by Kara Griffin
Their cottage was homey and the smells from their morning fare remained. It smelled heavenly inside. Bree wanted to ask what she’d made, but the woman only understood Gaelic. Grey spoke quickly and motioned to her. Bree bowed her head and smiled.
“This is Ronald and his wife Elaina. Elaina is Nell’s sister-in-law. Nell was married to Elaina’s brother, Joseph.”
“Was? Did he die?”
“Aye, he did. Nell sometimes stays here, helping Elaina with her children. She must have taken them outside. Ronald and Elaina have six children.”
“That is kind of her to help Elaina. Nell seems like a nice woman, much kinder than Bea.”
Grey nodded and bid her to step out of the cottage.
Even though she didn’t deem the woman would understand her, she thanked her. The lady smiled wide and nodded when Bree spoke her appreciation.
Bree couldn’t help smiling when she exited their lovely cottage. Meeting Ronald and Elaina gave her hope that others within Grey’s clan would like her as well.
When they reached the horses, Grey assisted her atop a palfrey and secured her satchel. His men positioned themselves around them and they rode out.
The ride to Donal’s keep took most of the day, and along the ride, she kept silent. The past few days were a blur. After what she and Grey shared, she had wanted to tell him she agreed to the betrothal. There was no one to tell her should couldn’t wed Grey. And he was certainly a man who could protect her and give her pleasure. She wasn’t sure what she could offer him in return, besides a possible war with the MacHeths. That fact alone was the only thing stopping her from admitting she wanted to wed him.
“You’re being quiet.”
“Oh, I apologize, Grey. I suppose I got lost in my thoughts.”
He moved closer to her and touched her arm. “Good thoughts I hope.”
“Mayhap.” Bree didn’t know how to tell him her concerns. With all that she’d learned, Bree knew for certain that she must conclude her dealing with MacHeth before she could rest easy.
As they approached Donal’s keep dusk had sent the land in a dim glow, Bree noted the many tents spotting the flat land leading up to the main keep. Many flags adorned the tops of the tents as well as outside the entry of the courtyard. Fires were beginning to be lit. She’d never been to such a lavish event before.
They stopped in a clearing and Grey instructed his men erect their tent and place their belongings inside. Two of his men were left behind to see to the task as well as stand guard. Two others were set in charge of seeing to the horses. The rest followed Grey when he walked off to the keep.
Bree kept silent, following him. He stopped and bid her to take his hand. “There’s a crowd, best take hold so I don’t lose you.”
She clasped his hand and he squeezed her. Bree’s heart lightened at his concern. They stepped inside the hall and were welcomed by Donal, who bellowed a greeting when he saw them enter.
“Grey! I am so gladdened ye came and ye brought Bree. Adeline will be pleased.” Donal bowed to her and shoved Grey’s shoulder. “She’s in the kitchens if ye wish to go and see her.”
“Bree will not leave my side,” Grey said sternly.
“It is good to see you again, Laird Ross. You have a lot of company.”
“Aye, Maurice invited the entire Highlands to his wedding.” Donal laughed and bid them to sit with him at his table. “King Alexander is expected soon. We will have a meeting when the celebration winds down. We need speak about MacHeth. Bree, you will need to be present.”
Bree looked at Grey before speaking, “Laird Ross? Surely I don’t need to speak with your king. Grey can tell him all that has happened.”
“Have ye agreed to the betrothal, lass? The one your own father, god rest his soul, wanted?”
She didn’t know how to answer him. “I am considering it.”
“Aye she’s agreed,” Grey said at the same time.
“Do you not remember how fond of you Grey was? Aye the lad wore his heart on his sleeve.” Donal laughed when Grey glared at him. “He never forgot ye, lass, after you disappeared. Been holding ye in his heart all these years.”
“That’s enough, Donal. I can speak for myself,” Grey said, in an annoyed tone.
“Very little memories are coming back to me. I remembered my mother.”
“You did? Why did you not tell me?” Grey sounded affronted that she had not told him.
Bree lowered her gaze. “I recalled she and I cooking. She was playing with me.”
Grey moved closer to her and raised her chin. “You spent a good amount of time with your mother in the kitchens. She loved ye Bree and adored all her children.”
Why Bree felt the need to cry, she didn’t know, but tears began filling her eyes. She hastily ran out of the hall and needed a few minutes to collect herself. Grey followed her outside. He set his arm around her waist and guided her to their tent. Bree was surprised by the comforts inside.
There was a pallet with several coverings and pillows, a small table with a couple of chairs flanking the ends, and a few pots and kitchenware. She hadn’t noticed all the items the men had brought on their journey.
Bree sat in one of the chairs and put her face in the crook of her arm. Being around these people brought back feelings she wasn’t certain she was ready to face. If she’d had a loving family, she despaired at not being with them all those years. She could have lived a life of happiness and love. Instead she ended up at the keep of a lord who, as Cait said, only enjoyed her for her cooking. That beat all, and heartbreak filled her.
She wept and couldn’t stop thinking about the family she’d never know. An image of an older man’s face came to her. He lifted her high in the air and swung her around. His laughter was kind and his smile true. The man’s beard tickled when he kissed her cheek. Bree tried to keep the image in her mind but it quickly faded.
“Bree, don’t cry. I detest seeing tears in your eyes. When you were wee, you never cried. Aye, you were a strong-willed lass who didn’t take cosh from anyone.”
“I should have missed them, Grey. Why didn’t I remember them? Why are they now coming back to me? It makes me sad to think of them.”
“Are you speaking of your parents?”
She nodded. “Aye. I wish I had remembered them so I could have held on to their love. Now I shall never know what it felt like to be loved by them. Being here reminds me of their loss. For years I thought they had banished me and yet I find out they verily loved me.”
Grey knelt next to her and set his hand on her knee. “I know it must be hard to accept that, Bree. To not know you had a loving family all those years. But you did, and I vow if it’s the last thing I ever do, I will make MacHeth pay. He shouldn’t have taken you from the loving arms of your family. He shouldn’t have taken you from me.”
Bree reached out to him and caressed his cheek. “I suspect we both lost, didn’t we?”
“Aye, but now we have a chance to right it.”
“Mayhap.”
“We will stay here until you are ready to return to the celebration.” Grey took the other chair and watched her. His gaze made her shutter the last of her sorrow away.
She got up and sat on his lap and hugged him close. “I am sorry, Grey, if I cannot accept the betrothal yet. Mayhap in time, I can put the past behind me and accept you. For now, I must find out why MacHeth took me and learn the truth.”
He hugged her in return. “If you need time, Bree, I understand. I will wait. Forever if I must. But don’t make me wait that long.”
She shook her head.
“Let us return …”
Horns sounded in the distance and it became silent outside their tent.
Grey helped her to stand. “The ceremony is about to begin. Let us go and see Maurice wed.”
They returned to the celebration and Bree felt somewhat better. She did weep a little at the wedding ceremony, mainly because the bride and groom looked at each other with such affection. The though
t of them vowing to love each other until death brought a tear of joy to her eye. Their kiss was cheered by all, and Bree even joined in and shouted.
One day she would have such a ceremony, she hoped. Bree shook her thought away, because she didn’t want to feel sad anymore, especially with such festivity going on around her. She watched the hall clear of tables and then some of the men began playing music. None of the celebrations at home were this lively. She suspected it was the people here that made it so gay.
Tapping her foot to the music, she watched the dancers and smiled wide as the ladies laughed when the men moved around them. It was sweet the way the men bowed before the ladies and they in turn curtseyed, their eyes never leaving each other.
“Would you like to dance, Bree?”
She turned a frown at Grey. “Nay, oh, nay. I know not how to dance. It would be awkward.”
“You never learned how to dance? We shall remedy that, come.”
Bree shook her head. “Please, Grey, I would only make a fool of myself. I cannot dance, I tell you.” He stood close and she thought he would force her on to the dance floor, but he didn’t.
“You never danced at celebrations at Baron Thomas’?”
“Oh nay. I never had time to join in the festivities. I was always in the kitchens or overseeing the meals, too busy to take part in the entertainments.”
Grey frowned at her admission.
At that moment, all dancing ceased when someone arrived and the musicians stopped playing. A large man with red hair and a great red beard entered the hall. She immediately recognized King Alexander. He stepped into the center of the hall and waited until everyone bowed to him. With that courtesy out of the way, he removed his heavy cloak and strolled to Laird Ross. They spoke quietly for a few moments and then the music started back up. Laird Ross motioned to Grey and he pulled her from her seat.
“The meeting is beginning.”
“Grey, please I don’t wish to meet with your king.” She tried to pull from his grip, but he held fast. Panic came to her, but she didn’t know why she was frightened of meeting the king. He could recognize her, but that didn’t much concern her. It was what he’d do when he learned who she was.
“He’s your king too, Bree. Do you not wish to tell him of the MacHeth’s doing? That he took you from your family and kept you away all these years? You need to tell all and let the king decide his fate. You must tell him what you heard, about the war. It affects Alexander personally.”
She nodded and followed apprehensively.
“Gunn, Ross tells me you have news of a possible revolt. And who is this lovely lady?”
Bree curtseyed. “My lord, sire. It is a pleasure to meet you again. I am Bree … I met you afore at Baron Thomas’ by the border, at Falstone.”
“Champlain? Aye, I recall you. You, I remember could make a man’s stomach content. Never had a meal quite as delicious as what I had at Thomas’. Why are ye here at the Ross’? Is Baron Thomas here?”
“Nay, he is not,” she said quietly.
Grey stepped forward. “She is Albrey Mackay.”
“The hell you say!” Alexander’s voice boomed and his astonishment showed in his eyes.
The music stopped and a hush reverberated through the hall.
She stepped backward and bumped into Grey. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
The king lowered his voice when he spoke again, “I apologize, Lady Albrey. I didn’t mean to shout, it’s just … I never anticipated … Let us go and speak in private.”
“Please, majesty, call me Bree.” She followed Grey as Laird Ross took them up the stairs to his private solar. Behind them a group of soldiers, she considered the king’s guard, trailed.
“I have kept the solar clear for our use. We can speak in here.” He opened the door and bid them to go inside.
Bree sat in a most comfortable chair. The cushion was so thick, she all but disappeared. The luxurious of it made her want to settle in for a nap and close her eyes. The men paid no attention to her when they began their discussion.
They conversed for several minutes in their language and became heated as their speech rose. Bree had no idea what they said and she found herself lulled by their deep gruff tones. Someone nudged her and she opened her eyes and sat up hastily.
“Did you say something?” she asked Grey.
Grey assisted her to stand. “The king wishes to question you.”
Alexander tugged on his beard, giving her a curious look. “You claim to be Albrey MacKay? She disappeared over twenty years ago. Why should I believe you’re the missing lass? What proof do you have that you are she?”
“I was abducted by Laird MacHeth when I was a little girl and taken to Baron Thomas Champlain. He recently sent for me. I don’t care if you believe me to be her, but what I say is true.” Bree swallowed hard at the stern gaze of the king. If he thought to intimidate her, she would not allow it. It was high time she stood up to these men.
“Verily, you say? Do you remember your parents, the Mackays, Grey, the celebration?”
“I do not recall much of my time before I was at Baron Thomas’ holding. I was very young when I was taken. Bits of remembrances are returning. MacHeth took me from my home and bid the baron to keep me there until he returned for me. Grey tells me we were to be betrothed to bring peace to our people.”
Alexander slightly nodded. “It was the hope of my father to gain peace. Why do you say MacHeth plans a revolt? He’s been foiled once and so shall be again, if what you speak is the truth.”
Bree clasped her hands. The king thought she was lying and most likely didn’t believe a word she was saying. “I heard his messenger say to Baron Thomas that he should ready his arms. That the time has come, he’d said. I know not how I am involved, your majesty, but I do not wish to be at the center of this war.” She didn’t want to reveal that the baron was possibly involved. Though she should have told Alexander that the baron was going to inform King John of the revolt, she couldn’t bear to bring hardship to the baron.
“So shall you be.”
The king’s booming voice startled her. Bree stepped back and felt Grey place his hand on her shoulder again. His touch relaxed her slightly, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down.
“Sire, I have been taken from my family, from the man I was supposed to wed … I truly don’t know why and now you say I shall be placed in further danger?”
“Alexander,” came Grey’s low voice, “Bree should be left out of this mess. We have to put her safety at the foremost of our concern. She’s been through enough all ready. I believe what she says.”
The king’s lips, from what she could see of them beneath his beard, firmed. Then he moved beyond them to Donal. “Does Laird Grey still intend to wed the lass?”
Donal nodded. “He does.”
“I see now. Ye are more concerned about your woman than your king. I say now, and I will not be refuted. Lady Albrey, you will go to MacHeth’s holding and find out how he plans to bring this revolt to fruition. I want details. If you come back with proof or his cohort’s names then I shall leave ye be. If you do not, then I will be forced to abolish the decree of your betrothal to Grey.”
“Now wait a minute, sire, you cannot do that. It was your own father’s will as well as the council’s.” Grey’s jaw firmed and his eyes reflected animosity.
“Aye, my father’s. Not mine. Peace can be gained by other measures. If what you say is true then you shall find your proof needed. I want the names of MacHeth’s associates and then I will be appeased. Find out what he intends.”
Bree tried to hold Grey back, but his anger came when he stepped near the king and shouted.
“Cosh! I will not allow it. You cannot ask that of her, Alexander. Think of what you are saying. You’re sending a lass into MacHeth’s devil’s den and ‘twould be most dangerous for her.”
“You dare speak to me so—”
“Damned right I do. I will not let you send her to MacHeth. Let me
go in her stead.”
The king didn’t like being spoken to with such disdain, he turned his back on Grey and shouted, “Guards, come!”
At once, four guards entered the solar and stood around Grey. They immediately disarmed him and took his sword and removed two daggers from his boots. Grey tried to snatch his dagger back, but the soldiers held him bodily.
“Take this man to Donal’s dungeon. Lock him away.”
Before Grey could move, they gripped his arms and forced him to walk toward the door. Grey released himself from two of the guards and punched them before he was apprehended again. Bree’s breath caught in her throat seeing the bloody noses.
“Alexander, nay, don’t do this.” Grey shouted and kept calling the king’s name.
Grey had never shown such a violent side to her, he was quite furious. She wasn’t sure what was happening and why the king apprehended Grey. Then the guards hastily left the chamber with Grey in tow. The door slammed behind them. Then all was silent for a few minutes as the king paced the chamber. He appeared disturbed at what happened.
“Donal, I do not want him released until I give the word.”
If Donal was surprised by any of the happenings in his solar, he didn’t show it. His face was devoid of emotion, his eyes sedate and calm. Bree wiped her tears away, and realized she’d been crying.
“Sire, please, I shall go and do your bidding. But please, release Grey.”
“Nay, he will interfere. Donal go and bring me the Gunn guard. I wish to speak with them.” King Alexander walked about the chamber with his hand on his chin, looking at her, as if he reasoned what he’d commanded her to do.
Bree felt small with all his attention on her. “Sire, I would never speak an untruth to you. Who am I but a woman? I know not of these matters, concerns of men. How do you expect me to gain MacHeth’s trust and find out who his cohorts are?”
“Women are the best spies, aye the most resourceful. You will know what to do and how to obtain the information I seek. If you are successful, you shall have my gratitude. I shall reward ye by releasing young Gunn and allowing your marriage.”
A sick feeling came to her stomach. Bree wasn’t sure she could follow through and do as he asked. “Can I not have your gratitude now?”