Aislinn was running from one end of the field to the other yelling directions. At one point the game came to a halt and Aislinn seemed to be explaining something to the children before she took the ball and showed them obviously what she meant them to do.
“That is the Hennessy woman down there?” Burke commented with obvious distaste.
Murrough nodded. “She seems to have a following, does she not?” Dougray smiled. “For the moment, she is out of trouble and that is more than I could ever hope for. Let her indulge with the children.” He pointed. “Just look at them smiling and laughing. They are having a good time of it.” “What is this game that she has them engaged in?” Burke, despite his
distaste for Aislinn, was intrigued by it.
“I am not sure, but it reminds me of a game outlawed in England, Futball or some sort of name of that origin. After studies we engaged in a bit of this archaic game to pass the time away. It was rather brutal at times, but all so invigorating. ” With that Dougray led his horse on.
Aislinn was acutely aware of Dougray and the other men approaching, but she didn’t turn to acknowledge them. She was having fun and she wasn’t going to let anyone ruin that.
“Regan, keep the ball close to you.” At that point the ball was taken away from him and was now heading down the opposite way.
Dougray dismounted and walked over to stand beside her. “Interesting play ye have the children engaged in.”
She didn’t have time to answer him. She ran down toward the center of the field. “Moira, take the ball. Take it! Yes!” she shouted when Moira somehow maneuvered her way around one of the boys to kick the ball away and started heading it down to the goal net. Aislinn headed back to Dougray. “It is called soccer. I just love the game. Connor and I both played.” Again she shouted for one of the kids to move into position. “The children caught on so quickly.”
“Even Hamish has joined in, I see.” “He’s a changed boy.”
“I am well aware of the changes.” He watched Aislinn race away, down the field. What an amazing woman she was, and it seemed he was only beginning to realize all of her remarkable qualities.
“Ye are going to allow this display?” Robert Burke had approached him and it took all of his will power not to look at the man with annoyance.
“I do not see the harm in it. Looks rather fun, if I do say so myself.”
At that moment, Abbot Kirwan came upon them, his displeasure showing without reproach. “Here, here, what evil is this?” Kirwan saw Dougray and halted his condemning. It was obvious that he had been unaware that his lord was viewing what he had called an evil event. “Begging yer pardon, but do ye think it wise to let this…this….” He waved his hand before him.
“Futball, or rather soccer, game continue?” Dougray was quite amused by the old man’s fear of child’s play.
The abbot made the sign of the cross. “This can only lead to violence.” At that moment, Regan let out a yell as he attacked the ball.
“See what I mean?” The abbot was quite serious. “Why do ye let this woman run loose here?”
“I am glad, Abbot Kirwan, that ye see what I do.” Burke was nice enough to speak his displeasure, now that he had an ally. “It’s not an appropriate display for a young woman to participate in.”
“These are children, Burke.” Dougray took a defensive pose.
“I am speaking of Lady Aislinn. Look how she is running around and in trews or whatever the blasted attire is called. Ye are her guardian; I would have thought that ye would have insist
ed that she dress according to her station.”
“A woman should not be dressed so.” Kirwan nodded his head in agreement.
Dougray was losing his patience. “I see no harm in her wearing what is comfortable. She is not from here and it is not her way to wear the flowing gowns that we insist our women to wear.”
“Then perhaps ye should inform her of our customs. The way the children look up to this woman…well look, even Dubhdara’s daughter is among the young girls out there. Would ye have all our young woman getting ideas?” Burke looked to the abbot who in turn was nodding his head.
“Oh heaven forbid!” Dougray spat. “It is just cloth formed to a new design. It does not make what the person is inside.” He walked away before he was tempted to say something that would cause more tension.
Robert Burke was indeed upset. How dare Dougray Fitzpatrick speak to him in that manner? Murrough had not been far behind and had heard the exchange. He did not trust Robert Burke. There was something that bothered him about the man. It seemed that there was more to him than met the eye, and it didn’t bode well. At that moment, Robert turned to meet Murrough’s steady gaze, but the Burke was the first to look away.
Abbot Kirwan decided to try another approach to see if Aislinn could be better controlled. “Murrough, ye are his friend. He will listen to ye.”
Aislinn noticed the angry glances in her direction. Obviously yet again, it was over something that she had done. She made her way over to Murrough and the abbot. “I don’t think that we have been properly introduced,” she said in her finest Gaelic throwing the impeccable abbot completely off guard. The man even stopped brushing the dirt from his sleeve. She came to the conclusion that the man never had a hair out of place and expected as much from everyone else. She wondered what he would say if she offered her sweaty palm to him. She was almost tempted.
Of course, Kirwan had heard all kinds of rumors about this woman. Everyone knew of her and her strange ways. What concerned him was that in the month’s time she had been with them, not once had she attended Mass. He looked to Dougray with an accusing eye. He felt he needed to personally rectify this slight. He again turned his attention to Aislinn who towered over him with her Celtic structure. He couldn’t help but take a step back. “I am Abbot Kirwan obviously sent to save yer soul.”
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