Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  Murrough had no choice but to believe this tale, since Dougray did nothing to rebuke the claim. Truly it was not hard to imagine that she came from another land for her dress proved that well enough. And the way she fought, well it was like she was of the ancient times where the women fought beside their men, trained for battle. “A violent world ye must come from that a lass is educated in the art of warfare.”

  “My father believed that everyone should be able to fend for themselves. Why leave a weak link, when it could easily be avoided?”

  “Maybe we should look into this, Murrough.” Dougray hit the man on the back, hoping to distract him by leading the conversation away from Aislinn. “Give Rhiannon a new way to speak her mind.”

  “Ach! Indeed! The woman need not to use her muscle, her tongue leaves me bruised well enough.”

  Dougray laughed. “She is at it again, I see.” “Aye. She fails to understand my duties.”

  “Well when we are home again, ye can set things right between ye.” “Aye,” he grumbled.

  “Where are ye camped?”

  “Not far from here. Do ye need help with the lady’s belongings?”

  “Nay, almost all of milady’s belongings were taken. We will manage.”

  Dougray’s men were grateful that he was safe and no harm had befallen him. Of course they wanted to hear where he had been, but he felt distracted wanting to be away so that he could smooth things over with Aislinn.

  When he had the chance, he sought her out, spotting her sitting alone and away from the others. She had been extremely subdued after her encounter with Murrough. He should be grateful for this fact, but instead he found himself ill at ease. It was like he had entered into the eye of a storm, where it appeared calm and quiet, but he knew that the wind and rain that would drown everything in its path was just waiting to emerge. This was not a comforting thought.

  She was writing furiously in her notebook, but when he had approached her, she snapped it shut and stood to face him.

  “I would have a word with ye.” He wasn’t going to take no for an answer and had already taken hold of her arm. Of course she struggled only making him hold on all the tighter. “I warn ye do not make a scene. It wouldn’t look well with Murrough watching us. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the man was indeed following their every move.

  “I’ll go without you dragging me.” She jerked her hand again and he released her.

  When they were a safe distance away, he spoke again. “Ye are still upset with me.”

  She crossed her arms defensively across her chest, but didn’t answer.

  “I apologized for making undue advances. What more can I say?” He shrugged.

  “Advances?” She let her arms drop. She was long over that episode. She was more interested in why Murrough referred to him as lord. “Who are you?”

  “Ye know well enough. Dougray Fitzpatrick.”

  “No, that is not what I mean. That man,” she pointed to where Murrough waited for them, “he calls you milord and the other men nearly bow down to you like you are someone of importance. So now tell me the truth. Who are you?”

  “Ah the title. I am just a man, Aislinn, nothing more, but if it will make you happy,” he bowed before her in a grand gesture, “I am Sir Dougray Fitzpatrick, Lord of Dunhaven.” He looked up then with a smile for she was staring at him with her mouth open.

  “You are a lord of a castle? The lord? Not some peon, but the actual lord?” “Aye,” he said slowly not sure where she was going with this.

  “And you didn’t see fit to tell me that?” she accused him. “Ye did not ask.”

  “Oh, forgive me.” She dragged out every syllable making it quite obvious that she was being sarcastic and not caring in the least.

  “Pray tell, would ye have treated me better if I were to have informed ye of my title sooner?”

  She didn’t even hesitate to answer. “Not in the least.”

  “I thought as much. Then Dar Dia!” He raised his hands to the sky. “Why are ye making such a fuss?”

  “I don’t like surprises.”

  “Well now ye know, and ye can start behaving like a lady should. It will be hard enough to present ye as it is without ye being difficult on top of it all. Murrough already suspects that things are not what they seem.”

  “You said that he was your friend. Would he cause trouble?”

  “Because he is my friend, we do not have to worry about him. Others will not be so gracious to overlook the masculine qualities that ye possess.”

  “Are you saying that I am less than a woman?” Her voice raised another octave sorely testing his patience.

  “Let me think…ah ye curse like the devil himself, ye fight like a she-wolf, and ye dress like ye are out to do battle. But….” His eyes glimmered dangerously before he grabbed her, pulling her in a crushing embrace. He punished her with his kisses, while she clawed at him to be free. He only released her when he had heard Murrough behind him clear his throat. Aislinn’s eyes glared, and without a care that one of Dougray’s men was standing there, she slapped him hard against the cheek. Then she stormed away back to the heart of the camp.

  Dougray touched his face feeling the definite sting. He turned to see Murrough lift one red bushy brow at him. “The lady does not seem willing, milord.” The mirth in his voice only made Dougray’s scowl deepen.

  “She does not know what she wants.”

  “Seemed quite apparent that she did.”

  “Did ye interrupt me for a reason or were ye just interested in giving me advice?”

  “Sorry. I just wanted to inform ye that all the men have returned and I have set up watch for the night.”

  Aislinn was fuming over the way Dougray had just treated her. Did he think he could just paw her at his whim because he was a lord of some castle? Well he had another thing coming. No one reigned over her and the sooner he realized it the better. She marched right over to where the men were seated causing the conversation to wither and die into silence.

  “Please don’t stop on my account. I only wish to warm myself by the fire and….” She noticed that they all had a tankard in their hands. She was a bit parched herself. “Would there be anymore of what you’re all drinking?”

  Dermot rose to do the honors.

  The men were aware that she was the Lady Aislinn Hennessy who was in their care, but they were rather awestruck by her boldness.

  “Here ye go, milady.” Dermot was walking toward her with a full tankard. Unfortunately he wasn’t paying attention and tripped over Cormac’s sword.

  It sent him stumbling into Aislinn throwing her to the ground and him on top of her.

  By this time, Dougray had stepped into the clearing to witness Aislinn pinned below Dermot in an unseemly manner. Aislinn was about to take care of the situation, but Dougray had charged forward kicking the unexpected man away from her. Aislinn barely moved out of the way, before Dougray had his sword drawn and the tip of the blade pressed against Dermot’s throat. Blood slowly trickled from the man’s flesh and his eyes bulged wide with fright.

  “Ye will die for this insult,” he shouted making all around back up a step. “Don’t you dare!” Aislinn screamed, pushing his arm away and stepping in front of the man and in harm’s way. “What is the matter with you?” “What’s the matter with me?” His nostrils flared with fury. “Ye leave my sight for a minute, and I find one of my men on top of ye like a rutting dog. And ye ask me what is the matter? I give up. Ye are impossible.”

  “If ye will let me explain.” Dermot crawled to his feet. “I was….”

  “No words from ye.” Dougray pointed his sword. “Be gone from my sight before I kill ye, just to appease my anger.” Dermot did not have to be told twice.

  “That was uncalled for.” Aislinn placed her hands on her hips. “What you saw was only an accident. He was offering me a drink and tripped knocking me off balance.”

  “He was not molesting ye?”

  “No,” she retorted
. Then as she purposely brushed by him, she added her insult for his ears only, “I guess molesting is only for the lord of the keep.” Murrough had walked over to Dougray sensing that his foul mood had increased. “I presume that the lady was not harmed?”

  “Aye, she is fine. Her tongue and claws are sharpened to slash ye to death.”

  Murrough chuckled. “How do we find women of such nature?”

  Dougray threw his friend a startled look not sharing in his mirth. “Ye may have a woman like that, but I have no wish to be lacerated day in and day out. The sooner I can send that she-wolf back home, all the better.” He moved past Murrough without another word.

  Chapter 17

  The drawbridge was already lowered when the Lord of Dunhaven arrived with Aislinn in tow. The men, woman and children of the keep were there to greet him with cheers and banners waving. Obviously he was well liked for there was no denying the adoration evident in the eyes of the people.

  Aislinn found that Dunhaven was strategically set with acres of splendid oak and ash trees that surrounded it. The spacious settlement was protected within the walls. The fort consisted of a large courtyard with a towered gatehouse in the center of the east wall. There was a rectangular tower situated to the west and a southwest tower close by. Some distance from the walls there was a moat filled with water from the nearby lake. There were outer buildings, one Aislinn was sure was the chapel for she spotted a steeple. The other was probably the kitchen. She remembered her father telling her that a lot of the castle homes had their kitchens purposely built outside, merely for safety reasons. This insured that if there was an unavoidable cooking fire only the kitchen would be lost, and not the main housing area. She shielded her eyes as she studied the main structure where she would be staying, letting her eyes wander to the very top of it. It had to be at least five stories high, if not more. She noticed that most of the lower windows were mere slits. Another safety measure, she recalled. If they happened to find themselves under attack, a stray arrow would have a hard time penetrating to the interior.

  Dougray easily dismounted then offered his hand to Aislinn. She was about to accept the gesture for appearance’s sake when a rather beautiful woman interrupted him. Her hair was swept up above her head with lustrous gold waves of tresses cascading around her heart-shaped face. She curtsied so low that her rather large breasts were in danger of spilling over the top of her stylish gown.

  Aislinn’s left brow lifted wondering if this was the Ella, of Dougray’s dreams. If not, she sure was distracting him from his purpose. Aislinn dismounted with the ease of a veteran rider. She stood beside Dougray and smiled at the woman that seemed overly friendly toward her lord. “Dia Dhuit.” Aislinn drew the attention of the woman in question. “I am A.J. Hennessy and you would be?”

  “Ye are a lady in men’s attire?” Fiona’s eyes had widened in disbelief.

  Aislinn put her hands on her hips. “Now why is this so hard to believe?” Dougray could clearly see a potential problem developing and decided to intervene. He took hold of Aislinn’s arm looping it through his. “May I present, Lady Aislinn Hennessy.” He corrected her first introduction with her formal name. She glanced his way smiling and actually batted her eyes. He was not amused with her mock performance. It was best that he took her inside and quickly. “Good day to ye,” he bid Fiona.

  “Yes, good day,” Aislinn repeated in a syrupy voice. She knew immediately that Miss big chest and she would never become close friends. One, she didn’t like the way the woman eyed Dougray like she owned him, and second…well second was something she didn’t wish to think about at this moment.

  With a firm hold on her arm, Dougray led her into the castle. They hadn’t gone far when Cahir Dunphy, which Aislinn learned was the physician of the castle, halted them. “Milord, we were all so worried.” The bald-headed man couldn’t stop his surprised look as his eyes rested on Aislinn and the strange attire she donned. He cleared his throat and tried to concentrate on what he had been about to say. “I am glad to see that ye are looking fine, but if ye would like I could….”

  “I am quite fit, Cahir,” he interrupted, “so don’t get any ideas of taking out yer instruments.”

  “Of course, but if….”

  “I will call for ye if I need yer assistance.” Again he ushered Aislinn forward.

  She watched another man approach the physician who was wearing a long flowing robe of a lustrous deep color that looked like red wine. His beady eyes seemed to follow her and she leaned near Dougray. “Who is that?”

  “The Abbot Kirwan.”

  “Oh. He doesn’t look like he cares for me.”

  “That is just the way he looks. Do not let it bother ye.” He led her up a flight of winding steps that seemed to go on forever. They finally reached the top of the fifth floor and to what she assumed would be her quarters. He opened it and bade her entry. It was actually a two-room compartment, a sitting room and the bedroom adjoining it. She was surprised to see how spacious the room actually was.

  She was immediately drawn to the window that was quite a bit larger than anything she had noticed down below. She couldn’t help but be pleased that she wouldn’t be cooped up in a room with nothing to look at but the four walls. Directly beneath its window frame there was a seat with fluffy maroon cushions. The light would be absolutely perfect for reading or writing.

  She knelt down on the bench and leaned out the opened window to take in the gorgeous view. Out in the distance she could see the enormous oak trees that seemed to blend into one another, and there were gentle rolling hills that surrounded most of the area. Farther to the right, she caught a glimpse of the sparkling lake. It was strange but Dunhaven seemed to provoke a sense of romance, a feeling of timeless beauty that caused her to give a moment of reverence.

  “Impressive.” She sighed and finally turned to look at him. “So how did you come to be a lord of a castle, by birth or by force? Hmm?” She was only teasing, but he seemed determined to set her straight.

  “I was fostered in England, in hopes that I would keep loyalty to the crown. Dunhaven has been in my family for generations, but with the death of my father there was no one to tend to the lands. I fought for it and was finally given what was rightfully mine.” “And?”

  “I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I pleased King Henry by saving his trusted friend from what would have been a sure death. It was merely one of his whims, but he knighted me for my bravery. How could I resist?”

  “I sense there is more to that statement,” she pushed for him to open up. “Aye. English raised since I was twelve but my genuine love has always been for Dunhaven. The Fitzpatricks are true people of Ireland, and we can trace back our roots as far as one can decipher. I have sworn my fidelity to King Henry because it was expected of me.” He shook his head sadly. “Ye’ve come to a troubled time, Aislinn, where the clans are torn on whom they should trust. We fight among ourselves when we should unite to keep Ireland ours.”

  It was rather a noble speech that he gave her. Unfortunately Aislinn was unable to comment on it, for a young woman had entered the room. She was round faced with high set brows and large, almond-shaped eyes, fringed with dark lashes to match her long, dark hair that was plated behind her. She curtsied nervously before Dougray. “Ye sent for me, milord?”

  “Aye, that I did, young Moira. I ask that ye be handmaid to Lady Aislinn.” The girl smiled before she could help herself.

  “Oh, milord, ye will not be disappointed to be sure.”

  “See that I’m not.” He turned to Aislinn then. “Moira will see to yer needs.” He was about leave, but Aislinn halted his departure.

  “Where are you going?” She had reverted back to speaking English. “You’re going to just leave me?”

  “Milady, I have many duties to attend to. Surely ye did not think that I would be at yer side every waking moment?” He took some satisfaction that he was able to shock her into silence. He quickly left the room before she rec
overed.

  Moira couldn’t help eyeing the tall woman that was dressed in men’s attire. She had already heard the stories about her before she had been summoned. Never had she seen a lady dressed so. There was no finery in the threads that she bore, there was no elegance in her stance, and her hair was cropped in an unusual manner.

  Aislinn finally took notice of the girl. “So what am I to do with you?” “Whatever ye wish, milady.” She curtsied grateful that she spoke the language. There were many that were starting to learn the English but she still hadn’t grasped it.

  “Hmm.” She walked over to her door shutting it before she leaned against it. “Let’s get one thing straight here. When this door is closed, you will remember that you and I are the same. I will not have you calling me milady every time that we have a conversation. “My friends back home call me A.J., and I would hope that you will do the same.”

  “We are to be friends?” Moira was confused. She never heard of a lady’s maid being friends with the lady herself. She was always taught to only speak when spoken to.

  “Yes, friends. I will need one. How old are you?”

  “I am almost ten and six, milady…I mean A.J.” It was kind of an odd name, but she tried it, so that she could please the lady that she would be assisting.

  “Almost sixteen?” She was young, but she assumed it was not young by standards in this century. “Now, Moira, you are going to be great help to me.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes. You see I am not from your country. I am not sure of your ways. I

  am hoping that you could coach me.” “Coach ye? I do not understand.”

  “Help me to be what is expected of a lady here. I may or may not follow everything, but I will give it the old college try.” She saw the confused look on Moira’s face and knew that she had better slow down. “How about starting with the proper attire?”