One & Only (19 page)

Bree reached out to him and caressed
his cheek. “I suspect we both lost, didn’t we?”

“Aye, but now we have a chance to
right it.”

“Mayhap.”

“We will stay here until you are
ready to return to the celebration.” Grey took the other chair and watched her.
His gaze made her shutter the last of her sorrow away.

She got up and sat on his lap and
hugged him close. “I am sorry, Grey, if I cannot accept the betrothal yet.
Mayhap in time, I can put the past behind me and accept you. For now, I must
find out why MacHeth took me and learn the truth.”

He hugged her in return. “If you
need time, Bree, I understand. I will wait. Forever if I must. But don’t make
me wait that long.”

She shook her head.

“Let us return …”

Horns sounded in the distance and it
became silent outside their tent.

Grey helped her to stand. “The
ceremony is about to begin. Let us go and see Maurice wed.”

They returned to the celebration and
Bree felt somewhat better. She did weep a little at the wedding ceremony,
mainly because the bride and groom looked at each other with such affection.
The thought of them vowing to love each other until death brought a tear of joy
to her eye. Their kiss was cheered by all, and Bree even joined in and shouted.

One day she would have such a
ceremony, she hoped. Bree shook her thought away, because she didn’t want to
feel sad anymore, especially with such festivity going on around her. She
watched the hall clear of tables and then some of the men began playing music.
None of the celebrations at home were this lively. She suspected it was the
people here that made it so gay.

Tapping her foot to the music, she
watched the dancers and smiled wide as the ladies laughed when the men moved
around them. It was sweet the way the men bowed before the ladies and they in
turn curtseyed, their eyes never leaving each other.

“Would you like to dance, Bree?”

She turned a frown at Grey. “Nay,
oh, nay. I know not how to dance. It would be awkward.”

“You never learned how to dance? We
shall remedy that, come.”

Bree shook her head. “Please, Grey,
I would only make a fool of myself. I cannot dance, I tell you.” He stood close
and she thought he would force her on to the dance floor, but he didn’t.

“You never danced at celebrations at
Baron Thomas’?”

“Oh nay. I never had time to join in
the festivities. I was always in the kitchens or overseeing the meals, too busy
to take part in the entertainments.”

Grey frowned at her admission.

At that moment, all dancing ceased
when someone arrived and the musicians stopped playing. A large man with red
hair and a great red beard entered the hall. She immediately recognized King
Alexander. He stepped into the center of the hall and waited until everyone
bowed to him. With that courtesy out of the way, he removed his heavy cloak and
strolled to Laird Ross. They spoke quietly for a few moments and then the music
started back up. Laird Ross motioned to Grey and he pulled her from her seat.

“The meeting is beginning.”

“Grey, please I don’t wish to meet
with your king.” She tried to pull from his grip, but he held fast. Panic came
to her, but she didn’t know why she was frightened of meeting the king. He
could recognize her, but that didn’t much concern her. It was what he’d do when
he learned who she was.

“He’s your king too, Bree. Do you
not wish to tell him of the MacHeth’s doing? That he took you from your family
and kept you away all these years? You need to tell all and let the king decide
his fate. You must tell him what you heard, about the war. It affects Alexander
personally.”

She nodded and followed
apprehensively.

“Gunn, Ross tells me you have news
of a possible revolt. And who is this lovely lady?”

Bree curtseyed. “My lord, sire. It
is a pleasure to meet you again. I am Bree … I met you afore at Baron Thomas’
by the border, at Falstone.”

“Champlain? Aye, I recall you. You,
I remember could make a man’s stomach content. Never had a meal quite as
delicious as what I had at Thomas’. Why are ye here at the Ross’? Is Baron
Thomas here?”

“Nay, he is not,” she said quietly.

Grey stepped forward. “She is Albrey
Mackay.”

“The hell you say!” Alexander’s
voice boomed and his astonishment showed in his eyes.

The music stopped and a hush
reverberated through the hall.

She stepped backward and bumped into
Grey. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

The king lowered his voice when he
spoke again, “I apologize, Lady Albrey. I didn’t mean to shout, it’s just … I
never anticipated … Let us go and speak in private.”

“Please, majesty, call me Bree.” She
followed Grey as Laird Ross took them up the stairs to his private solar.
Behind them a group of soldiers, she considered the king’s guard, trailed.

“I have kept the solar clear for our
use. We can speak in here.” He opened the door and bid them to go inside.

Bree sat in a most comfortable
chair. The cushion was so thick, she all but disappeared. The luxurious of it
made her want to settle in for a nap and close her eyes. The men paid no
attention to her when they began their discussion.

They conversed for several minutes
in their language and became heated as their speech rose. Bree had no idea what
they said and she found herself lulled by their deep gruff tones. Someone
nudged her and she opened her eyes and sat up hastily.

“Did you say something?” she asked
Grey.

Grey assisted her to stand. “The
king wishes to question you.”

Alexander tugged on his beard,
giving her a curious look. “You claim to be Albrey MacKay? She disappeared over
twenty years ago. Why should I believe you’re the missing lass? What proof do
you have that you are she?”

“I was abducted by Laird MacHeth
when I was a little girl and taken to Baron Thomas Champlain. He recently sent
for me. I don’t care if you believe me to be her, but what I say is true.” Bree
swallowed hard at the stern gaze of the king. If he thought to intimidate her,
she would not allow it. It was high time she stood up to these men.

“Verily, you say? Do you remember
your parents, the Mackays, Grey, the celebration?”

“I do not recall much of my time
before I was at Baron Thomas’ holding. I was very young when I was taken. Bits
of remembrances are returning. MacHeth took me from my home and bid the baron
to keep me there until he returned for me. Grey tells me we were to be
betrothed to bring peace to our people.”

Alexander slightly nodded. “It was
the hope of my father to gain peace. Why do you say MacHeth plans a revolt?
He’s been foiled once and so shall be again, if what you speak is the truth.”

Bree clasped her hands. The king
thought she was lying and most likely didn’t believe a word she was saying. “I
heard his messenger say to Baron Thomas that he should ready his arms. That the
time has come, he’d said. I know not how I am involved, your majesty, but I do
not wish to be at the center of this war.” She didn’t want to reveal that the
baron was possibly involved. Though she should have told Alexander that the
baron was going to inform King John of the revolt, she couldn’t bear to bring
hardship to the baron.

“So shall you be.”

The king’s booming voice startled
her. Bree stepped back and felt Grey place his hand on her shoulder again. His
touch relaxed her slightly, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down.

“Sire, I have been taken from my
family, from the man I was supposed to wed … I truly don’t know why and now you
say I shall be placed in further danger?”

“Alexander,” came Grey’s low voice,
“Bree should be left out of this mess. We have to put her safety at the
foremost of our concern. She’s been through enough all ready. I believe what
she says.”

The king’s lips, from what she could
see of them beneath his beard, firmed. Then he moved beyond them to Donal.
“Does Laird Grey still intend to wed the lass?”

Donal nodded. “He does.”

“I see now. Ye are more concerned
about your woman than your king. I say now, and I will not be refuted. Lady
Albrey, you will go to MacHeth’s holding and find out how he plans to bring
this revolt to fruition. I want details. If you come back with proof or his
cohort’s names then I shall leave ye be. If you do not, then I will be forced
to abolish the decree of your betrothal to Grey.”

“Now wait a minute, sire, you cannot
do that. It was your own father’s will as well as the council’s.” Grey’s jaw
firmed and his eyes reflected animosity.

“Aye, my father’s. Not mine. Peace
can be gained by other measures. If what you say is true then you shall find
your proof needed. I want the names of MacHeth’s associates and then I will be
appeased. Find out what he intends.”

Bree tried to hold Grey back, but
his anger came when he stepped near the king and shouted.

“Cosh! I will not allow it. You
cannot ask that of her, Alexander. Think of what you are saying. You’re sending
a lass into MacHeth’s devil’s den and ‘twould be most dangerous for her.”

“You dare speak to me so—”

“Damned right I do. I will not let
you send her to MacHeth. Let me go in her stead.”

The king didn’t like being spoken to
with such disdain, he turned his back on Grey and shouted, “Guards, come!”

At once, four guards entered the
solar and stood around Grey. They immediately disarmed him and took his sword
and removed two daggers from his boots. Grey tried to snatch his dagger back,
but the soldiers held him bodily.

“Take this man to Donal’s dungeon.
Lock him away.”

Before Grey could move, they gripped
his arms and forced him to walk toward the door. Grey released himself from two
of the guards and punched them before he was apprehended again. Bree’s breath
caught in her throat seeing the bloody noses.

“Alexander, nay, don’t do this.”
Grey shouted and kept calling the king’s name.

Grey had never shown such a violent
side to her, he was quite furious. She wasn’t sure what was happening and why
the king apprehended Grey. Then the guards hastily left the chamber with Grey
in tow. The door slammed behind them. Then all was silent for a few minutes as
the king paced the chamber. He appeared disturbed at what happened.

“Donal, I do not want him released
until I give the word.”

If Donal was surprised by any of the
happenings in his solar, he didn’t show it. His face was devoid of emotion, his
eyes sedate and calm. Bree wiped her tears away, and realized she’d been
crying.

“Sire, please, I shall go and do
your bidding. But please, release Grey.”

“Nay, he will interfere. Donal go
and bring me the Gunn guard. I wish to speak with them.” King Alexander walked
about the chamber with his hand on his chin, looking at her, as if he reasoned
what he’d commanded her to do.

Bree felt small with all his
attention on her. “Sire, I would never speak an untruth to you. Who am I but a
woman? I know not of these matters, concerns of men. How do you expect me to
gain MacHeth’s trust and find out who his cohorts are?”

“Women are the best spies, aye the
most resourceful. You will know what to do and how to obtain the information I
seek. If you are successful, you shall have my gratitude. I shall reward ye by
releasing young Gunn and allowing your marriage.”

A sick feeling came to her stomach.
Bree wasn’t sure she could follow through and do as he asked. “Can I not have
your gratitude now?”

Alexander laughed derisively. “Aye,
just like a woman. You’re wanting your reward before ye have earned it. I say
Grey is a blessed man in his choice of wife. My father wanted the Gunns and
Mackays united. I know not why, but my father was concerned for you and who you
would marry. But the betrothal never came to pass when ye went missing. Even if
you wed Gunn, there are no assurances your clans will be peaceful.”

“If it is peace you wish, sire, then
we shall make it so.”

His booming laughter reverberated
through the solar. “We shall see.”

Then Grey’s guard came inside.
James, Sean, Greer, and Colm stood proudly before the king. None of them spoke
while they were silently assessed by Alexander, awaiting word of why the king
had called them.

“Have you any other men with you?”

Greer was the highest ranking within
the group and he stepped forward. “Just a lad, my lord, he is outside the door.
Where is our laird?”

Alexander twitched a couple of
fingers at Donal who went to call forth the lad. “Your laird thought him above
me. He now rests in Donal’s dungeon. Don’t be thinking to bring war to my
doorstep, I only mean to keep him there until he calms down.”

Bree gave them a pleading look, but
knew none of them could assist her.

Gordy arrived and stood beside
Greer, in the line of warriors, awaiting the king’s command.