Authors: Kara Griffin
CHAPTER twenty-four
At long last, the day of their
wedding arrived. Bree stood looking out the window casement and gazed beyond
the walls. Many tents had been erected and all of Mackay’s soldiers camped on
the hills outside the walls awaiting their lady. The day dawned a fair day with
a bright sun and very little clouds. It would be warm enough to go without a
cloak until the eve.
She sat on the bedding and sighed,
knowing Grey would make a fine husband. No worries came about that. But she did
hope she would make him a fair wife. Though they were compatible in the
bedroom, she wasn’t sure if he would allow her interference in the household.
She’d never asked if he cared.
Bree wanted to be a good wife and
knew she had yet to perform such duties. Since Lady Mackay was here, she would
have to ask her just what some of those duties were. As all her time had been
spent in kitchens, she didn’t know what the lady of the household did.
She’d lied when she had told the
Gunn guard about her time spent as a young girl. Bree had not talent for
sewing, weaving fabrics, nor of music or dancing. If Grey expected her to be
such a woman, she was sure to disappoint him.
A knock came and Cait strolled in to
the chamber. She smiled wide. “A good morn, Bree. I have something for you.
Lady Mackay asked me to bring it to you.”
Bree took the cloth from Cait and
held it up to see it was a gown of white lace. It was beautiful. The gown was
slightly long for her, but she could make do.
“Lady Mackay said she was married in
it so long ago. She had always hoped her daughters would be wed in it.”
“Had she carried it with her?”
Cait laughed. “I wondered that too.
The woman has a trunk to be envied. Apparently so.”
Bree could cry at the wonderful
gesture. “Do give her my gratitude, Cait. It was very kind of her. I think it
will fit.”
Another knock came and Cait went to
answer it. “’Tis just the bath I ordered for you. I thought you could bathe
here instead of down in the buttery. We can talk.” Cait often sat with her when
she had her bath, and she would tell her of her loves and stories of how she’d
came to the Champlains. It wasn’t so miraculous, but Baron Thomas found her in
Londontown, bedraggled, bereaved, and in need of care. She’d been about ten
summers.
A few soldiers came inside carrying
the tub and buckets of water. After they left, Bree thought of the time when
Baron Thomas told her of the betrothal. In truth, she was gladdened of all that
had happened since for she would not have met the Gunns and had asked for their
protection.
As she slipped into the warm water,
Bree laughed. “Did you ever think this day would come?”
“Aye, I knew. You were fond of the
Gunn laird. You looked at him as if he were a pot of pottage just waiting to be
stirred.”
Bree laughed at her friend’s jest.
“I fear as soon as we are wed, Grey will leave.”
“Why would he do that, Bree?”
“To go after MacHeth.”
“But MacHeth is busy fighting the
king’s army. I doubt Grey would leave ye to go after him now. He will wait to
hear of his death from the king. Surely he or Laird Ross will send a message.”
Bree had to have that hope.
“Has Duff made progress in his
proposal?”
Cait snorted. “Proposal, the man
hasn’t had time to bed me let alone propose anything.”
“That’s too bad. I see the way he
watches you. I deem there will be another wedding and soon.” Bree, with all her
heart, hoped Duff would make Cait happy. Her friend deserved such. She finished
bathing and stood drying herself when Cait, started to comb her hair.
“You will look so lovely this day.
The clan is very happy you are marrying their laird.”
“As am I.”
“I wish I knew ye as a wee girl.
There are stories.”
“Do not believe everything ye hear,
Cait. I was but a child.”
“A child who was adored by many. A
wee one who definitely needed looking after.”
She laughed, for that’s what
everyone kept telling her. Bree continued getting ready and once she had
flowers affixed in her hair, she slipped her feet into a pair of shoes given to
her by Elaina. When she had been allowed out of bed after her ordeal at the
MacHeth holding, she went to visit the Gunn soldier’s wife. She’d been so kind
to give her garments.
Bree had taken sweet bread she’d
made herself and had learned that Elaina had given birth to a son. Before she
had left the endeared woman’s cottage, she’d been given more attire and a pair
of shoes. One day soon, she would have to repay her kindness.
Bree left her chamber and went
outside where many clans people had gathered. Father Geoffrey stood by a
makeshift alter, and he bade her to come forward. Without hesitation, Bree
walked to where he stood. Grey had not arrived, yet she didn’t worry. Lady
Mackay stood next to her as did Cait.
She turned to see the Gunn guard
striding forward as if they were about to set upon some unfortunate soul. Their
faces all set in a fierce gaze. If she didn’t know them, she might be afeared. They
reached her and all their ferocity turned to grins, then they moved aside and
let Grey reach the alter. Laughter bubbled inside her. Wasn’t the bride
supposed to come to the groom?
Grey didn’t say a word, but took her
hand and winked at her.
Father Geoffrey began reciting the
mass but Bree didn’t hear his words. All she could focus on was Grey standing
so close to her. His hair was still damp from washing, which she’d been told
all the men had taken themselves to the loch earlier. She could imagine the
ruckus that went on. Bree could smell his scent, and she basked in his appeal
as she looked at his handsome face. He was a hardened warrior, fiercely loyal
to his clan, and a wonderful lover. She was truly blessed.
She gave the necessary responses to
Father Geoffrey’s questions and before she knew it, Grey was kissing her and
the clan cheered. It was over. She was at long last wed to the Gunn laird.
A celebration took place immediately
following and all the clan’s people joined the merriment. She was so surprised
by all the tables that had been set up outside. There were flowers strung on
poles and fires lit. The sight this night would be magical. She found herself
dancing with her feet taping the ground to the tune of the players. A few men
had taken up their instruments and played merry tunes.
Many of the clan’s people began
dancing and the revelry became loud. Bree contently watched dancers and the
musicians. Grey whispered to her that he would return when she noticed Lady
Mackay approaching. Bree stood to greet her.
Lady Mackay crooked her arm with
hers and asked her to take a walk. Bree was happy to do so and smiled at those
they passed by.
“I wish Ian was here today to see
you and Grey wed. He was so pleased when William asked us to align with the
Gunns. Their skirmishes were always half-hearted.”
“I had heard they did not wish to
war with each other. It was clever of the king to betroth us.” Bree stopped and
accepted a flower from Sunny who then ran back to Cait. She waved to them
before moving on. “I thank you for taking me when King William came.”
“My Ian was proud to be of service
to William no matter what the duty. But you were far more than a duty to us,
Bree. Never forget that. I must leave this eve, for I must return before the
soldiers become irate at having to await me.”
“Will you return to Esmereld’s
keep?”
“She’s due to have a bairn soon. I
will tell her of you. I know she will be happy you are returned to us. Bree,
when you disappeared, we all despaired. Grey was brokenhearted. I never saw a lad
so torn in all my days. I pray you make each other happy.”
“We will,” Bree said, and then
kissed her mother’s cheek. As Lady Mackay walked away, Bree couldn’t help
feeling she’d suffered such a loss not knowing the lady when she was younger.
Her life would have been far different now.
Grey came for her when he returned
from the gatehouse. “I’m sorry, Bree. I had to check and make sure the guard
was posted and they stayed on alert.”
“I have been waiting for you.”
He took her hand and led her around
the Gunn cottages, introducing her to his many soldiers and their families.
Bree would never remember them all, but she tried to. One day she would know
each and every one of them by name.
The sky started to darken and the
fires were alit bringing a glow to the land. Upon the hill, she could see many
had stayed outdoors and continued the celebration. Grey took her hand and spun
her until she turned back to him in a fit of laughter. He caught her and pulled
her close for a kiss.
“This night I will make you writhe beneath
me, as did you to me the other day.”
She blushed at remembering how she
had caressed him and how she had touched him with her mouth. If he intended to
do such to her, she indeed would be writhing. Grey held her close and when she
pulled away, he bade her to join in the dance. “Come.”
Bree had never in her life danced in
a group. She was sure to make a fool of herself, but to please her husband she
would try.
The group of dancers lined up, the
men on the left the women on the right. The women curtseyed and the men bowed.
She’d seen this dance before and was in awe of the ladies. A few of the steps
came to her as she moved forward and circled her partner. Grey grinned at her
and laughed when she made her way around him.
“I thought you said you didn’t know
how to dance?”
“I might know a little.” She stepped
back in line with the ladies and then the men stepped forward and circled the
women. Grey purposely caressed her back with his hand as he moved around her.
She gasped. “So forward, my lord.”
He grinned. “Aye, as forward as I
want.”
She laughed. When the dance was
over, Bree realized she’d survived her first dance. She hadn’t made a fool of
herself and no one seemed to notice or care about her missteps.
The night wore on and she sat at one
of the tables sedately. For this day, she had eaten too much, drank too much
wine, and stood on her feet far too long. She was ready to call it a day when
Grey stopped speaking to the soldier next to him and turned to her.
“Go and ready for bed, my lady. I’ll
join you soon.”
Bree kissed his cheek and began
strolling toward the keep. She passed by the gatehouse and saw the guard
attending those who were entering. Ahead of her was a family walking in the
direction of the cottages. They waved to her and Bree waved in return.
She kept walking the path to the
keep but felt a strange sensation come upon her. It was as if she was being
followed. Peering behind her, she didn’t notice anyone. Bree slowed her pace
and stopped to admire a horse that was tethered to a tree in the courtyard.
Then she heard it, the whistling sound.
As she turned to see where it was
coming from an arrow struck her shoulder. She screamed when the pain tore
through her shoulder down her arm. In horror she looked at it and then her eyes
darted to find the intruder.
A hooded person stood not twenty
feet away. Long brown hair slipped out from beneath the hood when it fell to
her shoulders. The person was tall and slender, given the breadth of her
shoulders. She turned and replaced her hood before Bree could see her face.
Bree was about to turn and shout for
help when another arrow struck her thigh. Another came at her and she saw it
coming at her face. Bree couldn’t dodge the arrow before it struck her. She
reached up with her hand, covering the blood now running down her face. Her
thigh and shoulder hurt fiercely, but Bree was more worried about her face. Her
hand was covered with blood and it seeped through her fingers. The warm fluid
streaked her arm.
The woman crouched and appeared to
set another bow. She was intent on killing her.
CHAPTER twenty-five
At the sound of Bree’s screams all
the soldiers within the walls ran toward the courtyard. Grey was the first one
there and found Bree lying on the ground covered in blood. He shouted his war
cry and fell to his knees. Someone had struck her with arrows. Rage tightened
his chest. He knelt next to her but wouldn’t dare touch her in fear of causing
more damage.
“Who did this?”
She opened her eyes and panted. “I …
don’t … know. She wore … a cloak.”
“She? You’re going to be well, Bree.
Promise me.”
“I cannot … promise that, Grey.” She
closed her eyes and flinched when he touched her leg.
His gut coiled. Taking his plaid, he
wrapped it around her head, making sure to leave an opening so she could
breathe. “You were hit in your face, shoulder, and leg. Someone get a healer
posthaste,” he shouted. Grey lifted her in his arms and tried not to move her
arm or leg, knowing the pain she must be in.
His guard followed him to his
chamber. None would leave her side.
“Milady, we should have been
watching out for you,” Greer said. “Who the hell did this?”
Grey gave him an incredulous look.
“A woman. Bree said it was a she.”
Bree opened her eyes and tried to
smile at Greer.
“I’m going to be fine, Greer. Don’t
worry.” Bree closed her eyes again.
“Laird, she’s delirious. We never
suspected anyone within our clan would want to harm ye, milady. A woman?”
She winced when Grey placed her atop
the bedding. He began tearing at the gown she wore and she cried.
“What? Did I hurt ye, lass?”
She shook her head and opened her
eyes. “You ruined my mother’s gown.”
“She’ll understand.”
“Milady, did ye get a look at the
person who did this?” Duff asked.
She winced again when Grey forced
her body to shift when he pulled the gown from beneath her body. “Grey, I am
not decent. Please tell them to leave.”
“We’re not leaving, milady, until
you tell us what she looked like.”
His guard paced Grey’s chamber. If
she thought her glare would intimate them, she’d be wrong. They stood around
her bed as if they belonged there.
“At least cover me, Grey.”
Grey didn’t speak. He hastily
covered her with a plaid and studied the wounds. “It appears your face was
grazed by an arrow. God Almighty, ye could have been killed. There’s some
damage,” he said, and the expelled a harsh. “Ye got a deep gash.”
“Milady, tell us. We want to know,”
Duff shouted.
Grey rose and shoved Duff against
the wall. “You dare shout at her? Look at her. Look! My lady is covered in
blood and you …”
“My apologies, milady. Laird, she
knows we are only concerned. We need to know details. We need to find the woman
who did this. We cannot waste time.” Duff was released and hastily moved to
stand next to Greer.
Grey returned to her bedside and
gently touched the wound by her leg. She huffed. Every agonizing second he
tended to her brought his own reprimand. He should have kept watch on her or
set someone to do so. His guard needed a description. The glares they gave
surely indicated they intended to kill whoever had dared shoot her with an arrow.
It was then that he realized they had felt guilty about what had happened to
her at the MacHeth holding.
“Bree, do you know who did this?”
Grey began unwrapping the cloth around her face. He was handed another clean
cloth by Cait, who appeared from nowhere. Gently, he placed it against the
jagged skin of her cheek.
Sunny came running into the chamber,
crying. Grey grabbed the sprite before she could reach the bed.
“Cait, take her downstairs.”
Cait took Sunny into her arms and
left the chamber hastily.
“She wore a dark cloak. Her hair was
long and brown. She was very tall and slim. I thought she looked like …”
Grey scowled at her words. “Nell?”
“Aye, but it was dark,” she said and
huffed when he pressed a little too hard against her cheek.
At once his guard strode from the
chamber, but before each left, they looked at her and set a fist over his
heart. For he knew they would not return until Nell was found.
“Grey, wait, please don’t leave me.”
“Ah, lass, I’m not leaving yet. I
blame myself for this. I cannot believe Nell would do this to you. You
suspected her didn’t you? I should have questioned her further when she accused
Anna. Why would she want to hurt you? There’s no reason for her hatred. I’ve
barely spoken two words to the woman.”
“There must be a reason, Grey. Find
… out.” Bree closed her eyes for a few seconds.
“Promise me, you will be well?”
Grey’s voice had lowered to such a pitch. He couldn’t keep the concern from his
voice.
“Aye, but it hurts.”
“I know it does. Worry not. The
healer is on her way. I can’t bear to see you in pain. Do you want me to remove
the arrows?”
“Aye, I need you to do it. I won’t
have anyone else. Pray, Grey, do it hastily. I want it to be over with
quickly.”
Grey moved to her side. He had set a
few cloths next to her. “For after, to stop the blood. Now close your eyes,
love.” His voice grew thick with emotion.
He took hold of the arrow pinching
her thigh. It had gone through the flesh and he snapped off the tip. The
movement caused Bree to wince again and draw in a painful cry. Grey almost gave
in and removed his hands, but she needed the arrows removed. He gripped the end
of the arrow and slid it quickly from her flesh. She cried out at the pain and
it tore at his soul. Quickly covering the wound with the cloth, he applied light
pressure.
“One down.”
“It hurts, Grey. Thank you.” She
huffed in agony and his heart thudded at seeing her is such a condition.
“Now the hard one. Do you want
someone to come and hold your hand? It might make it easier.” Grey assessed the
shoulder wound. The tip was embedded in her shoulder. Hopefully it had not hit
the bone. This one was going to be difficult to remove and would tear her flesh
when yanking it out. She was surely going to scream. The thought of causing her
more pain did not sit well with him.
“I don’t need someone to hold my
hand, Grey. Just do it. I’m ready.” She gazed at her shoulder and then at him,
before nodding and closing her eyes. “I love you.”
Grey’s heart thudded at hearing her
declaration. He wasn’t sure he could hurt her. Many an injury he’d seen on a
warrior, especially when at war. Grave wounds, wounds that were fierce which
had riddled its recipient a great deal of pain, were far worse than this. Yet,
seeing his lovely lass bear it like a champion, made him proud.
He gripped the end of the arrow and
took a deep breath. Yanking it as hard as he could, he ripped it from her
shoulder. Immediately blood soaked her skin, and the plaid he’d covered her
with. Bree hadn’t made a sound. She’d fainted.
An aged woman bounded into the chamber,
who Grey knew well. She came with a warm bowl of water and a small trunk of
medicinals. Catherine had assisted the clan for more years than Grey could
remember. Her raven hair was now white, and her bright blue eyes were now
dimmed with age. Still, there was no other with as much talent for healing. She
immediately set to clean the wounds. Grey watched from the other side of the
bed, pacing along and hoping she could heal Bree.
“Her poor face. Aye, she’ll mayhap
have a scar. Poor lady, to mark such beauty,” she said, and continued to assess
the skin. “Needs a bit of stitching, nothing I can do about that.”
Grey didn’t dare speak during her
tending. But each time the needle pierced Bree’s skin his stomach flinched.
“Leg be sore for long. Och I don’t
deem she will walk for many a month. I needs cleaning of the beeswax that
remains from the arrow.” After several minutes of her dipping her finger
covered with cloth inside, she then applied herbs and a salve, she wrapped
Bree’s thigh carefully.
“She won’t leave this bed until she
is fully healed,” Grey swore.
“From what I hear, my laird, that
might be a fete. Now ‘er shoulder is troubling.” The healer prodded it and
gained a moan from Bree. “That will hurt for many a time. She will need some
pain relief. I will leave some hemlock juice for the attender.”
After an hour of treatment and
stitching, Catherine finally wrapped her shoulder and affirmed that Bree would
be all right once the shock wore off or if she was able to avoid infection. The
healer handed him a bottle of liquid and then bid him farewell.
He didn’t have time for the shock to
wear off, so Grey tapped Bree’s cheek. He shook her good shoulder and called
her name. Her eyes fluttered and she opened them.
“Grey, I … hurt.”
“I know love. I wanted to say
goodbye.”
“You are leaving?”
“Aye. I won’t be gone long. Will you
be all right?”
She nodded. “Please, be safe, Grey.
You’re going after her, are you not?”
“Aye, damned right I am. I will find
her and kill her. The woman deserves nothing less.”
“Give me a kiss before you leave.”
As he leaned over her and pressed
his lips against hers, he realized she’d fallen back to sleep. For a few
moments, he looked dejectedly at her condition. But she was a strong-willed
lass. He hoped she would heal and wouldn’t be difficult while doing so. If he
knew anything about Bree, there was no keeping her abed.
Grey hadn’t left her chamber once
during the time she’d been taken care of by the healer. He didn’t trust anyone
near her, especially with Nell still on the loose, as well as MacHeth.
Word had reached him that MacHeth
had evaded Alexander’s army, though most who had fought with him had succumbed.
He wasn’t planning on doing anything about MacHeth until after he’d wed Bree.
Now with rage consuming him, he wanted to find the man.
Outside his bedchamber door stood
Cait with some of the clanswomen. “Is there anything we can do?”
“I will have a guard posted, Cait.
See to it she stays in bed until I return. No one is to enter that chamber but
you, Bea, and Greer.” With that, he ran down the steps and found his guard
mounted on their steeds ready to ride out.
“Laird, I got your horse ready.”
Duff handed him the reins of his warhorse. “We have checked all cottages within
the walls and all about. She is not within. I had the gates closed to all so
she could not sneak back inside. She has escaped, but we shall find her.”
“Greer, I need someone to stay
behind.”
“I would be honored, laird. I will
guard her and protect her with my life. You need not worry about Lady Gunn.” He
dismounted his horse and nodded as he walked away.
All his guard dipped their heads and
grunted. The way Greer had said Lady Gunn brought a sense of pride to him. He
had a wife, his bonny wee Albrey, who he had always known would be his one and
only.
“Let us head out and find the
banshee woman.”
His guard let him lead the way
through the courtyard and through the gatehouse. Once through, he kicked his
horse’s haunches to get him moving. Nell had a head start, but she couldn’t
have gotten far. That is, unless she had an accomplice.