by Kara Griffin
“Nay, but that night he crowed like a damned peacock and wanted it known how easily he took Lydia from you. When he spoke of your position, I got the feeling he had more confessions to make, so I coerced him by goading him further.”
“What do you mean?” Callum’s blood boiled and he seethed his brother cuckolded him with his wife. Worse, Lydia deceived him by being with Gavin. She kept away from him, but Callum didn’t think she’d be as low to be with someone else and that someone was his brother. “What other confessions did he make?”
Keith’s face reddened. “You’ll be angry if I tell you. I’ve wanted to keep this from you because you didn’t deserve their betrayal.”
He growled under his breath. “What else, Keith. Say it. What else did he do?”
“He bragged that you irked him and he wanted you gone. Gavin ordered the Sinclair soldiers who traveled to the skirmish with you to make certain you didn’t return.”
Callum fisted his hands. As much as anger trounced him, the treachery tore at his heart and mind. “Why? He was my damned brother. Why would he want me dead? I only wanted to help him and always stuck by him.” His questions sat foul on his lips and his chest rose with his affronted breath.
“Gavin loathed you. You easily won the hearts of your clan, your ma, da, gran, and all…even me. He knew you were my good comrade, and I barely tolerated him. Gavin swore you would never be happy in your marriage and he wasn’t about to let you lead his soldiers. He wanted you dead and sent men to ambush you. When he confessed this to me, I was so angry that I―”
Callum’s breath hitched as Keith told him the circumstances of his brother’s attempt to murder him. He was astounded Gavin would go to such lengths to get rid of him. “And you what, Keith? Please, tell me you didn’t kill him.” He waited for the words to spill forth and needed to hear it from his friend’s mouth.
“I was enraged that he ordered you killed and how his deception hurt you. You’re my comrade and one of the most honorable men I know. I wanted and needed to avenge you. I thought you were dead and I was at a loss because I asked you to go in my stead. If I hadn’t asked you to go, you wouldn’t have been killed.”
“What did you do?” he asked again, but in a harsher tone.
“I challenged him. We took our swords and tarried. I wanted to ram my sword through his dark, merciless heart.” Keith’s voice deepened with his avowal.
Callum leaned across the table and grabbed hold of Keith’s tunic. With one hand, he held fast, and with his other hand, he used it to show his outrage. He punched Keith repeatedly until three men in the tavern ran to them and pulled him away.
Keith didn’t strike back or defend himself. He pushed the table aside, approached, stood before him, and rasped with a breath. He rubbed his jaw and grunted. “You have a right to be angry with me.”
The men backed away when they believed their scuffle had ended.
Keith continued with his explanation, “I despaired that you were gone, murdered, and it was my fault. When I saw you on the road on your return… I was astounded that you survived. I thought for certain the Sinclair soldiers killed you.”
“They tried, believe me. So that’s why you acted strangely when I met you on the lane. I alleged that you were against me. I cannot believe you killed Gavin.”
“Nay, I didn’t and I swear to you, Callum. We clashed swords, but when I had the chance to run him through I held back. He was your damned brother. I wouldn’t murder him even though I badly wanted to. It’s a mystery to me who killed Gavin, but I tell you it wasn’t me. I left him on the ground with nary a scratch and walked away. You’re angry with me, but you should be with Gavin and his betrayal―”
He grated a sigh. “I haven’t the faintest idea of how to respond. I need time to consider it, but if you didn’t slay Gavin, then who did?”
“Callum, I wanted to kill him for you, aye to retaliate for you. I thought you were dead for god’s sake, and when you returned and wouldn’t accept his death or being named the laird… Gavin deserved to die by my hand, but he was sotted and so was I. I vowed to return to finish it, but when I did, I learned someone else had slain him. I needed to tell you the truth. You cannot let what they did affect you. You must find happiness and you will if you’ll let Violet love you.”
Callum turned and kicked the bench. Keith’s confession shocked him beyond all sense, but his words of Violet struck dissonance in him. “If I let her love me, she’ll likely leave me too.” He wasn’t about to be open for such rejection.
“Violet is not like Lydia. Don’t compare the two. You should thank me for punishing Gavin, even if I failed to make him pay for his misdeeds against you in the end, but I understand if you cannot.”
“Thank you? You wanted to murder my brother. You brought darkness to my clan.”
“For Christ’s sake, Callum, Gavin deceived you. If there was darkness there which there was, it was your brother’s doing not mine. What would you have me do? Let him get away with it? You don’t realize what I risked to avenge you.”
He shot an odious glance at Keith. “What you risked?”
“You’re my comrade and what your brother did was unacceptable and unforgivable. I couldn’t let him get away with the treachery. I never liked him. No one liked him. You need to get past this, Callum. Does it matter who killed him? The fact is the knave is dead.”
He rubbed his face and groaned. “This requires a wee bit of contemplation. And I’m unsure if I’ll ever get past it or if I’ll forgive you for wanting to slay him, regardless of whether he deserved it or not. He was of my blood, my brother, and my damned laird. You should’ve told me.” Callum turned away and stomped from the hall without another word.
Keith called after him, but he wouldn’t continue the conversation. His friend deceived him as much as his brother had. Callum waited for Clive in the lane in front of the inn. He paced before the entrance in utter defeat and anger. He couldn’t begin to process or accept what Keith told him.
Father John approached. “Sinclair, I haven’t seen you in a time. What brings you here?”
“Not now, Father.”
“Surely while you’re here, you’ll come to the church to make your confession.” He held the Good Book in his hand and raised it for him to see.
“I haven’t the time right now. But Keith is in the tavern. He could use your counsel about now. You should go and demand he makes his confession.” Callum hadn’t jested, although his comrade would pummel him if he found out he sent Father John to him. All avoided the clergyman and his penances.
Father John bowed his head. “I shall go immediately. Perhaps his soul needs saving.” He rushed forth and entered the inn.
Callum resumed his pace on the lane and hoped Clive would come out soon. He should’ve gotten his attention before he left. As he stood there, Father John was tossed from the door of the inn. He landed on his arse and muttered his protest. The clergyman rose and dusted off his robes, and muttered that God would not approve of their behavior. His brother, Joe, stood at the entrance with his legs braced, and his arms crossed at his chest.
“No one wants to listen to your damning Godly words in here, John. Be gone with you.” Joe bellowed a laugh and slammed the tavern door in his brother’s face.
Clive finally strode outside. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to leave? Keith said you left in a huff.”
“I needed air. Let us return home.” His tone suggested Clive not question him further. They collected their horses and took the trail toward home. Callum rode in silence and wouldn’t let Clive question him until nearly an hour later.
“Is everything settled then? Did you make amends with Keith?”
“Nay, it’s impossible to make amends now. Keith Sutherland, it appears, will always be my enemy.” Callum’s chest tensed with his words, but wouldn’t explain to his cousin the terrible events that caused the rift.
How could he forgive Keith for his treachery? He would’ve murdered his brother, and Ca
llum wished he had. Then, at least, he’d be certain of who was to blame. He still didn’t know who the culprit was and that unsettled him. There would be no peace until the murderer was found. He didn’t want to avenge his brother, far from it. His brother deserved what he got, but Callum needed to find out who would go against their laird and to assure himself they wouldn’t go against him.
Chapter Sixteen
Violet groaned at the heaviness of her body. She awoke in her chamber and covered her eyes with her fingers. The light from the window casement hurt her eyes and caused a thump in her head. She tried to remember what happened or how she’d gotten back to her chamber. The last thing she recalled was being in the hall and… She gasped and glanced at the door.
Gussy appeared and sat on the side of the bed. “You’re awake. You had me worried.”
She took the cup offered by her friend and frowned. “What happened? The last thing I remember was feeling strange and dizzy…”
Gussy pressed the covers around her and bade her to drink. “I suspect something foul. You should thank Dela. She found you lying on the floor in the hall and came to me for help.”
“I must’ve eaten something bad.”
“Drink up, My Lady. I fear you’ve been poisoned. You need to drink the brew, all of it. It should help take away the effects. I’ve given you a good portion of it, which helped, but you’ll need more.”
Violet sat up and chugged the contents of the cup. It tasted sweet and she shivered at the pucker of her lips. “What effects do you speak of? Surely, whatever I ate this morning made me ill.”
Gussy shook her head. “It wasn’t food that did this. I smelled henbane in your wine goblet. It causes dizziness, delirium, and madness. Some who take it never recover. Or they do inconceivable things like jump from towers or scream with terrors. Thank god the girl got me in time.”
She moaned and held her throat at the horror of it. “Hawisa gave me the wine. Did she try to poison me…the wine was poisoned?”
“Tried, My Lady? She did more than that. You were ill most of the night. I had to get you to retch to get the poison out. If Dela hadn’t gotten me when she did, you surely would’ve died.”
“We should be cautious around Hawisa. Until I know for certain she tried to harm me…”
Gussy clasped her hand. “You’re always kind, even to those undeserving. The woman wants you dead. Be cautious, most definitely. I’d say you keep a great distance from her, and tell the laird of her treachery when he returns.”
Violet took the cup from the table and drank down the rest of the potion. “It’s minty.”
“It shall settle your stomach, which probably pains you. Will you?”
“Will I what?”
Gussy took the cup from her. “Tell Laird Sinclair?”
Her shoulders slumped. “I cannot, Gussy. He has troubles. If you saw the despair in his eyes the other night… I don’t want to bring him more misery. And I know not how to help him. I shan’t tell him of this. Somehow, I will keep away from Hawisa or perhaps win her friendship.”
“If anyone could, you might. Still, I worry for you. The laird returned to the keep early this morn. Clive told me that he banned Hawisa from entering the castle.”
“She said something like that when we ate our midday meal. Well, that solves one of my problems. At least Hawisa cannot try again if she’s unable to enter the castle. I am much better, Gussy, and want to get outside. The air will do me good.” Violet sat on the bedside and tried to ignore how wretched she felt.
“Perhaps you shall, later when you’re up to it. I’ll take a walk with you, but you’ll need a day or two before you might return to normalcy. Now, I must go and help Bailey with the night’s supper. Will you be well enough until I return?”
Violet nodded. “You’re spending a lot of time with the cook. Is there a reason?”
Gussy blushed and snorted. “What reason would that be?”
She took hold of her friend’s arm to keep her from moving away. “You like him. Perhaps you like looking at his naked knees?” Violet snorted a laugh at her friend’s blush.
Gussy’s face brightened. “Perhaps I do. I haven’t met anyone like him. I shall come back. Await me and we’ll go to the village together. Try to rest, My Lady.”
Violet spent the next hours washing, mending her gown, and thought constantly about what Hawisa did. She wanted to befriend the woman and pitied her, but now it was impossible. One thought confused her because there was no reason Hawisa would hurt her. Violet was no threat.
By the time Gussy returned, she was ready for her walk. The walk to the village eased her, and she forgot about the matters that plagued her all morning. On the path, she kept in step with Gussy and peered at the many people about their daily chores. The day grew warm and she wished she’d worn a lighter gown.
She neared the smithy’s cottage and approached a wooden box that sat on the ground. Inside two kittens meowed, one was red-striped, and the other was black-haired. She reached to pet them and smiled at the sweet little things. Someone screeched and when she looked up, she saw Dela. The child yelled her greeting and ran to join them.
“Good day, Dela. What are you doing here? Are you by yourself?”
Dela grinned and knelt beside her. “Da said I could come and get sweets.”
Violet pressed her cheek. “Thank you, Dela, for getting help last eve and for saving me.”
Dela hugged her tightly. “You made me cry.”
She knelt before the girl and smiled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I wish you hadn’t cried. What can I do to make up for it and to reward you?” She held her chin in reflection and grinned at the idea that came to her.
Dela reached inside the box and retrieved a kitten and gave her a pout. “A kitten?”
“Pick your favorite.” Violet approached the smith and pulled a coin purse from the seam of her gown. “How much for the kittens?”
The burly man held a large ax of some sort in his hand and he lowered it. “They’re free, Mistress. Take ‘em if you want.”
Dela held the two kittens. “I want them both.”
“You should only take one.” Violet smiled at her when she shook her head.
“Nay, one is for me and the other is for Cora.”
Tears sprang to Violet’s eyes. She couldn’t reason why she wept, but the tears fell earnestly and she hastily wiped them away when Callum approached.
“Violet, what’s wrong?”
His voice instantly brightened her spirits. She lowered her chin and wiped her cheeks.
Gussy took a kitten from Dela. “She’s a little emotional, Laird Sinclair. I’ll take Dela back to the keep and get the kittens settled if you’d like a moment.”
Violet nodded and once they left, she turned back to face Callum.
“Why were you weeping, lass?”
“Cora. I miss her and Dela was sweet to think of her. She took a kitten for her, but I fear Cora will never return to me.”
Callum took her hand and his face was grim. “I have been caught in my difficulties and haven’t given thought to your troubles. I meant to write to my friend to ask for her help regarding your daughter. I will do so this day.”
“That is kind of you, but you need not do anything for me. I have a place to stay and don’t want to bring you further grief. At least I don’t have to return to England and that knave. I just hope Cora is safe and unharmed. I pray Henry’s men finds her.”
He pulled her hand for her to follow. “We must have hope she will be found. Walk with me.”
She nodded and trailed behind him. They walked along silently until they reached a meadow. Spring’s warmth sprouted the buds of the season and many a wildflower speckled the field. The sight gave her renewed hope. Hope that Cora would be returned to her, hope that Callum would find peace, and hope that Henry’s exile would be brief. Dare she have hope that Henry returned to England and called her home?
Her next thought tightened her chest. If that happened
, she’d leave Callum. She admitted she cared for him, but a future together was unlikely. Being with him brought her more joy than she’d had in many years, more than she deserved. The last time she had such happiness, was the day Cora was born and she held her sweet baby in her arms.
“This is my favorite place in all of Sinclair land.”
She turned abruptly and bumped into his hard body. “I’m sorry… I wasn’t listening.”
“This is my favorite place. I come here when I need solace, and lately, there’s been no time. There’s something about the sound of the stream and the wind whipping through the high grasses that soothes me. Perhaps it’ll appease you as well.”
She peered about the beauty of the land and the wide stream. The water flowed rapidly, and the rush of it made a pleasant sound over the rocks. A rustle shook the far-off bush and she feared someone might lurk there, but she saw no one. Perhaps an animal scampered through. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing me here. We should get back.” Violet didn’t understand why a sense of shyness overcame her.
Callum set an arm around her waist and he yanked her to his chest. “I haven’t wanted a woman as I want you. What is it about you that draws me?” His words caressed her with the deepness of his voice. “Your kisses induce me to lose my thoughts.”
Violet pressed her hands on his chest and raised her face. “No man has ever kissed me as you do.”
“I’ve tried to resist you, lass, to keep away, but I cannot. I’m a wretched knave for taking you to my bed without a care for your reputation. My honor has abandoned me because I’d rather be ignoble than not have you. I told myself that I’m undeserving of your affection. Why do you torment me?”
She was uncertain if she should be angry by his words. In one breath, he praised her, and in the next, he told her she tormented him. “We are both worthy, Callum. Don’t say such unbecoming words. Why do you think you’re unworthy? You are everything a woman wants in a man: strong, valiant, kind, and desirous. Will you not kiss me?”