“Da, I could never marry one woman while in love with another.”
“Well aren’t ye very high-minded? Many men in our position keep mistresses they adore. I don’t care if ye fill her belly with a bastard every year until she grows too old to bear children. She does not have the skills or breeding to become the wife of a laird. Annice Sinclair does. What’s more, an alliance with the Sinclairs is vital to the clan. I’ve heard enough of this ridiculousness now. Ye will marry Annice if she agrees. If not, ye will marry some other suitable woman whose family will be an asset to this clan. Ye will produce an heir and ye will have a wife capable of taking her place beside ye in leading this clan. What ye do with Grace is not for me to judge.”
Bram’s anger and disappointment rivaled for control. He had done what he promised so he stood to leave. “I’m sorry ye consider this ridiculous. I will bid ye farewell and ask that ye give me the opportunity to say goodbye to Mother too. Grace and I will leave immediately. If Innes wishes to join us, I will allow it. I’m certain Ian will make a fine clan leader someday.”
“Bram, sit back down. This is utter nonsense. Ye are not throwing away yer birthright for a woman. If yer love for each other is so profound, she would love ye enough not to ask ye to do that. And for that matter, if ye love her too much to keep her as a mistress, ye would let her go so she might find happiness elsewhere.”
“Father, ye haven’t taken me seriously since the moment I stepped in the solar. I didn’t expect that ye would like what I had to say. I didn’t even expect ye to understand. Out of my love and respect for ye, I wanted to address this privately, hoping to avoid causing ye embarrassment. Rather than simply eloping I thought it important to try to explain it to ye. For that I expected at least a modicum of respect. However, ye have treated me with disdain, insinuating that I am no more than a green lad, smitten for the first time. Ye have offended me by suggesting that I would treat the woman I love like a whore, and ye have insulted her by assuming she would accept that. There is no reason to sit back down. There is nothing left to say.”
His father clenched his teeth. “Ye expected respect, when ye so easily set aside the needs of the clan for yer own personal desires?”
“There has been nothing easy about this and it goes way beyond desire. I am willing to sacrifice anything for the clan. Anything but the woman I love.” Bram looked down for a moment. “I see no other choice. Farewell.”
“Nay. Stop. Ye’d sacrifice anything for the good of the clan, would ye? Anything except the woman ye love?”
“Aye.”
“Would ye sacrifice one month?”
“What do ye mean?”
“Give me one month. Agree not to marry Grace for one month. Agree to at least meet Annice Sinclair and give her a chance to win yer heart. If ye will do these two things, at the end of one month if ye still wish to, ye shall marry Grace with my blessing.”
One month. Bram didn’t want to wait one day longer, much less a month. However, his father had offered him a choice. If it meant he and Grace could marry with his father’s blessing, surely they could wait one month. “Aye. Thank ye, Father. I’ll give ye a month.”
“And ye’ll keep an open mind about Annice?”
There was no sense in arguing. His father would learn soon enough that Grace held his heart and always would. “Aye, I’ll keep an open mind about Annice.”
“And ye’ll stop seeing Grace until then?”
“Nay. That wasn’t part of the bargain.”
“But, Son—”
“Nay, Da. I said I wouldn’t give up the woman I love and I won’t. Not even for a day.”
*
Bram went immediately to tell Grace. The day was gray, so Grace was likely inside. He knocked at the door and was surprised when Teasag opened it.
“Good afternoon, lass. What are ye doing here?”
“I help mind Kristen while Grace weaves, except Kristen is napping now. Grace is teaching me to weave.”
Bram glanced over Teasag’s head to where Grace sat working. She looked up and smiled. She was always beautiful, but when her face was lit with a happy smile she took his breath away.
“Good afternoon, Bram. Would ye like to come in?”
“Aye.” He nodded subtly toward Teasag. He didn’t want to discuss this in front of her.
Grace clearly took his meaning. “Teasag, I probably won’t work anymore today after Kristen wakes. Ye can go home if ye wish and I’ll see ye tomorrow.”
“All right. Can I take the loom with me to show Mama?”
“Sweetling, it is yer loom. Of course ye can take it. I’ve told ye that before.”
Teasag blushed. “I know ye said that, but…”
Grace smiled again. “There is no but. It’s yer loom.”
Teasag grinned and untied the bundle of warp threads from the table leg. “Thank ye, Grace. I’ll see ye tomorrow.”
“Aye, lass, I’ll see ye tomorrow.”
When Teasag left, Bram asked, “Was that an old loom of yers?”
“Nay, it’s a new loom of Teasag’s—I made it for her.”
“Ye made it?”
“Aye, while ye were gone. I asked her father if it was alright and Michael found the wood for me.”
“I’ll have to take a closer look at it next time. And while I didn’t come here to discuss looms and weaving, why are ye still working on that ribbon?”
“Bram, I was given a task by Lady Sutherland. I can’t just not do it. Besides, it is almost finished. A little bit more this afternoon and I will have ten ells.”
He drew closer. He had never actually looked at what she was weaving. “Grace, this is beautiful.”
She beamed. “Thank ye. I actually do love this. I have never had this much beautiful silk to work with. I’ll be able to give it to yer mother by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Well, if it is truly for my wife, she will be giving it back to ye in a month’s time.”
“What?”
“I spoke with my father this afternoon. After a rather heated discussion I told him I would do anything for the clan except give up the woman I loved.”
“And he accepted that?”
“Not completely. Since I said I would give up anything but ye, he asked me for one month and I agreed.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He asked me to wait to marry ye for one month. He wants me to meet Annice but after that, I can marry ye with his blessing.”
Grace’s brow furrowed. “I suppose that’s not unreasonable. One month.”
“Grace, please don’t worry. I love ye. Meeting Annice is simply a formality.”
She smiled. “I’m not worried. I didn’t dare hope that he would give us his blessing. This is almost too good to believe.”
“Well believe it. We will be married and living here at Castle Sutherland in a month.”
Chapter 19
Grace wanted to be thrilled at the thought of marrying Bram in a month’s time without angering his father. But she couldn’t help but worry. Laird Sutherland was a powerful man and that power scared her. Still, Bram was so happy it was hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.
She didn’t doubt that his parents were not remotely pleased and she soon learned they had no intention of shielding her from their displeasure. When she went to the keep the next afternoon with the completed ribbon, Lady Sutherland scolded Grace in front of everyone at work in the hall.
“I am extraordinarily disappointed in ye, Grace.”
“I’m sorry, my lady, is the ribbon not as you wanted it?”
“The ribbon is fine, it’s lovely, that’s not what I’m talking about. How dare ye seduce my son? Who do ye think ye are? Ye have no business setting yer sights on him.”
“My lady, I—”
“I did not give ye leave to speak,” she snapped, “and it is high time ye remembered yer place. Ye are a weaver, the daughter of a fisherman, the granddaughter of a cook—a servant in my household. Ye will start behaving
as befits someone in yer station instead of playing the wanton for my son. Have I made myself clear?”
A wanton? “But I haven’t—”
“Don’t dare argue with me. I want an answer. Have I made myself clear?”
“Aye, my lady.” There would be no changing her mind anyway.
“Now ye will come with me to my solar. I will give ye the thread and a sample for the next ten ells of ribbon.”
Grace followed quietly in her wake.
Lady Sutherland gave her a sample of ribbon that had extremely intricate vines and flowers worked in shades of gray on black ribbon. “I want something like this, only I want the background to be cream, the vines worked in silver and green, and the flowers worked in shades of rose. Can ye do it?”
“My lady, this is a very difficult pattern.”
“That’s not what I asked. I asked if ye can do it.”
“Aye, my lady, but—”
“Ye will learn to hold yer tongue. The answer is aye or nay. Nothing more.”
“Aye, my lady.”
“Good.” Lady Sutherland handed her a basket containing the silk thread. “I want it in ten days.”
While it had taken her ten days to weave the first ten ells, what Lady Sutherland was asking now was much more difficult. “Pardon me, my lady, but I don’t think I can do that.”
“Ye completed the first design in ten days.”
“Aye, but the weather was mostly fine, so I had good light. Also, this design is more intricate and ye want more colors. It takes more time.”
“I will see that ye have plenty of candles if necessary. Ye will complete this in ten days. I’m sure ye can do it if ye focus on yer work instead of my son.”
Ah, this was punishment. Grace simply nodded. “Aye, my lady.”
Lady Sutherland’s attitude softened a bit. “Grace, this can only end in heartache for both of ye. Surely ye realize that.”
“I pray it doesn’t, my lady.”
Lady Sutherland shook her head in frustration. “Go. Ye need to get to work. I want to see a hand’s width tonight. I will come by Innes’ cottage after the evening meal.”
“Aye, my lady.” Grace curtsied and left the solar. As she walked through the hall, she was not surprised by the critical stares and whispered comments.
At the cottage, Teasag still worked her little loom while Kristen slept. “Did she like it?”
“I think she did. She asked me to make more.” Grace showed her the sample of ribbon and the beautiful silk thread.
“This will be even prettier than the last,” gushed Teasag.
“Aye, and a lot more work. I was hoping to take a break this afternoon, but I need to get started. Would ye like to see how I warp the loom?”
Teasag nodded enthusiastically.
So Grace spent the rest of Kristen’s nap time warping the loom with cream colored thread while she described the steps to Teasag. By the time Teasag left for her home, Grace had the pattern started but to complete the “hand’s width” that Lady Sutherland asked for, she had to keep working. Kristen played nearby, carrying on a long conversation with herself. Teasag had helped her build a tiny village from rocks, twigs, and leaves.
Grace wasn’t sure how long she had been working like this when a shadow fell across her loom. “Grace, have ye fed the child her supper yet?” asked Michael.
“Michael, ye have an awful habit of standing in my light.”
“Aye, well someone should or the two of ye will starve. New colors? Ye’ve started the next ten?”
“I have and she wants to see a hand’s width tonight. I need to work, as long as the light is decent.”
“Ye have to eat. Both of ye do.”
“We’ll be fine for a bit longer.”
“Would it help at all if I took Kristen to the kitchen? Innes can see she gets her supper and send her back when she’s done—preferably with a wee morsel for Kristen’s mama.”
“I couldn’t ask ye to do that.”
He gave a mock sigh. “Grace, will ye never learn?”
She laughed. “All right. It would be very helpful if ye took Kristen to the kitchen. Thank ye, Michael.”
“Ye’re welcome, Grace. Kristen, my fine wee lassie, would ye mind terribly showing me the way to the kitchens?”
Kristen giggled. “Mama, Michael doesn’t know where the kitchens are.”
“Well then, ye’d best show him so he doesn’t starve.”
Kristen took his hand. “Ye go this way.”
A few minutes to focus her undivided attention on her work was just what Grace needed. She had almost finished with the sample Lady Sutherland requested when another shadow fell across her work. “Why are ye still working, Grace, and where is Kristen?” asked Bram.
“I’m working because yer mother wants to see a short length of the new pattern she requested, by the time the evening meal is over. Kristen is with Grandmother, eating her supper.”
“Then ye should be eating yer supper too. Grace, I’ll talk to mother. This can wait until tomorrow.”
“Nay, Bram, it can’t. She wants another ten ells in ten days. I need to work as long as I can to finish it.”
“That is ridiculous. Ye don’t need to do this, Grace.”
“Aye, I do. I don’t want to make her angry and I don’t want ye to argue with yer mother over something as silly as ribbon.”
Bram frowned. “I don’t like this at all.”
“Just let it go. When I finish this, if she asks for ten more in ten days, I may need yer help, but let me try to appease her.”
“If that is what ye wish. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Ye can carry the table inside for me.” She picked up her loom and the basket of thread.
“Gladly, if it means ye are stopping for the day.” Bram carried the table into the cottage.
“Well, I’m not stopping. I will work by candlelight until yer mother comes.”
“My mother is coming here?”
“I told ye, she wanted to see a sample after the evening meal.”
“I didn’t know she was coming here. I will at least ask her to set more reasonable expectations.”
“Please don’t, and please leave before she gets here.”
“Grace, my parents know I intend to marry ye. They shouldn’t be surprised to find me here.”
“But she’s upset. She…” Grace couldn’t tell him that his mother accused her of shameful behavior. “Please, let’s just try to do what they wish for the next month. Perhaps I can earn their respect.”
“Even if ye don’t immediately, ye have mine, love, and they will come around.” He pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss that caused her toes to curl. She didn’t think she would ever get enough of his strong arms and tender kisses. Before Grace was ready to let him go, Kristen pushed the door open, and Moyra followed her into the room. Kristen grinned and threw her arms around Bram’s legs. “Sir Bwam!”
“Oh, my. Sir Bram. I thought Grace was working and couldn’t come to the kitchen.”
“She was, Moyra. I just helped carry her work table inside.”
“Oh. Well, here, Grace. Innes sent ye a bowl of stew and said ye were to stop and eat it while it’s warm.”
“I heartily agree,” said Bram. “I’ll stay with ye while ye eat yer dinner. Moyra, I’m sure ye’re needed back in the kitchen.”
“Aye, sir. Goodnight, sir.”
When Moyra left, Grace sat down wearily at the table. “That will start quite the story.”
“I love ye, Grace. That’s not a secret so I don’t see this as a problem.”
Grace nodded but she knew better. He was the laird’s son and she was the cook’s granddaughter. Any unkind words wouldn’t be attached to him. One month, Grace. One month.
She ate her stew quickly while Kristen sat in his lap listening raptly to a story he told her. When he reached the end, Grace had finished and washed the bowl. “Say goodnight to Sir Bram now. It’s bedtime.”
“Goodnight, Sir Bwam,” she said, giving his neck a hug and kissing his cheek.
“Goodnight, my sweet wee lassie.” He stood, still holding Kristen. “Good night to ye too, love.” He kissed Grace’s cheek and put Kristen in her arms. “I’ll see ye tomorrow.”
Once Grace had Kristen in bed, she lit candles and continued working on the new ribbon. She had a hand’s width completed—enough to show the full pattern—by the time Lady Sutherland knocked on the door.
Grace opened it and was surprised to see Lady Sutherland hadn’t come alone.
“G-good evening my lady, Laird.”
“Good evening, Grace,” said Laird Sutherland. “Lady Sutherland said she was coming here to see a sample of the new ribbon and I decided to come with her.”
“Please come in. Can I offer ye a seat?”
He stepped inside, looking around appraisingly. “I haven’t been in this cottage for years. I had forgotten how small it is. Hmm.”
“We won’t be staying long, dear. May I see the ribbon, Grace?” Lady Sutherland’s icy aloofness was the complete antithesis of the woman Grace first met, the woman who laughed about serving roasted neeps to her husband.
“Certainly, my lady, the loom is here.” Grace motioned to the table. “It will be easier to see the pattern in the candlelight.”
Lady Sutherland moved past her husband, taking the loom in her hands to get a closer look at the ribbon. A fleeting look of delight crossed her countenance before her stern mask returned. “This will be fine. Ten ells, Grace. I will not be happy if I hear ye’ve been slacking.”
“Aye, my lady.”
“Grace, ye can weave on a cloth loom too?”
“Aye, Laird.”
“Hmm. I suppose there really isn’t room for one here though, is there?” he said.
“I suppose not, Laird.”
“Well, goodnight, Grace. The ribbon ye wove is beautiful. There is a large market for finery such as that. We will have to consider the best way forward.”
The best way forward? What did he mean by that?
Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes Page 15
