Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “I’ve brought friends. Now hurry, put yer shoes on.” She was about to move away from him, but she didn’t get very far. He pulled her to him and his mouth covered hers hungrily. It was amazing that even though at any moment they could be discovered, even killed, his thoughts lingered where they shouldn’t be. He released her then with a low grumble. “I sorely missed ye, lass.” He would have told her more but Cormac had entered.

  “Sorry to disturb ye, milord, but we have heard stirring. They may have realized that we have entered the grounds.”

  “We will be but a moment.”

  Aislinn shoved her foot into her shoes barely lacing them tight. “Teige and Dermot, did you find them?”

  “Aye, lass. They were most anxious to be freed.” “Thank goodness. They wouldn’t let me see them.” “Hurry, Aislinn. We’ll discuss this later.”

  Ready, he ushered her out of the room and down the hall where Teige and Fiach were waiting. Dougray had them whisk Aislinn away, of course protesting every step she took saying she should be at his side in case he needed her.

  Aislinn knew there would be a fight and Dougray in the midst of it. She wasn’t at all pleased and was making every effort to let everyone know about it. “I’m going back.” She started to march past Teige, but he held her fast. “Nay, milady. Ye cannot. I have orders to hold ye at sword point if necessary.”

  “Dougray’s back there.” She pointed out the obvious. “We know and milord is very capable. He is not alone.”

  Father Fiach couldn’t help but smile. “Indeed, ye are the hellion. Tell me, young woman, what would ye do if ye were to march back in there?”

  She stood straight showing her full height of nearly six feet and looked directly at the priest with her unwavering dark eyes. “I’d fight beside him.” Fiach’s gaze went to Teige, who just shrugged. “She would, ye know. She can handle a weapon like the rest of us.”

  “So all that I have heard is true then.” Fiach rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he spoke again. “If it were up to me, I’d say give ye a sword and let’s finish this, but me cousin seems to fancy yer pretty little head. Ye will have to stand down.”

  “But….” She began only to have Fiach shake his head.

  Dougray had thought that the coast was clear when he nearly ran into Tremain who was rushing to secure the area. Both men stood eyeing each other, waiting. Tremain was the first to make the move locking them into battle, their broadswords clashing against each other in equal skill, both knowing that only one could win.

  Dougray had been young but he had been aware of Tremain wanting to marry his sister and the turmoil that took place when Miriam tried to run away with him. They nearly had a clan war over it. Luckily they were able to stop them before they had gone too far. Tremain had been humiliated for his rash act and had never forgiven Shane Fitzpatrick for taking his only love away. Shane may not be here, but obviously his son was good enough at the moment to take out his aggressions.

  “Butler would not have harmed the Lady Aislinn. She would have been far better to live here than with ye.”

  “Ye forget, Tremain, she is my wife.” “Binding for a year only.”

  Dougray brought down his sword nearly making Tremain lose his, but he quickly moved out of the way.

  “A sore spot I see.” Tremain smiled. “Tell me, are ye going to murder her like ye did to Ella? Is that yer sick side of ye?”

  “Ye know that I did not have anything to do with Ella’s death.”

  Tremain lunged only to have Dougray sidestep just in time not to have his arm severed. “I know nothing of the sort. I don’t trust the word of a Fitzpatrick. As far as I am concerned, ye are capable of anything.”

  “Ella was a good woman. I would have done anything to make her happy.” He let out a low chuckle. “Really now. Being thrown from a horse does not constitute as a good time.”

  Again Dougray came after him metal against metal pounding against each other. “Ye forget I married Ella of my own free will, regardless that the clans advised that I should, but what of ye, Tremain? Ye coming in the middle of the night, like a thief to take my sister hostage.”

  “That was not how it was. Miriam and I were in love. We were handfast, but the English do not accept that.”

  “She was promised to Sir Reynolds. Ye were stealing her away from her betrothed.”

  “Ye were just a lad of ten and two. Ye knew nothing of what the heart desired. Miriam didn’t want Sir Reynolds.” Again he attacked.

  “Well I am a man now and I realize ye knew nothing of honor.” Dougray’s words were like a blade slicing Tremain in two.

  “I’ll give ye honor.” Tremain lunged forward but Dougray was ready with a block that left Tremain weaponless. Dougray put the point of his sword against the man’s throat. Tremain just met his gaze head on.

  “I die at yer hands then, brother of Miriam. Ye will have yer revenge.” Tremain stood tall waiting for his life to be ended. Dougray shook his head. He didn’t pretend to understand this man’s reasoning, but Miriam at one time had seen a redeeming quality in him. He slowly backed away.

  “Nay, ye live this night. Remember it well.” He took off leaving Tremain standing there completely baffled to why he was still breathing. He walked over to where his sword lay and picked up the weapon.

  At that moment, two of his men burst into view. “Did ye see anyone?” Tremain for a moment was going to send them after Fitzpatrick, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. “Nay, they got away.”

  Aislinn was hugging Hamish not believing the miracle. He had quickly relayed the story of how he had survived, falling over a Butler and hitting his head leaving him out cold in the other man’s blood. Teige and Dermot were mussing his hair and teasing him that he had the luck of the little people about him.

  When Aislinn saw Dougray walking towards them, she forgot all else. She ran to him to greet him though he looked less than pleased. “Why are ye still here?” he growled at her, as he dragged her near. Over her shoulder, he sent his scowl toward Teige and Fiach.

  “Don’t go blaming them. I am the one who wouldn’t leave, not until I knew you were going with me.”

  He couldn’t help but grin. “Aislinn Fitzpatrick, ye never fail to amaze me.” He took hold of her arm. “But come, we must not further press our luck.”

  Chapter 58

  All the way back to Dunhaven, Cormac dwelled on his relationship with Fiona placing doubt to all their time they had spent together. Had she ever been honest with him? He had never before given his heart to anyone, but he had opened up to her and she had gladly taken. His hands tightened on his reins.

  “It is not yer fault, Cormac.” Teige had been watching his friend for some time now, as he struggled with his emotions.

  “How could I have been such a fool? Me of all people should have known better.” He chuckled without mirth. “Isn’t it befitting that I be duped at me own game? How many women have I left weeping without a care, so that I could move on to the next conquest?”

  “Ye were never cruel, Cormac.”

  “Nay?” His eyes darkened with anguish. “I am not so sure. It was all but a game to me, Teige. I only worried about my desires and not a thing more.” He swallowed hard. “I loved her, Teige.”

  “I know.”

  Arriving, Cormac dismounted and headed toward Fiona’s knowing that tonight he would not leave unscathed.

  She seemed to have been waiting for him and dragged him into her home anxious to hear the news. “Is it true? Was milady taken?”

  God, she was beautiful with her golden hair falling free around her heart- shaped face. How could someone who had the look of an angel be so deceitful? “Aye, and not a thing that we could do about it.”

  “Does she still live?”

  It was slight, but Cormac could hear the thread of hope in her voice that she hoped Aislinn was dead. He had to look away before he answered her, “Not for long, we fear.”

  “Not to lessen the gravity of the situation,
but maybe this all happened for a reason.”

  He whirled on her forcing himself to deny that he loved this uncaring wench. “And what reason may that be?”

  “She never did fit in. Ye have to admit she was odd in her ways. She should have never been given the chance to be the Lady of Dunhaven. I am not the only one who thought this.”

  “Nay?” He lifted his brows in question. “Who else thought this, Fiona?” His eyes had narrowed, hardened. She suddenly felt that she was treading on dangerous ground.

  She had to change tactics. She slowly sauntered over to him hoping to distract him from his questioning. Seductively she pressed her body against his, rubbing just the right places.

  It almost worked.

  “Ach!” Cormac pushed her away. “What do ye know, Fiona? I am involved here and I would like to be informed of what I was party to.”

  She thought for a moment to deny his accusation, but she knew it was too late for that. He knew that she had some doing in Aislinn’s kidnapping. She shook her head. “Poor, poor Cormac, ye did nothing wrong. Actually ye should be congratulated, and once I am in the castle, I will see to it that ye are rewarded handsomely.”

  So that had been her ploy all along. She wanted Dougray still and had only used him as a stepping-stone. “Are ye delusional, Fiona? Ye will never have a place in the castle.” He grabbed a hold of her shoulders and shook her. “What have ye done, Fiona? Whom are ye working with?”

  “Let go of me. Ye’re hurting me.”

  “I’ll do more than that if ye do not tell me.”

  “Ye can’t stop what has been started. It is above us all and they didn’t want the Hennessy woman to corrupt our young with her oddities. So I helped them get rid of her. I am not sorry.”

  “Ye fool. Did ye ever look past what ye saw as yer opportunity? This was not a plan to take Lady Aislinn from here. It was to get milord to attack the Butlers. They wanted war, in hopes that he would be rash and his life ended.” She shook her head not wanting to believe that. “Dougray would not bother. He doesn’t love her. He would never risk his own life for her.”

  “That is yer mistake then. Ye were so preoccupied with ye that ye did not see the truth. And here I was a fool too.” He released her then and Fiona sensed it was for the last time. She reached for him, but he walked past her and threw open the door.

  Her eyes widened in fear when she saw Teige and Dermot followed up by Dougray.

  “What is going on here?” Again her hand reached out beseechingly toward Cormac.

  “Do not expect me to help ye. Ye made yer choice long ago and it was not to be with me.” He turned his back on her and Teige and Dermot came forward to take her into custody.

  “I did nothing wrong,” she spat as she backed up a space. “I was trying to save ye, milord. I love ye. I’d do anything for ye. Don’t ye see?”

  “Ye don’t love me, Fiona. Ye couldn’t. Especially if ye thought by sending Aislinn to her death would please me. Be glad that she is safe or ye would hang this very night for yer treachery. Take her,” he ordered.

  They held her, but she tried to squirm free. “Wait! Wait I say.”

  Dougray held up his hand to hear her. “Ye want to confess who was behind this?”

  “Even if I had a name, I would not tell ye, but I will leave ye something else that might make ye wish ye left the woman ye call wife with the Butlers. Do ye not wonder why she is not with child?” She saw his jaw clench and a smile crawled to her lips curving itself like a snake. “I know firsthand how ardent a lover ye are, and without something to aid in the stopping of yer seed from taking hold, ye would already have had an heir with me. Mayhap ye need to ask yer wife about the herbs Neala can give for such things.”

  The anger that sparked from his eyes was enough to make her flinch. “Take her away now!”

  He stormed into the room like a raging wind slamming the door behind him, which was a great feat in itself since the doors were made of solid six- inch wood. Aislinn rose from her seat not at all sure why he was so angry.

  “What’s wrong, Dougray?”

  “Ye have to ask?” He searched around the room throwing things, desperate to find what he sought.

  “What are you looking for? Maybe I can help.” She took a step back when she saw his penetrated glare that bordered on hatred.

  He continued his search. Then it dawned on him where she may have hid it. He looked at the bed that was turned down for the night and then he glanced

  at her. Her eyes widened as she realized what he was so frantically looking for. How did he know? Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it to her lips. He went over to the bed and lifted the mattress. “Dougray, wait.” But it was too late. He lifted the vial from her hiding place and turned to face her. “Let me explain….”

  “Explain!” he bellowed. “Explain what is all too clear to me.” “I was afraid. I didn’t want to….”

  “Have my child,” he finished. “Do you loathe me so much that you would purposely kill what would be created between us?”

  “I had to think of the future. I don’t belong here. You know it. I have to go back to my time sooner or later.”

  “And I made a promise to ye, if there were a child, the babe would go with ye if that was yer choosing.”

  “You say it but I know differently. You would want your own flesh and blood beside you. You would never let a child go.”

  He lifted the vial with its bluish colored liquid. “So it is this ye would use. Ye would deceive me instead. Did ye think it would not come back to me that ye had seen the old woman like a common whore?”

  She flinched as if he had physically slapped her. She straightened her shoulders then and lifted her chin to him. “Tell me, my lord,” she said sarcastically, “are you more upset with the fact that I didn’t want to become pregnant or that your people might know it as well?”

  He lowered his hand, clenching the vial tightly in his fist. “Both. Ye fail to understand what is expected of me. I am the lord over Dunhaven and I must have the knowledge of all that is going on. If it were known that I could not even control my own wife, what do ye think would happen? Do ye think that I could gain their respect? I lose face with this deceit.”

  “That’s your problem. I don’t want to be controlled. I want to be your partner. I want to have my own opinions, and I want you to listen to me when I have something to say.”

  “I always listen, Aislinn.”

  “Really? Then why didn’t you hear me? I never told you that I didn’t wish to have children, just that it wasn’t wise to.”

  For a moment, he didn’t trust himself to speak. Why did their relationship have to be so complicated? Why did he have to fall in love with a woman that didn’t belong here? The whole marriage was a sham. He knew it from the start, but he had hoped against all hope that he could make her love him. Now he saw that all his attempts were for naught. She didn’t care for him in the least. All she wanted was to go home.

  Could he find fault with her for such a wish? To stay here, she would be giving up so much. He had seen the wonders of her time first hand. How could he have ever thought to compete with what she could accomplish in her century?

  She was looking at him with something fragile in her eyes, but he was too furious to see it. He turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?” She hadn’t expected him to walk away so easily.

  “Ye damn our souls by taking this.” He shook his fist in the air. “Milady, if ye wish not to have my child, then ye wish to not have me at all.” His hand was on the latch when her next words halted him.

  “When you found out about the vial, did you happen to also find out how long that I had had it in my possession?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Everything, Dougray. Everything.” She waved her hand at him in dismissal. “Oh, just forget it. Leave, run away from our first fight with it unresolved.”

  He raised his eyes to hers, thinking she had lost he
r mind. “Our first fight! Be Damned! We have done nothing but fight since I dragged ye to my world.” He pulled opened the door then and left, slamming it once more behind him. He leaned against the frame staring down at the container, haunted by her words. He didn’t care to know how long she had it in her possession. The fact remained that she had brought it to their chambers in the first place.

  He went to see the old woman. The slow-paced ride there had not erased the scowl that still penetrated his features. He glared at her and raised the damning vial for her to see.

  “Ye came to show me what I know already?”

  “You gave this to my wife!” It was not a question but an accusation. “Aye. She asked for it.”

  “She asked….” He threw up his arms. “She asked for it. Old crone, do ye know what ye have done?”

  “I gave her a choice. She’d never know if I hadn’t.”

  “Never know? Never know what? Stop speaking in riddles.”

  “She came to me, but once. And ye see for yerself that what I gave her is still untouched.”

  Dougray was silent then as he thought of Aislinn’s parting words. The old woman cackled. “See ye are thinkin’ now.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Of course ye don’t. Ye can’t understand her if ye are so busy tryin’ to dominate her very spirit. She is different and ye were aware of this. That is the very reason ye are drawn to her, but yet ye try to possess her. Continue on this track and ye will suffocate what she would give to ye freely. Learn to listen to what she has to say. Ye may find that she has something worthy fer ye to hear. Give yer heart to her, and ye might find that she will return the gesture.”

  Dougray would hear none of what Neala had told him for he couldn’t get past the betrayal. An uncontrollable fury raged through him every time he thought of it until he couldn’t function if he stayed one more moment in her presence.

  Aislinn was aware that he packed up his gear, knowing by what he took that he would be gone for some time. He wouldn’t listen to her and she refused to keep defending herself when her words continued to fall on deaf ears. She watched him ride away with a small garrison, Murrough at his side. Father Fiach also traveled with them, for it was time that he returned to his duties at St. Michan’s.