Mist Warrior (41 page)

Branan
froze, leaning heavily against the wall, panting. His eyes remained closed and he buried his face in her hair.

“
I am sorry,
”
his voice grated in her ear, still raw.

“
Sorry for what?
”

“
I shouldna'...I ended it to quickly and dinna see to ye, lass.
”
Slowly
,
he backed away and lowered her to her feet.
Branan’s
body continued to quiver and she feared he might collapse.

She glanced at the bed they hadn't been able t
o reach. Her lips twitched
.
>“
My lord...I am sure you can make it up to me...I do believe we have all night.
”

Branan’s
eyes ignited with the fire
Catriona
so loved but rarely saw. A delightfully wicked chuckle rumbled through him.

Hours later, Catriona curled in Branan's arms in well-sated enjoyment. She toyed with his hair, running her fingers through the thick locks, admiring how it shown blue-black in the candlelight.

Unexpected
tears clouded her vision.
“
Branan,
”
she whispered.
“
It nearly killed me when you left.
”

He blinked at her, startled.
“
What mean ye, lass?
”

“
When you left ten years ago. I awoke that night to see you disappear into the darkness. You never said goodbye.
”

“
Lass...I...yer father said he would tell ye. Uncle Duguald arrived and John thought it prudent I go to Scotland immediately. Strickland's spies were on the verge of finding me.
”

It was her turn to blink at him, stunned.
“
My father never spoke of it. I waited for you to come home. I had been certain my father would betroth me to you. But as the years passed and you never returned, I thought he was angry with you for abandoning us.
”

Branan
shook his head, the thick locks of his hair tumbling around his face, making him appear more dark and roguish.
“
But he be the one who sent me with Uncle Duguald. I ne'er wanted to leave ye and the new home I had found. I canna believe he dinna tell ye.
”

Catriona
gazed at him a long moment, struggling to comprehend her father's actions and reasons
,
but ultimately failed. Gently,
Catriona
traced her fingers over the elegant sweep of
Branan’s
cheek.

“
Please,
”
she said, disliking the desperation in her voice.
“
Do not leave me like that again. Please.
”

He
stared at her then took her hand in his, pulling it to his lips.
“
I vow on my soul,
”
Branan
whispered.
“
I will never leave ye.
”

****

A sennight passed and Branan received an urgent message from Edmund. He looked for Catriona
,
but did not see her. She was probably still in the tower. Moving away from prying eyes, he removed the scroll from its case and broke the seal.

Laird MacTavish,

A law cleric from the bishop's court arrived this morning and delivered a writ. Strickland does not believe my lady's marriage is valid and has petitioned the bishop's court to have it set aside. As we feared, he requests that Brackenburgh, along with the remainder of the de Courcy holdings, come under his control as Warden of Inglewood.

The law cleric believes Strickland has also petitioned the king to award all of de Courcy's lands, money, and holdings directly to him since my lord did not have any living family or heirs. It is doubtful the king will grant Strickland his request in its entirety
,
but most likely he will gain the majority
,
with the rest parceled out at the king's pleasure.

I attempted to convince the law cleric that I have seen with my own eyes
,
the proof their marriage was consummated
,
but he is unwilling to believe me because my lady is not here. He wishes to speak with her immediately. I told him she is touring her holdings
,
but I fear this does not sit well with him. As stubborn as my lord was regarding my lady's adventuresome spirit, the law cleric is even more so.

The chamber maid who cleaned my lord's solar found proof of their joining and brought it to me. Because there was no bedding ceremony, I tho krem">
The cught it prudent to keep it in a safe place rather than allow it to be washed.

I fear we have sore need of our lady to return
,
forthwith. I strongly believe the largest issue to overcome is that my lady is not in residence. Once people see her, especially if she assumes her duties as chatelaine, this vile rumor of an invalid marriage will vanish.

I pray that you and my lady are well.

Your humble servant,

Edmund

Branan sighed heavily. Catriona was not going to like this news
,
but he turned and went to find her.

It didn't take Branan
long to locate Catriona and he led her to the solar. It was quite difficult to remain focused on his goal when a few stolen kisses deepened into intense
,
passionate ones. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers trying to catch his breath.

“
Catriona,
”
he said softly.
“
I
dinna wish to tell ye this news.
”

She started to lean forward
,
as if she intended to become the aggressor with her kisses
,
but stopped, hearing his words.
“
What's wrong
,
Branan?
”

“
Strickland has petitioned the bishop
’
s court, challenging the validity of yer marriage.
”

Catriona
backed away, her face paling.
“
And he is right.
”

Branan
shook his head.
“
Nay. I found a solution.
”

A frown creased her brow.
“
What in heaven's name
—
”
Abruptly
,
she stopped
,
her eyes widening.
“
So that's why you were gone and the maid was redressing the bed when I returned.
”

“
Aye, lassie, I dinna wish to trouble ye over it.
”

“
But there was no bedding ceremony, no witnesses
—
”

“
Catriona,
”
he said, caressing her cheek.
“
Doona fash yerself. Granted
,
there was no bedding ceremony
,
but
a
chamber maid at Brackenburgh found the evidence the next morning when she cleaned her deceased lord's solar. She brought the linens to Edmund and he has kept them safe away. There will be two who will vow the marriage was valid.
”

Her cheeks burned bright red and she ducked her head.

“
Catriona, forgive me.
”

“
Who...who knows the truth?
”

“
Edmund and he is the only one who does. He vowed on the Rood to say nothing.
Edmund
's terrified Brackenburgh with fall to Strickland's control. He and the other servants would pay a terrible price if that happens.
”

“
Why? Is it not customary to keep the staff in place?
”

“
Not with Strickland and not when it was someone who gave him grief. When I was nine, a  landed seneschal died and his holdings fell to Strickland. He and Strickland were kickas constantly at
each other’s
throats. Strickland made me accompany him when he rode to take control of the holdings, telling me it was time for me to learn for when I would be Warden.
”

Branan
paused and drew a deep breath
,
wondering why in the hell he was reliving this memory–on
e he had thought long buried. He
didn't want to tell her, she didn't need to hear this. But as her hand stroked through his hair
, Branan
continued.
“
The lord was dead and beyo
nd Strickland's vengeance. So, Strickland
demanded it from the servants. The steward, constable, chatelaine, and others of moderate rank
,
he ordered hanged. Then he loosed his soldiers on the rest. They beat and raped the women, tortured and killed the men and I willna tell ye what they did to the youthlings....
”
Branan
closed his eyes and shivered.
“
Strickland forced me to watch the horror. I became violently ill
…
he laugh
ed….
”

“
Oh
,
sweet Mary, Branan,
”
Catriona
whispered and wrapped her arms around him.

He held her as tightly as he dared, trying to close the door to the awful memory
,
but he could not shove the horror back.
“
For three days after
,
I couldna keep any food down. Every time I closed my eyes
,
I saw them. In the silence
,
I heard their screams. If it hadna been for my mother, I
would have thought it the way of things. But my mother told me it was
all
Strickland's evil. She tried to allay my nightmares with her stories of the gallant knight. He would never do such a thing. On the contrary, it was h karyil. She tris duty to protect those people and keep them safe from harm. He would have demanded Strickland's blood.
”