by Fiona Faris
“I want to put a team together,” he informed Glenn, “For protection and investigation.”
“Aye, I think ye need a team for protection but nae investigation. Ye would have to tell more people. News could spread and the attacker would be forewarned.”
“Ye are right,” Daividh said. He looked thoughtful. “What if we are really careful? We select choice men that we can track and monitor. That way, we can ken who is aware.”
Glenn seemed resigned. “That could work. Do ye have men in mind?”
“Well, I have ye,” Daividh joked.
“Aye, ye do, brother.” He thrust a hand forward and his friend clasped it.
“Who else have ye in mind?” his friend asked again.
“Well, there is someone else, but it could get dangerous.”
Chapter Seven
It was when Lorraine pulled the bit of her horse a little too tight that she admitted to herself that she was in a bad mood. No, she was not in a bad mood; she was in a terrible mood. How many days had passed since the insufferable man had embarrassed her in front of his friends. How could he tell his friend who was not her friend anything about her? She had trusted him with only a bit of whom she was and to him, it had been nothing more than gossip.
Gently, she stroked Daisy’s hair, apologizing for the slightly too-tight bit after rectifying it. “What is it with ye, Lorraine? Ye have nae pulled a bit too tight in years. ’Tis a mistake for rookies. Where is yer head?”
Lorraine knew the answer, but she wouldn’t admit it – not in a million years. Her anger burned deep. With every day she was away from him, she felt it wane slowly. Unwillingly, she found herself remembering the nice moments between them.
The realization caused her to panic. She couldn’t lose her anger. She couldn’t! It was the only thing that stood between her and forgiving him. She needed it.
She smiled to herself as she stroked Daisy’s long ears. “He was nice, wasn’t he?” she asked the steed.
Daisy nuzzled up against her hands. It was an agreement.
“Well, ye have to agree that he was the most cocky man ye would ever meet.” She paused and sighed. “But I was so sure, Daisy, that beneath all that pomp and swag, there was a really nice man.”
She looked Daisy in the eyes, searching for some sort of understanding, but Daisy looked away. Animals and not humans were her strong forte and there was little she could do to help.
Once more, Lorraine sighed. “Father had always faulted my judgment of humans. He was always right.”
With one last affectionate pat on Daisy’s head, she left their small barn and headed out into the evening sky.
The very man she had been thinking of all too frequently was standing not too far away from their house, waiting patiently.
Lorraine didn’t like how her chest felt when she saw him. It hurt that she had seen their friendship as something genuine and he hadn’t. She loathed that she had let him be so close a friend that his betrayal hurt.
As though she barely remembered him, she walked up to him. He was wearing a simple shirt and breeches that matched hers. She wondered about the casual dressing. It was most unusual for him.
“What are ye doing here, milord?” she asked with a dead voice.
Daividh winced. “Still mad at me, I see.”
“Ye think too highly of yerself. In order for me to be mad, I must care and I can assure ye that I dae nae – nae a single bit.”
He thrust his hands into his pockets. “Would ye nae let me explain? And apologize? ’Tis nae how ye saw it.”
Lorraine looked at him pointedly. “So how was it?”
Daividh opened his lips to speak then paused and closed them. He shook his head with a weary and resigned look. “’Tis of nae use. Ye will nae listen to a word I have tae say. I could give ye the best excuse in the lands and ye will nae be swayed. Ye enjoy the power and confidence that anger gives ye and I will nae stand in the way of that.”
Lorraine recoiled, stung. “So ye nae only betray my confidence and brag about how easy a catch I am,” she began, ignoring his wince, “ye also come to me house to insult me.”
“Nay. I did nae come to insult ye. I came to apologize but ye will nae hear me. It does nae mean that in my apology, I will shy from the truth.”
“Ye may leave,” she said sharply.
“Aye, I will. I have one last thing to do here. I do nae like that my presence upsets ye so.”
Lorraine fought away the feelings of guilt at his words. Instead, she held her head up and asked “And what would that be?”
Daividh was about to reply when the door to their small house was thrown open.
“Milord, I didnae ken of yer presence.” Maxwell said, all smiles, “Lorraine didn’t come in to inform me either.”
“Aye, she and I were having only a little chat. ’Tis over now.”
Lorraine stared between them both before turning away. What did Maxwell and Daividh have together? The last time Daividh had graced their doorstep, Maxwell had been on her side. Now, all of a sudden, he was best friends with Daividh.
Feeling very much like a petty child, she walked into the house and stayed as far away from the window as she could. From the corner of her eyes, she watched them. What could they possibly be speaking about? They couldn’t be speaking of the procession celebration set two days away, could they?
The procession happened every year. The laird of the clan or his heir would lead the soldiers into the clan grounds. They would be dressed in their finest battle wears. The procession would be accompanied by singers and dancers while the clan members watched and sang along.
The tradition had been started years back, even before Lorraine was born. It was a way to give the members of the clan confidence in their protectors as well as a way to honor the men who fought for the clan. Lorraine was undecided as to whether she would go or not. Though attendance was not compulsory, few people ever missed it by choice.
Her curiosity built up like the strongest wave and finally, when she thought she could take it no more, Maxwell clasped Daividh’s hand and the two parted ways.
When Lorraine was sure that Daividh was out of sight, she went to find her treacherous brother.
“Maxwell!” she started with an accusatory air, “Whatever was that to mean?”
“Me talking to Daividh?”
“Aye,” she rolled her eyes.
“He sent for me earlier today.”
“And the blaggard acted like he was here to see me.”
“In me opinion, he was. I offered to meet him at the castle or somewhere else. He insisted that we meet here.”
“Simply for privacy.” She crossed her arms.
Maxwell shook his head and let go of the wood he was arranging. “Lorraine, ye ken that I love ye. ’Tis why I must tell ye the truth. I cannot side with ye if ye dae nae tell me what is wrong. Ye told me he betrayed ye but ye will nae tell me what he did.”
“I dae nae want to speak of it,” she looked away.
Maxwell took her hand. “I think ye dae nae want tae speak on it because ye dae nae want tae forgive him.”
“Ye dae nae ken what he did.”
“Aye. But I ken that he hurt ye. I also ken that ’tis hard for ye tae let anyone be friends with ye.”
“What dae ye mean?”
“I mean ye take Da’s words too seriously.”
Lorraine gasped. “Ye take that back. Our da was the smartest man I ken.”
“Aye,” he repeated, “do nae rush to misunderstand me, Sister. Our da was a smart man. But everyone kens that the words of a wise man are nae always meant tae be taken literally. Our da was wary of friendships but he had our ma and he had ye. He and Ma were friends even before they were of courting age and even after, he trusted her with his life. He didnae let everyone in but he let someone in.”
“What dae ye mean?”
“I mean that ’tis good that ye dae nae want friends by the dozen but a man without a single ally can only be so stron
g. Ye never gave the laird a chance. Ye were skeptical from the onset and ye are only too happy to have a reason to be angry with him.”
Lorraine looked up at her older brother with anger in her eyes. “Aye, I agree that I am nae so eager to make friends. But this does nae change the fact that he humiliated me in front of his friends.”
Maxwell squinted his eyes at the new piece of information. “Lorraine, I do nae like riddles. Ye ken this. Tell me what he said to ye.”
“I am nae ready to speak about it. Ye tell me what he came to see ye for.”
Maxwell shook his head. “’Tis a matter he wished to remain private. I cannae tell ye.”
Lorraine pursed her lips then nodded. “’Tis fine. I dae nae need to ken.” She turned back to leave. “I will nae tell ye what happened between us because I will nae be shocked if ye take his side.”
“Lorraine…” Maxwell called but she ignored him.
She could not remember another time that her brother’s words had upset her so. Maxwell had always been nothing but sweet to her and suddenly, Daividh changed it. She was no longer hurt, she told herself, she was angry and she would let him know.
The next morning found Lorraine in a foul mood. Her mother was home, singing of great loves and riches in her thick Irish voice, buzzing around the house, as happy and busy as a bee. Her tunes were in sharp contrast to Lorraine’s dreary mood. There was nothing happy or joyful about the day.
Maxwell, for his part, had left to the farmer’s cottage early in the morning. It was alright with Lorraine. She didn’t want to speak to him. She stayed clear out of her mother’s way and struck to her own homely chambers.
She had a little work for the day and would wait for the evening sun before she left her home. A few minutes into the afternoon, her mother’s robust voice called out from the outer rooms.
“Lorraine!” she called in a voice with barely concealed excitement, “we have a guest. Milord is here tae see ye.”
Lorraine’s heart stopped. Had she heard right? Perhaps she hadn’t. There was no way that he would be here again after their previous parting.
However, a second call from her mother cleared all doubt.
Just then, Lorraine decided that she had had enough of his meddlesome ways. With barely concealed vengeance in her eyes, she stormed to the room her mother summoned her from.
“Mi ma.” Her voice preceded her. “Ye called for me.”
Daividh watched her sweep into the room. She didn’t seem to walk, he noted. She seemed to glide as though she walked on air. He admitted that he wanted to see her. She was a beautiful woman and he had missed her. However, even more than that, he had realized that she would not come round on her own; he would have to push her.
Lorraine swept into the room with a flourish only she could muster. Her breeches emboldened her steps as she walked to her mother. Hoping her act was convincing enough, she walked to her mother and placed a small kiss on her cheek, hoping to sway her to her favor.
“Lorraine, we have a guest,” her mother repeated and nodded to Daividh, who sat comfortably in his chair. She glanced at her daughter with barely concealed excitement, expecting her to be as giddy as she was.
“Oh, we do!” Lorraine gave her most innocent gasp of surprise, “Milord, what have we done to deserve the punishment of your presence?”
“Lorraine!” her mother said in absolute shock.
“Oh, Ma, ’tis of no consequence. Laird Daividh and I understand ourselves perfectly. Do we nae, milord?” Her eyes challenged him to argue.
Rather than give her the satisfaction of a disagreeing reply, Daividh stretched languidly and gave her a smile he knew would annoy her. She would not speak if pushed and since his pleadings had done nothing, he would take another route.
“Ah, Lorraine, beautiful as ever, I see. ‘Tis always refreshing to feel the warmth of your welcome. Did ye do something different with your hair? ’Tis gorgeous this morn,” he said truthfully and ran his hands through his own hair.
His meddling did nothing to disturb the allure his hair held; it was still appealing. He knew his compliments would annoy her but he also knew that she would not resist sparring with words. Anything was better than her silence.
Lorraine inhaled sharply. She would like to take scissors to his thick locks of black hair. Perhaps the women would see him for the ugly and unappealing troll he really was. Without a reply, she turned to her mother. “Mi ma, ye called for me. Shall I come back at a later time when ye are nae so burdened, perhaps?”
“Lorraine.” Her mother shook her head at her. “Sit, my child.” When she was seated comfortably, she went on. “Laird Daividh has asked for yer presence.”
Lorraine squinted her eyes and then stopped as she realized it was poor form. “Ma?”
“And I have agreed.” She said simply. “’Tis only fair to give the man a welcome,” her mother said with a smile she had never seen before.
Lorraine’s jaw dropped. Too little too late, she realized the situation she had been put in. He had courted her mother’s favor and so at the very least he was welcome. Her mother had probably started to play matchmaker. Not only did the man see her as a toy, he had turned her own mother against her.
Lorraine’s neck suddenly felt stiff. With burning eyes, she turned to Daividh who gave her the most self-absorbed smile he could muster. He watched her look at her mother and then back at him once more.
“Excuse me, milord,” she said to him, and swept out of the room. Refusing to wait for her mother’s objection which was bound to come, she ran into her chambers and closed the door behind her.
Her chambers were located at the far left of the corridor. The walls were bare and matched what little furniture she had there. Her mother had once commented that her chambers did not at all look like what one would expect from someone who understood nature. She hadn’t changed a thing since her da died and she liked it like that.
Her bed was placed directly under one of the four windows which allowed for ventilation and a bright aura around the room. Her father had given her this room intentionally. It had been one of his favorite rooms to build, he had said. The window on the left gave a clear view of the gardens.
Lorraine had always found a certain solace and calm from her chambers. It was one of her favorite places to be. However, the room did nothing to calm her agitated heart.
“Lorraine!” her mother knocked at the door moments later.
With a sigh, she opened it.
“That was rude. I didnae raise ye like that. I will put up with yer breeches but nae with rudeness.”
Lorraine felt her eyes sting. “’Tis nae rudeness ma. I do nae like him. He is the most arrogant wart in the world.”
“Well, with the way ye speak about him, one would think he was as ugly as an ogre. Do ye nae ken that he is a favorite of the women? I wouldn’t blame them. He stands a good head above many men. I once happened upon him training our soldiers. He is a master of the sword. And those muscles are even better when he has no shirt on.” Her ma would have gone on but stopped as Lorraine’s face melted further in disgust with every word she spoke.
“Ma! That is not decent! Ye are taken by him too, then?”
“Nay. I am telling ye tae pay him mind. He came tae see ye. He deserves yer presence.”
Lorraine swallowed her anger and nodded.
“I will be out,” she told her mother.
In a few minutes, Lorraine appeared from her room. She passed a polite smile to her mother who left the pair alone. However, she stood close by and none of them was fooled into thinking they were alone.
For the longest time, they started at each other without saying a word. Lorraine’s mother’s presence weighed heavily on them.
Finally, Daividh broke the silence. “Would ye accompany me tae my horse? I must leave.”
Lorraine nodded a quick yes and stood up. The pair walked together in silence to his horse and when they reached the horse, he spoke first.
“I see ye
are still angry. Rightfully so,” he added.
Lorraine said nothing.
“Lorraine?”
“What are ye doing here?” she asked pointedly.
“I have an invitation for ye,” he said.
“To where?”
“To the loch.”
“No,” she said firmly. She would go nowhere with him.
“What can I do to change yer mind?”
“Milord, not even for all the tea in China.”