“Aye,” Ian said as he ran a hand through his hair. “She did. And I’m honor bound by me word to not push her.”
Frederick looked quite proud of his brother. Knowing Ian as he did, he must be very much in love with Rose to make such a promise. “Then I stand corrected,” Frederick said as he took another drink of ale. “But I must tell ye, I’ll be lookin’ forward to the day I can post yer banns.”
Frederick could glean from Ian’s tired and woeful expression, that he too, was looking forward to that day.
AGGIE’S STOMACH WAS tied in knots as she and Frederick entered the gathering room. Rose had helped her to dress in her finest gown, the dark lavender linen. Atop her unbound hair, she wore a silver circlet over a soft, silvery veil, and at her waist, a matching belt. Though both Rose and Frederick told her she looked beautiful and every bit the mistress of the keep, part of her worried that her people would not hold the same impression.
Frederick’s men had helped gather the people together before the evening meal, their attendance required, not optional. Many had arrived early, simply out of curiosity and with the hope of possibly learning what had prompted the meeting.
The room fell quiet as Frederick escorted Aggie to the high table. Mermadak’s ornately carved chair had been removed earlier. In its place were two simple chairs, side by side, a symbol of the united front Frederick and Aggie would present to her people.
All eyes were on Aggie. Months ago she would not have been allowed in this room, let alone to stand before her people and speak. But this night, she drew upon the courage that had been dormant for far too long, the courage and spirit that Frederick had awakened. With her husband beside her, she knew she could accomplish anything.
Frederick gave her hand a gentle squeeze before he took the seat to her immediate left. He smiled thoughtfully at her and waited patiently for her to begin.
Aggie turned to her people, looked for Rose and Ailrig amongst the crowd. Once she found them, her stomach began to settle. Taking a deep breath, she began to address her people.
“As m-many of ye ken, Mermadak has left. He has n-no’ been seen or heard from. He has deserted all of us. T-to what end, I do no’ ken.”
Murmurs broke out amongst the crowd. Aggie gave them a moment before continuing on. “I am the only McLaren heir. M-many of ye ken that while I can inherit, I canna be chief. This night, I declare m-me husband, Frederick Mackintosh as the chief of Clan McLaren.”
The crowd erupted into a clamor of shocked remarks, questions, and even a few hisses. Someone shouted over the din “What happens if the McLaren returns?”
Aggie lifted both arms and raised her voice to be heard over them. “It matters no’ if Mermadak McLaren attempts to return. He will no’ be recognized as the chief and will have to answer fer his crimes.”
“What crimes?” a male voice cried out.
“To begin with, his attempt to have me husband killed. His desertion for another. And if ye remember correctly, a fortnight ago, the keep was given over to the Bowie. Were it no’ for Rowan Graham, ye’d all be dead.” She waited for that to sink in before going on. “Frederick Mackintosh is our chief now. He is a good man, a just and honorable man. Together, we will restore this keep, this clan to prosperity. He’ll no’ eat venison whilst the rest of ye eat porridge. He will no’ have roarin’ fires in his hearth whilst the rest of ye suffer from cold.” Her last remarks were meant to remind her people of the manner in which her father had lived and treated them. “Frederick and his men have been workin’ verra hard to rebuild the keep, the granary, the stables. They’ve been the ones out huntin’ each day. Frederick has proven by action and by deed that he will make a verra fine chief, one ye can trust and rely upon.”
Aggie turned to her husband and smiled warmly at him. There were no embellishments in her speech, for he had led by example. He had done more for these people in the last few months, than Mermadak had done in the past five years.
Turning her attention back to her people, she spoke firmly and with conviction. “If anyone here canna abide Frederick Mackintosh bein’ yer chief, ye are free to leave. None will hold yer decisions against ye.” She scanned the crowd for anyone who might be ready to leave now. Everyone seemed to be rooted, if for no other reason than curiosity.
“There will be immediate changes in how things will be done. I am reinstatin’ the clan council that Mermadak had disbanded three years ago.”
Another round of murmurs broke through. “And who will be on that council? Mackintosh’s men?” a woman from the crowd shouted her question. It was accusatory in nature and Aggie was fully prepared to answer to it.
“We will be electin’ six people to the council. Three from the men Frederick brought with him and three from the Clan McLaren. And aye, ye can nominate a woman if ye wish.”
The women in the crowd were very pleased by this bit of news. Aggie hadn’t made the decision to allow women to hold a spot on the council in order to sway their opinion of her or her husband. She truly believed that women were fully capable of helping guide this clan into the future.
Aggie extended her hand to her husband. He stood and joined her in addressing their people. Once the shock of learning that women could hold a seat on the council waned a bit, Frederick cleared his throat to speak.
“This will be a long, and at times, arduous journey,” he began. All eyes turned to look at him. Some of the faces looked adoringly at him, others were not so enamored with him. He knew it would not be an easy road ahead, but he was ready for the challenge. “I’ll no’ ever ask any of ye to do somethin’ that I meself would no’ do. I swear again, me fealty to all of ye, to me wife and son, to this clan. I will do whatever I can to protect ye and to rebuild the clan to what it once was. All that I ask in return is that ye do the same.”
He helped Aggie to sit before turning back to the people. “This winter will be our biggest challenge. I have sent word to me father, askin’ fer help to get us through to spring. I’ve no’ heard back from him yet. But come spring, that is when the hard work will begin. For now, I will be takin’ over the auld library near the north tower. Me door will always be open to ye, to ideas ye may have on how to help rebuild the clan. But for now, we must turn our focus to electin’ the new council and fillin’ our larders. And as Aggie said, if any of ye do no’ think ye can follow me, ye are free to leave and none will hold it against ye.”
Not one person made any effort to leave. Frederick hoped it was because they believed in him and his promise. But he also knew that any or all of them could up and leave before sunrise on the morrow. He sent up a silent prayer that many would stay and be just as excited about their future as he and his wife were. Only time would tell.
THE ELECTION WAS held three days after Aggie and Frederick’s impassioned speeches. Because many of her people could not read or write, they had to devise a unique way of voting.
Each of the nominees were given a different colored necklace made from yarn, which was not easy considering the number of people involved. The gathering room was then divided into six different sections. Tents large enough to hold one person were erected around the gathering room with three tents per section and a fourth tent set in the middle of the room. Dozens of pieces of straw were dyed in the corresponding colors of the nominees and put into each of the tents. A basket was placed on the floor inside the tent and the people would choose their color and toss it into the basket. Each person was allowed two votes; one vote for the McLaren nominee of their choice and one for the Mackintosh side. The three individuals from both sides who had the most votes would then make up the new clan council.
Eggar Wardwin received the most votes, 86 in all. Andrew McCurdy, the cook’s son, and Fergus McCarthall, a man as auld as dirt, were also chosen from the Clan McLaren.
Though Ian was nominated, he recused himself from the proceedings. Being Frederick’s brother, he did think it wise, at least not in the beginning, to hold such a position. Things were going to be rough enough w
ithout adding accusations of nepotism into the mix. Findal, Gundar and Robby were elected to hold seats for the Mackintosh side. They would take their roles quite seriously.
The first meeting between the council, Frederick and Aggie, was held immediately following the vote count. They chose an auld room in the north tower, one floor above Frederick’s new study, as their meeting place. Tables were pushed together and they used everything from chairs to old trunks as seats.
Their surroundings were far from grand or opulent, but not one of them cared about that. A turning point had been reached. No longer would they be ruled by the selfish and cruel Mermadak McLaren. Hope for the future had been restored.
It was decided they would meet daily to discuss and implement plans on how they could earn enough coin to make the necessary improvements to the keep and outbuildings as well as rebuild the larders.
“There be a fair comin’ up in Crianlarich in two weeks,” Andrew McCurdy said. “Me wife weaves, does a fine job at it. Mayhap we could go to the fair and sell some of her things.”
Fergus smiled a near toothless grin and chuckled. “I think we need to be sellin’ more ‘an a few blankets, young Andrew, in order to feed this lot.”
Findal added his own opinion. “That may no’ be such a bad idea. I bet we could get a good sum of coin for Rose’s sewin’ too. Have ye seen what the woman can do with a bone needle?”
“Ye wan’ to rebuild the clan on blankets and pretty things?” Fergus asked with a shake of his auld head. “I’ll be repeatin’ me earlier suggestion.”
Every person in the room rolled their eyes. “Fergus,” Frederick said with a heavy sigh. “We told ye before, we’ll no’ go stealin’ cattle, nor will we go raidin’ or pillagin’ nearby clans.”
Fergus huffed, making no attempt at hiding his disappointment in his new leader, or the rest of the men. He rubbed his gums together as he cast each of them a look of reproach.
Frederick ignored the auld man and turned his attention back to the rest of his council. “I believe the fair in Crianlarich is as a good place as any to start. Andrew, do ye think yer wife would be willin’ to part with her wares, to help the clan?”
“It does no’ matter if she be willin’,” Fergus said. “She be his wife and will do what he says.”
Another collective eye roll from the council was sent Fergus’ way. “Fergus,” Findal said, growing more irritated with the old man. “’Tis no’ how things will be done. If—” he looked to Andrew for his wife’s name.
“Moirra,” Andrew said.
“If Moirra does no’ wish to give up that which she has worked so hard to create, then we’ll no’ be forcin’ her.”
“She’ll no’ mind,” Andrew said. “She’s a good woman, ye ken. She be verra excited to finally have this clan movin’ forward and improving’ it’s ways.”
Frederick looked to Aggie who had been awfully quiet thus far. “Aggie, what is your opinion?”
“I think it be a fine idea,” she answered. Findal’s suggestion had reminded Aggie of the handkerchiefs she had been sewing for all those men who had died weeks ago. She still had the coins, safely tucked away under the mattress of her bed. An idea began to swell, one she would wait to discuss with Rose later. She would also wait until she and Frederick were alone to give him the coin.
Aggie had hoped to use the money to purchase her mother’s things back from Clair. When she thought of the empty larder, the rat infested granary, and all the other things that the keep needed, her mother’s things, while sentimentally priceless, were not nearly as important.
Her husband firmly believed that they could restore their clan to the prosperity it had at one time enjoyed. His excitement was contagious. Aggie loved him with all her heart and if he believed they could do this, then she would do what she could to help. Giving him the coin she had earned instead of using it to procure her mother’s things from Clair Wardwin seemed a small sacrifice.
“FREDERICK,” AGGIE SAID as she pulled the pouch from under their mattress. “I have somethin’ to give ye. But I need yer promise ye’ll no’ get angry and lose yer temper.”
A fond smile came to his lips. “I do so promise, me lady wife.”
She eyed him closely for a moment with her shoulders back and her chin up. “I swear I was no’ keepin’ anythin’ from ye. Honestly, with everythin’ that happened with the Bowie, I had simply fergotten.”
“Do no’ fash over it, wife,” Frederick said as he sat in his chair in front of the fireplace. He reassured her by holding out his hand and pulling her to his lap. “Please, explain it to me.”
Aggie explained how the men had liked her stitching and had asked her to create the monogrammed handkerchiefs. “Rose and I are makin’ arrangements to send those I already made to their loved ones.” Her heart still hurt for those men they had lost that day. “’Tis important to me that they receive them, Frederick.” When she was done explaining the situation to him, she placed the pouch in Frederick’s palm.
Frederick felt the weight of the coin and looked quite surprised. “How much be here lass?”
“Eight merks and 6 silvers,” she told him. “I ken it be no’ much, Frederick, but ’twill help ye.”
He still looked curious. “Lass, why were ye hidin’ it?”
She sat upright and looked him in the eye. “I was no’ hidin’ it from ye, I swear it!”
Frederick placed the pouch in her lap and caressed her cheek. “I believe ye, Aggie. But pray tell, why was it under the mattress?”
Aggie cast him a look that said she thought him daft. “If da had learned I had the coin, he would have taken it. And no’ everyone in the keep can be trusted.”
“And when were ye plannin’ on tellin’ me what ye were doin?”
He did not look angry or upset, merely curious. “I was savin’ up to buy back me mother’s things. I was hopin’ ’twould only cost a few merks, ye ken. And the rest, I was goin’ to give ye. I wanted to wait until I had enough coin that ye’d be proud of me.”
His brow furrowed. “Aggie, I be always proud of ye. Ye do no’ have to give me coin or gifts to have me pride and admiration.”
A smile erupted across her face, which brought a smile to Frederick’s. “I ken that now, but I didna ken it when the men asked fer the handkerchiefs.”
Frederick kissed the tip of her nose. “I thank ye fer the coin, wife,” he said as he picked the pouch up. “But tell me, please, what ye mean by buyin’ back yer mother’s things? I do no’ understand.”
“Och! Do no’ worry it. ’Tis no’ important,” she told him.
He did not look convinced. “Aggie, please, tell me.”
Aggie cleared her throat before answering. “’Tis nothin’, really. Just me mum’s comb and a necklace.”
His confused expression urged her to explain further.
“’Twas all I had left in the world, ye ken. I had to give them to Clair before she’d let me borrow her blue dress.”
His jaw tightened at remembering the blue dress she wore on their wedding day. “Ye traded yer mum’s things just to borrow that dress?”
The way he said that dress made her stomach lurch. “Aye, I did,” she answered. “I ken I looked a fright that day, Frederick. But I did try. I didna want to go to the altar wearin’ an auld dress with patches, ye ken. I wanted to look pretty that day, Frederick. I ken that I failed miserably, but I did try.”
Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he drew her to his chest. “I be terribly sorry fer how I acted that day, Aggie.” His voice was laced with guilt and regret.
Aggie snuggled against his chest and sighed. “Thank ye, husband.”
FREDERICK DID IN fact feel guilty for how he had treated Aggie on their wedding day. He’d been a grand ass. The guilt increased when he thought of how she had traded her mother’s things just to have a pretty dress to wear, even if it didn’t fit properly.
He also felt some measure of pride when he realized she had been sewing monogrammed handkerchie
fs and had given the coin she earned to him. He would talk with Eggar on the morrow to see about getting his wife’s precious things back from Clair.
“Aggie,” he asked as he tenderly rubbed her shoulder. “If ye could have worn something else that day, what would it have been?”
She didn’t need time to think on it. “I’d have worn yellow,” she told him. “Yellow be me favorite color. And I’d have worn flowers in me hair and no’ that ridiculous linen over me head!” she giggled slightly. “And, I’d have worn all the Mackintosh plaid.”
He had no idea what she was referring to. “All the plaid?” he asked.
“Aye, all of it,” she said sleepily.
“I do no’ understand, Aggie.”
“Ian had sent a Mackintosh plaid to me that day. He’d given it to Ailrig to give to me. I had it on but da became verra upset when he saw it and wouldna let me wear it.” She yawned and snuggled in closer. “So Rose cut a bit of it off fer me. I pinned it to me chemise.”
Gently, Frederick sat her up so that he could better see her face. “Ye did what?”
Thinking he was upset that they had cut the plaid, her eyes grew wide. “We didna ruin the plaid, Frederick!”
“Wheest, lass!” he chuckled. “I be no’ worried about the plaid.”
She looked relieved. “’Twas just a little piece of it, pinned to me chemise. I had planned to show ye later that night, ye ken. I thought if ye saw it, ye might understand that even though I was terrified out of me own skin, ye’d see it and ken that I did care.”
A lump formed in his throat. Guilt and pride blended together and he didn’t know which feeling was stronger. “And when were ye thinkin’ of sharin’ with me that ye could talk?”
“Well, I wasna plannin’ on tellin’ ye. I figured that once ye saw me scars ye’d leave.”
Guilt won out. She had done her best to look presentable that day. Had defied her father by wearing a bit of Mackintosh plaid even though she was convinced that he’d not want her once he saw her scarred back and legs.
“And what would ye have done had I made advances to consummate the marriage that night?” he asked solemnly.
Frederick's Queen: The Clan Graham Series Page 42
