Full Mackintosh

by Deb Kemper

  Amalie lowered herself back into her chair. Mallow leant over to place her head on Amalie’s shoulder.

  “Mam, let’s go to bed.” Mallow’s voice carried the telling whine it did, when she was exhausted.

  “When your father returns to us, lass.” She continued to watch the transformation of Lady MacGregor’s countenance. She wasn’t smiling anymore. Her eyes narrowed, her mouth pursed, her hands balled into fists, at her side.

  Garth’s right hand made a sweeping motion away from his body, in dismissal. He spun away and took purposeful strides toward Collin, waiting and watching, at the edge of the crowd. They spoke for a moment and he turned his attention to his family. He scanned the area, until he spotted Amalie and Mallow, then took the dais steps two at a time.

  Lady MacGregor hustled out the front door of the great hall, her bustle swishing behind her.

  Garth reached them and knelt in front of Amalie, taking her hand. “My heart, let’s go home. We need to talk and Mallow needs to get to bed.” He brushed a hand over Mallow’s head, still parked on Amalie’s shoulder. She stirred.

  “All is not well?” Amalie leveraged her frame from the wood chair.

  “Unh, mayhap…or no’. We’ll see.” He tucked her arm into his and started to the side door. He stopped, looked back, and made a loop. “Let’s go through the kitchen to the castle. It’s a bit too cool outside.”

  The trio trekked through the joined kitchens and into the lower gallery.

  Mallow left them mumbling ‘good nigh’ and climbed the stairs.

  Garth turned Amalie to the study. He leaned into the closed door relishing a moment of quiet. “Tis a blessed end to a brutal, long day.”

  “What’s wrong?” Amalie parked in her usual chair

  Garth sat in his chair, studied her a moment then left his seat to kneel in front of her, his thick arms secured on each side of her thighs. “I must share somethin’ with ye I’d rather not.” He glanced down at her belly and up again. “Amalie, I don’t wanna cause ye pain, most especially now.”

  She held his face in her hands and smiled. “Just say what you must, sir.”

  “I told ye when Ewan was born I’d not been with another woman since the day ye came to me.”

  She paled.

  He shook his head. “That was true, my heart. I’ve not had another woman since the first night ye spent in my care….However, there was a woman in Inverness.” He raked his hand over his mouth. “Amalie, the last I…was in her company was the day Quentin purchased yer freedom. I left her, despisin’ myself fer bein’ so weak as to need…and went through the market, where I happened upon ye. I abandoned the auction but was about to return when Quentin caught up to me. I gave him my sporran. He went back fer ye and I went on to the assembly. I came home straightaway, after the meetin’, not more than an hour behind the two o’ ye.

  “After dinner tha’ night, ye went up to yer room. I penned a letter to…her to terminate our…arrangement.”

  Amalie squirmed, tears trickling over her pale cheeks, and croaked. “Please, I don’t wanna hear any more.”

  “I’m sorry, my heart, ye must.” Garth kissed the top of her belly. “On another occasion, when I had to be in Inverness, I went to the auctioneer to get all the paper he possessed on ye. Tavish listed ye as Jew in the ledger. That was what kept ye from bein’ sold to the whorehouse. He decided he could get a few quid more fer ye as a teacher anyway.

  “I paid fer the information, threatened his life should he tell anyone, and left fer the assembly. I ran into the woman on my way. We spoke. She acknowledged receivin’ my letter and so on. I went to my meetin’, spent the night at an inn on the outskirts of town and returned to council the followin’ day, then came home.”

  Amalie inhaled and gushed. “Why’re you tellin’ me this?”

  “Twas what Lady MacGregor voiced to me in the great hall tonight. She came to offer us the opportunity to step down from leadership of The Chattan, endorse John as successor, and support them both. She tried to use the threat of that woman and—she discovered ye’re Jewish and I purchased ye as a slave. I couldn’t have her sayin’ those things to ye about us, Amalie. I must tell ye myself.” He waited for her reaction. His strong fingers gently kneaded her hips.

  Amalie sat quietly. “Though I despise hearin’ about your love affair, ye haven’t lied to me, husband. I never thought a man of your fine bearin’ and position might remain celibate. How does the rest matter to us? Will your chiefs remove you from leadin’ them because you married a woman you purchased as a slave? I was a freewoman four days prior. Where is there fault that you redeemed me from the auctioneer?”

  Garth smiled sadly. “Before God, none, my heart. Attesting innocence before man, may prove a more difficult task. There was no love involved in the…arrangement I had with tha’ woman, Amalie.”

  She swiped her face with a hankie from her sleeve and tucked it away. “My understanding of such things runs from little to none, Garth. What do we do?”

  “I’ll call a council meeting, explain the problem, and see what the other chiefs have to say. They may ask me to resign.” He shrugged. “I told ye before, that if I have to walk away from all I am to keep ye, I will.”

  Amalie laid her hand on his cheek and whispered. “I’m so sorry, my love.” Her lower lip quivered.

  He smiled sadly. “I’m not, my heart. If we leave, we go well-provided fer, by my ventures. We shan’t be destitute. Yer family’ll be here in a few days. It’ll come out that ye’re Jewish. The accusation of being a slave, is the ax hangin’ over our heads.” He wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips. “Yer family comin’ makes it easy to prove that ye’re a rabbi’s daughter. Add Collin’s testimony, if needed, and we shou’ be fine.”

  “I see.” Amalie sniffed and produced her hankie again.

  Garth stood and reached to lift her to her feet. She leaned into his strength. His large hands massaged her back. “Let’s go to bed. We’ll talk more on the morrow.” He turned her toward the door and placed his hand on the knob. He pulled her back and stepped in front of her to go through first, grasping her arm, and leading her out.

  “Garth, what’re you afraid of, that you guard comin’ and going through doors?”

  “Just a bad feelin’, Amalie. I don’t trust that witch as fer as I can throw her.” He scanned the hall and made for the stairs. “I sent Collin to follow her to be sure she left. Hopefully what I told her about John’ll keep her busy tonight.”

  Garth opened the door to their chamber and lit the lamp beside it before ushering Amalie inside. He checked the dressing room and returned to her. “Glenn’s built a fine fire. Come,” he extended his hand to her. “I’ll help ye disrobe.”

  She hesitated.

  “Wha? Shall I fetch Gerty to ye?”

  She shook her head. “Nay, husband.” She slowly followed him to the dressing room, a sense of dread lingering in her stomach.

  She unbuttoned her sleeveless wool kirtle and slipped out of it. Garth hung it on a hook behind him and unfastened the back of her velvet dress. He held her arm as she stepped out of it and he hung that beside her kirtle.

  He caught his breath as she removed her plain cotton shift over her head. He hung up the shift and pulled her gown off its hook. When he turned, she waited shyly, with a bit of impatience. Her long russet hair lightly covered her bosom, brushing the top of her expanded belly.

  “Ye’re cold, lamb.”

  He held her gown, gathered to slip over her head. She pulled it on, closed her eyes, and savored his nearness, as he dropped the hem of the gown.

  He growled—a low quiet noise. “Ah, Amalie!” His hands slid up to cup her heavy breasts, through the thick layers of gauze.

  She opened her eyes and unpinned the brooch holding his plaid on his shoulder.

  He tore off his belt that held the kilt on, and dropped them in the floor.

  Amalie’s long fingers already had his leine unbuttoned. She pushed it back and ran her
warm hands through the thick hair on his chest. She stretched into his kiss and grasped him with both hands.

  He gasped, opened his eyes, and caught his breath before he bent to her lips again.

  When he released her mouth to nibble her neck she whispered, “To the chaise.”

  He backed a few feet and sat on the chaise lounge he’d purchased a few months earlier to add to their lovemaking venues. He lay back against the velvet cushions, with a groan.

  She deftly entertained her husband and thoroughly satisfied him. He pulled her down to his shoulder to lie against him.

  “I’m sorry, Amalie. I lose control. Ye ken how I feel about ye when we’re alone. Undressin’ ye is almost more than I can bear. I promise, next time I’ll fetch Gerty to ye.” He sighed.

  “I think not, sir.” She snuggled into his neck. “Giving you pleasure pleases me. In a few sennights I’ll be able to participate more fully. In the meantime….” She reached for him again.

  He gasped and turned on his side to shroud her mouth with his.

  You shan’t go to our bed with thoughts of another woman…even bad ones…as long as it’s in my power.

  Chapter 36

  “Gordon, get this missive to The Macgillivray.” Garth handed him a letter sealed with his crest. “Take Perry with ye and wait fer instructions from Laird Daniel. He may give ye letters to deliver on yer way home. Be prepared to stay over a night or two, if ye must. Ye’re completely at his command. Ye ken?”

  The tall red-haired man nodded. “Aye, sir. Will ye be tellin’ Lady Mackintosh I’m away? In case she needs to be escorted.”

  “Aye, I’ll tend her myself, until ye’re home. We’re drawn into a dangerous game, Gordon. Be on yer guard. Any communication from The MacGregor is void. Ye needn’t share that tidbit wi’ anyone. Ye may run into Collin. Follow his instruction to the letter. Keep watch o’er yerself and Perry.” Garth slapped Gordon’s back. “Godspeed, man.”

  Gordon left the castle, by the front door, and loped toward the tower where he knew to find Perry.

  ****

  “Who’ll meet Papa and Kay-Kay?” Amalie was dressed, sitting at her vanity while Gerty plaited her hair.

  “I told Grayson to make ready. If Collin isn’t here by the afternoon, he won’t make it on time. I wish ye could go.” He watched her, with a smile, perching on the chaise, his heavy arms crossed. “I ken ye wanna be there, my heart.”

  Gerty leaned over Amalie. “Shall I leave it down, milady?”

  “Aye, that’ll do fine, thank you.” Her reflection smiled at her maid.

  “I’ll take my leave then ’til ye’re finished in here.” She hurried to the door and ducked through.

  Garth left his seat and helped Amalie from her stool. “Gordon was specific to request that I inform ye of his absence, in case ye need an escort. I told ’im I’m not leavin’ yer side. So, I’ll have to do.” He bent to her lips for a kiss.

  ****

  “What’s this business about MacGregor, Garth?” Daniel Macgillivray paced Garth’s study.

  “He and his power hungry missus are trying to unseat me. I won’t go without a fight.” He scoured the muzzle of his pistol with a linen rag strung over a rod. The kit lay out before him on his desk.

  “Yer missive said Lady MacGregor was blackmailin’ ye?” Daniel made another round.

  “Aye, she found out about a woman I kept in Inverness. John suggested I give his mistress a try a year after Mary died. I did and took up with her, periodically, for a few years. I dismissed her the first night Amalie spent under my roof, as my lasses’ governess. There’s also the fact that I…purchased Amalie as a slave.”

  “What’s this?” Macgillivray stopped. His hands propped at his narrow waist, mouth agape.

  “She was nabbed in Aberdeen, during an English slave raid. They caught her brother. She freed and hid him. On her way to hide herself, a merchantman grabbed her and brought her, by ship, to Inverness. She went to the auction block as…she’s Jewish, and the brothel wouldn’t have her.”

  Macgillivray paled and dropped into Amalie’s chair. “Yer wife’s a Jew?” His shock was complete.

  “Aye, it’s how she lived through it all unsullied. She told the ship’s captain she was a Jew and they didn’t rape her. Daniel, it matters not a dram to me. She’s a beautiful, intelligent, well-educated woman whom I love and adore with all my heart.”

  His friend of more than four decades met his eyes. “I can’t believe ye’d marry a Jew.” He glanced around the room and swiped his hand through his hair.

  “Why’s that a problem?” Garth’s eyes narrowed as he studied the man he thought he knew. “If she was Quaker, would it matter?”

  “That’s not the same at all. Ye ken my brother’s in the kirk.” Daniel rose and paced the room again. He rounded on Garth’s desk and slammed his fist on the desktop and yelled. “Garth, Jews murdered Jesus! The best thing fer everyone is ye have her convert or ye denounce her and have her dealt with.”

  Garth was on his feet in a flash, his deep voice booming over Daniel’s. “Shall I send my son to the stake as well, would tha’ satisfy the kirk’s bloodlust? Cut out the two she carries at the moment? How many innocent people die before the likes of ye see, it’s all a lie?”

  Daniel’s head jerked back. “Ye don’t ken what ye’re sayin’, Garth. She’s cast a spell o’er ye, she has.”

  The Mackintosh threw back his head and roared. “I’m not the one deceived, my friend. I’ve never been a religious man but I ken what our Father’s like and He’s not atall like the kirk.”

  “I’ll not participate in a rebellion. I can’t support ye in this.” Daniel spun, starting for the door.

  “Then I’ll ask ye to kindly step aside. I don’t wanna have to kill ye. For if ye join MacGregor’s crusade, that’ll surely be the outcome.” Garth declared.

  The Macgillivray snatched the study door open, and passed through, closing it loudly behind himself. He grabbed his cloak, from a hook in the foyer, and slung it round his shoulders. When he reached the outer door he recalled his wife was upstairs with Amalie. He turned back and suddenly felt he’d walked into a wall. His legs gave way. He foundered as he reached the bench, sat heavily, and wiped sweat from his brow.

  Garth left his study a half hour after The Macgillivray stormed out. He found his friend on the foyer’s bench, gasping air. He rushed to his side. “Daniel, what’s wrong?”

  He feebly answered. “Heart, I think.”

  “I’ll fetch the physician.” Garth pulled the heavy cord near the front door.

  Glenn appeared, almost instantly. “Sire?”

  “Fetch Mortimer, Glenn, quickly.” Garth held Daniel upright on the bench. “Would ye be better lyin’ back?”

  The Macgillivray barely shook his head. “Larena?”

  “Aye!” Garth took the stairs two at a time to reach the nursery. He flung the door open, startling the nurse, Amalie, and Larena. “Come! I fear Daniel’s suffered a heart attack. Mortimer’s comin’.” He turned and left them, before Amalie cleared the chair. She quieted Ewan and left him with the nurse.

  Larena hurried ahead and was on the bench ,with Daniel, before Amalie made the stairs. She slowly crept down. Her dear friend wept over her husband’s prostrate form. Garth stood back, watching. He met Amalie, at the bottom step, and took her hand. She bustled to Daniel’s side.

  Amalie leaned over him, touching a spot on his neck. “Do you hurt, sir?” She made a motion across her chest. “Does it feel constricted here?”

  Daniel’s head barely moved up and down, his eyes ablaze.

  Amalie turned to her friend.

  Larena dabbed her wet face.

  Amalie lowered her eyes from Daniel’s, fiery with hostility. “Mortimer will know what to do. I’ll have a room prepared.” She left them, sensing a strange, oppressive silence, weighing the atmosphere.

  Moments later, Amalie returned to find Mortimer examining The Macgillivray. “I think it’s yer heart, sir.
Let’s get ye up. No? Are ye still dizzy then?”

  “Aye.” Daniel muttered.

  Amalie stood aside, gently addressing the physician. “I’ve a bed ready, sir, when we can move ’im. Shall I send for Granny Mae?”

  Mortimer nodded his great head. “Aye, milady, and have her bring a bit o’ foxglove wi’ her.”

  “I’ll round up pages to help ye to the room, Daniel.” Garth stood by feeling helpless.

  “Go…home.” Macgillivray squeezed out the words.

  “Nay, tha’ won’t be happenin’.” Mortimer assured him. “A carriage ride wou’ surely be the end o’ ye.”

  Amalie left them, to send for the healer. When she returned, she quietly made her way, to sit alone, in the parlor until Garth arrived to check on her. She heard the front door close.

  “My heart, are ye no’ well?”

  “Nay, sir. I’m fine.” Her smile was forced. She looked away.

  Garth sat with her, taking her hand in his. “Thank ye fer helpin’ Daniel.”

  “It will take a while for the foxglove to do any good.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “What happened? Did the two of you argue?”

  “Aye, that we did. Not the first time, ye ken. We been friends since birth.” He tried to smile, but failed.

  “It’s somethin’ to do with me, isn’t it?”

  Garth nodded. “I’ve made a grievous error in judgment, Amalie. ’Twas not slavery, but yer Jewishness, that’s at odds. Daniel offered a choice of havin’ ye convert to suit the kirk or denouncin’ ye.”

  Tears welled in Amalie’s eyes, as she collapsed back against the settee. “And that’s your friend’s opinion. How will your enemies react?” She pushed herself erect and rubbed her hands down the sides of her belly. “It was foolish to think I’d be accepted on my own merit. I’m sorry, sir.” She straightened and seized her back with a frown.