by GG Shalton
They answered in unison, “Good evening, my lord.”
“My men are enjoying themselves. I must thank you again for including us in your celebrations. The music is wonderful.”
Jakub nodded. “You are most welcome. The musicians are local to our clan. Have you danced?”
He wiped some sweat from his brow. “Not yet. I was hoping to ask Miss Tolland. Do you think your brother would mind?”
A look of concern came across his face. “You may ask, my lord. But you know how young couples are. Hardly wishing to part.”
“It’s just a dance.” The earl’s tone was a bit short causing an awkwardness in the air.
Jakub loosened his collar. “As you wish, my lord.” Thinking and hoping Ian would not start a brawl.
The earl walked away with a few guards close behind. He approached the laughing couple as Ian was whispering jests in her ears.
“Sir Ian how are you this fine evening?”
Ian looked up at him as Katherine stayed on his lap. He gently moved Katherine to the side and stood. Showing his full height to intimidate the earl, he stepped closer. “Enjoying my fiancée.”
The earl was a big man himself and did not cower. “I just commented to your brother on how enjoyable the music sounded. He said the musicians were from your village. It’s nice to have such talent for clan celebrations. I must invite them to play at my castle in the future.”
Ian didn’t offer any polite talk back and simply nodded.
“Your brother suggested that I dance, and I was hoping to find a partner to enjoy the music. May I ask your permission to dance with Miss Tolland?”
Ian sized up the earl before answering—a move that normally intimidated most men. Although the manners of the earl were impeccable, and he showed no visible sign of being uncomfortable, Ian obviously didn’t trust him. The men waited a few seconds for Ian to answer.
“As you wish,” he answered in a shocking display of diplomacy. “If she is agreeable.”
Katherine glanced at him with apprehension. He touched her shoulders to calm her and smiled.
The earl cleared his throat and turned to Katherine, holding out his hand. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
She looked back at Ian for assistance. He winked at her. “One dance, my love for our honored guest. If you feel up to it.”
Not wanting to be rude, she stood up and curtsied. “Very well, my lord.”
The earl placed her hand on his arm and escorted her to the dance floor. They lined up across from each other and waited for the music to start. The earl’s gaze was a bit conspicuous and made her feel uncomfortable. Looking down at his chest, she refused to make eye contact. She was unfamiliar with this dance, and only had practiced it a few times with her brothers. Following the lead of the other couples, the moves became easier. Carefully avoiding his stare, she searched the room and saw Ian looking at her as he spoke to his brother. She watched him taking a drink of ale and wiping his mouth before turning to his brother and walking away.
“Are you enjoying the dance?” The earl’s deep voice broke her from her stupor. She looked at him as he stepped around her to the other side of the line.
Holding up her hand to meet his, she whispered, “I am my lord. But I must confess that I am not a very good dancer.”
He cracked a smile. “Nonsense.”
She brought her hand down and moved past the man on her right in the spirit of the dance, the other couples held up their hands as the couples switched again, leaving her back in front of the earl.
“You are being too kind. I was not allowed to dance at my father’s house. He always said I was too young. I only danced with my brothers for their practice.”
He smiled. “You’re doing great, lass.”
She smiled back and finished the dance. He escorted her back to where Ian was, but he had disappeared. They searched around and did not see him. Katherine tugged her hand away from his arm and curtsied. “I am fine, my lord. You don’t have to wait.”
“I enjoy your company, Miss Tolland. I am sure your betrothed will be back momentarily.”
A maid came by and the earl took two glasses of wine and handed one to Katherine. “You look thirsty.”
“Thank you.” She took a drink and listened to another song playing as she tapped her foot to the music. Smiling demurely, she put the cup down on the table. “I wish I would have learned to play an instrument when I was younger.”
“You are not that old, my dear. You can still learn. In my home, there are many instruments. I like music as well.”
She smiled. “Perhaps, I will ask Ian if I can learn. I shall like to play every day.”
He took another drink studying Katherine as she watched the couples dance. This was a circle dance, one she had not seen before. She felt arms go around her waist and she jerked slightly around seeing Ian. He kissed her on the cheek. “You looked fetching out there.”
She laughed. “Liar. You know I missed many steps. I had a wonderful time though.”
The earl interrupted their conversation. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Tolland.” He turned to Ian saying, “Have a good evening, Sir Ian.”
Ian looked at him and nodded then turned back to Katherine. He whispered in her ear as they chuckled. She leaned against him and kissed his neck, catching the earl watching their exchange before walking away.
Chapter 17
A few of earl’s officers were waiting for the him by the table that was assigned to their group. The rest of the army danced outside under the tents. Other clans had also come and there were many women available for dancing.
His Master of Arms was a great friend and laughed as he sat down. “Of all the willing lassies in here, you choose to dance with the betrothed. Are you not going to dance with anyone else?”
He cracked a smile. “I will. I just wanted a moment to know what it would be like to touch someone so lovely. Can you imagine the luck that man has?”
His Master of Arms shrugged. “I know. We have been trying to figure it out. Ian Travis is known as a savage, even by Scot standards. His massive size is probably enough to deter any decent woman. Yet, she seems to favor him.” Taking a drink, he let out a loud belch, some of his men groaning at his manners.
One of the commanders leaned over and said, “Rumors fly around about her fiancé in England. Apparently, the Earl of Delbert is one of the most sought-after bachelors in the English court and she gave him up with all his money and status to be a wife of a mercenary. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
“Women? Who knows what goes through their minds.” The earl took a drink and joined his men laughing and joking.
Ian escorted Katherine to her maid. He made a show of kissing her on the cheek and bidding her a good night. He had a guard walk behind them on the pretense that she was retiring for the night. He stayed and drank with a few of his men for another thirty minutes and then made excuses to leave. He walked to his tower, sneaking out the back door and making his way back to the castle unseen. Walking up the back stairs, he knocked on the door to Katherine’s chamber. She was waiting for him as they came together again as husband and wife. It was exciting to be discreet about their lovemaking, but she longed to wake up in his arms. She couldn’t wait to be married.
A few days later, Ian walked into the weaving room looking for Katherine. “I received a missive from Dorian. They will be here on Saturday for the wedding. He said your sister is afraid you are upset with her because of your brother’s taking you. She hopes you can forgive her.”
“I was so hurt by her not fighting harder for me. She has never agreed to this union between you and me. I am not sure why she wants to come to our wedding.”
“Katherine, your sister is not my favorite person either. It’s obvious she does not want you to marry me. But you h
ave left all you know back in England. A family member would be nice to have at your wedding. I will support your decision.”
“You know, for someone with a supposed black heart, you give great advice about forgiveness.”
He laughed. “For you, not me.” Leaning over, he kissed her nose. “I must go train with my men. I will see you at dinner.”
Katherine spent most her day with Marion—she was becoming close to her soon-to-be mother-in-law and enjoyed their time together. The castle staff was kind to her and did not treat her as an outsider. Even the guards gave her due respect. Either the wrath of Ian scared them, or they were genuinely glad she was there.
Later that evening, Katherine watched outside the window waiting for Ian. She noticed many soldiers filling the bailey and people scrambling in the keep. Ian had sent word that he would escort her to dinner, but he never came. Growing weary of his tardiness, she left her chamber to walk to the great hall. Servants were running in the corridors with piles of blankets and other supplies. Katherine grew worried at their somber expressions and rushed to find Ian. Unable to locate him in the hall, she tried to find Marion.
“There you are.” She turned around recognizing the familiar voice. It took her a moment to recognize her husband with all the chain mail. Furrowing her brow, she knew this wasn’t good. “What is happening?”
He took off his gauntlet and touched her face. “My love, the rebels have broken through a stronghold in the north, and we have been asked to help. The villages have close ties to our clan and we can’t refuse. People are dying, and they are burning homes. There are important castles that must be secured before they are breached as well. Time is of the essence and we must leave at once. I would give my right arm not to hurt you, but we must postpone our wedding. I hope you can understand.”
Katherine was in shock with all the activity going on around them. Swallowing hard, she tried to compose herself. “Of course, you must help. We will get married when you return.”
He leaned his forehead on top of hers. “We are already husband and wife. Please don’t ever forget that. This ceremony is only a formality for our families. I love you and will rush back to you as soon as I can.” He reached over and kissed her lips softly lingering until he had to break away. “I must go and lead the men.”
She whispered, “I love you. Stay safe, my love.”
He donned his helm and opened the visor to look at her. “Always.”
The next few weeks flew by and Katherine learned the lay of the castle and village. She fell into a routine of taking long walks, reading in the gardens, and weaving when time allowed. Dinners were lonely as most of the men were gone. A small army stayed to guard the castle, but it still felt empty without the brothers at home. Missives were sent to wedding guests to postpone the wedding. Katherine thought about Ian mostly, but sometimes her thoughts turned to her sister. She was still angry at Deanna but had to admit that she missed her too. Deanna was always headstrong and quick to temper. Then again, she was the only family she had left and that alone should be a reason to forgive her. Katherine decided to write a missive and invite her to stay a few weeks with her. It was a brief two-day travel distance between them. Only one night on the road.
After a few more weeks, her moods started changing. She no longer wanted to take long walks or go to the great hall for dinner. Her mind was always racing with possible tragedies. The weather started to change, and Katherine stayed more and more in her chamber. One night, there was a celebration of a new birth. Marion practically insisted that she join them, and reluctantly she agreed.
Coming upon the table of women, she noticed them cooing over the new life. Bending down, she smiled touching the baby’s foot. “He is adorable.” She looked at the mother who beamed from head to toe.
“Thank you. He will surely make his Da proud.”
Katherine had heard the father was fighting with the men. She tried to stay at least a few moments listening to the women talk about the baby but was unable to keep herself still. A depression clouded over her and she stood up looking over at Marion. “Forgive me, I have the worse headache and must retire.”
A look of concern swept over Marion’s face. “Of course, my dear. I will check on you later.”
Katherine went back to her chamber. It was raining outside, and she spent a few hours just sitting at her window watching it come down. She wondered how Ian was faring and if it was raining where he was. Not wanting to catch a chill, she finally stood up and walked back to her bed. Running her fingers across the covers, she closed her eyes remembering Ian’s last night there. How she wished she could still smell him. The laundered sheets had no trace of him any longer. Sadness enveloped her, and her chest hurt. Only the memories in her mind gave her comfort. She had to find a way to occupy her time or she would never survive this separation.
Katherine stayed in her bed the next couple of days not wanting to get up. Marion finally made her bathe and dress. Every time she tried to lift her head, she would feel nauseous. She knew this could be a sign of pregnancy and tried to calculate her last womanly flow. After thinking about it for a few moments, she realized it was a few months ago, right after she was brought to England. That means they had to be officially married soon or people would know. Making herself get up, she washed her face and drank some mead.
Marion greeted her in the great hall. “You look a little pale, but I am happy you are up. We have news. The guards have spotted a riding party. They should be here within the hour.”
Katherine touched her stomach to try to settle it. “Oh, thank God. It’s torture not knowing.”
Marion reached out and rubbed her shoulder. “We must pray for good news. Come and join me in the chapel.” Katherine followed her with a few of the other women. They prayed for the men’s safety and then returned to the great hall to wait for the party’s arrival.
Chapter 18
The riding party was large, which gave hope that the battle was over. The army was probably not too far behind. If there were only a messenger, then the party would have been much smaller. The horn sounded that they had reached the gates and the villagers gathered to welcome them home. Katherine stood outside beside Marion and a few of the other wives waiting for news.
Katherine saw Jakub enter the gates alongside a few of his brothers. Their faces were serious, and she knew immediately there was something wrong. Her eyes scanned the men entering behind him, frantically searching for Ian. Where was he? Not able to move, she stood in her spot as Marion walked to Jakub. He whispered in her ear and Marion fell to her knees. The other women started crying and the group slowly turned around to look at Katherine. Her face drained of blood as her heart hammered in her chest. Marion wailed and a few of her sons lifted her up and tried to comfort her.
Jakub walked over to Katherine. She shook her head, not wanting him to say it. Somehow, if she did not hear it, then it was not true. He opened his arms and pulled her against his chest. “Forgive me for not being able to save him.” She let out a sob and couldn’t catch her breath. It was too much, and blackness surrounded her.
“Katherine, wake up.” She heard a voice that sounded like she was in a cave. “Katherine?” She opened her eyes to Marion and Jakub standing over her.
“Where am I?” She sat up startled and scared.
“Relax. I carried you up to your chamber. Take a drink.” Katherine accepted a cup of watered wine from him and took a big gulp.
“Tell me what happened.” Her fingers were shaking, and Jakub held the cup steady for her. Marion sat on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were already swollen as tears still dripped from them.
Jakub tried to compose himself as he patted her hand. “It’s too soon.”
Katherine protested. “Please don’t treat me as a child. I need to know what happened.”
He paused with hesitation seemingly changing his m
ind before speaking. “Very well. I will tell you,” his voice cracked. “We were ambushed by one of the rebel groups. It was chaos and we were not prepared for so many of them. It quickly became every man for themselves.”
Katherine inhaled sharply, and he paused to look at her. “At one point, we started retreating and running away, but there were more waiting for us by the ridge.” He ran his hands over his face, visibly tortured. After a moment, he continued. “We ran across the ridge looking for an escape. I was beside Ian and a few of our men. We came to a cliff as it was getting dark, and we could hear the rebels coming up behind us. I jumped to the side landing on the ledge. I thought they would follow me, but I couldn’t see them. I crawled to an alcove near the cliff hiding under it. After a few moments, I saw them all falling past me into the ocean.”
Katherine cried, “You saw Ian?”
Unshed tears filled his eyes. “I did.” He let out a groan. “It tore my heart out to see my little brother fall past me into the ocean. I couldn’t save him.”
Katherine grabbed his arm. “Maybe he survived?”
He lowered his head. “I thought the same at first. He is a strong swimmer. I waited all night for the rebels to leave so I could go below and check. When I was able to climb down and reach the shores, the rebels were burning the bodies. I waited until they left and went to the burnt ashes. I found his necklace.”
Katherine struggled to breathe again. Taking quick breaths, she panicked and held her chest. Jakub reached out and rubbed her back. “Take deep breaths, Katherine. Ian would want you to take care of yourself. I promise I will keep his memory alive. I wish I could have at least brought you his body.”
He wrapped his arms around her as she cried into his chest. He stroked her hair and sat with her as his mother leaned against his other shoulder. After a few minutes, a knock on the door separated the three.
