There was a knock on the door. Helene stopped crying and remained silent. Who could it be? Dougall was downstairs and Helene didnae wish to have anyone see her this way. She slowly opened the door, afraid to see who might be on the other side.
“Helene, ’tis only I. Aunt Saundra. I’ve brought Brenna with me. I hope ye dinnae mind the company.” They entered the room, softly closing the door behind them. “I’m so sorry,” Saundra said. “Paddraig isnae known fer his gentle ways. He hurt ye, I can see it in yer eyes.” She awkwardly took Helene in her arms, hugging her in what Helene imagined was an attempt to comfort her, while Brenna stood by watching and shaking her head.
Helene extricated herself from the embrace and Saundra handed her a hankie for her nose. Helene gratefully accepted it and did her best to wipe away the tears that had begun again and then her nose. “Thank ye.”
“Me dear, if I had known Dougall was planning to bring a lass back home with him I would have warned him in advance.” She gazed at Helene, who stood a little taller under her examination. “Yer a lovely lass, but I must tell ye that Paddraig is a hard man and when he’s made up his mind about something, it would take a great force for him to change it. Dougallwillmarry Greer Matheson and if ye decide to stay, ye’ll be his mistress. I ken ’tis unthinkable at this moment, but if ye love Dougall, and I believe ye do, ye’ll stay for his sake.”
“I cannae do it. I cannae remain as his mistress. I want Dougall all for meself. I cannae share him.” Selfishness was not something Helene was known for, but Dougall was where her generous nature ended.
“This is all a shock to ye. Think on it for a while, lass. Ye’ll see that I’m right.” Saundra stood and walked to the door.
“I doubt I’ll ever see things that way,” Helene fumed.
“I’ll stay fer a bit, Aunt.” Brenna spoke for the first time.
“Dinnae let yer Da find ye here. He’ll be angry with ye,” Saundra said as she exited the room.
“He doesnae get angry with me, as ye well ken,” Brenna called after her. She turned a warm smile on Helene. “Do ye mind if I sit?”
“Nae, please do.”
Brenna sat on the edge of the bed and took Helene’s hand. “I’m so pleased we got to spend time together before ye arrived here. I like ye, Helene.” Unlike Aunt Saundra, Helene felt at ease with Brenna. She was exactly who she appeared to be. There was no falseness to her.
“And I, ye.” Helene wasn’t sure what to say. Their journey the last few days had brought them closer and she felt a great deal of warmth for Dougall’s wee sister.
“I will do me best to help ye. Dougall is me favorite brother, ye ken, and I’ve missed him greatly. I’d like him to stay. Me Da listens to me most of the time,” she proudly stated.
“Thank ye, Brenna. I feel so helpless. I love yer brother and I wish more than anything to be his wife.” Her shoulders sagged a bit with the weight of all that had happened.
“I dinnae care fer Greer Matheson. Her only interest is in being Lady MacRae when ’tis time fer Dougall to be laird. I believe ye’d marry Dougall title or nae.”
“I would,” Helene said. She was happy she’d found an ally here in this place. “Brenna, yer Da said that Dougall once loved Greer. Is this true?”
“I was but a wee child, but their Da came to visit once or twice and Dougall and Fingall were forced to spend time with her and her sister. Ye ken, to show them around and entertain them so they wouldnae be bored. Greer is verra pretty and I dinnae doubt Dougall thought so too, but he hardly knew her or had time to fall in love with her. He was but a young lad and off to Breaghacraig shortly after. Fingall, on the other hand, stayed home and had occasion to meet and spend time with Gillian more often and he did indeed fall in love. Dinnae fash, Helene. Me Da will say whatever he thinks will work to get Dougall to agree to the match.”
Helene felt some relief speaking with Brenna. “I would be pleased to call ye sister, Brenna, but I fear that may never happen.”
“’Twill. Ye’ll see.” Brenna squeezed Helene’s hand and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “We’ll be great friends. I promise.”
“I think we already are.”
Before entering the great hall, Dougall gathered the strength he’d need before confronting his father. He had two choices. He could remain calm and state his case in a rational manner. Chances are his father would not respond in kind. His other choice was to stand up to Paddraig. Let him know that he was his own man and he wouldn’t be forced into anything even by his own father. His father’s reaction to this would, predictably, be the same. He knew exactly how this was going to go, so he decided he would weather the storm as best he could before gathering Helene and their things and leaving for good. Hopefully he could maintain a level head.
Paddraig sat in his usual spot on the dais. He impatiently tapped his fingers on the table in front of him. Dougall decided to speak before his father was even aware of his presence.
“Da, I cannae marry another. I’ve promised to marry Helene. I dinnae wish to be a disappointment to ye, but I’ll nae do it.” There he’d said it. He stood at attention, ready for anything Paddraig might throw his way.
“’Tis too late. Yer already a disappointment to me, but ye’ll be put to good use as me prized stud and ye’ll marry Greer Matheson as I’ve arranged.” Paddraig reached for his cup and drained it.
“Nae. I willnae.” Dougall felt as though he were a young lad once again, disobeying his Da.
“Ye’ll nae embarrass me, Dougall. Ye’ll do yer duty. As me son, ye have nae choice in this.” Dougall was about to speak again, but his father put up a hand to stop him. “Now, let’s nae speak of it again. As a gift fer yer cooperation in this matter, I’m putting ye in charge of me teulu. To that end, I’m sending ye out to scout the surrounding lands with yer men. Get to know them. Gain their trust and show them yer a good leader.”
Dougall didnae dare speak. Being put in charge of Paddraig MacRae’s teulu was no gift. He’d been in charge of his own teulu at Breaghacraig, having won the respect of the MacKenzies early on. His Da thought he could buy Dougall’s loyalty, and his agreement to marry Greer Matheson. He was fuming with anger and was having difficulty controlling it.
“I can see yer thinking of disobeying me. Ye were always the insolent one, werenae ye?” Paddraig left the table and stood toe to toe with Dougall. “I’ve sent me men to guard the entrance to yer room. Yer lovely lass will remain me prisoner until ye return and if ye disobey me… well, ye dinnae wish to ken what will happen to ye both. Ye’ll leave now and I’ll brook no argument from ye.”
“I’ll nae leave Helene here at yer mercy. I’m leaving, and I’m taking her with me.” He narrowed his eyes and stared malevolently at the man who dared tell him what to do.
