Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series)

by Aury Dobsyn

  “The pain was minimal and brief, coming only in the beginning and just now,” Ella said as she stroked his cheek.

  “In future, wife, ye will tell me when ye are too tender to make love. I dinna want to hurt.”

  She kissed his chin, then said, “Aye, but the small amount of pain was worth the pleasure ye gave me, husband.”

  His frown of concern was replaced with an arrogant smile. “I enjoy hearing ye call me, husband.”

  “As I enjoy you calling me wife,” she chuckled. “Now, I believe I should return to my chamber. I would not want Maeve to come and find my chamber empty. They do not know that we . . . that I . . um . . .that we-”

  His mirth was uncontained as he stated, “Enough. I get yer meaning, little one. I will go now and inform her nae to be concerned. But, ye will remain here. Dress in yer chemise if ‘tis yer wish, for when I return we will go to the loch to bathe.”

  “Oh, I would like that very much. But, I will need to dress in more than my chemise if I will be leaving this chamber.”

  “Trust me. I will explain when I return.”

  Leaping off the bed, Gavin donned a fresh plaid, while she slipped on her chemise. Upon opening the chamber door, he was enthusiastically greeted by Arth, but shortly thereafter forgotten when the great beast saw Ella and raced over to be with her.

  The sight of the affectionate pair playing on the bed made him shake his head, remembering the days when Arth was shunned by most of his clan. Yet now, because of Ella, his furry friend was no longer the pariah.

  Gavin wanted to be done with the annoying task of seeking out Maeve so he could return to his wife, and resume where they had left off. He was almost as eager to talk with her as he was to make love to her. Nae, he silently corrected himself. Making love to his beautiful wife would have to wait until she was fully healed, which he hoped would be by this eve.

  When he returned to his chamber, Arth was lying on his back, absorbing all the love and attention Ella so effortless gave the big, hairy beast. He knew that Arth had taken to spending each night in Ella’s chamber. Probably because she allowed him on the bed, Gavin mused. But in truth, Arth simply adored her, and she spoiled him rotten.

  As Gavin sat beside her on the bed, he scratched Arth’s neck as he said, “There is much I wish to discuss with ye, one being this overgrown mutt. I ne’er thank ye for what ye did for him and my mother.”

  “And you will never have to,” Ella stated.

  He grinned at her, then asked, “Did ye have dogs growing up?”

  “Aye, wolfhounds,” she replied without thinking. “I loved them as if they were my siblings.”

  “Will ye tell me more of yer childhood or mayhap yer parents?”

  “There’s nae much to tell.” Trying to switch topics, she said, “Are we still going to go to the loch?”

  “Aye, lass.” He paused briefly, before adding, “’Tis my hope that one day ye will want to share with me tales of yer family.”

  “I have told you about my family.”

  “I would ken about yer parents and siblings.”

  “It pains me to speak of them.”

  “I will nae push ye,” he said as he took hold of her hand, “but I will remain hopeful.”

  “Thank you.”

  66

  That morning Ella decided to make the most of the time she had with her husband before she was cast aside. She wanted no regrets, only blissful memories of what they shared while they were together. It was selfish to deceive him in this manner, to deny him the truth of her past, but a small part of her heart still hoped for a miracle.

  Gavin was more determined than ever to learn about her parents. But he predicted that only when he earned her trust would she feel comfortable enough to reveal her past. He decided to impart stories of his own family, in hopes she would do the same.

  Leading her over to the connecting doors of their chambers, he explained, “During my grandfather’s latter years he became obsessed with engineering hidden tunnels and doors. He never finished concealing these doors, as ye can see without the tapestry ‘tis verra noticeable. My grandfather’s pride was what lay between the doors.”

  When Ella stepped into the space, she saw only two doors and two stonewalls. Not wanting to hurt his feeling, she said, “Aye, ‘tis grand space your grandfather built.”

  Chuckling, he moved her to stand in front of one narrow strip of stone, then said, “I would like ye to push hard against this stone wall.”

  She pushed the unmovable wall hard, then zealously said, “Aye, ‘tis very sturdy wall.” With a hint of sarcasm she added, “I can see why you are so proud,”

  “Och, vixen, let us see who is laughing when ye turn that stone counter clockwise.” He then pointed to a stone near her left hand.

  As the stone turned she heard the faint sound of a bar sliding, and then unexpectedly the entire stonewall opened like a door, exposing a staircase.

  Her jaw dropped open, which he helpfully tipped back up as he gloated, “Impressed, I see. Were the hidden passageways ye used to escape Greystone similar?”

  “Nae, they consisted mainly of trap doors and rotating fireplaces.”

  “Rotating where?”

  “Rotating to the fireplace of the next chamber.”

  With a candle in hand, Gavin lead her down the winding stone staircase, as he admitted, “My grandfather would have liked that idea.”

  “Are there many hidden passageways in the castle?”

  “There are quite a few. Each tower has an escape route, and most of those have multiple barriers.”

  “Barriers?”

  “Aye. If someone were to learn about them, more than likely they would become trapped within,” he explained as they came to the end of the staircase. “I will show ye what I mean.”

  After only a few paces, Ella saw that a stonewall effectively blocked the tunnel. “I imagine there is a way through this barrier.”

  “Aye, let us see if ye can figure it out.”

  Excited by the challenge, she explored the stonewall, twisting and pushing each stone until she finally admitted defeat. “Will you show me.”

  “Aye.” Instead of moving to the stone barrier before them, he went to the wall of the tunnel, and then pushed a small square shaped stone inward. A door opened to reveal the curved passageway three paces in length, but it took them to the other side of the stonewall that barricaded the tunnel.

  “That is quite clever. I assumed that secret was in the barricade itself.”

  “As would most people, that or they would think the tunnel is nae longer used.”

  Moments later they exited the tunnel using a door that opened like a portcullis. On the opposite side of the door, it was hidden by ivy.

  With Arth on their heels, they walked hand-in-hand through the wooded area that lead to the loch a short distance away. The playful animal ran circles around them, until Gavin threw a stick into the water for him to chase.

  Beams of sunlight reflected off the glistening water of the wide spread loch as Ella took in the splendor of her surroundings. Mist billowed out in soft clouds where the white, frothy cascade of water plunged over flat rocks to the lower rippling pool. The loch was encircled by sun-baked rocks, lichen and moss, with lush grasses and bog myrtle growing among the towering pines.

  “I have never seen such beauty,” she said as butterflies danced around her.

  Without taking his eyes off her, he replied, “Neither have I.”

  While the sun warmed the air, Gavin and Ella played like children in the blue-green water of the loch. They took special delight in playing with Arth, until he left to hunt in the nearby woods. After a lengthy swim, they bathed one another and soon gave into the urge to make love once again.

  Basking in the afterglow of their wild mating, Gavin teased, “So, my wee virago, is the pain still nae so bad? Does the cool, magic water still continue to ease all discomfort?”

  She lunged for him, but he quickly sidestepped her attack, then r
oared with laughter when she sank like a stone in the deeper water. His mirth quickly vanished when she did not resurface.

  Gavin rushed over to where she went under, and then was hit with profound relief when he felt wee hands tug on his solid legs. He grinned at her failed attempt to pull his feet out from under him, then reached into the water, hooking his arm around her meager waist and lifting her so they were chest-to-chest. And when he gave her a supercilious smirk, she purposely spit a mouth full of water into his face.

  Gavin railed in faux anger, and then threw her from his arms to go crashing back into the water. When she resurfaced, the sweet laughter that came from her was like a sirens call. He dove for her as she tried to swim away, but he caught her foot and reeled her in like a fish on a hook. This also effectively raised her chemise, giving him a delightful glimpse of her bare bottom. His hand instantly went to the creamy flesh, cupping both round cheeks.

  “Gavin,” she shrieked, but the giggles that followed killed the outrage in her voice.

  Fully aware of where this love play would lead, he relented, and then turned her around. As he pushed her flaxen hair from her face, he listened to her soft voice.

  “Plato once said ‘Ye can discover more about a person in an hour of play that in a year of conversation’,” Ella stated as she wrapped her arms and legs around him.

  “He was a verra wise man,” Gavin replied. “ Our priest, Father Logan, often quoted Greek philosophers throughout our childhood. That particular quote he used during the first year of our alliance with the Mackenzie Clan.”

  She stiffened at hearing the name of the clan she was born into, yet no longer belonged. Thankfully he did not notice.

  “It took me far longer than it should have to trust the clan that single handedly save my own from extinction.”

  “Why?”

  “My father raised me to believe that the only clan to be trusted is yer own, but that is nae the only reason. At the time, the Macleods were half starved and in constant battle against other clans, whom my father had angered with his raids. The Mackenzies have always been and still are the most powerful clan in all of Scotland. They also had my sister, Eva.”

  Gavin’s expression was grim when he carried her out of the water. He gently set her down, covered her with a fresh plaid, and then wrapped another around his waist.

  “Please, continue,” Ella asked. “I have heard your mother’s version, but I imagine it differs from your own.”

  With her hand on his chest and her doe-eyes wide with earnest empathy, she encouraged him to relate the painful past. He never spoke of that day, not to anyone other than those directly involved. It was an odd sensation, after so many years, wanting to confide in Ella the tragic events of his past.

  “I will tell ye everything, but first we must get ye into the sun. Yer lower lip is blue and quivering,” Gavin stated.

  For the remainder of the morning they stretched out on the widespread plaid, drank in the sun’s warm rays as he related the tale. He spoke of his cruel, often violent father as well as the horrendous act he committed against his own family. Gavin’s harsh demeanor evaporated when the conversation turned to the benevolent generosity of the Mackenzies, and how they became friends, and later family through marriage.

  The enormity of his confession amplified the guilt Ella felt gnawing away at her heart. He was omitting a painful part of his past as well as what he believed was his own failure to his family, yet she refused to do the same. Not admitting her identity was beyond deceitful, especially since it would hurt the only people she had left in the world, the Macleods.

  Although she was proud of her father after hearing all he had done for Gavin and the Macleod Clan, it was painfully clear that her husband would be honor bound to set her aside when the truth was revealed.

  Ella was astounded by the depth of his emotions, but more so that he harbored tremendous guilt over not protecting his family. This revelation clearly explained why her husband’s need to protect was so great. It also made her love him just a bit more.

  “I will never fail my family again,” he concluded his story.

  “It was your father who failed your family, not you. The guilt lies with him, for he is the sole cause of all the pain you family endured. Your father lied to you about where Paen was being fostered, aye?”

  “Aye.”

  “Had your father ever lied to you prior to this?”

  “Nae.”

  “So how were you to know that he would lie about Paen?”

  “I should have.”

  “Only if you had the ability to read minds, which you don’t,” she stated, then gave him a quick kiss. “Since your father did not lie to you afore, you had nae reason to doubt his word.”

  When Ella saw that he was beginning to realize the truth, she added, “Had you father ever hurt your mother before?”

  “He was unfaithful, but ne’er raised a hand to her before that day, likewise with my sister. It was only his sons he abused.”

  “So again, you had nae reason to suspect he would harm them, aye?”

  Mulling over the gravity of her words for a moment, he then said, “Aye.”

  “You are one of the greatest men I have ever known,” she said as she took both his hands in hers. “’Tis pride you should feel in yourself for saving your family and clan.”

  Gavin’s heart clenched. His wife had brought clarity to the most tragic period of his life. The burden that plagued him for so long was still there, however, it had dramatically lessened.

  “Thank ye, little one.”

  It was high noon when Gavin and Ella returned to their chamber so they could dress prior to tending their duties. Afore leaving the chamber he pulled her close, cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her glade green eyes.

  “Nae matter yer past, I will always want ye, always protect ye. Ye are mine and I take special care of what belongs to me.”

  Hope sprung anew as Ella wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. She whispered, “You have nae idea how much those words mean to me.”

  Gavin did not miss the sincerity in her tone as he engulfed her in his embrace. Deciding to lighten the mood, he teased, “Now be gone wench, my men await and I will nae have ye coerce me back into bed.”

  When Ella felt his hand swat her bottom, she raised her eyebrows and said in saucy tone, “’Tis you, my lustful Scot, who are unable to keep his hands to himself.”

  Before he could react, she raced out of the chamber with undiluted laughter following in her wake. He gloried briefly in their shared moment, then with smile lighting up his face, he retrieved his sword and left the chamber.

  As he headed to the bailey, Gavin’s thoughts remained on his audacious wife. She brought such joy and warmth to his life, along with a profound surge of strength and determination.

  His indomitable resolute to conquer the two men that had hurt Ella so deeply, was as fierce as it was unwavering. Philip of Greystone and Roger of Montgomery would pay with their lives.

  67

  “Ever since ye walked into this cottage ye have nae been able to stop grinning like a fool. A fool verra pleased with her husband I would imagine.”

  “Aye, that is true,” Ella giggled.

  Rachel had become very close to Ella since she arrived at the Macleod stronghold. She’d also discerned the sorrow that lingered underneath her confident surface. Yet now, seeing her bursting with joy, warmed her heart.

  “Tell me everything.”

  “Aye, but first I would like to explain the stitches.”

  “Lady Esme already explained,” she said with an unconcerned wave. “I trust ye.”

  Rachel suddenly sobered and said in a sincere voice, “I am eternally grateful to ye for saving my life, and that of my bairn. There is nae need to question yer methods, for I have learned yer knowledge far surpasses the likes of any in Scotland.”

  Beaming at her praise, Ella said, “Well, we can remove the stitches in a few days, an
d in a six sennights you and your husband can resume your bed sport. Mayhap by next year you will give your son a sister.”

  “Boyd and I have decided to wait a few years before trying for another. I fear this ordeal caused my husband much grief. He actually told me he would ne’er bed me again. It took me all morn to convince him that we could continue to make love without making a bairn.”

  “I have never seen a man so worried about his wife,” Ella chuckled. “He loves you a great deal.”

  “Aye, as I do him. I told him ye knew of herbs that would prevent conception. Even though the church dinna condone such practices, he feels my life is more important than dictating to those narrow-minded beliefs.

  “He is very wise. Most men don’t realize the dangers involved with birthing a bairn each year. ‘Tis the main reason women die long afore their husbands.”

  “Aye, he agrees with ye on that. He also said he would be content with just one, as long as I was by his side.”

  “I thought you both agreed to wait a couple years to have another?”

  “Aye, in the end he did, but it took much convincing.”

  The cry of Rachel’s son interrupted the conversation. Waving to her friend to remain in the bed, Ella walked over to the newly build crib made by Iain and picked up the red-faced bairn. She wondered why he was crying, when only moments ago he had been fed and changed by the wet nurse.

  Noticing the amount of clothing on the poor babe, she admonished, “Is there a reason the lad has so many layers on?” As she striped the squalling infant to only a thin sleeping gown, Rachel explained.

  “I told the wet nurse to dress him warmly so he dinna take a chill. I heard that is what kills most newborns.”

  “Aye, ‘tis true if it was a cold winter’s day,” Ella said with a smile. “Unfortunately, ‘tis a hot, summer’s day and he is very uncomfortable being bundled up for a blizzard.”

  With the bairn in her arms, she walked over to the window and allowed the slight breeze to cool him. Instantly, his cried ceased.