Chapter Seventeen #2
“Gwynie, I’ll either be stringing him up by his bollocks or finding a priest. Which is it to be, Haggert?”
“Logan, leave him be until ye find all the facts.” Gwyneth Ramsay sat by the hearth, sipping on a cup of broth.
Lewis spit words out so fast he couldn’t hear himself.
“Naught happened. I swear to ye it was innocent. I had to help her to bed—she was alone when I came in.” Hell, but the sweat was dripping down every part of his body even though the hall was freezing because the hearth hadn’t heated the place yet.
“She was cold out here. The fire was barely embers.”
Gavin came out of the kitchens and stopped in his tracks as soon as his gaze fell on Lewis. “Ye are coming from my daughter’s chamber?”
“Naught happened. I helped her into her bed because ye all left her out here.”
Gavin caught him by surprise, launching himself at Lewis, grabbing him by the neck, and throwing him against the wall. “I’ll kill ye for touching her.”
Logan bellowed, “Gavin, I’ll handle it. Hold him while I get the rope to tie around his bollocks. I’ll string him up in the courtyard for all to see.”
“Da! Grandda! Help me!” They all heard Ysenda’s shout and all three raced into the chamber, but Lewis was there first.
“What’s wrong?”
“Naught with ye. Da, leave Lewis alone. He helped me into my bed. ’Tis all it was. Why did ye leave me there alone?”
Logan came around the bed and put his face in front of hers. “Lass, do ye forget that I was just outside the door when he exited yer chamber? How long were the two of ye here together? ’Tis either string him up by his bollocks or find a priest.”
Ysenda picked up a pillow and swung it at her grandfather. “The hell ye will. Ye’ll no’ be forcing me to marry anyone. Who do ye think ye are?” Her voice continued to rise as she hit her grandfather, though he backed up enough to be out of range.
“What the hell did I do? Gavin, control yer daughter.” Logan Ramsay whirled around and bellowed, “Gwynie, ye need to calm this lass down.”
Gwyneth entered the chamber and said, “Gavin and Logan, get yer arses out of here now.”
Gavin looked at him and said, “I’ll kill ye later, Haggert. Ye are no’ escaping this. On yer honor, ye will marry her. Ye’ve compromised her, and I’ll not let it go.”
Gavin and Logan both left, and Lewis stared at Gwyneth Ramsay and then at Ysenda. “I’m sorry, Ysenda. I just wanted to warm ye until the fire started…”
“I know that. Grandmama, he did naught wrong. Ye all left me out there to freeze, so he brought me in here to go to sleep only we both fell asleep. He was riding all night from Inverness. Leave him be.”
Brenna came into the room, Ysenda’s mother behind her. “What is happening?” Merewen asked. “The look on Gavin’s face was not a happy one.”
Ysenda pushed herself up a wee bit. “Da and Grandda are being daft, ’tis all there is. I’m no’ marrying Lewis whether they wish it or no’.”
Logan stuck his head around the corner and explained, “I came out of the kitchens to see Haggert leaving her chamber at dawn. What would ye have me do? I know what the hell Quade would do, and ye’ll no’ change my mind, either one of ye. Her reputation’s been compromised.”
“Only if ye think it so, Logan. And only if ye tell everyone. Ye are the only ones who saw it.” Brenna fisted her hands on her hips and said, “Get out. Now.”
Merewen moved next to her daughter, away from the two arguing. She motioned for her husband to leave.
Logan took a step back, a look of shock on his face, and said, “Did ye just try to tell me what to do, Brenna Grant?”
She stepped closer to him and said, “I did. I ordered ye and Gavin to get out. Do it, or I’ll grab yer bollocks and twist them. I dare ye to test me.”
Logan didn’t move, the two elders of the Ramsay clan glaring at each other, but Gavin turned and ran out the door.
“Logan, ye get one more warning.” Brenna took another step closer to Logan, but he cursed under his breath, turned, and then left.
“We’ll discuss this in the hall.” The old warrior was still grumbling once he stepped out.
Ysenda said, “My thanks, Aunt Brenna. Nothing happened. I had another nightmare, and I woke up screaming. Lewis had just come inside. I was cold because the fire had died. He brought me in here, and it was freezing in here too. I was shivering. He just warmed me, and we both fell asleep. I swear, Mama, nothing else happened. Please dinnae embarrass me.”
Merewen patted her hand and said, “We’ll get ye over by the hearth, get some porridge in yer belly. Then we’ll get that new contraption for ye so we can get ye moving today.”
Brenna looked at Lewis and said, “Ye look a wee bit stronger than Merewen or me. Will ye please carry her out to her chair by the hearth? I’ll guide the leg.”
“Aye.” He couldn’t hide the sweat dripping down his temples or down the middle of his back. In fact, he was quite sure that his tunic was drenched with sweat by now.
And if they could see his arse, they’d see naught but sweat there too. He’d never been in such a heated position as the one that had just transpired. All he wished to do was disappear. He’d carry Ysenda out and then beg to take his leave.
In fact, when he walked out through the door, he didn’t even dare look at her because she had a death grip on his arm as if he’d drop her. He whispered, “I’ll no’ drop ye, lass.”
She didn’t let go, but then again, once he stepped into the hall, he understood why. Every one of her family had to be in the hall.
And they all stared at the two of them.
He strode by Torrian Ramsay and his wife but slowed to say, “Greetings, Chief.” Then by Marcas and again he stopped, “Morn to ye, Chief, and to yer wife.”
He’d met Torrian when they’d started patrol, so he had to show his respect. Then, of course, he said the same to his own chieftain.
Marcas and Brigid, Jennet and Ethan, Tara and Shaw, Gwyneth and Logan, Gavin and Merewen…Isla. They were all here along with various wee ones.
Torrian said, “Heather and Nellie, would ye mind taking the wee ones above stairs for a bit. Take the tray of fruit and a loaf of bread with ye.”
“Absolutely.” Heather hurried over to Ysenda’s side and kissed her cheek, then left the hall with the bairns behind her while Nellie grabbed the platter of food.
And Lewis knew there was only one thing he could do.
He set Ysenda down with Brenna’s help, strode over to Gavin, and then waited until everyone quieted.
“My lord, if ye feel that I have compromised yer daughter in any way, then I accept it and will do the honorable thing and offer for her. Ye have my word that she has no’ been compromised, that was never my intent, but I understand how the situation looks.
I am fond of Ysenda and will marry her if this is what ye wish. ”
“I appreciate that, Lewis. I think there will be a wedding soon.” Gavin crossed his arms and looked to Merewen.
Tara interrupted, “Nay, ye are no’ doing this again. Ye all just tried to make my brother marry Ceit before they were ready, and ye nearly drove them apart. Marcas, ye’ll no’ force this.
As far as Lewis was concerned, hell came over the entire group because within a few moments, everyone was yelling.
Marcas announced, “I didnae force anything.”
And the comments flew so fast, he didn’t even know who said what. His head darted from one person to another, trying to take it all in.
“’Tis Logan’s fault.”
“I’m the one who caught them. At least someone knows the truth.” Logan crossed his arms, his gaze locked on Lewis.
“Mind yer own business, old man,” Brenna declared.
“Stop trying to ruin everyone’s life,” Gwyneth shouted.
“Leave them be,” Tara said.
“I will once they are married,” Logan replied.
“Get the priest.” That was the only comment Gavin made, and Lewis had to admit he didn’t like it one bit.
“The hell ye will,” Brenna said.
“Stop ordering people around, Gavin,” Gwyneth said.
“Ye dinnae control everyone,” Shaw said.
And the arguing continued.
He glanced over at Ysenda, who looked as uncomfortable as anyone, but he could see the tears about to burst out. He nearly moved to her side, but Brenna looked straight at him and gave him a subtle shake of her head.
If he trusted anyone, then it was Brenna.
“Nay, ye willnae!” Ysenda then let out a scream that reached to the rafters, and everyone turned to face her.
“Good. Now that I have yer attention, I’ll tell ye what happened.
I fell asleep before ye all went to bed, apparently, then ye all left me here to freeze in the middle of the hall by myself.
And I had nightmares again. Those blasted nightmares that I hate.
Lewis was just returning from Inverness and was heading above stairs when he heard me screaming.
So, he woke me up, kept me from falling out of the chair because I was so frightened, and then put a log in the hearth.
Once I calmed down, he took me into my chamber.
” Then, she paused to stare at all those around her.
“Something ye all forgot to do. It was so damn cold out here that I thought I’d have frostbite.
And my chamber was even colder. So, he carried me to my bed and then put wood in the fire, but as ye know, it takes a while to heat up.
Ye do realize that I am totally helpless?
” She waited for anyone to answer, but no one said anything.
Ysenda grabbed a nearby plaid and covered herself. “I shivered so badly that he wrapped his arms around me to warm me.
“To. Warm. Me. Nothing else. And we both fell asleep. The next thing I know, my grandfather is threatening the poor man for helping me.”
Brenna asked, “What is yer nightmare, Ysenda?” She held her arms up to silence everyone else. “I’d like to hear it from her.”