Claimed By A Charmer (The Pith Trilogy)

by Griffin, Kara

  Irving became clearheaded on the fifth day of Douglas’ stay. Douglas strode into his chamber and saw Irving sitting up in his bed. “You’re finally awake enough to talk to me.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  Douglas saw his eyes lower, as if waiting for an attack that would surely do him in.

  “I rid your home of that insufferable woman. She was poisoning you and your clan.”

  Irving opened his eyes when he attained that he wasn’t going to kill him. “What woman?”

  “Moira, or rather, Morna Farley. She was hoping to gain your compliance so you’d kill me.”

  “I would never try to deliberately harm you, I …”

  “She told us before we sent her to the hereafter. You had no idea what she was up to?”

  Irving shook his head. “You killed her?”

  “Actually, Tavish killed her. She was coming at me with a dagger at the time.”

  Irving tried to move off the bed.

  “Stay there, we must talk privately. This is as good as place as any to settle the matter.” Douglas leaned back against the chair he’d taken.

  “What matter?”

  “This feud between us, I don’t know where to start.”

  “Douglas, you don’t have to say anything. I am beholden to you because you have helped me. I don’t want to fight you. Furthermore, I can’t continue …” Irving blanched at his own words. Douglas stared at him. “I continued the feud. Douglas, there’s nothing like a good feud between men to keep us … young.”

  “Listen, I have to tell you the truth.” Douglas’ brows furrowed, his scowl grew fierce.

  “All right, what?”

  “My father revealed why he feuded with your clan. My mother was taken from her wedding by your father, and when she was returned to Laird Kerr, she was carrying me.”

  “Are you saying that my father … that you’re my …”

  “Thomas was incensed because he loved Marykate. He tried to get her to forget your father, but she loved him too much, and she killed herself rather than be wed to him.”

  “My father didn’t love her. He only did it to irk Thomas. He told me so. I’m sorry he used your mother. You have every right to hate us.”

  “How can I? Your father was my father, yet I despise him for what he did. He’s dead and can’t change those facts, can he?”

  “Nay, I suppose not.”

  “I will no longer feud with you. I tried to set your keep to rights since it was my fault Morna came here. She cursed me, my life darkened the day I walked away from her door.”

  “That witch really drugged me? When she came here, I was so taken with her. She was lovely, and when she stated that she denied you and wanted me … I guess I was too swayed by her beauty to realize what she was up to. I did hate you for the raids, and wanted revenge. The revenge was on me, though.”

  “Thomas told me not to continue the feud. He didn’t want me to go against you because of your, our uh … father, but I didn’t listen because I was too angry.”

  “I’d be, too. I’m sorry about what he did to your mother. I do think my father cared for her, even though he said he didn’t. He mentioned her a few times, but he must not have known about you. He never mentioned ye.”

  “Laird Kerr sent me away so he wouldn’t find out about me. I was away most of my life.”

  “This is all astonishing, Douglas. I must admit that when I offered for Candace’s hand, I was trying to end the feud. I know she loves Wills. Oh, God, Wills. She drugged him, too. He’s in the old tower.”

  “Don’t worry about him.”

  “Is he all right?”

  “Aye, but he hasn’t come out of it yet. He’s being attended to.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for … I feel …” Irving lowered his eyes, sighing.

  Douglas smiled for the first time since he entered the room. “There’s no need to explain, I know you didn’t mean for all this to happen. It was her. Still, you should be careful who you woo in the future.”

  Irving’s lips curled slightly at his jest. “I’ll take that into consideration. I just remembered Rachel. Oh, and Nigel, he came here, hoping I could find the Scot who took his sister from an asylum. Rachel told him about a lady named Isabel, at your keep.”

  “Rachel is safe at my keep. Morna beat her. It’ll take awhile for her to heal. As to Nigel, he’s dead for the harm he caused his sister. He was Isabel’s brother. She’s my wife.”

  Irving grew somber. “Rachel was beaten? Sweet Rachel. Will you tell her I … never mind, I’ll tell her myself. I didn’t know you had married, Douglas, or that Nigel’s sister was at your keep. Seems I caused you a lot of grief.”

  He nodded then filled him in on the details of his clan matters. When Douglas left, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. He felt downright glad he’d come after all.

  *****

  All Douglas wanted was to go home to his wife. He missed Isabel and knew he had to make amends. He despaired because she’d been so overwrought about the girls. Irving came out of his stupor, assessed his home, and commented on the changes. Douglas went over the list of things that still needed to be done. Irving seemed determined to do right by his people and spent time reassuring them that he was concerned for their welfare. He added more men to the task of reinforcing the walls and upkeep of the buildings. Many had deteriorated in the last two years, since he came under Morna’s spell. Irving kept muttering about how foolish he felt at the ramifications his home suffered because of her.

  Tavish rode down the hill. “Wills is awake, he asked for ye, Douglas.”

  He walked back up the hill and went straight to Wills’ chamber. Wills looked pale and didn’t have the resolve to move from the bed. His eyes looked somewhat cleared of the opiate and his back came off the bedding when he entered.

  “Relax, Wills, I’m here to see to your safety.”

  Wills lay back against the pillow. “I feel awful. Why am I at the Dunmore’s?”

  Irving entered the chamber and took a chair. “It seems I was involved with a sorceress that drugged us both. I did many things that I regret. I can’t blame you if you declare war and …”

  “I was drugged?”

  “You’ve been in a stupor for weeks.” Douglas leaned on his knee.

  Wills leaned forward and grabbed Irving’s tunic. “I’ll kill you, you son-of-a-whoreson.” He pulled back his arm and positioned his fist.

  “Wait, don’t be angry with him. He’s tried to set everything right.” Douglas pulled his hand from Irving’s tunic.

  “How can you pardon him? Cosh, I don’t understand any of this.”

  “He’s my brother, Wills. I can’t let you retaliate. He didn’t know she was out to destroy him because of me.”

  Wills closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he looked at them again, he nodded.

  “I want peace amongst us. Our clans will be united when you wed Candace. I can’t have you warring against her stepbrother.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  The men laughed, and the mood lightened. “Speaking of weddings, yours is next week.”

  Douglas had forgotten about Will’s father. He realized that he would have to tell him. Obviously, Irving had no recollection of the event because he hadn’t mentioned it.

  “Wills, I do have ill tidings to impart, your father is dead.” He waited for his shout, watching his reaction.

  Wills lowered his head, nodding. “I know, I remember killing him.”

  “You killed him?”

  “Aye, at the time I didn’t know why. I wasn’t myself. We argued about allying with the Dunmores. Irving insisted we form an alliance. I recall him yelling, and I punched him in his face. He fell, I remember him lying on the ground bleeding, unmoving.”

  “Was Morna with you?”

  “It was just the two of us. We went to do a spot of hunting early, before we returned home.”

  “It’s Gil’s contention that he died from being stabbed,
but he imbibed the same drug, as you and Irving. Because he was aged, he couldn’t handle it. Gil said the stabbing killed him, but the drug aided. He died peacefully, with little pain.”

  “How is that possible? I remember punching him and seeing my dagger going into … and then I staggered away.”

  “You’re not responsible for his death, she was. Don’t take on the guilt.”

  Wills swallowed, looking at both of them.

  “Candace has been a wreck. She’s been crying for weeks. Is there anything you want me to relay when I return home?”

  Wills thought for a moment and nodded. “Aye, tell her … tell her that I will return for her. I always say that to her when I depart, it’s my way of reassuring her that I care for her.”

  Douglas smiled. “All right, I’m leaving today. I miss my wife and I know she’s been giving my soldiers hell. I will see you next week for the wedding. Irving, take care of him.”

  Irving nodded and walked him out. Douglas gained his horse’s back and was finally going home. All was well with the Dunmores and Wills was on his way to recovery. Now he could return home to confront his wife and mend her broken heart. He grew grim. How the hell was he going to do that? He had no notion, but he’d figure it out.

  On the way home, Douglas received word from Cedric that a band of Sassenach soldiers were seen riding on his land. They camped an hour’s ride from his keep. He and his sentries were met by the tips of swords. He wasn’t concerned, because he knew who they were. One man in particular, drew his gaze. The young man, practically still a lad, gave orders to the men.

  “Nathaniel?”

  The light-red-haired man frowned, stepping forward. “Who are you?”

  “Douglas Kerr. Tell your men to withdraw. If you don’t, my men will take offense. I might not be able to get them to regress.”

  He took a step forward, and Douglas smiled at his bravery. Nathaniel resembled Isabel, with his hair coloring and eyes.

  “This is my land that you’re squatting on, without permission, I might add.” Douglas stepped forward; Nathaniel stepped backward. Douglas towered over him by at least a half a foot. The lad had some sense.

  “Put down your weapons.” They followed Nathaniel’s order.

  Douglas smiled at their sound rationale. “I must speak to you in private. It concerns your sister and brother.”

  “What about my sister and brother?”

  “Your sister is my wife. I married her to keep her safe from Irving and Nigel, but she …”

  “You married her, without permission from our father?”

  “Damned right I did. Your father is a bastard, sending her to that asylum. I rescued her twice from that evil place.”

  “It was you?”

  “Aye, it was me.”

  “Is she well? I’ve been concerned for her.”

  Douglas hesitated. “She’s healthy, but her spirit has taken a fall. I hope you will be able to get her to come to reason.”

  “What happened?”

  “I thought she was happy being married to me. She was for a while, before Nigel took her back to the asylum. When I rescued her, she wanted me to bring all the girls back home with us. I couldn’t. She got angry and has been irked with me since. I had to attend to a matter concerning my brother and yours. She’s probably thinking of ways to do me in. I don’t know how to get her over her anger.”

  “My sister is stubborn, always has been. What can I do?”

  “Mayhap if she sees you, it would at least cheer her. Which reminds me, why are you here?”

  “I wanted to see what Nigel was up to. He didn’t return. I expected news, but no word came. We followed and saw your men. I was concerned about Issy.”

  “Your brother was evil. He uh … I’m sorry to tell you, lad, but he’s dead.”

  Nate shouted, and not with sorrow.

  “I had a run-in with him, and had to kill him. He would have hurt Isabel if he had gotten his hands on her again.”

  “Aye, he would have. I owe you a tremendous debt, Laird Kerr.”

  “If you get Isabel to cheer, then I’ll be repaid.”

  Douglas filled Nate in on the events on their way to the holding. All the tension in the last weeks subsided when he spotted his home in the distance.

  Chapter Forty

  Isabel was tense now that Douglas returned. She avoided him as much as possible, and wouldn’t even listen when he tried to talk to her. Candace was worried about Wills and that he wouldn’t make it in time for the wedding. Isabel straightened the pleat of the MacIver plaid, and then brushed the length of Candace’s hair for the hundredth time.

  “Will you stay still? I can’t get this done if you keep moving around.”

  “He’s not here. What if he doesn’t come?”

  “You’re making me daft, Candace. He’ll be here. You’ve at least another hour.”

  “What would I do without you? Have you and Douglas reconciled yet?”

  “I’ll not discuss your brother. I want to be happy for you this day.”

  “All right, my but you’re adamant. It breaks my heart to see you so melancholy.”

  “Well, my heart is broken, Candace. What can I do about it?” Isabel yanked her hair gently and wound it up.

  “He loves you. Talk to him and let him make amends. You haven’t spoken to him since he returned six days ago.”

  “Nay, and I shan’t. He doesn’t love me, Candace, if he did, he would know what to do to make amends. I wish you would let it go.”

  Lady Kerr entered the chamber, smiling at them. She wiped a tear away. “You both look bonny. Your men will be eyeing you with longing.”

  “Oh, Mother, don’t make me laugh. If I do, I fear I might tear the seam in my gown. I’m going mad waiting for Wills to arrive. Has he come yet?”

  “He’s with Douglas downstairs. Douglas is probably giving him advice on wedded bliss.”

  Isabel laughed coarsely, and Shelagh turned to look at her.

  “Candace, fetch that beautiful silk ribbon I’ve been saving. It’s in the chest by the hearth, I think. Anyway, it’s in one of the chests. Find it, and bring it back. We’ll use it to fasten flowers in your hair.”

  She ran to do her mother’s bidding. Once alone with Isabel, Shelagh walked to stand beside her and placed her arm on her shoulder.

  “You seem detached, Isabel. Are you up to something?”

  “I don’t know what you speak of. I must go down, and await the ceremony.” She walked away, but Shelagh stopped her.

  “Think you, I don’t know when you’re skulking? The etching is completed. Why don’t you show it to Douglas? He’ll know your feelings then. It will make everything right.”

  “I’m not sneaking about. I’m thinking how much I’ll miss Candace when she leaves. I’ll not show Douglas the etching. I wish now that I hadn’t done it. It was a mistake.”

  “Mistake? What better way to show Douglas that you care for him?”

  “Don’t say a word to him. He will never see it, I can promise you that.”

  “Isabel, you’re married, he’ll be seeing it.”

  “He’ll not see it ever.” Isabel had enough of her mother-in-law’s talk and left the chamber.

  Isabel had lost her patience. She had waited long enough for Douglas to concede and retrieve the girls from the asylum. Her faith in Douglas grew thinner by the day, and when she received his note saying he would be two more weeks at the Dunmore’s, and then he returned home, and was more concerned about Candace’s wedding than rescuing the girls—the little faith she had dwindled to nothing.

  Isabel made certain she saw her friend say her vows, and as soon as the wedding was over, she quickly departed. Given Douglas’ mood of late, she was sure he would not note her absence.

  She rode swiftly in the direction she’d been given. It had been considerably simple getting information from the young soldier. Now that she’d seen Candace wed, she would keep her promise to save the girls.

  Douglas hadn’
t cared how she felt, and she’d be damned if she would live with him when he didn’t love her. Why had he married her then? Her dignity suffered at his rejection. As she rode along, she slowed her mount, seeing a gleam of shield reflections in the distance. Bravely she rode ahead, telling herself not to be afraid. When she came upon them, she pulled her mount short. The warriors looked like demons in the night; they stood staring as though they’d seen a ghost.

  “‘Tis a bean-sith,” she heard one man say.

  The men sank to their knees, placing their hands over their hearts.

  She thought they’d gone mad. “Please, rise, gentlemen. I’m Isabel Calvert… ah, Kerr, and I want to be taken to the keep.”

  “Lady Kerr. Douglas’ lady?”

  Isabel nodded. A soldier grinned at her, showing his white teeth in the dark. The men regained their mounts. Her relief was so great, she relaxed. They reached the holding in short time. She slid off her horse and was led inside. The keep was much larger than the Kerrs and seemed enchanted. She walked inside and saw a woman standing beside Father Tomas. She stopped just as she reached them.

  “Lady Kerr, what are you doing here?” Father Tomas asked nervously. Isabel couldn’t speak. She grabbed his vestments and cried sorrowfully. He seemed shocked by her behavior and tried to calm her by patting her shoulder. Lady Julianna looked stunned, too.

  “Who is this, Father?”

  “This is Douglas’ wife, er, Lady Isabel. I don’t know why she’s here, but she appears troubled.”

  “It seems so.” Julianna took pity on her, and led her to the table. “Sit and rest a moment.”

  Isabel glanced at her and started crying again, even louder.

  “Come, I know Douglas well, and surely he hasn’t made you so forlorn,” Julianna said.