The Laird's Captive Wife (21 page)

‘Aye, it has,’ Duncan replied. ‘Too long, I’m thinking.’ He glanced down at the woman beside him. For a moment she didn’t move, her eyes fixed on Iain’s face. In it Ashlynn saw both wariness and longing. Iain returned her gaze and held it.

‘This is an unexpected pleasure,’ he said.

‘Unexpected I have no doubt,’ she replied. ‘As to the last, I wonder.’

‘Then be in no doubt. You are welcome here, Jeannie.’

Ashlynn’s heart missed a beat. This had to be the mysterious sister he had mentioned before.

‘It is good of you to make the journey in such weather,’ Iain continued.

Duncan snorted. ‘It wouldn’t have mattered if the drifts were five feet deep. Jeannie was determined to come.’

‘I’m flattered.’

‘Aye, you are, you rogue,’ retorted the lady.

Undisturbed by this mode of address, Iain regarded her keenly. ‘Can it be that you have missed me, sweet sister?’

She ignored the gibe. ‘I wanted to know for myself if the rumour I’ve been hearing is true.’

‘Oh, and what particular rumour would that be?’ he replied.

‘The one about you carrying off a beautiful woman and then marrying her. Duncan wouldn’t have it, and I must admit I thought it ridiculous at first, but when I had the story from more than one source I became curious.’ She fixed him with a sharp eye. ‘What have you been up to, brother?’

Iain’s lips twitched. ‘I carried off a beautiful woman and then married her.’

Her jaw dropped for a moment but she recovered quickly. ‘If you are trifling with me, Iain MacAlpin, I warn you now…’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’ He turned toward the two figures behind him and smiled. ‘Come. Allow me to present my wife, Lady Ashlynn, and her brother, Lord Ban. Ashlynn, this is my sister, Jeannie, and her husband, Duncan McCrae of Ardnashiel.’

For a second there was a pregnant silence. Duncan’s blue eyes sparkled and he laughed softly in utter disbelief.

‘Well, in the name of all that’s wonderful.’ As he ran his eye over Ashlynn his smile grew. ‘I am truly delighted, my lady, although where this ugly brute found anything so beautiful I’ll never know.’

Ashlynn curtseyed and returned the smile. ‘The pleasure is mine, my lord.’

Duncan turned then to Ban and held out his hand. ‘I’m glad to make your acquaintance, sir. Did he carry you off too by any chance?’

Ban grinned. ‘Aye, my lord, he did—in a manner of speaking.’

‘Is that so? Well, by heaven, there’s a good story here or I miss my guess, and I would fain hear it.’

‘I also,’ replied his wife.

The two women faced each other and Ashlynn found herself looking into an arresting face framed with curling dark hair. Jeannie was perhaps five or six years her senior. She was taller too and her figure fuller, but it was the eyes that one remembered for they were dark and piercing like her brother’s. They missed no detail in their frank appraisal.

‘I once thought that nothing my brother could do would ever surprise me again, but I see I was wrong.’ She softened the words with a smile. ‘For once it feels good to be wrong.’

With relief Ashlynn saw the smile reach the dark eyes and with it came the first glimmer of hope that she might now find a woman friend. Jeannie indicated the three children who stood nearby.

‘My sons, Jamie and Andrew, and my daughter, Fiona.’

As the children made their duty to her Iain surveyed them with frank astonishment. ‘Good God, but they’ve grown. I hardly recognise them.’

‘How should you?’ replied Jeanne. ‘You haven’t set eyes on them in nigh on three years.’

The tension was back and Ban interjected quickly. ‘Children always grow fast, do they not?’

‘So it would seem,’ replied Iain.

His young relatives looked up at him with wide-eyed apprehension for the tallest of them came no higher than his belt. The little girl’s lip trembled. Ashlynn smiled.

‘You are all welcome here,’ she said. ‘Now you are come I see that we shall have great fun this Yuletide.’

The gentleness of her tone seemed to offer reassurance and they began to look a little less anxious.

‘We shall have feasting and music and, if you wish, we shall play some games. Would you like that?’ she asked.

They nodded solemnly.

‘Good. In a little while we shall go in together and you shall tell me what games you like best.’ She held out her hand and after a moment’s hesitation the little girl took it.

Iain watched the scene in fascination. He would never have suspected that she might like children or have such an easy way with them. They seemed to like her too and pressed round her now, clearly sensing safety. Him they continued to regard warily. He supposed it was scarcely to be wondered at. They must have forgotten his existence. Almost three years! The realisation caused an unexpected twinge of guilt. To cover it he introduced his wife and brother-in-law to the various cousins who made up the remainder of the party. When at length that duty was performed he gestured to the door.

‘Shall we go in then?’

Jeannie smiled at Ashlynn. ‘Aye, let’s do that. Then we’ll find a quiet corner somewhere and you can tell me how you had the misfortune to be married to my brother.’

Iain threw his sister a speaking glance which she ignored. Ashlynn began to like her more and more. She caught Ban’s eye and saw him grin. Then they all went in together. After their guests had taken refreshment and been shown to their various quarters, Ashlynn went to inquire if Jeannie had everything she needed.

‘I shall do very well. In truth I had not expected to find such comfort here,’ she replied, looking round. ‘You have made your mark already.’

In fact Ashlynn had raided all the upper storerooms for rugs and hangings and with the aid of Morag and the other servants had put them to use. She had also commanded that fires be lit in the guest chambers some days before, in order to take the damp chill off the air. In consequence the rooms looked and felt much more cheerful. It was pleasing to discover that her efforts were appreciated.

Her sister-in-law gestured to the chair opposite. ‘Will you not sit awhile? Then you can tell me your story for I long to hear it.’

Ashlynn related the main events, leaving out only what was too personal to be shared. As she listened, Jeannie’s face registered horror and sympathy but when it came to the part about the wedding her dark eyes narrowed.

‘Did my brother force you to wed him?’

‘He could not do other than marry me, my lady, since the king commanded it.’

‘Malcolm disposes as he sees fit and always to suit himself,’ replied Jeannie. She eyed Ashlynn closely for a moment. ‘Has my brother treated you well since?’

‘Yes, very well. He has been most generous.’

‘Has he indeed? I’m relieved to hear it.’

‘I have no cause for complaint.’

‘You must be the first person ever to say so.’ Jeannie smiled. ‘But that’s enough of him for the moment. Tell me about
your
brother.’

Ashlynn explained how she and Ban had been reunited. When she finished there were tears in her listener’s eyes.

‘It is a strange fate indeed that brought you here, but I am so glad it did.’ She paused. ‘Iain and I have been at odds for some time, and I began to fear that our estrangement might never end. It is in part due to you that it has a chance of doing so.’

‘Then I am glad of it. Families should be united.’

‘Aye, they should.’ Jeannie eyes her quizzically. ‘Did my brother tell you the nature of our quarrel?’

‘He said that it concerned Fitzurse.’

‘It is true. What Fitzurse did was cruel beyond believing.’ The older woman sighed. ‘Yet I could not bear to see Iain so consumed by rage and hatred.’

‘I can understand that.’

‘He and I were very close at one time. He was the person I looked up to most. Our childhood was not an easy one and he stood up for me many a time against our father.’

Ashlynn remained silent, listening avidly. She wanted so much to know more about the man she had married.

‘He took some beatings on account of it,’ Jeannie went on, ‘but I never saw him cry. It was as though it had become a point of pride with him not to. When our mother died the situation got much worse. Iain said it was our father’s unkindness that caused her death. Perhaps in part he was right.’

‘I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘He and Father had a terrible row and came to blows as a result. A short time later Iain was sent to France.’

‘But what of you?’

‘I was rescued by an aunt, one of my mother’s sisters. She was ever a kindly soul and her house seemed like heaven to me. The three years I spent with her were among the happiest of my life. It was there I met Duncan. He came courting after that and when I turned sixteen we married.’

‘Did you ever hear from Iain?’

‘He would send word from time to time. It was clear that France agreed with him.’

‘He married there, did he not?’

‘That’s right.’ Jeannie paused. ‘Did he tell you what happened to his wife?’

‘Yes.’

‘It almost destroyed him. I never saw a person so changed. For a while I thought he might run mad. However, he channelled his energies into fighting instead.’

‘That was when he joined Malcolm.’

‘Aye, and began to carve out a reputation for himself into the bargain. He always was a good swordsman and he honed his skill. Those who saw him in battle said he was fearless. As time went on he became involved in a lot of other wild exploits and his reputation grew.’

‘I had heard of it long before I met him,’ replied Ashlynn.

Jeannie nodded. ‘He had learned the value of being feared.’

‘But you did not fear him?’

‘No, I feared
for
him. I dreaded what hatred and rage might turn him into and begged him to give up the quest for Fitzurse, but he would not and so we quarrelled.’ She sighed. ‘Heaven knows how often I have regretted it.’

‘You did what you thought you had to do.’

‘Yet it got me nowhere and earned his enmity into the bargain.’

‘But surely that is at an end now,’ said Ashlynn.

‘I hope so, for this quarrel has resulted only in tears and bitterness and we have seen enough of that.’ Jeannie regarded her keenly. ‘Perhaps now that he has you my brother will put aside the thought of revenge.’

Ashlynn smiled sadly, knowing she possessed no such influence. Iain was set on a course that could only end in bloodshed and death—for him or for Fitzurse, or both. Nothing she could say would ever change his mind.

* * *

Further friends and relations appeared later that day, braving the weather to make the ride to Glengarron. All were warmly welcomed and, Iain having performed the necessary introductions, all received the news of the laird’s marriage with frank astonishment. Suddenly Ashlynn found herself the centre of attention.

‘She’s a bonny lass and no mistake,’ said Duncan who was standing next to Iain by the fireplace, watching as Ashlynn and her brother talked with Jeannie and some cousins across the room. ‘You’ve done well for yourself there.’

‘I know it,’ replied Iain.

‘I like the brother too. He’s a brave lad if what you say is true.’

‘That he is.’

‘They’ve had a bad time, the pair of them.’

‘Aye, they have.’

‘The rumours are true then. William really is laying waste to Northumbria.’

‘It’s true all right. Heslingfield was only one of many manors to fall victim to his revenge.’

Duncan shook his head in disgust. ‘It’s indefensible to punish the innocent. The man’s a monster.’ He darted a glance across the room to Ban. ‘What is the lad going to do once he’s fully fit again?’

‘I don’t know. We’ve not discussed the matter as yet.’

‘Well, there’s time enough.’

‘So there is.’ Iain held out his cup to be refilled by a servant. ‘No doubt he’ll tell me his mind when he’s ready.’

His gaze returned to the group across the room, though in truth the only one he saw was Ashlynn. He was glad to see her developing friendship with his sister and gladder still to see her smile and laugh. Today she looked every inch the lady she was. As his eyes lingered on the curves of her slender figure now so enticingly revealed by the new gown, his mind dwelt tantalisingly on what lay beneath. He knew he wasn’t alone in his admiration; he had seen the way the eyes of other men were continually drawn back to her. It did not displease him. Let them look. None would dare to touch: she was his. The knowledge did nothing to diminish his pride.

* * *

The feast that evening was a splendid and sumptuous affair and the hall was filled with conversation and laughter. Iain, watching the succession of dishes appearing from the kitchen could not but be impressed. Once again Ashlynn’s ability to plan and organise surprised him. It was a facet of her personality he had not suspected. Watching her smiling and talking to their guests she looked every inch the lady of the manor. There was no trace now of the boyish imp or the wildcat and yet he knew both were still there. This unpredictability was, he reflected, part of her considerable charm. He never knew what facet might be revealed next and it both intrigued and fascinated him, arousing his curiosity and making him want to discover more.

Keenly aware of that apparently casual regard Ashlynn turned to meet his gaze and saw him smile.

‘An excellent feast,’ he said. ‘You have surpassed yourself.’

His words brought a glow of pleasure and she returned the smile. ‘You must thank the cook for it, not I.’

‘Had it not been for you I doubt we’d have seen anything like this. His imagination seemed not to run much beyond a haunch of venison or a side of mutton before this.’

‘I added a few ideas of my own.’

‘So I see, and I’m glad of it. This board would not disgrace a king.’He paused. ‘Where did you learn all this?’

‘Even Sassenach girls are brought up to know about the managing of a household, my lord.’

‘Who’d have thought it?’

She shook her head. ‘It’s no use. I shall not allow myself to be provoked.’

‘What a pity.’

‘I think you enjoy provoking people.’

‘Only where there’s such a strong element of unpredictability.’