by Sondra Grey
“Wait. No. You misunderstood me. I misunderstood you.” Annis said, hurriedly.
Adam stopped talking.
“They didn’t touch me. I was falling asleep when you asked. They roughed me up. They threw me on the ground. They tied my hands and my feet. But they didn’t otherwise molest me.”
Adam had gone still and after watching her for a moment he strode back to the chair and sat down.
“They weren’t going to do that until it was clear that I wasn’t pregnant with your child. Then they were going to have our marriage annulled, and…and then…” she couldn’t bring herself to say it, but she didn’t need to. Adam understood.
And just like that, the mood changed.
Adam went from fragile to furious, then from furious to deadly calm. Annis watched as his jaw firmed, as a new light came into his eyes and he looked at her with such intention that she nearly cowered back into her pillows.
“That’s it then,” he said, quietly.
“What’s it?” asked Annis, afraid to hear the answer.
Adam shook his head. “I thought as much.”
“Adam what did you think?”
He pressed his lips flat. “Evidence of our marriage will lie only in the creation of a child. An heir to Inveralt.”
Annis nodded. Yes. She had understood this when Ewan Cameron told her as much. But she’d known it before as well. It was why David had tried so hard, those first few years of their marriage, to get her with child.
“The Camerons won’t stop,” said Adam. “They’ll return, and their goal will be the same. To marry you to one of Lochiel’s get and secure Inveralt for Clan Cameron.”
Annis took a deep breath. She knew what was coming.
“The only way to insure they don’t succeed in this is to get you with child, and quickly.”
Adam reached for the buckle on his belt and Annis sat up and sat back. “What are you doing?” she asked, knowing full well what he was about.
“Did you not hear me?” he said, hand pausing over his belt.
“I heard you,” said Annis. “But you can’t…you can’t mean now!?”
“I mean to lie with you every chance I get until there’s a babe,” he said, looking grim. Annis blinked. She knew that look. It was the look David gave her before he bed her, the look she’d never hoped to see on Adam’s face.
She closed her eyes. Was it just a few days ago that they’d slept together in this bed? And she’d been overcome with joy? Was it not just a day ago, when he’d rescued her from the loch’s edge and she’d felt so safe in his arms?
The man looking down at her now was not the man who’d loved her so thoroughly those few nights ago. This was a different Adam entirely. This Adam wasn’t about pleasure, or love, he was about business.
She could hear Ewan Cameron’s voice in her head: Getting her pregnant won’t be such a chore. The romance she’d envisioned for herself dissolved in the face of Adam’s determination.
She shook her head. “No Adam. Not now. Of course not now! I’m black and blue everywhere!”
“It’s the only way to secure Inveralt in to get you with child. This is your duty as my wife, Annis.”
“No Adam,” said Annis. “No. Certainly not now. And definitely not like this.”
“Do you want to fall into the Cameron’s hands again?” said Adam, incredulously, his voice rising.
“I know you won’t let that happen,” said Annis, trying to sound surer of herself.
“Annis…” Adam warned.
But Annis shook her head. “No,” she said, stubbornly. “If you want to use me as a field to be sown, I’ll not submit willingly.”
Adam held her stare. Then he cursed, turned, and swung his fist at the wall. It met the hard wood with a sickening thud. Annis winced.
Adam cursed again, slammed his fist against the door once more and left the room.
Chapter 13
A dam readied the keep for his father’s army, clearing the fields, where they might camp, and stocking Inveralt’s depleted stores.
He knew how long it would take his father to receive his letter, and knew how long it would take him to ready troops. But he was shocked when a rider returned in just two weeks’ time with a letter.
Duncan brought Adam the letter while the Laird of Inveralt was in his study, trying to estimate how much it would cost to replace their beef cattle.
Duncan’s face look grim as he handed Adam the note he’d already opened and read.
Adam glanced at the writing, noting his father’s penmanship, and sat back to read the Lord of Duart’s response.
As he read, he grew angry. “He can’t be serious!” Adam thundered, crumbling the note in his hand and flinging it across the small study.
Duncan watched his brother, lips pressed thin. He knew what the note said: The King was sending men to aid the French, which meant war with the English was on the horizon, and the Macleans needed all their men to fight for Scotland. War might be in one year, in two, or in three, but it was imminent, and the Lord of Duart would not lose men battling the Camerons.
Sometimes, there is more to life than wounded pride. Secure your marriage. Get your wife with child. The Camerons will have no recourse but to leave Inveralt to us.
“How could he let the slight go,” swore Adam, standing and crossing from one side of the office to the next. “They kidnapped my wife!”
“You know his reasons are sound,” said Duncan, keeping his voice calm. “You’ll have your revenge Adam, but can your revenge not take a different form? The men are already working to set the fields to right, to repair the keep. They’ve started to build on the lands near the empty fields. Can you focus instead, on Inveralt, on all that can be done here? There’s naught much we can do if father will not send you fighting men. You know the Macleans of Argdour will not send men either, not without Duart’s blessing.”
“I know it,” said Adam, bracing his hands against the wall to stare out the window. Each day more and more people were arriving from the surrounding countryside looking for work. Word had spread throughout the countryside that the new Laird of Inveralt was a wealthy man.
“Living well might be the best revenge,” said Duncan, softly, clapping a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Adam curled his lip at Duncan and jabbed a finger at the scar that ran from the corner of his left eye to his mouth. “First he cuts my face. Then he kidnaps my wife. I’ll have Ewan Cameron’s head and not be satisfied until I do.”
Duncan sighed and closed his eyes, asking God for the strength to deal with his brother. “Can not you do as Father suggests? Till your fields. Get your wife with child. Inveralt will celebrate your wife’s conception with the autumn harvest.”
Adam snorted. To make matters worse, it had been two weeks since he’d returned with Annis in his arms. Two weeks and she’d not allowed him in her bed. Granted, it had taken a few days for her to be up and moving, but even once her bruises had faded, she’d not allowed him to touch her.
Adam sighed and raked a hand across his head. Loathe as he was to admit to his inadequacies as a husband, perhaps Duncan would have some advice. “Annis refuses to allow me into her bed.”
Duncan blinked, uncertain if he heard his brother correctly. “Repeat,” he ordered.
Adam’s shoulder’s stiffened, and he inclined his head, eyes narrowing at Duncan. “Annis won’t let me touch her.”
Duncan’s brows drew low. “Did you not consummate the marriage already?”
“Of course we did!”
“Did you use her ill then?”
Adam grimaced and held his hands up, helplessly. “I don’t think so.”
“Was she ill used by Cameron then?”
“She says she wasn’t.”
Duncan was perplexed. If anyone could charm his way beneath a lady’s skirts it was his golden complexioned, silver-tongued brother. He tried to think of the interactions that he’d witnessed in them over the last two weeks. Annis had spent a fe
w abed, convalescing, before she’d joined the women in the kitchens and in the keep. She’d kept herself busy, working with Lachlan (whom Adam had taken on as steward). He hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
“I’ve tried a few times,” said Adam, sounding frustrated. “She stiffens up and will not let me uncross her legs.”
Duncan nodded, understanding coming upon him. “Let me guess,” he said to his brother’s back. “You told her about the Camerons, and about securing Inveralt. You told her you needed a child on her to secure the title.”
“Well of course I did! I wasn’t going to lie to her. Annis is no fool. She knows why Ewan took her.”
“And she says she’ll not be used, is that it?”
Adam’s silence told Duncan everything he needed to know. “Lord, Adam,” said Duncan, rolling his eyes. “You are one of god’s special creatures.”
“Be careful brother,” Adam warned, spinning to face his brother.
“She’s not one of your serving maids. Would you treat any of them thusly? Would you say to your precious Lady Abercrombie ‘Come Gertie. Open your legs so we might make a child!’”
Adam narrowed his eyes at his brother. “Say what you’re trying to say, Duncan.”
“That’s Annis is no different from any other young lady. She wants to be wooed, you daft idiot. You can’t just announce your plans to get her with child. From all I’ve heard of her late husband, that was the sort of thing he did. If you want your wife in your bed, you’ll have to convince her that she wants to be there.”
Duncan picked up their father’s note from the floor. “In the meantime. There are cottages to be built, a roof to fix, and if I have to watch your wife drift around her own house in any more of those atrocious brown gowns, I’ll send for a tailor myself!”
Annis wiped a sweaty hand across her brow and stood up. The bruises on her ribs had faded to nothing, her hands were healing nicely. The only thing that still ached occasionally was her ankle, but she’d gotten over trying to favor it. There was work to be done.
Adam had agreed to hire a gardener and just yesterday, they’d had a man come in from Ardery to see to the grounds. Connor Hawes was in his forties and hailed, originally, from Aberdeen. He’d an accent so thick that Annis could barely understand him, and seemed perpetually sour. But he knew a great deal about plants, and he had a good idea of what he wished the grounds to look like. He and Annis had spent several days discussing plans before he’d sent a contingent of Macleans off to Glencoe with instructions for what seeds and plants he needed.
Annis and Elise were helping him chop down the overgrowth and clear out dead vines. Every once and a while, Connor would happen upon a plant that met with his approval, but there’d been a quite a few plants that they’d had to dig up so that he could move them elsewhere.
Annis and Elise were in the process of doing just that. There was a young bush that Connor wanted moved over towards the east corner of the garden, and the two women were digging at the delicate roots in attempt to unearth the plant.
“Annis,” said Elise, touching her own forehead. “You’ve got smeared dirt.”
Annis shrugged. “Leave it. It doesn’t matter.”
“But what if Adam happens upon you here? Do you want your husband to see you all dirt streaked?”
Annis shrugged. A bit of mud would hardly ruin her appeal to Adam. He didn’t care if she was plain or attractive. He cared only that he might get her with child. Adam had been tireless in her pursuit of her up until a few days ago. He’d grown sick of her avoidances and had all but pried her legs apart, only to stop at the last moment. He’d cursed, slammed his hand into the pillows and left her room. He’d not spoken to her since.
“It won’t matter much if I’m covered in mud,” she said. “To be honest, Elise, I doubt he’ll notice.”
Adam’s silence tormented her. She watched him stalk around Inveralt, intent in its repairs. Annis watched him discretely every chance she got. He moved like a whirlwind from one task to the next and, before her eyes, Inveralt was changing.
That he cared so much about her land made her love him all the more, and she hated that she was falling in love with him. She hadn’t loved David, he’d been old, balding, and sour, and so his disregard of her had not hurt her overmuch. But Adam – he was so beautiful, so impressive, so careful with the details of the estate. His men respected and loved him. It was clear that many of the Macleans meant to stay on at Inveralt, to work the land nearby. That he wanted her only to secure his legacy at Inveralt pained her to distraction.
“What makes you think your husband does not notice you?” said Elise. “Trust me, Annis. He watches you intently. I’ve seen him do so.”
Annis shrugged. She knew that, too. She’d felt his eyes on her often enough, but they were full of anger, frustration.
“There are rumors,” said Elise, carefully. “That you are refusing to share his bed.”
Annis glanced sharply at her friend. “Who’s spreading these rumors?” There had been several new hires at Inveralt, but who among them would know about her and Adam?
Elise colored and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Is it true?”
It was Annis’ turn to grow embarrassed and she attacked the ground with her trowel. “Is it any business of yours?”
“Why are you refusing Adam’s bed? Has he used you ill?”
Annis shook her head. How could she explain?
“But he’s your husband,” said Elise. “How can you refuse him? You never refused David…”
“No, I never did. And once he realized he couldn’t get me with child, he stopped wanting me!”
Annis hadn’t meant to raise her voice.
Elise’ look was sympathetic. “Is that it? You’re worried that once Adam gets you with child he won’t be interested anymore?”
“He’s not interested now,” said Annis.
Elise looked at her thoughtfully. “You could make him interested,” she said.
Annis looked at her friend incredulously. “What?”
Elise shrugged. “Have you tried? Women are not powerless. If you want Adam Maclean, and if you want him to want you, you might try to seduce him.”
“With what art?” Annis sighed, sitting back in the dirt. “I’m no beauty.”
“You give yourself too little credit,” said Elise. “Adam’s a man. It won’t take much to seduce him. It takes a certain look, a touch on the arm. You find out what he likes and you strive to make sure he gets it…”
Annis shook her head, burying her hands in the dirt. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Annis,” said Elise, softly. “No one wants strife in their marriage.”
“Lady Inveralt?” Joss’s voice sounded through the garden before Joss himself emerged from behind an overgrown rose bush, to find Annis seated in the dirt. Joss blinked at the sight of his lady so composed. “My lady, the tailor’s been called from Achnannelan and is here to take your measurements.”
“My measurements?” Annis said, staring at Joss.
“For ah, new gowns, and such,” Joss colored, embarrassed to be speaking to the lady of the keep about her wardrobe.
Elise stood and offered Annis a hand, helping her friend to her feet. “I best accompany you,” said Elise. “Joss, did the Laird call the tailor?”
Joss nodded.
“Thank you,” said Elise, smiling prettily at the young squire. “Would you go find Master Hawes and let him know we’ve departed?”
Joss nodded and headed off in search of the new groundskeeper. Annis followed Elise back to the keep.
Chapter 14
T he tailor from Achnannellan was an older man, and the young man accompanying must have been a relation, for both had the same hawkish nose and small, blue eyes. She’d met both tailors before. They’d come to Inveralt a time or two when she’d needed a new gown. David had been tight fisted with his money and had always supervised the fittings, haggling over the price and promising payment on
ly once the garment had been delivered.
“Lady Inveralt, we are at your service,” said the younger tailor, while the older eyed her shrewdly. “If there’s a room where we can meet in private, we will take your measurements and discuss what type of wardrobe you deem suitable.”
Annis knew her measurements hadn’t much changed since the last time she’d been measured for a gown, but she showed the tailors into a small room, Elise accompanying her, and let them take her measure.
“You have diminished some since we last met,” said older tailor, examining the string in his hand.
“Have I?”
“With all your trials lately, and the work you’ve been doing in the gardens, you have,” Elise confirmed.
Annis shook her head in dismay.
“You’ll need a few dresses, I imagine,” said the younger tailor.
Annis sighed and nodded. “I’ll order two,” she said.
The tailors looked at each other and the one cleared his throat. “We were given to understand that you were in need of a new wardrobe.”
Annis cocked her eyes at the two men. “Will two new gowns not suffice?”
“Your husband said we were at your disposal, ma’am,” the tailor said. “That you could have anything you wanted.”
Annis nodded. “In that case, I’d like both gowns in blue.”
“We have several fabric samples for you to choose from,” said the younger tailor, reaching into a bag he’d brought with him.
“Whatever is most economical will be fine,” said Annis. She didn’t want to haggle like David did. She’d always felt so awkward standing there while her husband argued with the tailors over cost.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Annis leapt. She hadn’t heard the door open and yet, as she turned, there was Adam, standing there looking impatiently at the tailors.
“The Lady Inveralt will need at least ten new dresses…”
“Adam I do not need…”
“As well as several sets of underthings. No arguing,” he snapped at her as she opened her mouth to disagree. “You’ve holes in half your garments. And the prevalent color of your current wardrobe seems to be an incredibly unflattering shade of mud-brown.”
