by Hyman, F. S.
“Aye. Colm and I. Ye were unconscious in a clearing.”
“Unconscious?”
Derek nodded.
“It seems ye fell from yer horse and bumped yer head on the saddle,” he said. It was not the whole truth, but it was all he would give her. Maybe it would be enough to jog her memory.
Derek realized that he could use her amnesia to his advantage. Depending on the extent of her memory loss, he could keep her safe. If she did not remember anything about what happened, it would be easier to protect her until they could bring whoever poisoned the McInnis and MacAlpin clans to justice
Annabelle’s eyes watched him. He had no idea what she was thinking, or if she was beginning to remember what happened to her. He waited.
Annabelle thought about what Derek had just told her. She had fallen from her horse and bumped her head? She reached up and felt the bandage on the right side of her head. That explained the wooziness. She had gone riding, and her horse, Chestnut, had seemed a little jumpy the last time she had rode her. Maybe she had lost control and fallen off. She slowly nodded her head.
Derek saw that she accepted his explanation. He almost sighed with relief.
“I’ll leave in the morning for Kinloch, then. My parents are probably worried sick about me,” she said turning again for the door.
“I doona think that is a good idea, lass. Ye have a gash on yer head that hasnae yet healed completely. We’ll send word to Kinloch to let them ken that ye are here and safe,” Derek said.
Annabelle nodded. She suddenly felt light-headed. She leaned against the door jam.
“Are ye alright?” Derek asked his voice full of concern.
“Aye, I am fine,” Annabelle said. She put her hand to her head.
“One last question. Did what I think happened, happen?” she asked before she began crumpling to the floor.
Derek reached out and caught Annabelle in his arms. He laid her on the bed. Her red lips were slightly parted and her hair fanned around her like a halo. That brought back the memories of the taste of her lips and the softness of her hair in his hands.
Derek put out the candles he had lit. He went back to the other side of the bed and lay down on his back. He could hear Annabelle’s slow even breaths. Derek looked at the ceiling and thought about all he had learned in his conversation with Annabelle.
She knew who she was, but she did not remember that she had already been married and that her husband had been killed along with others in his clan and hers. He turned on his side to face her. He reached out and ran his finger over her cheek. Her skin was as soft as he remembered.
He turned back to his back. Although he knew who she was from Broc’s description, he found that he was reluctant to let Broc know that she was there and alive. He knew that whoever had Laird Harold killed also thought they had killed the laird’s wife. If they found out otherwise, he was sure that Annabelle would not be safe.
He turned back toward her and gathered her in his arms. She fit perfectly against his side. Her warm breath touched his neck.
Now that he had had a taste of her, he found that he was loathed to let her go, but how could he keep her here? When her wound was fully healed, she would insist that she return to Kinloch and her betrothed. He would have to come up with a good excuse for her to stay. Maybe he’ll be able to taste her again before that time.
He rubbed his slightly throbbing temple and buried his face in Annabelle’s hair. He finally drifted back to sleep.
Chapter 5
Derek stirred when his bedchamber door open. He heard what sounded like muffled talking and something being pushed across the floor. His head throbbed. He almost did not know where he was. He heard the voices but they sounded far away. He reached over and pulled Annabelle more securely in his embrace.
“Put the tub over by the fire, Eilidh. Magda, stoke the fire to get the last of the chill out of the chamber. She’ll be wanting a bath when she wakes up and we doona want her freezing to death before she gets in the tub,” he could hear Megan’s voice.
The other servants hustled about filling the tub with water and laying out a drying cloth and soap.
Eilidh frowned as she went about her task. She did not want to do anything for the woman. Derek hadn’t come to her last night. She could only guess that he had slept with the men. They had been up late drinking and talking.
“Eilidh, pour that last bucket of water in the tub and I’ll wake the lass,” Megan said hobbling over to the bed. She snatched the furs back and gave a startled gasp.
The other servants turned at the sound and stared at the scene before them. Eilidh turned from pouring the water in the tub and the bucket dropped from her hands. She let out a murderous roar and charged to the bed.
“Derek MacDougal! Take yer hands off of her!” she screamed into his ear as she pulled on his arms to remove them from around Annabelle.
“So this is why ye dinna come to my bed last night! Ye hure!” Eilidh shouted and grabbed Annabelle by the hair.
Annabelle awoke with a start at the noise and her hair being pulled. She grabbed her assailant’s wrist and squeezed as hard as she could to slacken their grip. Eventually, the hold slackened and she pulled her hair free.
Derek opened his eyes when he felt Eilidh’s hands pulling him and heard her scream in his ear. The sound was piercing on his already throbbing head. He scowled at her. When she reached over and grabbed Annabelle by her hair, he almost lost his temper. But he saw that Annabelle had it under control. Derek sat up. The sudden move was a mistake. He put his head in his hands until the dizziness abated.
“How dare ye?” Annabelle demanded as she lunged at the woman. She knocked against Derek on her way from the bed. He groaned.
Annabelle pushed the woman into the wall. She grabbed her hair and twisted it around her hand until she could not twist it anymore. She put her face right up to the woman’s face.
“If ye ever for the rest of yer life do that again, I promise ye will regret it,” she said menacingly. She saw the fear in the other woman’s eyes. She smiled in satisfaction. Annabelle was a few inches taller than the woman.
Annabelle yanked the woman’s hair for emphasis and then pushed away from her. She turned to walk away, when the woman lunged at her from behind. She turned to defend herself, but at that moment Derek stood up and stood between them.
“Enough!” he bellowed. Derek winced at his own voice. He vowed right then and there never to drink again.
He looked around at the shocked and interested faces of the other women in the room. Then he looked down at Eilidh. He could see the jealous rage in her eyes. He turned his eyes to Annabelle and saw the challenge in hers. He held back a chuckle.
“Derek, what is going on here?” he heard Megan asked from the other side of the bed.
He turned toward her, but kept his eye on the women. He took in the situation. He grimaced. All eyes looked at him expectantly, expecting the same answer. Except the two women still staring at each other. He looked back at the women and scowled.
“Go fetch the priest. We’ll be married,” he growled, looking down at Annabelle.
“What?” both women said in unison. One was outraged and the other was just in rage.
He pulled his shirt off of Annabelle as she stared at him with a dark look and slipped it over his head. He found his kilt and slipped it back on.
Eilidh’s look was a cold as ice. He found he did not care. His head was still pounding and he needed something to soothe it.
“Ye canna do this, Derek MacDougal! I willnae allow it!” Eilidh screamed at him. She could not believe what was happening. First, she finds her man in the arms of another woman, and then he decrees that they are getting married.
Derek turned a cold gaze on her. She tried not to flinch, but the look in his eyes stopped her dead in her tracks.
“Ye willnae allow it?” he asked softly.
She could not answer, but she pushed her chin up in defiance. She had to let him know how she fe
lt.
Annabelle looked between both of them with a mixture of curiosity and anger. It was apparent that this woman thought that Derek was hers. Maybe he was. She could have him, and Annabelle was about to let her know that.
“Doona worry about it. Ye can have him. I have a betrothed,” Annabelle said with a sweet smile.
Derek turned and looked at her. She smiled at him in triumph. His eyes darkened.
“Is that so, lass? Weel, how do ye think yer betroth would feel kenning that ye gave yerself to me?” Derek said even sweeter.
Annabelle gasped. Eilidh growled low. Annabelle ignored her. It was not a dream? That wondrous experience had been real? Then she narrowed her eyes at him, skepticism lurking in their depths.
“Ye lie,” she said.
Derek smiled slowly. Annabelle caught herself before she gasped at its beauty. His straight white teeth gleamed at her.
“Nay, lass, I doona.”
Eilidh struck him hard across his face. There was a collective gasp from the other women in the room. The smile instantly vanished from Derek’s mouth. His jaw tightened and he grabbed her by her arms and shoved her toward the door.
“Leave! I’ll deal with ye later,” he said forcefully, his voice commanding no argument.
Eilidh sent one last vicious look Annabelle’s way before she obeyed his command.
“Megan, go fetch the priest,” he repeated. His gaze strayed back to Annabelle. She looked stricken.
“I willnae marry ye. I am already betrothed, and I will honor my Da’s wishes,” she said, quietly.
Derek said nothing. How could he tell her that she had no betrothed to marry?
“Come, lass. Let’s get ye in the tub while the water is still hot,” Megan said, gently taking her arms and steering her toward the tub.
Annabelle walked with her head down, a frown creasing her brow. She turned to look at Derek as he strode from the chamber. What was she going to do? There must be some way to get out of this mess.
§
Derek sat down next to Colm at the trestle table. He dropped his head into his hands, rubbing his temples.
“Ye look like I felt,” Colm chuckled, and slapped him on the back.
Derek almost punched him in the face.
“Here. Megan made a potion for me, and I had her make ye some too,” he said pushing a tankard toward Derek.
Derek grunted and pulled the tankard to him. He took a long drink and grimaced.
“I think Megan is trying to kill us,” he mumbled, but he finished the drink.
“Aye,” Colm agreed, downing the rest of his own.
“What was all of the commotion above stairs? I would have come up, but what noise I could hear had my head pounding,” Colm said. He looked at Derek expectantly.
Derek did not answer at first. He noticed that his headache was lessening.
“Sounded like I heard Eilidh’s voice, but I dinna recognize the other voice.”
“’Twas our lass, Annabelle,” he grumbled.
Colm’s brow drew together in confusion.
“She is awake? Megan said that she hadnae awakened yet.”
“Aye, she is awake,” Derek evaded.
“Weel, what were they arguing about?”
Derek did not answer. He looked at his friend and saw the curiosity in his gaze.
“It seems that I dinna make it to Eilidh’s bed last night,” he said, spinning the tankard in his hand.
“What? Where…?” Colm’s brow darkened as comprehension dawned on him.
Derek looked up and saw the anger in his friend’s eyes. He was curious about it for a moment, but then he was irritated.
“Aye, I ended up in my own bed last night. As soon as Megan fetches the priest, I will marry our Annabelle,” he growled. He did not feel he owed Colm any explanation, but he would learn of it anyway.
Colm did not move or say anything for a long while. He finally stood up and left the hall. Derek watched his friend leave.
Chapter 6
Annabelle sank down into the warm water. It felt good, and she could not hold back a sigh of pleasure. It seemed like it had been a while since she had bathed. Maybe it had. She did not remember. The servants all scurried out of the room whispering among themselves oblivious to her distress. Megan was left to tend to her.
“I have ye some fresh gowns from the daughter of one of the women in the village. She was about yer size. Her daughter married and left some of her old gowns behind when she moved in with her husband,” Megan said as she laid one out on the bed.
Annabelle frowned.
“Thank ye,” she said to Megan. “Who are ye?”
“Megan. I have lived at Dunkirk since Derek’s older brother was a bairn,” she said coming to help Annabelle wash her hair.
Annabelle stood up and Megan helped her dry off and put on a clean shift.
“Derek says that he found me unconscious in a clearing.”
“Aye, lass. He brought ye here for me to tend,” Megan replied helping her pull a green gown over her head and doing the lacing in the back.
“How long have I been here?” she asked turning to Megan.
“Ye’ve been here only two days. Yer fever broke during the night, that’s why I came with the bath.”
“Has Derek slept with me every night?” she asked, warily.
“Och! Nay! I stayed with ye the first night, but when yer fever broke, I left ye to go to my own bed. If I had kenned what would happen, I wouldnae have left,” Megan said, clucking her tongue.
“That Derek ruts around here like a wild animal. I wish he hadnae compromised ye. If I could take a stick to him, I would, but he has gotten too big fer that,” she continued, shaking her head, her brow furrowed.
Annabelle could not hold back a giggle.
“Aye, he is big,” she smiled.
“Aye, but that Eilidh is going to give ye no end of trouble. She fancies herself in love with Derek,” she said with disgust.
Annabelle looked at her.
“Is Eilidh his woman?” Annabelle asked. For some reason the thought bothered her.
“Nay. He just uses her, but she thinks he has feelings for her. She has been telling the other women that he will ask for her soon, but that willnae be the case. Especially now that ye and he will wed.”
“I willnae wed him,” she said quietly. “I willnae wed him! I am already betrothed through an alliance of my Da’s with Laird Harold of the McInnis clan. ‘Tis my duty to marry where my Da directs.”
Megan just looked at her.
“Aye, lass, I commend yer conviction, but ye were compromised. There is nae getting around it,” Megan said sympathy in her eyes.
Annabelle recoiled from that sympathy. It angered her that through Derek’s actions, she was forced to break the agreement her father had made with Laird Harold.
Annabelle could feel her anger rising. She felt trapped and there really was nothing she could do about it. Except make Derek’s life miserable. She suddenly smiled.
“Come. Let’s get ye to the hall so ye can break yer fast. Ye havenae had anything besides broth these two days,” Megan said.
Derek had his work cut out for him with this one, Megan thought. She could tell that Annabelle would not be easily won over like the other women who had fallen at Derek’s feet. She smiled to herself. Annabelle was just what Derek needed.
§
Derek watched the men train. He had yet to take his turn. He removed his claymore and shirt. He left his dirk in his boot. He watched as a young warrior, Evan, sparred with another young man. He had promise. He would make a great warrior one day.
Derek lifted his claymore and tested it in his hands. It felt familiar, like an extension of his arms. He and his brothers were taught the art of war and battle at very early ages. He could not remember a time not having a sword in his hands. This claymore was given to him by his father after his first battle. Laird Breac had given each of his sons their own special sword. It was beautiful. The hilt was overla
id in gold with rubies and emeralds placed around the outer edges. The sword itself was honed steel, and engraved on one side was the MacDougal crest and Derek’s name.
Derek turned when Colm came up beside him. Colm did not say anything to him, but he removed his own claymore and shirt and watched the other men. Derek could feel the tension radiating from Colm’s body. He knew that he was spoiling for a fight.
“Evan looks good,” he said by way of conversation.
“Aye,” was all Colm replied.
“He will make a great warrior,” he tried again.
“Aye.”
Derek gave up and waited. He moved out to the center of the field when the other men were done. Colm came to stand before him.
“Do we fight?” Derek asked swinging his sword in front of him.
“Aye, we fight,” Colm said taking up his stance.
§
Annabelle finished helping Ainsley replace the rushes in the hall. Ainsley was a slight woman who was a few inches shorter than Annabelle. She had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She did her chores cheerfully, and that is what convinced Annabelle to help her.
“I will help ye with this as long as I am here,” she said as they placed the last of the rushes.
“Nay, ye doona have to do that! It is kenned that ye will be marrying Derek soon, and ye are nae a servant,” Ainsley admonished.
Annabelle held back a scowl. It was not Ainsley’s fault that she was in this situation. Her anger was directed toward Derek and his carelessness in compromising her.
“I will help ye, whether ye want me to or nae,” she replied, a small smile playing around her mouth taking the sting out of her words.
Ainsley smiled back.
“What else are ye assigned to do, Ainsley? I canna sit idly.”
“Weel, ‘tis almost time for the noon meal. I usually help the other women,” Ainsley replied heading toward the kitchen.
Annabelle followed her. When they entered the kitchens, all activity stopped as the other women turned to look curiously at Annabelle. Only one stare held hostility. Annabelle looked at Eilidh with a mocking smile on her face.
