Locked in the Godforsaken space for nearly a week, enduring heaven only knew what, had taken that spark from Moirra’s eyes.
“I want to go home, Deirdre,” Moirra whispered. “I want to see me girls and Alysander.”
Deirdre began to rub warmth into Moirra’s hands. “I ken ye do, Moirra. I swear, we be doin’ our best to get ye home. Please, do no’ give up hope.”
Moirra blinked a few times before she found her voice again. “Hope?” she sighed. “I’m afraid I lost all hope days ago. I be cold, filthy, tired and hungry. They give me nothin’ but bread and bad water. I canna keep anythin’ down, Deirdre, it all comes back up.”
Deirdre felt quite certain that under these circumstances she wouldn’t be able to keep any food in her stomach either. “Wheesht, now,” she said as she removed her cloak and draped it around Moirra. “To keep yer spirits up, why do ye no’ try to imagine Almer’s soul burnin’ in hell? Or better yet, imagine all the different ways yer husband might kill him.” Her attempt at levity was meant to bolster Moirra’s spirits. It had the opposite effect.
Tears began to fall down Moirra’s cheeks, her face twisted with pain and heartache. “I fear he does no’ care fer me any longer,” she wept.
Deirdre was stunned at the accusation. “Are ye daft? The man does no’ sleep, he barely eats. He be sick with worry over ye, Moirra.”
Moirra looked puzzled as she wiped tears from her cheeks with the cloak. “Why has he no’ come to see me?”
Deirdre let out a frustrated sigh. If she ever had the opportunity to kill Almer Wilgart, she’d take it. “Alysander has been here every day. He begs to see ye, but Almer will no’ let him.”
Moirra blinked, her brow scrunched in undeniable confusion. “But they said Alysander has yet to come to see me.”
“Remember who we be dealin’ with, Moirra. Almer? George? Harry? They all be bloody cruel men. They lie to keep ye depressed and hurtin’.”
A glimmer of the strong, independent Moirra began to flicker back to life. “Why would they do that? Why will they no’ let me see him?”
Deirdre shook her head. “If we could figure that out, we could solve many of the world’s problems. Ye ken that as well as me, Moirra. They take great pleasure in hurtin’ people.”
Moirra sniffled and wiped away the last of her tears. “Why do they hate me so?”
Deirdre smiled warmly. “Ye keep askin’ me things I canna answer. Try askin’ somethin’ I can answer.”
“How be me girls? How be Alysander?”
“They be well, though they do miss ye somethin’ fierce. Little Orabilis made a call to arms and says we should just come and get ye, and if Almer gets in their way, well too bad fer him.”
For the first time in days, Moirra giggled. “Is she still askin’ fer her own broadsword?”
“Aye, and I fear she’ll wear Alysander down to the point he’ll give her one,” Deirdre replied.
* * *
Deirdre was tempted to scream, remove the sgian dubh from her belt and seek out Almer and kill him. Instead, she removed a bladder of water from her basket and washed Moirra’s face as best she could. Once she was done, she left the disgusting cell to speak with Almer.
Still at his desk, with his dirty booted feet propped on top of it, he and George were discussing something, but stopped when Deirdre entered the room. She walked straight to his desk, set her basket down at her feet, and looked him in the eye. “If ye do no’ give Moirra a clean cell now, I will no’ only write to the king, I shall let his emissary ken how well ye’ve taken care of her. If ye do no’ see to it that she has clean blankets, a clean chamber pot, and somethin’ more than bread to eat, I will tell me brothers James, William and Phillip that ye made improper advances toward me.”
Almer shot to his feet, looking as insulted as he was angry. “Ye would no’ dare!”
With her hands on her hips, she said, “Would ye like to find out?”
Deirdre knew there were very few people on this planet that Almer was afraid of. Four to be exact. James, William and Phillip terrified him the most. He knew, without question, that if Deirdre did as she had promised, he’d not live to see another day. While Thomas did care for her, he would see right through any false accusations. James, William and Phillip, however, would take any opportunity to beat the bloody hell out of Almer and his cohorts, even if they knew there was a chance she was being less than truthful. They took their roles as older, protective brothers quite seriously. They’d defend Deirdre to their own deaths if need be.
Angrily, Almer shouted at George. “Go put Moirra in a clean cell!”
George stood, his expression confused. “We do no’ have a clean cell. They all look like hers.”
“Then go clean one!” he yelled across the room.
George made a hasty retreat, heading through the door that separated this room from the prison cells. Deidre called out after him. “And make sure ye lay down clean rushes!”
She turned back to Almer. “I thank ye, kindly, Almer. ’Tis fer yer own good that I make these requests.”
With flared nostrils and a purple face, Almer said, “Requests?”
Deirdre resisted the urge to laugh at him. Instead, she feigned innocence. “Please fergive me, Almer. As a healer, I want only what be best fer those in me charge. Even ye must admit the conditions here are an abomination. I would no’ even let me animals inside one of those cells.”
Almer didn’t need to say he didn’t believe her. His expression said it all. Deirdre didn’t truly care what his opinion of her was.
“I shall be back later today,” Deirdre told him. “With clean clothin’ for Moirra. I expect ye’ll no’ argue me givin’ her clean clothes, or anythin’ else that will make her time here a bit more bearable.”
“Keep in mind, Deirdre, that she be a prisoner, no’ a queen or a member of the aristocracy,” his voice dripped with venom.
“I ken verra well who she be, Almer. But ye must also remember, that she be married to Alysander McCullum. And Alysander be cousin to the king. So by default, she be a member of the aristocracy, no matter how much ye do no’ wish to admit it.”
“I believe that as much as I believe yer nothin’ but a sweet, innocent lass,” he said.
Deirdre took a step toward him. “Then why, pray tell, did ye set the trial fer a month away?”
He said nothing, though Deirdre did notice that he was clenching and unclenching his fists. It did not worry her in the least, for she knew he would never do anything to her out of fear of angering any of her brothers.
Grabbing her basket, she told him she would be back in a few hours. “Ye should be glad, Almer, fer me sensibilities. If the king’s emissary saw how ye were treatin’ Moirra, well, it might be ye in that cell instead of Moirra.”
Eight
Finnis Malcolm had wasted no time in petitioning Robert II to allow him to travel to Glenkirby. Even though his argument was weak at best, the fact that even one of David’s distant cousins had a wife who was sitting in a dank prison, accused of a crime that her husband was convinced she hadn’t committed was enough to sway David. He left that very day, with James McGregor, and a small envoy of the king’s men.
They arrived in Glenkirby just after dawn, just ten days after he had received Alysander’s request for help. Finnis had not heard from Alysander in more than a year, not since he had received word of his brother Hugh’s death. He had, however, been in communication with Alysander’s older brother, Connor.
Finnis had been wholeheartedly stunned when he had received Alysander’s letter. He was even more stunned to learn that he had married a woman — a woman with four daughters. Try as he might, Finnis could not envision Alysander as a father of one child, let alone four daughters. ’Twas more than just concern for his friend’s well-being that sealed his decision to ride to Glenkirby; ’twas the sheer curiosity of needing to find out how Alysander had come by a wife and four daughters, and how he was getting along with domesticity.
On their journey to Glenkirby, James had been full of quite useful information, especially as it pertained to Almer Wilgart and the men who worked for him. ’Twas James’ fervent belief that Moirra was innocent. If Delmar had been murdered, there was a whole list of suspects to choose from. As far as James was concerned, Moirra was not on that list. There was no need for her to kill the man, for they were in a handfast, not a legally binding marriage. She could leave him at any time, so murdering him for her freedom was out of the question.
James McGregor led Finnis and his men to the Brown Boar Inn, the only inn that Glenkirby possessed. As soon as Finnis had procured rooms for him and his men, James took him to meet Almer Wilgart.
To say he was not impressed with the vile, weasel of a man would have been a tremendous understatement. Besides finding the man’s body odor more foul than a pigsty, he also found him to be a groveling fool. Finnis seriously doubted the man behaved this way toward anyone else.
“I must confess,” Almer said after the appropriate introductions had been made. “That I didna believe Alysander McCullum.”
“On what matter?” Finnis asked as he removed his gloves and tucked them under his arm. There was a small brazier in a corner of the room. Finnis went to it to warm his hands.
“On any matter,” Almer replied. “The man be a thief, a poor one, but a thief all the same. If a man will steal, he will lie.”
Almer had no idea that the “thief” to whom he referred was Finnis’ oldest and closest friend. Purposefully, he left that information out of the formal introductions and had asked James to do the same. He was here to act as the judge and overseer of Moirra McCullum’s trial. Who knew how anyone would behave should they learn the truth?
“A thief, ye say?” Finnis asked, feigning ignorance on the matter. James had filled him in on the events that led to Alysander and Moirra meeting, insomuch as he knew them. Though he doubted Almer Wilgart’s description of the events would cast Alysander in any kind of favorable light.
“Aye,” Almer said as he sat in a wooden chair on the other side of the brazier. “He was caught stealin’ a necklace from one of the merchants. The necklace was in his pocket.”
Finnis knew Alysander well enough to know that he would never steal anything from anyone. There had to be more to the story and he was determined to find out.
“Well, now that yer here, we can have the trial this day,” Almer said, his eagerness undeniable.
Almer had no good idea yet that his attempts to order Finnis to do anything was an extremely foolish thing to do. “Nay,” Finnis said as he began to stuff his hands into his gloves. “I have just arrived this morn. We have traveled far in a short time.”
“On the morrow, then,” Almer said with far too much eagerness in his voice.
Finnis headed toward the door to leave. “I will let ye ken when the trial will begin.”
A flicker of annoyance flashed in Almer’s eyes, but he remained mute.
Finnis left a very annoyed Almer where he stood, without so much as a by-your-leave. He had questions, lots of questions. And Alysander McCullum was the only one who could answer them.
* * *
Because they could not risk being seen publicly, Finnis made arrangements for them to meet in the small thicket of woods near Moirra’s land. ’Twas a great relief for Alysander to see his old friend. “Finnis,” Alysander said, giving him a manly hug and slap on the back. “I can no’ tell ye how glad I am that yer here.”
“’Twas curiosity more than anythin’ else that brings me here,” Finnis said as he studied his friend closely. Dark circles had formed under Alysander’s eyes; eyes that no matter how big a smile he put on his face, were filled with worry. “When was the last time ye slept?”
Alysander would not attempt to insult Finnis by pretending all was right in his world. They’d known each other far too long. “No’ since they took Moirra.”
Finnis quirked one brow. “She must be somethin’ verra special fer I thought I’d never see the day where ye’d be married.”
Alysander smiled weakly and nodded his head. “Aye, she be verra special Finnis, more special than ye can imagine.”
Nine
“Ye have a visitor, Moirra,” Harry taunted her through the bars of her cell. “Do ye think it be yer husband? Yer children?”
Moirra sat on the edge of her cot, wishing for all the world that a bolt of lightning would somehow find its way to the top of his ugly head. Between Harry, George and Almer, she was quite fed up with their continuous assault of insults and taunts.
“Nay,” Harry said. “Ye’ve shamed them too much, ye ken. They will no’ come to see ye, Moirra, fer yer too big a disappointment to them. Poor things canna even walk down the streets without bein’ shunned by everyone.”
“Taunt me all ye wish, Harry, I do no’ care. When yer here tauntin’ me it means yer no’ out tryin’ to molest or rape some young innocent girl,” she told him with a casual air.
His smile vanished as he lunged forward. “At least I do no’ kill them like yer known to do,” he seethed.
Moirra shrugged one shoulder. “I imagine those poor girls wished ye had killed them fer ’twould be the only way to erase the memory of yer toothless, ugly face and yer foul stench.”
“I canna wait to see ye hanged, Moirra. I imagine by this time on the morrow we’ll be puttin’ the noose around yer neck,” he said.
With a roll of her eyes that said she didn’t really care what he had to say, she turned away. She was not going to give him, or George and Almer, the pleasure of seeing her distressed or worried.
* * *
George led Moirra’s visitor through the heavy wooden door, down the short, narrow hallway and into the large room that housed the gaol cells. With a heavy, dirty boot, Harry kicked a small stool toward Moirra’s cell, his way of offering the man a seat.
When Moirra saw who her visitor was, she jumped to her feet and rushed to the bars. “William?” she asked, uncertain why he was here.
“Good day to ye, Moirra,” he said as he righted the stool. “I’d ask how ye fare, but me thinks ye’d only lie and tell me ye were well.” He offered her a warm smile before sitting down.
Quickly, Moirra pulled the tiny cot closer to the bars and sat on the edge. “Why are ye here?” she asked him. “Is it me girls? Alysander?” She could not imagine any other reason why he’d be here or why Almer would grant him a visit. Her heart beat rapidly with worry and concern.
“Yer family be just fine, Moirra,” he said. “Though we worry that Orabilis will attempt to stage yer rescue at any moment. Alysander has her under constant watch.”
Moirra felt much relieved to hear that her family was fine. William’s jest over Orabilis made her almost laugh. “Then why are ye here?”
“I have been granted permission to act as yer legal representative,” he told her.
Moirra blinked once, then again, quite confused by his proclamation. “Ye?” she asked. “But ye have no experience do ye?”
William shook his head. “Nay, I fear I do no’.”
Moirra studied him for a time. All the McGregor men were blessed with long, blond hair with just enough curl to it to make most women envious. William was no exception. Of all the McGregor brothers, William was by far her favorite. He was kind and had a wicked sense of humor. However, his dark blue eyes were filled with much concern at the moment.
“Why ye, though? Do no’ mistake me questions as worry fer I ken ye to be a right smart man,” she told him.
He took in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “The truth?” he asked.
Moirra gave a nod of her head. “Aye, William, the truth.”
“Yer husband did no’ have the funds to pay anyone. I volunteered to help fer I ken in me heart that ye did no’ kill Delmar Wilgart. What misfortune befell the man, I do no’ ken. Knowin’ him as I did, I believe he probably deserved whatever he got.”
Moirra wholeheartedly agreed.
“Moira, I ken
ye did no’ kill him. Or if ye did, ’twas more likely an act of self-defense. Either way, I ken that ye do no’ possess a vengeful evil bone in yer wee body,” he said, his smile returning.
“William, I give ye me word that I did no’ kill him,” she assured him. Please, do no’ ask me if I ken who did.
“I believe ye.”
They sat quietly for a long moment before William spoke again. “Can ye tell me when ye saw him last?”
When we buried his sorry dead body. “Months ago. I canna remember the exact date, but I do remember that Orabilis was quite ill. I did no’ think she would survive.”
William thought on it for a moment. “I remember that. ’Twas early last winter, aye?”
“Aye,” she said with a nod.
“I took Deirdre to yer home, to help ye. I ken that Delmar was alive then, because he was complainin’ about how Orabilis’ cough was disturbin’ his sleep.”
The truthfulness to his statement made her face burn with shame. How could she have been so stupid as to marry such a cold-hearted man? “Aye. We argued after ye and Deirdre left.” That much was true. “’Twas then that he said he wanted to end the handfast.”
William brows arched a bit. “And how did ye feel about that?”
She wasn’t about to gloss over it. “I was quite glad fer it and told him so. It saved me the trouble of havin’ to call ye and yer brothers back to kick his sorry, lazy arse out of me home.”
William chuckled. “I would have come at once, fer I did no’ like that man at all.”
“Few people did.”
“So he left that night?”
“Aye,” Moirra answered quietly. “He left that verra night.” He left our wee cottage and went to the barn to try to rape Mariote.
“Did he take anythin’ with him?”
“Aye, though ‘twasn’t much, ye ken, fer he did no’ bring much with him. Just his clothes and a broadsword.”
Moirra's Heart Series: The Complete Collection ( Moirra's Heart Series: The Complete Collection (The Moirra's Heart Series Book 3)) Page 15
