by Johanna Maas
Kaye smiled further and said in a warm voice, "It is my pleasure to formally make your acquaintance, Agnes."
The serving woman gave Kaye a weak smile, the permanent frown that she had always provided now slowly fading away. Agnes looked at her new mistress with warmth, for the small kindness that had been bestowed upon one in her station. Being formally acknowledged and being treated as a person by the lady, or anyone of importance within this keep was something she was not quite used to in the Hann household.
Kaye found herself relying heavily upon the elderly servant as she trusted her advice and gladly took her instruction of what was expected and required of one in her position within the Hann keep. More than anything, Kaye did not wish to bring adversity to the house, nor retributions for her actions or reprisal for anyone serving within the household.
Through gentle inquiry, she found that her presence was required in the great hall only two times each day and what she had now understood was mostly for appearances sake. It was quite necessary that she attended first for the morning breaking of their fasts and secondly, for the evening meal. During these times she sat stoically adorning the great head table with an empty chair upon her left where her husband would normally reside and enduring the unpleasant and unnerving presence of the young Lord Alden to her right.
During these forced attendances, she tried very hard to neither look at nor directly converse with the young Lord Alden for she had learned rather quickly that she was rather uneasy around him. When she was forced to do so, she strived to leave her responses cordial yet to single words and had effectively only answered most of his inquiries with either a cold "yes" or a stilted, "no".
Kaye had learned almost immediately to be quite wary of the younger lord and spent her time avoiding him as much as was feasible, for his words were never kind and his stares always appalling. After the evening meal when she knew that his work was done for the day, she would immediately retire to her chambers alone for it was well known that he occupied the large chamber for the full of the evening. As soon as she was able to excuse herself from the hall and from the uncomfortable presence of the young lord, she did so. With a continued sadness upon her heart each night too, shortly after she took to her room she would hear the decisive lock as she was bolted in for the evening. Each time she heard the scraping of the key, another portion of her heart became permanently frozen and she died just a little bit more inside.
During the days, Kaye took to going to the stables so she could ride her newly gifted horse as much as possible. She had been endowed the smallest of the three beasts, though she was not disappointed for it was still a large and very fine young mare and provided an excellent diversion from her everyday solitude. The horse was a deep grey in color and a little spirited and much more so than any other horse she had ever had the chance to ride.
Kaye was determined yet a bit nervous the first time she was allowed to mount the beast's back. The stable master proved to be quite patient with her for when she had seated the horse for the first time, the mare flared her nostrils and pounded the ground in irritation at her presence. Kaye had never experienced such a reaction from any of the beasts she had ever had the chance to ride, since all her previous outings had always been upon very tame and mostly aged ponies.
Under the master's sound and kind tutelage, she learned that she must have a firm hand and not show her fear. She soon understood that the horse could sense her apprehension and would react negatively upon it. So Kaye spent long hours each day in the courtyard learning to properly mount and ride and care for her beast where she ultimately developed a fondness and bond with her mare.
As the days passed by, she was eventually instructed on how to most effectively control the animal and now understood that she could manipulate the mare's movements by simply compressing her knees into the horse's sides. For long hours she continued to train, working to become accomplished at understanding the animal and effectively learn to be one with the beast.
After three longs weeks of daily instruction, the master felt she was quite ready for the next lesson and knew this was quite a feat to be sure. He took Kaye outside of the keep's walls to the grassy pasture beyond the drawbridge with the openness of the land laid out before her. For long hours she walked, trotted then cantered the horse as she was instructed to both value and control the beast while she learned to garner a new mutual respect for the animal.
Outside of the keep's walls and upon the back of her strong gray mare, Kaye found a certain release from her sadness as it allowed her to discharge her melancholy state if only for a short while. The power of the beast below her legs brought a faint smile to her face and a slight relief to her heart. The cooling breeze of the fall was upon them as Kaye cantered along as she allowed the gentle wind to caress her face and bared arms while it blew carelessly through her long dark hair.
As the afternoon began to fade, she sorrowfully moved her mare slowly back to the ever foreboding and waiting keep. Her folly was now over and her known plight returning with each step that her beast took as she and the stable master drew closer to the drawbridge. She looked over at the kindly man and was thankful for his patience for he allowed her to experience a freedom she never knew existed, if only for a short while.
After this day of her instruction, she reached the stables and dismounted outside as she routinely did, speaking softly to the one she had learned to call her only confident and her only friend. She moved to the horse's head and grasping the lead as she walk her mare down the dirt path and onto the assigned and darkening stall within. She tied the rope on the front wall as she prepared to brush down her mare. Kaye smiled in willing anticipation as she looked forward to this task. She had requested to complete this chore each day by herself and enjoyed this duty thoroughly. This was her small repayment to the beast for her pleasure she extolled from the efforts put forth by it.
With a full contentment upon her heart, Kaye stood next to the mare as she stroked her strong neck when she felt a movement behind her. She turned and with a start her heart began to beat rapidly as her gaze fell upon the young Lord Alden. He was casually leaning up against the wooden side wall as he effectively blocked her path of exit. She stared at him without emotion, not wishing him to see her fear and concern that she had buried within for she always felt ever uncomfortable when he was near.
"Enjoy your ride, milady?" He menacingly inquired of her, his eyes moving from her face lazily down her slight ivory neck as they came to rest boldly upon her full breasts.
"Yes, milord, I did. Thank you most kindly for inquiring. Now I wish to retire to my room to prepare myself for our evening meal."
As she attempted to move by him and beyond the stall, he stepped fully in front of her as he aptly blocked her way. He was now standing right in front of her with less than a single pace separating their bodies. For several long moments he stood this way, not moving as he continued to boldly peruse her body and breathe in deeply of her scent.
"You do know why my father married you, do you not?"
With an ominous feeling growing within, Kaye looked up into his eyes as she neither answered his question nor understood his game or the meaning of his communication. She had long since wondered at the purpose of their union, but she remained silent for she did not wish to guess at an answer. The reasoning and the Lord Hann's motives had completely eluded her.
"For you should know that he already has a mistress in London, so he does not seek you out for your beauty." The young lord paused as he watched her closely for any reaction. When she gave no outwardly signs of the turmoil she felt within, he continued. "That is why he would not take you there with him. For that would be quite awkward, now would it not?"
Lord Alden's gaze turned into a slight sneer as he chuckled deeply while he continued to brazenly inspect her body, sending sickening waves of fear and queasiness throughout her. Kaye continued to look intently back at him her gaze unwavering and not knowing if she should believe him or even if she ca
red.
"He married you to secure your family's lands."
Kaye tried very hard to look blandly back at him and show no emotion or provide any hint or understanding of the unrest and panic his words caused within as she considered his bold statement. For his reasoning made no sense to Kaye. Although she was the eldest, she was but a daughter. As she understood most assuredly, estates moved from fathers to sons and not to daughters. But since there was no rightful heir in her family, she was not quite sure what that would mean nor why it would matter to one that obviously already had so much.
"He is petitioning our dear King Henry as we speak to convert the Devon lands over to Hann! Make no mistake about it, milady, for he will be successful!"
While no one had ever spoken of it, she had assumed that the Devon estates would most likely move to Roger's family and eventually on to Matthew. But why should her new husband care? He already had so much with this vast empire he held. Her family estates were nothing compared to his and as she had understood they were of no major significance. With the Lord Hann's extended family stretching out for many, many estates on either side of him, why were the Devon's so important?
When the Lord Alden mentioned the king, this made her heart break and she became angry for she knew and understood that he alone could decide at any time to remove the estates from her family's favor, if that truly was his will. But she continued to stay mute as she worked hard at keeping her face emotionless and all the while not allowing him to gauge her acute reactions to his words.
The young lord continued to stare at her, a slight smirk touching the right side of his lips with an acute knowing of how his words must have affected her. Even though she showed no outward emotions, he had heard tell of how much she had loved her family, her father and what he must assume the appreciation for his position. He understood how this news must have taken its toll upon her even though her trained face did not show it.
The Lord Alden stared deeply into her eyes as he grew bolder and took the final step forward while he completely removed the gap between their bodies. The young lord's chest now lightly touched her breasts, his gaze looking downward upon her as he took in the full of her creamy white skin from his position slightly above. He, now mocking and tormenting her ever so completely with his eyes and the slight shift of his chest as it ever so softly moved sickeningly against her breasts.
Kaye did not move, would not back down for she knew that if she had he would sense her fear and understand her fright and would know that he had won. Although she knew little of this man, she did know that without a doubt, winning for him would entitle him in his mind to be more bold in the future. And for that reason alone she was terrified. Even though her heart was thundering within her chest for the panic that was consuming her inside, Kaye stood tall and unmoving and still without emotion upon her face as he continued to repulsively taunt her.
Without notice, he suddenly took a step back as he swept his hand wide in mock chivalry and cleared the way for her to move past him, his humor clearly written upon his face.
Provided that brief opportunity, Kaye elevated her chin proudly and rushed past the lord as she moved hastily out of the stables and away from his crushing words and his ever tormenting body. She continued on up to her room as she closed and locked the door from inside and soundly behind her. She laid herself heavily back upon the wooden slats of the door as she breathed deeply as her heart pounded with fear and the uncertainty for her family and her own safety resounding within.
Kaye moved her hand timidly to the inside of the small pocket that resided within the folds of her gown as she gently touched the tiny medallion that lay securely hidden within. Her thumb gently stroked the coin's rough edge as she pictured the handsome and trusting face of her powerful warrior. As she continued to roll the coin within her fingers her heart fully warmed at the thought of its donor as the panic continued to rise. She wondered most brazenly…"Do I dare send this?"
CHAPTER ELEVEN
That very same night as Kaye reluctantly went down to the hall for the evening meal, as she descended the steps she breathed a sigh of relief for Lord Alden had not yet graced the great hall with his presence. She gladly walked forth and across the room as she spied with pleasure a guest within the chamber.
Seated at the high table at the opposite end of her position, was a kindly looking older gentleman who was dressed in the cloth of the church. His gray hair and dark drab robes were much overshadowed by the pleasant smile that alighted upon his face. He sported a kindly and most welcoming smile and one that provided a slight sense of relief for Kaye.
With a refreshed perspective, she approached the high table with nothing but gladness for the sight of this newcomer. She stopped just short of the man and turned to greet him most warmly with a sincere smile upon her face.
"It is a pleasure to have a man of the cloth gracing our table. I am Lady Kaye and I am so glad you have joined us."
The benevolent old gentleman smiled up at her and responded with a kindly tone. "Yes, milady, and it is such a pleasure to be here. I am Father Flannigan."
Kaye looked at him with questioning eyes for he spoke his English with a slight accent that she could not quite place. A nice brogue, just not the proper English she was used to but an accent that was slightly familiar.
"So very nice to meet you, Father Flannigan. I hope that you will be joining us for a while."
He looked at her with a genuine smile and responded, "I shall be in the vicinity for about a week, milady, shepparding my flock and blessing babies and performing nuptials for those in the area. Then I will have to be on my way once again. I only get to this area once every several months for I am mostly needed and tend to my flock up north."
Up north…which of course would mean Scotland for there were no more northern parts of England than where they currently were located. And that is where his gentle brogue must be from, for he must be Scottish, himself. She looked at the kindly gentleman as her mind began to churn as she devised and concocted a plan for the sake of her family.
As she stood before the priest, an elation flooded her heart as she unthinkingly placed her hand within her secret pocket as her fingers tenderly handled the medallion that laid surreptitiously within. For she now had a means to send word to Tor of the news the young Lord Alden had shared, news of the Hann's plotting and news of grave importance to her family. Even if he were unable to protect her from the discerning young lord, she would call upon him if nothing else so she could relay to him and plead with him to warn her father and her uncle of her husband's plans to steal their estates.
Once that end had been achieved, perhaps her father would agree to remove her from this place she now reluctantly called home. Kaye was growing ever more concerned for her safety each passing day for her plight as the wife of the Hann Lord. At this point, she did not care if they would then send her off to the abbey to live out the remainder of her days with the nuns. For that life of solitude was far more preferable to the fear she lived in every day. She now continually lived in constant state of apprehension and in fear of her husband's return, in dread of his son's advances and now her vital alarm for her family's plight.
A small smile played upon her lips as she continued to gaze at Father Flannigan for she understood that he could be her way out and her savior. The weight of the world suddenly felt lifted from her shoulders.
*****
Devising her plan and actually making it come to fruition were completely different objectives and proving to be a most difficult undertaking. Kaye began to grow concerned with panic for her time was running out and she had yet to have a moment alone with Father Flannigan to ask her favor of the priest. Each time she wished to speak with the kindly man of the cloth, someone was always about and made her task unfeasible. In the daytime he was out among the peoples of the estate and in the evenings he oftentimes after the meal sat before the fire where Lord Alden also retired.
It happened to be on the fifth evening afte
r Father Flannigan arrived and just two days before he was scheduled to venture northward. Kaye watched as the hall began to empty after the final sup, most wandering off to their homes or to enjoy the evening air in the courtyard. Her heart raced in anticipation for they were the only two now left in the large chamber. Lord Alden had been attending business in the outer regions of the estate on this day and had not yet returned to the keep.
Kaye breathed deeply as she was left nearly alone with Father Flannigan, save for a few servants within the hall clearing the evening meal's wares away. Still seated above at the head table, Kaye rose and walked towards the priest and then took the chair directly next to him. With a smile upon her face she spoke.
"Dear Father Flannigan, it is with a sad heart that I count the days knowing you are planning to leave us."
She looked deeply into his eyes wondering if she could speak freely and wondered if she could depend upon him to carry out her mission. He responded back with a smile upon his face and a kindness within his eyes.
"Yes, milady, I will be leaving here in two day's time. For my business is nearly complete and my duty to move on quite apparent."
She looked at him deeply and continued. "Father, when you go to the north, which clans do you visit?"
He looked at her thinking it a strange question wondering of her interest, but willing to answer her anyway.
"Well, milady, straight north of here are several Scottish clans including the Campbells, the Grants, the Macpherson, Gordons and several others."
"And they all allow you to pass and move freely within their borders? For are not the clans of the north barbaric and warring quite frequently?"
Father Flannigan chuckled as a slight smile came to his lips as he watched the fear play over her features. For she appeared to be truly concerned for his welfare.
