Chapter Ten
Maude watched the tempest that was Madeline MacLeod storm into the Great Hall. Maude knew Kieran must have spoken to her because Madeline hadn’t been in such a state when they gathered in the chapel for morning Mass. No. This thunderstorm had developed far more recently. Maude attempted to stay out of Madeline’s line of sight, hoping to avoid acting as the woman’s outlet. She wasn’t to be so fortunate. Madeline’s sight narrowed onto Maude, who sat between Arabella and Blair. Maude had sought her sister’s company that morning. She’d confessed to everything that happened between her and Kieran. She didn’t hide, or rather downplay, anything as she had with Arabella. She felt guilty sharing more with Blair than Arabella when they considered themselves sisters of the heart. But some things should only be discussed with someone who shared the same blood. Blair had been supportive, if not a little smug, when Maude described everything Kieran said about her body. Maude feared Blair would judge her for wantonness, but her sister’s only response was “I told you so.”
“Good morn, Lady Madeline,” Cairren Kennedy made the fatal error.
“What’s good aboot a morning when your brother has sold you like a slave?” Madeline bemoaned.
Neither Blair nor Arabella showed any response, Maude having forewarned them. Maude kept her eyes down as she poured honey into her porridge, using it as an excuse not to look at Madeline.
“I beg your pardon,” Cairren responded.
“My profligate brother has betrothed me to the fourth son of Laird Matheson. Can you believe that? Thefourthson!”
Maude kept her eyes averted, but her mouth twitched. It would seem Madeline wasn’t upset about the betrothal or even that it was to a Matheson. It was that it was to the youngest son. She believed she should marry a laird or at least an heir.
“Shouldn’t he retire to a monastery somewhere? Couldn’t he have the decency to disappear? Then I couldn’t marry him.” She pouted when she finished.
Despite her rant, Madeline spied the small upturn of Maude’s mouth and turned her temper toward Maude. She leaned across the table, making it impossible for Maude to ignore her. Madeline pulled Maude’s bowl away from her, removing Maude’s excuse to not engage.
“What’re you smiling aboot, you fat dowd? At least someone has agreed to marry me. You shall rot as a spinster until your bones grow brittle. I may not like who my brother chose, but at least my brother’s seen to my future. Your father couldn’t be bothered. He’s happy to be rid of you here. I’ll have a mon while you’ll have naught but your fingers,” she hissed. Several of the ladies drew back at Madeline’s crude reference.
“Madeline Eloise MacLeod!” The bellow was followed by the pounding of a fist on the table. Kieran marched over to their table, glanced at Maude, then hauled his sister away with an arm around her waist. Maude never imagined anything could enrage Kieran so much, and it frightened her. She wanted to follow them to reassure Kieran that Madeline’s words had done no real harm and to be sure Madeline survived, but she knew she couldn’t. It would only make the scene worse, and she was certain Madeline would spew more foul things even if Maude came to her defense.
They conducted the remainder of the meal in stunned silence with only the occasional whisper of questions about whether Kieran would whip her, exile her home, or throttle her. Maude prayed it was none of those. She didn’t want to come between brother and sister. Kieran may swear now that he would choose Maude, but she didn’t want to test the bonds of family. Or worse, be what severed them.
* * *
The ringing in Kieran’s ears didn’t end even when they reached his sister’s chambers. She’d flailed and ranted until he dropped her on the stairs, letting her believe he would allow her to fall. He’d given her the option of coming quietly or going over his shoulder where he could swat her arse until his hand stung. He’d never threatened to raise his hand to a woman before, and much like he would never let her fall down the stairs, he wouldn’t follow through with his pledge. When they arrived at Madeline’s chamber, he swung the door open so hard that it smashed against the wall and some of the plaster crumbled. He flung her into the room and slammed the door shut, making the wall rattle.
“I have never been so ashamed of anyone in my life. You are a disgrace to the laird’s family and to our clan. You were naught short of a vulgar bitch in front of half the court. Do you realize every table surrounding you witnessed your tantrum? Do you realize that turning your viperous tongue on an innocent woman only shamed you more? Do you realize, little sister, that you shall never, ever show your face in that Great Hall again? I may forbid it while you’re still unmarried, but you can be certain the queen will forbid it once you are wed. What will you say to your husband if he can’t present you at court?”
“That this is your fault!” Madeline stalked away before picking up the pitcher and hurling it across the chamber.
“Oh, no, you don’t, princess.” Kieran’s fingers bit into her wrists so deeply that he was sure there would be marks, but he kept her from lobbing the basin too. “Your theatrics have never worked on me. Your performance, for that’s what it was, was for the sake of your so-called friends and your hangers-on. But you went way too far. Rather than sympathy, you shall receive naught but scorn. You were angry when we left here and may have worked yourself into a lather before reaching the Great Hall, but that display was because of your narcissism, and it shall come home to rue. Pack your belongings. We leave within the hour. What doesn’t fit within a satchel I might send to you later.”
Madeline sneered at him and crossed her arms, tapping her foot. Kieran took a deep breath, expanding his chest to its full breadth before leaning over her.
“You will do as I say this minute, or it won’t be marriage you’re heading to. It’ll be Inchcailleoch Priory for you, where you can take not only a vow of poverty but one of silence.” Madeline took a step back, at last realizing she’d pushed her brother too far. It was rare that he lost his temper, but it fizzled if Madeline waited in silence for long enough. She wasn’t so confident that he would forgive her this time.
“I’m sorry for my behavior in front of everyone and for my uncouth words.” If only Madeline had stopped there. “But it was just Maude Sutherland. She means naught.”
Kieran’s hand shot out, but he stopped himself before it went around Madeline’s throat. She knew what he intended, and her eyes widened in shock.
“You’re involved with her. Is she your mistress?” Once again, if only Madeline knew when to stop. Instead she muttered, “That little slut.”
“The wedding is off.” Kieran grasped his sister’s chin but was careful not to be rough. “See me and hear me well. You will go to the convent. I will make your excuses to the Mathesons and say you have a calling of faith. You’ve insulted the woman I will marry for the last time. I heard you on the terrace a few days before I returned home. I’ve heard aboot the other things you’ve said since then. It was only for Maude’s sake that I didn’t say aught. I didn’t trust you not to be vindictive, but you have proven you can’t be trusted to show your face in good company. I can’t risk you unleashing this behavior on any of the Matheson women, especially not the wives of the laird’s sons. Forget packing. You need not bring aught.”
“You can’t be serious, Kieran. I didn’t know. I would have kept such things to myself if I had.”
“And that’s why you still can’t be trusted. You don’t see the sin in having those thoughts. You just don’t want to be caught. You’ve far exceeded Mother’s and Abigail’s pettiness. You have a cruel streak that I won’t make others suffer. You are a laird’s daughter and a laird’s sister. You have had the best in life, yet for all your supposed loyalty to our clan, you can’t see how your actions harm our people. Do you understand what would happen to Assynt if the Sutherlands, Sinclairs, and Mackays rally together to avenge the slight you’ve given Maude? What if the Mackenzies join with the Sutherlands? That would decimate Assynt. Not to mention the Mackenzies are allied with the Mathesons. If you married into that clan, where would that put them if they’re allied to both us and the Mackenzies? The Isle of Lewis might be safe, but we have clan members on the mainland for whom I’m responsible. You think of no one but yourself. And I’m through. You’re too great a liability.”
Tears streamed down Madeline’s face as she listened to Kieran’s accusations. She knew they were all true. She’d arrived at court and gained attention from the male courtiers while her sense of style and confidence enabled her to rise in the social hierarchy of the ladies-in-waiting. The taste of power brought out the worst in her, but she hadn’t cared so long as she remained on top. She saw all that crumbling before her. She had one last plea.
“You’d choose her over me, your own sister?” Her voice trembled as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
“This isn’t aboot Maude. You could have just as easily unleashed on one of the other ladies today, or you might target any one of them once Maude leaves. You are no longer the lass I knew. The woman you have become is not one I wish to have in our clan. Even now, you’re attempting to manipulate me.”
“Fine.” Madeline’s tears stopped with the abruptness with which they started. “Send me to the convent and see how well that goes. They’ll force you to retrieve me within a fortnight.”
