Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series)

by Aury Dobsyn

  I pray this will nae be that last time ye allow me to hold ye throughout the night, my love.

  When the rays of the awakening sun bathed the chamber, Gavin carefully extracted himself from Ella’s unknowing body and retreated to his own solar. While he dressed, he thought on how he would care for his wife as she mourned the death of her beloved aunt and uncle.

  Her anguish and bitterness had only just begun, but he was committed to giving Ella his unwavering love and support. He realized the path that lay ahead was arduous, to say the least, but he was determined to win her love, no matter the cost. His aim was clear and his strides were purposeful when he left his chamber and ventured into the hall.

  After a brief greeting to his mother and Bowen, the lone occupants of the dais, he learned that the night before last his wife woke screaming from a nightmare.

  “She was so distressed by the dream that she did not eat or drink, and barely spoke with anyone the entire day.”

  “I will nae allow her to starve herself. If ye canna sway her to eat, inform me at once.”

  “What she needs is our love, nae upbraiding,” Lady Esme admonished.

  “When it concerns her health, I will nae tolerate any willful defiance,” Gavin adamantly stated. “I suspect over the next few days she will seek solitude over solace, which we will give her in limited measure. She may eat in her chamber, but if she loses an iota of flesh, I will intervene.”

  “Aye, I agree, especially since she dinna have much to lose to begin with,” Bowen interjected, receiving a scowl from his wife.

  “I will do as I see fit,” Lady Esme said as she stormed from the hall, not caring for the company of insensitive men.

  “Dare I ask why she is so displeased,” Gavin asked Bowen.

  “She will smother the lass with warmth and affection, and rebuke those who do otherwise. ‘Tis her way, ye ken. The night of Ella’s nightmare, ‘twas yer mother who held close as she cried herself to sleep. And last eve, she was so distraught by yer wife’s suffering that she wept till the wee hours of the morning.”

  “I will nae gainsay her or her maternal inclinations. In truth, I am well pleased that mother has come to love Ella.”

  “’Tis an understatement ye speak and she is nae the only one who has come to love the wee lass. I would have been proud to call her daughter.”

  Gavin arched his eyebrows at Bowen and asked, “Dinna ye mean ‘ye are’ proud to call her daughter’?”

  “Aye,” Bowen chuckled. “Ye have the right of it, since I am yer stepfather.”

  “Ye are the only father my siblings and I have ever known or recognize, old man.”

  “Aye, and I thank the Lord every day for that miracle,” Bowen acknowledged, genuinely touched by Gavin’s words.

  He stood, clapped the young laird on the back and asked, “Will ye join me on the training field this day?”

  “Aye, I will within the hour.”

  Bowen took his leave while Gavin went to sit by the hearth, isolating himself from the gathering in the hall. He needed a private moment before he conveyed to his clan how they would proceed in seeking reprisal for the death of Ella’s family as well as his concerns about her welfare.

  A quarter of an hour later, he stood in front of his clan with his hand raised for silence, until the great hall was deathly quiet.

  “As ye ken, my wife has suffered a terrible lost. I stand before ye, as yer kin and laird, to beseech upon ye. . . .”

  54

  A sennight after word came of the death of her family, Ella had yet to venture forth from her chamber. She scarcely ate and rarely spoke. And when the castle slept each eve, she would sneak out of the keep and go to the stables to be with Apollo.

  Unbeknownst to her, during the darken hours of the night, Gavin was always with her. When he heard her door chamber creak open, he would follow her on her in her nocturnal visits to the stables and watch her cry herself to sleep in Apollo’s stall. He allowed her this time to mourn with the horse she believed was her best friend.

  He would then carry her back to her chamber. It became a routine and he wondered if she was aware how she arrived back in her bed each morning. He didn’t bother to ask, since she refused to speak to him.

  The only words Ella spoke were ‘thank you’ to those who brought her meals. And no matter how hard he and his family tried, it seemed impossible to break through the wall she erected.

  Lady Esme and Maeve were deeply concerned when Ella became bone-thin, and dark circles appeared under her eyes. Her beautiful face now looked sickly pale and her cheeks were sunken in, but it was her lifeless expression that truly scared them.

  With her knees tucked into her chest, Ella sat on the padded window seat each day and gazed out the window for hours. She acknowledged neither Gavin, his family or guard. In the end it was Thea, Osgood and Maeve’s daughter, who succeeded in breaking down Ella’s barrier and bringing her back to life.

  On the eighth day since the devastating news was brought to Doran Castle, Thea snuck up to Ella’s chamber just after dawn. Although, the little girl had been warned by her parents not to disturb the grieving woman, she decided to ignore their wishes, and was confident she could make the laird’s wife smile once again.

  Ella was seated on widow seat with her legs crossed when Thea quietly entered the chamber and crawled up behind her. “Lady Ella, ‘tis me. . . Thea.”

  When no response came, Thea made herself comfortable on the bench, then took out the bone toothcomb and gingerly began to run it through her Ella’s hair. With her head tilted to the side, she looked for a reaction as she said, “Do ye know what I do when I am sad?”

  Greeted with silence, Thea continued, “When I am sad I pick flowers. The most beautiful flowers grow in the fields near the burn and on the edge of the forest . . .”

  The little girl stopped suddenly when Ella turned and looked at her and then around the room.

  “Did you bring me all these flowers?”

  “Aye,” Thea admitted, since the chamber was covered with bouquets of fragrant flowers and petals were scattered on the bed.

  Thoughtful for a moment, Ella asked, “Have you been sad?”

  When Thea nodded, she asked, “Because of me?”

  “Nae because of ye, for ye,” Thea clarified.

  Ella’s heart felt as if it was beating for the first time in over a sennight, and all because of this one little girl whose eyes were filled with warmth and love.

  At having her attention, Thea was quick to add, “I’m sad because ye are. Please, come pick flowers with me. I promise ye will feel better, and we dinna have to stay long or speak to anyone.”

  At seeing the little girl’s eyes brim with tears and hearing the heartfelt plea, Ella could not refuse. “Aye, we will go pick flowers.”

  Thea threw herself into her friend’s arms and said, “Thank ye, Lady Ella. Thank ye so much.”

  “But only if you call me, Ella,” she said as she squeezed the affectionate lass.

  “Aye, I would like that verra much.”

  Pale streaks of summer sun penetrated through the thick canopy of branches, giving light to the earthy forest that surrounded Ella and Thea. They had used a secret staircase located in Thea’s parent’s chamber that led outside and as promised, they left the castle without being seen by anyone.

  Thea pull her through a wooded area, filled with towering pine and birch trees until they reached a burn surrounded by primroses, dog roses and sweet briar.

  “This is the burn that empties into yer loch.”

  “My loch?”

  Thea gave a guilty smile and said, “Aye, the loch ye like to look at when ye are in yer chamber.”

  Understanding, Ella turned her gaze to the blooming shrubs and bushes, “You were right, sweetling. You do know where to find the most beautiful flowers.”

  Thea beamed at the praise, then said, “If we follow the burn away from the loch, we will reach the meadow near the village. Wait until ye see all the different
shades of purple and pink.”

  As they made their way closer to the village picking flowers, Thea impressed Ella by explaining in detail about the various plants.

  They soon were joined by three little girls, who were eager to help them make colorful bouquets. By the time they reached the meadow, at least ten little girls and a handful of boys aided their venture.

  With so many flowers in their hands, Ella and the children soon stopped to make garlands. They sat on a Macleod plaid Thea had the good sense to bring and created beautiful headpieces for each female while engaging in childish conversation.

  Two little boys, no more the seven summers, approached Ella at noon with a basket of food and a jug of apple cider. They introduced themselves as Wylie and Tomag, then pointed to their mother, who stood a fair distance away waving with a smile on her face.

  She waved back at the thoughtful woman, whom she had met a fortnight ago. Her name was Iona, her husband, Ramsey. The delightful couple ran the alehouse and were parents to twin lads.

  Ella’s joyful experience with the children that morning was repeated daily for a fortnight. The youthful Macleods entertained her with comical stories, included her in their games and even asked questions about her family. She was surprised at their eagerness learn about her departed aunt and uncle, but more so by her willingness to share with them the pain.

  A girl with white blond hair, who reminded Ella of herself at five summers, plopped down in her lap and whispered, “My Grammy is in heaven, and she will take care of Aunt Eleanor and Uncle James. She is verra nice and makes the best sweet gundy in the highlands. Do Aunt Eleanor and Uncle James like sweetmeats?”

  “Aye, they do, Rona,” Ella replied, profoundly touched. “They like them very much. I feel much better knowing your Grammy will take care of them and fatten them up with sweetmeats.”

  Ella’s attention was momentarily diverted by a couple of boys tormenting Thea and her friends with wooden swords a short distance away. Valen, one of the older boys, hit Thea on her bottom with his play sword. And the little girl did not take this treatment lightly.

  “Ye would nae be so high and mighty if I had a sword,” Thea roared at him, even though he was three years older than her six summers.

  Valen grabbed his friend’s sword and challenged, “Here is a sword, but I dinna-”

  Thea swung the wooded sword at Valen’s head, putting an end to his arrogant words. He quickly deflected it, and after a few swings was able to send her sword flying out of her hands.

  Laughing at her failure, Valen boasted, “Thea, there is nae a female among ye who is able to beat me with a sword.”

  Picking up the discarded sword, Ella interrupted the arrogant lad and said, “I beg to differ, Valen.”

  When the girls heard their Lady Ella’s confident words and saw her walk over to Thea and Valen, they grinned with supreme pride.

  “Milady, I . . .” Valen muttered, but unable to finish.

  “We have all heard you say that nae female here can best you, but what are you prepared to do if one does.”

  Valen assumed that she was going to find another girl to challenge him, so with a condescending smile he stated, “If ye can find one among ye that can beat me with a sword, I will get down on one knee and declare the Macleod lasses are the greatest warriors in all the Highlands.

  “Nae good enough,” Ella began, “I believe every lad here will have to make the same declaration.” Turning her gaze on the other boys, she asked, “Are you as confident as your friend in his ability to defeat any female here?”

  They screamed their confirmation so loudly it fairly blistered Ella’s ears. She scanned the meadow where they played, which stood at least fifty paces away from the village, then sighed in relief that the uproar had not alerted any of the children’s parents.

  Unbeknownst to Ella, there was an audience that remained hidden from her view and had been watching her for the past hour. Gavin, Paen, and Bowen hid in the woods, feeling foolish for spying on her, but eager to see the transformation Thea spoke of last eve.

  Osgood and Maeve’s daughter had kept them informed on what she referred to as her personal plan of attack. At hearing the child’s words, Gavin shook his head with amusement. Obviously, Thea had become her father’s daughter.

  He was grinning ear to ear now at the sight of Ella stepping right up to Valen, who was just shy of being eye level with her.

  “Then we accept your challenge,” she stated.

  With a smile, Valen asked, “And what will be our reward after I win?”

  “We will say the same, but instead of lasses we'll say lads. Is that acceptable to you?”

  “Aye, now bring forth yer challenger.”

  Ella wanted to laugh at the egotistical lad, but instead she raised her eyebrows and stated with a smirk, “Your challenger stands before you.”

  Hearing this, the girls let out excited shrieks while the boys wisely retreated away from their champion.

  “Ye think I canna take her?” Valen said as he looked over his shoulder to his friends. “She may be bigger, but she is still a lass. Worry naught, my friends.”

  The children formed a circle around the pair as they faced off like warriors.

  Ella’s brothers had taught her how to wield a sword when she was a child, insisting that she may have need of such skills, yet she highly doubted that battling a boy half her age was what they had intended.

  Valen attacked first, putting all his strength into each of his numerous swings. Ella averted each blow with swift movements, not bothering to deflect or raise her sword in a counterattack. Seeing the boy’s frustration, she changed her tactic and began to deflect each sword thrust with grace, ease and obvious skill. His attack was reckless and had him winded all too soon. She quickly took advantage of his vulnerable state, and unarmed him as easily as he has done with Thea.

  The girls went wild, but instead of celebrating with them, Ella took Valen and the other boys aside to speak with them privately. Kneeling in front of the dejected lads, she asked “What did you learn from this?”

  “I’m nae as good as I thought,” Valen freely admitted.

  With understanding, she suggested, “Try again, but this time think why it is that you believed you could defeat me?”

  “Ye are a lass.”

  She confirmed that fact with a nod, but remained silent, giving him time to think.

  “I underestimated my opponent.” When she nodded again, he added, “And I attacked without kenning yer skill.”

  “Much better! Do you want to know what I was doing when you were attacking me?”

  Ella stared at a sea of dumbfounded faces, before saying, “I was learning my opponent. His strengths and weaknesses, as well as his moves. By the time I was done, you had worn yourself out, making it easier for me to disarm you.”

  Valen smiled as the others voiced their approval.

  “Aye, ye taught me a valuable lesson, one I will be proud to apply and teach the others. Thank ye, Milady.”

  “You are very welcome. Now, I think we are all ready to hear our reward.”

  While the girls sat down to enjoy the show, the boys lined up shoulder to shoulder, groaning with humiliation as they stared at the village. Ella followed the boys’ gaze over her shoulder and saw the crowd of villagers that had gathered behind where she and the girls sat. Gavin, Paen and Bowen stood in the middle, with their arms across their chest, smiling their approval.

  Sitting on Ella’s lap, Thea whispered, “They have been watching the whole time. But dinna fear, I will nae let them near ye if ‘tis yer wish.”

  “What would I do without you, princess,” she said, hugging her little defender. “Thank you, sweetling . . . for everything.”

  “I love ye, Ella.”

  “ I love ye, too.” Pointing in the direction of the lads, she then said, “Oh, I think they are about to begin.”

  In unison and loud enough for all to hear, the boys shouted, “THE MACLEOD LASSES ARE THE GREATEST
WARRIORS IN ALL THE HIGHLANDS!”

  The glorifying cheers and burst of applause in salute to the girls’ victory was deafening. Laird Macleod, Paen and Bowen commanded the red-faced lads to repeat the outrageous phrase three more times, much to the approval of the crowd. The repentant boys did as instructed by their laird, and then were permitted to take their leave. Before rushing off, each said their farewells to Lady Ella, who was touched by the self-inclined gesture.

  As the mass of children scattered, Ella noticed Bowen and Paen approach, while Gavin engaged in conversation with the beautiful young woman named Alice. Her brow puckered as she glared at the intimate way the wanton touched his chest and pulled on his sleeve. But, when he walked away with her, Ella felt an unfamiliar tightening in her chest, as though she were being stabbed with a dagger repeatedly. It was no stretch of the imagination for her to understand the relationship between her husband and the woman who had recently begun working as a maid in the castle.

  “Halt! Dinna come any closer until Lady Ella says otherwise,” Thea commanded the two warriors with one hand raised and the other on her hip.

  Even though she was a quarter their weight and size, they stopped dead in their tracks. Paen gave the wee tyrant an exasperated look, while Bowen chuckled softly.

  Ella put both her hands on her young protector’s shoulders, then affirmed, “All is well, sweetling.”

  Thea conceded, but stood with her hands on her hips, scowling at the two men.

  Bowen grinned at the show of loyalty of one so young. Osgood would be proud of his daughter. With a respectful bow and tone, he acknowledged, “I commend ye, Thea, for yer loyalty to Lady Ella.”

  Paen added, “I commend ye as well, wee warrior, but nae for yer loyalty. I commend ye for yer courage to fight someone older and bigger than yerself.”

  Thea’s fierce demeanor vanished as she exclaimed, “Really?”

  Paen gave her a devilish grin, then threw the giggling girl over his shoulder as he continued, “Aye, my petite. I believe I will carve ye a wooden sword of yer own. With Lady Ella’s help, ye will be better than yer father in nae time.”