Chapter 26
No! This wasn’t happening. It simply couldn’t be. She blinked twice. It was happening!
The Benefactor was the only one who had shown her a speck in respect or care or endearment all those years married to the reaper’s closest friend, Keithen’s sire. A grin she always thought crooked now seemed more a snarl approached across the great hall. Brazen brimstone!
“Do come closer, my lady, I wish to give you a proper greeting. You must make haste and be as bold as the devil who dances in the firelight.”
Her mouth gaped. He was the one who had said the revolting sentiment to Sèidrich, not his late sire! With shock bolting her feet to the floor, Sèidrich dragged her across the hall as she heard Callum growl behind her.
Keithen sighed. “Oh, Sir Callum, do remain as you are, lest I have to have you escorted from the hall which I promise you shall not care for.” She glanced over her shoulder at Callum. If anguish on his features could have built an escape for them, they would have been free.
Keithen paused, glancing her over. The cloak must have fallen open when Sèidrich dragged her in here. She grabbed the woolen with both hands, yanking it closed.
A harsh chuckle sounded from Keithen. “My Lady Fawnella, even a burlap sack could not hide your true bonny self. My late sire was a fool from the start,” he declared, his pale eyes raking over her anew.
Fool – that was her as well. Aye, how could she have been such a fool and not seen this Scotsman for what he was?
“Start.” Keithen picked the word once more while he rubbed his fingers over his long wiry beard.
“Shall we commence with the events which have brought us to this most fortuitous moment?”
Nella said dryly, “You seem to be the lord with all the pieces laid upon the chess board so do tell.”
“Aww, how I have missed your clever wit and keen mind. My late wife was dull as a rock.” Keithen’s twisted grin widened. If her skin could crawl it would have leapt off her.
“Well, a gracious host offers those a sip in ale or mead or wine.” Keithen motioned toward the table before them – no one moved.
“Alas, I do apologize for the lack of servants. I prefer the conversation to come to remain private in nature. However, nothing is private for you, is it, my lady?” Keithen gave her a sidelong look.
“Such a treasure right under my dimwitted sire’s nose. ”
“What is he referring to?” Holger questioned.
“Pardon, I leapt too briskly! First the introductions so I may freshly acquaint myself with you all again,” Keithen declared, stepping between her and the three gathered near the hall’s center.
“Lord Holger ‘the hammer’ Kolson, gestr, Northman. Sir Brayden, knight of highest standing in the royal guard, stunning show at the Battle of Largs, good to see you once more.” Keithen nodded at them both.
“For those who do not know, I am Lord Keithen MacMardan the eldest son of Lady Fawnella’s late husband.
” Keithen stared intently at Callum next.
“Sir Callum MacCade. Grandest archer in all of Scotland, so I have been told. It appears to be truth after your feat at the Thistleland’s Tavern when you saved my lady.
” Keithen walked a moment. “Let me see. You were chief for a period to Clan MacCade before a legendary knighthood was bequeathed by your dear King Alexander. The very same king who also offered you the post of captain thereafter. I wish I could state this was my second time seeing you in all your gallant glory but alas ’tis not.
” What was Keithen talking about? “I saw you” – Keithen paused before both of them – “Callum MacCade, years past when you were barely a chieftain for Clan MacCade. It was a moment which would shape destinies. Yours, mine, and Lady Fawnella’s.
” Keithen darted his gaze between her and Callum.
“See, my sire sought the hand of your beloved lady at my insistence. I knew her dowry was one of the grandest. Some would say fit for a queen, ripe for the taking, which I would have pursued myself if not already wed to a Highland rock. Lady Fawnella’s fortune was perfect for all my plans and despite my sire’s ill view regarding her, I implored him to seek her hand in marriage.
Years in his foolish care, our clan had grown a shadow of its former self.
However, Lady Fawnella, your dowry would see this set to right and more for me.
” Nausea rolled over her after he locked his eyes on her.
“The very eve my sire was at your keep speaking with your sire in securing the betrothal, a most eager young chieftain appeared.” He darted his gaze toward Callum.
No. This wasn’t happening. “I was in the barn when the stable lad raced out to greet this young chieftain whose voice was wrought with fear and inquired if the Lady Fawnella had fallen ill. Only love could make one so reckless as charging boldly into an enemy’s bailey inquiring about the lord’s daughter.
The scandal of it all! I simply could not chance the betrothal which would secure my wealthy future as chief.
So, when the stable lad went to bolt for the keep through the barn, I paused him.
Paid him handsomely to declare a lie which would force that young chieftain away, thus clearing the way for my sire to marry you, my lady. ”
“Wretch!” Nella screamed, lunging at him. Sèidrich pulled her back with Callum bolting by her toward Keithen with a growl.
Crack! Keithen’s head snapped back as the enemy stumbled rearward after Callum’s bound wristed fists connected onto Keithen’s jaw. Sèidrich leapt sideways, kicking Callum’s feet out from under him from behind, crashing her knight onto the floor.
“Do not force me to summon the guards, Sir Callum!” Sèidrich threatened.
Keithen eyed Callum for a moment who lay on the granite while he rubbed his jaw.
Spitting blood onto the ground beside Callum, Keithen threatened, “You have earned only one of those, Sir Callum. The next shall cost your lady dearly, so I strongly advise against another rash choice.” Callum rose onto his feet then held.
“Good. Let us continue.” Keithen met her gaze.
“Your instinct in senses. This I held nae inkling you harbored such a majestic power.” Keithen paused, looking at Holger.
“See, my lady comes from a line of ancient kings, so they say. This offers her a keen sense in sound that is unmatched. A needle hitting a cobblestone at twenty paces she hears with ease.” Holger’s eyes tripled in size.
“Aye, ’tis true. My first suspicion was raised when I was at Lady Alaina’s keep.
After I heard the tale, you saved that weak brat of hers from drowning.
My sire, dense as he was, never paid attention.
However, the distance when I was told about the event seemed very odd to me.
I began discreetly questioning about the MacHearin clan’s origins.
I was most intrigued at discovering the trait had been known to skip generations, so I began to consider it was perhaps present in you.
Then when I heard you had bolted from our keep, I inquired toward my sire and wee brother, Sir Sean, what had occurred.
The dimwitted pair replied, ‘Nothing of consequence.’ My sire said he had been arguing with my wee brother about placing himself between your thighs given my sire’s limp cock.
It was this moment I knew you must have heard them.
” Keithen took a large step toward her. “Four. Four whole chambers down behind closed thickened oak doors you heard their conversation then bolted, did you not?”
Her gaze met the floor. “Aye.” Why did he make her ability feel dirty? She inwardly straightened her shoulders before meeting his stern gaze. “It was the final revolting thing which turned my resolve into steel to leave him.”
“When you took your leave to the abbey I feared for your dowry. I knew you and the old fool never consummated. Rumors floated toward my ears that perhaps you would seek an annulment, well within your rights. However, if this were granted, the dowry I worked so hard in securing may vanish with you.”
Her eyes widened. “You slayed your sire?”
He tilted his head back and forth. “Not precisely. I may have placed a few drops of belladonna into his wine while he broke his fast that mornin’ before his daily ride, and he, well… He fell breaking his neck.” She swallowed hard. “You, a widow, this offered you only the rights of a—”
“Third,” Sir Brayden spat angrily.
“Aye, a third of the estate’s lands and income.
A very different amount than if your full dowry had been returned to your care.
I needed your full dowry, now just as I did at the stables with your eager young chieftain.
It has been rather ironic that fateful night has surfaced to serve me again.
See, I needed someone you cared about to threaten in order to keep you well in hand, my lady, for all to come.
At first, I considered Abbess; however, when I spied the way you placed your hand in Sir Callum’s as he helped you stand directly after the fire, I knew.
I simply had to step back; the rest would blossom once more between you both from the wealth of emotions for him worn upon your features.
This” – he pointed at Callum – “this was the one who you would do anything for.”
A wave by nausea rolled over her. “How could you set us the same as chess pieces to your own whim?”
“For the greater good, my lady, so to speak.” He spun away on his heel for a moment.
What was he doing now? He turned back toward her with a gleeful smile, which caused a halting breath in her breast. “These were not the only pieces laid. The past events have led us to the present challenges.” He raised his hands…
Clap. Clap. “Well done, my lady.” His words sounded the same sentiment when they had arrived.
“From the abbey then tavern then feast then… The list is long! Each challenge laid at your feet you conquered!”
She snarled the words. “You set the abbey on fire that eve to test me?”
He lowered his hands while raising a brow.
“I had to be certain. It seemed the perfect fit given I had already ordered the burning of the other lands under the ‘guise’ of Northmen, to stir up tensions between the two kingdoms.” He spoke in a practical tone as if they were discussing which tunic he should wear.
“You were exquisite through all the tests, with one exception. You were set to be in my grasp directly at Dundee but Sèidrich declared you seemed to have taken ill by thunder sounding overhead after he heard a scream then spied Sir Callum carrying you. However, even this turned into a fresh challenge of how brisk your recovery would be.”
“Sèidrich at the wagon,” Callum said dryly.
“For certain.” Keithen nodded. “She heard his threat in ease. Sèidrich is my prize bull.” Keithen glanced at Sèidrich.
“However, even the bull was almost captured by both your keen efforts. If not for my tryst with a kitchen lass a few years past behind my wife’s back, I would never have discovered that hidden passageway beneath Lady Alaina’s keep.
It was fate all of us have been cast here together. ”
She took a deep breath. “For what purpose?”
“The crown,” Holger puffed knowingly.
Keithen raised his palm toward… “The Northman always charging directly for the greatest prize. Lord Kolson, your Viking ancestors would approve of your consideration.” Their captor’s eyes darted between her and Callum.
“There is some merit in what he stated; however, ’tis not the crown I seek for myself.
You are placing the wagon before the horse, Lord Kolson.
Nae, I am simply one who acquires. The crown shall fall to the grandest choice. ”
Callum stepped up, his brow furrowed. “You mean to place the crown unto the highest bidder?”