Aishlinn told Nora the story of how she ended up here, at Castle Gregor, how Horace had traded her for two sheep. Aishlinn purposefully left out his other reason for sending her away: he was going to marry a young woman from the village and said the cottage was not big enough for two women. She could only assume that Nora was that woman.
Nora sat still, quietly listening to how the former Earl of Penrith had tried to rape Aishlinn, the beating she took resisting him, and how Baltair had helped her to escape. Aishlinn had often wondered about Baltair and why exactly he had helped her and what had become of him. Nora could not answer to the questions regarding the guard, but thought perhaps John or Elise might know.
Aishlinn went on to recount how she had come across Duncan and his men and how they had sworn their fealty to her once they learned she had killed the earl. She told of their journey here, of the kind family who had opened their home to them, and how Rebecca had taken care of the wounds to her back.
“I was so afraid to speak my mind back then,” Aishlinn explained. “Every part of my body hurt, but I would not say so. I was just so relieved to be away from Firth and from England that I would have endured anything.”
“I feel much the same way,” Nora admitted. “But I must admit that I do miss my home, and the people I grew up around.”
“Aye, I would imagine so. You had a much better upbringing than I, so there is nothing there for me to miss.” Aishlinn smiled thoughtfully. “It did not take long for me to make friends here. From the very beginning, everyone has been more kind and generous than I could ever have hoped for. They’ll do the same for you, Nora.”
Nora agreed. She had not met one person yet who had shown her anything but kindness and generosity. They dispelled all the horror stories she had learned growing up. Nora had not witnessed any of the savagery, the barbaric or archaic ways her father had warned her of.
Aishlinn continued to speak of how much her life had changed, and all for the better. She also went on to tell how she began to fall in love with Duncan.
“As I look back now, I see that he was being honorable, if a bit daft, and he was doing his best to fight how he truly felt in his heart. But, he could only fight it for so long and soon he was courting me!” She smiled in fond remembrance. “And the first time he kissed me? Oh! I could not breathe!” She began fanning herself with her hands as if the room had suddenly grown quite warm.
“Do not ever tell him this, but I still feel the same way,” Aishlinn leaned in closer to share more of her secrets. “He makes the roof of my mouth tickle sometimes with his kisses!” Aishlinn giggled, winked and sat back in her chair. “But I will not tell him that. His head is as big as a mountain now. If I were to tell him that he makes my heart pound as though it will leap from my chest? Oh, there would be no living with him then!”
Nora had never felt that way before. She had never been courted, save for Horace, and his kisses had never made her feel the way Aishlinn described. An image of Wee William popped into her head. It made her toes tingle to think of what it might be like if he were to kiss her and she still wondered if his beard would scratch her skin. It made her cheeks grow warm to think about it.
Aishlinn paid no attention to Nora’s red cheeks and continued on with her story. “The day we learned the Earl was not dead and he had come to Scotland to find me, that was the day Duncan proposed. It was an odd proposal to be sure. He said he wanted to have my bairns!” Aishlinn giggled, shook her head and ran her hand over her belly. She went on with how they had married quickly with no time for flowers or planning a wedding feast. She went on, much to Nora’s embarrassment, to describe the joy she felt on her wedding night.
She’d never experienced that either! She supposed that the kind of love and adoration that Aishlinn and Duncan felt for one another was a rare thing indeed. A twinge of regret and sadness filled her heart for she was quite certain she’d never be blessed with a husband who would adore her, treasure her, and fight to his death to keep her. Nay, Aishlinn and Duncan’s love was the things faerie tales were made of.
Aishlinn went on to tell more of how her life had changed in the past year. She was still learning to read and write and figure sums. Nora admitted to feeling the same kind of wicked excitement as Aishlinn had felt when she first learned that everyone within the Clan MacDougall knew how to read. Nora was overjoyed to learn that soon she and her brother and sister would learn as well. But Aishlinn warned that the Latin was the most difficult. Nora did not care how hard it was. To her way of thinking, having such a skill could only help in securing a better future for her and the children.
And so it went for the remainder of the afternoon. They laughed until they cried, they cried until they laughed. Eilean brought them a tray of tea, bread, cheese and dried fruits. They talked well into the afternoon, enjoying one another’s company, oblivious to the rest of the world.
The sun had begun to set when Duncan came to check on his wife.
Were all Highlanders so handsome? Nora had yet to meet a man under the age of seventy that was not handsome, muscular, and large! Duncan was quite remarkable and Nora could very well guess why Aishlinn had fallen in love with him. If he wasn’t already married to her new friend, Nora felt she could have gotten lost for a time in those dark blue eyes of his. Or mayhap it was his blonde hair, with the braids at each side of his handsome face. It left Nora feeling ashamed for thinking such thoughts.
“Nora, this is my husband, Duncan McEwan. Duncan, this is Nora.” Aishlinn introduced the two of them. Duncan bowed slightly at the waist before taking Nora’s hand and brushing a light kiss to the back of it. “So yer the Nora I’ve heard so much about,” he said with a smile.
Nora curtsied as she felt a blush come to her face and knew not how to respond to his remark. She resisted the urge to ask exactly whom it was that had been speaking of her. Deep down, she hoped it had been Wee William.
Duncan turned his smile to his wife. “Have ye eaten since the morn, wife?”
Aishlinn rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Have you known me to miss a meal in the past four months? Really, Duncan, I wish you wouldn’t worry so!”
Duncan spread his feet apart and crossed his arms over his chest. “I be yer husband and not only is it me duty to worry, it is me right!”
Nora caught the twinkle in his eye as he looked lovingly at his tiny wife with her big belly. Nora had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing at Aishlinn’s expression of shock and horror. “Your right? You do not own me Duncan McEwan! I am your wife, not your possession. You’d best remember that fact.”
Duncan chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Aishlinn and drew her in. “Aye, yer right. Ye are me wife. And I’m afraid ’tis ye who possesses me, heart, body and soul. Do no’ be angry that I worry. If I didna worry and fuss you’d think I didna love ye anymore!” He pressed a kiss on the top of Aishlinn’s head.
“Quit with your romantic ways, Duncan McEwan. ’Tis how I got into my current state!” She tried to push him away but he wouldn’t have it.
“I believe it had more to do with a blindfold and a dare, if me memory serves me correct.” He taunted her.
Aishlinn’s eyes flew open and she stomped her foot down on Duncan’s, forcing him to release her.
“Duncan! You must not speak like that in front of people! I swear, you will drive me to madness one of these days!”
She hadn’t caused any real damage to his foot, but he would allow her to think she had. “Yer right,” he said, trying to look like a chastised child. “Please forgive me, m’lady! I shall spend the rest of me days trying to make up fer all my dastardly ways! I bow before you, humbled, and it is my fervent desire to do nothing but yer biddin’!”
Nora could no longer contain her laughter. She giggled at the two of them. Duncan pulled his wife in closely for another hug and smiled at Nora. “’Tis the babe she carries that often makes her a bit grumpy. Do no’ kick me again wife,” he said as he moved his legs away from hers. “Ye lo
ve me, ye canna deny it. And ye even love me wickedness.”
“Aye, I love you, though sometimes I wonder why!” Aishlinn shook her head and rolled her eyes.
Duncan bowed at the waist with a flourish. “Will ye do me the honor of allowing me to escort the two of ye to the evening meal this night?”
“Don’t be daft, Duncan. Of course you can.” Aishlinn told him as she took his offered arm.
Duncan smiled devilishly at Nora. “Unless there be someone else ye’d want to escort ye?”
Nora felt the burning sensation of embarrassment again, but remained mute. Besides, she hadn’t a clue if there would be any hidden meaning to being escorted to dinner by someone and she wanted not to make any errors in social protocol. She decided to err on the side of caution and not name any one individual. “I have been taking my meals in the children’s room. Wee William brings us a tray each night.”
There was a glint of something in Duncan’s eye and a smile on Aishlinn’s face. “Does he stay to eat with you?” Aishlinn asked.
“Aye, he does.” Nora refused to read anything into Wee William’s kind gesture. Aye, she did enjoy those private moments with him. She enjoyed his company, their talks, and his sense of humor. But to think Wee William would have anything other than friendly notions toward her was laughable. He was a handsome, large, kind man. He could have any woman that he chose and Nora was certain that she was not the kind of woman a man like him could ever want.
Aishlinn smiled more brightly and looked up at her husband. “Duncan, I’ve not seen Wee William of late. Pray, tell me, does he still wear his beard?”
“Aye, wife, he does.”
Aishlinn nodded and pondered that for a moment. “I see.”
Nora looked at the two of them, her curiosity growing.
Duncan took notice of Nora’s curious expression. “I can see ye don’t understand the importance of Wee William’s beard, lass.”
“No, m’lord, I do not.”
Duncan and Aishlinn cast a glance at one another before Duncan went on to explain it. “Ye see, lass, Wee William has sworn time and again that there isn’t a woman in all this world worth shavin’ his beard for.”
Seeing she was even more confused by his statement, he went on. “So the day he shaves his beard will be the day he’s declarin’ his love fer a woman. We have wagers with one another as to when that might happen. Though some say ’twill never happen, others among us are a bit more optimistic.”
“Wee William is a wonderful man,” Aishlinn offered. “You will not find another in all this world who loves children the way he does. You can often find him out of doors, allowing the little ones to climb his shoulders so they can pretend they can reach the stars. Or he’ll chase them about, acting like an ogre.” Aishlinn gave her husband’s arm a gentle squeeze. “He’s a good man, Nora. A bit stubborn, just like all Highlanders.”
Nora had witnessed the kind side of Wee William. There was a calming influence to him, one that made her sister less afraid. She had also taken note of how he treated John with a firm yet kind hand, which was exactly the kind of influence the boy needed.
Aye, he was a kind, generous, funny, handsome, big man. He could have any woman he wanted. What made her think she stood a chance among all the fine, beautiful Scottish women she had met? She doubted he would be interested in an Englishwoman, with two siblings to look after. Nay, it was too much to hope that a man like him would be interested in a woman like her.
“Aye, he is a fine man, indeed.” She wanted nothing more than to change the subject. “I’m not sure how things are done here, but could John and Elise sit with us at the evening meal?”
Taking note that the subject was closed for now, Aishlinn held out her hand to Nora. “Of course they can. It is much different here, than in English castles where children are to be seen and not heard. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how differently things are done.”
Nora gave Aishlinn’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I took note of that from the beginning. I could live ten lifetimes and still not be able to repay everyone for the kindness they’ve shown us. I’m very glad to be here.”
Nora did not notice the silent exchange that took place between Aishlinn and Duncan as they left the study together. She was lost again in her own thoughts and began to plan her future.
Nora needed a husband. Aye, she might not necessarily want one, but she knew that she needed one. She did not want to live the rest of her days in the women’s solar. She wanted a home, a real home, for John and Elise. A home filled with laughter, love, and kindness.
She was willing to settle for laughter and kindness because she knew love was not an easy thing to acquire. The kind of love she witnessed between Aishlinn and Duncan was so very rare.
She had spent a year praying fervently for a way out of her marriage. Nora felt it would be selfish to ask the Lord for a love she witnessed between Aishlinn and Duncan. Nay, it was enough now that Horace was dead and kind people surrounded her and her brother and sister. Safe, warm, and cared for, and it was more than she had ever asked of God. She’d not risk losing those things by asking for anymore from Him.
Fourteen
“Ye want me to do what, William?” Father Michael stared at Wee William, uncertain he’d heard the man correctly.
“I need ye to give Nora an annulment but without her knowin’ yer doin’ it.” Wee William told him again for the third time. “I dunna see why ye find it so difficult to understand the request, father.”
Father Michael shook his head as if doing so would bring him clarity. It didn’t work. “Explain it to me one more time.”
Wee William let out a frustrated sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. He was rapidly loosing faith in the young priest. But if explaining it again would bring the man around to his way of thinking, he’d oblige.
“Ye see, father, I’ve been praying on this fer days now. ’Tis a great guilt I carry with me. I ken Nora thinks her husband be dead, but I’ve no’ guarantee that he is. There is a good chance they didna survive that night, what with bein’ naked and miles from home and it bein’ winter. But, I’d rather no’ take the chance that he still be walkin’ among the livin’.”
“So you want me to grant her an annulment without her knowledge?” Father Michael asked his voice laced with disbelief.
“Aye!” William smiled. Finally. “Ye’ve got the right of it. So, will ye do this fer me?”
Father Michael shook his head again and stepped down from the dais of the kirk. He began pacing in front of Wee William, thinking about what the man was asking. He stopped and looked up at the tall Highlander who was looking far more hopeful than Father Michael would have liked.
“William, I would no’ be able to just grant an annulment. The lass would have to ask fer it. And I dunna ken how ye’d get her to ask fer such a thing when she thinks she’s a widow.”
Wee William ran his hand across his beard. He’d done nothing for the past days but think of a way around his predicament without Nora learning of the very small possibility that her husband might still be alive. He had given her a chance at a better life. Who knew what she’d do if she found out that Horace might still be alive. He’d come to the priest and made his confession, to which Father Michael did nothing to hide his shock.
“I ken the lass has talked with ye, Father Michael. Certainly she’s told ye of her life with that whoreson she was married to.”
Father Michael cringed at the words Wee William had chosen to describe Horace Crawford. Aye, he agreed with his colorful description, but to use such words in the house of the Lord was unacceptable. “William, remember where ye be.”
Wee William crossed himself and apologized. “Ye’ve talked with her, father?”
Father Michael held up his hands to halt Wee William. “Ye ken I canna tell ye what the lass and I spoke of.”
Wee William nodded his head and pressed his tongue to his cheek. “Aye, I ken it. Ye canna tell me what she said, but certainly y
e can tell me if ye discussed her marriage to Horace.”
Father Michael stared blankly at Wee William. He knew where the man was headed and wasn’t about to be led there.
“I understand ye wantin’ to keep her confessions secret. But tell me this, if she were to ask for an annulment, do ye think ye could grant it?”
The priest had no idea how Wee William proposed to get Nora to ask that question. “Aye, I would,” he answered before quickly adding, “but how on earth do ye plan on getting’ her to ask the question when she thinks she be a widow?”
A plan began to form in Wee William’s mind. The more he thought on it, the bigger his smile grew. After a few moments, he was positively beaming. His smile sent a chill up and down Father Michael’s spine. A beaming Wee William was more frightening than an angry one.
“If I can get her to ask it, will ye grant it?” Wee William asked.
Father Michael was too unnerved by his smile to deny the request. “Aye, I would.”
“Good!” Wee William said as he slapped a large hand on the priest’s back, nearly knocking him off balance. “I’ll return within the hour with the lass. Ye be prepared to grant it.”
Father Michael did not doubt the Highlander’s tenacity. However, he did have doubts as to how Wee William would go about it. “I’ll need time to draw up the annulment documents. Give me two hours.”
Wee William slapped his back again, happier than he’d been in weeks. He started to leave, when Father Michael called after him.
“William, am I to assume by yer request that ye have a desire to marry this lass?”
Wee William came to an abrupt halt. He refused to turn around to look at the priest. “Nay, ye needn’t assume such a thing. I’m merely doin’ it to assuage me guilt. Nothin’ else to it.”
It was Father Michael’s turn to smile. He thought of telling Wee William that God frowned upon liars, but wasn’t ready to die this day. Besides, there was the possibility that Wee William wasn’t quite ready to admit that he did in fact want to marry the lass. His long beard however, told an entirely different story. He continued to smile as he watched Wee William leave the kirk. Moments later, Father Michael left in a hurry.
Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series Page 18
