The Country Wife (8 page)

His musings had soured his mood, so he merely grunted when Lilli pointed out the village ahead. The cluster of humble cottages was little more than a way station with no castle nearby to offer protection. An inn and tavern with stables in the back dominated the square and offered rough comfort for the wayward traveler caught here. But in the sunny fields beyond, a stretch of tents had been set up beside farm carts selling wares from the back. On the other side of the meadow, rough stone fences marked off enclosures for livestock. Men gathered around them to haggle and test the quality of cattle.

“There’s a good spot beneath that tree,” Lilli directed and Callum obligingly pulled the little cart into the shaded area, making sure it was in line with the other carts. Jumping down, he steadied Lilli as she descended.

“I’m perfectly capable of taking myself out of the cart,” she exclaimed as if displeased, but he saw the flash of something about her that said otherwise. Her refusal to meet his gaze told him something more about the beautiful Highland girl. She was not as immune to him as she would have him believe.

“Aye, I know you are, lass. You’ve no need for a hand from anyone, I can see well and plain but you’d grow angry with me if I don’t treat you like the fine lady your mother wished you to be. You can’t put on airs with me, then fuss at me when I act accordingly.”

She stood nonplussed as to what to say without giving herself away. Now her face reddened even more in embarrassment and she opened her mouth to answer, but no words came. How she longed to fling her true identity in his face and watch his fluster of consternation. But she bit her lip to stay silent. She couldn’t risk such a luxury as spite for the danger it might bring to her and Rose. Seeing her struggle within herself, he spoke harshly.

“Don’t fluster yourself to cut me down again,” he snapped. “If you’ve a need for me, I’ll be at the pastures looking at the animals and swigging a beer like the wretched lout I am.” He strode off across the meadow toward the cluster of gathering men.

Chapter Eight

“Don’t fret, lass, they’re of a like mind, the whole lot of ‘em,” the woman at the next cart called out.

“Who?” Lilli asked caught off-guard.

“Why, men, lass. Have you not been wed long enough to learn their ways, yet?” She was a plump, cheery sort with two little ones running about her skirts while she quickly set up her wares of woven cloth and brown eggs. “My name’s Addie and these are my two littlest ones, Patty and Wynn.”

“I’m Lilli, but I’m not—”

“Aye, you’re a new wife. ‘Twill take you time to figure them out, but you will then you can set the tone of what you want in your marriage. Remember, lass, a man may think he’s the head of the household, but ‘tis the clever woman who lets him believe it.” She spied Rose and leaned over to coo at the baby. “Ooh, you’ve a bonnie, wee bairn. You wasted no time. They’re a wonder, they are.”

The woman spoke so rapidly jumping from one topic to another that Lilli gave up trying to follow or even respond. Taking out a clean white cloth, she spread it over the back of the cart and displayed her cheese and milk.

For the next hour, she was busy and her store of cheese quickly sold. As she poured out the last of the milk into a waiting pail, the sound of approaching horsemen brought a shiver of alarm. Absently taking the coin, she added it to those already jingling in the bottom of her pocket and watched the riders approach. They ogled her as they rode past. The farmers ducked their heads and busied themselves with their carts and wares. An ominous air had settled over the assembly. The riders dismounted and swaggered along the row of carts, stopping now and then to sample the goods, uninvited. Their leader remained astride his horse, laughing at the antics of his band. No one uttered a word of objection, but their jaws set with resentment.

“‘Tis Owen Waite and his riff-raff,” Addie said and hurried to her own cart to push her unsold goods into baskets.

Lilli gazed at the mounted leader with growing dread. He meant nothing but trouble for her. Grateful she’d sold all her milk and cheese, she quickly hid the potatoes and the half dozen eggs she’d traded for. She’d just carefully packed the eggs in hay and bent to pick up Rose when she heard a sneering voice.

“So, Lilli Hardy, this is why you were sent away,” the man said. “Your father tried to hide your shame.”

Lilli risked a glance over one shoulder then ducked her head, trying to avoid the outraged gaze of the burly man.

“Here now, you’re not Lilli Hardy!” His broad face turned red and ugly.

“Aye, I am,” she declared while casting an anxious gaze toward the pastures. There was no sign of Callum. She’d not seen him since he’d stalked away when they’d first arrived. Perhaps he’d left after her ungracious remark. Her heart sank. That meant she was on her own facing this bully.

“Go away. I have nothing to sell,” she said and settled Rose into the wagon. Instantly, the baby began to squall.

“Tell me why you claim to be someone you ain’t?” Waite bellowed.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please pass on and leave me be.”

“Pass on and leave you? Are you puttin’ on airs, now?” He leaned from his saddle to curl a strand of her hair around a stubby finger then around his fist until she was caught. He gave it a vicious twist, causing her to cry out. “I’ll go when you tell me your true name for you’re not Lilli Hardy.”

“Aye, I am,” she said, trying to pull away but the movement brought pain searing along her scalp.

“Nay, wench. Lilli Hardy was comely enough but not like you.” He ran a finger along her cheek, his eyes glinting with something ugly and dangerous. “Are you like the girl you claim to be? Do you tease and torment a man then cry innocent when he makes his move? Are you a relative pretending to be Lilli? If so, you don’t have Thom Hardy to protect you this time.”

He fingered a scar along his cheek, and his glare turned murderous. “Thom gave me this, he did, and afterwards he sent off his daughter as if I was the devil himself, like I wasn’t good enough for her.”

Lilli wished for the unknown Thom Hardy’s strong arm now. The unpleasant glare in Owen Waite’s eyes showed he still bore a grudge. Lilli remembered the serving girl’s words upon hearing of her father’s death and repeated them now in the hopes of diverting Waite from her true identity.

“Aye, Thom Hardy’s not here now as well you know since you cowardly ambushed him in the woods with all your companions to back you up.”

For a moment, her words caught him unprepared. His face flushed, and he struggled for something to say then he recovered and glanced around to see who might have heard her. His men had gathered around him, which seemed to embolden him.

“You can’t prove it.” He smirked. “I have an alibi for the time Hardy was killed.” He looked over his shoulder at the motley crew of men who sniggered in return. Encouraged by their presence, Waite guided his mount closer so she was neatly trapped between the cart and a tree.

“Doesn’t matter to me that you’re not who you claim to be,” he said with a sly twist to his voice. “You’re bonnie enough for me.”

“I have no need of a man like you.” She took off her curtch and flapped it in his mount’s face causing it to rear and back away.

Waite was nearly unseated and grabbled for the reins. The guffaws among his friends were quickly smothered at his scowling glance.

“You bitch,” he shouted at her. “Slut!”

“Leave me alone, or I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” he sneered and leaped out of his saddle, sullen intent evident in his glare.

She understood readily enough why he’d stayed mounted when his friends were not. On foot, he was a squat, unprepossessing figure barely as tall as she was.

“You have no man to protect you, woman, so you can yell all you want.” He’d reached her now and his meaty hand slashed out, leaving a red stain on her pale cheek.

Her breath was taken at the fierceness of the blow. Waite followed up the momentum of his attack by grabbing hold of her hair and pulling so she cried out in pain. Though she resisted with all the power in her slender body, he bore her down to her knees and laughed cruelly to see her in such a submissive position.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you? Acting like a fine lady, just like Lilli used t’do. Thinking herself better than everyone around her.”

Lilli gasped, remembering the innocent, dead maidservant with a new appreciation. No wonder her father had sent the girl to Lady Jane to protect her from a man such as this.

Glancing around at the crowd that had gathered, Waite raised his voice. “There she is acting the innocent lass when yon bairn tells the truth of it. She claims to be Thom Hardy’s daughter, but she’s not. And I ask you what has she done with Lilli Hardy that she feels safe to use the poor girl’s name? She may even be a murderer.”

“That’s a lie,” she cried.

“Then where’s Lilli? Who are you?” Waite demanded.

Lilli fell silent. She dare not reveal her true identity.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Waite cried triumphantly. “She’s naught but a whore come among decent folks to steal and cheat.”

He grabbed at her breast and squeezed painfully. She twisted away, slapping ineffectively at his hands. Her actions only brought more pain to her head and laughter from the crowd of on-lookers.

“Leave her be,” Addie shouted, waddling forward to lend her support.

One of the men grabbed hold of her, bending her arms high behind her back. Waite slashed her across the face with his fist then wrapped his arm around her neck, squeezing cruelly so she gasped for air.

“Let go of my mam!” Addie’s son, who couldn’t have been more than six summers, launched himself at Waite and was sent flying with a cruel backhand. The boy landed in the dust, a line of blood running down his chin from a cut lip.

“Are you all right, Wynne?” Addie struggled to break free of the man holding her, which only occasioned more laughter from her capture and some of the onlookers.

Wynne got to his feet and stood hesitantly, watching his mom.

“Go find her man, Wynne. Hurry,” his mother instructed and he took off like a shot.

Lilli guessed the crowd hadn’t much liked Waite’s striking of the valiant little boy for they moved back a step or two as if to disband. Sensing he was about to lose his audience, he grabbed hold of Lilli’s arm and yanked her forward so she couldn’t escape. Her face grimaced in pain. Waite laughed and tightened his grip, so she bit her lip rather than giving him the pleasure of hearing her cry out.

“Why don’t you pay the price if she’s so willing, Waite?” one man called. “Even for a coin she won’t have you.”

“Throw down a coin and I’ll show you how quickly she opens her legs and sells her wares,” he called. He glared around the group and finally one of his cohorts reluctantly dug a coin from his vest and threw it down.

“There, woman, you see that? You’ve been bought. I’m about to plant my seed in your belly and you’ll have another brat on your hands.” He reached for the bodice of her gown, ripping it down the front so her breasts were exposed. A groan went up among the men when her breasts were exposed.

Shamed, Lilli couldn’t hold back the tears of anger and humiliation. She clamped her torn bodice to her chest and lashed out with her foot. She caught him midway on his thigh, which brought a grunt of pain but did nothing to release his hold on her hair or the cruel intent in his eyes.

“Help me, someone, please,” she begged. “His words are all lies. ‘Tis not true, I swear. Don’t let him take me in such an evil manner.”

Some of the men turned away, shame-faced to witness what was about to happen, but none offered their help. They were obviously too afraid of Waite’s retaliation.

“Please,” she beseeched, reaching out to them.

Waite’s laughter rang in her ears as he bore her to the ground, fumbling with his breeches. She couldn’t breathe. Terror tightened her chest and clogged her throat. Had she escaped the horror of the hanging fields to come to this?

Suddenly, Waite’s weight was yanked from her. Callum was there, his fist doubled and swinging for Waite’s chin. Lilli heard the impact although she didn’t see the blow. She was scrambling to find her shawl and cover her exposed bosom. Callum delivered another blow that laid Waite out on the ground. Drawing his sword, Callum stood over him, his blade at Waite’s throat, his foot planted firmly in his chest while he glared at the onlookers.

“What manner of people are you that you’d watch an innocent lass ravaged by the likes of him?” Fists clenched Callum glared at the circle of onlookers.

“She’s not so innocent,” one of Waite’s men stated. “She’s nothing but a whore for she’s had a bairn without a proper husband.”

“She’s married to Thom Hardy,” Callum said.

“Thom Hardy was an old man. He couldn’t have won himself such a bride. Besides now he’s dead, and she’s claiming the name of his daughter. She’s not what she claims to be.” Waite jeered from the ground.

Lilli’s face flamed with humiliation and alarm at their accusations, but she couldn’t refute their words without revealing the truth and putting Rose in danger. Her proud head drooped. Callum released Waite.

“So it is true, lass. You’ve no husband.”

“Aye,” the whispered reply came. Her head came up and her eyes were luminous with tears. “You’ve no need to ride back with me if you’re ashamed to be seen with me.”

“It’s time we ride home. I’ll hitch up Doire,” he said, and Lilli felt a flare of gratitude. He turned away, and Lilli caught a movement from the corner of her eye.

“Callum!” She gave a half strangled cry of warning.

He ducked and Waite’s blade skimmed by his neck, burying itself in his shoulder. Lilli screamed. Callum staggered backward against the cart, a gush of blood trickling down his side. He fumbled for his blade hidden in the cart beneath the straw.

Waite struck again, raising his claymore high overhead and charging forward for the deathblow. Lillie screamed. Callum withdrew his sword, twisting aside at the same time. Waite’s claymore buried itself in the wooden cart where Callum had stood only moments before.