“You underestimate the nuns’ experience with unwilling novices. It’s not called the “Isle of Old Women” for naught. Once there, no one leaves, and no old woman will tolerate your tantrums.” Kieran ran a hand through his hair and stepped back. “Madeline, you’re my sister, and naught can change that. That’s why it pains me so much to see who you’ve become. You’re unrecognizable to me. I wish I could say I’ll send you to the convent and give you the chance to repent and change your ways before returning home, but the way you’re trying to manipulate me now makes me fear that I can never trust you again. I will marry Maude, and I will take her home to Stornoway. I willnottake her some place where she must suffer your wrath any time you’re displeased or merely for the sake of you feeling superior.”
“So, you are choosing her!” The tears began anew, but it was in truth this time. The brother she had once adored and idolized now couldn’t stand her. What was worse, he not only had no affection for her, but he bore great affection for a woman who couldn’t be more her opposite. She swallowed and could only force out a whisper. “I suppose this is how I must make Maude feel. Wretched and unlovable. It’s rather miserable and painful. God, how this hurts.”
Madeline sank to the floor on her knees as her shoulders shook between her sobs. Kieran squatted on his haunches and once more tilted her chin up. He caught a glimpse in her eyes of the young girl she had once been before their mother’s influence took hold. Their mother was snide and condescending, but she lacked the meanness that Madeline possessed. He’d worried more than once if he was selfish to want to bring Maude home to a family who might be little different from what she’d always experienced, but he believed his influence as laird and a fresh start would be enough to make Maude welcome. From there, her kindness and warm heart would win his clan over.
“It most likely is, lass. Now I’ll give you a moment to change your kirtle, put on your riding boots, and gather your cloak.” Kieran took a piece of vellum and the quill with the inkstand that sat on the table beside the window. He stepped into the passageway and scrawled a note for Maude.
Buttercup,
I must leave again, this time to take Madeline to Inchcailleoch Priory. I’m calling off the wedding. She’s demonstrated that not only can’t I trust her here, but I should worry about how she will behave with a new clan. I fear her behavior won’t improve and she will cause strife with Matheson’s other sons’ wives. She’s tried to manipulate me into forgiving her, but while I might eventually, I must also think about the clan. She need only say the wrong thing to the wrong person once, and she could cause a feud. She has much growing up to do. Perhaps a life dedicated to prayer will assist her. At the very least, some time spent in austerity might make her appreciate what she never has before.
I shall miss you until I return and have you in my arms again. The memory of the taste of your lips on mine will be my succor. Even if it is only a couple days. It shall take me two days, most likely, to settle her there and to ensure her dowry is transferred to the convent while restitution is paid to the Mathesons for breaking the betrothal before I even formalized it.
When I return, I shall make my intentions clear to all and sundry. There will be no hiding that I’m courting you. That I will marry you.
Yours always,
Turtledove.
PS I didn’t have the chance to say it, but your hair looks lovely today. I believe I’ll need to have several kertches made to keep such a treasure all to myself.
He folded and sealed the parchment before knocking on Madeline’s door. When she called to him, he entered her chamber. He scanned the chamber and saw that nothing besides the shattered pottery was out of place. He returned the ink and quill to the table then warmed a square of wax with the candle. He pressed his signet ring and was careful to ensure the markings were clear.
“Let’s be on our way. It isn’t far.”
“It could be all the way on the moon for how close I will feel to the life I’ve known.”
Kieran didn’t disagree with her. They left the chamber, but paused when he summoned a page, giving him explicit instructions that the missive was to go to no one’s hands but Maude’s. Not her friend, her sister, or her father. It was for her alone.
Chapter Eleven
Maude was in the queen’s solar when the page delivered Kieran’s missive. She was certain she blushed as she read and reread the note thrice. She felt sorry for Madeline, but she also understood Kieran’s decision. Her parents had drilled it into her, as well as her brother and sister, that their behavior would always reflect upon the clan. They, as the laird’s children, would always be held to a higher standard and that they should remember their duty to the clan in all their decisions and actions. She didn’t envy Kieran or Madeline, but the woman had brought this upon herself. Maude feared the reaction that would come with Kieran’s outburst, but while her table remained quiet, she caught the comments floating from others. It seemed Madeline wasn’t as well liked as she and her friends would have everyone believe. But Maude also understood it was easy for others to stand in judgement after the fact. Even as she sat embroidering, she worried that Laurel would be her next antagonist, but the woman had been remarkably demure since Madeline’s abrupt exit.
Maude was about to ask the queen if she might excuse her to find her father. She wanted to keep him abreast of why Kieran disappeared, but Laurel approached first.
“May I sit?” she asked.
Maude nodded and gestured toward the other half of the window seat.
“I owe you an apology many times over. I said hurtful things to you and aboot you and knew it was wrong even as the words spewed from my mouth.” Laurel looked around to see who watched them. When she was convinced no one was paying too much attention, she lowered her voice further. “Madeline discovered something aboot my brother I wish to remain secret. She promised she wouldn’t say aught if I supported her among the ladies. It became all too easy to cut you to the quick when Madeline made it, or rather you, seem so insignificant. When the others joined in or at least latched on, the power of being popular became addictive. You know I’m the youngest of five sisters. I loved having people pay attention to me after always being the bairn of the family. The one my mother was too tired to remember, and the one my father begrudged having to pay yet another dowry for. I made myself feel better at your expense, and I was so deep into following Madeline’s lead in fear of what she might say aboot my brother, that I sinned without remorse. I offer you my heartfelt contrition, Maude. I know these are but words, but they are true.”
Maude watched Laurel as she spoke. The woman endeavored to maintain eye contact, but at times she struggled and looked down at her hands which she clenched in her lap. Maude was wasn’t prepared to trust Laurel’s sincerity yet, but she wouldn’t throw the woman’s apology back in her face. Time would tell whether Laurel had reformed, but for now, Maude could be gracious. It cost her nothing.
“I appreciate your honesty and your apology.” She also didn’t have to gild the lily by being effusive with her thanks. Laurel nodded once when she realized nothing more would be forthcoming from Maude. She returned to her own sewing, and Maude approached the queen.
“Your Grace, a missive arrived that will concern my father. May I be excused to look for him?”
“I hope naught is wrong. He will be in the lists at this hour.”
“Aye, Your Grace.” Maude was already aware her father would be training. If he wasn’t in meetings with the king in the morning, then he was outside swinging his sword. He might be well into his fourth decade, but he was just as strong and hardy as a man half his age. He reminded his own guardsmen of that frequently. She wound her way through the castle until she stepped outside. It was an unusually warm day, and the sun was brilliant. It was a day that would have been nice spent strolling through the gardens with Kieran. Shading her eyes with her hand, Maude picked her way to the lists, but stopped well before stepping foot into the training ground. She looked for anyone she might recognize near the boundary or anyone she could ask to find her father. There was no one. Maude knew better than to walk onto the field while men were swinging swords and axes, no matter how dull those weapons might be. She also knew she needed to speak to her father sooner rather than later. Maude did the only thing she could think of. She whistled the signal her father used when he wanted to summon the men from the lists. The shrill sound traveled across the field bringing most of the men to an abrupt halt. They looked around until she whistled again, this time not as loudly. She recognized her father, who jogged toward her with the Sutherland contingent behind him.
“What’s wrong?” Hamish’s eyes swept over his daughter. It was rare for Maude or Blair to interrupt training at home, and it would be even more significant when men from so many clans practiced.
“Naught, Da. I need to speak to you aboot something though. I didna mean to interrupt everyone’s training, but I wasna sure how else to find you.” She peered around Hamish’s shoulder and offered an apologetic smile to the Sutherlands who’d rushed over with their laird. She allowed her brogue to overtake her courtly speech as she relaxed into the conversation with her father.
“Vera well.” He turned back to his men and nodded before escorting Maude to a bench at the entrance to the garden. “What’s happened, lass?”
“I dinna ken if ye heard what happened this morning before ye arrived at the Great Hall.”
