Grace still looked troubled, but she nodded. “All right. I am going for a ride. Will ye join me?”
“Not right now. I promised Helena that I would spend some time in the kitchens today, but soon, I would like to explore the land.”
“Vera well. Doonae let her boss ye around. Remember that ye are the mistress now.”
When Grace left, Moira stepped into the cottage. All the broken furniture was gone now, so she could better envision her own life there. A simple bed in the corner by the window so she could enjoy the sunshine every morning and hear the birds sing when she opened it. A rack for drying herbs and flowers. A small kitchen table to enjoy her meals in solitude. A loveseat and a few chairs for when Grace and Ainsley visited.
A quiet sanctuary.
Alone.
She took far too long at the cottage and realized that Helena was waiting for her. Rushing to the kitchens, she skidded to a stop when the large woman turned and glared at her. “I said for ye to come directly after yer morning meal. In this time, ye could have eaten four meals!”
“I apologize, Helena,” Moira said while trying to hide her smile. Of course, she was late but not nearly as late as Helena was making out. “I am here now and ready.”
“Ye arenae even going to live in the keep? How do ye plan to manage it when ye doonae live here?”
“A household that runs well doesnae need constant supervision,” Moira pointed out calmly. “As ye have been running this keep successfully, I am certain that ye have figured that out yerself.”
“Aye, and I can continue to run it.”
Now that Grace wasn’t here, Helena apparently felt more comfortable showing her unhappiness at being pushed out of her position. As Moira had told her yesterday, she still hoped to keep Helena on to help out, but apparently that wasn’t good enough for Helena.
At first, she hadn’t thought to take over any of the responsibilities of the keep, but Tyree’s words bothered her. Connor was giving up quite a bit by marrying her, and while she did want to toil under the sun and grow her flowers, it certainly wouldn’t take all of her time. She could spend some doing her duties as mistress. “I will welcome yer help, Helena, but as Connor’s wife, I am mistress of the keep, and I doonae plan to shirk my duties. I believe ye were going to introduce me to the kitchen staff?”
Helena narrowed her eyes and Moira prepared herself for a fight, but before she could say anything, the door opened, and a small group of men barged in. “Here she is! The traitor!” one yelled.
Gasping, Moira flinched as several men grabbed her. Horrible memories flitted through her head, and Moira couldn’t help but scream. Energy spurned her, and she lashed out with her foot. One of the men grunted and released her. With a free hand, Moira whirled and plowed her fist into the jaw of the other man holding her.
The mob descended until a loud voice roared over the chaos. “Unhand my wife right now!”
Everyone froze, and the hands holding her let go. Moira fell to the floor and cried out in pain as her elbow hit the floor at an odd angle. The mob parted as Connor strode toward her.
“Moira, are ye all right?” he asked softly as he helped her up.
“What is happening? Who are all these men?” she demanded while trying desperately not to cry.
“Ye tried to kill the laird,” one brave voice announced. “And we willnae have it!”
“Kill?” Confused, Moira looked up at Connor and saw the blood trickling down his head. “Connor, what happened to ye?”
“Ye happened!” the same voice called out, and the mob cheered.
Moira drowned them out as she searched Connor’s eyes. There was pain and shame but no accusations.
He didn’t believe that she’d tried to kill him. Relief swept through her, but it was short-lived. “Please tell me what happened.”
“We are building a new storehouse. One of the wooden beams fell off the pile and hit me in the head.”
“Fell? ’Twas pushed!”
“Enough!” Connor roared. “Accident or no, my wife is clearly here in the kitchens and nowhere near the southern fields.”
“Actually, Moira just arrived,” Helena said, her voice full of contempt. When Connor swung his angry gaze around, she bowed her head. “But I believe she was breakfasting with Lorna before she arrived.”
Even as everyone cowed under Connor’s intense stare, Moira could feel the hatred wafting off them in her direction. This was why she hadn’t ventured too far out into the clan. This was what she had feared, but if she showed weakness now, she’d never be able to rise above it.
Straightening, she turned and faced them. “I had breakfast with Lorna and Grace. I then spent some time in Miriam’s old cottage. Alone. I know that it will take some time to earn yer respect, but I ask that ye give me the benefit of the doubt and think. How would I benefit from the death of the man I had just married? I have no doubt that ye would cast me out.”
Eyes lowered to the ground, and she knew that she’d hit the mark right on the head. “I know that many of ye still believe me guilty of the tragedy that befell ye. I know that it will take time to earn yer trust, but I ask that ye give me that chance.”
When no one said anything, Connor growled. “My wife is being kind. I will not be so. The next person who lays a hand on my wife will feel my wrath. She isnae responsible for the death of my parents, and she isnae responsible for what happened today. Leave. Now.”
The crowd dissipated, and Moira tried to leave as well, but Connor kept a firm grasp on her arm. “My chambers,” he said to her quietly. “I need to make certain that ye are all right.”
“I am fine!”
“And I will discover that for myself.”
14
His head ached, but Connor wouldn’t let Moira look at it until he’d looked over her knee and shoulder. They would still be weak from her tumble when she’d tried to run away. And he’d seen her land on her elbow.
“Ye fought well,” he said quietly as he ran his hands over her knee and lifted her leg. She sat in the chair, her cheeks burning, and her hands clasped quietly in her lap. Her body trembled, but he didn’t know if it was from pain, anger, or fear.
“After…after what happened before, my brothers gave me some lessons to defend myself. I had not a chance to use them until now. I doonae believe that I hurt anyone, but I was scared.” The memory of her brothers brought tears to her eyes. Her father had seemed almost mad after their mother had died, but her brothers had protected her from most of his wrath. Like her uncle, they hadn’t believed her treachery either. They wanted to go to war with Connor over what happened, but she’d managed to put them at ease.
Her heart ached that they were gone, but she was grateful for what they had taught her.
“Ye doonae need to apologize,” he said as he released her leg. “I didnae know that they meant to ambush ye like that, but I should have. I should have protected ye.”
“I amnae hurt, Connor, but ye are. Please let me clean the blood from yer wound so I can look at it better. We may need the help of yer healer.”
Ignoring her, he picked up her hand and put a hand to her elbow. Watching her carefully for signs of pain, he extended her arm. There it was. Just a slight jump. “Ye will rest this arm.”
“Do ye think it was accidental?”
“Moira…”
“Do ye think that I tried to hurt ye?”
“No.” The thought had never even crossed his mind, and he needed her to know that. “I would never have married ye if I thought for even a second that ye might harm me. I have accepted that ye were innocent all those years ago, and I am trying to make reparations. I willnae sully that by believing yer guilt now.”
Pushing him away, she stood and walked to the washbasin. She dipped the cloth inside, then returned and dabbed at his head. “I doonae need ye to make reparations, Connor,” she said quietly.
There was pain as she dabbed at the wound, but it wasn’t just physical pain. She was so gentle, even thou
gh he could hear the anger and torment in her voice. After tending to him quietly, she finally put the cloth down. “The lump will swell, and ye will have a terrible headache, but it could be worse.”
“Aye.”
Slowly grasping her wrist, he squeezed her hand. “Please give my people a chance to believe in ye.”
Seeing her surrounded by the mob, knowing how terrified she must be, his first instinct had been to protect her. His second had been to beg her to stay. How could she not want to leave when she’d been ambushed in her own home by his people?
“I will. I am more concerned about the idea that someone might have harmed ye. Connor, do ye believe that this was an accident?”
“The wood had already been cut and stacked. It would have taken more than a gust of wind to knock the top one off. Unfortunately, I was the only one there, and the beam knocked some sense out of me for a moment. By the time I got to my feet, whoever had done it was gone. When I went to speak to the villagers, they hadn’t seen anything. I didn’t realize that they would be up in arms until one of the young lads came to warn me. Apparently, the little scamper saw ye at the wedding and has a crush on ye.”
“I will need to thank him for his assistance,” she said with a brief smile. “Connor, it cannae escape yer notice that someone tried to hurt ye just days after ye married me. I expected some animosity toward me but not toward ye.”
It hadn’t escaped him. He knew that many were close to his parents, loyal to their memories over him even after all this time, and believed that he was betraying them and thus betraying the clan by marrying Moira. But surely they would not go this far.
“I try to be a fair laird, but I do still make enemies even of my own people. I willnae make assumptions.”
“Still, I willnae have ye hurt because ye are trying to protect me. I will start to spend more time with the clan and get to know the people. I need to return to Helena. I willnae have this be the reason that she considers me slacking in my duties.”
“Nay, I prefer ye to rest.”
“Even if ye tied me to the bed, I wouldnae be able to rest, Connor. I need to be busy now. I hope ye can understand that.”
He could. She was far more shaken than she wanted to let on, and there was something dark lurking in her eyes. He wished she would tell him what had happened to her after he’d exiled her. He wanted to do whatever he could to ease her fears.
“I would vera much like to tie ye to the bed,” he said softly.
A smirk appeared on her face, and she shook her head before she bent down to kiss his cheek. “Promise me, Husband, that ye will be careful.”
“Aye, and until I know that no one will harm ye, I would like ye to not be alone. Stay with Helena for now, and I will send Grace to ye. At the vera least, keeping ye company will keep her out of trouble.”
“I am not certain that she will see it that way.”
After seeing Moira safely under the disgruntled eye of Helena, he went back out to the storehouse. By now, word had spread, and there were men milling around everywhere. And women. Grace and Ainsley were standing their ground and arguing loudly on Moira’s behalf.
“’Tis enough!” he roared. The crowd quieted, and Grace turned. There was real fear and anger in her eyes. Holding out his arm, he accepted her as she rushed to his side. “A few moments ago, some men took it upon themselves to attack my wife. If word has not spread by now, then let me be vera clear. Moira is my wife. As ye have sworn fealty to me, ye will be loyal to her. Anyone who lays a hand on her will face the consequences of betraying this clan. Is that clear?”
“How are ye so certain of her innocence?” someone asked.
“Because, as she pointed out earlier, I am protecting her. Now if ye have any truths to share about what happened earlier, then I am willing to listen. Otherwise, return to yer day.”
Slowly, the crowd dispersed until it was only Grace and Ainsley. “Connor, are ye all right? I heard what happened. Is it true? Did someone try to kill ye?” Ainsley asked.
“’Twas little more than a glancing blow,” he informed her. “I doonae know if the intention was to harm or kill, but I am fine.”
Grace looked panicked. “And Moira was attacked?”
“Aye. Grace, I doonae want Moira to be alone. I know that ye wish to spend yer time training with the men, but I would like ye to stay with Moira. None of this clan will put ye in danger, so ye can protect her when I am not around.”
Rare tears gathered in her eyes. “I thought ye were doing right by marrying her, Connor, but now I fear that ye have put ye both in danger.”
“This will pass, Grace. We knew there would be some upheaval.”
“General unhappiness, but the both of ye were attacked!” Grace’s eyes flashed with anger. “Aye, Ainsley and I will make sure that Moira is safe, and we will ferret out who targeted ye.”
“No.” A new headache was forming behind his eyes, and it had nothing to do with his wound. “Ye will not. I will discover the truth.”
“Ye have a clan to run and a cottage to finish. Ye doonae want me to fight with the men, then I will have to do something else with my time.”
What did he do to deserve such a hellion for a sister? “Behave yerself, Grace, or I will ship ye off to Alec,” he muttered. “Ye will not ferret anything out. Ye will just do what lasses are supposed to do!”
“And what is that?”
Hell if he knew. “Ainsley,” he pleaded softly.
Ainsley smiled prettily. “Ye have nothing to worry about Connor. I have everything in hand.” Putting her hands on Grace’s shoulders, she led his sister away, and he turned back to the woodpile and looked up thoughtfully.
The truth was that there was very little chance the small beam would have killed him, so the mob against Moira was for no reason, but someone had deliberately tried to harm him.
There were still quite a few of the older members of the clan who didn’t like the changes Connor made recently. The increase in trades meant that the clan was flourishing, but it also opened the clan up to the attention of the other clans. They were no longer as isolated as they once were, which was fine with Connor. More often than not, his transactions were to foster peace and alliances. He had no quarrels with any other clan, but that didn’t stop members from sticking to their old beliefs.
Maybe someone had decided to make their unhappiness known, but if it had killed him, the clan would have suffered. With Alec in charge of his own clan, Connor had no clear heir.
So what could have been the motive?
“Connor?” Mungo asked gruffly. “We have spoken to everyone in the area. We have nothing to show for it. The new groom, Greg, was in full sight of three other men the whole time.”
Connor hated to suspect Ainsley’s hero, but he was the one man no one knew anything about. At least by clearing him, he had no cause to stress out Moira’s friend more. “’Tis fine. ’Tis most like an isolated incident. In the meantime, I want someone near Moira at all times. She was attacked by an angry mob, Mungo. I will not let that happen again. She is a priority. I want her safe at all times.”
“Laird.”
Connor stilled. Normally his friends spoke to him as Connor when they were alone and “Laird” in the company of others outside the clan or during formal ceremonies. “Mungo?”
“I amnae questioning yer decisions, but ye have never been harmed ’til ye married. I believe ye need to have an open mind.”
“Nay.” Turning, Connor let his temper show. “Nay. I failed her before, and I willnae do it again. If ye dare suggest that she has harmed me, ye better have damning proof. Do ye understand me?”
Mungo nodded. “Aye, Laird.”
The pounding grew worse, and Connor turned to focus on the storehouse. Threats or not against him, he had a clan to protect.
15
The kitchen was in a flurry, and although most of the staff was ignoring her, Moira refused to leave. A week had passed since the incident, and so far, she hadn’t been able
to do much to sway the clan, but now they were hosting the MacDonalds for the night, and Moira was determined to make a good impression.
She’d asked Helena to take the evening off so she could work closely with the servants and prove to them that she could handle a simple dinner.
Except that it wasn’t a simple dinner. The MacDonalds and the Sinclairs were neighbors and close allies. Moira suspected that the reason for the visit had more to do with the MacDonalds meeting her than it did with discussing clan politics.
She was determined not to disappoint.
There was another reason that she was so determined to stay busy. The cottage was finished and furnished, and this would be the first night that she stayed there. Unease settled in her belly, but she ignored it. This was what she wanted, and Connor had worked so hard to make sure that she got it.
There had been no more attempts on his life, and thus no one had attacked her. There was unease in the clan, and it was her fault. She hoped this event would be the thing that changed things to her favor. She was showing support for her husband and his clan.
“Would ye quit hovering!” Agnes snapped. The main cook glared at her as she pulled the chicken out of the oven. It was the fifth roasted to a perfect golden hue and would look lovely on the table. Agnes had a sour disposition, but she was a talented cook. “Ye have done a good job, but now ye are annoying me.”
Moira blinked in surprise. Had Agnes just given her a compliment? “I apologize, Agnes, but I need this night to be perfect. The clan has been excited about the MacDonald visit, and I want to impress.”
“So go impress. If the laird has to retrieve ye, then ye will not impress. Go join him. I will send a servant if we have need of ye,” Agnes grumbled and began dressing the platter.
Knowing that she was right, Moira hurried out of the kitchens. Laird MacDonald, his wife, and their two daughters had arrived with a handful of men several hours ago. Connor had told her that it wasn’t necessary to meet them when they arrived and that most likely had something to do with the fact that she was hastily peeling potatoes because one of the kitchen hands had been sick.
Highlander's Moonlight Seduction (Scottish Medieval Historical Romance) Page 10
