Chapter 12 #2
Elizabet. Poor girl. Though he hadn’t asked to be her guardian, Piers would feel responsible if she came to harm. As it was, he felt no small amount of guilt over John’s death. He could have at least met them at the border and given them safe passage—if only he had known they were on their way.
God’s teeth, hadn’t his cousin realized these lands were full of strife still?
These were perilous times even for native clans but particularly so for an outlander.
Hadn’t Geoffrey realized that was why Piers had been sent here in the first place?
It had been his objective to penetrate these people, to befriend them if possible, and to unite them with England by force if need be—a duty to which he no longer felt entirely committed.
These Highlanders had earned his highest respect.
They were a fiercely loyal people, who protected their clansmen without reservation.
That he’d accomplished some manner of peace between them was less a tribute to his fighting skills, for which he’d been chosen initially, and more a matter of God’s intervention.
He’d fallen in love with the most beautiful woman in all of Scotia.
She just happened to have a very influential family.
“If Elizabet is not found, Geoffrey will not rest until her death is avenged!” Tomas declared pompously.
They entered the hall, and Meghan ran toward them, her expression full of concern. When she reached Piers, he embraced her and bent to kiss her upon the cheek. “We found nothing at all,” he told her, ignoring Tomas’s bluster.
With his arm about Meghan’s shoulder, he turned to address Tomas. “What makes you think Elizabet is dead?”
He seemed startled by the question, nonplussed. “John is dead,” he replied, as though that were portent.
Piers nodded soberly. John was, indeed, dead—poor little fellow. The slit in his throat was wider than the English Channel. Whoever had sliced it hadn’t intended him to survive.
Meghan’s voice was fretful. “I cannot fathom anyone in these parts would murder a helpless woman!”
It seemed to Piers that Tomas sneered in response. “You are such an innocent, demoiselle! There are men out here who would slice Elizabet’s throat just as readily as they would any man’s.”
Meghan cast Piers a considering glance.
“As a matter of fact,” Tomas persisted, “just before I left England, a young girl was discovered in the forest near Geoffrey’s keep, her body broken and desecrated, discarded after being ruthlessly used.”
“How dreadful!” Meghan exclaimed.
“Her tongue had been snipped out so that she could not call out for help.”
Meghan gasped.
“Aye, ‘tis true!” Tomas declared, watching her far too keenly.
He was distressing her, and Piers thought he might be enjoying it.
“That’s quite enough,” Piers said, hugging his wife. He smiled tolerantly at the man. If not for Geoffrey’s sake, he might have made him sleep in the barn. He was growing to like him less with every passing instant.
Despite that he knew these parts not at all, Tomas had dominated the search efforts. Piers had humored him, but the day had taken its toll, and he was ready for a tankard of ale and his lovely wife’s attentions.
“If you will excuse us.” Piers said.
“Of course,” Tomas yielded, and without another word Piers ushered his wife away from their unwanted visitor.
“You are squeezing my arm!” Meghan complained beneath her breath.
Piers released her, unaware that he was hurting her. “I’m sorry, my darling.”
“What is wrong?”
Piers twined his hand into her hair as they walked, loving the silky feel of it. “Naught, my love. It’s just been a harrowing day.”
She nodded, understanding, and reached out to hold his hand, casting a glance back as she did so. “I dinna think I like that man verra much,” she confessed in a whisper when they were far enough away.
He pulled her toward the stairs that led to their chamber, wanting a little privacy before the evening meal.
“Och, you look weary,” she said, turning to embrace him at the foot of the stairs.
Piers held her. “I am,” he admitted. “Weary and confused.” She squeezed him, comforting him. “Did Geoffrey truly think I would deny him? Did he think I would turn away his children? I don’t understand why he did not send word so that I could give them safe passage.”
She laid her head upon his chest, hugging him. “I dinna know, my darling.”
Their deaths would weigh heavily upon his shoulders. He had to find Elizabet, no matter if he had to search for her clear to Edinburgh and beyond. How could he tell Geoffrey that both his youngest children had perished even before they had reached safe harbor?
Piers recalled the boy John from his youth.
That face hadn’t changed very much, and to see it in death had wrenched at his heart.
The little boy John had been had followed Piers about, admiration writ upon his face, awe in his voice, and desire to earn his father’s approval so strong that it was plain even to Piers, who visited scarce at all.
He sighed heavily. “Did you arrange the funeral for tonight?”
Meghan looked up at him, her eyes full of compassion. “Tomorrow. My brother Gavin will come to give a short sermon.”
Piers nodded. He didn’t really care personally whether the grave was blessed or not, but Geoffrey would.
He reached down to touch his wife’s cheek and couldn’t help himself. He took her face into his hands and then bent to kiss her. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“What for?”
He smiled softly at her, wanting her to realize how grateful he was for her love. “For coming into my life.”
She returned the smile and reached up to touch his lips. “Och, husband, tonight you will be cursing me for the same when you see what I have done with the chapel.”
Piers slanted her a look. “What chapel?”
She grinned up at him and then turned to climb the stairs. “The one we have been building for Gavin,” she disclosed, but didn’t turn. She hurried up before him.
Piers stared after her. “What do you mean? What chapel have we been building for Gavin?”
She wouldn’t turn around, continuing up the stairs.
“Meghan!” he thundered, and started up after her. “We haven’t been building any chapel for Gavin!”
She tossed her hair from her face as she reached the top of the stairs and looked down at him, smiling. “Oh, but we have! It was going to be a surprise!”
God’s teeth, he really didn’t want to have to listen to her brother’s sermons every time he turned around!
“Just think how much joy it will give him,” she entreated. “He has nobody, Piers. He must be so lonely now that Colin and Leith are both wed!”
Piers rolled his eyes.
“Are you angry, my love? I have been waiting to tell you, but what better time. Now it will be perfect for John’s service, don’t you think so?”
He stood there, shaking his head, thinking of all the lies he would have to tell in order to miss her brother’s sermons. If his past deeds hadn’t earned him a cozy place in hell, his future ones surely would!
She was looking at him so dejectedly.
How could he possibly be angry with her?
“Damn, woman!” he exclaimed and started up the stairs after her. “I’m going to paddle that delightful arse of yours!”
She shrieked in alarm and ran in the direction of their room, and Piers smiled to himself as he heard her giggle and slam the door behind her.
He would never touch her in anger, she knew, and the door would never be locked against him. No man worthy of the name would ever harm a woman. But truth to tell, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on his wife’s lovely arse.
It would be the one bright spot of this dark day.
Damn Tomas and Geoffrey, both.