She gave him a quick, tight hug and then rose to fetch her clothes. Tristan realized that she was so lost in her thoughts, or perhaps in such a rush to leave, that she did not seem to notice that he had a clear view of every glorious inch of her. Tristan rushed to gather his clothes too. He could feel himself hardening, and he knew that if they did not leave soon, he would lay her back on the rock, and this time he would not stop with just a taste.
Chapter Twelve
As they approached the postern gate, they agreed that Mairghread would enter first, and Tristan would follow a few minutes later. If anyone commented, they would say that they passed each other near the loch, which was not completely a falsehood.
Mairghread made her way above stairs towards her chamber.
“Ye ken he used to take me to the loch. But we never got around to swimming.”
Mairghread froze. She now knew that voice, and it belonged to someone she had no desire to speak with. She turned her head in the direction of the sound.
“Ye may be what he fancies now. But once he marries ye, it’s ma bed he’ll be coming back to every night.”
Mairghread realized she truly had nothing to say to the other woman. There was nothing she could say that would make the woman less hateful. There was nothing that she really wanted to say to the woman, so she took the line of least resistance. She looked at the woman and turned back to walk to her chamber.
Mairghread heard the feet coming down the hall just before she felt the hand on her arm that yanked her around. She looked down at Sorcha’s hand on her and then looked up at Sorcha. She simply raised one eyebrow and lifted her chin. She had been a laird’s daughter her entire life, and she played to that now.
“Remove yer hand. I wouldnae touch me again, if I were ye. I dinna want ye near me, and I dinna want to speak to ye. I havenae time fer yer jealous ranting and hateful words. Leave me be.”
With that she pulled her arm away and turned around. Sorcha did not get the message. Once again she grabbed Mairghread’s arm.
“Ye think that cause yer a laird’s daughter that ye’re better than me. Ye think ye’re so high and mighty, but ye arenae. Ye’re naught but a mouse. Ye havenae even the gumption to speak to me. Ye canna hold the laird’s attention fer long. He will tire of ye and want a woman who can please him. Yer innocence will be gone in a night, and then yer novelty will wear off. He’s been mine fer going on two years. If Alan hadnae botched the alliance, Tristan would be marrying me.”
“Ye truly believe that, dinna ye? Ye’re mad as a hatter if ye think that’s the case. I’m done with ye now.”
Once again Mairghread turned away. Sorcha reached out and grabbed a handful of Mairghread’s hair. She yanked as hard as she could. Mairghread’s neck snapped back, and she could not help the scream that came out. She turn into Sorcha’s grasp and flicked her wrist. She pressed her dirk into Sorcha’s stomach. She used her other arm to reach up and wrap it around the arm that held her hair. She pinched the underside of Sorcha’s arm as hard as she could. Sorcha immediately released her hair.
Before either woman could do another thing, the sound of running feet came to them. It was more than one set, and they were heavy treads. Mairghread looked up in time to see Tristan running down the hall. Her father and Callum were running just behind Tristan. They had heard her scream from the Sinclair’s chamber where they had still been working. All three men saw Sorcha’s hand in Mairghread’s hair.
Before Tristan could say anything, the Sinclair pushed past.
“What is the meaning of this? Ye dare attack ma daughter?
Tristan stepped forward and could see that Liam Sinclair was just a livid as he had been when Alan insulted Mairghread. While Tristan did not think that the Sinclair would harm a woman, he was not entirely convinced since the situation involved his only daughter.
“Explain yerself woman. What were ye doing assaulting Lady Mairghread?”
“I did naught! Lady Mairghread was taunting me and struck me first.”
“Sorcha, I wouldnae lie to me or the Sinclair. It willna make things right, and it willna make me go lighter on ye. I ken ye to be lying. I heard the last of what ye said as I came up the stairs.” Tristan turned to Mairghread and saw her rubbing the back of her head. He pulled her into his arms and checked to see if Sorcha had done any damage. “Sorcha, ye should count yerself lucky that Lady Mairghread didna snap yer arm or gut ye right here in the hallway. She would have been within her rights. Ye attacked a noblewoman.”
“I didna! I tell ye she attacked me first! She was taunting me that she stole ye from me.” Sorcha looked directly at Laird Sinclair as she spewed her next set of lies. Several guardsmen had approached when they heard the scream and running feet. Sorcha knew they could hear every word. “She was bragging aboot how the laird’s been tupping her every chance he could. She called me a whore.”
Laird Sinclair roared as he rushed forward. He had been pushed to his limits with the Mackays. While he had never before struck a woman, he was sorely tempted with this one. He shook his finger in front of her nose. He spoke so harshly that spittle formed at his lips.
“Ye think anyone here would believe yer vile lies? Everyone kens what ye are. Even I’ve heard that ye are naught but a light skirt. Ye didna think that I would hear aboot yer past with the laird? Ye didna think that I would hear aboot ye propositioning each of ma sons? Ma daughter is nae a whore but ye certainly are.”
Tristan was quickly losing control of the situation and needed it back. As laird of this keep and with several of his guardsman listening, he had to look like he was in command. He had needed a moment to calm down anyway and to assure himself that nothing serious had happened to Mairghread. It was his turn to talk now.
“Sorcha, I told ye ma reasons for breaking things off. It didna matter who I might marry. I willna bring a prospective bride into this keep while bedding another woman. It isnae yer decision to make. Ye have brought the consequences upon yerself. Ye could’ve left well enough alone, but nay, ye had to go too far. Ye are released from yer work here in the keep. Ye may gather yer belongings, and once ye leave, ye arenae to return. Ye may make yer home in the village with yer kin. If ye would like a croft of yer own, I will arrange it. I didna want to see ye near the keep again. Ye arenae to enter the walls of the inner bailey without ma permission or that of Alasdair, ma tanaiste. I put up with yer spoiled behavior because ye served a purpose and I enjoyed ye. Ye have worn out yer welcome. If I see or hear that ye have been near Lady Mairghread again, I’ll banish ye. Dinna think fer a moment that I will ever choose ye over Lady Mairghread or ye will be sorely disappointed. Guards! Escort Sorcha to her chamber and watch as she packs her belongings. Then escort her to her parents’ croft in the village.”
As the guards escorted her away, Sorcha could not leave without having the final word.
“Ye ken ye love me. Ye ken that once ye’ve wedded and bedded her and her kin leaves ye’ll be coming back to me. I may nae want ye after dipping yer wick in her. Ye’ll be sorry ye didna keep me.”
Sorcha’s threat lay heavy in the air even as she descended the stairs. Laird Sinclair looked at Tristan. Mairghread and Tristan could see the anger fade, and it was replaced with disappointment. They both knew they were not going to like what he said next.
“Laird Mackay, I have come to both respect and like ye, but I cannae say the same for ye clan. I canna leave ma daughter here with people who try to do her harm. I wouldnae ever forgive maself if I did and something happened to her. She may be a woman now, but she will always be ma wee lassie. I will do any and everything to protect her. I dinna think that a match with ye will work.” The Sinclair had not failed to see how Mairghread had welcomed Tristan’s embrace or how she leaned into him as he held her close. He knew that they had truly developed a tendre for each other, but he was not willing to risk her life for it.
Mairghread looked up at Tristan and placed her hand over his heart. He let her speak.
“Da, it isnae the
fault of the Mackay clan that there are a few rotten people. Ye canna punish them all for the sins of a few. I dinna want to leave here. I dinna want to leave Tristan. It has been almost three weeks since we arrived, and I want ye to sign the betrothal documents. I willna leave and return to Sinclair land. If ye force me, I willna consent to any other marriage. I willna say any vows but those I will give Tristan.”
Laird Sinclair saw the defiant and stubborn jut of her chin. While Mairghread might resemble him in many ways, her personality was the spitting image of her mother. He had loved his children’s mother more than he could have imagined. He had never once considered remarrying. When he lost her, he lost a part of himself. He tried to make up for it by pouring his love and attention into his children. He knew he was not a traditional father as he openly showed his affection to all of his children. He did not want to break Mairghread’s spirit or her heart by denying her this marriage, but he was truly frightened for her. She had been threatened and insulted twice in three weeks by two people who had significance to the laird. To him that was too many times in too short a time. He looked at Tristan and had to admit to himself that he saw a man that was in love with his daughter. Tristan may not have admitted it to Mairghread or even himself yet, but Liam Sinclair knew the look of a man who had given his heart away. It was the same look he had had whenever he was with his wife and the same look he had even now when he thought of her.
“I willna say aye or nay. I need to give this some thought.”
Mairghread rushed forward and hugged her father. She knew that for such a fierce and proud man, the compromise did not come easy. She had never once in her life doubted her father’s love or his willingness to stake his life for hers. She also knew that she would have some work ahead of her to convince him, but luckily for her and for Tristan, she had plenty of experience making her father come around to her way of thinking.
Chapter Thirteen
After giving Mairghread a quick kiss and explaining where he was going, Tristan left her at her chamber door and hurried to find the guardsmen who escorted Sorcha to the village. The men had gotten an ear full, and Tristan wanted to be sure that none would speak out of turn. It would only take one person repeating Sorcha’s accusations for Mairghread’s reputation to be ruined. Neither Laird Sinclair nor Callum made mention of Sorcha’s comments about Mairghread’s alleged loss of virginity, so Tristan believed that they did not believe her. He was not so confident about other people. This would make for a juicy piece of gossip that would spread like wildfire. While every clan member that Mairghread met seemed to like and respect her, the opportunity to whisper about whether the laird was tupping his potential bride would be too much for many to resist. He would not tolerate gossip about Mairghread, but he knew there was little he could do if he could not get to the guardsmen first.
Tristan left the keep and hurried to the stables. He did not even bother saddling Thunder but led him outside. He mounted Thunder and rode him bareback to the village. He caught sight of the men as they were returning. He reined in his horse as he approached them.
“Men, I would like a moment of yer time.”
“Aye, ma laird. We just left Sorcha with her parents. She was sobbing and spinning a tale that any bard would be envious of,” said Hamish. He was one of Tristan’s most senior warriors, and Tristan trusted him.
Shite! Just what I didna want!
“Dinna ye worry, ma laird. We set her parents straight sharpish. We didna let her loose tongue flap fer long. We pointed out that had Sorcha not behaved so badly, there wouldnae be a reason fer her to be sent home in disgrace. We told her màthair and aither that she was banned from the keep and the inner bailey because of her lies and her threats. Her da was ready to take the strap to her. Her màthair was beside herself, sobbing that the entire family would be disgraced from Sorcha being sent down from the keep. I didna think that her parents were that surprised though. I think they got Sorcha’s number long ago.” This came from Kyle, a younger guardsmen who had proven his loyalty several times over the three short years he had served Tristan.
“I dinna have to tell ye then the damage it would do to Lady Mairghread’s reputation and the Mackays’ chance for an alliance and a truce if rumors spread aboot what Sorcha claimed. I havenae compromised Lady Mairghread and never would. I dinna want anyone saying that I have. I willna be the one who is harmed by those comments. Lady Mairghread has done naught to deserve this. I intend to marry her anyway, but I dinna want our marriage to begin under a cloud of suspicion. It isnae fair to the lass. She hasnae done a thing wrong.”
“Aye, ma laird!” A chorus of agreement went up from the group.
“I shouldnae have to say it, but I will. I will ken where the rumors come from if I hear them. If I even see anyone look sideways at Lady Mairghread, I will ken that one of ye has been telling tales. If that happens all of ye will be cleaning the privy holes and mucking out the moat for the next two moons. Ye will also serve guard duty every night for a sennight. Am I clear?”
“Aye, ma laird!” The chorus went up again.
Tristan spurred his horse on. He did not want to continue on to the village or visit with Sorcha’s family, but he knew he had to. He had to make sure that her parents understood how serious he was about the potential for banishment. Sorcha’s family was purely Mackay. Neither her mother nor her father had family in any other clan. If Sorcha was exiled, there were very few places that she could go. A woman on her own would quickly be a target for many types of wrongdoers. Sorcha had never been a very good servant and banishment would keep her from being welcome at any other clan. The best she would be able to hope for would be to become a serving wench in a tavern or alehouse somewhere, but more realistically, she would probably become a whore somewhere. That was the roughest life he could imagine for a woman. Her looks would fade quickly as she aged fast. She would face mistreatment by her customers and might catch an incurable disease. Tristan did not want these things to happen to Sorcha. He did not want to hold any ill will towards her as he had truthfully enjoyed his time with her. But he would put Mairghread ahead of Sorcha every day of the week and twice on Sundays. He felt no guilt in his decision.
As Tristan approached Sorcha’s family’s croft, he could hear Sorcha yelling from inside. He knew this was not going to go well. The rantings that he could hear were all denials of wrongdoings and accusations about Mairghread. Tristan could feel his anger well up inside him. He had managed to maintain his temper while Mairghread was present. He did not want to frighten her or upset her further, but now he was ready to unleash his rage with a ferocity that almost scared him and would certainly scare anyone within hearing.
Sorcha continued to swear up a storm as Tristan stepped up to the door. Several people stood outside their doors or had stopped work to listen to Sorcha’s screams. Tristan was now beyond caring about Sorcha or her feelings. He could only see red.
Tristan slammed the door to the croft open so hard that it hit the wall and swung back towards him. He slammed it against the wall again and held it in place. His massive frame filled the doorway, and he had to stoop and turn sideways a bit to make it through the door.
“Ye will cease now!” he bellowed. “I have had more than enough of yer lies and conniving ways. Ye are naught more than a pathetic, jealous shrew. I have never considered ye worth becoming ma wife and not even ma leman. Ye have always been greedy and reaching. That is how come I wouldnae make ye either. It has never had aught to do with Lady Mairghread or any other woman fer that matter. Ye have brought every bit of this on yerself. Ye have naught to blame but yerself. Do ye hear me, woman?
“Ye have naught to offer this clan. Ye arenae a good servant and I nae longer warm yer bed. Ye are wearing ma good graces thin. I sent ye down from the keep and gave ye the opportunity to make yer home in the village. What have ye done in the short time ye’ve been here? Scream like a banshee! I could hear ye from halfway down the road. I heard yer lies in the keep and here. I willna stand fer i
t. I warn ye now, Sorcha, if ye do even one thing that bothers me, ye will be gone from this clan fer good. Nae person has been banished from this clan for nigh on one hundred and fifty years. Ye are well on yer way to breaking that. I didna come here to issue ye more warnings. I came to explain the situation to yer parents, but ye have given me nay choice. Ye will have to live with it.”
With that, Tristan stormed out of the croft. He looked at the crowd that had gathered.
“I ken ye all heard every word that I spoke. That woman is naught but an angry harpy who feels scorned because she couldnae remember her place. Lady Mairghread has done naught, nae a damn thing, to deserve Sorcha’s treatment. Naught of what Sorcha said is true. She is a manipulative bitch. If I hear a single word of hers repeated, I will see the person lashed.”
In the years that Tristan had been laird, he had never disciplined anyone with a whip. He had deprived people of privileges or fined them, even put them in the dungeon for short periods of time, but he had not physically disciplined them. The clan members took one look at Tristan’s face and knew that he was not exaggerating. They had never imagined their laird could be so angry.
Chapter Fourteen
The next week kept Mairghread physically busy with chores and more afternoons spent with Tristan, but she could not stop wondering and worrying about her father’s decision. He had not brought up the topic again, and whenever she tried, he scowled at her. She decided that another tack was necessary. Since she could not get her father to talk to her, she decided to show him that she belonged with the Mackays. With Tristan’s help, Mairghread began to assist with clan issues. She sat with Tristan on days when clan members came to make their petitions. Mairghread listened to any issues that related to women and children. She proved to be fair and reasonable in her decisions. Since she was not officially the lady of the keep, she made suggestions to Tristan and he had the final say. He found her to be stern when needed and compassionate too. The clan soon realized that Mairghread had significant experience in these adjudications, and it came out through the course of conversation that when her mother died when Mairghread was two and ten, she began to help her father with these types of duties. Her father took notice and appeared to be warming to the idea of allowing the betrothal to go forward.
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