by K. E. Saxon
Daniel grinned. “Good. I’m glad I will not have to compel you to do so, as I’d thought I would.”
Bao looked at his brother’s profile. ‘Twas clear he knew naught of his and Jesslyn’s tryst, so…. “You were going to try to compel me into wedding her? Why?”
He met Bao’s eye. “I think it quite obvious. The bairn must be Callum’s. Callum’s mother is a Maclean. You’re a Maclean. Wedding Jesslyn will keep the bairn in the family.”
“The bairn’s not Callum’s, it’s mine.”
His brother nearly dropped his sword. Eyes wide with shock, he said, “Did you just say you are the babe’s father?”
The tension in Bao’s neck tripled. “Aye.”
“How? How is that possible? And don’t even think to give me a lesson in anatomy—you know what I mean.”
“Last summer, before I came forward to reveal my identity to you, I met Jesslyn in the wood a few times.”
“A few—”
Bao held up his hand. “Nay, we only lay together once, but we did meet in the wood a couple of times prior to that.”
“I think you should start at the beginning,” his brother said, his eyes drilling into Bao’s. “How did you first meet?”
“She came to the forest the first time a few sennights before I met with you. She was looking for a waterfall that her husband had beckoned her toward in a dream. She said the dream had seemed so real to her that she wanted to find out if the place existed in truth.”
Daniel’s brows slammed together in confusion and surprise. “And is there such a fall?”
Bao sighed. “Aye, there is.” He placed his sword on the floor and got up. He took several steps away from Daniel before turning to face him once more. “I’d dreamt of the waterfall as well, not long after Branwenn and I had arrived on this holding—and Jesslyn was part of my dream.”
“You dreamed of Jesslyn before ever meeting her?” Daniel’s eyes grew wider still. “This whole tale is becoming more fantastic by the moment.”
“Aye. Believe me, I know how strange it sounds, but ‘tis true. I, too, was driven to find this mystical place after seeing it in my dream, and I found it only days afterward.”
“But how did you meet Jesslyn in truth? We trekked the wood thoroughly in search of you—Alleck’s ‘magic giant’—but found no trace. Did she somehow stumble upon your cave?”
“Nay, I saw Jesslyn coming through the trees one day and, tho’ ‘twas against my better judgment, I made my presence known to her.” After a brief pause, he explained further, “My seeing her first in a dream was the reason I felt so impelled to speak with her, give her my story.”
“Let us leave the subject of the dreams for another time. For now, I want more details of Jesslyn’s part in keeping my brother and sister’s existence a secret from me for several sennights.”
It galled him to take her part in this matter, but he’d given her his vow to do so, and he’d not break it. “She didn’t know of our kinship, nor did she know of Branwenn until we brought her here. But, she knew I was waiting in the wood, waiting for the right time to speak with you. And that I intended no harm.”
His brother jumped up and began to pace. “I can’t believe her perfidy! We’ve been friends since we were bairns, how could she—"
“Calm yourself, Daniel.” Bao strode over and clamped his hand on his shoulder. “I made Jesslyn promise to give me a bit more time. I convinced her that you weren’t ready to hear what I had to say yet and I vowed that I would make it right, should you learn of her secrecy and be angered by it.”
Daniel looked at him and a gleam came into his eye. “I’ve a hankering to finish our wrestling match, what say you?”
Bao grinned in spite of his dark mood. “I look forward to it. But don’t think you’ll get off so easily this time. I’ve been training rather vigorously the past moons and I’m in much better condition to best you.”
“We shall see,” Daniel replied smugly. “So...at what point did you lay with Jesslyn?” he said, turning the subject back to their original discussion. “Was it after you’d moved into the keep with us?”
“Nay, ‘twas before that time.” Bao sighed and scrubbed his fingers across his brow. “The day after we first met each other, I showed her the way to the waterfall, and that was the last I saw of her until the day before I came to the keep to meet with you. I’d decided to take a last swim at the fall, but Jesslyn was already there.” An image of her standing, bared before him, arms outstretched, her luminous hair and smooth white skin glimmering as the blinding sun made prisms of the water droplets running down those lush breasts and thighs, raced through his mind and dazzled him once more. Until the sobering words of Alan, Constable of Scotland—his first glimpse of her true nature—crowded it out and enveloped his heart in a sheath of ice once more. “Jesslyn MacCreary, the slave-trader’s sister abides at the Maclean holding under your half-brother’s protection, does she not?” Bao swung around, stalked back to his place by the hearth and sat down. He snatched up his sword and resumed cleaning the blade with much more vigor than before. “Suffice it to say,”—he heard the ill-temper in his voice and softened it—“we did all that was necessary to conceive a bairn.” He’d deal with Jesslyn’s inhumane, selfish greed on his own terms, after they were wed, and with no input from his half-brother. This he’d decided after seeing her again, after learning she carried his babe and would gladly let another man raise it.
Daniel shook his head in wonder. “I confess, I’m having a hard time believing this.” He placed his hands behind his back and began to pace, looking at the floor as he moved.
“I assure you, ‘tis true,” Bao said.
“But ‘tis just so unlike her. She’s always been quite adamant about being wed before she’d lay with a man.” Daniel stopped and faced Bao once more. “Even Graeme, her husband, whom she loved deeply, was obliged to wait until they’d wed. Which was why, I’m sure, he’d insisted on wedding her so quickly once she’d accepted his troth.” Daniel’s all-too shrewd eyes drilled into Bao. “Yet, according to you, Jesslyn had only met you twice before she allowed such intimacy. Something in this tale is just not fitting together.”
Bao refused to give any further specifics. The intimate details of that day were between him and Jesslyn. “As I said, ‘tis the truth. And the only thing that matters is that I convince her to wed me.”
“Oh, she’ll wed you. I shall see to it,” Daniel replied.
Bao balanced the flat of his sword on his thighs and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve already asked her, and she refused me. Twice.”
Daniel walked back to his stool and sat down. “Ah, but now you have my backing as well. And Maryn and our grandmother’s, too.” He laughed then, a diabolical gleam in his eye. “And Alleck will not let her rest until you two are wed, once the idea is given to him.”
Bao sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, a smile of satisfaction lighting his countenance. He’d wed her and put her in a hell of imprisonment, just as his mother had been.
* * *
CHAPTER 5
Three days later, Jesslyn was busily stirring her pottage on the cookfire when a knock came to her door. “Enter,” she called out and turned back to her task.
“G’day, Jesslyn,” Maryn said, “I’ve been inveigled by Bao to come speak to you about relenting and giving him your troth.”
Jesslyn rolled her eyes. “Ayyy. Will no one let it rest?” She rose to her feet and placed the spoon on the table next to her. “Why will you not just let me wed the steward, as I’ve said I would?”
Maryn walked over to a stool and settled on it, saying, “Because, the babe’s not the steward’s. ‘Tis Bao’s. And he deserves to raise the bairn as his own.”
Jesslyn twisted her fingers together and twirled around, beginning to pace. “He’s much changed since last we met.” She turned a steady gaze on her friend. “Much changed.”
Maryn’s look was disbelieving. “In what way? He’s still the b
old warrior, still the gentle, loving brother that we all met this summer past.”
Jesslyn rushed over and sat on the seat in front of Maryn, taking hold of her friend’s hands. “Do you not see? With me, he is not that man. I truly believe he wants to do the right thing, to wed me, be responsible for us, and yet, he resents the doing of it. I see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice each time we speak.”
“All men think they do not want marriage—and just look how contented they become after the deed is done.”
She sat back. “Not this time, not Bao.”
“Alleck wants a father.”
“The stew—”
“Will be a horrid father to the lad. He’s too old—I still cannot believe my husband ever thought the man was a decent match for you—he’s pompous, and he’s not the patience required to raise a lad as active as is your son, Alleck.”
She spoke the truth, and Jesslyn knew it, but still she struggled with her dread. “What if he begins to miss his life in Perth?” The life that no-one else knew of but her. “He may grow to hate me.”
Maryn put her hand on Jesslyn’s knee. “He’d never do that. You are the mother of his bairn, for one thing. But for another,”—an impish grin lit her countenance—“I do believe he likes you well. And you like him. Why else would the two of you have found yourselves in this situation?” She sat back. “That alone bodes well for a well-made match. Believe me, I’ve personal, expert knowledge of such.”
The smell of burning pottage wafted over to Jesslyn and she hurried over to stir it once more, but her mind spun with all her friend had said. Maryn was right. And, besides, could she really allow another man to raise Bao’s bairn, when its father had proved his desire to do the deed? And, of course, there was Alleck. He’d not stopped hounding her to wed the man since first learning of the possibility days ago. After the fourth rotation around the pot with the spoon, Jesslyn finally turned to Maryn and said, “All right. I’ll wed him.”
* * *
They were bound in wedlock by sundown. The celebration of the wedding was deferred until the next day, so the two were left with the evening and night to spend alone together.
And now they stood in the cottage that Jesslyn and Alleck had lived in prior to moving to the keep. It had been decided that the newlyweds should have a bit more privacy this first night, so the cottage had been prepared—supplied with the essentials for their comfort.
Jesslyn was as jumpy as a rabbit. She couldn’t believe she was a wife once more. And to this carnally charged, darkly brooding warrior-god. He stood with his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest, just staring at her. Didn’t he know he was making her even more nervous with that intent gaze?
“Bring me the gown you wore the morn I arrived back here.”
“Why?”
“You shall see soon enough.”
Alarm bells went off in her head, but she saw no way around giving in to his strange mood. “Al-all right.” She scurried into her bedchamber and took it from its hook on the wall, then hurried it to him. She gasped when he ripped it from her fingers, ripped it from neck to skirt hem. “What are you doing! Stop!” She tried to take it from him, but he swung it out of her reach then proceeded to make long shreds in the material with the blade of his dirk. “You’ll have no more need of this.”
Her heart pounded so hard, it made a weighted ball in her throat that she could barely speak around. “Why did you do that? I told you that was a precious gift from my late brother.” Her palms began to sweat.
“’Tis not for you to know your master’s inclinations. ‘Tis only for you to obey and serve his needs.”
Her breath caught. “M-my master’s inclinations?”
“Aye. Your lord and master. And from this moment forward there will be some changes in your attire and your demeanor.”
A high-pitched ringing swirled in her head, in her ears. “What is this about? Why are you behaving this way—we are friends, at least, are we not?”
“Ha! Nay. To look upon you makes me want to heave my meal. I hate the sight of you.”
She swayed on her feet. “Then why did you wed me? I would have wed the steward, or some other suitable match, and your precious freedom would never have been violated.”
“Ah, but do you not see? Then I would not have the pleasure of seeing you grovel, the way my mother groveled at my father’s feet. And that is the only thing that the likes of you deserve.”
She stared at him. Who is this? This is not Bao. Not the warm, strong, gentle Bao she’d grown a hair’s breadth from falling in love with last summer. Nay, this man was hard, cold, cruel.
He settled with disgusting ease on one of her stools and said, “And then of course, there is the matter of my babe. I’ll not have another taking the name ‘father’ for a bairn of my loins. I do not take my duties lightly.”
“I’ll petition for an annulment.”
“On what grounds? Tho’ our clans are related, you admitted I fathered the babe, and I admitted that ‘tis true. You were a widow and I was blissfully unshackled. The church will not allow it. Nay, you are mine to do with as I will.”
Another set of alarm bells sounded. “A-as you will?”
He smirked. “Worry not, I’ll not ride between your thighs again. I prefer a woman with more…experience—and I find I have no stomach for fucking slaves.”
Slave! “Wh—?” Surely, ‘twas meant to shock, not meant as truth!
“Go to bed, Jesslyn. We’ve a long life ahead of us. And do not think to speak a word of this conversation to my family, for if you do, I’ll sweep you off to Perth so quickly—without Alleck, I might add—that your brain will scramble. Nay, to all we shall appear the happy, loving couple.”
* * *
Over the next sennight, Jesslyn’s misgivings grew. Bao had insisted that Alleck remain at the keep, and she’d complied, as she had no belief that she could keep up the pretense of happiness in her home as well as in her dealings with Bao’s family. Added to which, she held hope that she could assuage his anger if they were left to deal with each other in privy. So she had questioned Bao, pleaded with him to give her some reason for his loathing of her, but he’d thus far remained mute. What could have happened between the day of his departure from here when he’d smiled with genuine friendship and gratitude after receiving her gift of berry tarts and the day he’d returned? If only she could speak to Daniel about it, she was sure he could learn the cause, but she had little doubt that Bao would do as he’d threatened and separate her from her home—her son—if she did so, with few or no pangs of conscience.
She wandered through the wood in search of any last chance of mushrooms for their supper and was just coming through the trees when she glanced in the direction of the burn. She smiled and blushed when she saw a young couple lying half-clothed on the banks, kissing. Longing pricked her heart and she began to turn away when the man lifted his head and grinned down at his young amour. Her heart tripped then twisted. ‘Twas Bao!
What to do? He’d told her he’d find his pleasure with another, and truth to tell, that suited her. It did! For his cruel and angry manner had suffocated any last feelings of desire she’d been harboring for him since their conversation in the wood. But she’d wither of mortification if any learned of his disinterest. She worried her lip with her teeth. Nay. Nay. ‘Twould not happen. Bao was just as adamant that they give his family the belief that all was well and good with their marriage. He’d be discreet.
Pushing down the jealousy that threatened to rise within her, she turned and ran back to their cottage.
* * *
Bao watched Jesslyn’s flight, his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed, and when she was out of sight, rolled from the lass beneath him and said, “Cover yourself, your work is done. The coin I promised is in the pouch on my belt.” He leveled his gaze on the mussed creature. “You did well, and there’s another coin in it for you if you keep this bargain to yourself.” After the lass retrieved her pay, he stood an
d helped her to rise with a grasp of her hand. “I shall give you notice if I need your services again. G’day, Brigid.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Bao strode in with a rather rough looking peddler. “Go fetch our guest some fresh water.”
Jesslyn gave a brief nod and grabbed up the bucket and ladle. She wasn’t gone more than ten minutes, but when she returned, the peddler was settled on his cart and all her sundries and belongings were piled upon it!
“Bao!” She dropped the bucket and the ladle went flying. “What are you doing! These are—These are mine!” The dress made from the material her husband bought for her on his fatal last journey poked out in bunches from the lid of her chest. She bunted Bao aside and started hauling the chest out of the cart. But he gripped her wrist and forced her to release her hold. “It displeases me to see you in such rags. I’ve purchased others for you. Come inside and I’ll show you.” He turned to the peddler. “Enjoy whatever coin you can gain from these items, good man.”
Her eye fell on a small wooden box, the one that held all her son’s secret boyhood treasures. “Wait! That’s Alleck’s—he’ll be much grieved at it’s loss!”
Bao lifted the box from the cart and tucked it under his arm. He hauled her into the cottage then and slammed the door. “Do not ever gainsay my decisions. You will do as I will.” His smile was dark, brutal, when he said, “I saw you in the wood earlier. Do you miss the fucking, dove?”
Fire licked her neck, her cheeks and she shook her head.
His eyes narrowed. “Go into your bedchamber and change into the gown I left lying on the bed.”
Seeing no way around his bitterness and wanting only a bit of peace, she did as he demanded. Her eyes scanned her chamber, emptied of her precious possessions, and they welled, but she swallowed the tears down. Nay. Do not think of things you cannot control. She walked over and stood at the edge of the bed. Her breath caught when she saw the fineness of the ruby-colored material, but when she lifted it, she gasped. ‘Twas as sheer as a spider’s web and just as daunting. What game was he playing? She could not be seen in public wearing this. She’d be banished.
