Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series)

by Dobsyn, Aury

  Refusing to be browbeaten, she retorted, “You arrogant, dimwitted man! His greatest asset is not strength or skill, but rather, deception. That is why I fear for you.”

  “Sheath yer claws, little one,” he said, stifling his mirth. “I am well acquainted with his type of deception. Have faith in yer husband.”

  She conceded with a nod.

  His lips covered hers before he acknowledged, “I have nae earned yer faith yet, but I will.”

  “I do have faith in you,” Ella professed. “The life you give me is so precious, that I fear it will be stolen, that . . .” She shook her head then cried, “If something ever were to happen to you …” Her words trailed off as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

  Humbled by the impact of her declaration, Gavin realized the depth of her love for him. He stood silent as the enormity of her confession became clear. Aye, she loves me, and I vow she will ken the sheer magnitude of my love for her, every moment of everyday, in this life and the next.

  24

  A fortnight later and after speaking with Father Logan, she decided to embrace the love in her heart for all those around her. No longer would she allow the past to thwart her future. She could not control the tide of the sea or the direction of the wind any more than she could control the events of the days to come.

  With each new day her love for Gavin grew stronger, as did the need to confess her sin and reveal her identity. When night fell and their bodies were sated, she attempted to divulge her heinous secret, but words continued to fail her. Moreover, despite his numerous duties throughout the day, Gavin always found time to spend with her, giving Ella many opportunities to confess her sin.

  Aware of the risk, she decided to reveal herself to the one person whose honesty surpassed all. Paen

  “And where do ye think ye be heading off to, hellion?”

  “Taking Apollo for a long ride as you well know. I suppose Gavin sent you to be my escort?”

  “Aye, ye ken yer husband well,” Paen chuckled. “Tell me, would ye have gone without an escort?”

  “Nae, I acknowledge that such a ruse is disastrous.”

  “Yer husband would nae only skin ye alive, but the blackguard as well if we were to allow ye out of the castle unprotected.” He cocked his head slightly as he added, “He love ye, ye ken.”

  A rosy blush filled Ella’s cheeks as she searched for words, and then finally she whispered, “I pray you are right.”

  “Give me a moment to saddle Righ,” he quickly replied, sensing the import of this ride.

  Clouds scattered in the sapphire sky, shifting morning light on the long grass of the meadow as the pair rode through a short time later. Both competitive by nature, they raced to the pine trees that lined the edge of the forest before slowing their mounts to a halt. Arth, faithful as ever, came bounding along moments later.

  “Do you know that Gavin only permits his blackguard to ride with me when outside the walls of Doran Castle?”

  “Aye,” Paen replied with a knowing smile.

  “With the exception of you and my husband, who acts as single escort, I must ride with at least two and sometime three of the guard.”

  “Aye,” he said with a shrug.

  “Why?”

  Her vexation made him chuckle as he stated, “Yer safety is paramount to Gavin, his guard, and our people, lass. He dinna allow the other men in the guard to act as lone escort for one reason.”

  “And what pray tell would that reason be?”

  “His words, nae mine, were that we are the only men capable of out-riding his headstrong wife.”

  “Headstrong?”

  “Aye, headstrong, pigheaded, nae a docile bone in her wee body. I ken these traits well-”

  “Since you possess them too,” she finished for him. “Aye, I agree.”

  “Brat,” he said with a playful grin.

  “Jack-a-nape.” With a humorous glint in her eyes, she added, “You and Righ are getting faster. You almost won that time.”

  Since Paen had made a similar comment to her the last time they raced, he took it with his usual mix of grace and sarcasm.

  “Ye are too kind. I really must learn yer trick of cutting another rider off when leaving the castle gates.”

  With mock offense she asked, “Do you honestly believe that I, your brother’s wife, would do such a horrid thing just to win a horse race?”

  “Aye, ye would and did, but dinna change. I like the fact ye dinna back down to a man in competition or in life. More women should be like ye.”

  “I believe that is the greatest compliment I have ever received.”

  “Remember it well, for I dinna give them often.”

  Ella always enjoyed their playful banter, and today was no different. Paen reminded her so much of her brothers, encouraging her wild streak and boyish ways.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For treating me like an annoying sister.”

  He burst out laughing and said, “Aye, that ye are, lass. Now let us be gone, we are too close to the Fraser’s land for my liking.”

  The rift between the Macleods and the Frasers began when Laird Fraser refused to forgive the Macleods for raiding their land and causing the death of his wife a decade ago. The woman had been in the village at the time of the raid. When she attempted to flee, amidst the chaos, a loose arrow caught her unaware.

  As they rode through the lush foliage of the woods, Ella’s thoughts turned to her need to reveal her identity to Paen. For some reason, she trusted him with this confession and believed he would understand that her mother’s death was an accident.

  She halted Apollo, and then turned to Paen and said, “There is something I would like to confide in you.”

  Her austere expression unsettled Paen, but not as much as the stark fear in her eyes. To strengthen her resolve, he said, “’Tis my sincere wish that ye do, lass. I would-”

  Arth unexpectedly bolted forward, startling both Paen and Ella.

  “His senses are better than ours. We must take caution,” he warned.

  “Soldiers?”

  “Nae, more than likely ‘tis another animal.”

  Suddenly, a female scream ripped through the air. Without thought, both riders put their heels to their mounts and raced in the direction of the terrifying sound.

  “Go back to the castle,” Paen ordered.

  “Nae.”

  Paen cursed her stubborn nature.

  When they crossed over onto Fraser land, a frightened horse flew passed them. They continued to charge ahead, and moments later, they came upon a vicious, snarling boar snapping at Arth. Just beyond the two animals circling each other, they saw a young girl trembling with fear as she clung to the higher limbs of a tree. Tears streaked down her petite face, and her dark hair fell in wild disarray off her shoulders.

  Roughly grabbing a hold of Ella’s arm, Paen hissed, “I told ye to get back to the castle!”

  She yanked her arm back and replied, “Nae, I won’t leave her.”

  “Nor would I.”

  “Then let me help.”

  “Curse all stubborn wenches!” He briefly looked at the figure in the tree, and then returned his hostile gaze back to Ella. “Fine, but ye will do as I say.”

  “Ok.”

  He took out his long bow and said, “A single arrow will nae kill the boar, but it will distract him long enough for Arth to kill him or send him charging for me. If the latter occurs, loop around the tree and get the girl.”

  “Ok.”

  Apollo, trained to attack when needed, is the only reason why Paen conceded to Ella’s mulish demand.

  “Only when I give the command will ye get near the tree. Do ye understand?”

  “Aye.”

  “Go that way, slowly,” he said as he pointed the direction. “Do nothing to startle the animals. I will divert the boar’s attention.”

  When Ella moved Apollo away, Paen took aim, and then shot an
arrow into the side of the boar.

  Twisting and snorting in pain, the boar suddenly lunged toward the wolf dog. Arth deftly averted the attack and waited for the right moment to strike. Ella rounded the other side of the tree when Paen let loose another arrow, burying it in the boar’s neck. The beast let out a high-pitched screech and then charged Paen.

  “Now, Ella,” he screamed and took off, leading the boar away.

  Swinging Apollo around the tree, she yelled, “Give me your arm.” The girl wasted no time and jumped on Apollo behind Ella. They then tore through the woods.

  Relief surged through Ella when she saw that both Paen and Arth were safe and a good distance from the boar. When the beast finally gave up chase, she led Apollo over to them.

  Astonishment briefly crossed Paen’s features when he saw the girl they saved, but he quickly masked it with a show of indifference.

  “Follow me. Our horses need water and rest.”

  Ella made no comment as she followed him to the nearest burn.

  25

  After dismounting, Paen assisted Ella and said, “Ye are in for a rare treat, sister, for ye are about to meet the most spiteful lass in all the Highlands.”

  Standing beside Apollo and Paen, Ella turned and looked up at the girl. She had dark sable hair, pale blue eyes rimmed a darker shade, and pink pouty lips. Ella thought the girl looked only a few years younger than her own ten and eight summers. She then saw the girl’s eyelashes drop and stains of scarlet coloring her cheeks.

  “Kyla Fraser,” Paen began, “hellion of the Highlands and daughter to Laird Cormac Fraser. Petite she may be, but her tongue is as sharp as my blade.”

  And her beauty, he thought, just as deadly.

  When Kyla lifted hurt filled eyes, Ella pushed Paen out of the way to assist the girl from Apollo’s back. When he opened his mouth to further insult the girl, Ella snapped, “Not another word unless you intend to apologize to this frightened girl. I do not care that she is a Fraser. I care even less about the feud between the Macleods and her clan. Can you not see how terrified she is?”

  Remorse hit him like a battling ram when he noticed blood soaking through Kyla’s skirt. Moving Ella out of the way, Paen curved one arm around Kyla’s tiny waist, and then hauled her off the horse and cradled her slight weight in his arms. He carried her to a fallen tree by the burn, and then gently sat her down on the trunk.

  Turning to Ella, he snarled, “She’s hurt. Do something, now!”

  Startled by his abrupt change in tone and manner, she did his bidding without objection.

  “I am Lady Ella, Gavin Macleod’s wife,” she said, kneeling by the girl’s feet. “Will you allow me to look at your wound?”

  Pacing behind her, Paen said, “She is a healer, lass. She will nae harm ye.”

  Refusing to look or even acknowledge Paen, Kyla said, “Aye, thank ye, milady.”

  After lifting up Kyla’s skirts, Ella tore the hem of her own tunic and said to Paen, “There is clean linen in my saddlebag.” She quickly soaked the fabric in the burn, then bathed the blood and gash on the girl’s lower leg.

  “Please, call me Ella.”

  Kyla sat thunderstruck by the bold, yet compassionate Englishwoman, whose golden beauty stood out like the North Star in a darken sky. “Then ye must call me, Kyla.”

  Ella smiled and said, “How did this happen?”

  “I was riding nearby when the boar darted out from behind a bush. I tried to kick it away so his tusks dinna impale my horse.”

  When Kyla heard Paen snort at the absurdity of her action, she closed her eyes and let her shoulders hunch forward.

  “That was very brave, and is exactly what I would have done in the same situation,” Ella stated.

  Kyla’s eyes flew open in surprise and gratitude. “Thank ye,” she whispered.

  “Nae, to save her precious Apollo, Ella would have lunged at the beast afore it left the ground.”

  Both women looked up and saw the teasing glint in Paen’ eyes as he shook his head.

  Chuckling, Ella said, “Aye, and you would have done the same for Righ had it come to that.”

  “Bloody right I would.”

  Ella noted that Kyla gloried in the shared moment, and that her back straightened with pride.

  “This will need to be cleaned three times a day, and then rewrapped in clean bandages. In a sennight you can cease bandaging it…” With quick, experienced fingers, she finished tending to Kyla’s wound.

  “Ye work fast, my . . . ah . . . Ella.”

  “I have had much practice. Now, I would know why you were without escort?”

  Before Kyla could answer, Paen said, “Och, who does that remind ye of my wee sister?”

  Glowering at Paen, she moved to sit beside Kyla and took the younger girl’s hands in her own. “Ignore him, sweetling. That is what I do when his words mean naught. Now, tell me truth?”

  Giggling at the pair, Kyla said, “Ye treat each other like brother and sister.”

  “Aye, she is just as annoying as the other one I have.”

  Paen ignored Ella’s scathing look and asked, “Why were you alone, Kyla? The truth.”

  “I always speak the truth,” Kyla retorted as she jumped to her feet.

  “Nae, the last time we met,” Paen shot back.

  “Ye are far from sainthood, Paen Macleod.”

  He would have snapped back, had it not been for Ella’s bellow.

  “Enough! Kyla, please sit down. Paen, cease trying to instigate a fight.”

  When Kyla sat back down and Paen resumed pacing, Ella calmly said, “Please explain why you were alone.”

  “My father and I had a disagreement while we were hunting. I was verra angry, and rode off when he dismounted.”

  “Why did you argue?”

  “He says he will wed me to an Englishmen.”

  A sudden chill went down Ella’s back. “Who?”

  “I dinna ken. My father made an agreement with the King Henry.”

  In an irate voice, Paen asked, “What kind of agreement?’

  With hurt showing in her eyes, Kyla answered, “My father will give me away so he can wed Lady Jane of Pennsbury. She is the Englishwoman he lusted after while at court this year.”

  Realizing the insulting way she said ‘Englishwoman,’ and that Ella is English, Kyla retracted, “I dinna mean that the way it sounded. We have all heard of yer heroic deeds. The way ye saved Gabriel Mackenzie from the lash, escaped with him from Greystone, and how ye fought the bloody English with naught but bow and arrows.”

  Distraught, Ella asked, “How is it you know all this?”

  “Word travels fast in the Highlands. My father says that even though he hates the Macleods, their laird did right by marrying ye.”

  Ella blushed while Paen said, “I thought yer father would nae marry ye till ye were ten and six.”

  “I’m to be ten and seven in a month.”

  Ella gave Kyla’s hand a little squeeze and said, “Will your father have any say in the marriage?”

  “He said as much,” Kyla said with a shrug.

  “Is your father a good man? Will he take into consideration your wishes on a husband?”

  “Aye, he will hear my-”

  Paen interrupted by saying, “Aye, she has great skill in blistering a man’s ears.”

  When both women glared at him, he laughed and said, “God must have a wicked sense of humor if he sought to bring ye two together to torment me.”

  “Aye, you are truly blessed, dear brother,” Ella acknowledged with a lift of her dainty chin, then turned her gaze back on Kyla.

  “I think it best we take you back.”

  Paen asked, “How do ye purpose to do that, when the verra sight of me will incite the Frasers to attack.”

  “Easy,” Ella stated. “We leave you here, and I will return-”

  “Nae, honey,” he interrupted. “Ye will nae leave my side.”

  “What if Lady Ella rode in front of ye,” Kyla sugges
ted. “They would see only two females. I will explain to my kin before they close the distance and recognize ye.”

  Paen’s eyebrows shot up by her clever suggestion. He then asked, “Ye want me to trust ye?”

  “I have ne’er given ye a reason not to,” she said vehemently. “Ye and Ella saved my life. I would nae discredit that act by letting harm come to either of ye. Ye have my word.”

  “We shall see. Let us be off then.”

  Ella, Paen, and Kyla had just crossed the border onto Fraser land and came to a halt when they saw approaching riders.

  True to her word, when Laird Cormac Fraser and twenty of his men came storming through the woods a quarter of an hour later, Kyla blurted out, “Father, they saved my life. Nae harm shall come to them, this I swore.”

  Bemused by his daughter’s words, Laird Fraser halted his mount, and then locked his gazed with his enemy. He growled, “Paen Macleod, ye have nae business on my land and-”

  Kyla moved Apollo in front of her father, blocking his view of her two saviors, then spoke softly. “Father, did ye nae hear me? I would nae be alive if they had not rescued me. A boar attacked, and my horse threw me. I tried to climb up a tree, but wouldnae have made it that far if it had not been for their dog.”

  Laird Fraser looked at the beast that stood staring at them from the edge of the woods. He pointed at the animal and spat, “That dog?”

  Kyla turned and saw Arth. With a slight smile, she said, “Aye, he verra friendly and-”

  “Verra friendly,” her father roared. “’Tis a wolf, nae a dog.”

  “He is only half wolf,” Ella corrected.

  Paen closed his eyes and shook his head at the daft words of the lass in front of him.

  “And who the hell are ye?”

  “Lady Ella, wife to Laird Macleod.”

  Laird Fraser’s eyes widened in surprise.

  In a casual manner, Ella continued, “The alternative to us returning your daughter to safety was her walking unescorted and unarmed back to yer castle.”

  Laird Fraser huffed, and then opened his mouth to reply when Ella added, “I warn you now, keep a civil tongue in your head if you do not want me to cut it out.”