Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (29 page)

“What
goes here? Where is my daughter?”

Brendan
turned to see a large gray-haired man frowning at him.

“Sir,
what right do you have to interrupt his majesty’s supper?” Hubert bellowed.

The
man cleared his throat and said sternly, “I do apologize, Sire, but I was told
my daughter is here.”

Hubert
moved aside, and motioned for him to continue forward. Hawk moved toward the
group, and stepped before the king. Kate hadn’t been paying attention to the
company, and kept looking at Brendan. She finally turned to view the commotion,
but then paled, as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Father?”

“Fairy?”

Brendan
caught her before she hit the floor, she fainted dead away, falling out of her
seat.

“You’re
Katie’s father?” Brendan asked.

“That
I am. Lord Hawthorn Stanhope, at your service.” He turned and faced the king
and bowed. “Sire, what is going on here? Why is my Kate here, and not home
where I left her?”

“I
am having a feast to celebrate Sir MacKinnon’s knighting, and your daughter’s
marriage to him.”

The
man frowned like a clootie. Aye, a devil who was not pleased to hear Henry’s
news. Brendan held Kate’s limp body in his arms.

“Like
hell you are. I gave no permission for her to marry him or anyone for that
matter.”

“You
are dead, or at least, you were dead. I gave her my permission.” Henry stood,
his face reddening. He didn’t appear to like being told that he needed Lord
Stanhope’s permission for anything.

“You
must undo it,” Hawk said, and frowned at Brendan.

“He
cannot. Our union was blessed by the church, we are good and married,” Brendan
said through clenched teeth. “She is my wife in every matter.”

“Sire,
he must lie, I will not believe it.”

“I’m
afraid he is not lying, Hawk. They have been married for sometime, I was but
handling a formality, so to speak, by knighting him—an honor he deserves.”

“Will
you move out of the way so I can lay her down somewhere,” Brendan shouted. He’d
lost his patience with the two of them and just wanted to take Katie away.

Hawk
and Henry hesitantly moved aside. Brendan walked out of the chamber, holding
his senseless wife. He didn’t like it one bit. As he leaned against the wall,
he considered the ramifications of her father’s appearance.

Kate
came to the moment he exited the room. She tried to get him to set her down,
but he wouldn’t release her. “Madam is never wrong,” she mumbled.

“Katie,
you need to rest a moment. I’ll not have you fainting again,” he commanded.

“B-but
my father is alive. Did you see him … I can’t believe … He is alive, isn’t he
or was I dreaming?”

“Nay,
he’s alive and well. You are not dreaming.”

“Brendan,
what am I going to tell him?” she whispered.

“About
what?”

“Us,”
she said simply.

“How
about, I love him and we’re married for starters?”

“Nay,
I mean, I … of course, I do love you, Brendan, but what if he doesn’t consent.
I will have to get our marriage annulled.”

“Here
we go again,” Brendan uttered.

He
entered their chamber, and set her upon the bed, then walked to the window
where he looked out at the rainy sky. “Why did this have to happen now? It was
all but settled, and I planned to take you home on the morrow.”

A
knock sounded at the door. Brendan opened it, and found Lord Stanhope peering
beyond him. He moved aside to let him enter.

“I’d
like to see my daughter.”

“Father,
please come in.”

Her
father took her in his arms and she wept, seeing him for the first time in many
years.

Brendan
stood beyond, watching their reunion. She wiped her eyes, and returning her
gaze to her father. He appeared aged, more so than she remembered. His hair had
grayed and his beard much thicker. His eyes had paled some and weren’t as blue
as she recalled. Kate trembled from weeping.

Brendan
kissed her cheek. “I’ll be with Colin and Julianna—amusing Henry. Send for me,
if you need me.”

Kate
nodded. “All will be well, Brendan.” She watched her husband leave with
hesitant steps, and he looked at her before he closed the door.

Her
father watched him leave too, and when the door was closed, he pulled her in
his arms.

“Kate,
you are unharmed? I worried for your safety and I thought—”

“That
Richard would kill me? Is that why you put that absurd message inside the
medallion? A lot of good it did.” Kate found the courage to berate him. “Why
did you do that? You caused a lot of woe, and not just for me.”

“I
feared Richard would come after you. Did he?”

“Aye,
all because you sent that medallion. Did you not realize the jeopardy you put
me in?”

“Mayhap,
but I thought the king would protect you.”

“How
was he to do that when de Guylet hadn’t returned and de Morris claimed to be my
guardian?” Kate became angry then. She wanted to yell at her father for his ill
favor.

“I
didn’t know, Kate.”

“I
became his ward and discovered that he kidnapped a child from the king’s
palace, Colin MacKinnon’s daughter. That is how I met Brendan, but King Henry
had all ready betrothed me another Scotsman, though that never came to be.
Anyway, Richard came after me, and he threatened me for the medallion. He
killed Manik. There is more but I’m afeared to tell you what he did to me.”

“That
vile man!” Hawk shouted. “Has Henry had him tried?”

“He
has given Colin MacKinnon permission to kill him for stealing his child.”

“Get
your belongings, fairy, we will leave this place at once. I long to go home.
I’ll find Richard myself, the beastly boar.”

“I
can’t leave here, I’m married to Brendan. I shall not leave him, Father. He
needs me.”

“Needs
you? What about me? I need you, too.”

“Need
me! You left me alone for four years, to care for myself. You don’t need me.”

“I
do. I didn’t mean to leave ye for so long, Kate. I cannot lose you now when I
have only returned.” Her father rose and paced the room. She held back a smile
when he mimicked Brendan’s movements.

“Father,
I belong with Brendan now. You know I would wed eventually. I love him, and he
loves me.” She pulled away and clasped her hands waiting for her father’s
acceptance.

Hawk
lowered his gaze to the floor. “You’ll leave your father for this man?”

“Aye,
when I told him I loved him, I promised to honor him, and I will not go back on
my word even if that means disappointing you.”

“Fairy,
you don’t know what you are saying. Mayhap I’ve jarred you by coming back from
the dead. I will find a worthy husband for you.”

“I
am not leaving my husband. He is worthy. If you want to leave, then go. I
cannot stop you, but I wish you would get to know these people. They are
good-natured, and have been very kind to me when I had no one to turn to.”

“I
will repay their kindness by giving them—”

“Father,
you are not listening. They will not take anything from you because they feel
they owe me for saving their daughter.”

“So
I am to lose my daughter, after you saved theirs? Is that the way of it?” Hawk
asked angrily.

“You
are not losing me, Father. I am married, but I shall visit ye. You can visit me
anytime you like. Brendan will agree to bring me for a visit—”

“You
married a barbarian Scot. What of my aspiration to have you married to a good
Norman knight?” Hawk moved to the hearth, and leaned against the stone.

“You
never said anything about aspirations of a Norman knight, nor did you ever say
you didn’t like Scots. Well, I am married to a barbarian Scot, and that is
that.” Kate yelled so loudly, her voice all but gave out in the end.

He
appeared stunned that she would raise her voice to him. “Where is my doting
daughter? You’re not the sweet daughter that I left behind. You’ve changed
much, even your appearance has changed to that of a woman. I cannot fathom you
being married to that giant.”

“Father,
I have grown up. You must understand that. You were gone a long time, leaving
me to fend for myself. I should be wrath with you for leaving me alone, but I
know you were only doing your duty. Please, understand it’s what I want.”

He
nodded. “Come, let us return to the dining hall. You should finish eating.”

Kate
agreed and returned to the now silent dinning hall. Many had vacated it after
the earlier commotion. As soon as they arrived, the king lowered his goblet and
placed it on the table.

“Come,
Hawk, my lady, we will discuss this dilemma.”

“What
know you of this Brendan MacKinnon, Henry? Is he a worthy man as my Kate
affirms?” Hawk accepted the goblet of wine, given to him by a servant.

“You
will not find a fiercer fighter or a more noble man. I am related to his
sister-in-law, Julianna. The MacKinnons are a peaceful clan, but they are a
clan to be reckoned with if it so warrants.”

“Has
he fortune? Security of an army? What has he to offer my daughter?”

“I
know not of any fortune, but none are needed there. These people live a simpler
life, not as we do with our courts, entertainments, and wealth.”

“So
they’re poor?”

“That
depends on what you would call poor. Colin, Brendan’s brother, is the laird.
His clan prospers with crops, and he’s been an adviser to Alexander on
occasion.”

“Alexander,
their King?”

“Aye,
so it might seem to you and I that they might be poor, but our kind of wealth
is not important to them.”

Colin
entered the chamber and joined them.

Kate
greeted him and asked him to sit next to her. She needed his presence, but
wished Brendan would return. Her father didn’t show his disgruntlement, at
least, not until he had eaten. As he ate, he watched her. Kate couldn’t eat a
bite. She was so relieved when Brendan finally appeared. He sat beside her, and
held her hand under the table, soothing her by rubbing his thumb over the top
of her hand. His touch calmed her.

“Don’t
let him upset you. We will get through this, Katie. Smile. Let us celebrate our
union.” Brendan spoke low so only she could hear.

“How
can I celebrate when he is being unreasonable? I must go, Brendan. I’ll retire
to our chamber.” Kate pulled her hand from his and stood.

Brendan
watched her leave then looked at her father. He observed him for a good length
of time, but Hawk didn’t take notice. He continued eating, and grunted at the
king’s words.

Colin
tapped Brendan’s shoulder to gain his attention. “He’s as surely as you are.
Kate’s wed a man akin to her father. No wonder she liked ye.”

“Cosh,
Colin, keep your insults to yourself, otherwise, I just might shove my fist in
your mouth.”

“Hell,
Brendan, you are irritable. Go and let your wife sooth your testiness. I’ll see
to
your father-in-law
,” Colin jested.

“Aye,
I’m for that.” Brendan couldn’t leave fast enough.

He
walked quickly to their chamber, and found Kate crying, lying on a heap of
coverings. He sat on the bed, and took her in his arms.

“Love,
it is not that bad, your father will come around.”

“I
don’t want to talk about him. I need you.”

Brendan
found himself smiling at her plea. It was easy for him to dispel the strife as
her words sent his body into a fever. She seemed to need the release too, and
let the carnal sensations overtake her body. He wanted to forget her father,
and everyone outside their door.

Brendan
was as gentle as he could be, but she wouldn’t let him. She urged him into a
climatic state and was just as forceful, stroking his body roughly. Their
lovemaking became bold with each reaching the heightened sensations at the same
time.

Afterward,
as he lay watching her, his heart beat frantically inside his chest, he knew he
would never let her go. Her father would have to understand that. She clung to
him, and wouldn’t release his arms, so Brendan let her have her way.

The
room darkened into blackness as the night wore on. Still, she wouldn’t let him
go. He thought her asleep because she didn’t move or speak.

“I
love you, Katie,” he admitted aloud to her.

Kate
bolted up into a sitting position and turned to look at him. “What did you
say?”

Brendan
frowned at her, but she couldn’t see it. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness,
she leaned closer. “Say it again.”

“I
love you.”

“You’ve
done it now, Brendan,” she mumbled.

“What?”
he asked as he pulled her back into his arms.