Claire Delacroix (46 page)

But then, Brianna knew well enough what pride the man put in keeping his pledge.

The days passed quickly at Tullymullagh, despite Luc’s impatience to be gone. Indeed, there was much to do. Brother Thomas, his priest, and the prior returned to Endlist in short order, and Luc ensured they went with an endowment
for the monk’s aid in recent matters. The prior murmured that he would ensure Father Padraig was buried quietly in unconsecrated ground. A new priest arrived, a markedly more cheerful sort than Father Padraig, and Luc was pleased that the villagers accepted him so readily.

Ruarke sank into a corner of the hall and settled to making a considerable dint in the wine stores of Tullymullagh. He played the jilted and dissatisfied suitor to the extreme, but Luc noted that Brianna had no time for the knight at all.

He rather liked that.

Rowan went on his way on the same day his jongleurs moved on, the two brothers sharing a moment before they parted again. Gavin returned to France and, no doubt, Margaux’s demands.

In truth, Luc breathed a sigh of relief when his father departed, for he could not completely shake his suspicion that Gavin knew more of Connor’s death than he told. ’Twas no doubt only the brutality of the murder that made Luc’s thoughts run in that direction, but he waved a hearty farewell to both Gavin and his troupe of mercenaries.

Brianna set to her duties as lady of the keep with diligence. Indeed, she had laid claim to many of the keys and those in the kitchens had developed a hearty respect for her inventories. The woman forgot little and Luc could see the admiration all within Tullymullagh’s environs had for Connor’s daughter.

Indeed, he felt no small measure of it himself. With each day that passed, Luc found himself seeking the lady’s company more and more, and he savored each of her victories as his own. He showed Brianna a trick with the addition of the accounts that vastly increased her speed with sums and earned him a sound kiss for his aid.

Aye, though Brianna came late to the duties of administration, she had a keen intellect and learned at fearsome speed.

Luc teased Brianna one night that she would soon have no need of him at all. When the sparkle of her laughter filled the air, Luc scooped her up and carted her to the solar, much to the amusement of all in the hall.

And then, he had made her moan with delight, taking great pleasure in proving to her one deed for which he could not be replaced.

Luc and Uther set a court for Tuesdays, the issues of short gallons and stolen pigs and missing measures of flour not unlike the disputes Luc regularly settled at Llanvelyn. Brianna sat beside Luc, at his request, for she knew better than he what the custom of Tullymullagh had been. Luc appointed Matthew Miller as reeve, for that man seemed to have the respect of many in the village and Brianna thought well of him.

Luc and Brianna took alms to the poor together twice weekly and visited the sick and weakened midweek. Luc knew that another from the keep could have accompanied his wife on these duties long considered the domain of womenfolk, but he enjoyed watching her. Indeed, ’twas a good opportunity to meet his tenants, as well.

And Luc took time to visit a certain destrier, to brush that steed’s coat until it gleamed and to ride Raphael several times a week. Aye, were it not for a threat he feared yet lingered within Tullymullagh’s walls, Luc would have been content to remain there for all time.

On First Advent, Fenella’s sire came riding out of the hills and Brianna feared the worst.

“Daughter!” he roared before he even had dismounted. “Show yourself, Fenella, and make an accounting of your deeds!”

Brianna fled the kitchens only to find Luc already striding across the bailey, his expression grim. The entire household
spilled into the bailey, their eyes wide at the spectacle. Indeed, Brianna was glad of Luc’s early arrival, for her cousin’s entry made her fear for Fenella’s hide.

But Fenella held up her chin, though her features were pale. “I am here!”

“Is it true that you have granted your maidenhead before the grace of nuptials?”

“Aye!” The maid blushed fearsomely at her own admission.

Fenella’s sire snorted. “And are you with child?” he shouted. He was a portly man, more aged than Connor had been, his hair as white as snow and his face ruddy.

Fenella tossed her hair. “Nay.”

“Praise be for small mercies.” Her father dismounted and cast aside his reins, a squire hastening to catch them. “At least there is naught for the gossips to gnaw upon.” Fenella’s face fell.

Luc stepped forward. “Are you Fenella’s sire?”

“Aye.”

“What do you intend to do?”

Fenella’s father glowered at Luc. “Who are you to question my intent? She is my daughter alone and her future is mine to assure.”

Luc folded his arms across his chest. “I am Lord of Tullymullagh, and this maid is consigned to my protection. She will not be beaten within these walls and she will not leave them before I am certain her safety is assured.”

Fenella’s father harumphed. “So, ’tis you who wed Connor’s daughter.”

“Aye,” Luc said smoothly. “I am Luc, now of Tullymullagh.”

The older man eyed the occupants of the bailey and seemed to swallow his anger.

“ ’Tis good,” Luc continued with a politeness that was
doubtless deliberate, “to make the acquaintance of my wife’s cousin.”

“Likewise, I am certain.” Fenella’s father looked sternly to his daughter. “Would that it had been under less dire circumstance. Have you a draught of ale in this place for a man who has ridden long and hard?”

“Of course. Perhaps we might discuss your daughter’s prospects in the hall?” Luc gestured to the portal and Brianna sent servants scattering to make all ready.

Fenella’s father harumphed and stomped into the hall behind Luc, a wave of chatter erupting behind them. The pair finally sat opposite each other in the hall, Fenella lingering fearfully behind her father.

Brianna hovered behind Luc, hoping he would see her fears assured. She doubted that Fenella would see her way in this and hoped heartily that all would be well resolved.

Her cousin nodded acknowledgement of her presence, then lifted his chalice. The men saluted each other’s health with formality and drank of the ale.

“Dermot came to you, then,” Luc commented.

Brianna caught her breath as the older man glared at Luc. “Aye, that he did.”

“And he told you all?”

Fenella’s father snorted. “Aye, I know his sordid history well enough.” He drummed a heavy fingertip on the board and his color deepened. “When first he rode beneath my portcullis, I must tell you that I was not inclined to welcome him. Nay, I remember well enough Ismay of Claremont’s determination to wed this man and the ploy they two used to see their will achieved, despite her guardian’s objection.”

He harumphed and took another drink of the ale. “ ’Twas no surprise when he confessed Fenella’s circumstance, though truly I thought the girl a bit more keen of wit than that.”

Fenella stiffened, but Brianna signalled her to silence. ’Twould serve naught if she angered her father now.

“I am surprised he is not with you,” Luc said.

“Ha!” Fenella’s father inhaled another measure of ale. “He had no such chance! ’Twas what took me so long,” he declared. “I thought to test the lad.”

“Test him?” Luc straightened slightly at this.

“Aye.” The older man nodded vigorously. “I told him I would grant my holding to no man who could neither manage nor defend it. I cast him to my knights.”

Fenella’s eyes went round. “Father, you did not!”

“I most certainly did. And to his credit, he not only survived but learned much.” Fenella sagged in relief, but her father shook a finger in her direction. “You may be assured that the man you sent me is not the one who awaits you.”

“But—”

“But
naught
! I will make a man of honor of him, if ’tis the last deed I do on this earth.”

“But Father, you cannot treat him so poorly! ’Tis unfair!”

The older man turned smoothly to regard his outraged daughter. “Unfair? How is it unfair that I would see you well-wed, well-matched, and with a man by your side upon whom you may depend? God willing, you will have many years without me, Fenella, and ’tis my duty to see you secure.” He scowled, taking in the entire hall with his disapproving glare. “And what have you told this new lord of me, that he assumes I shall beat you for your folly?”

Fenella flushed. “Naught, Father.”

He poked a finger through the air to his daughter. “Have I ever laid a hand upon you?”

Fenella shook her head. “Nay, Father.” She winced. “Though you oft bellow most fearsomely.”

“Ha.” Her father took another swallow of ale, his gaze
turning upon Luc once more. “And can a man be blamed for that when women addle his wits all the day long?”

Fenella took a hesitant step closer.

Luc cleared his throat, evidently noting her uncertainty and guessing the question she would ask. “What of Dermot?”

“He will make a fitting enough groom,” her father conceded gruffly.

Fenella caught her breath. “Truly?”

“Truly. The priest makes ready for the exchange of your vows and your mother—” he rolled his eyes “—nigh drives me mad with her fussing about. Dermot is not the man I might have picked, but you have chosen him and he will have to do.”

“Oh, Father!”

That man eyed his daughter when she hesitated a half dozen steps away from him. “You have grown to a woman within Tullymullagh’s walls,” he said unevenly. “And now you are to be a bride.” He opened his arms. “Come here, Fenella, and let me look upon you.”

Fenella burst into tears in her relief. She ran into her father’s embrace. He held her close and closed his eyes as he laid his cheek against hers. “Fear not, child of mine, I have no intent of dying before I deem Dermot a fitting heir to me and suitable husband for you.”

Luc cleared his throat pointedly and Fenella’s father looked to him over his daughter’s dark hair. “You have naught to fear, Luc of Tullymullagh,” he declared somberly. “You have my pledge that this woman shall not be bruised, however foolish she has been. She is my daughter and my pride, and this we shall see resolved together.”

And he offered Luc his hand.

The men shook hands solemnly, sealing an agreement between
men of honor, and the entire household sagged with relief.

Brianna bit her lip, her own tears rising that all had been resolved in the end. Dermot must truly love Fenella to have endured her father’s testing. It could only be a good prospect for their future.

Luc rose from the board, leaving the two to their reunion and came to Brianna’s side. “Tears?” He eased one away with a fingertip and smiled. “Do not tell me you wanted a different resolution than this one?”

“You!” Brianna took a deep breath and leaned against him, looking up into his eyes. “I thank you for this.”

Luc’s crooked smile warmed Brianna’s heart and she loved the weight of his arm around her waist. “I am not a man to shirk a responsibility,” he declared, then flicked a fingertip across the tip of her nose. “Nor one to miss an opportunity to make my lady smile.”

Brianna did smile, knowing ’twas her turn to ease Luc’s concerns. “There is naught keeping us from Llanvelyn now,” she reminded softly and Luc nodded.

“Shall we leave on the morrow?”

“Aye.” Brianna nodded agreement. “But there is something I must retrieve in the morn before we depart.” Luc looked puzzled, but Brianna squeezed his fingertips. “Letters from my mother, written to my father before they were wed.”

Luc smiled down at her. “And a precious legacy they must be to you. Of course, we shall not leave without them.”