Chapter 6
When Elspeth awoke, the bed was empty. She reached over, expecting to find Finlay beside her, but there was only the outline of his body and blankets that had been swept away.
There was an emptiness in her heart as she thought about the previous night.
They had shared something special, something sacred, but like the marriage, it felt hollow.
At times while they had been making love, she had seen tenderness in his eyes, but now she wondered if it had just been a trick of the mind.
She pulled herself out of bed and put on her clothes before going to the kitchen for breakfast. The servants were still clearing up after the previous night’s feast, and there were a few people who were staggering home.
The maids looked at her with arched eyebrows and whispered gossip.
When Elspeth inquired as to the whereabouts of Finlay, she was told that he had gone hunting.
She tried to hide her disappointment and instead declared that she would explore the lands that she ruled over since she was now the lady of the clan.
She changed from her dress into simpler, more comfortable clothing and wrapped a shawl around her head to protect her from the cold.
This served a double purpose, as she didn’t want to be recognized by people who had been at the feast the previous night.
She did have a faint hope that she might run into Abigail again, as at least she had proven to be a friend.
She took a basket with her as well, just in case she saw anything of interest that she might want to bring back.
The air was chilled as she walked along the path that wound down from the castle.
Flinty mountains rose behind her, and she followed the path of the oozing river that gushed down.
The path led down to a settlement of houses and taverns.
It was much like Kilin, but there seemed to be a despairing mood lingering over the place.
On the way, she saw a few different people, some traders and merchants who would undoubtedly end up in Kilin.
She also passed a woman who was nursing a crying baby.
It reminded her of Eoin and made her think about the future.
Instinctively, her hand fell upon her stomach again, and she found herself wondering if she was with child.
It was a shame that there was no way to tell.
As she walked along, she saw a few bursts of color from different plants and started to make plans for the courtyard gardens.
There was so much in her life that she didn’t have control over, but this was one thing she could maintain herself.
She spent a little while picking flowers in as many colors as she could find.
Her basket was nearly full when she realized she was gasping for a drink.
Her throat was scratchy, so she turned towards the settlement and made her way to the tavern.
A wooden wheel painted gold hung outside the tavern.
Nobody paid her much attention as she entered.
She stood at the bar and ordered a drink as well as some food, as now that she was in the tavern, the aroma of thick broth spoke to her stomach and reminded her of home.
Elspeth looked around and recognized a few people from the feast last night, although many of the faces were strangers to her.
She settled at a small table and placed her basket on another chair.
She leaned forward and cradled her drink as she waited for her broth to be brought over.
Her stomach rumbled. She glanced around and saw a couple on the opposite side of the bar.
Although she could not hear anything they said, she knew how they were feeling based on their body language.
They leaned into each other and clasped each other’s hands.
Their eyes were locked on each other, and she imagined that the rest of the world was melting away for them.
They likely weren’t even aware that she was watching them.
It must have been nice to lose themselves in their own world, and she felt sorry that she wouldn’t feel the same thing with Finlay.
Her heart sank as her broth was brought over.
She dipped her spoon in and lapped up the thick meal.
It was hearty; the warmth spread to the tips of her toes and fingers.
As she enjoyed her meal, a few other people sauntered into the tavern.
There was a group of men sitting near her, enjoying their drinks.
They were unsavory, swarthy characters, with bulging muscles and thick beards.
Elspeth narrowed her body and focused on her broth, hoping that she would escape their attention.
As it happened, though, they were entirely focused on their own conversation.
They spoke a little more loudly than they probably intended, which she suspected was a result of the ale they were drinking, and she wished they didn’t because what they said was harrowing.
She didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but it was impossible not to listen.
“I think it’s time tae think about our situation again,” one of the men said.
“What dae ye mean?” another replied.
“Ye know exactly what I mean. Our good laird shows nay sign of changing, and with this new wife of his, it’s only a matter of time before he ends up getting an heir. One of him is bad enough. Can ye imagine what it’s gaeing tae be like tae live under the rule of his son as well?”
“Ach, ye cannae blame a boy who haes nae been born yet!”
“Ye can when ye know his father,” the first man said again.
“I was willing tae wait for things tae change because I thought he might get killed in an accident, perhaps when he was out hunting, or he might just get bored. But once he has an heir, that’s it.
Our fates are sealed, and there’s naething we can dae about it. ”
“Angus, what are ye saying? I know ye hae nay love for the lad, but surely ye cannae be talking about overthrowing him?”
“Aye, I am,” Angus said. He glowered and looked like the devil himself. “It’s time we take matters intae our own hands. Clearly, fate is nae on our side. If it was, he would hae been killed a long time ago.”
“Are ye trying tae curse yerself? He’s our laird! Ye cannae speak like that about him.”
“Cannae I? Why nae? What good haes he done for us? Haes he mined? Haes he plowed the field? Nay, he sits there in his castle and broods like a ghost. We dae all the hard work and we still hae tae pay tithes tae him! How is that fair? I dinnae want tae give him anything more than he deserves, and all he deserves is naething.” He took a hearty gulp of ale.
Elspeth went rigid with tension. She held the spoon in front of her, frozen.
Her breath sat in her throat as she couldn’t believe what she was listening to.
Was someone really trying to plot against her husband?
“Ye are getting tae worked up,” another man said, shaking his head and scoffing at Angus.
“This is just the way of the world. Lairds get tae sit in their castles while us common folk work. It’s the way it haes always been, and the way it will always be.
There’s naething ye can dae tae change it.
If ye try tae overthrow him, ye’ll only be hanged for yer trouble. ”
“Nae,” Angus said. “Nae if there’s enough of us.
They cannae hang all of us. I’m telling the lot of ye, it is nae right the way he treats us.
And now that he has a wife, dae ye really think he’s gaeing tae change?
He’s gaeing tae teach his son the same lessons he learned, and in another twenty years, our wee ones are gaeing tae be sitting here haeing the same conversation wondering why their das never did anything about it.
Well, I’m nae gaeing tae wait for my child tae dae something.
We hae tae protect ourselves now. Things are never gaeing tae get better unless we make them better, and that haes tae start taeday. ”’
“Dae ye nae think ye are being a wee bit harsh with the laird? We all know what he’s been through,” another man said.
Elspeth was grateful to hear that at least a few men were willing to speak in support of her husband.
Part of her was tempted to reveal herself and punish these men for speaking out against Finlay, but another part of her was afraid.
There was no telling what these men might do.
“Dinnae give me that,” Angus scoffed. “As if he’s the only man tae ever suffer a wee bit of sorrow.
The rest of us dinnae hae the luxury of brooding in our castles.
We hae tae get tae work, something he knows naething about.
Look at yerselves, leaping tae the defense of a man who doesnae care anything for ye.
When was the last time he did anything for ye?
When was the last time he even said two words tae ye? ”
Elspeth waited for one of the other men to speak up in defense of Finlay again, but this time silence reigned.
The men looked at each other uncertainly, while Elspeth’s heart sank.
Was it possible that her husband was so callous and cruel?
No, she wanted to push aside the thought.
She had seen tenderness in his eyes while they had been making love.
There had been something there, something deep and true.
And yet it was impossible not to forget the way he rushed through the wedding ceremony, or ignored her during the celebration.
There was a hard edge to the man, but was that enough to cause these men to seek to overthrow him?
“And then he takes all the money we pay tae him—the money that we worked hard for—and he uses it for his wedding feast,” Angus continued to grumble.
Elspeth had heard just about enough. She grabbed her basket and left the half-empty bowl of broth on the table, holding back the sobs as she rushed out of the tavern.
She walked briskly away in case any of them had grown suspicious of her, but nobody left the tavern in pursuit of her.
What she heard chilled her to the bone. She knew she had to tell Finlay as quickly as possible.
It wasn’t right that these black-hearted men should be plotting against their laird!
If they had grievances, then they should come and complain to try and smooth over the dispute.
Elspeth hated that their wedding might have precipitated some of this disgust. She remembered a few times when her father had muttered that too much of his money was going towards Laird Gallach, but at least the laird held feasts and banquets for everyone in Kilin.
If Finlay had removed himself from the clan and was nothing more than a distant stranger to them, then it might well have seemed like he was stealing from them without giving anything back in return.
She knew she had to explain everything to him so that he might change the course of destiny before it was irrevocably set.
There was kindness in Finlay’s heart, even if it was only a glimmer.
As his wife and the lady of the house, it was up to her to find it and make sure that the clan was at peace.
The last thing she wanted was to be embroiled in some conflict.