Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (36 page)

As soon as Leif arrived back at the stables with
Apollo, Paen sent him up to the castle for food and drink so she would not have
to eat in the hall. Leif arranged their midday meal in the hayloft above the
stables, overlooking the bailey.

Ella was suspicious as to why Paen bid her to go to
the hayloft, but when she saw Leif standing next to a blanket covered with food
and drink, she almost cried her relief. She was made even happier when the
young lad opened the wide doors so they could watch the warriors train in the
bailey.

She had always enjoyed watching men train for battle,
and today even more so because it gave her a reprieve from conversation.
Throughout the meal neither Paen or Leif brought up topics that would make her
uncomfortable. Instead, they made jests about the warriors and Bowen, who led
the training.

When they were done their meal, Ella spoke to her
companions. “Paen, Leif. . .thank you.” She could have said more, but with them
she didn’t have to.

During the afternoon hours the threesome worked with
Righ, slowly socializing him with others. Apollo played an ample role in this
phase of Righ’s training, which Ella explained to her two male companions.

“Righ has spent the bulk of his life around other
horses. Apollo’s presence will ease some of his anxiety.”

With confusion lingering on his brow, Leif asked,
“Both being stallions, will they nae fight?”

Unlatching the door to Righ’s stall, she answered,
“Righ is younger then Apollo and used to being in a herd with other wild
horses, some being stallions. Since Righ is so young, he is used to submitting
to other stallions. Apollo will dominate him and once Righ accepts that, he
will follow Apollo’s lead.”

Paen took Righ’s reins from her offered hand and said,
“I am nae sure I like my horse being dominated.”

“That is your male pride speaking, nae the common
sense God gave you,” she said over her shoulder as she went to fetch Apollo.

Paen snorted, but secretly was impressed with her
boldness to speak to him in such a manner. Most women were afraid of him, as
they were of Gavin, but Ella was fearless.

When both horses were alone in the enclosure, the two
beasts charged each other. And just like Ella predicted, it did not take long for
Apollo to dominate Righ. The two animals reared up a few times and when Righ
attacked, Apollo deftly moved to the side, then quickly cornered him against
the fence. Apollo kept the younger horse contained until he was calm, then both
animals went over to Ella, seeking a treat.

“Paen, Leif, stay where you are.”

They were separated around the enclosure, so neither
she, Paen or Leif were in close proximity.

Ella stroked both horses then offered them the
caramelized sugar apple cubes, which she was happy to see they accepted without
showing aggression. As she walked over to Paen, both horses following on the
other side of the fence.

“Now you try.”

Mimicking her slow movements, Paen fed the two
stallions and began to stroke their heads, then looked at Ella and asked,
“Should I be using the Latin commands ye use?”

“It would help his progression, but if you rather-”

“Nae, I would like to continue as ye have done. Will
ye teach me these Latin words? I only remember good and turn.”

Ella looked at the hardened warrior, who was feared by
so many, but obviously had a great love for horses. “Aye, I will teach you the
words.”

Paen lifted his brows and said, “And more about
training horses?”

He reminded her of a little boy asking for one more
sweet. “Aye, I will teach all that I know.”

An hour later the threesome headed to the village with
Apollo and Righ in tow, and Arth on their heels. As instructed, Leif had warned
the villagers to keep their distance because they were working with Righ in an
attempt to socialize him slowly. The villagers did as they were bade, but
smiled and waved to the odd group.

If anyone thought it strange that the laird’s new
wife, his bastard brother and a stable boy walked two gigantic stallions with a
half wolf, half dog trailing behind, they did not comment and acted as if it
were quite common.

Ella was unaware that the villagers had learned from
Colban’s family that she was their laird’s new wife and the reasons she had
been forced into marriage. They also had been apprised of her heroic acts,
generous nature, and remarkable skills in healing. The Macleods no longer cared
that she was English and were eager to welcome her with open arms and hearts.

By the time the sun was low in the sky and twilight
was upon them, the threesome returned to the castle exceedingly happy with the
progress they made with Righ. But, their happiness was short lived when they
learned that the King’s men and a midwife were in the hall waiting for Lady
Ella.

Paen and Leif protectively flanked Ella when they entered
the hall, greeted by Lady Esme.

“Our priest has just explained to the king’s men that
ye have been lawfully wed to Laird Macleod and will not be returning to
England. They have brought with them a midwife to examine ye and verify that ye
are nae longer a virgin.”

“How did they know to bring a midwife?”

Lady Esme grimaced, but answered, “The King of England
has dealt with similar situations in the past. I am sorry to say that ye will
nae be able to refuse, but they will allow me to be with ye during the
examination.”

Ella would have spoken, but just then one of the
king’s soldiers stepped forward, obviously impatient to be done with the task.

“Is this Lady Ella?”

Lady Esme stepped in front of her new daughter and
glared at the soldier as she said, “Aye, this is she.”

“Then ‘tis time for the midwife to examine her. If she
is nae longer chaste we will leave without her, but if she is still a maiden,
then she comes with us and the marriage will be annulled.”

Mortified, Ella was taken to her chamber, where she
was stripped, probed and finally declared unchaste by the aging midwife. Lady
Esme and the midwife reentered the hall a short time later with confirmation
that the lady in question was indeed wife to Laird Macleod. The king’s party
left, but their presence lingered.

The hall was full of Macleods for the evening meal,
yet the mood was far from jovial. Lady Esme sat with Paen and Tavish on the
dais at the head table, speaking to Father Logan about Lady Ella.

“She refused to come down to the hall for the evening
meal, but I canna say I blame her. Suffering the humiliation of being examined
by a midwife sent by the King of England, will hardly lift her spirits,” Lady
Esme stated.

With a look of pity, Father Logan shook his balding
head and said, “Aye, but we knew that a midwife would be sent along with the
king’s men. But, ‘tis over now. If it pleases ye, I would like to stay on until
Gavin returns. The lass may have need to speak with me during this difficult
time.”

Lady Esme smiled at their long-time priest they shared
with the Clan Mackenzie as well as a few other neighboring clans. “Aye, Father,
ye are always welcome here.” Her attention turned to Maeve, who had come from
Ella’s chamber and was now just entering the hall.

“How is she, Maeve?”

Maeve was wringing her hands in her apron when she
answered, “The trencher of food I brought an hour ago remains untouched. She
just stares out the window, silent as the dead.”

Father Logan asked Lady Esme, “When will Laird Gavin
return?”

“A fortnight, mayhap less. I just pray he has Lady
Eleanor and Sir James with him.”

“We will all pray for Ella and her family,” Father
Logan said as he covered Lady Esme’s hand.

While the Macleods continued in the hall, Ella was in
her chamber, feeling violated and disgraced. Her thoughts turned from the
horrible ordeal she had suffered with the midwife, to her husband, the man who
was the cause of her torment.

Why did he betray me again? He allowed me to believe
that I would be going with them to England just so I would consent to the
marriage. I will never forgive him, never trust him again.

Hours later, she crawled into bed beside Arth, who
already dozed. She listened to the rain outside her window and later the
rumbling of thunder as she tried to drift to sleep. Alas, she was plagued by
thoughts of her husband throughout the night and into the morning.

Feeling drained and lifeless, she opened her eyes the
next morning and saw early daylight spill through the window. She hastened
through her ablutions, dressed, and then left the chamber.

Heavy with melancholy, Ella made her way to the
stables and was greeted by Paen and Leif. They were both grinning at her.

“Thought ye get started without us, did ye?” Paen
teased as he came to her side.

“Here, we brought ye an apple,” Leif said as he handed
her the fruit.

Ella gave them both a shy smile in gratitude.

During the next few days Ella, Paen and Leif worked
with Righ in the mornings, took long rides throughout the countryside in the
afternoons, and in the evenings they shared a meal with Colban and his family.

Although Ella’s anguish persisted during these days
and her contagious smile all but disappeared, there were glimpses of the once
happy, carefree young woman. Paen observed that it was Iain and Helena’s two
young sons that brought life back into her eyes.

Obe was two summers, his brother Cole, short for
Colban, was just shy of four. And they both adored Ella’s playful nature, they
way she tickled them until they burst with laughter or played hide-n-seek games
around the cottage. The boys especially loved when she would act out stories of
dragons, using their parents or Paen as characters.

Much to the amusement of Colban’s family, she always
made Paen play the evil dragon and after a few nights of being cast in this
role, the hardened warrior soon became an animated character.

Paen often shook his head at her remarkable ability to
enchant those around her. He still couldn’t believe that this slip of a girl
could goad him into playing a fiery dragon, just to entertain two small lads and
their family.

Late one eve, after everyone retired for the evening,
Tavish and Paen sat in the great hall discussing the day ahead.

“Tavish, starting tomorrow ye will take Lady Ella to
the village and introduce her to the families.”

“I would be happy to, but did ye forget about Alice?”

Paen took a seat next to his brother at the hearth and
said, “Och, I thought she would have left with her brother.”

“Nae, she told Maeve that Lyall would send for her
when he joined another clan.”

Running his hands through his hair, Paen asked, “Did
Gavin have enough sense to tell Alice that she was nae longer needed in the
castle?”

Tavish took a swig of ale before answering. “He told
Alice she could work in the castle as a maid, but will nae be needed in his
bed.”

“I have nae seen her in the castle since we left in
search of Gabriel,” Paen admitted.

“Gavin told her to come when she was ready to work,
otherwise she would be confined to the village.”

“Since occupying our brother’s bed, she has nae lifted
a finger to help mother or the other women in the castle. Do ye really think
she will come?”

“Aye, she told Maeve she would and that Gavin will
always have need for her skills. I fear she dinna plan to relinquish her claim
on our brother easily.”

Paen finished his ale and said, “She is a manipulative
bitch, whose only skills are on her back and using people for her own selfish
needs. Let us hope ye and Ella dinna cross paths with her.”

“Aye, I plan to avoid her like the plague.”

“Good. I will be with Ella in the morning then ye can
take her around the village in the afternoon. I will be training the men in the
bailey if ye have need of me, but I pray ye won’t.”

“Aye, me too.”

Four days after leaving the Scottish Highlands, the
Macleods arrived at Westshire Abbey at mid-day, exhausted from the grueling
pace their leader had set, but eager to see Sir James and hopefully Lady
Eleanor.

Gavin and his men were escorted to a private chamber
by the Abbott, who had refused to answer any questions until they were alone.
The moment the thick wooden door to the private chamber closed, Gavin knew Sir
James had failed to remove Lady Eleanor from Greystone.

Abbot Davis was shaking his head when he began, “Laird
Macleod, it grieves me beyond words to tell you this, but Sir James and Lady Eleanor
were caught escaping Greystone last eve. They were apprehended riding along the
cliffs that overlook the ocean, a place called spitting caves. Greystone,
Montgomery and ten men ambushed them afore they crossed onto our land. I had
sent Brother Daniels to the Greystone-Westshire border to offer assistance if
needed. He hid in the trees half the night and witnessed the soldiers creeping
up from the woods, preparing a trap for Sir James and Lady Eleanor.”