Capturing A Highland Knight (18 page)

Chapter 21

“I hope ye are happy, Tobias,” Derek said as he grasped Tobias’ arm in congratulations.

              “Aye,” Tobias replied.

             
Derek looked at his friend.  He could see something behind Tobias’ smile.  The same thing he sensed in his chamber earlier.  He decided not to press Tobias about it.  He knew that Tobias would confide in him when he was ready.  That is how it worked between them.

             
Derek turned to Browyn and wished her well and then turned to look for his wife.  She was not standing where he had seen her during the ceremony.  She had been surrounded by his parents, brothers, and Colm.  He noticed that his family had taken very well to her.  She and his mother had even giggled together over something Brighid had said.  It seemed that he was the only one that she did not get along with.

             
He thought back on recent events and realized that maybe he deserved her disdain for him.  He should not expect her affection after the way he had disregarded her feelings and showed her little respect by enjoying the attentions of other women.  If she showed affection for the members of his family, then it was because they did the same toward her.  No wonder she preferred Colm’s company to his.  He frowned and continued his search for her.

             
He finally spotted her sitting next to his mother at one of the trestle tables.  He started in that direction when a voice called to him.

             
“Derek!”

             
He turned and smiled.  There stood Sine, Tobias’ youngest sister.  She wore a pale grey high waisted gown with a wreath of heather around her auburn hair.  She was a very beautiful woman at seventeen.  Sine ran toward him and threw her arms around his neck.

             
“Sine.  How are ye?” he asked as he returned her embrace.  Tobias had three sisters in all.

             
“Finally, I get to see ye,” she said as she released her embrace and took one of his hands.

             
Derek remembered how Sine used to chase after him and Tobias when he stayed at Bondlach.  It was not that she wanted to do what they were doing, but she did not want to be left out of what they were doing.  Tobias used to tease Derek that Sine had affection for him, but Derek would always laugh it off.  Sine was eleven years his junior.

             
“Mither kept us in the solar all day yesterday,” she pouted.

             
“Weel, yer brother was getting married.  Ye canna expect her to allow ye around a bunch of rowdy warriors,” he grinned.

             
“But I wanted to see ye,” she said and moved one of her hands to his arm.

             
“Weel, ye see me now.  Where ‘tis yer sisters?”

             
“They are with Mither congratulating Tobias and Browyn.”

             
“Doonae ye wish to congratulate them as well?”

             
“Aye, but I wanted a chance to speak to ye alone before Kyla and Sorcha could come upon ye,” she said looking at him with earnest eyes.

             
“Aye? What did ye want to speak about?” he asked, amusement in his voice.

             
“Wasnae this a lovely wedding?”

             
“Aye,” he replied, arching an eyebrow.

             
“Wouldnae ye like to have a wedding such as this one?” she asked him.  She squeezed his arm where her hand still rested.

             
Derek did not reply.  He narrowed his eyes at Sine, trying to figure out where she was going with her questions.

             
“Tobias says that he will allow us to marry for love, and he willnae arrange a marriage.  Doonae ye think that is verra generous of him?” she smiled up at him.  The top of her head came to his chest.

             
“Aye, ‘tis verra generous.  I hope I will feel that way when I have daughters,” he said.

             
Derek paused.  He had never thought of children of his own.  Not even illegitimate ones.  Now that the thought had crossed his mind, he could imagine Annabelle rounded with his bairn.  His body stirred at the image.  He looked to where she was sitting.  She was looking at him with a frown on her face.  Sine squeezed his arm again.

             
“Aye,” she agreed quietly.

             
Derek’s brows drew together.  Had Tobias been right all those years ago?  Before he could question Sine, Kyla and Sorcha ran up to them.

             
“Derek!” they both squealed in unison.

             
Derek grinned and turned toward them.

             
“There are the other two imps,” he said fondly.

             
They had grown up since last he saw them.  Kyla was the oldest.  At nineteen, she was tall and lithe.  Her red hair matched her brother’s perfectly.  Her hazel eyes were luminous and sincere.  Sorcha was the second oldest at eighteen.  Her hair was darker, but not as dark as Sine’s.  Her blue eyes held laughter and mischief.  In fact, she was the most outspoken and mischievous of the bunch.

             
“Derek, we have just met yer wife!” Kyla exclaimed.

             
“Why dinna ye tell us ye were getting married?  And why werenae we invited to the wedding?” Sorcha reprimanded.

             
“Yer wife?” Sine blurted in surprise, staring at Derek.

             
“Aye, my wife.”

             
Sine’s face suddenly clouded over.

             
“I havenae met her, Derek.  Why doonae ye introduce me to her?” she said, looking at him expectantly.

             
Derek turned toward the table where his family was sitting.  Annabelle was no longer looking at him, but was laughing at something Colm said to her.  He frowned.  He approached the table with the girls behind him.

             
“There ye are, Derek,” his mother said.

             
“We wondered what happened to ye,” Colm uttered.  He looked at Annabelle.

             
“Did ye now?” he asked also looking at his wife.  She did not look at him.

             
“I see ye brought the girls with ye,” Brighid interjected.  She gave him a quelling look.

             
“Aye.  Kyla and Sorcha said that they had already met Annabelle, but Sine hadnae.”

             
“I wanted to meet Derek’s wife,” Sine replied. 

             
Derek noticed that Annabelle stiffened but she did not look up.

             
“Sine, I would like to introduce ye to my wife, Annabelle.  Annabelle, this is Sine, Tobias’ youngest sister.” 

             
He watched as Annabelle’s head slowly turned toward them.

             
“I am glad to meet ye, Sine,” Annabelle said, smiling at the girl.

             
Sine smiled tightly back at her.

             
“So how came ye to be Derek’s wife?  Did ye trap him into it?” Sine asked bitingly.

             
All conversation at the table ceased.  All eyes turned toward them.  Derek scowled at Sine, and suddenly realized what all of her questions were about.  He was about to rebuke her, when Annabelle came to her own rescue.

             
Annabelle stood up and faced Sine.  She was a few inches taller than Sine, so towered over her.  Sine did not back down, even though Derek could see her hand twisting in her skirt.  He remembered what Annabelle had done to Maura and went to step in, but Annabelle spoke.

             
“Are ye another one of my husband’s
hures
?  Funny, I wouldnae have ever thought a girl as bonnie as ye would stoop so low for a mon.”

             
Sine gasped and her hand flew to her chest.

             
“Nay, I dinna trap Derek.  He compromised me, not that ‘tis any of yer business.  I ken that ye are carrying a torch for him, as is every other woman in Scotland.  At this point, if I could change my circumstance, I would let ye have him.  I realize now that I doona have the patience or will to fight for him any longer,” she said, menacingly.

             
Annabelle turned her attention to him.

             
“I willnae stand in yer way any longer, Derek.  Do as ye please.  I no longer care who ye bed or how often,” she turned and walked away, but not before he saw a single tear flow down her cheek.

             
Colm got up to follow her, but Brighid stopped him.  She stared hard at her son and went after her.

             
“She called me a
hure!
” Sine protested.

             
“’Tis what ye deserve,” Kyla said staring angrily at her sister.

             
“What came over ye, Sine?  Ye got what ye deserved!” Sorcha exclaimed.  She turned and walked toward their mother.

             
“Derek,” Laird Breac called.

             
Derek turned to his father.  His father was not happy.   Laird Breac did not have to say a word.  Derek understood completely.  He went to look for his wife.

§

              Derek watched his wife dancing with Colm.  Her face was lit up and she was laughing at something Colm was saying.  Derek frowned.  He had gone in pursuit of her, but he had not been able to find her or his mother.  He returned to the keep frustrated and angry.  Angry at himself and angry with Sine.  She had tried to apologize to him, but he had not been able to listen to her pleas.  The pain and anger he had seen in Annabelle’s eyes still haunted him. 

The music ended and he started toward Annabelle. 

              “She willnae talk to ye,” he heard from behind him.

             
His turned to face his mother.  She had a frown on her face.

             
“Aye, she will,” he said, continuing on his way.

             
“There ye go forcing yer will again.  Derek, just release her.  Ye doona want a wife, but Laird Harold does.  Why doona ye petition the king when ye get to court to grant ye a separation?  Let her go back to her family and marry Laird Harold as was her plan?” his mother asked him.

             
Derek scowled.  His mother did not know that Laird Harold was no longer alive, but even if he was not dead, Derek was not about to give Annabelle up.

             
“I willnae.  She is my wife,” he said frowning down at her.

             
“Aye, but ye doona treat her as such.  She doesnae deserve what she has endured from ye,” she admonished.

             
Derek said nothing, because he knew that she was right.  Annabelle did not deserve any of the experiences she had because of him.

             
“Let her go, son.  She deserves better.”

             
“And ye think she will gain better with Laird Harold?” he all but shouted.

             
“Aye, he will treat her far better,” she replied quietly.

             
Derek growled and stalked away.  He walked to a refreshment table and took a mug of ale.  He drank it down in one gulp.  He reached for another one.

             
“I doona envy ye,” Jace said, coming up beside him.  “Why tie yerself down to one woman when ye can have many?  Ye should do as mither says.  Let her go and then ye can go back to how things were before ye married.”

             
Derek looked at his brother, and then his eyes found Annabelle where she talked with Kyla and Sorcha.  She was smiling.  He should just let her go.  He could go back to how things were before he found her.  Eilidh would still be willing, and he had been very satisfied with her.  But he suddenly realized that she was not what he wanted anymore.  Neither was Maura, or any other woman.  Annabelle was what he wanted, and probably what he had been searching for in all of the other women.  She was strong and independent.  She stood up to him and did not bow to his will.  She irritated him and made him angry.  She was beautiful and full of life.  She made him smile, and she made him hard just thinking about her or seeing her.  Derek grunted and walked out of the keep.