Mysty McPartland (15 page)

“
Aye ‘tis well kenned, but before ye had, I did have hopes that ye would wed my own lass Devena.” McCrawley nodded.

He wanted to scoff at the very thought of such a union happening but instead, he ignored the remark. No use lying or hiding the truth, he decided. “Devena is the reason that I am here. She came uninvited in my home when I arrived with my bride. When I told her to leave she informed me she was carrying my babe but I dinnae think ‘tis true and have come to find out if it is truth or lie.” He told the old laird matter of factly.

McCrawley was not shocked over the McKay admitting that he slept with his daughter. For many years he had known of her many lovers. “’Tis sorry I am for the lass’s behavior and for making trouble with ye and ye new wife. I can honestly tell ye that me lass is nay breedin. And, Laird McKay, I will punish her severally for the trouble she has caused ye.”

“
Thank ye. Now I ken the truth I will be on my way.” He shook the older man’s hand again and mounted his horse. With a wave of farewell, he left.

Now knowi
ng for certain that Devena lied, he felt some of the tension ease out him. He could have stayed the night at laird McCrawleys, but did not want to have to face that lying, deceitful bitch. So, he and the men would once again camp out. 

****

While the Black Warlock was away, Trista the first day stayed in her room. However, when she woke the second morning, knew that she could not face another day with her own company. So, dressing in a loose gown, made her way down stairs and her face heated with embarrassment when she received the looks of sympathy from every one.

S
he forced a smile and greeted them happily, until she reached the main table. Ignoring the sympathy glances she was receiving from Payne sat down, once seated she turned to him and sighed. “For goodness sakes, will you please cease staring at me as though I am dying. It was only a small whipping that I suffered.”

Paling at her words, Payne opened and closed his mouth before he could speak. “T’was nay wee whipping ye received and well ye ken it, lass. Ye were a fool nay to tell Rieph the truth, but he was even a greater fool for doing what he did.”

Aye pride made them both act foolishly, she reached out and pattered his hand. “Maybe we were both foolish, but what was done is done. Now I just want to forget about it. So how about we go for a ride after we have eaten?”

Payne could see that she was determined to do just that and put the incident behind her, but he wondered if she really could. “Are ye sure ye will be up to it, lass?”

The concern in his eyes touched her, she smiled. “Oh yes I’ll be fine.” And she knew that she would be. Just as they were finishing their morning meal, the great doors were thrown open and half a dozen men came inside. She looked up and cried out jumping to her feet, she raced across the hall ignoring the fiery pain it caused on her back. “Oh, Steven, it is so good to see you.” She hugged the old man.

Payne quickly followed close behind her and asked one of the men to explain.

“
We found this Englishman snooping around.” The guard replied quickly.

With an un-ladylike snort, she scowled. “He was not snooping about but looking for me. Now come, Steven, sit down and tell me why you’re here and afterwards you can have something to eat and rest.” She led the faithful servant over to the chairs by the fire.

Relieved to see his mistress, Steven followed her and sat down. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the jade cross. “Miss Jaccy gave this to me and told me to take it to you. She said that you would know the meaning.”

Fingers trembling, she reached out, took the necklace and held it tightly in her hand. “Yes, she needs me and I must go to her quickly.”

Listening to the conversation Payne swiftly interrupted. “Nay, lass, ye cannae go the laird wouldnae like it. If ye explain to me what this is all about I will go for ye.”

Unsure what to do, biting her bottom lip, she mulled the problem over and wondered if she should tell him. Knowing also that he only spoke the truth and mumbled a curse in resignation. Aye the Black Warlock would indeed be very angered if he found her gone. She stared up at Payne seeing the seriousness in his eyes decided she didn’t have any other option.

She huffed out breath and stared explaining. “It’s my sister. I gave her this cross and told her if that she found herself in any trouble to give the necklace to Steven. He would bring it to me telling me that she was in need of my help.” She turned to Steven and clasped his hand. “Do you have any idea what is wrong?”

“
I think it is because of Lord Phillip. He has visited a few times since you have left.” He answered thoughtfully.

A loud gasp of alarm tore from her, and turned to Payne. “You must go at once before it’s too late. I fear that vile man is planning to marry my sister.” She stood up and pressed the cross in his hand. “Show her this and she will know that she can trust you.”

“
I’ll gather some men and leave straight away and dinnae worry, lass. I will see that ye sister is safe.” Payne assured her.

Relieved, standing on tiptoe, she kissed his cheek. “I know you will and thank you, and please take care of yourself.”

Payne, surprised at her show affection and her faith in him, gave a wide grin before he rushed off to gather some men.

****

Rieph had been away nearly a week and was glad to be back home, he was apprehensive though as to how his wife would greet him. When he entered the hall it wasn’t hard to notice that his clan still hadn’t forgiven him. His uneasiness grew. He searched the room for Trista with a panicked desperation. Not finding her there, he wondered if she might be upstairs and decided to find out.

It was senseless to put the meeting off no matter how much he was dreading facing her. Entering their chamber, he found that also empty and returning down stairs, decided to seek out his brother to find out if he knew where his wife could be. When he didn’t find Payne in the hall he spotted a maid and waved her over. “Mary, do ye ken where my wife or brother are?”

At seeing the laird beckon her, Mary rushed to his side and when he asked the whereabouts of his wife and brother, she sighed. “Aye, the mistress is in the village seeing to some of the clan and ye brother has gone to England.”

Not at all surprised to hear where his wife was and what she was doing. He was astounded though to hear his brother went to England. He turned his head and searched the room for Gabe. Spying him, he called him over. “Thank ye, Mary.”

Being dismissed, she quickly left her laird’s side.

Gabe joined Rieph and knew that his friend must have heard that Payne went to England. “I see that ye already ken.”

“
Aye I do and I cannae say I like it. Now can ye tell me why he went?” He asked his friend.

“
It seems ye wee wife had a premonition and before she left she gave her sister her cross. Told the lass to send it to her if she was in any trouble. A few days ago an Englishman came in search of ye wife with the cross. She wanted to go herself, but Payne told her that he would go instead. Within the hour, he and ten men rode for England.” As he spoke, Gabe watched his friend and laird and knew that he was worried for his brother.

“
Do ye possibly ken what the trouble is?” He asked in a troubled tone.

“
Nay I cannae say ye best ask ye wife.” Gabe finished.

“
Aye I’ll do that thank ye, friend. Now I think I’ll go and find her.” He left the hall and went in search of Trista, he did not have to go far to look for her.

S
he was walking towards him. He saw her face wreathed in a smile however, when she noticed him, the happiness died on her face. In that instant, his hopes perished and knew that there wouldn’t be any forgiveness from her. He waited beside the steps for her to reach him.

Shocked at spying her husband, Trista did not know how she was feeling. Her gaze roamed over his large frame, she could see that he looked tired and worried. She knew that he would probably be concerned about his brother. No doubt, he would most likely blame her if anything happened to Payne. She stiffened when she stood in front of him and waited for him to speak.

“
’Tis pleased I am to see ye, wife, but I can see that ye are nay overjoyed to see me.” He was disappointed when she refused to speak, he sighed heavily. “I would like ye to tell me why my brother has gone to England and what trouble ye sister is in.”

Frowning thoughtfully, she bit her bottom lip, she did not know how to answer his question about missing him. She knew though she would have to tell him about his Payne and Jaccey. “I think my sister may be being forced to marry Lord Phillip. The very man I refused to wed. And he, being in the king’s good graces somehow made the king agreeable to forcing us both into marriage.”

She winced knowing her words
wounded him and unable to bear seeing the hurt in his eyes, dropped her gaze to the ground. “When Steven arrived with the cross I knew that she needed me. I would have gone, but Payne said that you wouldn’t like it and that he would go himself.”

Her words of being forced to marry him stung, even though they were true. He was grateful to his brother for telling her that he wouldn’t have liked it if she went and volunteered to go himself. “Ye words wound me, wife. However, I’m pleased that ye dinnae go. It would be too far for ye to travel alone and much too dangerous for ye.”

Annoyed at herself for feeling remorseful about hurting him.
Damn it, she shouldn’t feel sorry for him. Especially after everything he had done to her.
Studying him from beneath her thick lashes, there was no mistaking his blue eyes were full of sorrow and regret.

When she did not say anything else, he ran a hand through his hair. “I ken I am in need of a bath, so if ye will forgive me, lass, I think I’ll go back inside.” He gave her one more miserable glance before he turned, walked up the steps and inside the hall. As he moved through the great room, he knew that his wife still had not forgiven him and with a heavy heart went up to their chamber.

Annoyed at herself for feeling the pangs of guilt over his unhappiness. He bought this situation on himself and she had nothing to feel guilty about. After all wasn’t she the one that suffered the agony and humiliation. He was foolish if he thought she would ever forgive him treating her so harshly and despicably.

             
Chapter Fourteen

Halfway down the staircase,
Rieph heard the laughter and loud voices from below. He hurried down the rest of the steps wondering what was happening. When he stepped into the hall couldn’t help but notice the room fall silent and gritted his teeth. He spied Trista seated at their table and went to join her.

T
hroughout the entire meal, his wife and his clan remained silent. Never had he ever sat through a more dismal meal than this one. The moment he finished eating, he rose to his feet and decide he would go back upstairs, knowing that his company wasn’t welcomed.

A soft sigh of relief escaped when her husband left the room, she noticed the tension leave the hall with him. It wasn’t fair, she supposed, that his clan were angry at him for lashing her, but he bought it on himself.

Miserable, he sat staring into the fire wondering how his wife would behave when she came up for bed. Just thinking about her and bed made him groan. He hoped that he would be able to control himself and not ravish her like he wanted to. However, until they found peace together, he did not think she would welcome his advances.

The door opened, he glanced up and saw her step into the bedchamber. The silence hung heavy between them. As they stared at each other from across the space that separated them, the tension lay thick and heavy in the room. “Ye need nay fear I will attack ye, lass. I ken that ye have nay forgiven me.”

With an effort, she pulled her gaze away from his and moved into the chamber. She bent down, pulled out a night gown from the trunk at the end of the bed and hurried to the bathing room.

When she closed the door, he rose and went around the bedroom blowing out the candles, all except the one by the side of the bed. Disrobing, he slipped beneath the covers and turning on his side waited for his wife to join him.

Her apprehension mounting as she changed, she wondered if his words were true and he had no plans to make love to her. She prayed he wouldn’t touch her. She did not know if she could trust anything he said any longer and that saddened her even more.

After brushing and braiding her hair, she took a deep breath and opened the door, the room was in semi-darkness with only the fire and one candle lighting the whole chamber. Drawing in a deep breath, she hurried forward.

Thankfully, he was on the far side of the bed with his back to her and she sighed in relief. Blowing out the candle, she slipped beneath the covers. She lay hugging the edge of the mattress and prayed for sleep. It did not come easy and it was late into the night when she finally fell asleep.