by K. E. Saxon
“I’m sure you are wondering at the reason for my visit. I’ve come to request that you and Alleck resume taking your evening meals at the great hall.”
Jesslyn only gaped at her.
Into the awkward silence, Maryn piped, “You know how much Daniel and Alleck enjoy each other’s company, and the lad does need the influence of men in his life—what better man to influence him than his own laird?”
Clearly recovering her aplomb, Jesslyn stepped back, extending her arm in invitation and said, “Pray, come inside. Would you like some ale—or water, mayhap?”
“Some water would be good. I thank you.” Maryn followed Jesslyn inside and looked around. The cottage was roomier than she’d expected, and quite tidy. The large hearth in the front room served both for heating and cooking. There were two closed doors positioned side-by-side on the wall directly in front of her, which she assumed were the bedchambers.
Jesslyn handed her a cup of water and indicated a stool for her to sit on, before settling on the one opposite. “I am so sorry about that kiss I gave Daniel the other day. Did he tell you what a lunatic I was?”
Maryn shook her head. “Nay, he’s only said that you are to choose a husband soon.”
Jesslyn sat forward, a pleading look in her eye. “I’m not in love with Daniel—I do not even desire him. But…,” she shrugged and straightened, “he’s comfortable. He’s a good friend and I suppose I just envisioned us wedding and continuing on as we always have.” She twisted her fingers together, and that assuaged what remained of Maryn’s anger toward the woman, as ‘twas clear she was worried and distressed. “I’m afraid to marry a stranger whom I’ll never be able to love.”
Maryn recalled Daniel saying that Jesslyn still mourned for her husband. It seemed cruel that she was being forced to bind herself to someone else while still pining for her true love. “I can certainly understand that feeling. But what has that to do with the lover’s kiss you gave my husband?”
Jesslyn sighed and shrugged, shaking her head. “I know kissing a married man was an evil thing to do, but when you continued to keep Daniel at a distance, I decided that I would appreciate him more. And, since Daniel and I had never kissed, I thought I’d try it to see if we liked it.” There was a small pause before she continued with a raised brow, “We did not.”
“‘Tis good to hear that,” Maryn said with a crooked smile. She was surprised at the depth of empathy she felt for this woman who’d nearly ruined her own chance at happiness, for it had not been so many hours since she, herself, had been frightened for her own future. And after the intimacy and feelings of love she’d shared with her husband, she could no longer imagine ever being wed to any other. “Your distress over Daniel’s scheme to find you a husband saddens me,” she said. “If you and I can somehow start afresh, then mayhap we can find a way to convince Daniel to allow you more time.”
“I also would like to begin again,” Jesslyn replied. She let out a long sigh and slapped her palms to her knees. “I must find a husband for my son’s sake. I have accepted that fact and am willing to do what I must to see his needs met. However, I do crave more time to make my choice, I confess. If you can persuade Daniel to forbear while I acquaint myself with the clansmen he’s chosen for me, I shall be most grateful.”
Maryn placed her hand over Jesslyn’s and gave it a light squeeze. “Then it is done. I vow I will try to slow the process. And, surely, with time, you will find someone worthy of your beauty and spirit.” She grinned. “Or, mayhap, they will find you.”
Jesslyn smiled too. “My thanks.”
Maryn straightened and sent a huge grin in her ex-nemesis’ direction. “I just had a brilliant notion!” Energized by mischievous glee, she hurried to explain: “If you will only agree to recommence having the evening meal in the great hall, then we shall invite each man, one at a time, to dine with us.” She sat forward, aglow with her inspired plan. “You will have the comfort a large gathering allows while you get your first impressions of them! What say you to this scheme?”
“I like it very much,” Jesslyn said, clearly relieved.
Maryn, filled with new purpose, rose to her feet, saying, “I’ll leave you now, but I expect to see you at supper.”
“Wait,” Jesslyn said, staying Maryn with a hand on her arm. “Before you leave, I have something that was surely always meant for you.” She turned and rushed through one of the two doorways.
Her curiosity piqued, Maryn bobbed up and down on her heels as she listened with great interest to the familiar sound of a chest opening and closing.
In little time, Jesslyn returned and dropped a heavy object into Maryn’s palm. “This was Daniel’s mother’s ring,” she said. “Daniel gave it to me when he pledged his troth.” She pressed Maryn’s fingers closed around the piece. “I believe he prefers for you to have this, but is unsure whether you would accept it, since it was first given to me. My hope is that you and I are now friends and that you will joyfully wear this family jewel that is yours by right.”
Opening her hand, Maryn took the ruby-set bauble and placed it on her finger. “Thank you for being honest with me,” she said at last. “Had I learned of it in another way, I would have been deeply hurt.”
“Daniel would have told you of this eventually, fear not. He’s the most honorable man I’ve ever known.”
Maryn smiled and nodded dreamily as she regarded the ring. “Aye, that he is. If I had not been so unsure of myself, my place in his esteem, and so disbelieving of his faithfulness, he no doubt would have told me of it already.” She gave Jesslyn a wry look. “If he thought of it, that is. He does tend to forget to tell me important details.”
Jesslyn laughed. “Do not think that trait is Daniel’s alone—‘tis a trait that all new husbands share, I trow. But, worry not, the longer the two of you are wed, the better he will become at remembering to tell you things.”
“I hope you are right,” Maryn replied, and with only a shade of disbelief in her voice. Then, saying her farewells once again, she turned and departed. Humming as she strolled back to the keep, she felt as if a wearisome burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Where, only three days past, her future had looked so lonely and grim, now it held a world of bright possibilities.
*
Jesslyn sighed in relief after shutting her cottage door. She was confident that Maryn would convince Daniel not to rush her into marriage. And then, mayhap, there would be time to find a mate she could respect. Not only for Alleck’s sake, but because her greatest wish was to have more bairns. One was simply not enough for her. And she and Graeme had dreamed of having at least two more, mayhap three. Her heart contracted and she released her sorrow on a long sigh. No use wallowing in regret, ‘twould not bring her beloved back to her. And had that fact not been relentlessly proven to her over these past two mournful years? Lifting her chin and bolstering her resolve, she marched into her bedchamber to change out of her soiled work gown and into something pleasing for the supper she would be having at the keep.
*
The evening meal was not as strained as Daniel had feared after being told by Maryn that she and Jesslyn had come to an understanding and that Alleck and his mother would resume having their supper with them in the great hall.
Alleck dominated the conversation, telling all who would listen of his tale of finding the magic coin in his shoe after his nap by the loch. “…and then I woke up because a bee kept buzzing my nose. I knew Mama would be mad ‘cuz I had not come home yet, so I put my shoes on and there was something pokin’ me in the foot,” Alleck said to Maryn. “‘Twas a fat, shiny coin with funny pictures on it and a hole in the middle. Wanna see it?” He did not wait to hear her reply.
When he handed it to her, Maryn “ooohed” and “aaahed”, which clearly gratified the lad immensely. This was the third time they’d heard the story that eve, but the first time Alleck had shown the treasure. His wife focused her gaze on the coin a moment, her brow puckered. “Hmmm. Strange. Where do you
think it came from, Alleck?” she asked.
“It came from a magic giant who lives in the woods, I told you already,” he said with a huff.
“Oh, pray pardon me. I had forgotten that portion of your tale,” she said with contrition tingeing her voice.
The lad was adamant that a dark-haired giant had visited him as he dozed and that the creature had been the one to leave the coin in his shoe. Maryn leaned forward and handed it to Daniel. “What think you of those strange emblems? I’ve never seen a coin like this one before.” But she mouthed, “Where do you think it came from?” so that Alleck would not know they questioned his story.
Daniel looked closely at the bronze piece with its square-shaped hollow in the center. ‘Twas quite old, he concluded, its surfaces worn. When he at last allowed his gaze to linger on the shape of the characters emblazoned on it, his heart leapt into his throat. They were horrifyingly similar to the one that had been carved into his mother’s and grandfather’s skin at their deaths. It was an act of pure will, but he managed to hide his agitation from the others as he handed the coin back to the lad and patted him on the head. “‘Tis quite a remarkable find you’ve made, Alleck.”
Alleck wriggled in his seat, grinning, clearly overjoyed at the attention he was receiving from him.
“Would you mind having a privy word with me after the meal, Grandmother?” Daniel asked.
Lady Maclean cocked a brow and nodded agreement, but it did not escape his notice that she gave Maryn a questioning look, nor that his wife shrugged and shook her head, her expression one of bewilderment.
*
When their guests had departed, Maryn said to the two, “I bid you good night,” and turned, quickly heading toward the entrance of the hall, assuming she was not to be included in whatever Daniel needed to speak with his grandmother about.
Daniel charged after her, stopping her by placing his hand around her waist and then turned her back into the room. “I want you to be a part of this discussion as well, Maryn. But be prepared to hear some things that may make your stomach churn.”
Now her imagination was fully engaged. She allowed Daniel to lead her back to the table and settle her back on the bench. He did the same for his grandmother, then disappeared behind the screen to the buttery. He came back to the table a few minutes later holding a bottle of uisge beatha and a cup. After pouring a bit into the vessel, he offered it first to her, and then to his grandmother. When they both declined, Daniel shocked her to the marrow of her bones by drinking all of it down in one long draught.
Maryn swung her gaze to Lady Maclean and found her own alarmed gaze already settled upon her. ‘Twas clear that she had never seen Daniel imbibe so much so quickly either. In silent accord neither one of them spoke as he poured more into the empty vessel, but Maryn was relieved when he set the container down without taking another swallow.
“The coin Alleck found…‘tis decorated in symbols very similar to one that my father and his murderers carved into the flesh of both my mother and my grandfather.”
“—Godamercy!” Maryn gasped.
“—Dear lad!” Lady Maclean said.
Her husband did not acknowledge their statements, but doggedly continued, clearly intent on finding some answers. “Grandmother, have you ever seen a coin such as the one Alleck has in his possession—or symbols like the ones shown on its face?”
“Aye,” Lady Maclean replied, “but ‘tis been many years. Your father brought some coins like that back with him from the crusades.” Agitated, she twisted the sapphire ring around her middle finger that she’d told Maryn her husband, Fergus, had given her. “He came back to live here for a short time upon his return from the Holy Lands,” she explained further. “He disappeared one day a bit less than a moon after his arrival, and we never saw him again. I suppose ‘tis possible that he left some of the coins here, or exchanged some for other possessions.”
A look of relief came over her husband’s countenance. “Aye,” he said, nodding, “that seems to be the most likely answer. ’Tis good to hear that the coins were brought to the keep so many years ago. I confess, I was fighting an unreasonable fear that the ‘magic giant’ that Alleck had spoken of was somehow Jamison Maclean.”—Lady Maclean gasped and Maryn’s spine stiffened.—“That somehow ‘twas not his severed head I’d come back with.” Daniel took in a deep breath and released it. “It comforts me to know there is no likelihood of another massacre.”
“You were worried that there were vicious marauders about to attack us?” Maryn’s voice quavered, still haunted by the fact that the villains had carved emblems into the flesh of Daniel’s beloved family members.
Her husband put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed it as he pulled her into his side. “Aye, I was worried, but no longer,” he said, his voice soft, soothing. “You are safe and you shall remain safe, do not fear. And, even if there had been someone planning an attack on our holding, I am not the young lad I was when my family was murdered.” He kissed the top of her head. “I am a seasoned warrior now. I’ll allow no enemy horde past my portal.”
Maryn felt much better hearing Daniel’s arrogant confidence in his abilities—for she’d seen him in the training field and she knew his boasts were not empty. He would keep her safe, and she would keep him safe. She knew he would not like hearing that, however, so she kept it to herself.
*
Later, in their bedchamber, Maryn decided her husband needed a distraction from his dire thoughts and gave him a surprise. She came to bed wearing only the ruby ring and the silver girdle.
At first only attuned to the erotic image of his wife gracefully walking toward him, nude but for the girdle, he did not see the ring. Then the ruby caught the firelight’s glow as she moved towards him and sent a red beam across the floor. Daniel held his breath. Jesslyn must have given her the jewel when they’d spoken earlier. And, God be praised, it seemed she was not angered, else she would surely not be wearing it now.
She placed her knee on the bed and leaned toward him and Daniel settled his hands on her hips, drawing her even closer. “You look beautiful in my mother’s jewels, my love,” he said with admiration and tenderness, and then he gave her a soft kiss.
Those were the last coherent words spoken between them that eve.
*
The next fortnight flew by as Maryn acclimated herself to her new duties and got cart-loads of advice from Lady Maclean—and surprisingly, Jesslyn as well.
The newlyweds could not keep their hands off of each other. Once, during a rather long and heated public display of affection, they heard a fellow clansman call out for them to find a bedchamber. Laughing, they’d sheepishly broken the embrace. But they did not mind being the cause of others’ mirth; it did not spoil their humor, or their passion. They were deliriously in love.
CHAPTER 10
They hated each other intensely. They’d had their first full-blown argument since their official wedding night and they had now not spoken to each other for nearly two days.
“Maryn,” Lady Maclean lectured from her perch on the edge of the bed, “you cannot seriously be contemplating tossing all of Daniel’s clothing out the window and into the lower bailey. ‘Tis just not done. A young wife should instead reason, cajole, even entice, her husband over to her point of view.”
Maryn did not look up from her mission. She continued slamming open chests and dragging out every item of Daniel’s clothing she came across before hurling them over her shoulder onto the floor. “I’m not in the mood to reason, cajole, or entice,” she said. “I’m in the mood to destroy, to wreak havoc, to tumble his mighty arrogance into rubble!” Daniel had stolen her dirk and her slingshot and refused to return them.
“Did you not give him your vow that you would never again leave this fortress without proper escort?”
Maryn looked up, eyes wide with wrath. “Nay, I did not! The vow I gave him was that I would never again travel off of this holding without proper escort.” With furious vigor she re
turned to her task. “Grandmother Maclean, know you well that I have hunted in that wood since I was no more than a wee bairn; ‘tis as familiar to me as the back of my own hand!” And ‘tis NOT infested with wild boars. With a huff, Maryn heaved yet another of Daniel’s neatly folded shirts onto the floor. Nor was it habited by angry wolves, as her obstinate husband seemed fixed upon believing. The man is impossible!
When she’d been through every one of his chests and had kicked the clothing into a large heap, she paused, lungs blowing, to admire her handiwork. Swiping a stray tendril of hair off of her damp forehead with the back of her hand, she said, “Besides, he should be reasoning with me, cajoling me, enticing me into forgiving him for his obstinate, pig-headed, opinionated, inflexible, unyielding, rude, and obnoxious attitude!” She was winded, but exhilarated, by the time she finished her diatribe.
“Now, now, you must try to calm yourself, my dear,” the older woman soothed. “Daniel is only concerned for your welfare. Try to see things through his eyes,” she pleaded. “He lost the only family he knew to violence when he was a young lad. And now that he’s acquired a new one, he fears its loss.” She picked up one of Daniel’s now-quite-rumpled shirts from the pile near her foot and held it in her lap. “I know his dictates seem overbearing, but they are not given out of a desire to control you. They are given in an effort to keep you close and safe from harm.”
Maryn shrugged, a bit chastened, as she did see the truth in the older woman’s words. “If it is as you say, that he is only acting out of an overzealous need to keep me safe, then why did he take my weapons from me?” she murmured, her gaze still blindly fixed upon the mess she’d made. “Cannot he see that he’s left me totally defenseless?” Frustration and resentment bubbled up from deep inside her once again and she threw her arms in the air. “It makes no sense! He makes no sense.”