Fia started coughing more now. He figured he had better finish quickly and take her away from the funeral pyre. She seemed to be having a very hard time with the death of his father.
“I dinna want to dwell on anythin’ upsettin’ anymore, and that is why I will be married first thing in the mornin’ to the beautiful Lady Fia.”
Clapping and cheers went up from the crowd. Still, Fia didn’t seem very happy. Alastair realized that she had been through a lot lately and that, after tomorrow, things would be better for everyone.
“Cheer up, Fia,” he whispered in her ear. “In the mornin’ we will be married. And I canna wait to claim ye as my wife – in all ways.”
Running her hand over the heart brooch that Alastair kept in the wooden box, Fia couldn’t stop thinking about what Duncan had told her. Had this pin once been worn by Alastair’s mother and was she a member of the queen’s secret group? And had she been the one to save him on the battlefield? It was too much to be just a coincidence. The brooch looked exactly like Fia’s. Besides, there was no way Alastair’s father would have been able to make up such a story.
Secrets ran rampant at Cluny Castle, and Fia was now the keeper of them all.
She heard the door open behind her, and slammed down the lid and replaced the box on the shelf. “Alastair,” she said, taking a deep breath and faking a smile. Why did she feel like such a traitor when she hadn’t done anything wrong? Or had she? She no longer knew.
“Fia, why did ye leave the great hall right after the meal? I thought we would have time for a dance or two before retirin’.” Alastair entered the room with Cerberus sneaking in right behind him before he closed the door. He walked over to the shelf and put what looked like a small box behind the chest that held the brooch.
Her stomach clenched. It seemed difficult to breathe. After hearing Duncan’s story early this morning, she sent a messenger boy to the Iron Eagle with a note to Lorraine that she needed to talk to her right away. She had hoped the boy would be back by now, but it wasn’t a fast trip. For all she knew, he might not even return until the morning.
“I wasna feelin’ well,” she said, laying her hand on her stomach.
“Ah, ye are nervous about the weddin’ in the mornin’. I am a little fidgety myself.” He removed his sword and weapon belt and hung them on a hook on the wall. Then he kicked off his boots. The hound picked up a boot and started running in crazy circles around the room, knocking into everything. The dog jumped up in the air, hitting things and acting possessed.
“Cerberus,” she said, trying to still the dog.
“Nay.” Alastair stopped her with his hand on her arm. “I have this.” He whistled. Immediately, the dog came running, stopping in front of him and dropping the boot. Alastair pulled a dried smelt from his pocket and flipped it to the dog. The dog snatched it right out of midair. “Guid boy, but ye have to leave now. I need to talk with Fia.” The dog followed him over to the door. He took another smelt from his pouch and threw it into the corridor. The deerhound ran after it, and Alastair quickly slammed the door. He turned around with a huge smile on his face, and a sense of pride in his stance. “How’s that?” he asked, brushing off his hands.
“Ye gave the dog a smelt?”
“Aye. I figured there are barrels of them in the larder. Since I canna stand the taste, I willna miss them. I took a lesson from ye and started rewardin’ the dog for bein’ guid instead of yellin’ at it for bein’ bad.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The dog scratched at the door and barked, trying to get back in.
“I think he needs a little more trainin’,” she told him.
“He’ll calm down and head to the great hall for scraps of food once he realizes I am no’ goin’ to open the door.”
“I’m impressed, Alastair.”
“I took yer words to heart, Fia. Now that my faither’s funeral is over, I had time to think and realized ye are right. I need to start concentratin’ on my family – and even the bluidy dog.”
“What about Caitlin?” she asked. “Are ye goin’ to be nice to her or continue to blame her for yer mathair’s departure?”
He groaned and released her, moving over to the bed where he started disrobing. “What would ye do in this situation?” he asked, surprising her to answer that way.
“I would take the girl under my wing and treat her like the sister she is if I were ye.”
“Really?” He pulled off his tunic and threw it next to his plaid and climbed into bed naked, pulling the covers to his chest. “If it wasna for my faither’s roamin’ eye, my mathair would still be here today.”
“Ye dinna ken that.”
He looked at her oddly. “Fia, ye are actin’ strangely. And why were ye lookin’ at the heart brooch when I walked in?”
Damn, he’d seen her actions, and now she was going to have to say something to satisfy his curiosity. She still didn’t know what to tell him about her conversation with his father. Perhaps as soon as Lorraine got there, or her cousins arrived on the morrow, she would talk to them and figure out her answer.
“I was thinkin’ about the woman who saved yer life on the battlefield,” she said, fingering her heart brooch for strength.
“What about her?”
“Do ye ever wonder who she was and why she was – wearin’ that pin?”
“Now that I think about it, she might have been a nun.”
“A nun?” That surprised her.
“Aye. After the battles, the nuns from the convent walk the fields lookin’ for wounded to help.”
“I dinna think a nun would have any jewelry of her own. They take the vow of poverty if I’m no’ mistaken.”
“Ye’re right,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Perhaps she stole the pin off a dead body on the battlefield and then felt guilty. That is why she gave it to me.”
“Alastair.” She put her hands on her hips. “Nuns dinna steal. Besides, it is a lady’s brooch. The dead on the field are all men. Tell me again, what she said to ye when she gave it to ye?”
Alastair’s eyes glanced up and to the side and he relived the memory from the past. “She said I should be kind to anyone I ever saw wearin’ a brooch like that. But I think she felt guilty about somethin’, and perhaps that is why she wanted to give it away.”
“Nay, I dinna believe that. There must be another explanation.”
“Mayhap there is, but tonight I dinna want to think about it.” He held out his arms. “Take off yer clothes and come here, Fia. I am feelin’ randy.”
Her body stiffened. She couldn’t intimately lie with him while she was harboring so many secrets. It wouldn’t feel right.
“Alastair, ye ken we decided ye wouldna take my virginity before we were married.”
“Losh me! We are marryin’ in the mornin’, Fia. How much longer must I wait?”
“At least until the morrow,” she said, walking to the door.
“Fia? Where are ye goin’?”
“I am worried about Caitlin. I am goin’ to spend the night in her chamber to comfort her since she just lost her faither and is all alone.”
“I just lost my faither as well.” The hurt in his eyes about broke her heart, but she couldn’t stay with him now. He was only going to make this harder. She needed to talk to Lorraine or her cousins and figure out what to do before she lost her head and did something crazy like making love to Alastair before they were married.
“Ye are a man, Alastair. Be strong. I will see ye in the mornin’.”
Fia made her way down to the great hall where she found Niven laughing and having a tankard of ale with Brohain and Rhodric.
“Niven, have ye seen the messenger lad named Finn?”
Niven waved at her, sporting a silly grin. “Hello, Lady Fia. Nay, I havena seen him since early this mornin’. Why do ye ask?”
“I sent him on an errand and was curious if he’d returned yet.”
“Well, what do we have here?” asked Brohain. “The little bride-to-be i
s all alone and lonely.” He stood and staggered since he was so drunk.
“Why dinna we keep her company tonight?” Rhodric was at her side, just as well in his cups as Brohain.
“Leave her be.” Niven stood up, but Brohain pushed him away, sending him crashing into a few knights talking by the fire.
“I’m surprised to see ye are no’ by Alastair,” said Brohain. “Perhaps he isna man enough to keep ye in his bed. How about ye try a real man like me instead?” He reached out and pulled her to him, kissing her hard on the lips. The rancid taste of his mouth on hers almost made her retch.
“I want a kiss, too,” said Rhodric. “Or mayhap a squeeze of those perky little breasts.” He reached out with both hands to touch her. She fought back, trying to push him away.
“Leave me alone,” she cried.
Niven came to help her once again, and Brohain kicked him in the stomach and then turned back to her. “Why should Alastair have everythin’ guid?” asked Brohain. “I think we’ll help ourselves to a little taste of what the wench has to offer.”
“I think no’!” Alastair appeared behind her wearing just his plaid, no tunic or shoes. However, he did have his sword in his hand, and it was pointed right at the men. The tip of it came up, scraping the skin under Brohain’s chin. Brohain and Rhodric backed away with their hands in the air. “I should kill ye both for even thinkin’ ye could go behind my back and try to assault my bride.”
“I tried to help her, my laird,” Niven called out, bent over and holding his stomach.
“Now that my faither is dead, I see no reason to keep the two of ye in the clan any longer. Brohain and Rhodric, gather yer things and leave right now. Ye are never to set foot back in Cluny Castle, or I swear I will kill ye both, do ye understand?”
“We were just havin’ a little fun,” complained Brohain.
“Ye canna blame a man for tryin’ with a wench who looks like Fia,” added Rhodric.
“Out!” Alastair shouted, nodding and bringing over two of his men. “Earc and Fearchar will see ye to the gate. And I warn ye; I never want to see yer ugly faces again.”
“Come on,” grumbled Fearchar pulling Brohain and Rhodric to the door. Earc helped him.
Fia threw her arms around Alastair and clung to him. She had been so afraid that she was about to be raped. “Thank ye for comin’ to my rescue.”
“No bride of mine is goin’ to be roamin’ the castle while I’m sleepin’ alone in my bed. Now, I am here to take ye back to my bedchamber. I will no’ hear any objections, and that is final.”
Chapter 21
Alastair awoke with a crick in his neck and pain in his calf, having slept in his plaid again. The damned chair was so uncomfortable that he should have slept on the floor with the dog instead.
He sat up and looked across the room. Caitlin and Fia shared his bed while his hound was also lounged atop the pallet, on its back and with its legs up in the air.
“Losh me, ye’ve got to be jestin’,” he said softly to himself. Even the damned dog got to sleep with Fia while he fell off the chair three times trying to get comfortable – in his own room.
Needing some ale or mayhap something stronger like whisky, he got up, grabbed his tunic, boots and weapon belt, and tiptoed to the door. As soon as the door opened a crack, Cerberus bounded off the bed and pushed him down in his hurry to leave the room. Alastair dropped his things, looking up only to have his face washed with a long tongue.
“Stop it, ye fool.” He got up and picked up his things and quietly closed the door. With the beast tripping him every step he took, he finally managed to make his way to the great hall to find Niven standing in the doorway stretching and yawning.
“Niven, take the dog,” he said, needing a minute of peace. Seeing the great hall filled with drunken bodies from last night, he opted to go up to the battlements for some fresh air to clear his head instead.
“Come here, Cerberus,” said Niven, trying to catch the dog. But it kept darting away from him. “Why didna ye have Fia show ye how to control him, my laird?”
“I dinna need a lassie to show me how to do anythin’.” He put his weapon belt on the floor with his boots while he quickly pulled his tunic over his head.
“Speakin’ of Fia, I’m sorry about last night.” Niven lunged at the dog and landed on the floor when the hound stepped back and then jumped over him and ran like a possessed demon through the great hall. Rushes flew up in the air from the animal’s feet, and Cerberus’ tail knocked over a few empty tankards from last night’s celebration. Several of the men complained and started cursing at the dog.
“It would have been better if ye werena in yer cups and could have watched over Fia for me, but it doesna matter since I saw to matters. If Brohain or Rhodric show their faces here again, I will keep my promise and kill them.”
“Where is Fia?” asked Niven, getting off the ground and brushing the dirt from his palms.
“She’s still in bed.”
“Ah.” Niven smiled from ear to ear. “She was so appreciative that ye saved her virtue from Brohain and Rhodric that she gave it to ye instead.”
“Nay. She spent the night in my bed but not with me. She was consolin’ my half-sister, Caitlin, all night.”
“Caitlin? How did that happen?” asked Niven, scratching his head. “I swear I heard ye say ye were takin’ her to yer bed when ye left the great hall last night.”
“I did say that.” Alastair strapped on his weapon belt. “But before I kent what happened, I agreed to let Caitlin sleep in my bed while I slept in the damned chair.” He stretched his neck to the side and rubbed it with his palm. “Even the dog got a better sleep than me. I swear I dinna ken how Fia does it.”
“Does what, my laird?” asked Niven with a yawn.
“She made me think it was my idea when I had somethin’ different in mind.”
“So it was her idea that ye let Caitlin sleep in the room with ye?”
“Nay. Aye. Hell, I dinna ken. I need to take a walk on the battlements to clear my head.” He bent over and put on one boot. As he reached for the other, Cerberus ran up and snatched it from him, getting down on his haunches, looking up at him with playful eyes. “Give me the boot, boy.” His hand shot forward, but the dog jumped up and started running around the room with the boot in his mouth.
“I’ll get it for ye, my laird,” offered Niven.
“Hell, dinna bother. I dinna even care.” He limped away wearing only one boot, climbing the steps of the battlements, almost getting run over by Earc on his way down.
“Sorry, my laird, I dinna see ye there. It looks like Finn is back and I see a travelin’ party approachin’ as well. I’m goin’ to open the gate.”
“Finn is back?” he asked. “From where? Why? Who sent him anywhere?”
“Niven told me that Fia sent him out to the Iron Eagle yesterday.”
“Why would she do that?” Alastair had a strange feeling that Fia was deceiving him about something.
“I’m no’ sure, my laird. Did ye want me to send Finn up here to speak to ye?”
“Aye. Nay.” He ran a hand through his hair in aggravation. The last thing he wanted to do was to go behind Fia’s back checking up on her. If she was hiding something, he wanted her to tell him herself.
“My laird?” asked Earc in confusion.
“Send Fia up to the battlements to talk to me instead.”
“Aye, my laird.” He looked down at Alastair’s feet. “Did ye ken ye are only wearin’ one boot?”
Alastair glared at him. “Did ye ken the other boot is goin’ to be kickin’ ye in the arse if ye dinna get out of here right now?”
Earc hurried away while Alastair made his way up to the battlements. Leaning over the wall, he rubbed his stiff neck hoping the cool morning breeze would clear the confusion from his head. Ever since he found Fia alone with his dead father, she had acted strangely. Things had been so hectic that he hadn’t even had time to ask her what she was doing in his father’
s chamber in the first place. He heard that his father had called for her, but he had no idea why.
The sound of the creaking chains and pulleys filled the air as the gate lifted. He looked over the wall to see Finn on his horse waiting to enter. Then, before he could even get inside, Fia ran out to talk to him. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but by the look on Fia’s face, he could tell she wasn’t happy.
“Finn, it’s about time ye returned.” Fia ducked under the moving gate and ran to meet the messenger. “Where is Lorraine? Didna she return with ye?”
“I’m sorry, my lady, but when I got to the Iron Eagle and asked for her, I was told by her husband that she never returned from her errand. Her body was found miles away. It seems she was attacked and killed on the road by bandits.”
“Nay!” she shouted, feeling her heart sink in her chest. “Lorraine is dead? Are ye sure?”
“Her husband told me directly. He said the bandits took everythin’, even her horse and only left the clothes on her back.”
Fia reached out and laid her hand on Finn’s horse, feeling as if Lorraine’s death was her fault. If she hadn’t asked Lorraine to take the crown to Richard, the woman would still be alive today. She didn’t even know now if Lorraine had met up with her contact and given them the crown. Then again, she must have been on her way back to the inn when it happened since the English did turn around and retreat.
“Fia,” someone shouted, gaining her attention. She looked up to see her sister, Morag, approaching on horseback. With her was Fia’s entire family.
“Morag,” she called out, picking up her gown and running to greet her. Her sister was off the horse and in her arms before the horse even stopped moving.
“I was so frightened for ye,” cried Morag, hugging her hard. “We thought ye were dead. Thank guidness Faither came to Rothbury to tell me ye were alive and gettin’ married.”
“Mathair,” cried Fia, running to greet her mother who was riding in a wagon with Fia’s thirteen-year-old twin brothers, Conall and Dugal. She greeted her mother and brothers as well as her father and looked around. “Where is Uncle Duff? Will he be comin’ to my weddin’?”
Highland Secrets Page 20