Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes (28 page)

Bram had been thoroughly raked over the coals by the rather perceptive abbot. He found himself telling Brother Christy the whole sordid tale. When they were finished, Brother Christy once again became the genial friar he had appeared to be at first.

“Brother, do ye do that to everyone?”

“Nay, lad, not everyone. Just everyone who arrives at my gate telling me it’s
imperative
that they be married immediately. I take a little more care with it when the one ringing the bell is traveling with seven warriors and the lass in question looks like she has just returned from a stroll through hell.”

“Ah…well, I guess I understand that.”

As long as it had taken Bram to gain the abbot’s approval, he feared Grace would be waiting in the courtyard, pale and worried. On the contrary, somewhat to the delight of his brother, Bram had been the one who paced nervously until the priest appeared with her at the door of the chapel.

So, after weeks of longing and several days of utter despair, Bram was finally able to make Grace his wife. As they exchanged their vows, he sensed a calm in her that had been missing. She spoke her vows in a strong, clear voice that suggested she had exorcised any doubt that remained about the wisdom of marrying him.

When Father Colm said,
I now pronounce ye husband and wife—ye may kiss yer bride
, Bram felt elation like no other. He lifted Grace off her feet, kissing her soundly. She threw her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. Bram finally released her when Father Colm cleared his throat.

The abbot, who stood to one side, said, “Friends, the hour grows late and the time for compline approaches. Sir Bram, ye may stable yer horses in our stable. The infirmary is empty at the moment so yer men are welcome to sleep there if they wish. We also have a small cottage on the grounds for guests. Ye and yer wife are welcome to pass the night there. Will I show ye to it now?”

“Go on,” said Ian. “I will tend Goliath.”

“Thank ye, Ian. Aye, Brother,
my wife
and I would very much appreciated yer guest accommodations. Thank ye.”

In a matter of minutes, they were alone in front of the tiny cottage. Bram scooped her in his arms.

“I can walk, Bram.”

“It’s tradition, Grace.”

She rolled her eyes but chuckled. It had been too long since he had heard that. He stepped into the little cottage and kicked the door closed behind him. Several candles were lit. A small bed stood in one corner of the room, which looked as if it had just been freshly made. A small vase of fresh lavender stood on the little table in the middle of the room, along with a cloth covered platter, two goblets, and a corked jug.

“I think Brother Christy has a bit of a romantic streak. If I’m not much mistaken, he’s arranged for us to have a jug of mead.”

“That was thoughtful…Bram, ye can put me down now.”

“Can I?”

She grinned. “Aye.”

“Anywhere?” he asked.

She laughed again. “Aye, anywhere.”

“Ah, well then, if I get to choose…” He lowered her to the bed and captured her mouth in a kiss. She kissed him back, running her hands over his chest. Her fingers found the brooch holding on his plaid and worked blindly to undo it. When she had accomplished the task, he broke the kiss and tossed the garment to one side.

She smiled up at him from the bed.

“Allow me to return the favor, my lady.” He removed the pin holding her plaid then he tugged on the back of her kertch, drawing it from her head and freeing her auburn curls. He ran his fingers through the silk. “Ye have beautiful hair, Grace. I’ve longed to see it free.”

“I think we have several things we need to set free.” She smiled coyly and reached for his belt. “Ye won’t be needing this, will ye?” she asked even as she undid the buckle and tossed it to one side.

“Oh, nay, lass, nay I won’t. No more than ye will be needing this.” He unbuckled her belt and threw it over his shoulder.

She smiled broadly and untied the ribbons of her
léine.
Rising onto her knees she pulled the garment seductively over her head, letting it drop to the floor beside the bed. She was left wearing nothing but her linen shift.

Bram leaned forward, planting kisses over her face and down her neck as he pulled at her shift, tugging it up, over her hips. He stopped kissing her for a moment. “Raise yer arms for me, lass.” She did and he pulled the shift up and off. The sight of her kneeling on the bed, naked but for the glorious hair spilling around her shoulders, took his breath away. “I have never seen anything more beautiful than ye are at this moment, Grace.”

She blushed under his perusal, and as if a wave of shyness passed through her, her hands fluttered up, covering her breasts. “Nay, my bonny lass, hands away.” Ye are mine now. Let me savor yer beauty for a moment.” She dropped her hands to her thighs and looked into his eyes. The longing he saw there nearly undid him.

Bram stripped off his remaining clothes and climbed on the bed beside her. Capturing her lips again, he kissed her passionately. When he released her lips, she panted, breathless. He kissed her neck, then nuzzled behind her ear, causing her to giggle. He gave a low, throaty chuckle and sliding her hair out of the way, planted kisses around to the back of her neck and then down her back. She shivered and gave a throaty moan. When he reached the base of her spine, he planted kisses around and over the curve of her hip. “Lay back, sweetling.”

Grace shifted off of her knees and rested back onto the bed. He kissed his way across her slightly rounded belly and up to her breasts.

Again her hands came up to cover them nervously. “They aren’t…they aren’t…”

He took her hands in his and gently pulled them away. “They aren’t what, Grace? To me they are perfect. They tell me ye are a mother, and there is nothing more beautiful. Don’t hide them from me.”

His hands roamed freely over her body before cupping her breasts and brushing his thumbs gently over the peaks. She too explored his body with her hands, her feather light touch inflaming him. When she trailed her hands down to his hips and over his buttocks, he groaned.

“Ah, lass, I can’t bear it.”

He touched her between her legs, stroking her sensitive nub, eliciting a moan.

She raised her hips toward him. “I can bear it no better than ye can.”

“Nay, Grace, not yet.” He continued to stroke her as she writhed under him. He teased and stroked, bringing her ever higher.

“Bram, please, I need—I need—oh, Bram…I need ye.”

“My beautiful lass, I need ye more.” He knelt between her legs and moved his hands under her, lifting her and joining with her in one firm stroke. She rose to meet him, seemingly lost in the primal act, which irrevocably connected their souls. Soon she was overcome with the shuddering waves of her climax. The muscles at her core contracted repeatedly around him and he too found his release, filling her with his seed. She was his forever.

He held his weight off her as he caught his breath. Then he gently withdrew from her and lay beside her on the bed, still panting. “Ye delight me, Grace.”

“I’d say ye have the same effect on me.” She snuggled against him, resting her head on his chest.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, stroking her head. “We’ll make it a point to delight each other regularly.”

She yawned. “I’ll hold ye to that.”

*

Grace had been tense and tired for so long she could barely remember feeling anything else. But somehow, telling Father Colm the whole story had been cathartic and had left her feeling at peace. Then the act of making love with her husband, of coming apart in his arms, left her feeling more relaxed and complete than she had thought possible. She was vaguely aware of him stroking her head as she fell asleep on his chest.

Sometime, just before daylight, she woke. She had been sleeping so soundly it took her a moment to remember where she was. The hard body under hers was a quick reminder. She smiled and kissed his chest. She was truly married to this man. Come what may, he was hers forever. She began sprinkling kisses across his chest, reminded of the way he had trailed kisses down her back. She shivered again just thinking about the incredible sensation.

As she kissed and stroked his chiseled muscles, he woke, emitting a low rumbling growl. “What wicked creature wakes me with such enticement?”

“’Tis just yer wife, but ye needn’t wake if ye don’t wish to.” Even as she said it, she knelt up, putting her knees on either side of his hips. “Still, ye might regret sleeping through this,” she said with a cheeky grin.

He chuckled richly. “Ah, well, then lass, do yer worst.”

She joined with him again. The pace this time was slower and more sensual, but the results were every bit as shattering. As she reached her climax, the world shimmered around her, and she was lost in pure sensation. She was barely aware of Bram’s primal groan and the heat that filled her as she floated back to consciousness. Spent, she collapsed on his chest, barely able to breathe.

Once again, she snuggled against him and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Bram woke with Grace draped across him and sleeping soundly. Although he would have liked to stay sequestered with her longer, he knew as attractive as it would be to delay seeing his father, Grace was anxious to be reunited with Innes and Kristen. He rubbed her back until she too stirred.

“Good morning, husband,” she murmured.

That greeting filled him with joy. He was indeed her husband. “Good morning, wife. Ye are looking well.”

“Ye’re as big a liar as yer brother.”

“Nay, precious. Naked, looking drowsy and replete in my arms, ye couldn’t be more beautiful.”

“Well look quickly then, because I’m hungry.”

He laughed. “So am I. Shall we see what Brother Christy left for us?”

“Mmmm. But stay where ye are.”

She pushed herself off of him, climbed out of the bed, and brought the platter to him in bed. Together they ate their way through the bread, cheese, and fruit the old friar had prepared for them.

Bram once again contemplated luring her back to bed and staying a bit longer but she slid out of the bed and began gathering their clothes. “Will we be going soon? While I dread facing yer father, I have been away from Kristen far too long.”

“Aye, my love, we’ll go as soon as ye’re ready.”

Clearly anxious to leave, she was washed and dressed in no time. Aye, he needed to get her home. They bid farewell to Brother Christy and Father Colm and were well on their way before terce.

Sutherland Castle was only a few hours away. As they drew near, he felt her tension build. He too felt a rising trepidation and he suspected most of the men did as well.

Finally, Ian asked the question that Bram suspected everyone had been contemplating. “Bram, how are ye going to do this?”

“I would like to simply enter the hall with Grace, announce that we are married, and face the consequences.”

Ian shook his head. “Ye will be putting him on the spot if ye do that. He may say or do things publically that he can never relent on. We can leave Grace at Innes’ cottage.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” said Bram. He wasn’t completely comfortable being separated from her until things were settled.

“I want to see Kristen and Grandmother first anyway,” said Grace.

Ian nodded. “And it will give us a chance to find Da and tell him privately.”

Bram scowled. “I fear it is as if I am hiding her if I do that.”

“Ye’re not hiding her,” said Ian. “Ye are protecting her feelings and preventing Da from doing something that he may regret forever.”

In the end, Bram decided that Ian’s plan was best. It was well before midday when they approached the village. “There she is,” said Grace, pointing to where Kristen played under Innes’ watchful eye outside the little cottage. Bram helped her off the horse and she ran to Kristen, sweeping the little girl into her arms.

Innes, tears streaming down her cheeks, followed Kristen, embracing them both.

“Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama,” Kristen said over and over, holding onto Grace with all the strength a three year old lass could muster.

“Oh my precious lass, I missed ye so.”

“Don’t weave me again,” said Kristen.

“Sweetling, I didn’t want to leave ye this time.”

Innes stepped back. “Grace, I’m so sorry.”

“Grandmother, it wasn’t yer fault.”

“But I doubted ye. I should never have done that. I saw the hurt in yer eyes.”

Grace touched her grandmother’s cheek. “Ye have lived here yer whole life. Ye’ve known and trusted the laird for his whole life. Ye’ve only known me for a few weeks. I understand that.”

Innes seemed to have just noticed Bram and the other men who waited nearby. She wiped the tears from her face with her apron. “Sir Bram, Sir Ian, thank ye for bringing Grace home to me.”

“I promised I would.” Bram walked up beside Grace, putting one arm around her back and resting the other on Kristen’s shoulder.

“Don’t ye weave eiver, Sir Bwam.

“I won’t, my sweet wee lassie.”

Grace said, “Bram and I were married yesterday.”

Innes looked shocked. “But…oh my…” Innes covered her mouth with one hand.

“What’s mawwied?”

“It’s what a man and a woman do when they want to live together and have a family. Yer da and I were married.”

“Wiww he wiv wif us?”

“Aye, he will live with us, but maybe not here.”

Bram said, “Kristen, I am going to go talk to the laird and then we’ll know where we will live.”

Kristen nodded, but Innes still looked very distressed. “Grandmother, what is it?”

“Sir Bram, the Sinclairs arrived yesterday.”

Ian swore, “Mother of God, could this timing be worse?”

Bram shook his head. “I completely forgot. We will have to figure out a way to talk with Da alone immediately. Grace, we need to leave ye here until we sort this out. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Be prepared to leave if necessary.”

She nodded.

He kissed her before remounting Goliath and riding with his men to the castle. Bram and Ian handed their horses over to a stable hands and headed for the hall. Bram paused before entering the keep. “This is going to be much worse than I imagined, isn’t it?”

“With the Sinclairs here, I fear it is,” agreed Ian.

“If anything happens, please get Grace and Kristen off of Sutherland land as fast as ye can.”

“Aye. I will.”

*

It was good to be reunited with Kristen again and for her part Kristen was happy as a lark. Innes, however, was beside herself with worry. Grace tried to distract her by telling her a mild version of what had happened over the last week. She packed Kristen’s things as she talked. When she had finished, Innes asked, “What’s going to happen? The laird won’t like this.”

“Nay, I’m sure he won’t. Bram expects that he will banish us. That’s why I am gathering Kristen’s things. Grandmother, if he does, I would like ye to go with us. But I understand if ye can’t.”

“Grace, I have always been devoted to Laird Sutherland but ye are my granddaughter. I will not stay here and serve a laird who sees fit to banish ye. Aye, I’ll come with ye.”

Innes too packed her things to be ready to leave. Once everything was ready to go, they waited.

And waited.

It was taking much longer than Grace had expected for Bram to return.

Innes occupied herself making bannocks. “If we have to leave, we will have them to take with us.”

Kristen begged to go out and play. Grace wasn’t anxious to run into any of the villagers until she knew what was happening.

“But I wanna pway,” whined Kristen.

“I know ye do. Let’s have our midday meal and maybe we can go later.”

“We could cwimb the hiww and eat on the gwass.”

“Nay, we need to wait here for Bram to come back.”

“But mama, I wanna cwimb the hiww. We haven’t done that for a wong time.”

“Kristen, ye know we shouldn’t go alone.”

“Because it wowwies Sir Bwam.”

“Aye, because he worries.” Frankly, although she could wear her shoes again, she wasn’t quite sure she was up to climbing the headlands. “I suppose we could sit under the big tree and have our meal. Would ye like that?” It was just beyond the cottage and far enough away from other cottages to afford a bit of privacy.

Kristen nodded.

“Grandmother, will ye join us?”

“Nay, lass. I’ll finish making the bannocks. The two of ye enjoy yerself.”

So with a fresh hot bannock, some cold chicken, and a jug of water, Grace and Kristen walked the short distance beyond the village to the big tree. They spread a plaid on the ground and ate their meal. When they were done, Grace leaned her back against the trunk. Kristen snuggled up next to her, putting her head in Grace’s lap. Grace stroked Kristen’s reddish-blond curls. She had missed this.

“Wiww ye sing to me, Mama?”

“Aye, precious, I’ll sing.” She closed her eyes and sang to her baby. It fed her soul like nothing else. Even after Kristen had drifted off, Grace kept singing. She only stopped when she heard movement in the grass nearby. Her eyes flew open.

There was an older man standing perhaps ten paces away from her, staring. “Hello.” He said. “And who might ye be?”

Two more men stood a distance away on the road. Grace glanced back towards the village. If she called for help, would anyone come? She wasn’t capable of running away with Kristen and she hadn’t had a knife strapped to her leg since the Morrisons took her.

The fear must have shown on her face because the man said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle ye. Ye have nothing to fear, I won’t hurt ye. I heard ye singing. Ye have a lovely voice.”

“Thank ye,” she said cautiously.

What’s yer name lass? Are ye a Sutherland?”

Grace’s first instinct was to say no, but she was, in fact, Grace Sutherland now. “Aye. I am. My name is Grace.”

Mild surprise registered briefly on his face. “Very nice to meet ye, Grace. My name is Ranulf.”

“Are ye a Sutherland?”

“Nay, lass, I’m not. I’m visiting. Do ye mind if I sit with ye for a spell?”

“Ye’re visiting? Are ye a Sinclair?”

“Aye, I am.”

Really, God? Didn’t we just sort this out?
“I should be going. My grandmother will be expecting us back.”

“Please, don’t go yet. Ye didn’t look like someone preparing to rush home a moment ago and if ye leave now, ye’ll wake the wee lass. I would enjoy the pleasure of yer company for a few minutes. Grant an old man this boon.”

Grace didn’t wish to be rude, and he seemed pleasant enough. “Aye. Well then, please sit.”

He sat on the ground a few feet away. “Thank ye. Tell me about yerself, Grace.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Oh, I expect there is. Ye said ye were a Sutherland and ye mentioned yer grandmother. Do ye live here in the village with her?”

“Aye, I do. In that cottage.” She motioned behind her.

“Have ye always lived here? Do yer parents live here too?”

“Nay, I grew up on the Isle of Lewis. I lost both my parents and my husband in the last year. I came here to my grandmother after that.”

“I am sorry to hear of yer loss, Grace.” A look of profound sadness crossed his face. “Losing someone ye love is never easy.”

Grace had the distinct impression he too had recently lost someone. “Ye seem sad. Have ye lost someone dear to ye recently?”

“Aye, I have,” he answered but he didn’t elaborate further.

“I’m sorry for yer loss as well.” They sat in silence for a few moments.

“So one of yer parents was a Sutherland?”

“Aye, my father was.”

“And yer mother? Was she from Lewis? A MacCauley or a Morrison?”

“Nay, she wasn’t.”

“If she wasn’t from the island, what took yer parents there?”

Grace looked away for a moment. “I suppose love did.”

“Love?”

“Aye. My parents were very much in love.” She smiled as images of her parents together flashed through her mind. Over the last few weeks, she had dwelt largely on the consequences of their decisions. She had almost forgotten their abiding love. “Very much in love indeed. However, my mother’s father was opposed to the marriage. The only way they could be together was to leave. So they went to Lewis. My father worked as a fisherman. My husband was a fisherman too. Their boat went down in a storm last October.”

“And yer mother?”

“She had been ill before Da died, but after we lost him, she never recovered. I’m not sure she wanted to go on without him. She died in February.”

“So when they died, ye decided to come live with ye father’s kin. Why not yer mother’s?”

Grace was becoming a little uncomfortable and she didn’t want to tell him the truth. “I just didn’t.”

“That’s not a reason. Tell me why ye didn’t seek out yer mother’s kin?”

His tone was stern, but not unkind. She felt compelled to answer. “I…I…well the truth is…I don’t know who they are.”

His brow furrowed. “How is that possible?”

Grace sighed. “I grew up thinking neither of them had any family left. I only learned about my father’s clan as my mother was dying. She refused to tell me anything about her own.”

“Why?”

“I told ye. She was afraid of her father. Even after all these years she worried about what might happen to us or even that he might seek vengeance on the Sutherlands if he found out who my da was.” Grace stroked Kristen’s head.

“Surely she didn’t believe her family would harm ye?”

“I don’t know. I guess she didn’t want to take the chance. She made me promise I would never try to find them.”

He shook his head sadly. “’Tis awful when children and parents are so at odds.”

“Aye, it is. When I first learned what my parents had done, I didn’t completely understand it. Their choice has caused others pain. My grandmother’s heart ached over the loss of her son. Surely my mother’s family felt the same.”