‘It was a brutal time. One that brought us, both of our clans, to the brink of madness. But, I did not kill his mother.’ Something darkened in the old man’s gaze, his face grey for a moment. ‘She ran into the middle of the fight and was struck down. I have regretted their deaths since that day.’
‘There is something more?’ Brodie asked.
‘His mother died the same way my Fiona died,’ Euan said, looking away for a moment. ‘At the same festival. It had been Fiona’s idea.’
It was the last time the clans had tried to end the feud. A festival that had brought many to its promised haven and it had turned into a massacre when squabbles between factions of both clans had escalated into violence. Fighting had broken out.
‘Was Arabella there?’ he asked, wondering if she was Caelan’s focus for more than one reason. Had she played some part in that, too?
‘Aye, she was there. Not much more than a bairn. But old enough to disobey me and sneak out of our tent. Fiona went searching for her and ran into the fighting as it began. We found her curled around Arabella, saving her life with her own.’
A hardness entered the man’s voice then. And Brodie realised that...
‘You blame Arabella for her death.’ Many things fell into place then. The man’s brutal treatment of his children, especially Arabella. His pursuit of a peace. ‘Does she know?’
‘I couldna bear to look upon her afterwards, for she has the look and eyes of her mother. I think I grew to resent her.’
‘Does she know?’ he asked again.
‘I never spoke about it with her,’ he admitted, sitting on the bed. ‘I do not think she kens the real reason. She learned to stay out of my way. She did as she was told.’
All the things a child does to protect herself when others do not. If he had the strength then, Brodie would have beaten the man as he had often raised his hands to his children. Even making a fist was not possible now, so it would have to wait. But it would come to the old man.
Arabella had become a different person in dealing with her father, to protect herself and her brother. She hid her curiosity and strength within, never letting Euan see it. But Brodie had seen it. Brodie saw the true Arabella hiding inside the hurt woman. Once Caelan was handled, he would make certain no one hurt her again.
‘Does Caelan know it was an accident? That you regretted his mother’s death and your involvement?’
‘Nay. Whenever we spoke, he never seemed to recognise me. So I thought he’d forgotten me.’
‘Forgotten? Nay. Just buried the hatred deep so no one could see.’ As Arabella had buried herself.
‘As I said, brutal times.’ Euan met Brodie’s gaze then. ‘’Twas about the same time that Arabella’s aunt had been kidnapped by one of your clansmen—the one called Grigor.’
‘Her aunt?’ Brodie had never heard this.
‘Aye. There were some stories about the two having meetings in secret that were discovered. But the truth is that Grigor kidnapped and ruined her and we had to attack to get her back.’
He looked over at Rob who was as surprised as he was. They both knew that the woman had been meeting Grigor while at Drumlui Keep. More than once, she’d been seen with him long after her charge had retired for the night. And Grigor’s gaze followed the woman whenever she was in the same room. Brodie suspected that none of them knew the truth of the matter.
‘But, killing in the heat of battle is different from planning to assassinate someone in cold blood and then doing it under the sign of a truce. And blaming someone else for it. He must pay for that,’ Euan said, his tone saying that he would not allow any other outcome.
Brodie held no sympathy for his cousin or his actions and when the time came, he could step aside and allow Euan his vengeance. But, he also desired to strike the blow that would end his cousin’s destructive plans.
* * *
It took several hours to lay out their plan. Brodie hoped that Arabella was using her wits to stay alive and well until they could get there. And he prayed that she understood that he would always come for her, no matter what.
Once, in the middle of their discussions, he wondered to himself if Arabella was asking Caelan as many questions as she asked him. He chuckled aloud, bringing strange glances from the others. She would hold her own with his cousin, he had no doubt. But, whether they faced the twelve plagues of Egypt or every demon from hell, he would see her safely out of Drumlui.
Finally, the planning was done and Brodie’s body pushed for rest. The others left, but Euan remained behind. Brodie could tell exactly what the man wanted to know from the way he could not find the words to begin.
‘You held her prisoner,’ he said. Brodie nodded. ‘For nigh on four weeks.’ Another nod. ‘Did you take her virginity?’
Brodie did not want to insult the man about his daughter so he was choosing his words carefully when Euan blurted out, ‘Knowing the girl, she offered it to you.’
He laughed then and it hurt. Clutching his side, he tried to breathe slowly to make the waves of pain subside.
‘That is what I thought.’ Arabella’s father shook his head. ‘She trusted you if she went to your bed.’ Euan squinted at him then, as though seeing him for the first time. ‘I did not think you would suit, but you just might.’
‘I have pledged my loyalty to Grigor, Lord Euan. He is the one to lead the Mackintoshes and oversee the treaty and the peace. And he will choose another to be tanist from the other clans in the Confederation.’
‘I do not think your men are doing this to put Grigor in the chieftain’s chair,’ Euan said with a shrug.
Think what he might, it would not be Euan making that decision. The man did want peace, Brodie knew that much, but he had agreed to this extraordinary arrangement to save his daughter. And, for the additional concessions that Brodie would broker for him when the time came.
‘Get some rest,’ Euan advised him. ‘We ride at morning’s light.’
* * *
At dawn, as Brodie climbed stiffly onto the black for the ride to Drumlui, he suspected that this was only the beginning of the road through hell.
* * *
Arabella tried to hide her true feelings, but each hour that passed made it more and more difficult. The two women he’d assigned to her looked on her with suspicion and loathing. She would never again complain about Ailean’s sour disposition after spending the past few days with these two.
At first she thought she could sway them from staunch support and absolute obedience, but she failed at that. So, she stopped talking to them. Whenever another servant arrived, whether with food from the kitchen or clean linens for her bed, she tried to engage them in conversation.
All her attempts to discover his plans failed. All her attempts to gain some freedom of movement failed. Then she had a visitor that the two servants could not order away. Grigor Mackintosh knocked at her door and asked to speak to her. While the two women were chattering about what to do, Arabella opened the door and bade him enter.
‘Lady Arabella, I thought to look in on you,’ he said politely as he sat next to her. ‘You look as though you are recovering from your ordeal.’
‘Go and fetch some wine and some food for my guest,’ she said to Bethoc, the young woman. When she looked as though she would refuse, Arabella smiled at her. ‘Remember who will be your lady in just a few days, Bethoc. It might be better to be in my good graces since I will oversee this household.’
‘Begin as you mean to go, my lady,’ Grigor added, making the young woman pale as she considered this new twist to her situation. Deciding that fetching refreshments was safer than directly disobeying her, Bethoc nearly ran from the room. Once she was gone, Arabella smiled at the other one. But Grigor surprised her by speaking first.
‘I would speak with the lady privately.’
H
e nodded to the door and stood, taking only a step towards it before Una fled, too. Arabella had no doubt that she would go directly to Caelan, so they had little time.
‘Is Brodie alive? And the others?’ he asked.
She knew that Brodie and his men trusted Grigor, she knew he’d helped get Magnus out of the keep for them, but she could not understand why he would think he could trust her?
‘Come now, your aunt said you could be trusted.’
Her mouth fell open then. Of all of the things she thought he would say, that was not one of them. Her aunt? She would speak about that later.
‘They were when I was taken from the encampment. Some, though...’ She shrugged.
‘What do you think he will do?’
‘He was sending the women and children north to his uncle. The men? I do not know.’ Then she did. ‘He will come for me.’ Lifting her head and smiling, she repeated it. ‘He will come for me.’
That expression in his eyes when he saw her across the clearing in the camp. It was love looking back at her. He did love her. He would come for her again.
‘You must be ready. He will be here soon. But I have no idea how many will be with him.’ The sound of approaching footsteps down the corridor made her hurry with the rest. ‘He had the proof he needs. Tell those who would fight against him, he is the rightful chieftain.’
Grigor raised a brow at her words. Although Brodie spoke of supporting Grigor’s claim, she thought it should be Grigor supporting Brodie and said so. ‘They will need someone who has always put the clan’s interests first. He is the stronger warrior with the skills to bring this clan back together. He is honourable and worthy and—’
Grigor held his hands up in mock horror to stop her.
‘Aye, my lady. I have always believed it, but the lad did not. Maybe with us both demanding it, he will see reason?’
When the door flung open, Caelan found them sitting quietly, with Grigor offering his kind words about the ordeal she had suffered. The servants at his back stared in, expecting to find something else.
‘And so, I do hope you will not hold that criminal’s actions against the rest of us? That rogue will be stopped,’ he said, standing to leave. ‘Ah, Caelan, come to visit your lady, have you?’ He patted Caelan’s on the shoulder and nodded. ‘Young love, ’tis a glorious thing to witness.’
‘Caelan,’ Arabella said. ‘I did not expect you, but it is good to see you. May we speak?’ Caelan was still looking at Grigor as he walked down the corridor when she touched his arm. ‘Would you be free from your duties soon, so that we might walk together? I know you worry about my safety, but if you are with me, then all will be well.’
In trying to keep up his game, it was hard to refuse her.
* * *
So, Arabella found herself walking along the path around the keep with an irritated Caelan. Their walk was interrupted when the guards called out that riders approached. Caelan did not even wait to find out who rode to the gates.
Whoever it was could not be a good thing for him.
Within minutes, the gates were closed, guards lined the walls and she was dragged back to her chambers. Caelan dropped all pretence then, calling out for the priest as he pulled her up the stairs and shoved her inside a small chamber.
‘Ready yourself, Lady Arabella. We marry as soon as the priest comes.’
‘I will not consent. The priest will not hear those words from me.’
‘Oh, aye, he will.’ The smile he gave her then made her skin crawl. She wanted to back away but there was little room to do so in that chamber. He had a plan and would use whatever force he needed, she knew that now.
He pulled the door closed and Arabella heard him drop the bar to lock her in. She pulled on it and pushed against it but it would not give way. She cried out and called for help but no one came. Then, a short while later, he opened the door and strode back in, carrying a small bottle.
‘This is a wondrous potion. A few drops and you will say whatever you are told to say,’ he explained, pulling the cork free and tilting the bottle to show her.
Then he set the bottle on a shelf on the wall and grabbed for her. No matter how much she struggled, he soon had her subdued, pushed against the wall with his hand holding her throat tightly so she could not move her head.
‘Only a couple of drops now, or you will fall unconscious,’ he warned as he held the bottle over her mouth. She clenched her lips tight so he could not pour it in.
‘Do not fight this,’ he said, pressing his knee into her back and tightening his grasp on her throat until she gasped against the pain.
The bitter taste landed on her tongue and she tried to spit it out. He covered her mouth and pinched her nose until she struggled to pull in a breath, forcing her to swallow the potion. It burned its way down her throat into her stomach. Then, he released her and tossed her to the floor.
‘The priest awaits us below. Come now,’ he said.
Her stomach rolled and her head spun. She wanted to ignore his words, but her body did not follow her wishes. He took her hand and pulled her up to stand.
‘What did you give me?’ she asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her walk. The chambers passed in a haze as did the people. Her mouth felt dry then.
‘The same thing I gave Brodie. It makes you pliable and obedient. You will do as I say,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘I will...’ She could not think very clearly. One thing did strike her. He had given this to Brodie. ‘Brodie would not kill,’ she forced out.
‘Nay, he had too much and slept. So I did the rest. He remembered nothing and I still managed to have him blamed for it.’ He laughed then and it washed over her, making her sick.
Everything blurred then in her mind and in her memory. She tried to pull away but he held her close, his breaths coming hard and fast against her neck. Then she could swear that Brodie suddenly appeared there in the hall before them.
And her father.
And more men climbing out of the walls. She laughed at that.
Brodie called out to her then. Bella, he yelled to her and she wanted to reach out for him or say his name. Then he began moving and did not stop until he stood in front of them. The others followed him, sliding and slipping forward it seemed to her, from one place to another.
Caelan pushed her in front of himself and she saw the fierce look on Brodie’s face. On a face covered in bruises and cuts. But she knew it meant he loved her. Brodie could not say the words, but he showed them on his face. And in his eyes.
Words were shouted and men fought and she heard swords striking swords. She reached out for Brodie, to ease the pain he held within himself. And the guilt. But mostly she just wanted to love him.
The stones in the walls stopped pushing men out but the noise seemed to grow. Soon, the hall was filled with warriors of all sorts. Even in the confusion she recognised some of them for a moment or two though their names would not come to her.
The man, the voice behind her grew louder, screaming curses and promising retribution before he pushed her, flinging her from him. With nothing but air beneath her, Arabella flew off the high dais and then her own screams filled the space around her. First she first rose and then fell and fell and fell towards the stone floor below her.
Until Brodie’s strong arms surrounded her.
‘I have you, love,’ Brodie whispered then. ‘I have you.’
He would keep her safe. He would protect her. He would love her. So, she held on to him and fell the rest of the way into his embrace.
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘Arabella?’
She threw her arms around her head and tried to shield herself from the horrible screaming.
‘Arabella, love,’ he said again.
‘Shh,’ she urged but then th
at noise shook inside her head, too.
‘Drink this.’ Someone lifted her head and touched a cup to her lips. ‘Just a sip.’
Cold water. It tasted so good to her parched mouth that she wanted more. And she would have had more if the cup had not disappeared.
‘You must try to open your eyes and wake now.’
It was Brodie’s voice she heard and she wanted to see him, but the confusion and dizziness still assailed her terribly. She fell back into the stupor and knew nothing.
* * *
Until she did.
Surrounded by heat, she opened her eyes and found herself in a large bed, with Brodie curled around her. She lifted her head slowly and discovered the light-headedness was dissipating. If she moved a little bit at a time, she could turn her head.
He lay there, his bandaged hand and arm draped over her hip. She wore garments as did he, which she discovered when she pushed herself around to face him.
He looked terrible! She’d thought the potion Caelan had forced into her had caused her to see such a distorted version of his face, but now she could see it clearly. His one eye was swollen shut and his nose was puffed up and bruised badly. Though some had been dressed, she could count more than five gashes on his face and neck.
Then, searching back through those strange visions, she realised what had happened.
‘Caelan?’ she asked, already knowing he must be dead.
‘Your father saw to his end.’ She shivered, knowing it was better that she had not witnessed her father taking revenge for her brother’s life.
‘So you did go to my father for help.’
He opened the one eye that would and nodded. ‘Aye.’
‘And this was his help?’ Her father was a hard man, but this was...
‘This was when he believed I had killed Malcolm.’
‘The potion. Caelan said he’d used too much on you and Malcolm.’ She touched his face then. ‘You did not kill my brother.’ She’d been so wrong about him, as had everyone else. And yet he had kept faith with all of them. ‘Can you forgive me for thinking the worst of you?’
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