Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  “Erik and I have re-spoken our vows. We are still wed as far as we are concerned. We have always been wed. Not that it is any of your concern. I should have known you were behind the heartache caused to the Lady Bronwyn, but I would not have thought you to harm children.”

  “Just a little tummy ache here and there would not hurt the squalling brats.”

  “Rhianna what does she mean?”

  Turning a scathing glance to Drew, Rhianna said, “The children in the village have all been coming down with some sort of stomach malady. It kept me quite busy the last few days. Never mind that. What is she doing in your bed?”

  Drew’s face colored. He stammered, “It…it is not what it appears. She placed herself in my bed while I was still sleeping. I did not invite her.”

  “Well you best get her out of here before your lovely intended sees her. Better yet, bring her to my apartments. Erik will escort her out of the keep.”

  Drew yanked her by the hand and dragged Daria down the hall. Erik was making his way out of his quarters when he stumbled upon the unhappy scene before him.

  “What the hell!”

  “Erik, please escort the lady from our home. It would seem she is hell bent on making trouble. It appears that she has been behind the ill children, as well.”

  “You will never be able to prove that. Take your hands off of me.”

  Rhianna’s eyes mirrored her anger. She was absolutely furious but she would not risk a nasty scene with this she-devil. Through clenched teeth, she said, “Remove her from my sight.”

  “I will have justice. Mark me.”

  “You just count your blessings that I have not called for your jailing. But you mark ME, I will insist upon it if you dare to try anything further. Get her out of here.”

  Then to Drew she said, “And you. You need to be more careful, Drew.”

  Drew shrugged in confusion. How was he to have prevented this intrusion?

  “Use the back stairs. I will not have her upsetting any of our guests.”

  Drew said, “I do not think to hide this from Bronwyn…”

  Putting her hand up, Rhianna said, “Not now, Drew. This is not the time for her to find out about this. Tell her in your own time. I wish to speak to her first. There has been a woman filling her head with lies and evil. I suspect the lady knows who Dana is.”

  At the mention of Dana, Daria threw her head back and laughed, “Stupid little dullard. She believed my every word.”

  Drew glared at Daria in disbelief. When it registered he said, “Dana? You mean that was you? Do you know what you have done?”

  Rhianna spat, “I am sure she is fully aware of what her folly has caused. She planned it to be so. It was her will to inflict harm and hurt. Take her out of here, this instant. I will tell Cook and the others to be wary of this little spiteful liar and imposter.”

  Both Drew and Erik each took hold of one wrist and they dragged the malicious Daria, kicking and screaming down the back stairs.

  Rhianna turned her back on the ugly scene and she went to assure that Bronwyn or Drew’s parents would not be privy to it. She seethed in anger at what had been done to the children and to Bronwyn. She did not even want to think of what Daria was actually capable of. She could not allow herself think about the other horrible possibilities at the moment. For now she had to find Bronwyn and make sure that no further damage was done this day.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Rhianna found Bronwyn in the main hall conversing with Drew’s parents. When they saw her approach, relief flooded all their expressions, until they noticed the grim look on her own face. Trying to lessen the severity of her mood, Rhianna sat down at the table with her guests. They inquired about her health and she told them that she was much better at the moment. They were confused as to why Rhianna looked so upset, if she was feeling better. She did not just want to blurt out what she had discovered. Instead, she just said it had been because she was not good at lying in bed and she was happier to get down to her guests.

  Rhianna stalled for time to assure that Erik and Drew had escorted Daria safely out of the keep. Truth be told, Rhianna didn’t care much for her safety so much as to have Daria ousted from Ragnorsen. She had known all along that the mischief at hand concerning Bronwyn was because of that hellion. She had no idea that she would stoop so low as to poison children. Rhianna seethed thinking about that again.

  Drew’s family had tried to get Rhianna to eat something, but the smell of food still made her queasy at the moment. She knew it would pass, but so far, she was fighting the sickness that plagued her in the mornings. Rhianna settled for a warm mug of tea and hoped that would settle her.

  She tried to put aside her anger and her distraction seeing Daria with Drew had fostered. She would not cause embarrassment to Bronwyn or Drew’s parents by revealing that information right now. She sat listening to Drew’s family conversing with Bronwyn and it lessened some of her anger. It was obvious they loved the girl their son had chosen to wed. They listened with great interest as they asked her about her home and her family in Scotland.

  Bronwyn’s face seemed to light up when she described her home and her kin. All of her brothers were married except one; the one called Rory. Rory had suffered a terrible heartache some years ago, that seemed to change him, but he was Bronwyn’s favorite, still. She missed all her brothers, and her da’ as well, but she missed Rory most of all. Bronwyn told of how she worried Rory would never wed, and Drew’s parents exchanged glances. How many times they had worried the same about their precious son, yet here he was, marrying a beautiful Scottish woman, who he loved to the point of endangering himself. Drew’s parents were positively enchanted with this charming young woman who had won their son’s heart and their own as well.

  While they were all finishing their breakfast, Rhianna caught sight of Drew and Erik making their way into the feast hall. Both wore the grim looks on their faces that Rhianna also had upon entering the room. Shooting them a look of warning, Rhianna feigned a wide smile so that they would do the same.

  Rhianna put a more natural smile on her face when Bronwyn looked up. Upon seeing Drew approaching, her eyes lit up with love and happiness. When Drew saw that so clearly in his beloved’s eyes, he did not have the heart to tell her what had just happened. He vowed silently, though, that he would tell her. Just not right now. He would know when the time was right to explain. For now, he would just let her enjoy her time with his parents and not put unnecessary worries into her precious heart.

  ~~~~~~

  Daria paced back and forth like a wild caged beast. She fumed with hatred and anger. Her plan had been thwarted and failed miserably. Daria did not take failure lightly. She muttered to herself as she relived the humiliating scene; experiencing the removal from Ragnorsen Keep over and over again until she thought she would explode. They had dragged her from the keep and tossed her out like refuse from the guarderobe.

  How dare they? She was not refuse. She did not know how, but she was going to make them all pay for what they had done. First and foremost, that Scottish whore was going to be brought to justice. She would have her revenge and see that bitch brought down from her high and mighty pride. Then that dark witch would be next. Oh, yes, she would see her brought low. She was haughty now, but when she fell she would be plunged from her lofty height.

  Practically growling to herself, Daria balled her fists and pounded on the wash stand. She sent the ewer flying and crashing to bits on the floor. Water splattered her gown and as a shard of the broken pitcher flew up, it cut a line into the back of her hand. That only infuriated her further.

  Picking up a broken piece from the base of the pottery, she flung it toward the leaded window and screaming a scream of frustration, Daria watched as the glass shattered upon impact. She was in a full blown fit by this time and she began destroying other things in her chambers. She tore several garments to shreds and she smashed whatever she could find that would break if thrown.

  When she had s
pent all her fury, she looked around her room and saw the destruction she had wreaked. She simmered with the last dregs of her tantrum, but with this simmering tempest, she fostered it and nursed it until it grew to a black and ugly thing which would not be contained.

  “They are all going to pay! That is my solemn vow,” Daria said to no one in particular, or perhaps she said it to the broken reflection of the damaged mirror.

  ~~~~~

  That night as Drew lay in bed with his beautiful Bronwyn in his arms, he tried a thousand times to tell her what had happened but he just could not find the words. While he knew he had done nothing wrong, how would he get Bronwyn to believe him? When he replayed the scene in his head, he almost could not believe the story himself. He thought if Bronwyn heard the tale, her trust would surely be broken. They had already been through so much and they were only just repairing the damage that had been done.

  How could he tell her that his ex-lover had paid him a visit and landed herself in his bed the minute Bronwyn had left it? Drew just could not find the words to say to explain such a thing. Anything he would say would break the heart of the woman he loved again and he just did not think he could do that. Not again. He never wanted to see the brokenness he had seen on her face when she thought he was going to leave her forever. He chided himself for being a coward because his conscience told him he was more afraid of Bronwyn leaving him and breaking his heart again than of breaking hers. By God, Love had changed him. He was a coward. He was a weakling. That reality was like bitter gall to swallow. He would tell her in the morning. Maybe then he would find the words that would not hurt her.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  The next few days brought no opportunities for either Rhianna or Drew to discuss warnings of Daria with Bronwyn. Rhianna had been quite unwell and had kept mostly to her bed for a time. With each passing day, Drew had less and less reason to open a wound and discuss the trickery of Daria. She had not been seen since her removal from Ragnorsen, so Drew thought it best to let the matter fade. He reasoned with himself that after all, he had not invited Daria to his bed, nor had he even allowed her to touch him.

  Instead, he had been thinking about how important it may be for Bronwyn to have her family present for their wedding. The proper banns were to be posted on the morrow and Drew thought that perhaps it would allow him enough time to go to Bronwyn’s home and formally ask her father for her hand. In the process, he would try to persuade as many of her kin to join them for the wedding.

  Drew knew she had been homesick and that she missed her family deeply. Drew’s only wish was to make Bronwyn happy. He discussed his leaving with his family and with Erik. Plans were then made for him to journey north to the birthplace of his beautiful lady. Drew thought that perhaps if her family could not come to the wedding, it would cause her greater disappointment, so he would tell Bronwyn he had to go on a campaign for Erik, since Erik’s duties were keeping him close to Rhianna at the moment. He would explain his leaving this day to Bronwyn.

  Drew found Bronwyn praying in the chapel later that morning. He had overslept again, still feeling the effects of having been ill and never heard her leave. When he had searched the halls for her and could not find her, Drew’s mother told him Bronwyn had sought some time alone in prayer. Drew peered into the chapel and saw that Bronwyn seemed lost in her devotions. He approached, knelt next to her and put his hand over hers. Startled, she looked over at him and in seeing Drew’s loving face; she visibly relaxed. She had been sensing some type of danger the last few days and while she did not know what it was, she was on edge.

  Bronwyn was not as caught up in the Old Ways as her brothers always were, but something needled at her subconscious and so she went to pray. Sometimes her brothers teased her that she was the Christian among heathens, but she knew that was not entirely true. She was pulled to the Old Ways despite all her protests. She just chose to honor them in her own way.

  Bronwyn whispered, “How did ye’ know I was here?”

  “My mother told me where to find you. You have been here quite some time. Are you alright?”

  “Aye. I am fine. I really should be asking about ye’. Ye’ still seem to be fighting the effects of the infection.”

  “Each day, I am better, my love. Are you nearly through? I need to talk to you.”

  “Aye. I was praying for Rhianna and her bairn. She has been so ill of late and I am worried she will lose the babe again.”

  Drew’s knuckles brushed down her cheek in the tender gesture that had unlocked Bronwyn’s heart from the first, and Drew’s heart was warmed at the tenderness of his own lady. She was gifted with such a pure and trusting heart. Thinking about that, sent a jagged pain through his own as he knew he had to deceive her for a time about his leaving. He didn’t even want to think about his sin of omission concerning Daria.

  Bronwyn put her hand into Drew’s. She asked, “Is something wrong? What is it that ye’ wish to talk to me about?”

  “Come, we will talk now.”

  Bronwyn’s brows furrowed. She started to feel that needling of warning again. She brushed it away as she saw the gentle look in Drew’s eyes. She teased, “Ye’ are not angry that I snuck out on ye’ this morning while ye’ slept like a person dead?”

  Drew grinned down at her little prodding and he said, “Well it does disturb me that you can slip away without my warrior’s instincts being prickled.”

  Putting her hand to his jaw she said, “Well, Highlanders are trained to be silent. With all the clans always warring with each other, we learn at an early age to move silently when we walk through the lands and woods. Perhaps, ye’ will let my brothers teach ye’….”

  At the mention of her brothers, Drew almost confessed the true reason for his trip, but instead he saw the glint of challenge in Bronwyn’s eyes.

  Forgetting where they were, Drew kissed Bronwyn soundly. She pushed him off and said, “Ye’ should not be kissing me so here. We are still in a holy place.”

  “I suppose, but you will be kissing me in front of witnesses soon enough in this very place.”

  Bronwyn smiled at the thought. She left the chapel with him. In doing so, they nearly ran into Erik. Bronwyn noticed he looked tired and grim.

  “How fares Rhianna this day,” Drew asked. Erik sighed heavily. In truth he was more than a little worried about her.

  “She is up and about against my better judgment. She has had a bad morning, but she wanted to check on some of the villagers.”

  Erik searched Drew’s eyes, wondering if he suspected Daria’s hand in Rhianna’s illness, but he said nothing. Bronwyn watched Erik swallow down the bitterness of his emotions and she reached out and put her hand on his thick forearm. Erik turned his gaze to her and a strange look of regret came upon his face. He looked from Bronwyn to the chapel and back to her upturned face.

  “Were you---were you in there praying for my Lady?”

  Bronwyn nodded up at the big Viking, who suddenly didn’t seem so imposing, with the worry for his wife etched in his Nordic sky blue eyes. She watched his throat expand downward as he wrestled with his emotions. He whispered his thanks. He mumbled, “I wanted to bring in the midwife, but she would not have it.”

  Bronwyn offered, “She is a healer. She knows best how to take care of herself. If she needs help, she will not risk her bairn. I have worked with her these past weeks and know that she knows best what to do with expectant mothers…even though she is one herself. I also helped women in my clan. I think the lady will take to her bed if she believes it to be best. For now, let her do what she does best. She is used to tending yer’ people. I am certain she wants to see that everything will be looked after if she must get to lying in to keep her babe.”

  “Did Rhianna tell you that?”

  Drew winked at Bronwyn and spoke, “Apparently women talk.”

  Bronwyn gave Drew a look that told him she could speak for herself. She said, “Rhianna has become my friend. She is not used to people taking on her duties, but
now that I am here, I would like to offer my help to her to aid her.”

  Erik stared at her and then he said, “I don’t know what to say. Thank you Lady Bronwyn.”

  Bronwyn beamed a smile at him and whatever tension was left between them vanished once and for all. Erik shook his head as if he had been struck. To Drew he said, “Drew, I was so wrong about her.”

  “I know. She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

  Bronwyn blushed and said, “Drew please….”

  Erik attested, “Aye, she is, Drew. Thank you, m’lady.”

  Bronwyn nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. She almost wished the Viking would go back to being well, a Viking. She did not quite know how to take this softer side of him.

  ~~~~~~

  Drew took Bronwyn to a quiet place to talk. She looked worried because he suddenly seemed so very serious. Bronwyn did not like being unsure of herself. She had always prided herself on being a strong woman, and yet she suddenly felt very vulnerable again. Drew immediately wanted to reassure her. He certainly did not want to worry her unnecessarily. Finally, he just said, “I will be leaving in two days.”

  Bronwyn looked confused and she said, “Leaving? I dunna’ understand.”

  Drew stroked down her cheek. He said, “Don’t be upset, my love. I am needed to go on a campaign for Erik.”

  “Campaign? Will this be something that puts ye’ in danger?”

  “I need to act as an emissary. There really is no danger,” Drew said, but thought except the danger of your brothers pounding the stuffing out of me. Bronwyn let the fact that Drew would be leaving sink in. She nodded and then asked, “How long will ye’ be away?”

  “Little more than one moon, but less than two I suspect.”