Chapter 47 #3
“Aye. It stunned her enough to stop her squawking,” Meg laughed.
“But then she started bellowing that it was Lady Mary’s fault that she’d never married Duncan and how it was Lady Mary’s fault that Duncan didna kill Lady Wynda sooner.
Then, ma lady! She said what none of us can get over.
She blurted out that she’d flushed bairns from her belly with the primrose tea just as Lady Mary told her, but now she has naught to remember Duncan by. ”
“Aye, nae a bairn but bairns,” Elspeth hissed.
Cairren was already aware of what the women told her, but it stunned her to learn they knew too.
She looked in Padraig’s direction as he laughed with the loyal men who were to remain her personal guard.
“Did aught else happen?” Cairren wasn’t sure she should ask, but she couldn’t deny she was curious.
“Aye,” Meg continued the story. “Ma sister’s husband’s brother’s friend told us what he heard when he was on patrol near their border.
He likes to blather aboot with anyone who will listen.
He ran into a Ross patrol, and they told him everything.
Come to find out, ma lady, her father nearly had his own apoplexy.
Lady Myrna hid in her chamber for nigh on a sennight before she dared show her face again.
Laird Ross was still livid! He signed a betrothal contract with some lesser MacGillivray chieftain.
I dinna ken how, but he persuaded the Church to shake a leg and nae post the banns.
Laird Ross said there wasnae any point since Duncan was dead, and she wasnae a maiden. She’s already married, ma lady.”
Cairren struggled to keep up with Meg’s recitation of what happened while she and Padraig were away.
She didn’t think they’d been away long enough for so much to happen, but she realized it had been nearly a month.
She thanked the women for sharing the latest news.
What she learned tempted her to dash across the Great Hall to Padraig to crow about Myrna’s fall from grace.
But she still wasn’t wholly convinced that Padraig was over his love for Myrna.
She feared it would hurt him to learn what became of her.
Padraig watched Cairren speaking with the women who’d become his wife’s champions.
He noticed her smile grew the longer they spoke, and he wondered if they were telling her what the men had shared about Myrna.
When they began the story, he thought he would feel some tug at his heart, something like nostalgia or maybe even sympathy.
Instead, he was relieved and vindicated.
He tried not to become smug as he listened to her future, to be married to a man old enough to be her grandfather but still in need of an heir.
She would get to put her experience to use, since the man was known to be randy and demanding.
He watched Cairren wind her way through the crowd, receiving smiles and greetings.
He realized he trusted his clan enough to not fear Cairren walking alone.
He sensed Matthew, Peter, Dougal, and Henry were watching her, ready to defend her should they think someone threatened her.
He encircled her in his arms and dropped a kiss on her puckered lips.
“Did the women tell ye aboot Myrna?” Padraig watched as Cairren considered her answer.
She nodded her head but offered no comment.
“Ye dinna have to worry that I’m hurt by the outcome.
She got what she deserved. Or she will get what she deserves.
Cairren, she has nay hold over me anymore, and there isnae room in ma heart and ma mind for any woman but ye. ”
“You are sentimental,” Cairren giggled, but her brow furrowed at Padraig’s intense gaze.
“Nay. Dinna stop. I just never thought to hear ye laugh so merrily here.”
“Neither did I, mo ghaol. I suspect I haven’t won over nearly as many as would have us believe I’m welcome.
But I think between your edict and the others’ judgement, those who still disapprove of me will remain quiet.
I can live with that. I’m so happy that what began as naught but hurt and anger has grown into love and forgiveness.
I don’t imagine everything will always be cheery, but I no longer live in fear.
” Cairren stood on her toes and strained to reach Padraig’s mouth until he dipped his head.
Their kiss was just as passionate as the one they shared before the kirk on the day they wed, but it held promise and tenderness neither expected they would share.
“I’m glad we are no longer enemies, Padraig. ”
“Aye. I much prefer ye as ma equal and nae just a lover.” Padraig returned her kiss before they took their seats as the clan gathered before them.
Cairren watched as the last members of Clan Munro approached and kneeled before Padraig and her.
She never expected that she would become Lady Munro, or that the clan she believed would always shun her, even try to kill her, now jostled each other to pledge their loyalty to her.
She glanced at Padraig, who watched her as they sat in chairs side-by-side and held hands.