She nearly said his name as they were alone, but a cautionary look in his eye had her stopping herself. She wanted to reach out and comfort him, touch his hand, soothe the bruise on his cheek, smooth out his furrowed brows, or even kiss him, but she could not. She forced herself to nod and turn away, aching inside.
Back in the kitchen, she spent hours preparing meals and washing up after, but though she was constantly busy, Leith was always on her mind. He looked hurt, deeply hurt, and though she knew what betrayal felt like, she had no inkling how deep that kind of treachery could cut.
While eating her supper, she decided to do something for him. Leith was not going to go to her this time, she was going to him. He needs someone to listen to him. He needs a willing ear. His father is just recovering and his right-hand man might be a usurper. God knows, if I was in his shoes, I’d need someone to talk to.
How could she get him to meet her though? He’d probably gone to his rooms yet and she did not dare go up to the family quarters. She might need to send him a message. She was taking her last bite of bread when someone came to the door. She did not pay much attention until she heard cook say that a meal would be sent up to Young Lenichton.
Her head darted up. This was her chance. As cook ladled out the warm hare stew and dropped two rolls of bread unto a trencher, she came close. The cook looked up at her, “Oh, good, take this to him, dear. East wing, second floor, last door on the left.”
Happy, she nodded, took the tray and left the kitchen, taking the stairs to the wing that was set apart for the family. She bypassed the room where his mother lived in and went right down to the last door.
Managing to knock, she waited until it was tugged open and she went inside. The room was dim, except for the fire flickering in the grate…and Leith was shirtless. She swallowed over a suddenly dry throat.
The flickering light rendered his tanned skin bronze, stretching over his lean muscular upper body, lightly dusted with dark, crisp curls of hair over his chest. A line of hair traveled down his powerful torso to the taut ribbed muscles of his stomach.
He took the tray from her and rested it somewhere behind him. He then slipped his hand under her hair to the base of her neck and pulled her close. “Thank ye.”
His embrace was warm but she could not allow herself to capitulate to it. Pulling away she asked, “Would you like to tell me about it?”
Leith dropped his hand and shook his head. “There is nothing to say, Mary.”
“Yes, there is,” she insisted, grabbing at his arm and turning him back to her, “You must be feeling something! I can tell, Leith, I saw it in your eyes today.”
“Mary,” he said darkly, “drop it. Me emotions have no place here.”
“Do not insult me, Leith,” Mary pressed. “And don’t insult yourself either. You have more sense than to deny yer own feelings.”
“I’m sure I won’t,” Leith said tightly. “What I need is some solid tactics to make sure I’m nay pushed out of the clan by Cooper if it came to that. I feel like a clot-heid for nay seeing this before.”
An ache throbbed in her soul at his unemotional brush off of her plea. “Don’t do this, Leith, please talk to me. I know you must be…torn apart now. Please, let me help.”
He pulled away and turned his back. “There is nothing to tell. Leave, Mary, leave now.”
His blunt dismissal felt like a slap to her face, but Mary was not going to give in so quickly. “Yes, there is or you would not be trying to get rid of me so strongly. I am not going anywhere.”
“Dinnae ye disobey me,” his voice dipped to a warning growl.
Her chin jutted out. “My parents betrayed me, Leith. No matter how I tried, they never even tried to understand what I wanted. I know the pain that burns inside, to know that you trusted someone and strife was all you got for it.”
“This is naything like that,” Leith said. “The disagreement yer parents and ye had is a trifle compared to this.”
Now, Mary was getting irritated, “Of course, it not the same but the anger that comes from it is. Why will you not let me help you? I had one person who listened to me and it helped to cool the pain somewhat, but I burned with anger for three days coming here. My chest was on fire with anger. They were going to marry me off to a pig, Leith, without even giving me the opportunity to say yes or no. If the man had not slipped about saying so, I would have never known. They were going to wake me up and whisk me off to a church where my life would be tied to him, a man three times my age. I would have died in that marriage! I’m telling you, stubborn man, let me help you!”
He spun and even though it was dark she could see his eyes blazing, shimmering like the sharpest steel. “The problem is that it’s one or the other. It’s either that Cooper betrayed me, or that he dinnae, but what haunts me is that I cannae decide which!”
Taken aback by his words, Mary could only blink. Thinking back to when Mister Copper had spoken, she could understand why Leith was unsure. The man had spoken cogent things. In the absence of the Laird and his son, someone had to take control.
“The village leader told me directly that Cooper is slowly taking over the town. Ye heard him, he dinnea deny it,” Leith seethed. “But what I hate is that Cooper is right, someone had to the job while me Faither and I were indisposed.” His hand rubbed his face aggressively. “But what truly got me angry was when I saw him attacking ye, I nearly lost me damned mind.”
Hesitant to touch him, Mary lifted her hand but dropped it. “Leith, is there anyone else you can talk to and know the full truth?”
“Nay, for now, I’ll have to take both of their words as truth but watch for any telling actions from Cooper. If he is swaying the people to his cause, I’ll have to take some drastic actions against him but for now, he is the best war chief we’ve ever had. Me Faither never lost a campaign with him at his side. If I lose him, if we lose him…it will send signals to rival clans that we’re ripe for the taking…” shaking his head, he sank to a seat and caged his face in his hands, “but if he stays and takes control…I lose either way.”
Her heart was breaking for him and her cracking voice showed it. “You won’t lose.” Despite her attempt to strengthen him, her words sounded hollow and they both knew it. How could she be sure about it when she knew so little?
“I wish I could believe that,” Leith’s voice was loaded with grief. “If I lose this, its nae only me, but me Faither as well. The man that worked his life away to make sure this clan stood strong. To have it taken from under his feet, under me feet, would kill him faster than any madness could have.”
Again, she wanted to touch him, to give him some sort of comfort but she did not know if he’d take it.
“And I cannae tell me Mother this either as she will take it to heart. She’s already shaken with me Faither, this will be the end of her. I have to bear this meself and find a way out,” Leith exhaled. “Yer a wonderful woman, Mary, but this isane yer fight.”
He was right. “I know…but I still want to help you in any way I can.”
Leith was suddenly on his feet and he snaked both arms to grasp her by her waist and face. The kiss was so deep, long, slow and sensuous that it had her toes curling in her shoes. He took her mouth with a tender possessiveness she had begun to acquaint with Leith whenever he touched her. His mouth tasted of harsh, tart cider.
Had he been drinking?
When he pulled back, his fingers slipped to the back of her neck and rubbed his thumb over the side.
“Ye are,” he said quietly on her lips before stepping away. “Go back to yer station, Mary, they must be missing ye by now.”
It was not a hard, spiteful dismissal, but rather a sensible one. Though not completely mollified with how Leith was, she nodded and whispered her goodbyes to him and left.
19
Dawn found Leith back in the town. He had to get proof from the people themselves about Cooper’s actions. “I’d be damned if I let him steal this town away from me.”
&nb
sp; Who should I start asking?
There were only two classes of people in the village, those who worked the land and those who took the provisions from the land and made things from it. Trees were chopped by the loggers and carpenters made slabs of wood. Cattle farmers gave the ready bulls to the butchers and cows to the milkmaids. That was how it worked in the village.
He needed to speak to four or six people from those tiers. He got to a tavern and stopped. It was early but the tavern was open as it had an inn at the back. He tied his horse to a hitching post and went up the three flat steps to the door and pushed it in.
The warm air of the tavern hit him like a slap in the face as he entered. It smelled like meat, baked bread, and ale. The smell of ale made him grimace when he remembered last night when he had broken his vow to not drink. It had taken a lot to push him to the point as the last time he had gotten drunk, he had almost killed himself.
Never again.
In the wide interior of the tavern’s main chamber, chairs were scatted around the brick fireplace. A few wenches were bustling through the room, serving trenchers and cups of ale to the patrons.
He nodded to a few and went directly to the barkeep who was leaning on the wide table with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes went wide when his and Leith’s made contact. He tugged his shirt down and hurried around. “Young Lenichton, good morning. Benjamin here, but ye can call me Bennie, how can I help ye?
“I just need a few words with ye,” Leith said. “May I sit?”
“Of course, of course,” Benjamin gestured to a barstool. “May I get ye a drink?”
“Nay, but thank ye for the offer,” Leith shook his head. “I need to ask ye, when me Faither nor I was able to be there, who helped ye?”
“Oh, that was Sirra Cooper,” Benjamin replied. “He came in when me roof was off and sent for help from the carpenters, gave me free wood to repair me roof. He sent for special liquor from Edina for me to serve to those who come from the city. He even gave me Mum a new bed.”
“And did he say anything about the lairdship?” Leith asked with trepidation tightening his chest.
“Nay, nay a word,” Benjamin replied. “He did mention that yer Faither, God help him, was ill, but naything more about the lairdship.”
After that statement, Leith did not know if he should be relieved or worried but could only settle somewhere between…and he hated it. He detested being stuck in the gray area. He would have much preferred plain black and white; was Cooper taking over or was he not?
* * *
There was a break in the kitchen, as the morning meal was over and there was little to wash. Mary had taken a cup of warm milk and ate crispy brown bread slathered with butter. She was in her corner of the room shelling peas for the dinner stew when she was called up.
“Mary, Lady Lenichton wants to see ye,” the cook said as she came over and took the basket away. “She’s in her rooms. I’ll take care of these, go see her.”
Nodding, she signed thank you and walked out to the stairs. She did not mind going to see the older woman as she felt Lady Lenichton did not have much company. She was not much of a companion either but what she could give, she would.
She knocked on the door and slipped inside when the permission to enter was granted. Lady Lenichton was sitting in the same chair she had seen her sit that day she had been asked to help in giving the Laird his meals.
“Mary, please sit,” Lady Lenicthon said and gestured to her. Her slim form was in a dark dress and her dark veil was on her head. Rheumy blue eyes were on hers. “How are ye doing?”
She signed that she was doing well and Lady Lenichton nodded as her eyes sharpened a little, “I ken ye dinnae have yer memory back but please try to remember as much back as ye can…were ye married before ye came here?”
What? Where is this coming from? She signed no.
“And ye never carried a babe?” Lady Lenicthon asked.
Her words were calm and even friendly but Mary began to feel violated. What right did this woman have to ask these things? She signed no.
“I only ask lass because yer so beautiful, I fear that some of our men have designs on ye,” Lady Lenicthon said kindheartedly. “Are ye planning on marrying dear? I have some outstanding men who I can personally vouch that they would marry ye and treat ye well. It would take ye away from this work that I ken is nay easy.”
What in the? …Is she trying to get rid of me, so…considerately?
Signing no, Mary waited for the woman’s response. Nothing crossed her thin face, no sign of disappointment or even surprise. Lady Lenicthon reached over and tapped her knee. “I understand, Mary, the very notion is a bit terrifying to any woman especially one who is as young as ye are. But me offer stands if ye decide in the future.”
No, thank you.
Forcing a hint of a smile on her, Mary sat as placidly as she could, but her mind was spinning like a wagon wheel. What was this? It was the best benign interrogation she had even been a part of. Mary felt that the questions were not asked in order to give help but were asked to find a fault to send her away.
Nevertheless, Lady Lenichton’s peaceful expression never wavered and Mary had to—begrudgingly—let her suspicions die.
“Thank ye for aiding me with me husband,” Lady Lenicthon said gratefully. “But he is nay eating as he should. I dinnae ken where the madness came from. He does eat a lot of bloodied meat and years before, he used to drink heavily but I dinnae ken either or both combined could make him so. What I do ken is that grains are so much better for him but he refuses to eat it.”
Do you mean porridge? A grown man cannot be eating porridge all the days of his life. And he’s recovering from an illness, he needs stronger foods.
“I dinnae ken what to do,” Lady Lenicthon with her eyes down on her lap. “He needs to get better but he is eating himself ill again. He refuses me food and requests that blood-filled meat from the kitchen”
Mary felt her hands were tied. There was no sign for, perhaps you can make a compromise? So, she was forced to sit with her hand on her lap and a conflicted look on her face. Lady Lenichton gave her a commiserating gaze.
“I ken lass, I ken, it is so disheartening. Aaron was me sweetheart at a very young age. We kent each other from childhood, but he was a mean one to me then. Like all lads, he’d tease me to the point I felt like me head would splinter in pieces until he went away to train with his mentors. When he came back, he was nay the scrawny fifteen-year-old I had kent, he was a man. When he asked for me hand in marriage, I happily gave it to him and we spent thirty-six years as one. Now, I feel like a part of me is dying with him.”
Mary’s jaw tightened. Deep sorrow was in Lady Lenichton's voice and she did not how to react to it well. Her parents had never spoken of each other this way but she felt the lady truly loved her husband. How was it then that love could turn to pain?
I suppose it's logical, to love someone to the point where their pain becomes your own.
“Ye’ll find it the same way when ye find the man ye love,” Lady Lenichton said and Mary struggled to keep her cheeks from heating under the lady’s look.
The man she loved…the notion felt heavy on her chest. Did she love Leith? Her chest panged a little. She knew she cared for him but…love?
“Ah…” Lady Lenichton smiled, “is it the notion of being in love that made ye react that way or are ye already in love?”
Swallowing while shaking her head, she held up her finger, trying to indicate the first part of Lady Lenichton’s statement. She was getting flustered now and she hoped the lady would see it and release her. Her head dipped and she could feel the woman’s stare on the top of her head. The scrutiny had an intensity that she would have never expected to come from an old woman but it kept her rooted to her chair.
A small laugh came from the woman and Mary looked up. Lady Lenichton's lips were curved. “Ah, the naivety that comes with young age. I wish I could go back to those days. But I won’t keep ye for
too long, Mary. I’m glad you came to me, I am very grateful for yer company.”
Relieved, Mary stood and dipped a curtsy before she ran back to the kitchen.
* * *
Leith stared at the carpenter with incredulity. Had he suddenly sprouted two heads out of one neck, Leith could not have been more surprised.
“The hell ye say…” Leith uttered. “He told ye that the English were taking control of the capital so he was the only one who ye could trust to get yer ironworks through?”
“Aye,” the man, Norton, said while dropping his hand plane and dusting wooden chips of his hands. “That’s what he told me so I dinnea question it. He said something about an English lord dying and the Englishmen taking revenge. He told us to stay away from traveling for a while, to protect our lives.”
Mesmerized By A Roguish Highlander (Steamy Scottish Historical Romance) Page 16
