Orva nodded understandingly. Then she turned to her mistress. “I have brought a trunk of garments for you,” she said quietly.
“But we shall not be here long,” Cicely insisted. “Although I will say I am glad of clean clothing, for I have worn this same gown since I was taken from Perth. Mab has done her best to keep it fresh. Oh, Orva, you will like her! She is the cook, and has been my friend since the day I arrived.”
“Well, thank goodness for that, for I have been worried sick aboutyou.” She paused. “This laird is a bold man, but as long as he has not harmed you I am content. Sir William Douglas, the older gentleman who brought us to Glengorm, is his clan chief. He will see all is made right, my dearie. The king has sent him to bring you back to Perth. The queen has been so fretful in your absence. She is almost ready to deliver her child.”
“I have missed Jo, but we shall shortly be on our way back to Perth. I hope the king will not punish the laird of Glengorm too severely for this. He stole me because, he says, he loves me. It’s really very sweet, Orva. He says he couldn’t court me in Perth because the Gordons wouldn’t let any man but the laird of Fairlea near me.”
“Did he now?” Orva replied. “Well, I can’t fault him too badly if he says he loves you, for he is not mistaken about the Gordons. There were several young men who sought to catch your eye and might have but for the Gordons.” Her tone was disapproving.
“She should not marry Fairlea just to please the king,” Maggie MacLeod broke in.
“Do you know this ruffian who stole my mistress?” Orva asked.
Maggie nodded. “He’s a good man, respected, and his holding is as big as, if not a wee bit bigger than, Fairlea’s. I’ve known him since I wed Grey and came into the borders. Ian Douglas has said he loves Cicely, Orva. That should count for something. You know her father. Which would he choose for her?”
Orva smiled, nodding her head. “He would choose the man who loved his daughter, for he has always loved her. He has always wanted my lady’s happiness.”
At this point they were joined by Sir William Douglas. He bowed to Cicely. “I do not have to ask if you are well, my dear, for I know that Ian would not mistreat you. Ian tells me that you are responsible for this miraculous transformation of Glengorm. I have never seen this hall so clean and welcoming.”
“Thank you,” Cicely said, smiling. “The king has sent you to bring me back to Perth, I assume. When may we leave?”
“Ahh,” Sir William said with a sigh. “While I have indeed been sent for you I am afraid that my kinsman is not quite ready to release you. He tells me that he loves you, and wishes to make you his wife. He says if you are not ready to remain of your own accord then he must continue to keep you here so he may convince you that he is the husband for you, and no other.”
“But you speak for the king!” Cicely said, suddenly angry.
“I do, madam, but I am one man with a few men-at-arms accompanying him. I cannot remove you physically from Glengorm, for I could not defend either you or my actions, I fear. I will, however, return to Perth and tell the king of the laird’s wishes in this matter. You have but to be patient. We will negotiate this situation and bring it to a successful conclusion shortly.” Sir William patted her hand in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. “Glengorm is a pleasant habitat, my dear, and I can see that you are not uncomfortable here.”
“Your kinsman promised that when the king’s representative came, if I was not content to remain here I might depart,” Cicely said furiously. “He has lied to me then!”
“I suspect your sweet company has only made him more determined to win you over, and he has changed his mind. Do not women change their minds?” Sir William asked her with a twinkle in his eye.
Maggie giggled, and even Orva was forced to smile at Sir William’s remark.
Cicely stormed across the hall to where Ian and Andrew Grey were now in conversation. “You said you would let me go!” she fumed at him.
“I thought better of it,” he replied calmly.
“Liar!” Cicely shouted. “If you really loved me you would let me go!”
“To Fairlea?Never!” he shouted back. “The Gordons would crush your spirit and squander your dower. I love you, ladyfaire! I will notallow that to happen. I am the husband for you, and soon you will realize it.”
“I would sooner take the veil than marry you, you loutish border ruffian!” Cicely told him.
“Now who is telling lies?” Ian Douglas chuckled. “Look, here is the priest. Ambrose, the lady would enter a convent. Can you arrange it for her?”
Cicely was standing near the sideboard. Reaching out, she grasped a small silver goblet and hurled it at the laird of Glengorm. “Ohhhh, I hate you!” she raged.
The little vessel whizzed past his head, falling to the floor. Ian Douglas leaped forward and, catching hold of Cicely, turned her over his knee, smacking her bottom several times through her gown. “No, you don’t,” he said. Then, “Were you never taught, ladyfaire, not to hurl objects at people’s heads?” He tipped her back onto her feet.
Cicely stamped her foot at him. “How dare you strike me, you monster!” Then she swung at his head with her small, balled-up fist.
He caught the fist in his big hand, and, yanking her into his arms, the laird of Glengorm kissed Lady Cicely Bowen a hard, long kiss. Then, heedless of their guests, he looked down into her face and murmured against her lips, “I love you, you impossible little termagant.I love you!” And he kissed her again slowly, passionately, his mouth moving over hers until he felt the anger seeping from her slender form, and her lips worked on his, kissing him back, and she sighed a sweet sound of contentment.
“Oh, my,” Maggie MacLeod said.
“There is one maiden who will never be a nun,” Father Ambrose said with a grin.
Finally the laird released Cicely. “Now go and see to our guests, ladyfaire,” he told her. “We’ll need to feed and house them all this day.”
