Chapter Twenty-Four
Maddie does her best to help Caralyn understand her worth.
Two days later, Robbie sat at the table in the middle of the solar while Alex sat behind his desk with Maddie seated close to him. “Why did she wish to see you, Alex?”
“I don’t know, but I granted her request. Do you wish to give us a little background on your relationship with Caralyn before she joins us?”
Robbie shrugged his shoulders as he walked over to pull the fur back from the window.
“I found her after a Norseman beat her until she was unconscious. She was in bad shape and didn’t awaken until the next morning. I brought her to my camp, then went back and rescued her daughters. Tomas and I took them all to the priory near Glasgow right before the Battle of Largs.”
“And that’s all?” Alex’s eyebrows lifted as he watched his brother.
“That’s what is most important.” He turned back around from the window to face Alex and Maddie.
“Then how did you end up bringing her to our clan?”
“Och, ‘tis a long story.”
“We have the time.” Alex glanced at his wee wife, methodically rubbing her rotund belly. “Is aught wrong, sweeting?”
Maddie smiled. “Nay, I am fine. Just a wee bit tired.”
Alex leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Would you two like me to leave?” Robbie asked.
“Nay! You will stay until you answer my questions.” Alex glared at him.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” Alex said.
Caralyn stepped in hesitantly before closing the door, pausing for a moment when she saw Robbie standing by the window. “Should I come back?”
“Nay.” Alex stood and ushered her over to a chair. “I have asked my brother to attend. Is this agreeable to you, Caralyn?”
She nodded and smoothed her skirts as she waited for a prompt to begin.
Alex settled back into the chair behind his desk and nodded for her to begin.
“My laird, I have come to explain a bit about myself and to ask a favor.”
Robbie couldn’t guess what she was about. Nervous, he started pacing in front of the hearth.
“I have two things I wish to discuss with you, if I may.”
“Go ahead, lass.”
“My mother always taught me to be honest, so I feel the need to give you an explanation of my background. I don’t know what Robbie has told you about me.” She glanced from Robbie to Alex Grant.
“Verra little. You tell us whatever you need to tell us,” Alex said.
Caralyn’s hands gripped her skirts before she started. Robbie wanted nothing more than to walk over and hold her in his arms before she started, but he could tell how much it had cost her to come here to speak with Alex, and he needed to let her stand on her own.
“I have a verra different background. While I was married for a time, for the last five years I have been a mistress to a man who sometimes gave me to his friends.”
Robbie barked. “What are you doing? They don’t need to know this.”
Alex held his hand up to his brother before taking his wife’s hand. “Maddie, would you like to leave?”
“Nay, Alex, I am fine.”
“Continue.” Alex nodded to Caralyn.
Caralyn glanced up at Robbie before she spoke.
“I realize it may not be best for me to be around all your weans due to my background, so I wanted to be completely honest with you. I would like to stay at your keep, if possible, but I realize I’m an imposition. Still,
I wondered if you might have a cottage near the loch where I could stay with my daughters.”
Robbie stopped pacing and crossed his arms.
“I apologize if this upsets you, but I can’t change who I am.” Caralyn kept her eyes fixed on Alex Grant as she spoke.
After taking a moment to reflect on her words, Alex cleared his throat. “Is this what you wish to do? Do you wish to continue to be a mistress to someone while you are at the Grant keep?”
“Nay!” Caralyn bolted out of her seat, but then sat down again. “Your pardon,” she whispered.
“Was it your choice to be this man’s mistress?” Alex asked.
“Nay.” Caralyn shook her head adamantly, then bowed her head. “I was forced. We were desperate for food, and the man made his price clear. Then he held my daughters and threatened to hurt them if I didn’t comply with his instructions.”
“Then I don’t see its relevance to this discussion.”
Caralyn’s head jerked back up, and she glanced from Alex to Maddie.
Maddie stood and walked around the desk to her, grasping her hands in hers. “It does not matter to us what you have done in the past. I disagree with you. You can change who you are. What would you like to do to contribute to the clan?”
“Well, ‘tis part of my problem. The only thing my husband taught me before he passed was how to fish. I thought if we lived near the loch, I could catch and clean fish for you. Ashlyn loves to fish, as well.”
Alex nodded his head. “I see. And the second thing you wished to discuss with us?”
“The person who forced me has been searching for me. He followed us out of Glasgow, but Robbie and his men fought off his men. He was able to escape back to Glasgow. I fear he may come for me and I don’t wish to risk any of your clan being hurt by him.”
Alex turned toward his brother. “Robbie, the man got away?”
“Aye, he threw Caralyn on his horse while we fought off his guards. By the time I followed, he was far enough ahead to force me to use my arrow. I struck him in the shoulder and he pushed Caralyn off his horse down an incline. I had to make a choice,
and it was more important to me to make sure she wasn’t in danger.”
Alex quirked an eyebrow, then returned his attention to Caralyn. “If he comes for you, you are safer here inside the keep than in a cottage.”
“But I don’t wish to endanger anyone here.” Her voice was firm.
Maddie returned to her chair in time to hear Alex whisper to her out the corner of his mouth. “Hmmm, where have I heard that before, wife?”
Alex stood. “Thank you, Caralyn. I will give some thought to your request. Until I make my decision, I expect you to stay in the keep.”