Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (37 page)

Walking to the hearth, Abbot Davis put his hand on the
mantel and bowed his head before he continued, “Brother Daniels said Sir James
and Lady Eleanor were roughly pulled from their horses. Montgomery tied Sir
James’s wrists, then pushed him to the edge of the cliffs, while Philip threw
Eleanor to the ground. The moon provided little light, but Brother Daniels saw
that Lady Eleanor had been severely beaten, prior to her escape.”

“Greystone then pulled out a dagger and stabbed Sir
James in his side. When Lady Eleanor saw this, she rushed to aid her brother,
but the moment they embraced, the edge of the cliff crumbled beneath their
feet. They. . . they. . .” Tears came to the old man as he choked out, “They
fell to their death.”

Gavin’s broad-carved face twisted in shock, then
yielded to fury, hearing the two people closest to his wife, her only family,
were dead. Turning his back on his men, he closed his eyes and tilted his head
back as he tried to regain what little control he possessed. He heard Bowen
speak, but rage made him deaf to the words.

“Were their bodies found?”

The Abbott shook his head and said, “They were carried
into the caves that lay at the bottom of the cliffs. We cannot even gain access
to them in order to search for their bodies.”

Stepping forward, Nicholas asked, “Why canna a man be
lowered by rope?”

“Nae, the rocks that line the walls of the cliffs cut
any rope lowered. Those who have attempted were swept into the caves and their
bodies never found,” Abbot Davis explained.

Bowen saw that Gavin’s controlled ire was like the
moment before a battle or storm, and it was only a matter of time before his
wrath was unleashed. He walked over to the man he considered a son and said,
“Let us leave, Gavin. Once Greystone is made aware of yer marriage to Ella, he
is sure to send a message informing her of the death of Sir James and Lady
Eleanor. Yer wife needs ye now.”

Warily approaching, Abbot Davis said, “Laird Macleod,
Sir James left all his possessions to your wife, Lady Ella. There is also the
letter he wrote afore he left last eve. He loved her with all his heart, as did
Lady Eleanor, and it was their profound wish that she be safe and happy.”

“Happy!” Rancor sharpened Gavin’s voice. “Think ye she
will be happy learning her only family is dead!” Towering over the distraught
old man, he continued, “My wife would have sacrificed her own life for Lady
Eleanor and Sir James. Her only thoughts, only concerns, were for them. And
now. . .”

Walking over to stand beside the Abbott, Nicholas
turned to Gavin and said, “’Tis my wish to stay here and investigate this
further.”

“Why?”

“I would ken more about these caves and the death of
Ella’s loved ones. Being English, born and bred, will also allow me to keep an
eye on Greystone and Montgomery.”

“Aye,” Gavin replied tersely, then turned his gaze on
the Abbott. “He will need lodgings.”

Ignoring Laird Macleod’s offensive tone, Abbot Davis
replied, “He is welcome to stay as long as he wishes, and we will assist him in
any way possible.”

Reining in his uncivil behavior, Gavin put his hand on
the Abbott’s shoulder and said, “My apologies, Abbot Davis. ‘Tis a difficult
time.”

“Nae apologies are needed, Laird Macleod,” the old man
replied as he reached into his habit and handed Gavin a missive. “Please, give
this to your wife, Lady Ella. Along with my words of condolences, I’ve
explained what transpired last eve as well as what I learned over the last few
days.”

“What have ye learned?”

“I received verification that Greystone has arranged a
betrothal agreement between himself and Baron Stafford’s daughter. A missive has
been sent informing King Henry of Philip’s intention and duplicity of arranging
a second marriage afore his wife’s untimely death.”

Gavin asked, “How did ye verify this?”

“I sent a message yesterday to the priest who resides
within Stafford. Instead of replying, Father Charles arrived an hour after dawn
this morn and confirmed the verbal betrothal agreement. He penned a missive
indicating what Stafford and Greystone intended, and sent it along with mine to
the king. He penned a second letter, word-for-word as his first, which I hold
in my possession. Father Charles will also see that the church learns the truth
of the matter as well.”

“Ye have done us a great service this day. I now
understand why my wife thinks so highly of ye,” Gavin acknowledged.

“From the moment she came into our life five years
ago, she has been our pride and joy. Please, take care of her, for she is a
blessing in more ways than you know.”

“I give ye my word of honor that she will be well
taken care of all the days of her life.”

Outside the abbey, moments later, Gavin spoke with
Nicholas.

“Once I receive word from Mackenzie, I will seek to
avenge the death of my wife’s family.”

“Aye, and I will be at yer side when the time comes.
Until then, go to yer wife while I learn more of what occurred last eve and
spitting caves. I fear there is more to this situation than we have been made
privy to.”

“Aye, I agree. Learn what ye can, but watch yer back.”
Gavin paused, then offered, “Mayhap, I should leave half the men with ye?”

“Nae, they will only reveal my presence here, for they
look and speak like Highlanders.”

“They are Highlanders,” Gavin retorted.

“Aye, and they will do me nae good here in England,”
Nicholas admitted.

“Do ye forget that ye are a Highlander as well?”

“I can speak like an Englishman if need be. And once I
cut my hair and dress accordingly, a bodie would nae suspect me as Scot”

Gavin nodded his head, then took hold of Nicholas’s
forearm and said, “Take care of yerself.”

“Ye as well. Godspeed.”

“Until we meet again.”

All but Nicholas headed back to the Highlands to
deliver the devastating news to Lady Ella. Nicholas did not envy Gavin the task
before him and hoped with time, she would find some measure of peace among the
Macleods.

Even if the pain of losing her family lessened, would
she ever be able accept Gavin as her husband? Did she know that her husband was
in love with her?

The questions that continued to plague Nicholas’s mind
only strengthened his determination to learn the truth, which would ensure the
fall and destruction of both Greystone and Montgomery.

It had been over a sennight since Gavin and his men
departed for England, and Ella’s fears increased with each passing day. To ease
her trepidation, she engrossed herself in training Righ and filling the role of
healer to Macleods. Although she had befriended many of the men and women of
the clan, with the exception of Paen and Leif, she had remained distant to
those who lived within the castle.

After declining Lady Esme’s numerous invitations to
dine within the great hall, Ella had finally decided to stop acting like a
child and agreed to be present during the evening meal.

It was late in the afternoon when she returned from
the village and headed to her chamber to wash and dress for supper. As she
passed the hall, she heard a commotion coming from kitchen.

Lady Esme had warned her to stay clear of the kitchen
because the cook, Ualan, was a miserable beast of a man. Apparently, Ualan had
been one of Gavin’s finest warriors until his leg was wounded in battle a few
years ago, leaving him crippled.

Ella silently crept down the spiral stone staircase,
stopping just outside the threshold of the kitchen, then slowly peeked inside.
The sight that greeted her eyes was an enormous man, with poker straight bronze
hair tied back with a leather strip and coal black eyes that narrowed with ire.
He looked to be a score and ten years, but was hard to tell, since his face was
crimson with rage. Apparently, he was cross with one of the serving girls, and
thrashed around like a madman until she ran crying from the kitchen. The girl
was so distraught that she didn’t even glance at Ella as she rushed past.

When she looked back into the kitchen, the cook had
turned his wrath on a petite young woman with raven black hair. The poor lass
seemed dwarfed by the barbarian as she took bread out from the oven, a few
paces away from him.

“We have less than an hour’s time till we serve the
evening meal and that worthless wench has the audacity to spill wine over the
freshly baked bread,” Ualan shouted, causing the pots that hung on the walls to
vibrate. .

“I am pulling out another batch of. . .” Her words
abruptly stopped, replaced by a gasp of pain.

Ella saw the female cook needlessly burn her hands
when she attempted to save a tray of bread that threatened to fall on the
ground. In her haste to retrieve the new batch, the cloth the covered her hands
slipped, and with lightning speed the girl hurled the bread onto the counter
adjacent to the two large ovens.

“Are ye as daft as that severing wench, Fin? Ye threw
the bread tray on the counter-” Ualan’s words were cut off by a petite woman
entering the kitchen, fuming like a banshee.

“Enough!” Ella roared at the insensitive man, who had
not even noticed that the girl he was screaming at was hurt.

“Can you not see that she is hurt? You will quit your
tirade this instant or I will give you something to rage about!”

Just then Ualan noticed Finella doubled over with her
back to him, but clearly trembling with pain. Instantly, he was at her side, his
anger replaced with genuine concern.

Ella quickly ran around the counter to see the extent
of the girl’s injuries, while Ualan stood next to her, with his hand on the
small of her back.

“Fin, what has happened? Are ye alright?” Ualan’s
demeanor completely changed when seeing his wee Fin in pain.

“My name is Lady Ella and I am a healer. May I see
your hands?”

When the girl saw the laird’s new wife crouched down
in front of her, words failed her. Instead, she opened her hands and showed the
kind, young women her burnt flesh.

The burn extended to both palms and all her fingers,
and Ella was immensely glad that her new medicinal satchel was still slung over
her shoulder.

“I need a basin of cool water, now,” she said to Ualan
before turning her gaze back on Fin. “Come, have a seat on this stool, while I
tend your hands. The cool water will alleviate some of the pain.” Pausing for a
moment, she then asked, “What is your name?”

“Finella, but everyone calls me Fin.”

Opening the small chest that housed her medicinal
jars, Ella took a pinch of common comfrey, daftodi and mandrake, then added it
to a goblet of mulled wine.

“This fowl tasting tonic will alleviate your pain for
many hours.” Since Fin’s hands were submerged in a large bowl of cool water,
Ella assisted with the task.

The dark haired girl complied with her request, even
though her face showed her distaste of the warmed concoction.

Ella quickly made a salve of yarrow, white willow, and
marigold, then said, “If I may, I will apply this paste directly to the burns.
Your hands may feel numb, but I assure you that it will also kill any infection
and speed the healing process. Then your hands need to be bandaged.”

“Aye, Milady. Do as ye see fit. I have heard ye are a
verra skilled healer and trust yer judgment.”

When Ella finished applying the salve and wrapping her
hands, a serving maid appeared and asked, “When will ye-”

“Get out!” Ualan bellowed as loud as he could at the
young maid, who turned on her heels and ran from the kitchen.

Both Ella and Fin looked at Ualan as he explained in a
gruff manner, “The meal will be served when I am good and ready to serve it,
and only after I ken Fin is well.”

Ualan’s profile spoke of power and enormous strength,
but it could not hide the pain in his heart seeing Fin suffer such misery. The
transformation in Ualan was like night and day. Gone was the boorish cook, and
was replaced by the most tenderhearted man in the Highlands.

The former warrior knelt by Fin’s stool, taking both
her bandaged hands in his and said, “Forgive me, please. I ne’er should have
yelled at ye. If I could, I would take yer pain in a heartbeat.”

Ualan’s eyes did not mask his love for the petite
woman, half his size.

“I ken ye would,” Fin said softly before her
expression changed abruptly to one of concern. “What about the evening meal?”

“Dinna concern yerself with such trivial matters,” he
began, “I will have one of the maids assist me in preparing the meal.”

“How will they be able to help when they fear to be
near ye?”

“I dinna need their help anyway. Witless wenches all
of them.”

“But Ualan,” Fin cried.

“Enough, I will-”

“I can help.”

Both Ualan and Fin turned to look at Ella, realizing
that they were not alone.

The ill-mannered cook faced her and said, “I have
learned much about ye these last few days and have come to respect ye, even
though ye are English.” He spat the last word, then continued, “For that, I
canna let ye-”