Like a Laird to a Flame

by Pride, Mia

  The door to the keep was wide open and James walked in behind Reginald, seeing Robert and Elizabeth standing in front of Archibald, who was surrounded by warriors from three other clans and no choice but to surrender if he was intelligent.

  “Ye put us all at risk, Douglas! We invited ye here for the Yule and this is our thanks?” Robert spat and clung to Elizabeth who held her ground and kept her head high. No man would suspect the woman had just left the cold darkness of a cellar she had been bound in for hours. “Ye conspired with Stephan to kill a Keith and put my people in danger.”

  “Yer daughter is staying here with us, Archibald.” Elizabeth straightened her spine and wagged her finger at the man. “Ye mistreat her and use her as a pawn for an alliance, but the truth is, ye dinnae care for peace. Ye simply wished to be rid of her. She may stay here on Irvine lands where she will be fostered by me personally and learn how to be a lady of a keep and have some proper manners. And when the time is right, I vow she will have a good match for a husband. As it is, she is not prepared to be a wife or a lady, and ye ken it.”

  Archibald shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Keep the bitch. Mayhap she will be of more use to ye than she was to me. ’Tis a fine thing the tournament was canceled, so no man was saddled with the lass.”

  James shot daggers at the man, pitying his wee daughter for being treated as naught but cattle to be traded, and grateful she was tucked away in the tower where his cruel words could not be heard. Archibald Douglas had earned his reputation through the years, upholding his black legacy, but never had his soul appeared darker than it did now.

  Stepping up to Archibald, Robert gripped the hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white. “Ye dinnae ken how badly I wish to rid the world of ye here and now. But, ’tis still the Yule, and enough blood has been shed because of ye. Ye are fortunate I find myself in a fair mood. My men are all safe and accounted for, and my women and children are safe in the tower. And, I have just discovered that I am to be a father.” Robert looked behind him and smiled like a fool to his wife, who flushed and held her reddening cheeks.

  The warriors in the hall cheered and stomped their feet loudly, letting out whistles and words of congratulations to Robert and Elizabeth, who simply nodded and smiled in response. James watched these people and understood why they meant so much to Mary. They were fierce, but they were fair. The Irvines had taken care of her and though one had planted a bastard in her belly, James understood now that Mary was no wee lass. She had loved and been loved before tragedy struck, and she had suffered enough for it. Now, she had William Keith. And though finding him with his paws all over his sister had been enough to make James nearly slay the man, he had come to understand that theirs was also true love. Any man who would fight to wed a woman carrying another man’s child was a good man, indeed. Mary had loved and been loved twice, where James had never known such an emotion. Who was he to judge her for his inability to feel more than lust for a woman?

  Clearing his throat, Robert put his hand up to silence the crowd. “There are still five days left of the Yule, and I intend to celebrate them peacefully with my kin, which includes the Keiths and the Hamiltons,” he said, looking at James before looking back at The Douglas. “Ye arenae welcome on my lands as long as ye shall live. This is yer only warning. If yer toe crosses onto my lands, I shall remove it, along with yer head. Get yer men and hie yer arse off my land before I change my mind! And ken that this isnae over and the clans will all be seeking justice for Brian when ye least expect it!” Robert roared so loudly that many in the crowd jumped, the sound taking everyone by surprise as the walls reverberated.

  “Aye! Ye dinnae kill a Keith and walk away unscathed!” a man shouted from the crowd, shaking his fist while heads nodded and eyes shot daggers all around the hall. It would be a miracle if The Douglas made it back to his lands in one piece at this point.

  Tugging on his surcoat, Archibald Douglas simply raised a brow and turned away, having no desire to apologize and knowing he was outnumbered. “Ye shall regret this treatment of me, Irvine,” the man threatened as he walked toward the entrance of the keep.

  “I dare say I willnae.” Robert walked toward the door and watched as his warriors followed the Douglases into the inner bailey and toward the stables. When they were out of sight, he slammed the doors and turned to the remaining people. “Lizzie, ’tis safe to allow the women and children out of the tower now. Please tell Marjorie to report to me in my solar to discuss her new… life. As for the rest of ye, I apologize for allowing a Black Douglas to enter our keep, but we shallnae allow it to ruin our Yule any further. Mary is at the kirk birthing Alexander’s child. I wonder if perhaps ye all would be willing to go on a wee journey? Since she cannae travel back to us, we can bring the Yule to her.”

  The men all cheered, hollering their agreement, and James felt pride for his sister and gratitude for the Irvines. She was truly cherished by so many, most of all him, though he had done a poor job of showing it. Walking up to Robert, James put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I was wrong about ye. Mary is right, as usual. Dinnae tell her I said that, or I shall lie through my teeth.”

  Laughing, Robert shook his head and leaned in closer to James. “I ken all too well about women being correct more often than not. Yer secret is safe with me. By nightfall, we shall all arrive at the kirk and have a Yule celebration together with Mary. And mayhap, ye shall have a wee niece or nephew to greet.” Patting him on the back, Robert walked away and James smiled like a bloody fool. He was going to be an uncle, and he had Alexander Irvine to thank for that… even if it pained him to admit it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Slowly awakening from the deepest sleep in her entire life, Mary gasped and sat up straight in her bed, head pounding and body aching. “My bairn!”

  “He is safe, my love, and so are ye.” Rubbing her eyes, the blur of sleep slowly disappeared and focused on a sight that took her breath away. William sat in the corner of the room holding their new son. It seemed all her fear and pain melted away that very moment, and her heart felt weightless.

  “How long was I asleep?” she asked, stretching and yawning. Her head still hurt, but the throbbing had lessened as the hours passed.

  “The bell just rang for vespers. Ye have been asleep for three hours.”

  “Oh, my. I am verra sorry. How is wee William?” She saw her bairn with his eyes closed, but he stirred in William’s arms, his head turning from side to side.

  “He has been asleep as long as ye have. Dinnae apologize. Ye have had a rough time and needed the rest, but I do believe he is ready to feed again.” Standing up, William looked down at their bairn and smiled widely. “How are ye feeling?”

  “I feel a wee bit better. I just wish we kenned where Stephan was. I feel my skin crawling when I think of his hands on me. I worry that he is watching me.”

  Leaning over, William kissed her forehead and gently handed their son to her and helped her prepare to feed him. “He isnae here or anywhere near here. I am certain he went to Douglas lands. He will never touch ye again, and I will kill him if I ever set eyes on him. But ye dinnae need to be fashed. I am certain Robert will seek him out after the Yule.”

  Sighing, Mary relaxed and enjoyed the sensation of being a new mother, nursing her wee bairn in her arms. He was so small and light in her arms. After several moments of nursing him and wondering why William seemed to be anxious, pacing the room and shuffling his feet, Mary looked up at him and forced a smile. “Is something bothering ye, William?” Self-doubt dug its claws into her mind, plaguing her with a sudden lack of confidence. Was William having second thoughts about raising wee William or marrying her? Mayhap she was becoming more trouble than she was worth. Though she was usually a proud woman, never had she felt weaker and more vulnerable than she did now.

  Walking over to her, William touched her arm and his features softened, a wide smile spreading across his lips. “Nay, my love. That is just the thing. Nothing is bothering me. Never h
as my life felt righter.” Sitting down on the edge of the bed, William stroked her cheek. “Ye are so loved, Mary. Not only by me but by everyone who kens ye. I was an arse to ye, and I am verra sorry. Will ye marry me? Here? Today?”

  Heart palpitating in her chest, Mary’s eyes widened and she shifted in the bed. “Here? William, I want to marry ye more than aught, and we are in a kirk filled with priests who can perform the ceremony, but I wish to be married surrounded by our kin.” She frowned and hoped she was not hurting him or making him feel rejected. Truly, she would marry him this very second if she could.

  “Is that yer only concern, my love? Ye would marry me here today if ye had yer kin?”

  “Well, aye. I would. I would need help getting ready, for I cannae marry ye in my shift,” she added dryly. “But, aye, I would marry ye.”

  “Do ye think ye are strong enough to get out of bed and get dressed long enough for a ceremony?” He was asking rather odd and specific questions. Mary raised a brow at him and touched her head, realizing someone had removed her makeshift wrap at some point while she slept. Though tender, the wound had stopped bleeding and her restful sleep had served to stop the incessant pounding in her skull.

  “I suppose so, aye. I feel rather well considering how awful I felt before I slept, but I am certain I will be weak and not last long. Why are ye asking? I suppose it would do me good to stretch my legs, but…” Leaning in, William kissed her on the lips and stopped her from finishing her words.

  “I am asking because there are a few of yer kin here to see ye, love.” William rose from the bed. Mary watched him walk to the door, her brow creasing with confusion while wee William yawned in her arms.

  When the door opened, Mary gasped when she saw James and Elizabeth peek their heads through the doors. “Oh, my!” Mary was speechless. Did they come all this way just to see her? When they saw the bairn, both stepped in, Elizabeth loudly squealing and making him stir in his sleep. Covering her mouth, Elizabeth shot her an apologetic look before gently sweeping him out of her arms without asking. Mary was glad for the reprieve, but still unsure of what exactly was going on.

  “’Tis a wee braw laddie named William!” William announced, sounding like a proud father, and Mary wished to kiss him all over. How had she ever rejected this man who was already the most affectionate and protective father?

  “A son? How wonderful, Mary.” James smiled and came closer, touching Mary’s arm. “My wee sister, I cannae tell ye how much I regret my treatment of ye. I do hope ye will forgive me in time.”

  “That depends on why ye are here and what ye have to report from Drum. Is everyone well?” Dread made her belly drop and her vision go blurry. “Have ye come bearing ill tidings?”

  “Nay,” Elizabeth whispered and rocked wee William in her arms, staring down at his face. “All is well at Drum. James saved us, ye ken. The Douglases have left and shall never return unless they wish to face Robert’s wrath. Only Marjorie has remained and will stay with us where she is safe and can learn to be a proper lady,” she added slowly.

  Mary looked at James and sighed, no longer wishing to argue with her brother. She thought she was going to be killed by Stephan only hours before. Life was too short and precious to worry over the past. “Then ye are forgiven, Brother. I only care now about my son and my kin. I have nothing to be ashamed of, for all I have done in this life has brought me the greatest joy in the end. As for Marjorie, I think ye did right allowing her to stay. She is rotten, but she deserves better than the treatment she receives from her father. I ken she will flourish under yer care.” Contentment was stronger than any pain her body was feeling and, suddenly, she felt as if she could dance on air. “Though I am pleased to see ye, I wonder what has brought ye here during the Yule. Shouldnae ye be having a feast and celebrating?”

  Mary looked at William and smiled, passing wee William into James’ arms. Hesitating, James went white as he carefully cradled his new nephew, gently holding his wee fuzzy head and looking at him as if he were made of ancient parchment and likely to crumble to pieces.

  “Aye, Mary! Ye are right that we must be grateful for our blessings and celebrate the Yule with our kin. The problem is that three verra important members of our kin are here, and we cannae celebrate without ye, ye ken.”

  Mary looked from James to Elizabeth to William and back to Elizabeth. “I am afraid I dinnae understand. Mayhap I hit my head harder than I thought.”

  Frowning, Elizabeth grabbed Mary’s hand and scowled. “Stephan is a coward and a bastard. He has been banned from the clan and stripped of his good name. If he wishes to deal with the Black Douglases, then he can be one! Curse the man for putting his hands on ye. We will make him pay for his sins.”

  “I am all right, Lizzie. Now do tell me what ye are speaking about before I decide I truly am daft.”

  “Well, ye wee fool. Dinnae ye understand? We brought the Yule to ye!” Now Mary was certain that she suffered from a head injury. First, she saw Alexander’s spirit, and now she was hearing tall tales.

  “Ye brought the Yule here… to a kirk? I dinnae understand, nor do I suspect the priests will be glad of it.”

  “That is where ye are wrong, Mary.” William took her other hand and caressed it with his fingers. “At first, they were reluctant, aye, but once Elizabeth explained why they came, the priests were most pleased to have so many Scots in their kirk to celebrate mass and the Yule. The priest that Stephan stole the key from was found, injured by a stab wound in the chest and nearly frozen to death near the stables, but they have revived him and believe he will survive. It appears we all have much to be thankful for. Although, we dinnae ken how we shall all fit. And there is no food for a feast, but plenty of ale and whisky… all a Scotsman needs, ye ken.”

  “I am verra relieved the priest was found and Stephan didnae succeed in killing a holy man. His soul is cursed enough. But… exactly how many more people are here in the kirk from Drum?”

  “Why dinnae ye get dressed and we will help ye out of bed so ye can find out. Hopefully, ye can stand on yer feet long enough to say yer vows,” William said with a wink and a smirk that would have made her knees buckle if she was not already in bed.

  “Vows? Ye are all mad, I ken it!”

  “Didnae I ask ye if ye would marry me? Ye said ye would if ye had yer kin. Well, ye do.” A smug look transformed William’s handsome face, and his reddish-blond hair glittered in the light of the candles, making Mary wish to run her hands through it.

  “Aye… but… I cannae get married in my ruined and torn dress. Ye ken I wish to marry ye, Will, but I also wish to look like a true bride, not a disheveled, homeless lass!”

  Walking toward the door, Elizabeth cracked it open and stuck her head into the hall and then looked back at Mary. “I cannae agree more. I wonder if ye ken who ye are speaking to. I am the woman who organized a tournament in two days’ time. Ye dinnae think I can plan a wedding in two hours?” Scoffing, Elizabeth stepped aside and Matilda walked in, carrying a large roll of cloth and wearing the grandest of smiles.

  “Tilda?” Mary rubbed her eyes and sat up straight in the bed. “Ye came, as well?”

  “Och, Mary. We all did. Dinnae ye ken how much we love ye? And before ye go giving me undue praise, I must tell ye that this was all yer brother’s plan.”

  James slowly looked up from the bairn and cracked a small smile, shrugging as if it were nothing at all to bring the Yule and a wedding to the very sister he had left in a kirk to give birth.

  “I have much to atone for, Mary. I cannae take back all I said or did. Ye gave birth without the Lady of Drum by yer side. ’Twas Robert’s plan to bring the Yule to ye, but aye, I thought it would mayhap be a gesture of goodwill if I showed my support for yer wedding to William.”

  Tears unwillingly slid down Mary’s face, and she wiped them away, only for more to form. “Oh, James. Thank ye. This means more to me than aught.” Sniffling, she wiped more tears away and narrowed her eyes. “So, ye willnae be taking
away by bairn, after all, aye?”

  Gasping, Mary looked at James and smacked his arm, making certain not to disturb wee William. “Ye threatened to take her bairn? Ye are fortunate Mary is so kindhearted. I daresay I would never forgive such a thing!”

  Waving it away, Mary shook her head. “He wouldnae. I ken it. He is all hot air and bluster.”

  “I am, aye,” James said with a contrite look. “I was an arse and will regret my words for a lifetime.” The way he looked at her son made Mary’s heart melt with a love and happiness that threatened to spill over.

  “We all have regrets. I treated Will horribly and insulted him at every opportunity. I dinnae feel worthy of his love, but if he wishes to marry me today, I shall, even if I must wear a torn and muddy dress.”

  “Ye willnae have to,” Matilda said and stepped forward, placing the roll of cloth on the bed across Mary’s legs. “I do hope this will do.” Unfolding the cloth, shimmering light blue silk caught the light of the flickering candles and Mary gasped, clutching her chest. “My mother’s wedding dress! But, how did ye ken where to find it?”

  “Yer brother informed us that when ye left Cadzow all those years ago with yer mother, she had placed her dress at the bottom of yer trunk. Matilda pressed out all the wrinkles and let out the hem a bit. ’Tis verra beautiful and will make ye look like a queen, I vow.” Elizabeth smiled and picked up a matching ribbon from within the roll of cloth. “And this is my ribbon. I thought it matched verra well and would be honored if ye tied it up in yer hair with…” Pausing, Elizabeth searched the satchel tied to the side of her belt and pulled out a fresh piece of mistletoe. “This. I have much of it all around the hall, ye ken.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and Mary was torn between laughing and crying. Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks, and she choked back a sob.

  Stepping forward, William looked at the mistletoe and shook his head. “If ye dinnae mind, I ken ’tis a wee bit shriveled, but mayhap ye would consider this sprig of mistletoe instead?” Reaching into his surcoat, William pulled out a necklace with a small leather bag attached to the end. When he opened it up, he pulled out the piece of mistletoe Mary had given him just two days ago at the joust. It seemed a lifetime had passed since that day. But knowing that William had been treasuring it and keeping it near his heart all this time made Mary burst out in a new round of tears.