Looking among the crowd, she saw a handsome man that resembled Rory in size and stature standing in the far back. His big shoulders and broad chest stood out from the group of people clustered around the horses. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and he gave Rory a most disturbing glare.
Hand in hand, Rory and Annella walked over to him.
“So, I see ye go off to war and come back wit a lass. A prize? Or did ye steal yerself a bride?” the man said with an awkward expression on his face.
“Hello, Bram. It is good to see ye too,” Rory said not letting go of Annella’s hand. “I would like to introduce ye to the future Lady MacKinnon, Lady Annella MacCallum. My lady, this is my younger brother Bram.”
“It is nice to meet ye,” she hesitantly said as she felt his lusting eyes upon her.
“My lady,” Bram replied as he bowed.
“Come, let’s get ye inside,” Rory said pulling her closer to him and heading towards the main entrance. “Ignore my brother. He is no’ used to seeing me wit a lass.”
“Have ye no’ had many women?” she naively asked.
“Aye, but ne’er have I brought any of them home. Usually it’s Bram flaunting the lasses around the keep. The mon can no’ keep his hands from lifting skirts. Already has two bastards living down here in the village. He is no’ wit either of the women but he is good wit the bairns,” Rory explained.
“Oh,” she responded in surprise and looked back over her shoulder towards Bram.
The great hall was immaculate. The high walls were covered in the most beautiful tapestries Annella had ever seen. The floor was covered in fresh smelling rushes. The wood was polished and all of the candles in the room were lit. And there were several kitchen attendants and servants throughout the castle. It was obvious that what Rory had said about Lady Kenna was true; that she took pride in making her castle very welcoming.
A young woman with dark black hair came up to greet them as they entered. “My laird, it is good to see that ye have safely returned. I have just prepared the meal for the nooning and will be serving it shortly. I have been told that we have a guest that will be joining ye,” the young woman said giving Annella a friendly smile.
“Elspeth, this is our future Lady of Dunakin, Lady Annella.”
The look on Elspeth’s face went flat and the color drained in her cheeks. Looking almost sickly, her eyes rolled back over to Annella. Feeling the intensity of her stare, Annella started to feel uneasy. Elspeth almost lost her footing when she quickly curtsied and spoke with a slight tremor, “My lady.” Quickly she turned around and headed back into the kitchen as fast as her feet could carry her.
Annella cast Rory a puzzling look. Rory responded, “Ne’er mind her.”
Knowing that there was a reason she acted so rudely, Annella wasn’t about to let him brush it off as if it never happened. “What are ye no’ telling me?”
Looking down at her, she could tell that he was not all too happy to discuss with her about Elspeth. Taking a deep breath he said, “I dinna want to keep this from ye as I am certain ye will find out anyhow. Elspeth and I were once lovers. But that was a long time ago and there is nothing between us now. She is a servant who has been working in the kitchens for three years. Ye have nothing to worry about.”
Lovers. Like hell she was going to allow his old lover to live in the same household as them. “She obviously dinna like me,” she said crossing her arms.
“She does good work in the kitchens and kens what needs to be done around the keep, but I promise, if she causes ye any trouble I will have her gone.”
“Alright,” she agreed but wasn’t too happy about succumbing so easily. She would have to keep an eye on that harlot.
Sitting at the head of the table, Rory watched as people joined in for the festivity and merriment. Food and drinks were passed, stories were told by the men about the battle at Stirling and others danced around the room to the sound of the music the performers were playing. It was good to be home. He had announced to everyone that he and Annella would be joined by marriage in two days’ time to allow Father Gregory to journey north from Buchannan Abbey.
Looking at her now, Annella looked amazed. Rory was concerned about his clan’s behavior at first, as they can be rugged and not always well-mannered. But they too had impressed him. Annella seemed to look comfortable enough in her new surroundings as she spoke to some of the other women of the clan.
Leaning over to his brother, he quietly said under his breath, “Bram, ye and Ewan need to meet me in my solar. Dangers are afoot and we need to prepare the men.”
“Ye brought the war home wit ye, aye?” Bram said looking both bothered and amused.
“It’s a long story. One that needs to be discussed in private,” he whispered.
Swirling in his chair, Rory faced Annella. “I need to discuss our situation wit the men and my brother. I will meet ye in our chamber tonight. My mother will take ye there. I apologize that I can no’ show ye around properly but tomorrow I will give ye the tour.”
“Our chamber? But I thought I would have my own,” Annella interjected.
“My lady, we are to be husband and wife, ye will share my chamber. We will discuss this later.” He didn’t mean to sound so firm but there was no time to deliberate over it now.
Leaving the great hall, Rory was the last person to enter the library. Ewan, Bram and Colin all gathered around the desk waiting for him to enter.
“We apprised Bram of the situation,” Ewan said as Rory sat down.
“Good. To my calculations, I would estimate that they will reach MacKinnon lands by this time tomorrow. I am no’ sure if they are the English or that traitor Laird Stewart. According to Annella, he declares to lay claim to MacCallum lands and is rightfully her husband. He had no proof to back his claim nor was the marriage consummated. My guess is that he comes for the lass. But he will no’ be leaving here wit her.”
“So ye did steal yerself a bride,” Bram chuckled.
“If we have to fight, we will to protect her, ye ken that,” Colin said.
“Aye, I do. Tell the men to be on the lookout in the village. If they come for a battle, then a battle they shall have,” Rory said with a wicked smile.
Annella watched Elspeth prance around the men as she cleaned off the tables. Occasionally she would glance over in Annella’s direction and give her ill-mannered looks. Remembering what Rory had promised, she tried not to let it bother her. Elspeth was obviously feeling threatened by her presence. Perhaps if Elspeth got to know her better they could become friends.
Standing up from the table, Annella walked over to where Lady Kenna was sitting.
“My lady, I was told that ye can help me find my…I mean Laird Rory’s chamber.”
“Of course,” she said kindly. “Follow me”.
The chamber was located in the high tower. Annella could feel the cool draft coming from the windows as she passed them in the corridor. It had reminded her of home. Feeling nervous, she wrung her hands together. The hallway was dark and alarming. At the end of the corridor stood a tall wooden door. Lady Kenna opened it and stepped inside.
As Annella entered, the dust from the room blew into her face. It was obvious that Rory had not been in his chamber in quite some time. She thanked Lady Kenna for her assistance.
“Have a good night, dear.”
“Thank ye, ye as well,” she said as she watched Lady Kenna close the door behind her.
Annella lit a taper candle that sat on a small round table by the door and glanced around the room. The dresser along the wall was made of hard wood and beautifully carved. An oversized bed was placed in the middle of the room. It had four large wooden posts on each of the four corners. The MacKinnon’s red and green plaid laid on top. On the far end of the room stood a vast stone hearth. She wandered over to it and scanned the room for wood. Spotting a small pile that was arranged next to the door, Annella picked up a few small logs. Placing them into the hearth she took a flint from the
table and lit the fire.
The light from the fire brightened up the room. Above the hearth hung a painting of an enchanting white castle. The picture was breathtaking. It reminded her of a place in a fairytale that her mother had once told her when she was just a bairn. She continued to lie down on the enormous bed, nervously waiting for Rory.
By the time Rory came up to the room, the fire in the hearth was just about to die out. Deeply sleeping in the middle of his bed was Annella cuddled up with his plaid. She looked so beautiful he thought. He slid off his boots and shirt and climbed into bed leaving on his trews. As he laid down, Annella rolled over and snuggled up against the crook of his arm. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.
“Good night, love,” he whispered.
Annella quietly moaned in response but Rory was certain that she did not hear him.
Chapter 13
Annella awoke to find herself alone in Rory’s oversized bed. Usually she was a light sleeper but it had been so long since she had a good night’s sleep that she passed out as soon as she hit the pillow and slept straight through the night. She wondered if she dreamt that she slept in Rory’s arm or if he did hold onto her last night. After all, Rory did have a sneaky sense about him.
Sliding her legs over the side of the bed, they dangled several inches above the floor. She jumped down and went in search of her belongings.
“My lady, may I come in?” a voice called out from the other side of the door.
She went to open the door to see who it was. The young lass stood in front of her looking rather shy. With her head down she softly spoke, “Good morning, my lady. My name is Muireal but ye can call me Lil. I am one of the maids that work within the castle and I have been asked to come and assist ye in getting dressed.”
Lil reminded Annella of Caitlin back at Caerlaverock Castle. She had the same dull blondish hair and a mousy look to her. She couldn’t help but wonder what would become of the lass who was so kind to her.
Annella knew that she and Lil would become instant friends. Taking her hand, Annella guided Lil inside the chamber.
“Aye, please call me Annella. It is nice to meet ye, Lil.”
“Oh nay, my lady. I can no’ call ye that,” she said looking shocked that she was asked such a request.
“It’s ok, ye dinna need to be so formal wit me. I am new here and I dinna ken anyone. It would be nice to have at least one friend.” Annella smiled at her.
“A friend, my lady? I would like that verra much.”
“Good, then it’s settled. I was just about to clean up and don one of my dresses but because we left in such a hurry, I only had time to grab a few of them and these ones are in need of washing.”
“Oh, my lady, if ye need a new dress, I can sew ye one. My momma taught me how to sew and I make all of my dresses,” Lil perked up.
“That would be verra kind if ye, Lil. Thank ye.”
She helped Annella into her red velvet dress and tied up the laces in the back while telling Annella all about herself. Once she opened up, Lil talked about her life here in the castle and all about the MacKinnon clan. Besides Lady Kenna, Lil had never been around another lady of her class. Lil was overjoyed having a new friend, as was Annella.
“Ye should go now into the great hall to break yer fast, Lady Annella. I am sure my laird will be expecting ye.”
“Aye, thank ye again, Lil. I look forward to seeing ye again.”
Smiling back at her, Lil grabbed her dirty dresses and led her to the great hall. She smiled and skipped off. She was excited to get started working on Annella’s new gowns.
“Good morning, my lady,” Rory said as he greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. “I see ye have met Lil.”
“Oh aye, she is a sweet lass. I like her verra much.”
“Aye that she is. Yer food has already been set on the table and after ye ea,t I shall take ye on a tour of my home as promised.”
Together they walked over to the table and sat down in front of their plates. Elspeth came over to the table and set down a jug of fresh milk, trying to avoid eye contact with both Annella and Rory. Annella looked at her and inwardly laughed off her ignorance. Looking down at her plate, she had never seen so much food in one sitting. She took nibbles on everything that was offered. The food wasn’t like Cook’s food back home; it was delicious and flavorful.
An assortment of fruit-filled rolls, small cuts of roasted lamb, figs, apples and warm buttery oatcakes that melted in her mouth covered Annella’s plate. She was glad that this morning was not a day of fasting.
After she had finished and satisfied with a full stomach, Rory held out his hand and they walked together around the inside and outside of the castle. She listened as he described each room and its history. She enjoyed his stories of when he was young and wild. Spending time with Rory alone was nice; it gave Annella a chance to get to know him better.
They passed by the training fields where Annella saw Rory’s men were training with their long bows.
Noticing her curious attention he asked, “Well my lady, how about it? Care to show off yer skills?”
Annella looked at him with enthusiasm on her face, “Ye will let me challenge yer men?”
“Aye,” he said as they strolled down to the fields.
Annella could hardly contain her excitement. This would be her first time she had ever been allowed to participate in a real challenge before. The men watched as they came onto view.
“The lady wishes to challenge ye,” Rory explained to his men.
The men stood there and looked around at each other. One of the men spoke out, “But my laird, she is but a lass.”
“Aye that she is,” Rory said smiling.
“Where is the target?” she asked looking around.
“Ye see that mark several yards away? There is a torn piece of plaid hung onto that tree. That is yer target,” Rory explained as he held out a bow and arrow to her.
Annella searched the trees and found the piece of cloth hanging high on a tree branch from a distance. One by one the men aimed for the strip of material but not one of them managed to hit it.
Annella raised the bow and notched the arrow into place. Breathing slowly she aligned her target into her line of sight. She stood there quietly feeling the breeze of the wind. She knew that the air had to be perfect. She imagined her arrow whizzing through the air, through the trees and hitting the cloth square in the center. She took a deep breath and held on to it as she gradually let go of the tip of the arrow.
She let out her breath and watched it fly into the air. Hearing the thud sound echo through the trees, a man yelled out, “She did it. The lass actually hit it.”
Pride warmed her heart. She glanced over at Rory who presented her with a wide smile. The rush she felt was exhilarating. She had never felt anything like it before. The men stood quietly stunned in amazement.
“Congratulations, my lady,” Rory said.
“Thank ye. I think it is now yer turn, my laird. And dinna worry if ye are no’ any good, practicing is how ye get good at it,” Annella innocently reminded him.
Annella noticed the men looking over at Rory with their eyebrows pinched together in confusion. She thought that maybe they didn’t know that Rory was not good and felt bad for embarrassing him.
“Ye are right, my lady; it is only fair to take my turn as well,” Rory said as he grabbed the bow. Looking around at his men, he didn’t want to let them down but most importantly he didn’t want to let Annella down. The fact was he was excellent at archery. He only fibbed about his lack of skill to continue being close to Annella.
He raised the bow and contemplated whether he should hit the mark or miss it. He didn’t want her to know that he lied so he pulled the string back and carelessly released it, purposely missing the target.
Knowing all too well that Rory was an excellent archer and would never had missed such a mark, Colin spoke up, “My laird it must have been the wind, for I have ne’er seen ye mmm…�
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Quickly interrupting Colin before he could finish Rory spit out, “Well, I guess my lady’s skill has proven to best all of us, Colin. Ye and yer men should keep training or it will be Lady Annella who will be at the front line of our defenses.”
“My lady, shall we continue our walk?”
She nodded her head and placed her hand on the top of his arm. Together they started to walk down the cobblestone path.
“I will have to come up wit a prize for winning, my lady.”
“I dinna need a prize, my laird. Just allowing me the satisfaction is gratitude enough.”
“Well then, if no’ will ye at least accept this?” Rory asked as he bent down and picked up a white daisy from the ground and placed it behind her ear.
Annella blushed as she felt the shivers crawl down her spine as Rory stared deeply into her eyes.
Elspeth left the castle after the kitchen was cleaned and walked down towards the village, carrying onto the bedding that needed to be washed. Before she could enter the bathhouse to retrieve the soap, a heavy-set man snuck around the bushes along the tree line of the woods and forcefully grabbed onto her arm. Elspeth dropped the bedding she held in her arms onto the ground and took in a deep breath to let out a loud scream for help. But right before she could open her mouth, the man took his other hand and held it over her mouth to resist her from screaming and drawing attention to their direction. She struggled in his hold as he dragged her into the woods.
Walking a far enough distance away to ensure that her screams of help would not be heard, he released her.
“I demand to ken what is the meaning of this?” she hollered as the man released her. She looked around and six giant Highlanders towered over her and began to circle around her.
April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 01 Page 10
