***
Early the next day Amelia left her cottage before sunrise, avoiding any MacGregor retainers and especially their Chieftain. She needed to escape to the one place she always felt at peace, the one place she belonged. Wearing a long green hooded cloak, trews and tunic she took a basket packed with necessary provisions, hunting knife and small spade for foraging. She had made her mind up to skip the Betrothal ceremony and formal banquet and spend the next few days deep in the forest by the river where she could forage for more herbs and wild vegetables. It was time she started planning her own future, time she kept a promise to her ma. With that resolve she walked deep into the woods, unaware of the trouble that was brewing on the home front.
***
Chapter 7
Council room, Dunbar Castle
Runaway
It was the morning of the Betrothal and often on such auspicious occasions as these it would help to have both parties to the agreement present at the ceremony unfortunately on this day one party had disappeared. The entire castle was in a frenzy.
Beiste stood in with his arms crossed, staring down the Earl and his Councillors. “What do you mean Mary has run away?”
The Earl spoke up his voice hoarse, his demeanour series contemplative, his hair dishevelled “She has run off to Gretna Green during the night with a Patrick Fraser.”
Beiste gritted his teeth. This was not going as he planned. He had just resolved to marry the chit and by the Gods someone better pay for this blunder.
Brodie addressed the room, the jovial man now replaced by an angry bear, “You realize this is a slight to the MacGregors and to the King? We have every right to seek damages for a broken contract or wage war.” He banged his fist on the table.
The Earl paled. “Aye I ken it.” He looked as if he had aged twenty years since the night before.
Beiste signalled to two retainers, “See if you can track them.” They nodded and quit the room. He then said. “I suggest we wait until we receive word of their whereabouts and then we plan from there.” The Earl and the Councilmen agreed.
Late in the evening, trackers returned with news for the Castle. It did not bode well. Mary was well and truly wedded to Laird Patrick Fraser and he had sent word he would not relinquish his bride ever.
No Betrothal ceremony took place that night. No festival banquet took place that night. Instead, a group of men sat around a gigantic table and debated the problem at hand. Both parties were liable to the King if an alternative was not found within three days. By morning they were no closer to reaching a consensus on what they should do.
Meanwhile, in an Inn beyond Gretna Green, Mary and Patrick Fraser, who bonded over berry tarts and Market Days, married for love.
***
Beiste
The following day the mood on the estate was sombre all had heard of Mary’s ruin and to the noble gentry among them, breaking a betrothal and running off to Gretna Green to marry for love was deemed scandalous. However, to many of the common folk and romantics at heart the fact Mary had caught the eye of a handsome Laird from a favourable clan such as the Fraser's lessened the outrage somewhat.
But for Beiste he spent a restless night, not only having been jilted by his betrothed so publicly, but because he was feeling out of sorts. Maybe one of his humours was out of alignment. He wondered not for the first time if it was best to return to MacGregor Keep and send a missive to the King informing him of what had happened. There was no way he was waging war on the Frasers which was what the Council had recommended. If they wanted restitution, then they could bloody well send their own men in to battle over some foolish chit. Also, the thought of leaving Dunbar troubled him somehow. He knew deep down it had to do with the healer, but he knew even that would come to nothing. He had made sure of it the night he cut her to the quick. He had hurt her, but she masked it quickly.
Beiste was interrupted from his thoughts when Lachlan approached him, asking if he had seen Amelia. “Why are you needing to see her?” he asked.
“I just wanted some more of that balm she gave me. But the cottage is all locked up, and no one has seen her for a while.”
“What do you mean no one has seen her?” Beiste didn’t know why, but he was already starting to worry.
“Some women folk needed herbs and there were Villagers wanting salves for their bairns and they were all down there complaining because she wasn’t there last eve either.”
“Has anyone gone in search of her to see if she’s safe at least?”
Lachlan just shrugged.
Beiste headed to the Castle. He did not like the fact Amelia was missing, he would not rest until someone had some knowledge of her whereabouts. He never questioned why he was more concerned about Amelia’s disappearance than Mary’s.
***
Riverside
The river was flowing; the birds were tweeting; the sunlight broke through the early morning dew melting the frigid air. Amelia had been in the forest for the past two days. She knew by now Mary was betrothed and they would already be on their way to the Highlands. Amelia would miss seeing her sister, but she could do without seeing that behemoth. A part of her thought to request that she travel with them as far as she could to find her kin but explaining the why of it and having to travel with a Chieftain who did not want her around would be too awkward. No, she would stay in the forest a few more days, build up her supplies and sell them at the Market for coin, then pay her own way. Besides, it was tranquil; it was peaceful, no one bothered her out here and no one could make her feel unwanted. She had bathed in the river that morning and had eaten a breakfast of fresh berries, plants and nuts she had foraged from the forest. She had forgotten how restful it was out here in nature, without the constant chores and interruptions of the healer’s cottage and constant demands of the Estate and her own family. She had spent seven long years caring for everyone else, but who cared for her? Who cared whether she lived or died? No one. It was a sobering thought. She had kin who knew nothing of her and a family who acknowledged her only as a companion. Amelia knew it was time to set her own path, the rest of the world be damned.
***
Brodie
Brodie was making his way back to Dunbar Castle having spent a few pleasurable hours shacked up with a saucy widow from the local Village. Flora was her name or was it Fiona? He couldn’t quite recall he’d never been good with names. What he did remember with clarity was a story the widow imparted regarding the Earl of Dunbar and his not one but two lovely daughters. It would appear old Maldred had not offered full disclosure of his off-spring something Brodie knew he could push to his advantage and if all went according to plan, his Chieftain may still satisfy the Betrothal contracts after all.
Having reached the Castle, Brodie found Beiste. “I think I we may have a solution to your problem brother. Turns out the Earl has two daughters of marriageable age they are half-sisters.”
Beiste did not like having to go through the entire process with some other unknown woman. He was hesitant to pursue things further, however the security of their lands was now at stake. “All right then, who is this other wench I will have to court now?”
“Why my dear brother, she is none other than the bonnie healer you can’t stop obsessing about.”
Beiste looked at Brodie, unbelieving. “You don’t say?”
Brodie raised his eyebrows in agreement. “Aye, Amelia is his daughter by a leman, she is older than Mary. The gossip is he was in love with Amelia’s mathair, but he was already betrothed since birth to Mary’s.”
Beiste was getting angry now, “So he kept one in the village and one in the castle. But wouldn’t her illegitimacy weaken the contract?”
“Well now, that’s where you’re wrong you see the Earl had secret legal papers drawn up acknowledging Amelia as his issue with a dowry and some rights of inheritance.”
“Then why did he not offer her as a solution when the Council met?” Beiste asked.
“That is something we will
need to find out.”
“By the way how did you learn of this?” Beiste asked.
“A wee bit of pillow talk, with a lawyers widow never goes astray.”
Beiste just shook his head, “Someday Brodie Fletcher, you will fall for a woman who will be completely immune to your charms.”
Brodie scoffed. “Pfft, is she breathing? I highly doubt it.”
***
The Council Room, Dunbar Castle
Beiste stormed into the Council room, “The Betrothal can go ahead. The parchment states that you are to provide a daughter in marriage to the MacGregor by the end of the sennight.”
“But Mary has gone.” Maldred looked puzzled.
“Mary has gone but you have another daughter. The parchment says I have to marry your daughter, it doesn’t say which one.”
“No no no, you cannot mean Amelia?” Maldred looked distressed. He started pacing.
“I do.”
“Absolutely not! I promised her ma I would do well by her. Besides, she is illegitimate any claim would not be legal.” Maldred capitulated.
“But she is legally acknowledged by you Malfred. She holds the same rights as a legitimate child.” Lady Agnes had quietly walked into the room, interrupting the conversation.
“Mathair, stay out of this.” Malfred yelled.”
“I also promised Amelia’s ma I would take care of her but what have we done son? We have kept her here when she has yearned to travel afar.” Lady Agnes said.
“Mamaidh this is not the time.”
“Then when Malfred? You need to stop doing all in your power to keep her chained here.”
“What do you mean? I have done everything for her, even tried to find her suitable matches. It is she who kept refusing.” Maldred spoke with annoyance.
“Really son? Why have all the men you’ve chosen for her been ones you kenned she would refuse?”
Malfred was red faced, looking guilty. “But I need Amelia! She is the only one who knows how to handle the crofters, the only one who can heal the farmers and the womenfolk and the bairns, everyone goes to her when they need help because she is the only one who knows what to do. I cannot let her leave, I will not.”
It made sense to Beiste why in an Estate this large, the one person everyone seemed to look for even rely on was Amelia.
“Then I suggest tis high time you learnt to handle your own affairs from now on Earl and find another healer. Because when I leave here in the morning, Amelia will be coming with me.”
“No, please, she is my only remaining daughter now and the only link I have left to her ma.”
“Tis done. Amelia is now mine. If you deny me, there will be war.”
Maldred sat down and slumped in his seat, resigned to his fate.
Brodie interrupted, “Well then I am glad we are all in agreement. Now that brings us to the next question. Where on earth is Amelia?”
***
Ten minutes later the room was full of men arguing and shouting. Well, mainly Beiste shouting after he had just pieced together where his betrothed could be. It would appear she always went out and about on her own with no escort into the forest. She could also disappear for days at a time on her own.
“Earl, you realise your land borders the Marches? Any wandering group of men from England or gods knows where could set upon her and no one would know!” Beiste was furious that these people had so minor concern for Amelia’s safety. She took on all their cares and not a single sorry one of them returned the favour.
“You must understand Amelia is an independent soul, she knows her way around the woods better than anyone, she has always been safe and she always returns.”
“All it takes is one time for things to go wrong and she won’t return. No woman on MacGregor land goes without an escort in these dangerous times. A rival clan could take a woman and force your hand.” Brodie stated.
Beiste was already signalling his men to move. “I will go find her and when I return, I would like to have the Betrothal contracts and necessary ceremony carried out straight away. I will not let any more time lapse on the agreement.”
On their way out of the Castle, Harold, a crofter, said he knew where she usually went and gave them directions to the heart of the forest nearby the river. Beiste had visions of her lying dead somewhere or being attacked by wild animals or kidnapped by rival clans or worse, set upon by mercenaries. He mounted his destrier and with the band they moved out following Harold’s directions and when Beiste found her the first thing he was going to do was put a bloody guard on her every second of the day maybe even three guards. No wife of his would hie off alone to the woods whenever she bloody well felt like it.
***
Amelia had just finished cooking small flat flour cakes and fish she had caught with wild onions and fresh herbs for breakfast. Few people ventured to this part of the river it was secluded and the rocky boulders provided a windbreak from the elements which kept her makeshift shelter made of woven flax and wood, warm and dry during the cooler nights. It also provided privacy, so she was not exposed and could see anyone approaching from afar.
She had brought her notes with her so she could record and scribe herbs and plants she came across. She was just sitting in the soft tall grass enjoying her simple fare when she heard a commotion near her. Instantly rolling onto her stomach she tried to get a look it startled her to see men walking through the woodlands. She panicked, what if they were raiders? Then she heard Beiste’s voice “Amelia, we know you’re there it’s the MacGregors.” Why on earth were the MacGregors out in the woods? Had something happened to Mary?
Amelia stood up, staring at the group. “What has happened, why are you all here?”
Beiste swore she looked like a woodland nymph. He had seen nothing lovelier than Amelia in the forest. Her hair was windswept and curly, her tunic blew in the breeze, she looked so relaxed and resplendent in the sunshine. She was beautiful, and she vibrated health and vitality, he had to admit it, and she was his. Mine! Growled that possessive voice in his head.
“Gads brother is she wearing trews? The way they cling to her thighs, it should be criminal.” said Brodie.
Then Kieran piped in, “I have never seen trews look that good on a woman before.”
“Me either” piped in Rory. Beiste noticed Lachlan was just staring at her like a stunned cow in a paddock. Beiste looked around and noticed the admiration was not just from him but all his men, they were all smiling at her and casually waving their hellos the imbeciles. He glared at all of them, then started stomping towards his betrothed.
“What the devil are you wearing? You should not be wearing men’s apparel.” He scowled.
At first Amelia was shocked they were there and then she was annoyed they had intruded on her quiet time in the forest and then she was livid that the big brute marching towards her was doing so without a care for the tranquillity of the environment and he was angry with her. Poor Mary, having to put up with that for the rest of her life.
“Cover yourself now.” Beiste demanded while standing in front of her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your trews, it shows my men everything.”
“You came all the way out here to complain about my clothing?”
“Aye. Tis scandalous.”
“No, what is scandalous is that you stomp your big arse over here making a ruckus about my trews.”
With that she turned her curvaceous trews clad bottom around and stormed back to her campsite. Beiste just groaned.
By this time some of his men had gathered around Amelia’s fire and were looking around her makeshift camp. “Lachlan if you take another bite of my fish so help me I will clobber you.” Amelia swiped the piece of fish out of his fingers before it could reach his lips.
“But it’s so tasty, what herbs do ye use?”
“Aye this bread is so soft lass? Is that rye flour?” Brodie asked breaking a piece off and dipping it into her fish sauce left in the pan.
<
br /> “What are ye all doing here, anyway?”
They all went quiet and looked at Beiste.
He seemed at a loss how to broach the subject of their betrothal, so instead he did what he knew was best for now; he stalled.
“Mary has run away, and your father needs you to return to the Castle immediately.” Beiste blurted out.
“What? When? Is she all right? Why didn’t you say so instead of going on about my clothes, you daft, man?”
Before Beiste could explain, she was already scurrying around packing up her things and issuing orders to his men. Who, it surprised Beiste to observe, followed her orders without complaint.
By the time they set off, they each had seeds and plants and many herbal arrangements to carry. When it was time to get on their horses Beiste swung Amelia onto his before she could protest and commanded them all to ride.
***
The door burst open to Maldred's office, and it was Amelia.
“Da, have you sent anyone to find Mary yet? What has happened to her? Bloody hell, Da speak to me.”
“Calm lass, Mary has eloped with Patrick Fraser.”
She looked around at Beiste, and her father when her father explained what had happened.
“So, what will you all do now? The King will not be pleased with this news.”
Betrothed to the Beast Page 5