Chapter 3 #2
She ducked her head again, speaking to him while looking at the blanket.
The words rushed out of her like water spilling from a broken cup.
Once they started, she couldn’t stop them.
“My maither died when ah was young, two years after my faither passed. She was everything , and her loss devastated. Ah was only ten years old, but ah knew that ah could manage on my own. Nobody cared what happened. Ah didn’t have kin to watch over me.
Ah probably would have died that first winter had it not been for the kindness of an old woman that others didn’t pay attention to.
She was kind to me, made me feel like ah had a home, again. ”
She took a steadying breath and braved a glance at Baile. He looked entranced with her story and it gave her courage. “She took me in and taught me how to do laundry. Ah helped her for a long time before she too passed on and ah was again left without a home.”
She would have continued her story, but the physician, Cohlm, walked in after a swift knock on the door.
“Cohlm, ah’m glad to see ye. Hope life is treating ye well.” Baile stood and clasped Cohlm’s forearm.
The tall physician beamed. “Aye, life is well. Haven’t seen ye for a while now. How’s the wee’un?”
Baile’s countenance glowed as it always did when she spoke of Siusan. “She’s getting big already. Can’t believe how fast time goes by.”
“That it does, that it does.” Cohlm set his bag on the ground and looked to Mazey and then back at Baile.
“This is Mazey. She cares for Siusan now and the lass is smitten with her. Ah only asked ye to come because she fainted this morning over breakfast. Ah want to make sure she is well enough to watch my girl.” Stepping aside, Baile motioned for Cohlm to check on Mazey.
“Mazey, nice to meet ye. Ah’m Cohlm, the healer.”
Mazey nodded in acknowledgement. “Ah told him ah’m fine. Just probably stood up too fast.”
“May I?” His hands hovered over her neck. She nodded, and he examined her. When he moved the covers back, her slightly rounded belly protruded from the bed. “So ye’re with child ah see?”
Mazey nodded, ashamed the father wasn’t present..
Baile cleared his throat. “She’s here with my permission and under my protection.”
Cohlm looked serious and nodded his understanding.
“Ye know discretion and my patient’s privacy is of the utmost importance.
Ah’ll not be speaking further of this once ah leave here.
Many Maithers with child faint when they stand up too fast. Ah’m sure she is just fine, but ah would like her to rest for a day or two in bed. ”
Mazey objected, but Baile put his hand up for silence and she complied. “Ah’ll make sure she does.”
Cohlm packed up his things before exiting. He nodded to Baile on his way out the door and patted him on the back. “She’ll be fine. Not to worry.” His reassurance to Baile seemed out of place. Why would Baile worry much about a pregnant lass he barely knew?
After he left, Baile strode to the side of the bed and looked down at Mazey. “Ah’ll need ye to rest tomorrow, so ah’ll care for Siusan. Ah don’t want ye hurting yerself or that bairn.”
“Ah’m fine, really. Ah would be sad not to see Siusan all day. Ah’m sure ah can watch her and still rest.” The truth was she needed to feel useful, but she was sure Baile wouldn’t take that excuse well.
Baile sat down again, next to her. “Now why don’t ye tell me more about yer story, lass.”
She hoped he forgot, but obviously, she wouldn’t get off that easy.
“There’s not much else to tell. Ah met Hume just after.
Ah was young and fell head over heels for him.
He was nice to look at and pretended to be kind.
It wasn’t till he took me back here to the Buchanon clan ah saw his true colors.
The first time he hit me ah was in shock.
Didn’t even know what to do. After a while, ah just thought it was normal. Figured every man hit his wife.”
“Ah’d never hit my wife. Many men in the clan will beat them if they disobey, but ah’ve never seen them beat their wives to bruising or losing a bairn. Ah don’t think it’s good. Never have. Ye’ll not be hit again, lass.” He said it so confidently, for a moment, Mazey could picture a peaceful life.
“He did other things to. Ah’m still not sure if they are normal, but with how he made me feel ah’m sure it wasn’t right.” She blushed as she remembered the other women. “There was something else.” She stumbled on her words, unsure how to continue.
“If ye’re not comfortable ye can keep it to yerself.”
That gave her courage. He wasn’t forcing her to tell him.
He just wanted to help. “He bedded other women. At least three ah know of. Ah know it happens quite a lot, but he told me about it. Told me ah wasn’t good enough for him.
” A sob caught in her throat and she clapped her hand over her mouth in embarrasment.
Baile took her hand and gently pried it away from her mouth. “Don’t be ashamed, lass. Ye did nothing wrong.”
She gulped down the shame and looked at him. “Ah dunno if ah’ll ever be able to feel safe. Ah’m afraid he won’t stop until ah’m with him again.”
Baile took her hand in his. “Ah’ll not let him take ye back.
As of the moment ye stepped into this keep and asked to be free of him, ye’re safe.
He’ll not have claim over ye again. And ah’ll not let him hurt ye.
As Laird of this clan, ah can declare ye divorced and it will be so.
Maizy Buchanon ah declare, as Laird of the Buchanon clan, ye’re divorced from Hume Buchanon. He’ll not have claim to ye anymore.”
Mazey’s head spun. “But why do ye care what happens to me? Ah’m just a cowardly woman from the clan and not worth my keep. Ah have nothing to offer ye.”
“Ye’re worth isn’t in what ye offer, it’s in yer heart. Ye’ll do good with Siusan. She loves ye and ah need ye here, Mazey. Ah can’t do what ah’m supposed to do and tend to my daughter.”
It felt good to hear him say that. “Aye,” she whispered.
He smiled at her and kissed her hand in gratitude before departing. She rubbed the spot his lips touched with her finger. She was needed, but more than that—she was wanted.
The next morning passed with the swiftness of a turtle moving about in the winter.
She tried to pass the time with needlepoint, but it was difficult to do while in bed.
She tried to sneak into the dining hall, but Baile scolded her and sent her back to bed.
A servant brought the food to break her fast. She stared out the small window in her room, observing the clouds and the sun shining straight through them.
Her mind wandered back to a time with her husband.
Hume straightened the bow in her hair, his hand gently caressing the skin on her jaw.
Her cheeks warmed from the touch and a pleasurable sensation passed through her stomach.
“Ye’re the prettiest lass ah’ve ever seen,” he said, in a deep voice.
His brown eyes sparkled with mischief sought by young men whenever they were around the prettiest girls.
Mazey laughed in response. “Ah know ye say that to all the girls, Hume. Ye’ve made quite a reputation for yerself around here. Ah’ll not be falling for yer smooth words.” She dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
“Ah’m not trying to trick ye, ye’re prettier than all the other girls around here. Ye’re not a girl, ye’re a woman. And ah wouldn’t presume to trick ye, cause ye won’t fall for it anyhow.”
She rolled her eyes heavenward, well aware of the desires of every lad she ever met.
“Just know ah’ll not be giving away my maidenhood to anyone ah’m not married to.
Ah can’t risk my reputation. Ah work in the keep ye know and ah’m a lady.
Ah’ll not lose my job as the lady maid to the chief’s daughter, and ye’ll do well to remember it. ”
The handsome man stared at her with a soul searching gaze. “Well, ah may just have to marry ye then and take ye back to Clan Buchanon with me.”
Mazey’s stomach did a flip, and she felt a little woozy.
What was he thinking? They hadn’t known each other for more than a few weeks.
He needed to head back to Clan Buchanon in another few days.
He was fooling her. “Ye’re loony if ye think ah’ll sleep with ye just cause ye promise marriage. Ah know all the tricks.”
He grabbed her chin, thrusting it up until her eyes met his. A small thrill ran through her at the dominance. “No tricks. Ah’ll marry ye and take care of ye, Mazey. Ah need a woman in my life and no doubt ye’ll be as good as any.”
She felt his warm breath against her lips as he moved in for a kiss.
He pressed his lips against hers in a hungry rough fashion.
Before pulling away, he grabbed her hips and pulled her against him.
She never kissed like that before, nor had she ever felt so desired.
Many men in the keep stared, but as an orphan raising herself, she had little to offer in the way of dowry.
A knock at the door pulled her out of the memory. A kind of wistful pain lingered.
“Enter,” she called out. Her voice cracked, reminding her she hadn’t spoken for many hours.
Through a small crack in the door, Siusan sprinted across the room and jumped onto the bed, smothering Mazey in hugs and kisses.
“Maze!” she called out.
Mazey giggled and hugged the girl, filled with happiness.
“Ye wanna feel the bairn wiggle again? She’s kicking something fierce right now.”
Siusan nodded eagerly, putting her tiny hand against Mazey’s swollen belly.
When the bairn kicked her hand, she pulled it back swiftly. Her jaw dropped. “Faither! Ah felt the bairn kick me again.”
Baile must have just come from outside. He wore only his kilt; he hung his shirt in his belt round his waist. A thin film of sweat covered him, that emphasized his broad shoulders and chiseled arms. She tore her eyes away hastily, hoping he hadn’t noticed her gawking.