The Laird's Captive Wife

by Joanna Fulford

  Iain grinned. ‘It looks like we have a full complement then.’

  Five minutes later they went to join the excited little crowd in the courtyard. When the boys re-appeared with the sledges they all set off. The older children soon drew ahead, some of the lads engaged in a running snowball fight on the way. Ashlynn’s pace was of necessity slower to accommodate Fiona’s shorter strides. Iain paused to let them catch up. He could hear Ashlynn speaking to the child, her tone gentle and patient, drawing her companion out and making her laugh. Clearly she had a way with children.

  ‘I never thought of you in this role,’ he said when they had rejoined him. ‘It suits you.’

  ‘Does it?’

  ‘Very much so.’

  The words were quietly spoken but they contained a nuance she had not heard before. It turned her thoughts in another direction entirely and sent a flush of warmth through her entire being.

  They walked on for a while but, as they drew nearer their goal the snow became deeper. Fiona stumbled over the skirt of her gown. Ashlynn’s hand prevented her from falling but it was clear that progress was going to be slow.

  ‘You go on ahead,’ she told Iain.

  ‘I have a better idea.’ He bent and lifted the child up on to his shoulders. ‘Hold on tight now.’

  Fiona was quick to obey, torn between anxiety at being so far from the ground and the thrill of having so exalted a position. However, as they walked on she began to relax and enjoy herself, exchanging occasional shy smiles with Ashlynn. In fact Ashlynn was amused and oddly touched. She had never imagined Iain unbending this far and yet he did it so lightly and withal so naturally. He would make a good father. The ramifications to that sent another flush of warmth through her. She shot him a sidelong glance and saw him smile.

  * * *

  By the time they reached the slope the older members of the party were already organising themselves. Iain lifted Fiona down and gave her into the safe keeping of two older girl cousins and then watched as Hamish and Donald embarked on their first run. However, their balance was awry and the sled went hurtling off course towards the burn. With yells of dismay they tried to take evasive action, only to lurch sideways into a hidden boulder just below the surface of the snow. The collision pitched them headfirst down the hill, to the huge enjoyment of the onlookers. Undeterred the other participants climbed aboard their own sledges and went speeding away. The air rang with shrieks and laughter.

  Having seen the others underway Iain turned to his wife. ‘Will you adventure with me, Ashlynn?’

  The tone was casual enough but there was a mischievous expression in his eye that gave her pause. Seeing her hesitation Iain seized the advantage and went straight in for the kill.

  ‘What’s the matter, lass? Are you afraid?’

  He saw her chin come up and grinned, knowing his faith hadn’t been misplaced. Taking her hand he led her away from the main group to a much steeper part of the hill. Ashlynn looked at it with trepidation. The lower slope had produced speeds that were hair-raising enough. This was something else again. At the base of the slope the ground curved out and then ended abruptly in a sharp drop to the burn, dark and deep and swift-flowing at this season.

  ‘Are you sure about this, Iain?’

  ‘Of course. Jeannie and I came here often as children. It’s an exhilarating run I promise you.’

  Unwilling to back down from the unspoken challenge she seated herself gingerly on the sledge and he climbed on behind, locking his arms around her.

  ‘Can you swim by the way?’ he asked.

  ‘Swim!’

  ‘Aye, for when we end up in the burn, ye ken.’

  Before she could reply he pushed off and heard her shriek as the sled gathered speed, hurtling down the hillside at a dizzying rate. Ashlynn gasped as the wind stung her face and brought the water to her eyes, seeing through blurred vision the burn approaching with horrifying rapidity. Uttering a wail of dismay she closed her eyes. However, what she hadn’t known was that the view from above was foreshortened and where the land flattened out at the bottom of the slope there was in fact a considerable distance to the stream, easily enough space for the sled to come to a safe stop well short of the water. Speechless she sat for some moments in stunned disbelief, her heart in her throat. Iain too was unusually quiet. When she looked round it was to see him shaking with silent laughter. Ashlynn glared at him.

  ‘You horror! You frightened the life out of me.’

  Rather than expressing any kind of remorse Iain’s merriment seemed to increase. Incredulous she could only stare at him, her body still trembling with reaction. Then, as the initial shock subsided, the humour of it struck her and somewhat ruefully she began to laugh too.

  ‘Truly you are well named!’ she said.

  ‘Admit that you enjoyed it.’

  ‘If terror can be said to be enjoyable then, yes, I admit it.’

  ‘Is it not such moments of terror that make us feel most alive?’

  ‘Don’t try to philosophise, villain. What you enjoyed was scaring the daylights out of me.’

  ‘I canna deny it.’

  Ashlynn grabbed a handful of snow and pushed it in his face. ‘Take that!’

  The words were succeeded by a gasp as, without warning, he tipped her backwards into the snow and then followed her down, pinning her beneath him. Worse, there was a gleam in those dark eyes that she recognised all too well.

  ‘Have you not learned that there are fearful penalties attached to that kind of thing?’

  Then his hands were round her, tickling her ribs unmercifully. Ashlynn shrieked, trying in vain to escape.

  ‘Now then, beg for mercy, wife.’

  ‘I will not.’

  ‘Say you so?’

  His efforts intensified. Helpless with laughter she had at last to cry quarter. ‘Enough, Iain, I yield.’

  ‘Then I claim the right as victor to name the terms of surrender.’

  ‘Which are?’

  For answer he took a leisurely kiss. Powerless to prevent it she had perforce to submit. However, the experience was enjoyable to a most disquieting degree. Furthermore the expression in his eyes did nothing to detract from that. For a long moment they remained thus, until other voices broke the spell. They looked round to see Hamish and Donald approaching along the path at the top of the crest followed closely by Ban with James and Andrew.

  ‘Such perfect timing,’ murmured Iain between gritted teeth. ‘I swear Hamish does it on purpose.’

  Ashlynn laughed and he threw her a speaking glance. Then she felt his weight shift as he got to his feet. A moment later he reached down and took her hand, pulling her up after, and together they toiled their way back up the hill.

  As the oncoming quintet drew nigh Ashlynn saw her brother’s speculative grin as he took in her dishevelled appearance. However, before he could comment Hamish spoke up.

  ‘We’re following your example, my lord. This looks like much more fun.’

  ‘Indeed it is,’ replied Iain. Then in an aside to his wife, ‘The slope’s quite exciting too.’

  Ashlynn gave a snort of laughter and then hurriedly turned it into a cough. Donald regarded her with hopeful eyes.

  ‘Will you come with me, my lady?’ he asked.

  ‘Thank you no. Once was enough.’

  In evident disappointment he joined Hamish on the sled. Beside them Ban followed suit with James and Andrew. Then all five set off down the hill again.

  For a moment Iain followed their progress and smiled. However, when he turned to his wife his expression was quite serious.

  ‘Was once really enough or will you adventure with me again, Ashlynn?’

  His eyes met and held her own and she recognised in his face the invitation that was both challenge and promise. Her spirit leapt, remembering the heart-thumping excitement of the first dizzy rush down the icy slope. She knew now that she had never been in danger, that he would not have let anything happen to her. It had been exhilarating and no
t just because of the purported risk. Being with him was the real exhilaration. She saw him smile and hold out his hand to her. For the briefest moment she hesitated, then smiled in return.

  ‘Yes, I will.’

  Iain’s fingers closed around hers. ‘Come then, my sweet.’

  This time there was the thrill with none of the terror and they reached the bottom of the hill in gales of laughter.

  * * *

  At the end of that afternoon when they walked back through the snow to Dark Mount, Ashlynn’s cloak was soaked along with the hem of her gown and her shoes, and her fingers tingled inside her gloves, but there was a glow inside her that rendered such details irrelevant. In truth she had not thought two months ago ever to feel so alive again. For the first time she began to glimpse a future that was not filled with fear, a possibility that she might, after all, find happiness here in this remote and wild land.

  * * *

  Ashlynn returned to her chamber and changed out of her wet garments. The task had not long been completed when there was a knock at the door. Her heart leapt as she bade the caller enter. As the door opened she saw her brother on the threshold.

  ‘Oh, Ban.’

  He smiled faintly. ‘Were you expecting someone else?’

  ‘I thought it might have been Morag.’

  ‘Ah.’ He glanced round, taking in the pile of discarded garments. ‘Am I interrupting?’

  ‘No, of course not. Come in.’

  ‘I need to talk to you, Ash.’

  Seeing that he looked unusually preoccupied she gestured to a chair. ‘Well then, won’t you sit down?’

  However, he ignored her invitation and moved closer to the hearth, looking down into the fire. Ashlynn waited, puzzled, feeling the first stirring of unease.

  ‘I have been thinking,’ he said at last.

  ‘About what?’

  ‘The future.’ He turned to face her, regarding her with a steady gaze. ‘Your husband has been a most generous host, but I cannot stay here indefinitely. I must make my way in the world. Since the best chance of doing that is to go to Dunfermline and seek military service, that is what I mean to do.’

  ‘But your shoulder is not completely healed yet.’

  ‘No, but it grows stronger with every day. In the New Year I shall get back into training and by the spring I shall be fit again.’

  Ashlynn bit her lip, fighting the rising sense of dread. ‘I don’t want you to go, Ban.’

  ‘I know but I must. Surely you see that?’

  ‘Yes, but…’

  ‘But what?’

  ‘You are all I have left of family. I will miss you dreadfully.’

  ‘And I you,’ he replied, ‘but we will see each other as time and occasion permit. Besides, you will be too busy to miss me for long.’

  Ashlynn turned away to hide the tears that threatened. Frowning, Ban took her by the shoulders.

  ‘No need to be despondent. I’m not leaving yet. There’s plenty of time for you to get used to the idea.’

  ‘I think I will never get used to the idea.’

  ‘You must, Ash. Our ways lie along different paths now.’

  ‘Does Iain know about this?’

  ‘Not yet, but I shall speak to him soon.’

  She turned and regarded him with imploring eyes. ‘Must you really go?’

  He gave her a gentle smile. ‘You have found your place, Ash. Now I must seek mine.’

  He left shortly after this and Ashlynn paced the floor in mounting distress. In a matter of weeks Ban would be gone. He was an able swordsman and she had no doubt of his finding the situation he desired. And after Dunfermline what then? He had spoken of their meeting again from time to time but she was realist enough to know it could not be often. What if something were to happen to him? Life was precarious; doubly so for one who earned a living by the sword. He was the last remaining tie with everything she had held dear. If she lost him…Suddenly, all her former fears rose like a tide and she sank trembling on to a chair.

  * * *

  That evening she was quieter than usual and despite the music and laughter all around the feeling of heaviness persisted. Involuntarily her thoughts turned from the present to the last Yuletide celebrations at Heslingfield, to the hall and the great log burning in the hearth and all the walls festooned with winter greenery. She could see her family and hear again their laughter and merry banter as they moved among their guests. Almost she could hear music and song and smell the rich fare issuing from the kitchen for Lord Cyneric was renowned for keeping a fine table. Not only was he a good host, no one was ever turned away from his door no matter how humble. Remembering it, she felt the tears start. Yule would never be celebrated more in Heslingfield. A great Saxon house was gone, along with all its tradition of hospitality and good fellowship.

  ‘Ashlynn?’

  Jeannie’s voice recalled her and she looked up with a start to find both her sister-in-law and husband regarding her closely. ‘Forgive me.’

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Yes, perfectly.’

  With an effort she dragged her attention back to the room and the company.

  ‘Duncan and I want to invite you to Ardnashiel in the spring,’ said Jeannie. ‘You will come, won’t you? I would not lose you so soon.’

  ‘I would be delighted.’ Ashlynn looked up at Iain. ‘That is, if…’

  He smiled and then turned to his sister. ‘I will bring her, I promise.’

  ‘I shall hold you to it.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dare disobey,’ he confided to his wife. ‘My sister has a fearsome tongue on her.’

  Ashlynn smiled. ‘Then I’ll look forward to the spring weather.’

  ‘It will come soon enough.’ Jeannie threw her brother a shrewd glance. ‘And you will be off adventuring again no doubt.’

  ‘That depends on the adventure,’ he replied.

  Neither of them had spoken the word revenge but it was tacitly understood and Ashlynn felt a sudden sense of foreboding. When all the festivities were over and the guests were gone would his thoughts turn that way? Would the thaw see him gone too? He was a man of action, a man driven by a blood oath. Once the fine weather came he would be drawn from Dark Mount to ride with his men once more, and her brother too would leave for Dunfermline to sell his skills. This magic winter world that held them was only a dream, an illusion that would vanish with the snow. She knew it now and a strange feeling of dread entered her heart. The two people she loved most would be gone and she would be alone again. She also knew that what she felt for Iain was much more than physical attraction. Somehow she had come to care for him more deeply than she would ever have thought possible. It was a very different emotion from the one she felt for Ban, and it could not be denied.

  Iain, alive to every nuance, sensed that something was wrong and determined to know the reason for it. However, the demands of the guests were many and the laws of hospitality required that their needs came first.

  * * *

  It was therefore much later when they had retired that he found his moment. Ashlynn had gone ahead of him and when he entered the room he was surprised to see her still up. She was sitting by the fire and had evidently been deep in thought for she started on hearing him enter. He saw her smile and crossed the intervening space to take her in his arms. Then he sat down and drew her on to his knee.

  ‘Something is amiss, Ashlynn, and has been all evening. What is it?’

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘Your face speaks before you do, my sweet. It always has.’ He smiled. ‘So tell me.’

  ‘It’s what Jeannie said earlier.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘About you leaving in the spring.’

  He surveyed her in surprise. ‘When the warmer weather comes I’ll ride again with my men. But do you really think I would stay away from you for very long?’ He kissed her lightly on the brow. ‘It couldn’t be done.’

  ‘But you will still seek out Fitzurse.’
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  ‘You know I must.’

  ‘Yes, and if you find him he may kill you and if he does what shall I do then?’

  ‘Hush, lass. There’s no need for you to be afraid of that.’

  ‘How can I not be?’

  ‘Fitzurse likes to win by treachery. In a fair fight he has little chance and he knows it.’

  ‘Can there ever be such a thing as a fair fight with such a man?’

  ‘Aye, there can, and one day he’ll have to meet me.’

  Ashlynn sighed and looked away. Very gently he turned her face to his.

  ‘The ghosts of the past must be exorcised, Ashlynn, or haunt us ever more.’ He paused, surveying her closely. ‘But this is not just about Fitzurse, is it?’

  She shook her head. ‘Ban is going to leave.’

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘He plans to go to Dunfermline and seek service there.’

  ‘I’d say he’d every chance of success.’

  For a long moment she was silent and the blue eyes were veiled beneath sooty lashes. Then he saw a glis tening tear slide down her cheek.

  ‘Ach, lass, don’t cry.’

  Unfortunately this had the opposite effect to the one he had intended and more tears followed. He regarded her in concern. Ashlynn took a deep breath and tried to recover herself.

  ‘Forgive me. I know that you must go and Ban too, but I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to either of you, of losing you.’

  His arms tightened about her. ‘You’ll never lose me, lass, no matter how hard you try, or Ban either if I know aught about him. Not at odds of less than twenty to one anyway.’

  It drew a reluctant laugh. ‘I never used to be insecure—until the Normans came.’

  ‘You need never feel insecure. Nothing shall hurt you if I can prevent it.’

  He took her face in his hands then, brushing her tears away, kissed her very gently on the mouth.

  ‘You mean a great deal to me, lass, and I would never wish to be the cause of tears in you.’ He smiled. ‘As for that brother of yours I will speak with him as occasion permits. If his mind is set on going to Dunfermline, then I might be able to help him; I have certain acquaintance there who could be useful.’