Knight's Legacy (19 page)

Cat was struck with the notion that they would soon have an infant in the keep. Meggie was excited that she would, in a short time, hold her babe.

Glyniss worked with her in preparing the wee clothing, using her softest threads to weave a blanket to wrap the bairn, and Meggie plied her needle to make three small tunics.

One rainy afternoon Roderic sought out Cat in a rush, his hair soaking wet from the rain. He did not heed it. “We must speak, Brianna. Father MacNair has arrived. Please have Edna bring him refreshment. He brings an important message from the Gordon Laird.”

Cat took a sharp deep breath, and her expression was one of such alarm that Roderic reached out to grasp her forearm firmly.

“Steady, lass. Don't borrow calamity until we know we must face it. Douglas, too, must hear this message, and I have sent Gavin to fetch him.”

Cat made the preparations for the food and drink, and in a matter of minutes they all had gathered to sit in the dining hall. Cat was not encouraged by the grave expression on the priest's face. He did not tarry long, but spoke to them at once.

“Greetings, young Douglas.”

“May ye have peace, Father,” Douglas said.

“Are ye a prisoner here?” Father MacNair glanced briefly at Roderic when he posed his query.

“Nay, Father. 'Tis my will that brought me here. The woman I love carries my bairn, and I will not abandon her to make a gainful marriage as my father wills.”

The priest sighed heavily and shook his head. “Ahh, what a tangle. Your father sent me here to give Sir Montwain the message that he intends to make war unless ye are returned to him. Gordon has accused Montwain and all here of taking ye prisoner. Lad, do ye ken what ye have done? Not merely to Montwain who has taken ye in, but to this child ye fornicated with?”

“I want to make it right, Father. I want to marry Meggie. My father knew of this child, but still he withheld his lawful assent, and Meggie's parents cast her out when they learned of the babe. Glyniss, our healer, brought her here, and Sir Roderic gave them sanctuary. Meggie was ill. Near starved herself, but she is under my protection now, and Sir Roderic's. He gave us leave to stay here until the child is born, for she is long in her time and could birth the babe any day.”

Father MacNair stood and slammed his fist upon the table. “The stubborn old goat! He readies his warriors as we speak, bent on bloodshed.”

“Let him come,” Gavin barked, spoiling for a fight. “He will soon see it is no army of weaklings he seeks to attack!”

“Gavin,” Roderic said. He raised his hand as if to quiet him, and turned to the priest.

“Do you have a solution, Father?”

Father MacNair did not at once answer, but paced, deep in thought for a full minute. His dark eyes pinned Douglas when he spoke. “Do ye truly care for this lass?”

“Aye, Father, and I seek her joy.”

“I want to speak to the lass myself,” he decreed.

Roderic sent for Meggie, and Glyniss came with her. Meggie appeared fearful as she sat next to Douglas, and he took her hand in comfort.

“Do ye wish to wed young Gordon here, lass?”

“Aye, Father. 'Tis my heart's joy and hope,” Meggie said.

The priest stood, in quiet contemplation of her answer. He turned to Roderic. “Mayhap I have a resolution. I could perform the marriage now, and their union would be sanctioned by the Church. If ye return to Gordon land already wed, your father would have no hope to change it. If his quest is annulment, he would have to go through me. Should he petition a Bishop through the Church, I can bring forth testimony and plead mercy through the Church hierarchy. After I have joined ye both, I will return to Gordon and speak to the mon, and make all efforts to cool his ire and stay the hands of war. Do ye both agree?” He addressed the young lovers.

“Aye, Father,” Douglas said.

“Yes!” Meggie was resolved when she spoke the one word and turned to Douglas, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.

“Edna!” Roderic called. When the old woman entered the hall, Roderic spoke to her, his voice strong. “It seems we must prepare a wedding feast.”

The next week was spent in a joyful preparation of the wedding celebration. Edna procured the things she would need to make special dishes. Cat wanted to learn how to make the berry tarts and small cakes, and she watched her prepare them.

Meggie was handy with a needle and worked at sewing a very pretty lace cutaway surcoat to go over one of her gowns.

“I think there's a bit of velvet in one of the trunks,” Cat said. “Maybe we can make you a new gown?”

“I thank ye, Lady Brianna. But, I fear there wouldnae be enough velvet in three trunks to cover me now.”

Cat smiled. “It will be over soon, Meggie, and I am quite eager to see the baby. I'm sure it will be a pretty child, for you both are fair to look upon.”

“Aye, Douglas is surely beautiful, and I hope our wee one favors him greatly.”

“Once the babe comes, we will go to work and make you a pretty new gown. Still, I could make you a garland of flowers to wear in your hair, and there is some ribbon in the trunks with the velvets.”

The two women set about the task of making a garland of flowers, lace, and ribbon. Cat thought Meggie had infinite patience with the tedious work of sewing. When she pricked her finger for the third time, Cat winced, cursing under her breath.

Meggie smiled when Cat put her tongue to the injured spot on her index finger.

“Ye try to stitch too fast, Lady Brianna. Ye mustn't try to rush through the task. Sewing is best done slowly.”

“Sewing is best done by someone who knows a needle from a thimble. Me, I was always an ‘off the rack' girl.”

Meggie frowned in confusion, and Cat waved away the comment. “No matter, you wouldn't understand.”

“Why did your mother neglect to teach you a skill that every girl child must learn?”

Meggie was so sincerely perplexed that Cat felt she should make an attempt to explain.

“My mother died when I was young. I was cared for by my father, and he cared not if I mastered these tasks.”

Meggie shook her head as if baffled. “Isnae just the weaving to be done. A lady must do a great deal of mending for those in her keep. My mother and father were so poor, I had to learn as a wee girl how to sew and cook.”

Meggie winked at Cat. “I have seen your struggles in the kitchens.”

“Aye, but Edna has done her best to help me, and I am trying very hard to learn.”

Meggie shook her head and laughed, a pretty, lyrical sound. “It matters not, lady. Ye are a fine hunter, I hear, with a bow.”

Cat was curious. “Someone has spoken of it?”

“Aye. Cameron. And Edna remarks that when ye go hunting, she is safe to plan for a pot of birds to cook, for ye are near always abundant with them when ye return. I wouldnae fret, the keep has many hands to cook.”

Cat sighed. “Aye, now if I could just master this needle as well as I have my bow.”

Meggie reached out and took her piece of cloth and began to sew where Cat had stitched. “Try working slower. Fold the thread around this way and seek to work the stroke with a slower rhythm.”

Cat did her best to follow Meggie's advice, and after a few minutes, though her stitches were not nearly as small and pretty as Meggie's, she did a fair job.

“I'm so happy for you, Meggie. I know how much you want to marry Douglas,” Cat said.

“Aye, lady, I do. For my hope of that dream had all but died when Glyniss and I came here, and I truly didnae want to live without him. Father MacNair is a kind mon of God, and I know he will do his best, but I fear Douglas and I must leave for England. His father will never accept me.”

“But, why, Meggie? Is it merely the dowry of this Jane that Douglas spoke of?”

“Nay, though that is true in part. Laird Gordon had all but counted the gold in his coffers.

“I was a poor lass, my father and mother have little, and Douglas is his father's only son. Oh, how a mon can hang many a hope on one child. ‘Twas as if Douglas had to be perfection in everything he did, right all his father's wrongs. He tried so hard to be smarter, faster, and more agile than all the lads of the clan. Douglas did his best to please him, but our Laird would never sanction the likes of me for his only son.

“I have loved him for as long as I can remember. It is not merely the beauty of his face. 'Tis what is in his heart. Douglas is very patient and kind, just as your own husband has been to this clan. Sir Roderic is an outsider, however, and had I not been so heartsick, so uncaring of what went on about me, I would have been fearful to come here. I was e'en afraid of you, lady. For your father is …” Meggie stopped speaking, afraid to go on. Cat finished the thought for her.

“A cruel monster?”

Meggie, a look of compassion in her eyes, slowly nodded.

“Be at ease, Meggie. For I heartily agree with your assessment of my father's character.”

“Glyniss, too, had doubts when we came here. Mayhap all of the clans dinnae want to believe that Sir Roderic, an Englishmon, could be kinder to these people than one to Scotland born. 'Tis true. They may fight the King's decree to send him here, but it has been a fine thing, has it not, my lady?”

“Aye, Meggie, fine indeed.”

I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

~Matthew 22:4

M
eggie's wedding day was cold and windy, though the sun shone brightly. Cat was happy that Roderic had given his soldiers his consent to take part in the festivities.

Father MacNair performed the ceremony, and the joy was evident in the young lovers, and when they kissed it brought a happy cheer from both men and women. The feast then began, and after everyone had eaten their fill, some in the clan came forth with treasured instruments for the music that was planned.

They danced, and Cat thoroughly enjoyed the celebrating. Douglas and Meggie taught them all a circle dance that was a favorite of his clan, and he led Meggie to the floor with pride in spite of the fact she was heavy with child.

The clan joined in the festivities, laughing for the first time in many a moon. The ale flowed, Cat enjoyed dancing with her husband, and Kenneth, although his method of dancing was to spin around with no aim to his movements, enjoyed himself as well. As she watched him, Cat relished his expression of pure joy.

While dancing with Roderic, she noted that Gavin had offered Glyniss his hand. They moved together with ease and grace, and the older woman's smile indicated Gavin had charmed her. An hour later, Cat, exhausted after finding a drink of water at the feast table, sought out Glyniss. Eyes sparkling, she jested with Glyniss about being with Gavin.

Glyniss scoffed in response. “Women are to that one as strong drink is to others. I am not a babe as Meggie, to be swayed by his flashing green eyes and pretty smile. He wants under my skirts, but I mean to do nothing to muddle my hope of having a home here. I've grown to like your band of misfits, lady. Here it matters not that I dinnae belong, for all Sir Roderic's followers are the same.”

“He has done a fine job of joining them. They have given him their loyalty,” Cat said.

“Aye, lady, to blend stubborn, clannish Scots for one purpose? And he be an Englishmon?” Glyniss snorted. “Fie! One day soon I look for him to take himself a hearty walk across the water of the sea!”

Cat laughed at the analogy. “Ah, Glyniss, how you delight me. I wish they all felt that way about Roderic. You would think they would all be here for the feast.”

“Ah, now, dinnae think it is only scorn for his command that has some of them staying away. They be vexed that Douglas and wee Meggie may bring them calamity. 'Tis little time they have had since Mackay, and they want no war with Gordon.”

“I hope you are right, Glyniss. He may not walk on water, but he wants the best for them all. Take care not to make such a jest again. If Father MacNair heard such talk, he would deem you blasphemous.”

“Aye, he true may admonish me, but the priest is a servant of God, just as I. And the Father of heaven's light who gave me this gift of healin' knows I mean no harm with my jests, and that I love Him with all my heart. Father MacNair is not a tyrant. Some priests rule the people with a harsh fist and would have flayed Douglas and Meggie in light of their sin, but MacNair sees himself as a servant to others. 'Tis a fine and happy day, lady.”

Roderic came to claim Cat for yet another dance, and she lost herself in the celebration of the day.

Father MacNair left for the Gordon holding and took several of Roderic's soldiers with him. Roderic spoke to Cat of his mission.

“I pray Father MacNair can indeed find a hearing ear with the Gordon Laird, for Douglas has already petitioned me for a guard to take him and Meggie to England. He seems certain the man will not listen to the Father's pleas.”

“Father MacNair has a noble goal because he wants peace. Maybe if the Laird is made to know he could lose Douglas, he will relent.”

“Aye, wife. We can but hope.”

“Roderic, did the wedding call to your mind our own wedding?”

“Aye, lass, and that you stood beside me with your sword strapped to your waist, completely terrified. You were afraid of me, yet you did not kiss me like an innocent.”

“I was innocent!” Cat was affronted. He smiled, lifting one haughty brow.

“I did not say you were not, merely that you kissed me as no virgin … would kiss.” She read the look in his eyes; it was hot, dark, and sensual.

“Are you saying I was wanton, sir?” Cat said.

“Both wanton and innocent, a captivating blend of virtues for any woman. Now I will await and hope you contemplate the term ‘obey.'” He sighed, his eyes dancing. “Mayhap, one day you will study the meaning of the command.”