Betrothed to the Beast

by Elina Emerald

  It was the first time Amelia had been given a tour of the entire Keep. The storeroom and water cisterns were in the basement level, the kitchen and stables as she knew were on ground level. The Great Hall she had seen several times and The Chapel, but she had never seen all the private chambers on the floor above. There was also a top floor which Beiste seemed reluctant to go so she let that wait for another day and she knew the whereabouts of the privy’s, the staircases she used daily and found out they could be removed during an attack, but the highlight was when Beiste took her to the Tower. The view was breathtaking and she could see the whole Shire from there.

  Beiste also introduced Amelia to Wallace Duncan who monitored the books and household expenditure and Deidre the acting Chatelaine. When notified that Amelia would take over now her face soured slightly, but she agreed.

  Wallace Duncan appeared to take issue with Amelia. He seemed nervous and also talked down to her as if she was un-learned. Paying her polite attention if Beiste was around and subtly condescending towards her when her husband was not. Amelia was introduced to serfs, crofters, farmers, tradespeople, skilled labourers, blacksmith, and all the staff who kept the entire elaborate Keep system running.

  Amelia also learned how busy her husband was, including Dalziel and Brodie were. The three of them oversaw the security building maintenance and construction, crop rotation for the Keep and farmers, tenants and crofters homes, they also organised trade deals with other clans, dealt with correspondence from King and Courtiers and maintained the high level of training of their men. One day a month Beiste held a court of Petty Sessions where he would try to settle local grievances from any clan members and called special Council meetings with regional representatives.

  Having a better understanding of how the entire system worked, Amelia felt more determined to do her part to help her husband lead in the manner they expected him. She was so busy she rarely had time for leisure. But the work excited her, she had purpose. Never one to be idle, she dove headfirst into Keep matters and still made time to teach Sorcha, maintain her gardens and spend a little time with Jonet. Orla proved to be a godsend. Her knowledge of the entire Estate and observations of the people in it was priceless information. She soon transitioned from lady’s maid to Amelia’s most trusted advisor and friend. A relationship the two women treasured.

  The biggest change was in the relationship between Amelia and Beiste. The more he let her in the better they worked together. Their days were busy and their nights passionate. Gone was the discord between them as they presented a united front to the clan.

  After a fortnight of managing the household, Amelia noticed slight cracks in the way things ran. Beth the cook was not getting the salt she constantly requested but felt she could not complain because she had been told there was not enough funds for flavoring food. Marvin who kept the bee hives still had not received payment for the candle wax he had sent to the Keep weeks ago and he needed those funds to maintain his livelihood. The seamstress had requested extra staff to help with the garment orders for winter but no extra staff had been allocated and so on it went, The baker could not bake the amount of bread he would otherwise produce because one of the ovens was still in need of repairs and as she continued to talk to staff throughout the Keep, they were complaining about all the little things they needed to do their task well but which were not provided. They had tried to go to the Beiste but Wallace Duncan had strict instructions no one was to bother the Chieftain.

  That afternoon Amelia slipped into the study where the Estate books were kept. She knew Beiste was away hearing Petty Session grievances and Wallace Duncan had gone to the Village on an estate matter. As she studied the ledgers, she noticed according to the notes the Bee Keeper had not delivered the candle wax on time and so there was no pay. They had supplied the kitchens with salt and a bill of sale attached; the oven had been repaired again with a bill of sale, staff had been sent to the seamstress and their wages paid. But Amelia had seen for herself that the candle wax had been delivered, the kitchens had not received the costly salt it had ordered. The oven was still damaged, and the seamstress was indeed working interminable nights alone. She noted the initials DW York was written against all the payments for items and services rendered and as she poured through the ledgers, the same name kept appearing over several months.

  Amelia wondered who this person was who could offer such a variety of services. She would ask Beiste when he returned, she would probably have to confess she could read.

  As she was about to walk out of the study, she heard a noise that seemed unusual to her and she paused. It seemed to come from inside the room, a muffled sound coming from behind the wall. It sounded like someone was in distress.

  Amelia stood and strolled to the wall and put her ear against it. She heard a man talking to a woman, and they were arguing. Then the voices became muffled and seemed to drift away. Amelia walked out of the study and looked about to see if there was another room close by but there was nothing but a stone wall yet the talking sounded like it came from inside the wall. When she turned to her guards for the day, Lachlan and Fergus were beside her. “Do either of you ken if there is a room behind these walls? I thought I heard voices.” Fergus answered, “No mistress, but these keeps echo a lot, just voices carrying in the wind.” Puzzled, she decided it was another thing she would have to ask Beiste later.

  That evening Amelia held off telling Beiste about the ledgers until she had done more preliminary study. But she asked Beiste about hearing voices within the walls. He just shrugged and said sound often travelled through Keeps and it was possible it was just coming from the floor below.

  ***

  The man in the shadows stood quietly staring at the naked woman before him. She was exquisite, and she always serviced him well. The evidence of his seed still dripped between her thighs. She walked over to the wall, placed her hands upon it and spread her legs, her scarred back towards him.

  “What do you have to say for yourself slave?”

  “I am sorry, Master. I have failed you.”

  “Aye you have!” He shouted and brought the whip down upon her back. The sound of it cracking upon skin reverberated across the empty stone walls.

  She winced in pain but remained standing as he flayed her again and again and again until she was crying, her back bloodied, freshly healed wounds reopened.

  “Please Master, stop, what must I do?” she begged.

  He dropped the whip and took time to admire his artistry of blood.

  Then he stepped forward, pressed his mouth against her ear and whispered, “Make sure she doesn’t produce an heir.”

  “Aye Master, I will.” The woman sobbed.

  He walked away as she collapsed onto the icy stone floor.

  ***

  The Council

  It was a rare sunny day, and Amelia worked in her herb garden. Beiste had joined her for an hour because he missed seeing her during the day. It was while she was potting some seeds she asked, “Beiste, what do the Council do?” He had mentioned he would call a Council meeting soon.

  “They are Shire representatives and we decide about the Village or any matters that concern the MacGregors.”

  “Who is on the Council?”

  “Well, there’s me, Marcus Baird and Leon Snipes the Councilmen of the village, Brodie, Dalziel, Shaun Douglas represents the Old Guard, Abbot Hendry the church, Eoin Murray the Farmers and Tenants and Gordon Buchanan the builders and guild tradesmen and Wallace Duncan the Keep staff. Hendry and Marcus also speak several languages so they can translate when we get any missives we do not ken.”

  “Husband why are there no women on this Council?”

  “What do you mean? There’s never been a need for women before?”

  Amelia frowned, “Well if you mean to discuss matters dealing with the MacGregors are women not part of our clan?”

  Beiste knew where his wife was going with this, but he was more heartened that she referred to his clan as ‘our�
� meaning she had accepted her place in it. “Aye but usually they answer to a man in their family who will represent them.”

  She stopped putting dirt in pots and gave her husband a quelling look, “Beiste MacGregor, how many men do you know would ken a woman’s needs better than a woman?”

  Beiste grinned, “Aye minx, I get your point. Women are absurd creatures and no man ever kens what they want.” She looked like she wanted to throw a pot at his head. “So what are ye suggesting?”

  “Well, I’m suggesting as I am running the domestic side of things mayhap I should be present at these meetings and bring a woman’s thinking to the table?”

  “Would you like to come with me to the next one?”

  She beamed, “Really? I would love to husband. I promise not to talk too much I’ll just listen you won’t even know I’m there.”

  So it was that Amelia was brimming with excitement to join her first Council meeting she had talked about it incessantly all week, to Orla and Sorcha and Jonet and Kieran and Beth in the kitchens, Marvin the bee keeper, Donald her guard, and Harlow the baker such was her excitement at being included in a grand Council meeting. However, when the day of the meeting finally arrived, within twenty minutes of the first order of business being discussed that is a MacGregor cow mating with a Buchanan prized bull, Amelia nodded off to sleep. According to Beiste she then snored throughout the rest of the meeting, much to the amusement of the Council.

  It was after the meeting and Beiste was carrying Amelia to their chambers he could see she was exhausted “Husband mayhap you can invite me to join in when there is a matter of real importance to discuss.”

  He feigned outrage, “What do you mean? All men’s matters are important.”

  She rolled her eyes. “A cow and a bull? Really husband?” He chuckled when she continued, “I do not have time for such minor matters. I am a very busy and important woman, you ken?” She yawned and rested her head on his shoulder. Beiste was noticing she was becoming worn out by the afternoons he had decided maybe she needed to take a break he did not want her to become sick or overtired.

  ***

  Chapter 15

  Duart Castle–Isle of Mull, Hebrides

  Chieftain Gilleain Maclean otherwise known as ‘Battle-Axe’ sat around the table with his sons Bristi, Gillebride and Malise trying to process what Malise was telling him.

  “Da, this Amelia lass is the spitting image of our sister when she was younger. She even has the one green eye and one brown and the same colour hair and for her to be named after Ma’s middle name, it cannot all be a coincidence.”

  Gilleain asked, “Where does she hail from?”

  “The Dunbar clan East Lothian.”

  “How is she on MacGregor land?” asked Bristi.

  “She is married to their Chieftain the Beast.”

  Gilleain stiffened, disturbed by the news. “I know of the Beast, they say he cuts down men in his swathe like a Berserker.”

  “They same the same of you with your Battle-Axe.” Gillebride said with pride.

  “Does she look well? He has not harmed her in any way? Men can be brutal off the battlefield.” Gilleain asked, bracing for the answer.

  “No, Da she looks very well, in fact he is very gentle with her for one so menacing and she defies him. She does not fear him at all, and more puzzling, he does not seem to mind.”

  The men all seemed to relax with that response and Gilleain looked proud with a smile on his face and a light came into his eyes he chuckled. “Aye she must be related that’s for sure, that defiance can only come from our womenfolk.”

  They all agreed.

  “You remember how your ma was whenever I scowled at her? Even if I were standing three feet away fresh from battle wielding me battle-axe and shouting, the daft woman would just screech right back at me to stop tracking mud all over her clean floors!”

  All four of them burst out laughing with the memory.

  “Ma could stand up to you something fierce when she was riled and so could our sister.” Gillebride said.

  The four of them became sombre at the memory.

  “Aye and I loved her for it. Like mathair, like daughter.” Gilleain rasped as his throat clogged up with the memories.”

  The men become sullen with the memories of another time when they held the joy of the world in their hands.

  “This Amelia Da when she smiles, she reminds me of Ma, God rest her soul.”

  Gilleain bowed his head in contemplation. He did not know this lass, but he already felt an affinity towards her. Could he hope she was his granddaughter? Would he finally find out what happened to his daughter?

  “Have ye spoken with her?”

  “I have and she has the same kind nature of our sister, I tried to speak more but the Beast is right protective of her. He warned me off several times.”

  “Do they ken who you are?”

  “No, I used a false last name I was pretending to be a potter, remember. I will say though the Beast is very protective of her.”

  “Da,” Bristi spoke “we have searched for many years I think it wise to find out more of this Amelia, if she is our niece then she belongs with us.”

  “True, we have spent too many years with loss it would be good to gain something for a change.” A sheen of unshed tears watered Gilleain’s eyes. The room fell into silence as if the grief of losing a daughter and sister still hung over them.

  Gillean cleared his throat, “What of the MacGregor what do ye make of him?”

  “He is wise from the talk of the locals. They say his father supported Duncan, but Beiste’s position is unclear, which is why Macbeth has tried to make peace through this marriage.”

  “So, the King favors the Beast, and the Beast favors his wife.”

  Gilleain was contemplative rubbing his beard with his thumb and index finger. “If she is kin I want to know how she ended up a Dunbar?”

  “I already sent a man to Belhaven two weeks ago to ask discreetly about her and I’ve left one of our men at Glenorchy to keep watch from a distance. We should have word soon.”

  ***

  Hours later Gilleain of the Battle Axe was well into his cups and going over again all the heartache and loss he had suffered over the years. Not only losing his beloved wife Moira, Amelia but also his only daughter. That silly chit, she was his favourite child. After his wife’s death he sent her to the Abbey, but when she learned, he had signed betrothal contracts for her to marry a Norseman; she ran away, they searched for years but he never heard from her again and it broke his heart.

  Gilleain decided if this Amelia was his granddaughter then nothing and no one would keep him from her, she belonged in Mull with her kin and he would even battle the Beast himself for her. With that thought and a firm determination set in his mind he took another large swig of his whiskey and as it burned down his throat, he stood on unsteady feet, and stared at the crossed battle axes hanging over the wall he beat his chest and roared the Clan motto inscribed over the fireplace – Either conquer or die.

  ***

  Five days later a message arrived at Duart Castle. Amelia MacGregor was the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Dunbar and a woman called Iona who had died seven years prior. Upon hearing the news, Gilleain and his sons wept bittersweet tears at the loss of a daughter and sister Iona Moira Maclean and at the joyful discovery of a granddaughter and niece. They immediately sent a missive to Glenorchy, the content was simple, “The Maclean’s are coming to claim their kin.”

  Chapter 16

  Memories and dust

  “Are you looking for me?” Amelia asked as Deidre stood in the open doorway of her private bedchamber.

  “Aye mistress I was wondering why ye are working here in this cramped room when you could be in the Solar above.” Deidre asked.

  Amelia shrugged, “I guess I just assumed they were not to be used as my husband had not shown me around up there.”

  “No mistress anyone can use them they just have not had the o
pportunity yet. Come tis lovely up there.” Deidre gestured for Amelia to follow her.

  Amelia ascended the stairs to the top floor, her guardsman for the day Donald ambled behind her. Once on the top floor Amelia felt a slight reluctance to venture further.

  “I’m not sure I should be in here.” Amelia said.

  Deidre assured her, “You are the new mistress and you should be putting your touches on the place.”

  Amelia had to admit it was lovely, if a little dusty. “Tis so lovely here, and the sunshine is far better here than the dark rooms.”

  “Mistress tis pleasant and gets a lot of sun during the wintry days and not as much rain in these parts.”

  “I should check with Beiste first.” Amelia wanted his approval before changing things around.

  “Why ever for? He will not want you bothering him about rooms he assumes you will use. He has enough decisions to make these days.” Deidre replied.

  After some internal struggle she had to agree these rooms would make an excellent solar, drawing room and sewing room. Deidre left her saying she would return with some extra hand to help. Donald stood guard by the stairway as Amelia got busy clearing out rooms which look as if they had not seen a good dusting in years.

  Hours passed, and the light was fading, but Amelia felt more rejuvenated for having cleaned out two rooms. She had hung bright tapestries along the walls; the fire was roaring, and the room looked warmer and more inviting. She was thinking of asking Beiste for some furniture so she could create a suitable Drawing room where she could hold her meetings during the day.

  She noticed the women Deidre promised to help never arrived, but she did not mind so much just working on her own as she was used to it. Feeling industrious, she kept going between rooms, dusting and cleaning.

  She was just going through an old chest in the corner of one room when she opened it it surprised her to find inside the most exquisite hand made baby boots and slippers. She rummaged further and found an embroidered blanket for a bairn. There was a bairn in this room? Why was it empty now and where was the bairn?