by Mia Pride
Snorting, Matilda rolled her eyes and cringed. “Ye really have lost yer mind. Patrick has been in love with ye since ye were a wee lass. Aye, he will marry ye, but he will want more than convenience. And William will run him through for abandoning his army, stealing away his sister, and threatening to destroy the tentative peace between clans. It willnae work, Lizzie. Please see reason. Please?”
Sighing, Elizabeth calmed down and slowly walked toward her friend, a small smile on her face. “I am seeing reason, Tilda.” Grabbing her companion’s hand, Elizabeth gave it a reassuring squeeze. “’Tis the only way. I shallnae marry Robert.”
Pursing her lips, Tilda nodded, finally understand that Elizabeth would not be persuaded otherwise. “I have one request. Please. I will stop my blabbering and allow ye to be a fool, if ye take but one suggestion from me.”
Looking out the window, Elizabeth saw the sun falling further over the hills in the horizon. Soon, she would lose her chance to flee. “What is it, Tilda? Do be quick.”
“Ye’re a bloody fool if ye think ye can do this alone, and even more if ye think William willnae run Patrick through, making ye a widow three times over and dragging ye back here. But… if ye marry someone else, it will solve all yer problems.”
Raising a brow, Elizabeth looked at Tilda. “Who?”
“Reginald, obviously.”
“Robert’s younger brother? That’s absurd.”
“Is it? He is an Irvine so it will still keep the peace, prevent ye from marrying Robert, and Reginald is just frivolous enough to go along with it.”
The more Matilda said, the more sense it made, yet she knew even less about Reginald than she did about Robert. However, though Reginald was handsome, he did not affect her the way Robert did, which could serve to be her benefit. He would be incapable of hurting her the way Robert had and would not expect much from the marriage. She had seen enough to know he preferred women and drinking, which was fine with her. Elizabeth did miss Dunnottar, but she would also miss Drum and its people, especially Mary, if she were to go. In the end, Tilda was correct. William would simply make her return. Mayhap this was her best chance at avoiding Robert.
“Are ye doing all of this simply to prove a point, I wonder, or simply out of denial?” Tilda asked and stepped away, staring at the fire burning in the hearth.
“What point would that be, exactly, and what would I be denying?” Elizabeth snapped. This situation was feeling out of hand and she considered if she was being irrational. But when she closed her eyes and remembered the ache in her heart and the anger in her veins after Robert insulted her virtue, she hardened herself to any feelings of doubt. She was still as virtuous as the day she was born, not that it was Robert’s business at all… except that it was as her betrothed. Still, Tilda had a point. If she refused to marry him, at least marrying an Irvine would keep the peace and prevent her from marrying a man so very capable of hurting her irreparably.
“Denying that ye are already half in love with Robert and ye ken that he can destroy ye, so ye will do aught to avoid love. But instead, ye choose a marriage based on revenge and spite, to prove that ye are in charge of yer own life. But… are ye? Seems to me ye are avoiding being controlled by yer brother and Robert, yet ye are now being controlled by yer own stubbornness.”
“That is ridiculous! I ken I’m not in control of anything! Aye, I do refuse to marry him and if this is the one decision I ever make on my own, then I will do so gladly. And, I am not half in love with him or anyone! He was my friend. He was kind to me and comforted me. Then, when I was most vulnerable, he insulted me and made me feel lower than anyone ever has. I dinnae love him, Tilda. I loathe him, I vow!” Stomping her foot and balling her fists, she realized she was shouting and showing too much emotion for a lass not half in love.
Matilda raised her brow and shook her head, folding her arms the way she did when she knew she was right. Sighing, Elizabeth began pacing the room. “Ye want to hear that I have feelings for Robert? All right. I do. Or, I did. I had believed him honorable and kind.” Throwing her hands in the air, she stopped and turned to lean her head against the wall. “I ken he still is honorable and kind, despite his words. He apologized and I ken he is stressed and saddened by his losses. I ken he made a mistake and he is sorry for it. Still, that is partly why I cannae marry him. He… he can break me, Tilda. I dinnae want that. I dinnae wish for love. Love hurts in the end. No love story has a happy ending, Tilda.”
“So, ye will base yer decision on old stories and poems written solely to make ye cry? That is absurd, Lizzie, even for ye.”
“I saw what losing Mama did to my father. Great love comes to an end and the price one pays is deep. I would prefer to work hard and serve my people and die in my bed an old woman. No man shall mourn me and I shall mourn no man.”
Sighing in resignation, Matilda shrugged. “Ye are determined.” Elizabeth sighed, feeling a tug at her heart. She was walking away from something she knew could be a real connection. However, there was always a chance that love would not be reciprocated, and that thought scared her more than anything. Losing a husband whom she loved may destroy her someday, but if she was loved in return, she would have memories to last a lifetime. But, if she was not loved, she would spend a lifetime pining for a man, a love, a life, she would never have. And that reality was too scary to consider. “Aye, Tilda. I am.”
Nodding her head, Matilda walked over to the door and opened it, looking over her shoulder. “I will take care of everything. Trust me.” She left the room and shut the door, leaving Elizabeth chewing on her bottom lip nervously while clutching her pearls. In her heart, she was not at all as confident as she pretended to be, but hearts were best kept out of life’s greatest decisions, especially those involving men, vows, and the rest of her life, even if that logic seemed mad, even to herself.
Chapter Ten
Rounding the last step of the spiral staircase, Matilda looked around the great hall, deciding to head through the kitchens. It was midday and the nooning meal would begin soon. But for now, the room was empty aside from a few lassies from the kitchen preparing the tables with linens and clean plates. Waving to one of her newer companions, Matilda skipped happily behind the screen and into the kitchen where chaos reigned as the main cook pointed and shouted instructions while stirring a huge pot of stew. It smelled wonderful and Matilda’s stomach growled.
Elizabeth was her dearest friend in the world and she loved her like a sister. In fact, they were nearly the same age. Only Matilda, having grown up in the working class, seemed to have a better grip on reality than her counterpart. Aye, Elizabeth was well-educated, intelligent, hardworking, and knew her role as a noble-born woman well. She understood it was her task to marry where told, but even Matilda could understand Elizabeth’s frustration at being tossed around like a bit of meat in the name of peace.
Though she truly thought Elizabeth’s plan to marry someone else was addled and doomed to cause trouble, she had offered to help for one reason: she knew her mistress well enough to know that once she had an idea, she followed through and no amount of reasoning would persuade her. There had been no chance of Matilda allowing Elizabeth to run off with Patrick back to Dunnottar. Patrick was a lovesick fool for Elizabeth, but William would kill the man for his role in her deceit, risking her life and the peace of their people.
Nay, Matilda had needed to think quickly and Reginald was the only choice, for now. But Matilda had a plan. She knew Elizabeth had feelings for Robert, even if she was too afraid to admit it and, worse, too afraid of being hurt to marry a man she actually could love. It was slightly preposterous, yet the sobs of Elizabeth’s father after the death of his wife had rung through the halls of Dunnottar, teaching a young Elizabeth that love was best avoided at any cost.
Slipping through the back door of the kitchens and into the courtyard, Matilda walked toward the lists, knowing the men would be ending training to eat a meal soon enough. Her blue linen skirts rustled in the tepid July bre
eze and she covered her eyes as the rays of sun blinded her after leaving the grim light of the castle.
Spotting Reginald sauntering like a peacock beside Robert, both shirtless and drenched in sweat, Matilda sighed and admitted to herself that the Irvine lads were indeed quite handsome. Though Reginald seemed to think much of himself, there was something about him, a vulnerability and an overall sense of loyalty for his family that she knew would come in handy for her plan. If only he would agree.
“Reginald!” Matilda bounced on her heels and waved her hands in the air to catch his attention. She was a slight lass, smaller than most, and tended to get lost in the crowd, so Matilda had learned to be louder than most to compensate. A smile slid over Reginald’s lips, and she knew he was a man who enjoyed the attentions of women. Mayhap it would be slightly harder to convince him of her plan than she suspected.
Slapping Robert on the back and walking in her direction, she did not miss the look of confusion on Robert’s serious face as he continued toward the keep.
“My fair Matilda. What can I do for ye? ’Tis not every day such a bonnie lass calls out to a man.”
Waving his words away, she tried to remind herself that despite his frivolity and carefree manner, he was second in line to the lairdship. “I dinnae believe that for a moment. I believe ye are surround by bonnie lassies nearly every time I see ye. However, I do, indeed, have something ye can do for me.”
“Oh?” He raised a brow and shifted his stance and she shook her head, trying not to blush. This was not quite how it was meant to go, if she was to convince him to marry Elizabeth.
“How do ye feel about yer new Lady of Drum?” she asked slowly and linked arms with him, slowly pulling him away from any prying ears. Clearly, this was not the question he had been expecting, based on the sudden furrow of his brow.
“I dinnae ken what ye mean. She is a fine lady and takes care of Drum and its people well, as far as I can see having been away fighting a battle most of the duration of her time here.”
Nodding, Matilda licked her lips and looked away for a moment, trying to decide how to approach this sensitive subject. “How does Robert feel about her?”
“How do ye mean?”
“Does he fancy her? Find her bonnie? Wish to marry her?”
Reginald looked sideways at her, unsure of where this was going. “I dinnae ken how to answer that without getting Robert into trouble…”
“So, he doesnae want to marry her?” Matilda could not help the accusation and insult in her voice. Elizabeth was the kindest, bonniest lass and worked very hard for her people. She would make a fine wife and deserved to be wanted and respected.
“’Tis not that, exactly.” Reginald stopped mid-stride and looked at Matilda, scratching his short dark beard. “He isnae ready for marriage. He had nay intentions of marrying anytime soon. And with him becoming laird and the bairn on the way—”
“Bairn? He has a bairn coming?”
“What? Nay. Elizabeth does.”
Matilda snorted and shook her head. “I can tell ye with great certainty that she doesnae.”
Reginald shifted again and grunted. “Robert heard her crying in her chambers about Alexander’s bairn after he died.”
Realization dawned on Matilda and she could not help but tilt her head back and laugh wildly until tears streamed down her cheeks. “Robert believes Elizabeth is carrying Alexander’s bairn? Och, nay! That was Mary he heard crying! She is having his child!” Slapping a hand over her mouth, she cringed before speaking again. “Ye cannae tell a soul. That wasnae my secret to tell.”
“I vow not to speak a word. I prefer to stay out of all of this. ’Tis a shame. I ken Robert has feelings for Elizabeth. He has from the start. He just needs more time to warm to the idea, yet his belief that she is with child caused him to hurry the marriage, so he can raise the child as his own.”
Excitement brewed deep in Matilda’s belly. Robert cared for Elizabeth and she cared for him as well, yet both were too stubborn to accept it, both preferring a stale life of duty over the risk of love. Her plan just may work after all… if she could get Reginald to agree.
“Reginald. I sought ye out for a reason. Ye seem like the sort of man who prefers a wee bit of adventure and scandal. I have one for ye if ye want to help give Robert and Elizabeth time to accept their feelings for one another.”
“This sounds like the verra situation I attempt to avoid,” he said lowly. Yet somehow, Matilda sensed his own excitement and she knew she had found her match in mischief-making.
“I doubt ye’ve had such a situation arise…”
“Oh? And what situation is this?” he asked, moving closer to Matilda and pulling her into the shadows.
“I need ye to marry Elizabeth. Tonight.”
“Are ye mad?” he asked, pulling back slightly.
Not caring if he was the laird’s brother or not, she swatted his arm in protest. “Mayhap a bit. I’m mostly concerned for my mistress, and Elizabeth was planning on running away to avoid marriage to Robert.”
“He isnae so bad. In fact, he is likely the best husband she could find in all of Scotland.”
“I ken that, and she cares for him, but he insulted her honor when he came back from battle and her bruised pride refuses to relent. She willnae marry him. Mostly, she is afraid of a husband she can truly love. She believes love is the ruination of lives.” She rolled her eyes, but the look on Reginald’s face told her he was truly listening to her mad scheme.
“Robert is afraid of the verra same. I ken he cares for the lass. He says he doesnae wish to marry his brother’s pregnant widow. I believe he is simply jealous that it isnae his bairn.”
“Then do ye not see? She needs to marry an Irvine son to fulfill the peace between clans. She refuses to marry him, and he claims to not wish to marry her. They belong together but dinnae ken it. We need to make them see.”
“How does marrying Elizabeth solve that? She will be bound to me for life. They may realize they belong together eventually, but she will be my wife and I willnae be made a cuckold with my own brother, even if my marriage is for convenience.”
“That is why this will work. It will be a false marriage, Reginald, only she must never ken that. She would never agree to this deception, so she must believe it to be true. Once Robert breaks from jealousy, ye will admit to a false wedding and they can be together.”
“And her brother, William? Will he not wish to kill me?” Reginald asked, still looking at her as if she had lost her mind. Perhaps she had, but she had to make this work. She had to keep Elizabeth here at Drum, close to Robert. It was a risky idea, but her friend’s future was at stake.
“Aye, he may wish to, but he willnae, not unless he wants more bloodshed between our people, and he doesnae. He will accept it if Elizabeth is happy.”
“And if they never fall in love? If they truly despise one another and he never cares I married her? Am I to remain secretly unwed to her forever? ’Tis a wee bit too risky, Tilda. Even for me. The lass is bonnie, I will give her that. But I am not one to settle on a lass. I prefer my freedom.”
“Trust me, Reginald. I ken Elizabeth loves him already. She will regret marrying ye soon enough.” Matilda winked and bumped him in the shoulder.
“I dinnae ken if I should feel offended or not. But aye, I will do it. For my brother, as strange as that seems. I only hope he forgives me in time.”
“I will tell Elizabeth ye agreed to the marriage. She will meet ye at the chapel at twilight. Yer job is to procure a false priest, mayhap a man from the village that will do it for a few coins and one she will likely not recognize. Can ye do that?”
“Believe me, lass. I am not the only man in this castle willing to seek out trouble willingly. I will find a man and we will be there.”
“Wonderful!” Throwing her arms around Reginald’s neck, Matilda squealed with delight that her devious plan was coming together. Elizabeth would be angry with her when the truth came out, but she will also be gl
ad to be free to marry Robert and forgive Matilda’s plotting. She was certain of it.
“I vow this is the last Irvine brother I shall ever stand up at the altar with,” Elizabeth whispered into Matilda’s ear. Shocked that Reginald had seemingly agreed to wed with her in Robert’s place. She was even more shocked he had been able to find a clergyman to marry them on such short a notice. A traveler passing through, Reginald had told them.
Wearing the same damask dress she had worn for her marriage to Alexander, Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel slightly apprehensive about her decision. William would most assuredly be displeased with her, but that was precisely why this had to occur immediately before anyone could object.
After making certain Reginald understood this to be a marriage of convenience, Elizabeth decided to move forward with her plan. She felt none of the sparks she felt when she looked at Robert, no tightening in her belly or the excitement of something more, which was precisely what she wanted. He would be free to do as he pleased, and she would run Drum until Robert married a woman of his choosing. Someday, they would need to consider a physical relationship solely for the purpose of having a child, but that thought only made her stomach sour, as did the thought of Robert someday marrying and having heirs. His wife would have more of a duty to create heirs than Elizabeth did. Still, it would be expected eventually. For now, she simply needed to be done with this ridiculous ceremony and get on with her life.
Walking toward Reginald who stood calmly in front of the chapel with a short, rotund man Elizabeth had never seen, she sent him a shaky smile and stopped when she reached him. Nodding, he put out his hand and smiled back reassuringly. Elizabeth was not at all certain what Matilda had said to convince the man to marry her, and she knew that her friend could be quite convincing, just as she convinced Elizabeth to stay at Drum and marry Reginald.
Something did not sit well with her. This situation felt wholly wrong and extremely permanent, only she had no choice but to marry an Irvine. And of the two available men, Reginald was the one who had not insulted her, even though he had also lost a brother. Deciding to hold on to her anger at Robert, Elizabeth took a deep breath and steeled herself to do what must be done.