“And what am I to do all day while I wait around for you to bed me?”
“Whatever it is you have been doing so far. I expect you to take over the running of the Keep and household, Deidre is Chatelain in my mother’s stead, but it is high time you took over. Everything else is my domain. I make the ultimate decisions for my people.”
“So, my duty is to run the household and produce heirs and beyond those two areas I am to ask for nothing else?”
“Aye. That should not be hard to do.”
Amelia decided if they were talking about boundaries then she would lay some of her own. “Do you have any by-blows?”
He was startled but shook his head, “No if I did, I would acknowledge them. I have been careful in my relations with women not to leave them with child.”
She flinched. “And do you still have relations with other women?”
“Not since I wed you wife as you well know I have been in our bed every night.”
“What of the day, husband? When I am not around? Will you still have relations with other women when the need arises?”
Beiste said nothing. He just looked at her with an expressionless mask of indifference.
“Then let me put it another way husband do ye expect me to be faithful to my vows?”
He frowned, “I want my heirs to be of my loins and I will kill any man you take up with.”
“Will you be faithful to your vows?” She asked.
“That is none of your concern.”
“So, you intend to break your vows but expect me to keep mine? You intend to sully our marriage bed?”
Beiste did not understand where this conversation was going, the woman was making him daft. But now he was angry that she questioned him at all.
“Men do as they please. Wives obey.”
“Right. Then you can take your vows and stick it to the devil!” She shouted.
Standing up on tiptoes to get her point across.
“Do not tell me what to do with my life wife.” He seethed.
“I am a healer sicknesses are carried when men dally. If you cannot guarantee my safety in that regard, then I care not who you sleep with because it won’t be me!”
With that she ran so fast to her chambers, slammed the door, locked it and pushed her chest across it.
“Wife come back here!” He roared.
Beiste was banging on the door and she could hear him trying to push it open, but then he just gave up. “Fine, you want to be that way, do not blame me if I seek my pleasure elsewhere!”
She wanted to cry he’d just describe a brood mare. There would be no affection or feeling, gads she would even have to share her husband and just be alone all over again.
For the next three days Amelia made herself scarce. She avoided her husband and made sure she was always busy. She had taken to sleeping in her chamber and locking the door. She was done. She realised for the first time she needed to adjust to her circumstances; she had been lulled into a false sense of security with this marriage but she should have learned she had no one to rely on but herself. Having a husband would change none of that.
Beast was furious that Amelia would have nothing to do with him, she would not even speak to him and he could never bloody find her. Wanting to make sure she understood she had no hold on him. He was not sure why he did it, but he invited Elora to sit at the dais and eat with the family that night. No woman would hold him hostage with their demands. He wanted to show her how easily she could be replaced, and he would do as he pleased.
He could hear the murmuring when he did it, Elora beamed with pride sitting next to him and looking down her nose at everyone, and he knew he had made a monumental mistake.
Amelia finally came down to the Great Hall, and she froze. She stared at Elora, who gave her a catty smile and at her husband. Pure anguish marred her countenance, but she would not back away. He saw the flash of hurt cross her face and he flinched. Amelia straightened her spine, walked over to her mother-in-law who looked confused and sat down between her and Sorcha, the latter was staring daggers at her brother.
Both Dalziel and Brodie did not look happy either, Orla looked like she wanted to claw Elora’s eyes out. But no one said anything. Elora was oblivious to the tension and kept touching Beiste’s arm.
Beiste realised then he had shamed his wife publicly, the last thing he ever wanted to do and he was tiring of Elora touching him, it felt like a thousand viper bites across his skin it was so unwelcome. What he wanted to do was apologise but she would not look at him, she just stared down at her food and said not a word.
***
That night while Beiste stayed in the Hall with his doxy, as Amelia now referred to her, she made plans with Orla. Orla excused herself and left the Hall. When Amelia returned to her own chambers, Orla was already inside waiting for her and Orla had retrieved Amelia’s box from Beiste’s room as per her instructions. Amelia had decided it was time she found out more information about her kin. Now that she was in the Highlands, it would make finding them easier. She planned to leave this place. She would not live like her mother had, always waiting for the meagre crumbs a man would offer, Amelia would not live that way. She needed to see Morag, but she did not want any guards with her. Twenty minutes later Orla emerged from Amelia’s chambers dressed like her with extra padding in her clothes and with a hood over her head, she walked out of the Keep. The guards followed Orla. Amelia then slipped out, dressed in a plain tunic and airisaidh to cover her face. Amelia made her way to the woods with the box tucked under her arm. She wanted far away from the Keep and Beast and whatever harem he wanted set up.
When she arrived at Morag’s cottage the door opened “Och child I ken you would come here soon, the Beast is a fool. He fights against what he can’t control, but he will learn soon enough the way to win is to lose.” Amelia just smiled. Morag already knew she was coming, and she spoke in riddles.
“Morag I need help with something and I don’t know who else to ask.”
“Tis about your kin?”
“Yes. How did you ken?”
“I ken some things others I don’t. I figured it would surface soon enough.”
“I need to find my ma’s kin. It was a promise I made but never fulfilled. And well now I feel the lack of knowing keenly.”
“Have ye asked your husband for help?”
She snorted “No we rarely do much but fight I doubt he would care, anyway.” Amelia wanted to cry with that admission.
“Lass, I think ye underestimate your husband.”
“Amelia shrugged, I need to know if you ken anything of significance in this box?” She gently opened the box in front of Morag and the old woman.
“What pretty things I see within.”
“My ma kept this box for me and when she died, I inherited it. She told me her kin lived in the Highlands, but I was to show no one else.”
“Could be your mother was protecting a secret only she would ken.”
“I have tried making discreet enquiries over the years, but it goes nowhere. Do you ken the design of the plaid and the brooch which Highland clan these may belong to?”
Morag studied the items. I ken not the plaid, though it looks familiar there are many that are similar. The inscription on the brooch in Latin, though someone may help discover where the brooch was made.”
“Who?” Amelia asked eagerly.
“Go to the village early tomorrow there’s a vendor there by the bakery he sells brooches. See if they have any similar you can ask discreetly then.” Amelia was so grateful. “And Amelia lass, you must go tomorrow first thing in the morning and at no other time for there you will find what it is you seek.” Morag had that distant look again.
Amelia hugged her and bounded out the door. She kept going to her healer's cottage. Once inside, she lit a fire, warmed some water from the barrel outside and washed, then prepared for bed. She felt lighter than she had in days; she was not alone as long as she had kin somewhere out there; she was not a
lone. She kept rubbing the brooch in her fingers, staring at the fire. First thing in the morning she would go to the village and begin her search.
Back at the Keep Beiste could not sleep he tossed and turned in his big empty bed and felt he needed to speak to Amelia and set this trouble between them to rights. Brodie and Dalziel had given him a dressing down over his move with Elora but he didn’t need it, he berated himself. Getting rid of Elora had been harder to do. She had taken the move as confirmation she would be installed as his mistress. He kicked himself hard mentally for creating more trouble for himself.
Beiste had not seen Amelia after dinner, nor did she return to her chambers. He figured she’d be there by now, though; it was getting closer to midnight, and he knew she had a retainer with her at all times so he wasn’t concerned. Finally, he checked on her. He walked past the guard stationed at her door. When he touched the door handle and noticed it wasn’t locked he thought it was a good sign he was willing to be rational and work things out calmly mayhap even apologise for his behaviours but when he opened the door to find only Orla sitting there sharpening an arrowhead, he lost his mind.
When he got hold of that wife of his he would wring her neck. Soon the Keep was in an uproar. Beiste was angry and fearful he had already given Orla an earful for her perfidy and the guardsman for being so easily tricked. Orla had said she was not sure where Amelia went, she had not told her she only asked that Orla keep the guards occupied. Clever wench. He could not believe she would put herself in danger and it was all his fault. He knew it was.
After tearing the Keep apart and finding no sign of her, there was a report smoke was coming from the healer's cottage in the woods. He should have gone there first. Beiste was moving immediately. When he arrived, he opened the door ready to yell when he saw his wife sleeping peacefully on the bed her features were serene even blissful and she looked so vulnerable and alone. So alone. He did not like it one bit. He notified the men called off the search. Then stripped down and joined his wife on her bed. Gads she was lovely, and he had missed her so much he hadn’t realised how much until the fear of something befalling her paralysed him. She instantly turned towards him as if seeking his heat.
He just held her. Daft woman. Beiste had no intention of breaking his vows, but having to answer to a woman is what annoyed him. Until he saw her looking so forlorn. What was damn pride worth if he did that to her? She wanted him to say it out loud he would. There would be no other women in his bed but her. Amelia sighed, then continued to sleep. He felt something in her hand he gently pried it and stared at it; it was a brooch; it was ancient, and it had an inscription in Latin. He would ask her about it in the morning. In the meantime, Beiste felt at peace for the first time in days and he slept like the dead.
***
When Beiste woke up, he wanted to yell to the rafters, because his wife was gone. Her side of the bed was cold, meaning she had left some time ago. Damn it! How hard was it to keep his wife in one place? When he found her, he would wring her neck.
***
Amelia had left early that morning to go to the Village. It surprised her to see Beiste lying beside her but she also felt good being in his arms again. Maybe this was a temporary truce, she was not sure, but she was not sticking around to find out. Besides, she did not want to miss the brooch vendor at the Village. She quietly washed and dressed, then headed out the door. Dalziel approached and told her he had assigned two guardsmen to follow her for the day, Kieran and Ranalf. Amelia had already seen them trailing not far behind her. She wanted to see how Orla faired but she did not want to miss the vendor so she just accepted everything else would have to wait. She told Dalziel she was headed to the Village, then went to the stables to get her horse.
***
Malise Smith
Amelia was walking through the village looking over brooches in the stall. She had spoken to the vendor but he claimed he had never seen the like. Feeling disappointed, she kept walking, her guards following close behind and that was when she saw him, a man who looked so familiar to her, but she knew she had never met him before. When he saw her, he stopped and just stared at is if he had seen a ghost. She smiled and waved and he waved back. She was not sure what it was, but something compelled her to make his acquaintance and she walked towards him. He wore the peasants garb brown and white tunic and manned a stall of pottery he was huge with ebony hair with a few greys and a friendly smile.
She walked over to him and asked, “Do I know you sir, you look familiar?”
“I think the same of you too?” Amelia noticed her guards standing a scant distance away, and the stranger seemed to note them.
“Where are you from?”
“I am from the Hebrides.”
“Oh, I have never ventured that far before. What is it like?”
Amelia was so excited to hear about far-off places she had never been.
“It is cold that much is true.”
“Why are you so far from home?”
“I trade some of our wares. He was pointing to some pots and clay jars.” Amelia looked at him again but for a potter he did not fit the profile, his hands did not look like he worked with clay and his demeanour was regal. He looked more a warrior like her husband than a tradesman.
“Well, these are lovely pots, may I buy some from you?”
“But of course.” Amelia selected five small ones for some herbs she could pot and paid him. He tried to refuse the money, but she would not hear of it. Ranalf stepped forward and took them from her to carry.
“May I ask where ye are from lass?”
“She is not a lass she is the mistress of MacGregor Keep newly wed to the Chieftain.” Piped in Kieran.
Amelia was so annoyed “Thank you Kieran, I can answer for myself you ken? Now please move away.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. Kieran just ignored her.
“So, the Beast has wed and such a lovely woman at that.” Amelia grinned. “Where were you from previously?” He continued.
“I was from Dunbar.”
“Ah a lowlander, that is East Lothian way. I have heard tis lovely there by the sea and the River Tyne.”
Amelia felt slightly homesick for places she had been and was excited to meet someone who seemed to know the area.
“Aye tis beautiful, I miss the forest especially but tis not as pretty as the Highlands. We rode through many beautiful places to get here and I am still in awe.”
“I agree with you there, mistress and are all your kin in Dunbar?” He asked.
Before Amelia could answer a voice boomed from behind her “Who wants to know?”
Amelia rolled her eyes which the stranger caught then she turned “Hello husband I was just talking to ...”
Beiste moved her around his back and faced off with the potter.
“Beiste! Don’t be so rude.” She gasped.
They looked to be of similar size, and the potter did not cower.
“Greetings Chieftain I am Malise… Smith good to make your acquaintance.”
“Why are you asking my wife questions?” Beiste was curt in his questioning.
By this stage Amelia had forced her way around Beiste and was trying to nudge him out of the way with her elbow and hips, which was like trying to move a boulder. “Husband! I was talking to him first.” She growled.
Beiste just rolled his eyes, and Malise had to smirk.
“I meant no harm she just looked familiar to me and I thought to engage.” Malise said.
Realising she was getting nowhere Amelia tried to salvage what politeness she could “Well it was lovely to meet you Malise, I am Amelia and I hope maybe we could talk about the Hebrides if we meet again?”
Beiste growled …
“Or not.” Amelia added.
“Pleasant day Mr Smith.” Beiste said grabbed Amelia’s hand and started walking away. With that they bade farewell Amelia smiled and waved back at him as she was being dragged away, unphased by her husband’s gruffness and his retainers.” Malise just
chuckled and waved back.
Beiste did not enjoy seeing his wife chatting so animatedly to that man. There was a familiarity between them he did not like. It worked him up that he was almost jealous of a man who could be closer to his father’s age.
He needed to get a grip of his emotions. Gads he had missed her. Even with her ranting at him and trying to nudge him away. Any interaction she gave him was a boon, and he never wanted to see her disappear into her shell again. He loved that about her. Love? When did that word come into the equation? He did not want to ponder too much on it.
When they made their way back to the Village Amelia felt so happy and she did not know why. The meeting with the brooch vendor had been a disappointment but meeting Malise had raised her spirits somehow and then to have Beiste interacting with her, albeit in his usual overbearing way, felt good. The coldness had gone between them and for however long it lasted she would enjoy it.
That night Beiste and Amelia were back to sleeping in the same chambers and he had made love to her for hours with a ferocity that even surprised himself, he only needed to touch her and he was ready to explode. For his efforts, Amelia rewarded him by shouting his name several times in pleasure. Amelia felt sated and replete as she was drifting off to sleep Beiste spoke “I am sorry Amie for everything. I have not and will never break my vows to you.”
There it was, hard fought and won but given none the less. “And I have not and will never break my vows to you.” Amelia promised in return.
***
Chapter 14
Running a Keep
In the morning when Amelia woke, it surprised her to find Beiste still curled up beside her and he was in no rush to leave her side. They got ready together and breakfasted together in the privacy of their room and Beiste did something he had never done before; he discussed his plans for the day with her so she knew where he was if she needed him. The first order of the day was to show Amelia around the Keep it was high time she took over as Chatelain something remiss off him. She had been there a month already and although she knew many people; it was Beiste’s responsibility to ensure that everyone respected the authority of his wife; it was time the Keep staff took orders from her and no other.
Betrothed to the Beast Page 11
