Pledged to a Highlander: Highland Promise Trilogy (Book 1)

by Donna Fletcher

  She glanced around and comfortable that no one was close enough to hear their conversation, though keeping her voice low to be sure, she asked, “Have tongues been wagging, not so kindly, about my da?”

  The sudden, tense change in his demeanor and that he appeared lost for words told her what she needed to know.

  “Please tell me what you’ve heard and from whom,” she said and braced herself for what she was about to hear.

  Ross nodded, worry filling his eyes. “I can’t say who I heard it from since I don’t recall. You know how wagging tongues are. You hear a little from one person, more from another, and before you know it, you can’t recall who was the first to whisper in your ear. It was little bits of whispers at first. There was mention of your da meeting with a dark figure late at night, curiosity as to why he pushed for a quick wedding between you and Royden instead of sending you away until the trouble passed. Inquisitiveness grew when your da, not given to fits of anger, got furious after learning that a chieftain wouldn’t attend your wedding. He even went as far as to go speak to that chieftain and get him to change his mind.”

  That puzzled Oria. She had believed all had accepted the invite of their own accord except Chieftain Thurbane and Lord Learmonth, who had declined for obvious reasons.

  “That hardly speaks of betrayal,” Oria said even more puzzled.

  Ross appeared hesitant to say more.

  “Please, Ross, I trust my clan to be truthful to me and I can’t defend my da’s good name if I’m blind to what is being said about him.”

  “You’re right and I will help you however I can,” he said. “But I can only venture to guess that when people have questions, which they did, and no answers are offered, which they weren’t, curiosity grows. Somewhere someone couldn’t resist to ask the obvious. How do you explain that our clan continued on unscathed compared to others? Few enemy warriors were left behind. And none of our warriors were taken. Your da continued to lead the clan without interference and he continued to meet with that dark figure.”

  It took a few moments with Oria searching back in her memories to put together what others already had. She spoke her thought aloud. “Why now? Why do I hear this only now?”

  Ross shrugged. “I can only surmise that people who returned here with you feel safe enough to discuss it with those outside our clan.”

  Was that it? Or had someone purposely wanted the speculation made known?

  “Do you believe my da betrayed his friends?” Oria asked.

  “Your da was a good chieftain and good to his clan and I will always remember him that way.”

  Oria wasn’t sure of his response. Did Ross mean that regardless of what her da had done, he would remain faithful to the man? She thanked Ross for his honesty and walked away. How had she been so blind to what had been going on? Why hadn’t she known that her da was meeting with someone he didn’t want known? And why had he gotten angry when a chieftain had turned down the invitation to her wedding?

  She stopped suddenly, turned, and ran back toward Ross, calling out, “A moment, Ross.”

  He turned and walked toward her.

  “Who was the chieftain my da got angry with?” she asked.

  “Chieftain Galvin of the Clan Macara.”

  Royden went in search of Penn shortly after his wife had left his solar. He would have summoned the man there, but he didn’t want to chance his wife returning while he spoke with him. He intended to keep private what he discussed with Penn. It was too dangerous a task he sought for anyone to know except him and Penn. He would rather chance Oria’s wrath than see harm brought to anyone over his decision.

  Not seeing Penn anywhere as he walked through the village, his task was delayed when stopped by a few seeking help or a friendly chat. He took the time, since he didn’t want anyone to know he was intent on a mission. When he failed to spot Penn anywhere, he went to his cottage.

  Penn’s eyes went wide when he opened the door and saw his chieftain standing there.

  “A word,” Royden commanded.

  Emily pulled the door from her husband’s hand to swing it open. “Is something wrong, sir?”

  “Emily!” Penn admonished. “We don’t question our chieftain.”

  “When it comes to my husband, I do,” Emily argued, tears clouding her eyes. “I’ll not be losing you, Penn.”

  Penn slipped his arm around his wife and before he could comfort her, Royden spoke up.

  “Rest easy, Emily, you’re not losing your husband,” Royden said, though offered no more.

  “It is good to know our chieftain is a man of his word,” Emily said.

  Penn waited until he was a distance from the cottage so his wife wouldn’t hear him apologize. “Please forgive, Em, sir. She worries I will be lost to her.”

  “As long as you remain faithful to the clan she will have no worry,” Royden said.

  “I take it that my faithfulness is about to be tested?” Penn asked.

  “It is,” Royden said and turned toward the edge of the woods to talk with him.

  Penn stopped. “Too much lurks in the woods that can’t be seen.”

  Royden turned and Penn followed as he led them both away from the village.

  “You are to find out if Oria’s da helped the Beast,” he ordered as they walked.

  “I am nothing more than a warrior, expected to fight not ask questions—”

  “You refuse to obey me?” Royden snapped.

  “No, sir, I tell you the truth and while I might be able to discover a small, most likely irrelevant piece of information, there is one who knows the information you seek.”

  Royden went to ask who when it struck him. “Trevor.”

  “Aye, sir. He is trusted by the Beast. They may not be brothers by blood, but they are brothers nonetheless. Trevor would know if Mistress Oria’s da helped the Beast with his plans.”

  “Do you supply Trevor with information?” Royden asked.

  “No. I report to Fergus,” Penn said.

  “And what do you report?”

  “Your status on warriors and weapons,” Penn said and when an angry scowl surfaced on Royden’s face, he was quick to continue. “I feed Fergus enough for him to believe I adhere to my task. I’ve made no mention of the many arrows you have Wilfred making or the iron work that keeps Cadell busy. It is good to know we will be well prepared if attacked.”

  “Do we need to worry about that?” Royden asked, still hoping that in the end his love for Emily and his son was enough for him to remain loyal to the clan.

  “With Trevor having brought his wife here, I doubt it. He, and definitely not the Beast, would ever put her in danger,” Penn said.

  “Why would the Beast care about Trevor’s wife?” Royden asked, odd that the Beast who seemed to care for no one would be concerned about the woman.

  Penn kept his voice low as if revealing a forbidden secret. “Trevor’s wife is the Beast’s sister.”

  Oria rushed to catch up with her husband as he approached the keep, calling out, “Royden.”

  He stopped, turned, and waited for her to reach him, his hand going out to take hers.

  “We need to go talk with Chieftain Galvin. I discovered that he wasn’t going to attend our wedding and my da got angry and spoke with him and he changed his mind. Why hadn’t he wanted to attend?” She shook her head. “Purity never mentioned anything about it. She had looked forward to the wedding. Bayne as well. Why would their father refuse to attend? Could he have known of the attack?” She shook her head again. “But why let your son and daughter attend if you knew of the danger? And why attend yourself? We need to speak with him.”

  It wasn’t until she stopped speaking that she caught the troubled look in his eyes.

  “What’s wrong? You found something out and fear to tell me,” she said, providing her own answer.

  “No, nothing about your da. Penn told me that Demelza is the Beast’s sister.”

  That news brought Oria to an abrupt halt. “What c
ould it mean that his sister now resides in the area?”

  “I wonder the same,” Royden said. “I would only send my sister to an area that I knew was truly safe for her to reside.”

  “That would mean he plans no more attacks here,” Oria said with some relief.

  “Why though?” Royden asked. “He didn’t get all of what he wanted. Our clan and land is lost to him as well as Clan Macara.”

  Oria had her own question. “And why after five years accept defeat?”

  “From what I’ve learned about the Beast, he’s not one to accept defeat.”

  “Either are we,” Oria said with a toss of her chin in the air.

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It’s a good day for a ride, wife.”

  Oria grinned and squeezed her husband’s hand. “I could do with a good ride, then we can go visit Chieftain Galvin.”

  Royden laughed, shaking his head. “You truly are a gem, wife.”

  Realization struck Oria. “Oh, you meant a ride to Clan Macara.”

  “Aye, but we’ll see to your ride first, then we’ll ride to Clan Macara.”

  “Nonsense,” Oria said. “A visit to Clan Macara is more important.”

  Royden shook his head and with a firm hold on her hand eased her arm behind her back while he drew her close against him. “Nothing is more important than making sure you get a good ride.”

  Why did his words have to ignite her passion that seemed to always stir just beneath the surface?

  As much as she didn’t want to, she said, “Later.”

  “No. Now,” Royden insisted.

  “I need to prove my da’s—”

  “His innocence will still be there for you to prove,” Royden said.

  She didn’t want to refuse her husband, especially since the thought of him nestled between her legs was far too enticing to put off. But it was important she put a stop to the wagging tongues before they ruined her da’s good name.

  Royden watched the play of passion versus duty to her da’s memory spar in her eyes. It disturbed him to see her struggle like that when she shouldn’t have to.

  He brought his lips near her ear to whisper, “I’ll make it quick now and we’ll linger later.”

  Oria smiled and threw her arms around her husband’s neck. “You are a good husband.”

  “Keep grinning like that and everyone is going to know what we were up to in the barn,” Royden warned as he rode alongside his wife. “Not that they probably don’t already know since it was difficult keeping you quiet.”

  Oria’s grin vanished. “You think I was heard?”

  Royden laughed. “When are you not heard, wife?”

  Oria’s cheeks stained red. “I tried to keep quiet. What must they think of me?”

  “They think you love your husband and you’re keeping him very happy.” He reached out and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “Worry not, I caught your loud moans with a kiss.”

  Oria grinned again. “You’re my champion.”

  “And you’re mine.”

  They continued on, the day pleasant, and it wasn’t long before they reached the Macara keep.

  Oria looked around as they entered the small village and the sour faces on the people reminded her of how sad Purity always appeared. From what Oria had gathered, Chieftain Galvin had been a commanding parent rather than a loving father. And from the looks of the people here it appeared it was Galvin’s way with everyone.

  The village was well kept and Oria wondered if it was more from fear than pride that kept it that way. She didn’t see a smile or hear a bit of laughter, though people did bend their heads in whispers. A good place for wagging tongues to flourish.

  Royden took his wife’s hand as they entered the keep and were shown to the Great Hall by an elderly man. It was a room of good size and kept well, a pleasant scent wafted in the air. The keep wasn’t as large as MacKinnon keep, though not as small as Learmonth keep.

  “Do you have news. Tell me,” Galvin demanded, rushed steps bringing him into the room.

  “That’s not much of a hospitable greeting,” Royden said.

  “What do you expect when I’ve heard nothing from you regarding my request?” Galvin argued. We’re the only two clans to keep our holdings. We should be defending each other and Arran should not even have to think about my offer. He should accept marriage to my daughter without question.”

  “That will be up to Arran,” Royden said, annoyed that he once again had to remind the man.

  “Ridiculous,” Galvin said with a sharp dismissive wave of his hand. “Your father should make him wed my daughter.”

  Royden’s brow narrowed. “You know my da has returned home?”

  “Of course I do. That’s not news to stay quiet. And I heard he brought a witch with him,” Galvin said smugly.

  “Yet you didn’t think it would be nice for a—supposedly—old friend to visit to see how he’s doing? Or to even be curious about the so-called witch? Or perhaps demand from him that his son wed your daughter?” Royden asked with a sudden anger.

  “I don’t answer to you,” Galvin shouted at Royden. “And why should I visit with supposed friends when they do nothing to help me save my clan and land?”

  Oria stepped forward, they all yet to have taken a seat. “Did you decline to come to our wedding, the one that was first to take place?”

  “I certainly did,” Galvin said without shame. “And your father argued over it with me, though he never did make good on the promise he made me if I attended your wedding.”

  “What promise and why didn’t you want to attend?” Royden demanded.

  “Why should I attend when your father refused to see my daughter safely wed to his son?” Galvin argued, shaking a fist at Royden, then turned to Oria. “And your father was a liar.”

  Royden’s hand clamped around Galvin’s wrist and wrenched his arm back when he went to shake his fist in Oria’s face. “You’ll respect my wife or I’ll beat you senseless.”

  Galvin yanked his arm to free it of Royden’s grip, but Royden’s hold was like a shackle.

  “Release me,” Galvin demanded.

  “Raise a fist against either of us and you’ll find what it’s like to lose a hand,” Royden warned.

  Galvin paled, his eyes darting to Royden’s stump, and he backed away from him. “I want no more, no less then you have—I want my clan and land safe.” Galvin tempered his tone when he looked to Oria. “Your da assured me he would get Arran to wed Purity.” He shook his head slowly. “He was so convincing. I almost thought he had already seen it done, he spoke with such confidence. I was a fool to believe him.”

  “My father was no liar,” Oria said. “The attack changed everything for all of us. Otherwise he would have done his best to keep his word.”

  “Done his best? He was supposed to see it done by your wedding day. He promised me that Parlan would have good news for me that day and so I agreed to go to the wedding. When I got your father alone that day,” —Galvin nodded to Royden— “he told me William hadn’t said a word to him about a marriage between Arran and Purity. He lied just to get me to attend your wedding. What kind of friend does that?”

  On the return ride home, Oria remained silent, lost in her troubling thoughts.

  Royden attempted to comfort her. “Maybe Galvin is lying. We’ll ask my da when we get home.”

  “And if he confirms what Galvin said, what then?”

  “What possible reason could your da have for helping a man, from all accounts, who is more beast than man? It isn’t something your da would do,” Royden said.

  With a sharp turn of her head, she looked with wide eyes at her husband. “Unless he was forced to.”

  Chapter 26

  When they reached home, they went straight to Royden’s da and he confirmed what Galvin had told him. Oria’s da never talked to him about Arran and Purity.

  “There would be no reason for William to talk to me about it. He was well aware the choice was Arran’s,
” Parlan said. “I don’t know why Galvin would claim such an outlandish thing.” He turned a quick glance on Wren, busy at the table in their cottage crushing herbs in her mortar and pestle. “Do you see anything about this, Wren?”

  “Please do tell us if you have seen anything concerning my da,” Oria pleaded.

  What she had discovered so far had proved more detrimental to her da than helpful. And no matter what anyone said she couldn’t believe her da guilty of betrayal.

  Wren stopped grinding the herbs and let the pestle lay free in the mortar as she turned sympathetic eyes on Oria. “I wish I could offer you something, anything that could ease the worry you have for your da. Unfortunately, nothing has been revealed to me and I can’t see anything even when I try to have a look. That usually happens when I find the situation so steeped in secrets and promises that it clouds everything. Or I’m not meant to know. I’m truly sorry. I wish I could offer you more.”

  Disappointment stabbed at her, but Oria didn’t let it show.

  “You should sit and have a nice soothing brew and let your thoughts rest,” Wren advised. “It will help you to see things more clearly.”

  Royden could see his wife had no intention of doing as Wren had recommended. He thought differently. He hated seeing his wife hurting like this. If he could take the pain from her, he would. Since he couldn’t, he’d be right there beside her offering all the strength and love he could.

  He slipped his arm around her waist like he’d done so often since returning home, needing to keep her close, feel her there against him, know this was all real and he wouldn’t wake to find it nothing more than a dream.

  “I could use a brew,” he said and led her out of the cottage.

  They settled on a bench in the Great Hall, the heat of the hearth at their back and Royden glad they had since his wife shivered once seated.

  “This can’t be true,” Oria said. My da was a good man. He would have died before betraying anyone.”

  “We’ll find the truth,” Royden said with a firmness that had his wife turning a sad smile on him.