Medieval Ever After

by Kathryn Le Veque

  But suddenly a wide smile transformed the fierce-looking warrior’s face, and all at once he looked younger and less terrifying.

  “Brother!” Garrick shouted and slammed into Daniel in a brutal hug. Both men laughed and pounded each other on the back heartily.

  This gave Rona a chance to gaze shyly at the woman, Jossalyn.

  She was stunning. Golden blonde wisps of hair whipped around her flawless features. She was shorter than Rona, though a normal height for a woman, and built delicately. She wore simple clothes, yet she stood with a quiet assurance and confidence.

  Jossalyn’s emerald green eyes fell on her.

  “You must be Rona!”

  The woman closed the distance between them and without preamble, she embraced Rona in a tight hug.

  Rona stood stiffly, thrown off-guard by the woman’s warmth. Jossalyn pulled back a little, and unfettered happiness shone in her eyes.

  “I’m so glad to meet you, sister,” she said.

  Daniel had warned Rona that Jossalyn was English, but her accent still surprised her.

  “A-and I you,” Rona stuttered. Her stomach sank even as her heart pinched. This woman was so warm and kind and beautiful, whereas Rona was awkward and hard-edged. She swallowed. This was only the first in what was sure to be a long string of reminders about her shortcomings.

  “Let me introduce you to my wife,” Daniel said to Garrick.

  Introductions were made quickly all around. Then Garrick collected a few small bags from the boat and the four of them made their way to the castle just as heavy raindrops began to fall.

  As they entered the great hall, Jossalyn took Rona’s hand.

  “That boat ride has sent my stomach spinning,” Jossalyn said. “Do you happen to have any chamomile and clove?”

  “Um…I don’t know.”

  Rona felt her cheeks flush. She didn’t pay any attention to household matters and instead left everything to Agnes and Elspeth, the castle’s head cook. Another of her failings as the lady of the keep.

  “Let’s ask the cook,” she mumbled.

  Rona and Jossalyn peeled off from Daniel and Garrick, who continued through the hall and to the stairs, likely headed for Daniel’s study.

  “Elspeth, do we have any chamomile and clove?” Rona said bluntly as she pushed her way into the kitchen.

  Elspeth, rotund and rosy-cheeked, turned in surprise at their entrance. Normally Rona stayed completely away from the kitchen, unless it was to quickly snatch a heel of bread or an apple for her treks into the woods.

  “Aye, my lady,” Elspeth said with a quizzical look. She opened a narrow door at the back of the kitchen and stuck her head in.

  “Oh, is that your storeroom? Do you mind if I have a peek at your herbs?” Jossalyn said, her eyes lighting up.

  Rona deferred to Elspeth with a shrug.

  “Of course, my lady,” the cook said.

  Jossalyn poked her head in and immediately started muttering to herself. “Very good, very good. Hmm, low on fennel.”

  “Do you…cook?” Rona said awkwardly, trying to make conversation. Daniel had told her so little about his family, and of course he hadn’t even met any of the new wives.

  “Oh, no! That is, I do my best in the camp, but I’m not skilled,” Jossalyn replied, removing her head from the storeroom and turning to Rona. She had a few dried flowers in one hand and a jar in the other

  “I’m a healer—of sorts.”

  To Rona’s surprise, Jossalyn lowered her head and blushed.

  “Of sorts?” Some of Rona’s nervousness ebbed as she motioned for Jossalyn to take a seat on a nearby stool.

  “I haven’t been formally trained by a physician, of course!” Jossalyn said as she sat down. Elspeth brought over a pewter mug of already-hot water, apparently able to tell what Jossalyn was about with the herbs.

  Jossalyn tossed the dried flowers into the hot water, then sprinkled in a dash of the ground contents from the jar.

  “But I was trained by two medicine women,” she went on with a shrug. “I have a knack for it.”

  “And you are the village healer where you and Garrick live?” Rona knew she was fishing, but she knew so little about her new family. She perched on the stool next to Jossalyn as Elspeth went back to the hearth to stir something fragrant in the large caldron over the fire.

  Jossalyn gave her a curious look and took a small sip of the tea she’d made.

  “Daniel hasn’t told you?”

  Rona stiffened, simultaneously embarrassed that her husband hadn’t seen fit to explain more to her and angry at herself for not probing him further about his family.

  Jossalyn must have noticed, for she placed a soft hand on Rona’s forearm.

  “These Sinclair men are impossible, aren’t they?” she said with a sympathetic smile. “They’re about as talkative as rocks.”

  Rona snorted, then quickly shot a look at Jossalyn, but she was grinning.

  “And as stubborn as mules,” Jossalyn added.

  Rona’s face heated, for she, too, could be mulish. She pressed on, though, too curious to let it drop.

  “Daniel hasn’t told me anything of where you live, other than the fact that you all are coming from the Highlands.”

  Jossalyn’s green eyes sparkled. “Perhaps we can discuss this someplace…private?”

  So it wasn’t just Daniel who could be reserved and secretive. It was the whole family!

  “Let me show you to your chamber,” Rona said, standing.

  She led the way across the hall and up the stairs on the far side. Jossalyn and Garrick would be staying in her old chamber. Once they were inside, she closed the door behind them.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” Rona said, trying her best to be a good hostess.

  Jossalyn, still clutching her mug of tea, sat down on the corner of the bed and sighed contentedly. “I haven’t slept in a real bed in so long.”

  Rona’s eyes widened. She really didn’t know anything about her in-laws.

  “You see,” Jossalyn went on calmly, “Garrick and I currently live outside Inverness, though it changes.”

  “Changes?”

  “We reside in Robert the Bruce’s rebel camp. It moves from time to time to protect the secrecy of the exact location.”

  “You…what?”

  Rona knew in the back of her mind that she was being rude, but the shock of what Jossalyn had just said was too much.

  Jossalyn smiled. “Garrick is one of the Bruce’s closest confidantes. And I serve as the camp’s healer. It’s unusual, I know, but it works for us.”

  “But...but you’re English!”

  “Yes. In fact, I used to live not far from here. Perhaps you’ve heard of Dunbraes?”

  Rona nodded numbly, trying and failing to sort out all this information.

  “I lived there for five years with my brother, Raef.”

  Through the fog of confusion, Rona registered that for the first time since she’d met her, Jossalyn’s face dropped into a pained frown. Then the name clicked.

  “Raef. Raef Warren. Raef Warren is your brother.”

  Rona was vaguely aware that she slumped onto the bed next to Jossalyn.

  Jossalyn nodded. “Your voice tells me you know something of him. At least Daniel told you that much.”

  Suddenly the door to the chamber opened, and Garrick and Daniel entered.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but we need you, Jossalyn,” Garrick said.

  “This way to my study,” Daniel said, gesturing out the door.

  Rona frowned in confusion.

  “But surely our guests are tired from their journey, Daniel,” she said with more bite than she intended.

  Daniel crossed his arms over his chest, a scowl on his face. Strangely, Garrick quirked an eyebrow at her in amusement.

  “Rest will have to wait,” Daniel said curtly.

  “Why?” Rona shot back. Why on earth would Daniel need both Garrick and Jossalyn in his study? And why was she being
excluded?

  Daniel’s face darkened further and he looked ready to bite something back, but Jossalyn stood.

  “I hope we can continue our conversation later,” she said warmly to Rona.

  Rona could only nod dazedly as Jossalyn rose and went to the door. Garrick followed her out. Daniel waited for Rona to rise from her old bed and exit the chamber. But as he turned up the stairs toward the study and she turned down, she couldn’t suppress a mutter.

  “Mulish and rock-like.”

  “What was that?” Daniel said, turning back to her.

  “Nothing,” she said sourly, then descended the stairs to the hall once more. Now wasn’t the time to pick a fight with him, but as soon as the opportunity arose, she’d give him an earful and demand to know what was afoot.

  She only hoped he’d tell her.

  HIGHLANDER’S RECKONING

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Rona woke from a restless night of sleep with a headache throbbing behind her right eye. She sat up and glanced around the dim chamber. Daniel must have already risen and left.

  After she dressed and splashed water on her hands and face, she peeked behind the furs covering the window. Yesterday’s storm had abated to a dull, drizzly morning.

  She tried to smooth the scowl on her face as she trudged down to the hall, but her foul mood was too deeply entrenched.

  She hadn’t gotten an opportunity to talk with Daniel—more like demand information from him—yesterday, so busy were they with their guests.

  The evening meal had passed pleasantly enough. Jossalyn and Garrick had joined them on the dais for the meal, which was a simple affair. Jossalyn had told Rona the remarkable story of how she’d met Garrick, escaped her horrible brother—Raef Warren, which still shocked Rona—and pledged her healing skills to the Bruce and his rebel camp.

  Daniel and Garrick had mostly talked to each other during the meal, but every once in a while, Garrick would shoot Jossalyn a look, sometimes tender, sometimes heated, always adoring. Rona had felt a strange pinch each time she witnessed those covert looks. Garrick and Jossalyn were truly happy.

  That thought had her mouth turning down again as she walked through the great hall, which was scattered with people finishing their morning meal. It wasn’t that she didn’t want those two to be happy. Was she…jealous?

  She entered the kitchen and snatched a few honeyed oatcakes left over from the morning meal. Her stomach felt too sour with ire to eat, but she’d want the food later, once she was in the Galloway woods with Bhreaca.

  She still hadn’t seen Daniel or their guests yet this morning, so she went to the yard to seek him out. She was going to pick a fight, and she knew it. But she didn’t care. At least the drizzle had halted, she thought sourly.

  She spotted two large kilted figures standing atop the battlements along the curtain wall and marched toward them. They appeared to be deep in conversation, with Daniel pointing to the southeast as he spoke quietly to Garrick.

  “Good morning,” she said tartly as she stepped from the stone stairs to the battlements.

  They nodded to her without a word.

  “Where is Jossalyn?” she asked with a brief glance around.

  Garrick gave her a wry look. “She’s still soaking in the luxury of a real bed.”

  “Oh. Well, I’m going to visit the Fergusons,” she said, turning to Daniel.

  He frowned. “I won’t be able to go today, so we’ll have to find another time. The others will be here shortly,” he said, gesturing across the loch toward the village.

  Rona matched his frown. More guests—more of Daniel’s taciturn, elusive, secretive family.

  Garrick wasn’t so bad, and she was genuinely coming to know and like Jossalyn. But meeting and hosting them left her feeling tense and drained. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to another round of introductions and explanations of all the things Daniel hadn’t bothered to tell her. She just wanted to get away, to go to the one place she felt truly at ease, truly herself.

  “Well, I’m going. You can stay here,” she said acidly.

  Of course, she was going against what they’d already agreed upon when they’d negotiated—and made love—that day in the study. But she was in too foul a mood to care.

  “You’re not going without me.”

  Daniel’s voice brokered no argument, which only annoyed Rona further. She crossed her arms and leveled him with a hard stare.

  “Aye, I am.”

  Garrick suddenly chuckled lightly.

  She rounded on him. “What’s so funny?”

  Garrick raised an eyebrow at her and met her stare with one of his own.

  “You remind me of Alwin,” he said simply.

  That sent her temper flaring hotter, and she turned back to Daniel. “I wish I knew what that meant.”

  “I haven’t met Robert’s wife either, Rona,” he said coldly. He turned to Garrick. “Can you give us a moment?”

  The amused look lingered on Garrick’s hard features, but he nodded in acquiescence and walked away along the battlements.

  “What is this about, Rona?” Daniel said tightly to her once Garrick was out of earshot. “I thought we agreed that I’d accompany you to the Fergusons’ cottage. And now you’re mad at me for not telling you about a woman I’ve never met?”

  Hot tears of frustration stung her eyes. “Since I’m apparently not invited to your secret meetings in the study, perhaps you are uninvited from accompanying me to Ian and Mairi’s.”

  She felt foolish, like a petulant child, but she realized she was more hurt than she initially thought. Daniel, Garrick, and Jossalyn had stayed in the study doing who knew what for hours yesterday, only emerging to take the evening meal with her. Was this how it would be between them?

  Some of the anger drained from his face, and his stormy eyes softened on her.

  “I’m sorry, sweeting,” he said simply.

  She started slightly. He’d never used an endearment with her—unless “lass” counted.

  He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Perhaps he hadn’t slept well either.

  “I’d like you to please not go to the Fergusons’ cottage today, or any time without me, as we agreed,” he said slowly. “I’ll go with you in a few days once everything is more settled here. I’d like you to be here to welcome the rest of my family to our home.”

  “Why?” she said cautiously. “Why do you want me here?”

  Perhaps this was the deepest aspect of her pain and frustration. The fact that he was keeping things from her, excluding her, made her feel untrusted—and unwanted.

  He seemed to read the emotions that must have been churning on her face.

  “Because I want to show you off to my family. Because I’m proud to be your husband.”

  If his endearment had thrown her off-balance, this admission sent her spinning. Before she fumbled her way to a question, he went on.

  “You are smart, strong, and capable, Rona,” he said. “And you’re stunningly beautiful.”

  “What…where is this coming from?”

  He shifted on his feet, suddenly looking like a contrite lad.

  “Jossalyn mentioned something yesterday about my communication skills, or lack thereof. She gave me quite the verbal lashing for keeping you in the dark about—about several things.”

  Her eyes widened. She’d have to thank Jossalyn later. But then she narrowed her gaze on him.

  “And did she convince you to tell me about whatever it is you’re keeping from me?”

  He sobered and pinned her with his eyes, which were the color of the wind-churned loch behind him. “I’ll tell you everything tonight,” he said. “After the feast.”

  “Truly?” Anticipation coursed through her. No more secrets between them. He trusted her.

  “Aye, truly.”

  She opened her mouth to tell him how happy his decision made her, but a flicker of movement on the loch behind him caught her eye. The same large boat that had transported Garric
k and Jossalyn now moved toward the castle from the village.

  Her breath caught in her throat. “They’re here already?”

  Nervousness mingled with anticipation at the thought of finally meeting the rest of Daniel’s family.

  “Apparently,” Daniel said, turning to squint at the boat as it drew nearer. “And they look to have brought a small army.”

  The two of them descended from the battlements and crossed out to the docks. As the barge docked in front of the castle, Rona couldn’t suppress a gasp. Daniel was right. Though it was by far the largest vessel that ferried between the castle and the village, the barge was nearly overflowing with enormous kilted men. They all wore the bright red Sinclair plaid, though beyond that they looked like a motley lot.

  They poured off the boat and onto the dock, and Rona guessed that there were at least two dozen of them. They nodded as they walked down the wooden boardwalk toward the castle, some stopping to exchange a grin or a forearm grasp with Daniel.

  “Why are there so many warriors?” Rona asked in shock.

  “I’m sure it was just for…protection. They’ve had a long journey, and Robert is very protective of his wife and daughter,” Daniel replied cautiously.

  “Danny!”

  Rona jumped at the bellow, which came from behind the thinning line of Highland warriors.

  An enormous yet lithe-looking Highlander pushed his way toward Daniel and embraced him in a hard hug, as Garrick had done yesterday. As the man stood back to appraise Daniel with a grin, Rona got a chance to look at him.

  Another near-copy of Daniel, this man had darker hair but the same firm jawline and large build. His eyes were pale blue and filled with merriment, but Rona noticed a few more lines on his face than Daniel’s. He had to be Robert, the eldest brother.

  Daniel glanced over his brother’s shoulder. “Cousin!” he shouted and went to embrace yet another tall, muscular Highlander. Rona had to shake her head in amazement. How could one family have so many strapping, brawny giants in it?

  The man Daniel moved to hug was, blessedly, not another dark-haired, hard-faced copy of the others. This must be Burke, she realized. His light brown hair and dark blue eyes, which were filled with warmth, set him apart, but he was dressed and built like the others.