“Laird Mackay, ye have a wonderful stable. Ye have some of the best horses that I’ve ever seen. Do ye breed many here? Or have ye found them elsewhere?”
“Lady Mairghread, are ye fond of horses?” Tristan was rather taken aback that a lady would mention such a topic as horse breeding.
“Ma sister has been riding since she was old enough to hold her head up. Da would take her out wrapped in his plaid against his chest. She would look out and coo at everything and everyone. Once she could sit up, she moved to riding in front of Da but still with his plaid wrapped around her to keep her close. She’s been in the saddle since she was a bairn.” This was the most that Alexander had said since they arrived. Tristan had not been sure that he talked at all.
“Alex, the laird was talking to me. I can answer fer maself.” She raised an eyebrow at her brother, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
“Laird Mackay--”
“Please, ye should all call me Tristan as we are soon to be kin.”
“A-alright. Tristan, I do love horses. I love to ride but I also like to take care of ma horse. And that does include where he is sent to stud. I ken it is not a normal topic fer a woman to ken aboot, but with four older brothers, I couldnae nae learn aboot it.”
Mairghread caught herself stammering when Tristan said she could call him by his Christian name. She had not been prepared for that or how it would make her feel. The name slid off her tongue as though she had been using it for years. It simply felt right. More so than the name “Alan.” That was a name she was rapidly beginning to dislike with a passion.
I’d rather ma passion go to Tristan. Jesu, Mary, and Joseph! Where did that come from? Bluidy bleeding hell! Argh! Now that’s three times I’ve cursed and will have to confess. I’ll need to find out if they have a priest here sharpish. Willna that be nice? ‘Hello, Father. I’ve nae yet been here a day and havenae even joined the clan yet, but I need to make a lengthy confession. Have ye time?’ Wonderful.”
Tristan’s voice brought her back to the present. She forced herself to focus on what he was saying rather than what she dreamt he might say to her—in private.
“So Alan showed ye the stables after the garden? Did ye three go anywhere else? I admit ye were left with quite a lot of time to fill on yer own.”
Mairghread and Magnus shared a look between them. It was not one that reassured Tristan. Mairghread spoke up slowly.
“Nay. Alan wasna the one to show us the stables. He did go there from the gardens, but we were nae the ones who went with him. I believe he had some, er, something else to see to. Magnus and I wandered around the bailey meeting yer clansmen and women until the stable was available for us to visit.”
Tristan’s heart sank with this. Mairghread did not have to be any clearer to let everyone know that Alan had a rendezvous with some woman in the stables when he was supposed to be getting to know Mairghread. Magnus now glared at Tristan as he was the only Mackay available at present to receive his disdain.
Laird Sinclair and his other three sons simply stared at Mairghread in disbelief. Finally, Callum finally spoke up.
“Just how long did ye spend with yer intended? Yer were gone the three hours we were meeting.”
“Magnus, what say ye? Alan was there aboot twenty minutes.” Mairghread simply shrugged and plowed on ahead, hoping to change the subject. “Tristan, yer people were vera kind to me. Many stopped to talk with us, and I was able to play catch with a few of the lads. I dinna think they have ever seen a lass throw as far as I can. The lasses were thrilled to see me beat the lads. I admit I encouraged the lasses to give it a go and gave them some pointers on how to surely trounce the lads. I think I may have only befriended the younger females of yer clan so far. Magnus certainly had several of the older females wanting to make friends with him.” She smirked at her brother as he reached out to pinch her side. She swatted at his hand.
Callum was not as eager to move on from the topic of Alan abandoning them on their walk. He was known for his tenacity, and he was not ready to give up on this topic.
“Mairghread, are ye telling us that out of three hours, ye spent only twenty minutes with Sir Alan? Ye saw him go into the stables. I take it ye were hinting that it was with a woman other than yerself.”
“Callum, of course it was with someone else. I canna be in two places at once. I told ye that Magnus and I toured the bailey. Tristan, I should like to ride in the morning. Would it be safe to ride in the meadow outside the gate? What aboot near the loch? Are there aught bogs I should worry aboot?” Mairghread did her best to steer the conversation back around. She gave Callum a pointed look. One he simply returned but let the subject drop.
Tristan did not know what to say at this point. He was so embarrassed by his stepbrother’s behavior. He thought he could not believe that Alan would be so blatant in his dalliances, but he knew in his heart that he was not really that surprised. He looked down at Mairghread and saw the hurt that she was trying to hide. He saw how she begged that he would keep the conversation away from something that clearly humiliated her.
“Aye. Ye can easily ride out to the meadow and yon. I think ye would like the loch. Yer horse can have a drink, and ye can sit on the rocks for a spell. Do ye ken how to skip rocks?”
“Are ye seriously asking me that? Once again, I have four older brothers. How couldnae I ken how to skip rocks.”
“Perhaps yer brothers and da would like to join ye for yer ride, and I could show ye all aboot.”
Alexander had to put his two cents in as well. “Do ye think Sir Alan might be able to make himself available for such a tour? As laird, I’m sure ye have more pressing matters. I’d think Sir Alan would like another opportunity to get to ken his bride and her kin.”
“Right ye are. I will be sure to ask him at the evening meal. Lady Mairghread, I do believe Lady Beatris is trying to get yer attention. I think she would like fer ye to join her at the hearth. Do ye sew? I believe that is what she is doing now.”
Mairghread looked to her father and saw his scowl which seemed to have become permanently etched on his face since arriving at the Mackays’. She gave an almost imperceptible nod before looking at Tristan.
“Aye. I do sew. I shall gather ma current piece of embroidery and join her in a moment.” Mairghread dipped a curtsy and moved to the stairs.
“I think a dram of whisky might be in order,” Tristan muttered as he motioned towards his solar.
Chapter Six
The evening meal progressed nicely, and it seemed that the lairds’ families were getting along. While Alan still shoveled food and wine into his mouth as though he feared someone would steal his trencher, he did at least leave a relatively decent portion for Mairghread. As befitting a soon to be betrothed couple, they shared a trencher. At first, Mairghread thought that Alan was being kind with the choicest pieces of venison and pheasant going into the trencher, but she quickly realized that these were landing on his side. He plunked down any piece he could find on top when he finally got around to serving her. The juices would have splattered and ruined her kirtle if she had not quickly grabbed the edge of the table cloth to cover her lap. She never did get a drop to drink as they also shared a goblet, and Alan hoarded it as though he would soon expire from thirst. Mairghread had seen plenty of men drink wine or ale with their meals, but Alan alternated back and forth depending on which buxom serving wench was near to hand. If it was a homely looking woman he did not wave her over as his goblet emptied, but if the woman was comely, he practically pulled her into his lap to pour another serving. He was well into his cups by the third course.
Mairghread plastered her most serene smile on her face as she suffered through the meal. As though Alan’s manners and behavior were not bad enough, Lady Beatris was seated on Mairghread’s other side. She kept rambling on about Alan’s many accomplishments. From what Mairghread could tell, they were not really accomplishments but simply Alan doing the very least that was expected of him and his boastful mother’s
exaggerations. She spoke of how he had learned to read and write well enough that he no longer needed lessons after the age of ten even though Tristan had needed to continue with a tutor until he was seven and ten. She did not see the point of why Tristan had learned to read and write Gaelic, English, and Latin. She, herself, had survived two score and five without being able to read and write any of those languages. Alan had learned to sit a horse by the age of five and could ride better than all the other guardsmen, or so Lady Beatris claimed. She was sure to tell Mairghread that Alan was the strongest of all the clansmen and he could shoot an arrow farther and straighter than any other man in the Highlands. Mairghread wanted to laugh outright at the comment about his strength. She had met Tristan and seen the blacksmith and his apprentices. Clearly, Alan was far from being the strongest man in the clan. Had the woman not seen Mairghread’s own brothers? As for his prowess with a bow and arrow, perhaps when he was sober. Right now he was so drunk that he could barely get the goblet or eating knife to his mouth without missing.
As the meal finished, the clansmen moved the trestle tables aside and musicians began to play. The meal was a small feast to celebrate the arrival of Clan Sinclair and the upcoming betrothal. Alan burped and patted his belly but made no move to invite Mairghread to dance. Tristan knew that he could not be the first one to invite her. That role should have gone to Alan. As couples began to move onto the floor, he saw the wistful look upon her face. Mairghread clearly wanted to dance and she swayed gently to the music. After a few minutes, Tavish rose and took her by the hand to lead her onto the floor. They joined the others for a lively country reel. Soon Mairghread’s laugh could be heard in the crowd as her hair flew behind her and she kicked up her heels. She danced two more songs with her brother before Callum, Alexander, and Magnus each claimed a dance.
“Alan, go dance with yer intended. Ye could at least pretend to pay her a bit of attention.”
“Why? Ye’ve already drafted the agreement with her father. The deal is as good as done. I have nay need for her except to bear me sons. Since she canna do that right this moment, I shall continue as I am.”
Tristan could feel the heat rising up his neck and into his face. He wanted nothing more in this moment that to throttle his stepbrother and smash his fist into his face.
“Ye will go out and dance with Lady Mairghread. Ye will make her feel welcome. Ye will behave yerself and not shame this clan. Or ye willna ever drink another drop in this keep. Now go!” Tristan veritably barked his order to Alan.
Alan looked up with him. He had his perpetual sneer on his face. The look that Tristan knew to mean he would do exactly what he wanted despite any consequences. The look that told Tristan that Alan was beyond reason. Please let him behave with even a modicum of decency.
Alan made his way to the dance floor but stopped to flirt with three different women on the way. He promised to meet one of them in the storeroom behind the kitchen after the music ended. He stole a sloppy kiss from another. In his stupor, he did not realize and did not care that each Sinclair, the chief’s family and guardsmen alike, saw his behavior. Finally, he came to Mairghread’s side. She was dancing with Auld Michael, one of the clan’s elders.
“Move on auld man. I’ve come for ma woman.”
Auld Michael gave Mairghread an apologetic look and seemed to linger.
“It’s alright Michael. I’ve been expecting to dance with Sir Alan.”
Auld Michael moved away but not before he heard Alan’s hoarse whisper, “what the hell was that supposed to mean?”
“Naught. I simply thought that at some point we might dance together.”
Alan grasped her around the waist and yanked her into him. She felt something hard against her front and knew it was too low to be his abdomen and too high to be his thigh. She almost shuddered with disgust. He had not been near her long enough for that to be the result of her. He had clearly been aroused by someone else. Which of the three women she had seen him with had made him stand at attention she did not know nor did she care. He held her roughly as they began to move around the dance floor.
“Ye are a sweet piece of fluff, are nae ye, ma sweet. Ye’ll do well warming ma bed each night. Dinna think that ye shall sleep alone often. Ye’ll be in ma bed every night that I want ye. On those nights I want someone else, ye may sleep in another chamber...or ye could watch, if ye fancy.” He leaned forward and licked Mairghread’s ear. She thought she might throw up.
“We’re all but married at this point. Give me a taste of what’s to come. Come with me to ma chamber and show me what I’ll have every night after we stand before the kirk.”
He grabbed her backside and thrust his hips forward. His other hand snuck between them to squeeze her breast. He had barely gotten his hand on her right breast when she stepped back and thrust her right knee into his groin. When he gasped and bent forward with his hand over his crotch, she threw her left elbow into his nose. Blood shot out all over and splattered her kirtle.
“Ye bluidy bitch. Ye broke ma nose! Ye’ll pay fer yer insolence.”
Mairghread flicked her right wrist and a dirk appeared in her hand. She lowered her hand so the point of the dirk was at his groin.
“Take a step closer and I’ll saw off yer twig and berries.”
“Ye donna have the nerve. Ye wouldnae dare. Ye’re naught but a cock tease. Ye--”
He was cut short when Mairghread flicked her left wrist and another dirk appeared. This one she aimed at his throat.
“I wouldnae keep insulting me if ye would like to keep yer bollocks or yer throat in one piece.”
At first, Tristan could only tell that there was some type of commotion on the floor. Once he heard Alan’s voice he knew that it involved Mairghread and that Alan had done something horribly wrong. As he rose, he heard the sound of five other chairs being pushed back. Each shot back so hard that they fell over. Then there was the sound of five swords being drawn. As he rushed around the table, he saw Alexander and Magnus leap across the table followed by Callum and Tavish. Liam ran around. All five surged forward and leapt from the dais. At the sight of their laird and his sons with drawn swords, the Sinclair guardsmen drew dirks and sgian dubhs from various places on their bodies. In response, the Mackay guardsmen drew theirs. Swords were not allowed in the great hall with the exception of the laird’s family, personal guard, and guests.
Tristan ran forward but came to a screeching halt when he saw the scene before him: Mairghread with two dirks pointing at his stepbrother and Alan with a clearly broken nose and a hand adjusting his groin.
“What is the meaning of this?” Laird Sinclair roared. “What the hell did ye do to ma daughter that she had to defend herself from ye?”
“I didna do a damn thing wrong. Yer whore of a daughter teased me and then denied me ma due as her betrothed.”
“Da--”
“Silence, Mairghread!” The Sinclair stepped up to Alan and placed his face only inches from Alan’s. At over a head taller, the Sinclair had to lean down quite a bit. “Ye dare call ma daughter a bitch, a cock tease, and a whore? I will kill ye right on the spot.”
Tristan had to step in before this turned into a blood bath. He looked around as the Sinclair guardsmen inched forward ready to defend any of the laird’s family who might be in need. He saw white hot fury in each of their faces. He saw that his own guardsmen were on the defensive, but it was to protect the clansmen and women. They had inched away. They clearly had no intention of coming to Alan’s rescue. Doesnae that not only speak volumes but scream it too?
“Mairghread, tell us what happened, please.” He stepped in front of Mairghread to look at her. She was remarkably calm considering she was easily a foot shorter and at least ten stone lighter than Alan. She looked up at him with her blue-grey eyes. They were a darker gray than before. They reminded him of a storm cloud that was about to unleash a blizzard.
“He yanked me against him and then ground his staff into me. He’d clearly already been entertained
by someone else when he interrupted ma dance with Auld Michael. Then he proceeded to grab ma backside and one of ma breasts. He said that I should give him a taste of what he’d be getting after the kirking. He said that since we were practically betrothed, it was his right. He also told me how I’d warm his bed every night that another woman wasna already in it.” She leaned around his shoulder and glared at Alan. She looked ready to spit fire. Tristan thought he had never seen a more remarkable woman.
“He said all of that, lass? Anything more?”
“Nay. Isnae that enough? I canna remember anything else.”
“Ye’re bluidy right that was more than enough! The Sinclairs ride out at dawn. There will be nay betrothal. Laird Mackay, count yerself lucky that I respect ye even if yer brother is a piece of shite. If I didna, I’d raze yer fields from here to the Orkneys.”
Out of nowhere came the shrill yell of Lady Beatris, and Tristan’s heart sank even further, if it was possible. For Jesu’s sake, could this get any worse?
“What did that hateful wench do to ye, son? Let me see ye. That trollop is a tease. I saw her at the table and the way she tried to entice ye with more food and drink. She’s to blame fer this.”
Anyone who had seen the diners at the dais knew this to be ridiculousness. Everyone could see how Alan behaved. Everyone knew how Alan behaved. There did not seem to be a single face in the crowd that was moved by Beatris’s claims.
“Woman, haud yer wheesht. Dinna fash at Lady Mairghread for Alan’s disgusting behavior.”
“Tristan! How could ye speak out against yer own brother? How could ye betray me, yer own mother?”
“Ma brother, nay, ma stepbrother and ma stepmother will be retiring now.” Tristan turned to face Alan. Alan moved to swing at Tristan, but Tristan wrapped his hand around Alan’s throat. Being almost half a head taller and clearly stronger, Tristan almost lifted Alan off of his feet.
“Ye would insult our guests and then attempt to strike yer laird? Ye are through here tonight. Guards, escort Alan and Beatris to their chambers. Lock the doors from the outside and post men there throughout the night.”
His Highland Lass (The Clan Sinclair Book 1) Page 3
