Blessing The Highlander (13 page)

 
           He turned her slowly around as they reached the dais and stared out over his clansmen. They were suitably impressed he decided, although there were a few who were grinning as if in a private jest. His eyes narrowed as realization hit him...no! His eyes shot to Angus!
He did nae! Oh, aye, he did! He told them about the other morn!
Angus dropped his smile and began stealing into the shadows. Garrick’s glare stopped him cold. He crooked his finger at him to approach.

 
           Shuffling his feet through the rushes he walked over sluggishly. When he stood before him Garrick leaned in close and murmured, “Ye are a dead man if I hear one snicker about it. I will nae have me bride shamed in such a fashion so ye better make amends and fix this.”

 
           Angus gave him a remorseful look. “Aye, m’laird, forgive me. I did nae think how it reflected on her. She might misunderstand.”

 
           Garrick gave him an angry terse nod, dismissing him. His men got the message as they realized why he was angry at Angus and the smirks vanished.

 
           In a louder voice, he beheld his men and announced, “I am pleased ta present ta ye me lady wife, Seonaid, daughter of Seamus MacGregor, mistress of Castle Brodie and Countess of Elgin. Ye will swear fealty ta her as ye have me. Any who elects nae ta do so will be released from their pledge ta me and sent on their way.” Normally he would not have made the demand but she was a MacGregor. It was essential in this instance to reveal any ill will toward her that the clan may have secreted in their hearts.

 
           It was soundless enough to hear a pin drop in the chamber. Some of the men regarded each other curiously. Finally, a brawny man stepped forward unsheathing his sword as he drew nearer. His grey eyes resolute in his marked face. He dropped to one knee before them, his blonde hair shielding his face as he swore, “I give ye my fealty, Lady Seonaid. My sword is your sword, to protect ye from any danger unto my death if it so be.” He took her hand in his… kissing it.  She shuddered as a cold chill of foreboding swept over her. He stood, turning to Garrick giving him a peculiar look. Then he grinned. “Jesu, Garrick, ye did nae have to insult us. Any wife ye have chosen would be acceptable to us, even a MacGregor!”

 
           “I meant nae insult, Malcolm. Twas only ta be clear in case of unseen hard feelings.” He studied his second-in-command’s countenance for any deception. A MacGregor had killed his closest comrade, David MacInnes, many years ago and were responsible for the scar on his ruddy face. Grudges died hard with highlanders. Some feuds persisted for generations. But Malcolm appeared to have laid it to rest. Satisfied with what he saw he gave a nod and they clasped forearms in friendship.

 
           All of the clansmen came forward, each in turn following Malcolm’s lead. Garrick took note of each reaction to his wife and filed away the names of the ones he would want to watch. At least in his opinion. Finally, it was done and Garrick seated her on the dais as the food was served.

 
           Seonaid ate sparingly. She was a bit nervous amongst so many large Scots that she did not know. Something was niggling her at the back of her awareness, too. As the sensation of unease crept up her spine she glanced up quickly, finding Malcolm staring at her with a fierce intensity which he instantly shielded from her sight.

 
           Did she imagine it? It was so transient that she could have misread him. She shook off the tremor and drank from her goblet. She was being irrational. Surely that man could hold no grudge against her. She did not even know him.

 
           Her husband turned to her just then offering another morsel of venison. She took the succulent meat into her mouth chewing slowly as he watched her savor the food. Her thoughts drifted back to earlier in the evening. What did he mean...Countess of Elgin? She was no countess. She raised her shapely brow at him expecting an answer but received none.

 
           “Something troubles ye, mo cridhe?”

 
           Seonaid leaned nearer to him so none would overhear and murmured, “You did nae hear my thoughts?”

 
           Garrick shook his head. “Nay, wife. That curse seems ta be leaving as your wounds heal. Tis good.”

 
           She nodded. He was right. No one should hear another’s contemplations. It would only cause distress. Then she turned her quizzical emerald eyes back to him. “Why did ye tell your clansmen that falsehood?”

 
           He was shocked! Then his ire began to rise. How dare his wife accuse him of being a liar! And he had told no lies to his men. His blue eyes darkened to nearly black as his body stiffened with anger. In a tight voice he asked, “Pray tell me, good wife, what falsehood passed by me lips so quietly that even I did nae hear it?”

 
           She could see that he was irate. She did not need thought-hearing to recognize that. Perhaps she should have put the question differently, she pondered as she timidly chewed her lip.

 
           “Forgive me, m’laird, I misspoke. What I meant to say was why did you tell them I am the Countess of Elgin? I am nae countess.”

 
           Garrick calmed. “Oh that,” he answered nonchalantly, “Ye are a countess… now. Did I overlook apprising ye that I am the Earl of Elgin?”

 
           Seonaid did not miss the guilty look that passed over his expression as he looked distractedly about the room.
He did it apurpose!
She fumed to herself.
He intentionally did nae tell me!
She ran her finger along the rim of her cup as she tried to imagine what would be expected of a countess. With each pass of her finger she grew angrier since she could not think of any of the duties that would be required of her.

 
           Garrick gave her a sheepish look out of the corner of his eye as he felt her tensing beside him.
Mayhap I should have mentioned it sooner.
He did not want to distress her since he was growing quite fond of her. Thoughts of her made his heart swell...among other parts of his body.

 
           “And exactly when were you going to inform me of these additional duties?” she muttered through gritted teeth. “When the King and his entourage camped outside our gates?”

 
           She was truly angry at him? Then a wide grin spread across his handsome face.
She said ‘our’ gates! She is accepting our marriage. That we are joined as one.
Lost in his reverie, he did not notice her mounting fury as his smile seemed to mock her predicament.

 
           Her indignation soared higher as his grin broadened. She was infuriated enough to spit nails! She rose from her chair… sputtering in her anger to the point that she could not form coherent words. The room grew silent as all eyes turned on the dais. She picked up her goblet of water, squeezing the stem with her trembling hand and with a defiant look, upended it above Garrick’s head.

 
          
Why am I wet?
He wondered as he snapped out of his reverie. He noticed that all his clansmen were staring at him expectantly. He turned to Seonaid standing next to him with an empty goblet in her shaking hand. Her eyes shone with defiance which slowly changed to fear as she realized what she had done. She knew that she should not have done such in front of his men. He had every right to beat her for it. He has to command respect from his men and especially from her.

 
           Garrick rose leisurely. As he rotated toward her she began to back away making ready for flight.

 
           In a tightly controlled voice he inquired, “Perchance wife, did your cup slip in your precarious grip causing it ta spill on me by accident?”

 
           Seonaid bit her bottom lip as she slowly shook her head. She wanted to lie. More than anything else in the world, right there and then, she wanted to lie… but she refused to be called a coward. She knew she deserved to be punished. What she had done was unforgivable but, still, she could not seem to stop the backward motion of her feet.

 
           Garrick’s eyes began to twinkle with mirth as he saw her movement. “Then perhaps me hair was ablaze and I was unaware?”

 
           Again she shook her head taking another step back.

 
           “I am at a loss, then, m’lady. Please explain ta me why I am standing here sodden in your water.” He stood waiting patiently for her to respond as he crossed his muscular arms across his damp chest.

 
           “Now?... Here?” she squeaked as she glanced across a sea of expectant faces. He gave a terse nod.

 
           “Ye had nae problem doing the deed here. So I have nae problem learning why… ‘here’.”

 
           Seonaid sucked in a deep, shaky breath as a thousand different punishments flitted through her mind. Garrick admired her courage and her fire. He had been waiting for her to become relaxed enough around him to show her true self. He was not disappointed with what he saw. This Seonaid tweaked his interest even more so.

 
           She took another wee step back as she raised her chin in self-righteousness.

 
           “You...you... made me angry,” she sputtered, “and...and then you seemed to think it humorous! I do nae like being mocked husband! I had the choice of the cup or the water landing on your head. Ye should be thankful I chose the latter,” she dared as she stiffened her spine.

 
           Garrick doubled over. His knuckles turning white as he gripped the table. His hair blocked her view of his face as she saw his body shaking. What she did not see was him biting his tongue as his body shook with laughter. After taking a moment to get control of himself, he straightened and lunged at her.

 
           She screamed, slipping from his grasp and ran to the door, only to find it blocked by Angus shaking his head at her. She could hear Garrick bellowing her name as he took long strides to ensnare her. She spun again, running behind some of his clansmen as they hooted encouragement to their laird. His pace quickened as she darted round the room to finally come face to face with her husband across a table. With one movement he cleared the table and stood before her, her wrist in his iron grip. She squeaked in fear but knew she had lost. They stood staring at each other panting from their exertions when she saw Garrick’s eyes glinting with humor.
He was enjoying this! He is nae angry at all!
She stomped her foot indignantly.

 
           “Now wife, tis time ye are reprimanded for your disrespect. I think I will beat ye...in private.” He smiled with pleasure as his cock stiffened. “Aye. Twill be me pleasure,” he leered at her as he swept her up, throwing her over his shoulder. As he reached the door she spied Angus standing to the side.

 
           “You swore fealty to me, Angus! Is this how you protect me?”

 
           Garrick’s big hand swatted her arse. “Quiet wench!” She shrieked in irritation.

 
           “Alas, m’lady, ye chose the one danger I can nae save ye from...an irate husband.” He cackled with glee as Garrick carried her off to their room.

Chapter VII

 
           They were nearly to Castle Brodie. It was a dreary gray day. Tiny droplets of moisture dripped from the trees above them as they slogged through the thick forest filled with oak and fir. The one blessing was that the sky, promising rain, had held back for their passage.

 
           Seonaid had ridden most of the way on a palfrey that Liam had thought to bring for her. He had said it was because Cadence got surly when he was over-tired. Garrick had whispered in her ear that Liam was the one who seemed to get surly if too much attention was paid to her by her husband. She giggled.

 
           Liam would really be upset, then, if he had seen the beating she had gotten from her husband last eve. She smiled to herself. She was still sore from it and was beginning to grow uncomfortable from the long ride. Seonaid sighed wistfully. Twas worth it. He had coupled with her thrice last eve! She blushed. She seemed to have a very lusty husband. And if that is his idea of a beating then she would misbehave often! Her heart warmed as she thought of him.

 
           Malcolm eyed Seonaid oddly from his position at the rear of the guard.
Does she truly not know that King Alred is her father?
He had thought that she was faking her memory loss but he had probed her mind last night and found that was not true. Her wedding The Brodie was a snag he had not counted on though. He had wanted the laird to refuse the match so the clans would clash in a blood feud.

 
           If he could get him killed in a feud over King Alred’s daughter then the Ancients would take umbrage at his death. Garrick was not aware that he was the last living Ancient in the mortal world, besides Hagar, which helped Malcolm’s cause all the more. With his death there would be war in the immortal world. This is what he anticipated. The Ancients held the Spear of Destiny that can kill an immortal or a Fae. He planned on positioning himself to get his hands on it, kill King Alred and seize the throne.