Lachlan spat in disgust once more. “I would just as soon slit my own throat as bear the name Campbell were it not for the laird demanding it o’ me.”
“There are many men that would gladly slit it for ye, MacGregor or nae,” Duncan chuckled. His cousin had fought with many a man and had boasted of his successes to anyone who would listen. Lachlan believed himself to be the fiercest warrior in all of Scotland.
“I will defeat them all at the gatherin’,” Lachlan boasted, puffing his chest out with confidence.
“Aye, the gatherin’,” Duncan nodded, grinning. He was looking forward to the spring gathering. It was the one time of the year when the clans came together, friend and foe, to compete, sell their wares, and arrange marriages. MacGregors from all over the highlands and islands could secretly socialize with one another without anyone realizing who they were under the guise of their adopted names. It was where his father had met his mother and where someday he, himself, would most likely meet his own lass. Mayhap this year? Keeping a secret such as the one they kept led to a lonely existence. He was forced to pretend that his foes were his friends. Any of the clans would gladly kill him were they to discover the truth. He hoped to one day meet a young MacGregor lass to share the secret with. “Faither will want tae be leavin’ afore long.”
“Will ye be competin’ in the games?” Lachlan inquired as the men turned to walk back to the castle.
“Nae, I will leave ye tae defend the clan’s honor.” Duncan shook his head, slinging his bow over his shoulder.
“As the laird’s son, ye should compete. It is a dishonor that ye have so little regard for the ways o’ warfare. I dinnae understand ye at all, cousin,” Lachlan frowned.
“Mayhap I will compete in the archery tournament. It pleases me tae provide food for my family and the clan. Ye ken I can fight when needed.” Duncan playfully shoved at Lachlan causing him to stumble sideways.
Lachlan laughed. “Aye, I ken it well enough.”
“Well then,” Duncan nodded. Lachlan shoved him back, and the two of them continued on toward the castle in companionable silence.
When they arrived back at the castle, they found everyone running to and fro in preparation for their departure. Duncan entered in search of his father. He found him in his room coughing and wheezing. “Faither?”
“Aye,” his father gasped out in reply.
“Are ye well, Faither?” he asked in concern.
“I will nae die o’ a cough,” his father growled then coughed even harder, “but it looks as if ye will have tae attend the gatherin’ without me.”
“I will stay with ye,” Duncan offered.
“Nae, ye must go and represent our family, but dinnae forget that in their eyes ye are a Campbell. Dinnae lose yerself in yer cups and let slip our secret.”
“I would nae do such a thing and ye ken it,” Duncan remarked. He moved over to a side table and poured his father a tankard of water. “It sounds as if ye should be in bed.”
His father nodded his head in agreement and moved to crawl beneath his blankets. Once he was settled, Duncan handed him the tankard and urged him to drink. “I will go and get the healer. She was still at her croft when I passed by it.”
Duncan left the room and went to do as promised. He found the healer hanging herbs to dry. “Idonea,” he greeted the elderly woman.
“Aye?” Idonea turned in inquiry. “Duncan,” she greeted with a smile. “How can I be o’ service, lad?”
“’Tis faither that is in need o’ yer healin’ hands,” Duncan informed her.
The healer stopped what she was doing and grabbed a bag with various herbs in it. Duncan walked her up to the castle and went in search of Lachlan. He found his cousin in the stables. He turned at hearing Duncan enter. “Are ye ready tae depart?”
“Faither has fallen ill and will nae be goin’ tae the gatherin’. He has asked that we go without him,” Duncan answered, leaning against the side of a stall.
“Then we can go now and no’ wait for the others,” Lachlan replied. Duncan could tell that he was anxious to get underway.
“Aye, that we can. I will go and speak with the healer after she has seen tae faither, then we will go.” Lachlan nodded his head in acknowledgment, and Duncan returned to the castle. Once the healer had confirmed that the laird would recover with nothin’ but rest and some medicinal herbs, Duncan joined Lachlan, and they left for the gathering.
When they arrived at the gathering, Lachlan went off to join the other competitors, and Duncan perused the stalls filled with wares. He stopped to purchase a tankard of ale and then continued on down the line of stalls. The sun emerged from behind the clouds and turned the earth from a drab grey to a brilliant, fresh, spring green. A flash of red in the sunlight caught his attention, and he turned his head to discover the source. What he saw stopped him in his tracks and made his heart beat faster in his chest. His breath caught in his throat, and he coughed, choking on a mouthful of ale. Standing in front of the textile stall examining the cloth wares was the most beautiful lass he had ever seen. The light rippled through crimson rivulets down her back and sparkled a deep emerald green in her eyes. She wore a dress that matched her eyes, with creamy accents and a matching arisaid. Nothing about her person identified her clan, a common practice among hidden MacGregors. He himself refused to wear the Campbell colors. As the MacGregor colors were outlawed, he instead chose to wear Stuart colors in support of the Jacobite cause, as did many others of his hidden clan. As this was an accepted practice among various clans, no one raised an eye in question.
Duncan grinned, wiping the ale from his chin. He set his tankard aside and moved forward toward her. About halfway to the stall, he was stopped by his cousin. “There ye are. ‘Tis nearly time for my victory. Ye gave me yer word ye would be there.”
“Aye, I did.” Duncan turned back in hopes of speaking with the scarlet haired lass and found she had disappeared. He looked all about him, but did not see her anywhere.
“What are ye lookin’ for?” Lachlan asked, confused by his cousin’s behavior.
“There was a bonnie red haired lass. She was just here, and now she is gone. Did ye see where she went?”
Lachlan chuckled. “Nae I did no’ see, but dinnae fash. There are plenty more lassies tae choose from.”
“No’ like this one,” Duncan replied, shaking his head.
“They’re all the same. Ye’ll find another,” Lachlan insisted. “The games are startin’ and I dinnae want tae miss it.”
Duncan took one last look around for the bonnie lass, then followed Lachlan to watch the competition.
Chapter Two
Marra MacDonald slipped quietly through the darkness down the back stairs and out of the kitchen garden door. She scurried down to the water’s edge and found her maid, Diana, waiting for her beside a small boat. “If the laird catches us, I will be put tae the lash,” Diana protested one last time. She had attempted to discourage Marra from defying her father, but Marra would hear nothing of it. “We must return afore yer faither is done hunting.”
“He left afore I did and will nae return until after dark. If we leave now, we can attend the gatherin’ and return afore anyone kens we have gone,” Marra reassured her. “I have been lookin’ forward tae the gatherin’ all winter long and I am no’ goin’ tae let faither’s hatred o’ the Campbells keep me from goin’. I have read every book on the island, which was no’ verra many. I long tae acquire more.”
“Dinnae speak tae anyone while we are there and be sure tae keep that red hair o’ yers covered. It shines akin tae a beacon on a dark night tae every lad lookin’ for a lass,” Diana warned.
Marra scrunched her nose in disapproval at her maid’s demands. Marra’s father kept her locked away from everyone that he perceived as a threat to her virtue. She had not been allowed to converse with any lads outside of their family. She was expected to marry a laird and regain some of the MacDonald clans lost preeminence among the islands and highlands. Once
the MacDonald had been the Laird of the Isles, but no more. Her father held a grudge against anyone who had played a part in their downfall, especially the Clan Campbell.
The two women climbed into the waiting boat and took turns rowing. It took them quite some time to make it across the water, but eventually they reached the opposite shore and tied the boat off, so it would not float away. “’Tis a stroke o’ good fortune that the gatherin’ is so close, or ye would ne’er be able tae attend without yer faither kennin’ it,” Diana huffed, collapsing onto the grass in exhaustion.
“Aye,” Marra sat down next to her in the grass and rolled her shoulders painfully. Rowing for so long had taken its toll on her body. They allowed themselves to rest for a moment then rose and walked the remaining short distance to the gathering. Marra drew her arisaid up over her hair. She had purposefully chosen not to wear the MacDonald tartan so as not to reveal her identity.
As they approached the gathering, Marra melted into the crowd, leaving Diana to do as she pleased. Marra meandered in and out of the stalls examining their wares. She hoped to find a book seller. She stopped at a textile stall and fingered the cloth. She liked several of the pieces, but were she to purchase them, it would be hard to explain where they had come from without admitting where she had been. A group of children ran past. A little girl tripped and grabbed at Marra to keep from falling. Her little hand clutched the edge of Marra’s arisaid pulling it from her head. Marra turned and helped the girl to her feet.
“Are ye hurt, lass?” Marra asked, helping her to brush the dirt from her dress.
“Nae.” The little girl shook her head, then ran off in pursuit of the other children.
Marra smiled at their exuberance. She missed the carefree days of her childhood when she had been allowed to run free with the other children of the island. The moment she had become a woman of interest to prospective husbands, her father had restricted her every deed. Diana had been hired to ensure her purity remained intact by chaperoning her at all times. Marra’s father had forbade her to attend the gathering, but Diana had taken pity on her, and so they had crossed the water for a brief moment’s relief.
“Do ye ken where I might purchase books?” Marra asked the textile merchant.
“Aye, ‘tis the next aisle over, lass,” the merchant answered, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the next line of stalls.
Marra turned to go and caught sight of a man staring at her intently. She did not know him, but she feared he might recognize who she was and report her presence to her father. The man was handsome; tall with broad shoulders, long dark hair, and brilliant blue eyes. Those eyes… Where have I seen them before? She could not remember, but her heart beat faster in her chest as their eyes locked. A delicious shiver danced along her skin, causing her knees to tremble for a brief moment. Another man with short dark hair and sharp hawk like features walked up and spoke to him, taking his attention from her. Marra used the distraction to slip between stalls through to the next aisle. She covered her hair with her arisaid once more and made her way to the book seller’s stall. She hoped to find one of Lady Mary Wroth’s works.
After finding what she was looking for, she strolled leisurely through the rest of the stalls and ended at the competition field. Lowering herself to the ground, she nibbled on a piece of meat pie and sipped from a tankard of ale. She watched as men competed to be named the best warrior among the clans. There were caber tosses, sword fights, archery, and many other challenges of strength and endurance. The hawk faced man she had seen earlier took the field and faced his challenger. The man was fierce and beat back his opponent with passionate fury. The hawk faced man won the bout and took on many more challengers winning second overall. When it came time for the archery tournament, the handsome blue eyed man stepped forward and drew his bow. When released, the arrow whistled through the air, thwacking into the target dead center with such force that it drove into the wooden post behind the target. The man unleashed another arrow and hit the same mark, breaking the first arrow with the impact. Marra had seldom seen the like. She marveled at his skill. She was certain he would make a wonderful hunter.
When the competitions ended, a feast was given followed by a dance. Marra was so excited she could barely contain herself. She dove into the dance with great energy. She knew she should not be dancing with strange men, but she was having so much fun that she could not resist. I have nae danced with anyone outside o’ my family for such a verra long time. The romantic nature of her heart ached to be free. Her arisaid fell away as she was swung around and around. Spinning, she became dizzy and lost her grip. Marra went flying away from her dance partner and straight into the arms of the blue eyed highlander. Her head slammed into his chest as his hands encircled her waist in an effort to stop her from getting hurt.
“Och, lass,” he exclaimed, reaching up to cradle her head. “Are ye well, my bonnie?” His voice was deep and husky, his blue eyes filled with concern as he gazed down upon her face. Marra stared up at him, lost in the sapphire depths.
She felt a bit faint. Please, God, dinnae let me fall down at his feet. A phrase from one of Lady Mary Wroth’s sonnets flashed through her mind. ‘Yet is their hope: Then Love but play thy part. Remember well thy self, and think on me; Shine in those eyes which conquer'd have my heart.’
“Yer bonnie?” she questioned dazed. She was certain she had never met the man before today, but she could not shake the feeling that she had gazed into his eyes before. His arms, wrapped about her torso, caused sensations of joy and longing to vibrate through her being.
“Aye, my bonnie.” His eyes sparkled above her face as he swept her up into a dance.
“I dinnae ken ye,” she protested, staring up at him. Her head was spinning, and she wondered if perhaps she had had too much ale.
“Nae, but ye will,” he answered grinning.
He was confident, and she could not help but smile at his audacity. “Ye are quite sure o’ that are ye?”
“Oh, aye,” he answered, pulling her closer.
“I believe ye will find me no’ quite so easily won as that of an archery tournament.” She felt emboldened, almost coquettish, as she spun about in his arms.
“Ah, ye saw me win then,” he noted, his eyes laughing down at her in merriment.
“Aye,” she nodded in acknowledgment. “I have ne’er seen a shot like it.”
“I can dance e’en better,” he remarked suggestively, tightening his hold on her waist.
“That has yet tae be seen,” she teased, daring him with her eyes to prove it.
“Then I claim every last dance with ye tae show ye.” He grinned mischievously.
Marra found she could not resist his charm and agreed to allow him to lead her through the remainder of the dances. As they danced, she traced the features of his handsome face in her mind, committing it to memory. I wish tae remember this moment just as it is once I have been returned to my island prison. I dinnae want tae forget a single detail. They danced song after song. Her heart felt as if it might burst from all of the sensations and feelings his presence caused within her. In all of her young life, she had never felt anything like it before. Is this what the French mean by être le coup de foudre, tae be in love as swift as a flash o’ lightin’ streakin’ across the sky?
Darkness began to descend across the land, but Marra did not notice until Diana called her name. “Marra! We must go now!”
Marra turned her head to see Diana’s concerned face peering through the crowd. She saw the darkening sky, and fear filled her heart, replacing the warm glow that had been hers but moments before. Faither will beat me if he discovers I have gone! Marra pushed away from the man who with so few words had won her heart and moved toward Diana.
The man grabbed her arm to stop her. “Where are ye goin’, lass? I dinnae e’en ken yer name.”
“Marra, my name is Marra.”
“I am Duncan. ‘Tis a pleasure tae meet ye, Marra.”
“Mara!” Diana’s voice
called more frantically.
“I must go. My faither will be expectin’ me.” Marra attempted to move away once more.
“When may I see ye again?” he asked, his eyes pleading with her.
“I dinnae ken. My faither does no’ allow me the freedom tae come and go as I choose,” she answered, wishing with all her heart that she could see him again.
“Meet me tomorrow, here in the glen?” he asked.
“I can no’ do as ye ask,” she protested, eyeing the darkening sky. “I really must go.”
“Meet me?” he asked again.
Marra looked up into his eyes and found she could not deny him as she wished for it as much as he. “Aye, tomorrow,” she promised, then fled to follow Diana back to the boat.
Fighting For A Highland Rose (Defenders 0f The Highlands Book 1) Page 24