Highland Dove: (New Year's)
Page 6
“Nay, Duncan,” said Mari, pulling the blanket around her. “He’s had a hard time, same as ye. Let him stay. Just close the door.”
“But Mari,” he protested, looking like he was about to burst with want.
She raised her finger to his lips. “It’s all right, Duncan. It’s better that we wait anyway. Both of ye need a guid night’s rest. Tonight, all we’ll do is sleep.”
She let out a sigh as he hurried over to close the door. That was too close and she needed to clear things up with her father to get out of the mess she was in before Duncan tried to make love with her again.
Mari woke up feeling warm and safe, having had dreams all night long about being with Duncan. Opening one eye, she realized she was cuddled up next to him, and they were both naked under the blanket. Her eyes shot across the room, looking for Angus. Sunlight streamed in through the crack in the shutters, ensuring her that morning had indeed come.
“Angus?” she whispered, listening for his snoring. When she didn’t hear it, she sat up, clinging to the blanket. He wasn’t there, so she decided to get up and get dressed. Sure enough, her clothes that had been laid out in front of the hearth were dry, so she donned them. Just as she was tying her bodice, she heard Duncan’s low voice from the bed.
“Goin’ somewhere, lass?” he asked, pushing up to one elbow.
“I wanted to get dressed while Angus wasna in the room,” she told him, bending down and slipping into her shoes.
“I woke him up early and sent him away. I figured, this way, we’d have a little time together . . . without him here, if ye ken what I mean.”
“Oh, that was nice of ye, Duncan, but I’m afraid I canna stay.” She walked across the room to the door, trying not to look at him or he would tempt her once again.
“Mari? Where are ye goin’?” Duncan jumped up, grabbing his braies. Stepping into them, he hurried over to her.
“I have somethin’ very important that I need to do.”
“More important than spendin’ time with yer betrothed that ye havena seen for nearly a month?”
“It’s no’ like that at all,” she said, reaching over and standing on her tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth. “There will be plenty of time for us later. I hope. But right now, I need to get back to my clan. I will see ye soon, Duncan, and then we will be together.”
She rushed out the door, hearing Duncan swearing under his breath from behind her. Mari didn’t like leaving him like this, but she really had to find and talk to her father. Descending the stairs at a near run, she made her way into the tavern area, stepping over sleeping patrons as she headed for the door. Malmuira was probably out in the stable, she decided. Hopefully, she could convince the gypsy to take her back to her clan. The only thing she didn’t know was how to tell Duncan why she was leaving without him.
“Mari, wait!” called Duncan from behind her. She pretended not to hear him, only because she was still trying to figure out what to say.
“Malmuira,” she called out, seeing the gypsy emerging from the stable. She ran over to her. “Can ye take me back to my clan now? I’ll pay ye of course.”
The woman looked up, hearing Duncan call out for her again. “Nay, I’m afraid I canna do that.”
“Please,” she begged. “I need to talk with my faither. It is very important.”
“Mari, God’s eyes, will ye stop for a moment?” growled Duncan. “Why are ye runnin’ from me?” He ran up, tying his plaid around him. He hadn’t had time to don his weapon belt or even his shoes.
“Duncan, I’m sorry, but there is somethin’ I have to do. I have to get back to my clan and speak to my faither immediately.”
“What is so important that it canna wait?”
“I – I’ll tell ye later, I promise I will.”
“I dinna understand why ye’re actin’ so odd.”
“Just trust me,” she told him. “I’m doin’ this for us.”
Duncan released a deep sigh. “I dinna understand ye, lass, but I do trust ye. Give me a few minutes to gather my things and find my brathair and we’ll take ye home ourselves.”
“Nay. Malmuira will take me,” said Mari, not wanting Duncan around until she cleared things up with her father first.
“I told ye I canna do that,” the old woman said once again.
“Why no’?” asked Mari, feeling frustrated now.
“She canna do it because she is followin’ my orders.” Eideard stepped out of the barn with several of his henchmen right behind him.
“Eideard!” Mari, jerked back quickly, knocking into Duncan and stepping on his bare toes.
“Och, lass,” spat Duncan, hopping on one foot.
“So nice to see ye still alive, Duncan,” snarled Eideard.
The last person Duncan wanted to see right now was that traitor, Eideard. “That’s right, I am alive,” said Duncan, standing up straight now. “And since I’m back, I’ll be takin’ over the position of clan chieftain. So I relieve ye of the duty.”
Eideard chuckled. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that. Besides, who’s goin’ to stop me?”
Duncan’s hand shot to his waist out of habit, but came up empty. He’d left the room so quickly that he hadn’t yet donned his weapon belt. “Damn,” he spat under his breath.
“Face it, Duncan, even if ye did have a sword, ye couldna do a thing about it,” Eideard told him. “The clan answers to me now. Mari, get over here. We are leavin’.”
“Nay!” shouted Duncan, feeling his blood beginning to boil. “Mari is my betrothed and she is stayin’ with me. I will protect her with my life, even without a weapon.”
“Ye didna tell him?” Eideard looked at Mari and raised a brow.
“Tell me what?” asked Duncan, feeling very unsettled. “Mari, what does he mean?”
“I’m sorry, Duncan.” When Mari turned to him, tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Sorry? For what? What the hell is goin’ on here?”
“Ye see, Duncan, in yer absence, some things have changed,” Eideard told him. “I’m no’ only the chieftain of the clan, but I have a signed agreement with Mari’s faither.”
“Signed agreement? What are ye talkin’ about?” asked Duncan.
Eideard sneered. “I’m sorry to inform ye, but I’ve made an alliance with Clan Stewart and Mari is now my wife.”
“What?” Duncan’s head snapped around to look at Mari. From the look in her eyes, he could see that what Eideard said was true. “Mari, please tell me he’s lyin’.”
“I didna want to marry him, I swear,” she cried. “He told me ye were dead and he forced me to do it.”
“No wonder ye didna want me to touch ye last night,” he ground out in disgust. “Why didna ye tell me ye were a married woman?”
“I wanted to, but I just couldna do it, Duncan. I needed to talk to my faither first so he could help me get the marriage annulled. Ye are the only one I want for my husband.”
“It’s a little too late for that now,” he said through gritted teeth, shaking his head. “I thought ye’d wait for me, Mari. I guess I was wrong.”
“Get the girl,” Eideard told one of his men. “We’re leavin’.”
“Nay, I willna go with ye,” said Mari, fighting the man off. “Ye’re hurtin’ me. Leave me be.”
Duncan’s heart ached. He didn’t like anyone hurting Mari, even if she was no longer his girl.
“Release her,” he commanded. “Dinna hurt her.”
“Dinna worry yer head about her, MacLean. She’s no longer yers,” said Eideard.
“Duncan, I dinna want to go with them. Please, help me!” begged Mari.
Duncan loved Mari too much to ignore her plea for help. He reached out and punched the guard, knocking him to the ground and taking his sword.
“Mari, stay back,” shouted Duncan, as Eideard and his other man drew their swords. Angus shot forward out of nowhere to help Duncan. Even in bare feet, and still weak from their time in prison, it would have been a fair fight if thr
ee more of Eideard’s men hadn’t emerged from the stable with drawn swords to join him.
“Nay, stop this!” cried Mari. “Too many people have already died.”
“I’m no’ goin’ to let him take ye, lass,” Duncan promised, fighting against Eideard. Swords clashed and it was all Duncan and Angus could do to try to fight off the men since they were outnumbered.
“Drop yer swords, now!” came a booming voice from behind them.
Storm MacKeefe rushed over with one of the madmen of the clan, Aidan, at his side. Their swords were drawn and they were ready to fight. Old Callum came running over from the tavern.
“Stay out of this, MacKeefe. This isna yer fight,” growled Eideard. “Besides, ye are still outnumbered.”
Aidan answered. “Hah! I could take ye all on by myself with one arm tied behind my back,” he boasted. “I havena had a guid fight in a long time, so I’m ready.”
“There will be no’ fightin’ at my tavern,” yelled Callum, rushing over. “Blethers, this isna goin’ to be guid for business if someone gets killed.”
“I’ll no’ warn ye again,” shouted Storm. “Leave here now before I’m forced to stop ye.”
“Did ye forget the MacKeefes and the MacLeans are aligned?” asked Eideard, his sword clashing against Duncan’s.
“Did ye forget that Duncan and Angus are still part of yer clan?” asked Storm in return.
“I’ll go, but I’m no’ leavin’ without my wife.” Eideard continued to fight. “And if I have to kill Duncan to do it, so be it.” He managed to slash out with his sword and nick Duncan on his shoulder. Blood dripped down his arm.
“That’s the last I’m goin’ to take from ye, Eideard,” warned Duncan, raising his sword again.
“Nay! Stop it. All of ye,” screamed Mari, rushing in between Eideard and Duncan.
“Mari, what are ye doin’?” asked Duncan. “Get back before ye’re hurt.”
“Nay. I’m goin’ with Eideard,” she told him. “I willna see ye hurt or killed because of me.”
“Dinna do it, Mari. I dinna care if ye’re his wife, I willna let him take ye,” said Duncan, reaching out for her.
“Leave her,” Storm instructed.
“I canna do that,” said Duncan.
“If she’s his wife, ye canna stop him,” Storm told him. “Now go, before I’m forced to step in.”
“Let’s go, Wife, before I take my hand to yer behind.” Eideard’s hand slashed out, grabbing Mari around the wrist. He yanked her toward him, still holding his sword, nodding at his men as they headed for their horses.
“Go find my faither, Duncan,” Mari called out as Eideard mounted his horse and pulled her atop it as well. “Find a way to get this marriage annulled so I can marry ye instead. Please.”
Duncan watched in desperate sorrow as his enemy rode away with the woman he loved.
“No more fightin’. Today is Christmas,” spat Callum, turning and heading back to the tavern with Aidan.
“Why did ye let him take her?” asked Angus, sheathing his sword.
“She’s his wife now,” said Duncan, his eyes still fastened to Mari and Eideard as they disappeared, riding down the road with Eideard’s men.
“Ye did the right thing,” said Storm, sheathing his sword. “I’m sorry things didna turn out the way ye wanted. I’m sure she never would have married him if she didna think ye were dead.” He turned and headed to the tavern as well.
“I never should have told her to marry another if I didna return,” Duncan told his brother, realizing his mistake. His heart was broken. He’d lost the love of his life and it was no one’s fault but his own.
“Well, like Storm said, there is nothin’ ye can do about it, Brathair.” Angus put his sword back in the scabbard. “What are yer plans for retrievin’ our castle and claimin’ the position of chieftain?”
“I’m no’ sure it even matters anymore,” said Duncan, suddenly wishing he had really died in the English prison. How could he go on without Mari?
“So ye’re givin’ up? Ye’re goin’ to let Eideard keep the title of chieftain? What about Mathair?” he asked. “We’re no’ goin’ to just leave her there.”
“Mathair,” said Duncan under his breath, having momentarily forgotten about her because of the ordeal with Mari. “Nay, we have to save her. But I’m no’ sure I ever want to see Mari again. I still canna believe she married Eideard.”
“Didna ye hear her?” Malmuira came walking out of the shadows, pulling her colored wimple tighter around her hair. Little bells tinkled from the hem of her skirt. “She told ye that she was forced to marry the man.”
“Aye. I forced her to do it when I told her to marry another if I didna return,” replied Duncan.
“Nay, ye fool, that’s no’ why. It was because Eideard threatened to kill yer mathair if she refused him.”
“By the rood, nay,” said Duncan. “Did he kill my mathair?”
“Nay. Thanks to Mari’s sacrifice, yer mathair is still alive,” Malmuira told him. “But Eideard’s hidden her away somewhere and no one kens where.”
Duncan’s heart felt heavy. He was still weak from being imprisoned and now his mind was in more turmoil than ever. “Mari didna tell me any of this.”
“Do ye blame her? She’s in love with ye, and I’m sure she didna want ye to turn her away. That’s why she was tryin’ to get home to talk to her faither. She thought he could help her get the marriage annulled. I’m sure she was waitin’ and no’ wantin’ to worry ye after all ye’ve been through.”
“I still dinna like it. I’m thankful she saved Mathair, but Mari was supposed to be my wife, no’ his.”
“Ye’re soundin’ selfish right now, Duncan MacLean,” scolded the gypsy. “I saw this tragedy unfoldin’ in one of my card readin’s, but I must tell ye that I also saw hope that all is no’ lost.”
“How can ye say that? I’ve lost the woman I love.”
“No’ true. Mari might be married, but they never consummated the marriage yet. Did ye ken that?”
Duncan couldn’t believe his ears. “Really?”
“Really. She left before Eideard could lay a hand on her.”
A spark of hope burned within him now. Mayhap all was not lost yet after all. “I didna ken that.” Duncan ran a weary hand through his hair.
“If the marriage isna consummated, then she might be able to get it annulled,” said Angus. “Mayhap we should go talk to her faither about this like she was goin’ to do.”
“Aye, but it still might be too late,” said Duncan, feeling suddenly frantic. “Eideard has Mari and she’s his wife. The first thing he’ll do when he returns to the castle is consummate the marriage.”
“Then I guess we’re too late,” said Angus.
“Nay, I willna allow that to happen.”
“Brathair, ye’re daft if ye think ye can stop a married man from couplin’ with his wife.”
“I dinna ken how, but I swear I willna let Eideard touch Mari. I will stop him from consummatin’ that marriage if it is the last thing I ever do.”
Chapter 6
“Angus, hurry,” Duncan called over his shoulder, saddling his horse himself, not wanting to wait for the stable boy to do it. He had to catch up to Eideard and save Mari. His only chance would be to get to her before they entered the castle walls. MacLean Castle was a strong fortress, and Eideard was sure to have many guards at the ready. Once they entered the bailey, there would be no hope of stopping him from having his way with Mari. “Bid the devil, I never should have let her go with him. And why didna she tell me any of this last night?” Duncan talked more to himself than Angus, since his brother was outside the stable with the old gypsy.
He mounted his horse and rode out, only to be stopped by Storm who was calling to him from over by the tavern.
“Duncan, wait,” called Storm, hurrying over with a young man Duncan recognized from Mari’s clan.
“Tomas,” he said, nodding at him. “What brings ye here?”
“What’s wrong?” Duncan looked over to Storm. “What is it? Tell me.”
“Tomas here tells us that Eideard caused some trouble for their clan,” said Storm.
“That’s right,” said Tomas in a shaky voice. “First, Eideard convinced our chieftain ye were dead just so he would let him marry his daughter. But as soon as the agreement was signed, Eideard tried to kill our chieftain in cold blood. A battle broke out. Most of our men are off fightin’ for the king, so we took a hard hit and there were many deaths.”
“God’s eyes, nay!” said Duncan from atop his horse. “What about Mari’s faither? Did Daniel die?”
“Nay, but he is severely wounded,” Tomas relayed the information. “I rode here to ask for help before Eideard and his men return to finish us off. We canna survive another attack.”
“Ye ken ye can count on our help,” offered Storm. “The MacKeefes will do whatever we can even if we are allies of Clan MacLean. We canna let Eideard get away with this. I’ll round up an attack party and we’ll go after Eideard today, no matter if it is Christmas.”
“Aye, let’s kill him!” Angus jumped atop his horse, always ready for a good fight.
“Nay, wait,” said Duncan with a raised hand. “Mari is there, as well as her sister and her sister’s children.”
“That’s right. We dinna want them hurt or killed,” added Angus. “It would be just like Eideard to do somethin’ to them to try to stop us.”
Duncan continued. “Besides, we canna kill Eideard until we find out what he did with Mathair. We need time, but we dinna have it.”
“Then what do ye propose we do?” asked Angus. “Takin’ a few days or even a week to build a small army and prepare for battle might work. But time isna on our side if ye want to stop Eideard from couplin’ with Mari.”
“I think I have an idea,” said Duncan, his intellect finally pushing past his emotions as he took matters into his own hands regarding these horrific events. “Storm, rally yer men and be prepared to attack as soon as I find out where Eideard’s keepin’ Mathair. In the meantime, I need to talk with Mari’s faither as soon as he’s able.”