True Love Brides 02 - The Highlander’s Curse (38 page)

She slowed Yseult to a walk and one of the workers pushed back his hat, smiling a greeting at her. “Good day, my lady Annelise. I hear you are to be congratulated.”

“Indeed, I have come to be wedded in Kinfairlie’s chapel. I thank you for your good wishes.” Annelise inclined her head, recalling when she would have been too shy even to reply. She gestured. “My betrothed travels with me to Kinfairlie and his mother, too.”

The man bowed low before the party. “The road has been busy this week, my lady. It seems many of your siblings have come to share your joy.” He peered at Garrett, apparently taking his measure, then nodded at whatever he saw.

“Save Isabella,” Annelise said. “She is too close to her time to travel so far.”

“So close as that?” the man asked but Annelise was quick to clarify the matter.

“The midwife who tends her is cautious. The babe is expected by the Yule, but the midwife decrees that Isabella must remain home until that day.”

The man grinned. “I will guess she finds support for this notion in Laird Murdoch.” At Annelise’s nod, he nodded to Garrett. “Those so fortunate to wed one of the jewels of Kinfairlie keep them well.”

“And so we should,” Garrett agreed. “For no treasure so fine as one of these sisters should be treated with less than the greatest honor.”

“You will be well received, my lord and my lady, upon that I can rely.” The man smiled and bowed low, evidently pleased with this reply. Annelise’s heart was singing as they approached the keep together, and she knew Garrett was studying it.

“And what do you think?” she asked.

“Your brother tends his responsibility well,” Garrett said. “It is clear that Kinfairlie is prosperous and its tenants content. His borders must be well defended and his harvest is enviable.” He squeezed her hand. “I will be seeking your brother’s counsel in rebuilding Killairig.”

“He has already written to me to offer as much,” Annelise said.

Florine, though, was scanning the distance, her fair brows drawn together in a slight frown. “Is something amiss?” Annelise asked and she shook her head.

“There is old power here, a force most familiar to me.”

“It has long been rumored that there is a portal between Kinfairlie and the realm of the Fae,” Annelise said. Garrett’s mother nodded at this and seemed to watch the road more closely.

In time, they rode beneath the gates of Kinfairlie’s keep and into the bailey. Owen the ostler came bustling toward them, his smile of greeting so wide that his cheeks might crack. “Yseult!” he cried, which made Annelise laugh. She had wondered that he would be so glad to see her.

Owen fairly embraced the mare. Yseult whinnied and tossed her head as he took her bridle and spoke to her, her eyes bright with pleasure. It was clear she anticipated good care after her absence, and Annelise knew the horse was right in that.

Garrett dismounted and lifted Annelise down, then handed down his mother. Percy held the reins of the other horses while awaiting the stable boys. Before Annelise could point out anything about her home, they were surrounded by her siblings.

“Annelise!” Alexander cried and swung her into the air. Of course, he was first to greet her—not just oldest but also tallest and Laird of Kinfairlie, Alexander was first in all things. There was a little more silver at his temples than she recalled, but otherwise he looked well.

Alexander’s wife, Eleanor was behind him. She was as fair and lovely as always, her grace making Annelise glad to be home again. Annelise made introductions and exchanged kisses, as Eleanor offered her welcome.

“Annelise!” an older woman cried, and Annelise spun to see Vera closing quickly upon her. The stocky woman who had tended Annelise and her sisters for years might have been a beloved aunt for the affection between them. She was carrying a babe who slept blissfully despite the noise. Vera gave Annelise a quick pat on the cheek with one hand, then looked Garrett up and down with a stern demeanor.

“Vera will have questions for you,” Annelise warned Garrett with a smile.

Vera shook her finger at him. “There are not many men worthy of this gentle maiden, so you can be sure that I had my doubts. You look hale enough, and she looks happy enough, so perhaps all is well.”

“Perhaps it is,” Eleanor interjected, taking the babe from Vera’s arms. “You have such a gift in persuading him to sleep,” she murmured. “Thank you, Vera.” The older woman blushed and knotted her hands together as she watched the child. Annelise bit back a smile that Vera doubted the babe’s own mother could be trusted with him.

Annelise noticed how Florine and Vera assessed each other, as if each guessed a secret held by the other. Annelise remembered all too well that Vera was distrustful of the Fae, but Garrett’s mother was so kind and good that she doubted there would be trouble.

In fact, Florine might overturn Vera’s opinion before they left for home.

“This is Tynan,” Eleanor said of the red-faced babe. He looked perfect to Annelise, as fair as his mother with long golden lashes on his cheek. She might have admired him longer, but Eleanor and Alexander’s older son, Roland, seized a fistful of her skirts in his demand for attention.

“Auntie Annelise! Did you forget me?”

“Never, Roland.” She bent down and gave him a hug, making him smile proudly with her admiration of how well he was walking now. She introduced him to Garrett, who crouched down to speak to him. Roland, Annelise could see, was much intrigued by Garrett’s kilt and boots, for most of the men dressed in the French manner at Kinfairlie.

“Annelise!” Vivienne cried from the portal, then ran toward her with her hair unbound. Indeed, her older sister looked as if she had just risen from bed. “Just the sister I need. I wished for a tale this morning, and I have no doubt you have brought me a good one.” She eyed Garrett and curtseyed before him. “Perhaps you are the tale, sir.”

“Perhaps I know a few of them,” Garrett said with a smile.

Vivienne shook a finger at him. “You should be warned that I prefer a tale of the Fae.”

Florine’s eyes widened at that, even as Annelise made more introductions. “Is Erik with you?” she asked her sister.

Vivienne’s eyes danced even as Alexander shook his head in sympathy for that man. “Aye, but he is the sole person who can coax William to sleep. I have only just nursed him and so his father must do his part of the labor.”

“I thought a father’s part was done much earlier,” Alexander commented with feigned innocence and Vivienne smacked him. His eyes danced in a way that reminded Annelise of how he used to tease them when they were small.

“But I have not seen William!” Annelise declared. There could be naught finer than babies, in her mind, and Kinfairlie seemed full of newly arrived ones.

“He is only a month old and already the delight of his father,” Vivienne said with a smile. “I had feared that Erik might not have allowed us to travel so far, but the girls were most persuasive.” She turned and indicated the young girls who had followed her, introducing Mairi and Astrid, then the toddler Catherine.

Annelise revised her assessment: there was naught finer than babies
and
children. Annelise made a fuss over the girls, how they had grown and how pretty they were, just as they evidently expected.

“You have a gift with children,” Garrett murmured to her when she straightened.

“I have always had an affection for them,” Annelise agreed. “I think they know as much.” She felt his hand land on the back of her waist, the warmth of her fingers sending a thrill through her still.

He bent and whispered in her ear. “Then I shall have to ensure that we have many of them.”

“Indeed, you shall.” Annelise flushed a little and smiled at him, knowing her pleasure in the idea showed. She wished to talk to one of her sisters while they were here, for she had a feeling that Garrett might already have guaranteed there would be one child at Killairig before the following summer.

“Madeline and Rhys could not ride from Wales again so soon,” Alexander explained. He nodded at Garrett. “They were here for Isabella’s nuptials and send their good wishes.” He handed Annelise a missive that was still sealed and she looked forward to opening it and reading of Madeline’s news.

Elizabeth came from the hall then, walking more slowly than was her custom. Her fair skin was paler than usual and her eyes looked larger and darker. Annelise flew to embrace her with dismay. “Elizabeth, are you well?”

“Annelise, I was so frightened for you,” Elizabeth whispered. Her gaze flew to Garrett and her relief was clear.

“Did you send me that dream?” Annelise whispered but Elizabeth stared at her as if she did not understand her words. “It made all the difference, and I would thank you truly.” Annelise kissed Elizabeth’s cheeks again. It was not like her sister to be quiet and she noted that Eleanor was also concerned.

“Elizabeth has been unwell these past weeks,” Eleanor said in a soothing tone, giving Elizabeth a quick hug. “But every day is a little better.”

“But what…” Annelise began to ask, only to be given a look from the Lady of Kinfairlie. If there was a tale to be shared, Eleanor would only share it in Elizabeth’s absence.

Erik joined them just then, carrying his new son with obvious pride. Vivienne’s husband also wore a kilt and had a patch over one eye. He and Garrett were introduced and Annelise admired Vivienne’s son.

She noticed then that Garrett’s mother was speaking softly to Elizabeth. Annelise’s younger sister looked up at Florine with wonder in her eyes and a ghost of a smile touched her lips.

Annelise was relieved.

“Have you heard from Malcolm?” she asked Alexander eagerly. “I knew he would not be here, I had thought he hoped to be home for the Yule? Will he come to Killairig, do you think?”

“I have not heard from him these past months.” Alexander sobered and again she had the sense that something was not being said. “His last missive was brief, as well. Perhaps his plans have changed. There is always a new place to sell one’s services, from what I understand.” Alexander’s disapproval of Malcolm’s choice was clear and as always it created an awkward moment.

Matters had been strained between Alexander and Malcolm, for he was heir to Ravensmuir but had refused to accept the seal, though Alexander kept it and administered the estate in his brother’s absence.

Alexander smiled then, as if to recall the earlier mood. “But we must not forget that there is another surprise for you on this day.” He turned and gestured to the portal. An older woman stood there, silver in her hair and a smile on her lips, her features familiar despite the long time since Annelise had seen her.

“Aileen!” Annelise cried with delight and threw herself into the embrace of the relative she so seldom saw. Aileen was not an aunt, but still related: her husband’s father had been brothers with Annelise’s grandfather. More importantly, Aileen’s wedding to the Hawk was one of the first events Annelise recalled. She had been very small, but her memories of that midsummer at Inverfyre were vivid all the same.

Particularly of the bride.

The Hawk stood behind Aileen, so still in the shadows that he could be overlooked. His hair was almost completely silvered now. As ever, Annelise could fairly feel the power of the love between these two. To Annelise’s further delight, Aileen and the Hawk’s children spilled out of the hall to surround their parents. There was much greeting and kissing and hand-shaking between those of Kinfairlie and those of Inverfyre.

“Now there is a fine crossbow,” Aileen said to Garrett with obvious admiration. “We shall have to compare.”

Garrett’s brows rose and the Hawk chuckled. “Do not let her fool you into taking a wager,” he warned with good humor. “My wife is an excellent shot.”

“Your warning is taken, sir, I should be glad to hunt while here. We are a large party and Kinfairlie’s forests look most abundant.”

There was general agreement in this, and Annelise looked around with happiness at the gathered members of her family. It was then she realized one red-haired man stood slightly aside, smiling at her.

“Ross!”

That brother laughed aloud, even as he swung Annelise into the air. He was wearing a mail shirt and his hair had turned to burnished copper. Two years older than Annelise, he had grown taller and wider while in training with the Hawk and had become a man instead of the boy she recalled.

“You are so much taller than me now,” she complained but he tugged on her braids just as he always had.

“And you are getting bolder,” he teased, his gaze darting to Garrett. “I fear we shall have to watch you more closely.”

“Ross has returned from serving the Earl of Buchan, but has not yet earned his spurs,” the Hawk said to Garrett.

Annelise dropped her gaze, for she knew that Alexander had not approved of Ross pledging to the Earl any more than he had approved of Malcolm’s choice. He had sent Ross to Inverfyre initially and had been unhappy to be defied.

“He does well, but I should like him to learn more of fighting and the work of sentries,” the Hawk continued, as if there had been no interrupting in Ross’s training. “I would send him and my son Nigel to labor in your service for a year, if you are willing.” He gestured to his oldest son, a handsome young man just five years younger than Annelise.