Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (35 page)

The stable yard was empty, save for Leif filling the
water troughs, when Paen arrived. He silently made his way into the stables and
the sight that greeted him tore at his heart.

Ella stood with her head bent to Apollo’s, gently
stroking his neck and whispering inaudible words to her beloved friend. Paen
assumed she spoke of her grievances. He soon realized, when he moved closer,
that he was mistaken. Ella whispered prayers for her family and their safety,
as well as Gavin and his men.

While he waited for her to finish her prayers, he was
careful to stay out of view, but his presence was soon discovered. Arth, who
had been lounging by her feet, jumped up to greet him. At the same moment, Leif
entered the stable with raised his eyebrows in his direction.

Leif broke the silence the way all children do, with
complete ignorance to the true nature of her discontent.

“Good Morning, Milady. Do ye wish to go riding? I can
saddle-” He was cut short when he received a cuff to the back of his head.

Paen rolled his eyes at the stupidity of the lad’s
statement. Ella would be sore from losing her maidenhead last eve, and have no
wish to endure a painful ride.

Attempting to change the topic of conversation away
from riding, he said, “Lady Ella, my thanks for yer efforts with Righ. I wish
to learn and continue the training that ye have started with him. He is a
magnificent animal, but was abused by his previous master.”

“How long did his previous master have him?”

“I dinna ken, but suspect not long,” he replied and
saw that her interest was piqued. “On the way to the Highland fair, a local
clan captured and sold him to a rich merchant during the opening day. The
merchant boasted to all who would listen that he could break the wild horse
within three days. After the first day of witnessing his methods, I snuck into
his tent and persuaded him to sell me the horse.”

“And your methods of persuasion were?”

Paen grinned at how perceptive she was, then answered,
“A blade to his throat, and he was more than willing to sell Righ.”

His ruggedly handsome face was transformed by that
smile, and it dramatically lessened his usual surly demeanor. Ella smiled in
approval.

“Good. It would have been better if you took the whip
to his backside, but a blade to the throat is still good.”

Amusement flickered in Paen’s eyes when he met her
gaze. “’Tis good to see that ye have nae lost yer spirit.” Stupidity must be
contagious, he thought the moment the words were out.

Her eyes instantly darkened like angry thunderclouds
when she asked, “Did you know of your brother’s plan to force me to wed?”

“Aye,” he said without expression or hesitation.

The knowledge twisted and turned inside of her as she
spat, “Then the devil can take you, too.”

Paen stepped into her path as she tried to stomp past
him, then waited for her to look up. When he saw her angry glare, he said,
“Anybody can become angry-that is easy, but to be angry with the right person
and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in
the right way-that is not within everybody’s power and is nae easy.”

She was surprised at the tenderness in his expression,
but more so by the recognizable quote. “Aristotle.”

He nodded.

“He has always been my favorite of the Greek
philosophers,” she admitted.

Paen heard the thawing in her tone and was thankful he
remembered the words and advice of their priest after his ordeal with
Montgomery.

“Aye, mine too. When I was around yer age, I returned
from fostering with the English, and my rage was so evident that Gavin
suggested I speak with our priest.” He did not mention it was the same priest
who had recently wed her with Gavin. “He often quoted Aristotle, Plato and
Antisthenes.”

Ella’s anger momentarily subsided when she confessed,
“The monks with whom I worked often quoted the same philosophers. When I showed
interest they began my education.”

“I dinna think it common practice for monks to educate
females,” he stated.

She knew the age-old argument that the church
proclaimed women inferior and that their minds were as weak as their bodies.

With defiance, she proclaimed, “’Tis nae common, but
after a year working within their walls and absorbing their knowledge about
horses, they realized that my mind was nae weak. Since I knew how to read, they
had me study manuscripts on Greek philosophy, which we would discuss while we
tended the horses. When they learned I was a healer, they offered to continue
my education in Latin so I could read the Greek and Roman texts on anatomy and
medicinal practices.” She did not elaborate that her mother had actually been
the one to teach her the difficult language.

“I am impressed that they recognized that a woman’s
mind is just as keen as a man’s,” Paen stated, hoping to appease her defensive
tone.

She gave a sidelong glance of utter disbelief before
asking, “You agree with educating a woman?”

“Aye, I do. I grew up with Lady Esme, whose
intelligence far surpasses most men. During the reign of my father, she single
handedly kept our stores full of food, our accounts organized and our
production of goods profitable.”

Paen saw that not only was she enthralled by his
words, but also Leif, who had not been part of the Macleod clan at the time.

“My father’s enemies made it difficult by seeking
retribution with constant raids and attacks against out clan. Many lives were
lost as well as many herds of cattle and sheep. ‘Twas my mother’s idea to have
the cattle drovers and sheep herders move the animals each night to the border
of our land and the Mackenzie’s. It was a ploy to dupe raiding clans into
believing our livestock was actually that of the Mackenzies.”

Clearly confused, Leif asked, “Were ye nae afraid the
Mackenzie would pilfer our cattle and sheep?”

“My father was wise enough to nae attack such a
powerful clan, thus they ne’er raided our land.”

Turning to Ella, Leif explained, “The Mackenzies have
always been a force to be reckoned with, or at least ‘tis what my father says.”

Instantly uncomfortable at the mention of Clan
Mackenzie, Ella turned the story back to the impressive Lady Esme. “Your mother
is indeed brilliant for coming up with such a clever ploy. I can now understand
why the Macleods flourish with good tidings.”

Paen was proud of his mother, as well as the wealth
the Macleods had accumulated since the death of his father. He also wanted Ella
to feel proud of the clan she had married into, but at the moment, she was too
hurt to feel anything but bitterness and betrayal. At least she was not hiding
in her chamber, bemoaning her fate or crying useless tears, he thought.

“Enough about my mother, women’s intelligence, forced
marriages, and dead philosophers. ‘Tis time to work with my stubborn mule of a
horse. That is, if ye are willing to help me?”

“Aye, of course I am,” she replied without hesitation,
then turned to Leif. “While I work with Paen and Righ, would you be able to
take Apollo out. I fear he can become quite disagreeable when he is stabled for
long periods of time. He usually helps with training other horses, too.”

“I dinna see how he can help with training another
horse,” Leif said.

“You will have to wait and see my young friend.”

“Aye, Milady.”

Turning back to Paen, she stated, “Before we begin, I would
like to check on Colban.”

More than pleased that she wished to continue as
healer, Paen offered, “I will escort ye to his cottage.”

Moments later in Colban’s cottage, Paen was surprised
at the warm greeting she received. Helena embraced her as if she were a long
lost sister, while Colban took on the role of father and insisted on speaking
with her in private.

“Bring my healer to me, then be gone!”

Before rushing out, Helena mumbled threats to starve
Colban while Paen defiantly crossed his arms over his chest, indicating he was
not about to be kicked out.

With a smirk, he said, “Ye can be quite nasty, old
man, like a disagreeable bairn.”

Not in the least bit intimidated by the warrior before
him, Colban responded, “Ye are naught but a highly irritating young whelp who
has over stayed his welcome.”

A genuine smile transformed Paen’s face when he
responded, “Welcome was I?”

“Nae. But, I was trying to be polite in front of the
lady,” Colban admonished.

Paen saw the determined look in Colban’s eyes and realized
what the old man was about. Colban had raised his younger brothers as well as
his own two daughters to maturity and now was back in the role of paternal
protector. Paen did not fault him, since the older man had a hand in raising
himself.

On more occasions than he liked to remember, Paen
found himself at stable master’s cottage after a fight with his father. Colban
had welcomed him with open arms while his wife, Beth, tended to the bruises
inflicted by his sire.

“I will remain outside,” he said with a nod of
approval. “Take as long as ye like.”

Ella was surprised by Paen’s easy acceptance to leave
the cottage, but then again, she had learned that Colban held much more respect
than that of a simple stable master. Once alone, the older man signaled for her
to sit in the stool next to the bed.

“’Tis always a pleasure to see ye again,” Colban said
in a gentle tone.

“As it is you. How are ye feeling this morning?”

“My leg is healing just fine and well ye ken. I rather
talk about ye and how ye are fairing.”

She managed to shrug and say, offhandedly, “I take it
you know I am now married to Gavin.”

“Aye, I also know why ye were reluctant to marry our
laird.”

“Not reluctant, completely against,” she replied
sharply.

“Aye, this I ken too. But tell me this, if ye did go
back to England and marry this Montgomery fellow, what would become of yer
aunt?”

“She would be safe. Phillip assured me that she would
nae be harmed if I married Montgomery.”

Her innocence was obvious, Colban noted, and then
asked, “Is Phillip a man of honor?”

She would have laughed at the absurdity of that
statement, but instead she answered honestly, “Nae.”

“Yer aunt has nae given him children,” Colban pointed
out. “Sir James, I am told, was acting as the king’s watchdog these past five
years, yet is nae longer in service to him. Aye?”

Distraught that he knew so much, she asked, “Who told
you?”

“Ye dinna answer my question, lass.”

“Aye, all of what you have said is true. Now, who told
you?”

“That dinna matter. What is important is that Phillip intended
to rid himself a barren wife once ye were wed to Montgomery. I am surprised he
dinna have the marriage annulled years ago.”

“If Phillip annulled their marriage, he would lose
both his title and land. Greystone was awarded to him upon his marriage to Aunt
Eleanor and the death of her father.”

Colban was pleased where the conversation was going
and decided to probe further. “If yer aunt died, would Phillip retain the title
and land?”

“Aye,” she whispered slowly. The full impact of his
words hit her like a lightning bolt. All this time Phillip intended to kill his
wife, but was unable to do so while Sir James served at Greystone. She had been
completely ignorant of her guardian’s scheme.

Colban covered her trembling hands and gave words of
comfort and advice for the future. He had come to care for the bonny lass and
hated to see the dismay in her eyes. The days ahead would be difficult for her,
but in his heart he knew that she belonged here, with the Macleods .

Ella departed Colban’s cottage an hour later, feeling
more confused and angry then she had when she had entered. Paen walked silently
beside her as they made their way to the stables, giving her time to absorb
what she had just learned.

Would Phillip really kill his wife so he could remarry
and produce an heir? Phillip had always seemed fond of Eleanor, treating her
with respect and kindness. Only when she interfered on Ella’s behalf did he
raise his voice, and sometimes his fist.

Lady Eleanor was still young, only a score and six
years of age. And Phillip enjoyed having a wife that made men envious, but
rarely took her to court, preferring to show her off only at Greystone. Was an
heir so important, that Philip would murder his own wife?

Paen saw the fresh wave a pain that engulfed Ella,
causing her hands to shake and her eyes to glaze over with renewed hatred.
During her conversation with Colban, he sat by the open window and heard all
that was said within the cottage. The older man had done Ella a kindness, he
thought, by revealing the truth.

Ella remained silent as she gathered what was needed
for Righ. When she finally spoke, it was only to give Paen instructions.

Understanding that she needed time to assimilate the
truth, Paen was not offended by her brusque manner. He followed her directions
without comment and after two hours Righ finally accepted him.