by Sarah Hoss
He wiped his mouth. “Who else is going?”
“Athol, James, and Ewan. James wants to take a deer to old lady Parson.”
He nodded in agreement. “I will accompany him then. Make sure there isn’t wood to be chopped or repairs to be made.”
“Good idea.”
Marcus turned back to speak to Athol who sat beside him.
Gillian glanced around the room. “I wanted to speak to James for a moment. I need to find some way to earn my keep. I can’t just sit and twiddle my thumbs every day. I’ll go crazy.”
“Well, James is the chief’s second in command, but Bruce is the castellan.”
She turned in her seat and looked quizzically at him. “What is a castellan?”
“He is the one in charge of the castle. A custodian, if you wish.”
She thought about what he said.
“I will take ye to him, now, if ye like?”
“Yes, please.”
Hamish rose from the table first and lightly gripped her elbow to help her from her seat. This was the perfect excuse to get out from between Rebecca and Gillian. He knew Rebecca watched him. He knew she wanted him, but his heart lay with the woman at his side and nothing would change that.
He understood now why James kept to himself and didn’t involve himself with the women of the castle, which is why he went into town once in a while.
They went out of the dining hall and into the main foyer. Turning right, he led her down a hall past the chapel. There was a door on the left. It was closed but it set back a little. He pulled her into the privacy it offered and kissed her. The surprise of it made a little moan escape her. The kiss was quick, but urgent—hot, but gentle.
“I think you and I ought to go walking more often.” She winked at him and stepped out into the hallway.
“Aye, I’ll remember that.”
Two doors down from the chapel was Bruce’s room. He knocked and waited.
Footsteps echoed on the stone floor as the man approached. The click of the handle and the slow opening of the door revealed the owner of the room.
“Bruce, good morning.”
“Tis good to see ye, Hamish.”
He tugged on Gillian’s arm to stand more beside him than behind him so he could introduce her.
“If I may, this is Gillian Meadows. She is a friend of Alexander and Marlana.”
“Wonderful to meet ye.” He bowed to her.
“Thank you. It’s very nice to meet you, too.”
Bruce turned his attention to Hamish. “How are Alexander and Marlana?”
He escorted them into his room and pulled out two chairs for them to sit in. Hamish held Gillian’s chair then sat down.
“They are doing well. Their daughter was born just a sennight past. They named her Margaret.”
The man patted his knee and smiled from ear to ear. He never knew this man to be anything but happy and cheerful.
“It’s as it should be then.” He turned toward Gillian. “So, might I inquire as to the wonderful meeting of such a beautiful woman?”
She blushed and Hamish thought she’d never looked more beautiful.
“Gillian was visiting my brother and his wife when they had the baby. I brought her here to show her the land and the castle but to also give them time alone as a new family. She would like a job to do.”
He studied her for a moment. “I know just the place for ye. We can send ye to the candle maker. How is that?”
“It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
They all stood. “Then I shall escort ye there myself,” Bruce said.
Once out of his room, he walked with them down the hallway making idle conversation about this and that. Once back in the main foyer, Hamish said his goodbyes to both.
Now, to find James and the other men and go hunting. He was relieved to know that she would be well kept and feeling useful. He knew this world was different from hers, and thought she was fitting in very nicely.
Rebecca approached and he inwardly grimaced. He began walking and she trotted up next to him.
“How are ye, Hamish?”
“Fine, Rebecca. And ye?” He stopped, eyeing her suspiciously.
“I’m feeling much better. Thank ye.”
“That’s good.” He began to walk again.
She reached out to his arm, trying to stay him. “Hamish, I need to talk to ye and James, please.”
He nodded. “Of course.” She must be ready to tell about her ordeal in the woods. If he could get information from her, then while they were out hunting, they might be able to find who was responsible and bring them to justice.
“Follow me.”
He led her to the Great Hall where all the men stood. “Wait here.” He left her standing off to the side and approached his brother. “James, I need a moment with ye. Rebecca wants to talk to us. I think she may be ready to tell us about what happened to her.”
His brother nodded. “Athol, take the men and go east. We have a matter to take care of and will meet you in that area.”
“Aye.” The men departed and James and Hamish approached Rebecca. “Follow us. We’ll go into the library.”
The three of them walked down the hallway and took the first door to the right. This was the closest room without going to the third floor solar.
Making sure they were alone, James held the door open and let the others in. The room was slightly rounded being on the bottom floor of one of the towers. A window was set into the middle of the one rounded wall. The outer two walls held several shelves of books along with some decorations here and there. The last wall was the one connected to the castle and held the door. On each side of it were two large sconces holding candles.
A table off to the right of the room had two chairs, one sitting on either side of it. James held one of the chairs for Rebecca and took the other for himself, then leaned forward slightly, resting his arm on the table. “Are ye ready to tell us about what happened the day in the woods?”
She glanced between both men and shook her head. “Nay, it’s not why I asked to speak to ye.”
James straightened and peered over at Hamish. Then, looking back to her, he asked, “What is it then?”
She appeared nervous, glancing back and forth between the two of them. Hamish walked over and knelt down in front of her. She worked in the laundry and always smelled of the lye they used in the soap. She toyed with a piece of her dress as she peeked up at him from under her lashes.
“Hamish,” she paused and swallowed, “I am with child.”
He sat, squatted in front of her for a moment. Unable to, at first, comprehend what she had said. He heard James inhale but it sounded far away and he knew his brother was only a foot or two off to his side. He held her gaze, trying to decide if she played him false or spoke the truth.
He stood and walked away from her. Anger began to pool in his gut. Bringing his hand up to his mouth, he rubbed several times over his mouth and chin, thinking. A child?
“Are ye sure, lass?” James asked.
“Aye. I’ve had all the symptoms.” She focused back on Hamish. “I was going to tell ye last night, but we were interrupted.”
His world came crashing down around him. He turned suddenly. “With child? And are ye sure it’s mine?”
She stood, angry at his accusation. “Aye, it’s yers. I’ve counted back and it had to have been the night before you left.” She placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward at the waist a little. “Remember?”
“If ye laid so easily with me, then how do I know ye didn’t lie with someone else, too?”
She walked up to him and slapped him across the face. The sound echoed through the room. “How dare ye imply such a thing? I have never hidden the fact that I love ye.”<
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“And I never hid the fact that I offer ye nothing in return.”
James came forward and stepped in between the two. “Rebecca, ye will control yerself.” He then turned his sights on his brother. “And ye, ye will speak nobly. If this child is yers, ye must do what is right.”
His anger knew no bounds, but his heart began to sink. He stared at Rebecca. He didn’t love her. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life with her. His future was to be with Gillian and she was to be the mother of his children. Tension was thick in the room and he found it hard to breathe. When Rebecca apologized and reached out to him, he brushed her away and stepped back.
He wasn’t really mad at her for being pregnant. For Christ’s sake, he’d lain with her after all. He was angry at himself for being so careless. He was angry that fate had brought him a wonderful woman in Gillian, only to make it so he couldn’t have her.
“Rebecca, will ye leave my brother and I alone for a moment? I must speak to him. I will come and find ye.” Hamish turned to her. “Please speak of this to no one until ye and I have had a moment to talk.”
She gave a half smile and nodded. Taking one last glance between James and Hamish, she began to leave the room. Stopping, she turned back, her hand resting on the door latch. “I’ll be waiting in my room.”
“Nay, I’ll come find ye. We are to go hunting. We will speak after the evening meal.”
She nodded, then left.
As soon as she was gone, he walked over to the edge of the bookshelf, near the window, grabbed a glass off the table and poured some wine. He downed the contents then filled his glass again.
James approached. “Brother, let’s discuss this.”
He stared at the glass that was in his hand. After a moment, he threw it across the room. It shattered into a million pieces. Finally, something that looked on the outside as he felt on the inside.
“What is there to say?”
James took a seat. Leaning over, he placed his elbows on his knees. “Are ye sure it’s yers?”
He shrugged. “I admit to having laid with her on several occasions. Am I the only one to do so?” He shrugged again. He came over to sit in the chair next to his brother. “I doona wanna marry her. I love Gillian.”
James slapped his knee a few times. “I know ye do, but there is a child and ye must marry her. Ye canna have a bastard child running around and ye canna disgrace Rebecca that way. Ye would ruin her life forever.” James eyed him. “Tis her word against yers.”
“I have to talk to Gillian. She feels the same about me. I doona want her to hear it from anyone else.”
James agreed. The men sat and talked for a moment longer, then decided to join the hunt as they had promised. As things went, he and the group didn’t return until the middle of the evening meal. They’d been successful in their hunt, bringing back four deer. One of the deer they’d killed, they skinned and butchered for old woman Parson. That’s what had taken so long. She was insistent on them staying for a cup of tea to warm themselves before they left.
As the group walked into the dining hall, he searched the room to find Gillian. She sat in the middle as always. She was beautiful. Her black hair shimmered with the candle light and was pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck. Her tan skin looked even darker against the brown of her dress. He smiled and she returned the gesture.
As he approached her table, he heard a clinking of metal to metal behind him. He paused and turned around. The chief was standing. He waved to Hamish to approach him.
Once he reached the table, he motioned for someone else and he turned to see who it was. Rebecca slowly walked toward him.
“Cluny? Did ye want something?”
When Rebecca stood at his side, the chief motioned for them to turn around and face the crowd. His heart began to sink and he wondered what it was all about.
“I want ye all to raise yer glass in a toast for I found out today that Hamish and Rebecca have planned to marry in a month.”
Cheers engulfed the room. “Salinte,” roared everyone. A few of the men jumped out of their seats to come over and slap him on the back, wishing them both congratulations. Rebecca received kisses on her cheek and when he glanced down at her, she was beaming. They wouldn’t be able to scrape the smile off her face for three days.
Had she orchestrated this from the beginning? The only way for the chief to find out was from her, for only she and James knew about it and he’d been with James all day. Damn that woman. He searched frantically in the sea of people for Gillian. When his eyes met hers, she glanced away, but not before he saw the anger and devastation written in her features.
The bite she had just taken was heavenly. If there was only one thing she could say about living in the past, it would be that they sure knew how to cook. Everything was fresh—either hunted, grown, or planted. There were no preservatives, no added ingredients, and it tasted wonderful.
James came to sit beside her and she swallowed quickly the carrots she had taken a bite of and smiled at him. “Hello.”
“Hello,” he said and reached across the table to grab a plate.
She searched the area for Hamish. “Where is your brother?”
“He will be along in just a moment.” He turned to glance at her and gave her a wink.
She felt the heat on her neck and knew it had to be creeping up to her cheeks as she blushed. Leaning into him, she bumped him with her shoulder. “How was the hunt? Were you successful?” She took a bite of the bread. It was still warm.
“Aye, we killed four deer. A fifth one was butchered and given to an elderly woman to help her through the winter.”
She turned slightly toward him and laid down her piece of bread. “See, that’s what I love about you guys. You take care of one another.”
The room was very large, but it still held a cozy, family atmosphere. Candle sconces were hung on the wall about eight feet apart all around the room. Overhead there were two large chandeliers made of iron. Between all of that and the fireplace, the room was warm and well lit.
All around her, people chatted. Men spoke of fighting, horses, or repairs. The woman spoke of children, their husbands, or chores. It made her smile. There are some things that through the centuries, would never change. There was something about listening to the chatter that made her feel at home. The scene in which she found herself didn’t feel alien.
She began to take another bite, when the chief stood, requesting everyone’s attention.
“I want ye all to raise yer glass in a toast for I found out today that Hamish and Rebecca have plans to marry in a month.”
The bite of bread she was getting ready to place into her mouth suspended in mid-air. Her eyes stayed focused on the man across the table from her. She could see the pulse beat in his neck until he turned to look up front. She dropped the food on the plate and brought both of her hands to the bench beside her. She desperately wanted to look up front but wasn’t sure she could do it so she stayed focused on the man in front of her. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw James clap and heard him cheer, but he placed his hand on the bench over the top of hers.
It felt as if the pit of her stomach became hollow even though she had just eaten. Closing her eyes, she took a breath.
“James, I want to leave.”
He clapped again. “Wait a moment, then you can. I’ll tell ye when, but not a moment sooner.”
“Why?”
“Would be rude.”
She nodded.
Engaged? This was a cruel joke. How can he be engaged? They were just together, talking about their future, sharing moments only lovers shared. A thought entered her mind and she turned quickly to glare at him. If he was planning on marrying that harlot, and keeping her on the side as his mistress, well then, he had another thing coming. She would be damn
ed before she ever played someone’s whore.
People walked toward the couple to give their congratulations and she used this time to make her getaway. She couldn’t sit in this room any longer and be cheerful or happy for them, not when her world was crashing down around her.
She stood from her seat, but as she did so, James gripped her hand.
“Are ye all right?”
Glancing one more time to Hamish and Rebecca, she peered down to James. She shook her head. “No, I’m not.” Smiling at him, she swung her leg over the bench.
He squeezed her hand and let go. She walked calmly out of the hall and headed for the stairs. Reaching them, she then began to cry. She placed her hand on the stone wall to steady herself as her shoulders shook and tears fell hard. Her other hand came to cover her mouth. She didn’t want to be heard. Quickly, she ran up the stairs and to the room that had been given to her. She slammed the door and threw herself down on the bed.
“Ow.” She sat up and rubbed her hip bones. Beds made in the 1700’s were not the same as beds made in the future. The wooden frame stuck out. She sighed.
The chair by the table looked inviting. She pulled it over to the fireplace. Once she had rekindled the small flame and had a good fire going, she tucked herself up into the chair. Her head hurt from crying and she didn’t want to think. Laying her arms across her knees, she laid the side of her face on her arms and watched the flames. They were beautiful. The pop and crackle was the music and the orange and yellow flames danced to the music around the logs. Their moves were at times short bursts of energy then would slow to a rolling wave.
