“Hacon, think a moment. Aye, my blood is good. I am wellborn. Howbeit, that is all I can claim. I am the child of thieves. There is no land, no title, and no money. I dinnae even have the full set of linen expected of a lass about to be wed. I have no dowry at all.”
He pulled her into his arms and heartily kissed her, not easing the embrace until they were both breathless. “There is your dowry, lass. ’Tis enough.”
She frowned up at him, “I dinnae believe your parents, your kinsmen, or even your clan will be much impressed by that dowry.”
“’Tis enough that I have chosen you.”
“What arrogance.”
“Come. I will prove it to you.”
She was given no chance to argue or protest before he was dragging her back toward his parents’ home. He pulled her along at such a brisk pace that speech was impossible. By the time they located his parents in the solar of the manor, Jennet needed a minute to catch her breath. She took a quick glance around the beautifully sunlit room as she did so.
Katherine sat curled up on one of the window benches doing some mending. The brief cool smile with which the woman greeted her brother was not extended to Jennet. Lady Serilda sat before another of the large windows. She paused in working on her tapestry to look at her son with affectionate curiosity. That expression was shared by Lucais, who sat at a small table writing letters. The man set down the quill and waited for Hacon to speak. Jennet told herself that she would try to understand their objections, that she would not take any of what they said to heart.
“I have asked Jennet to be my wife,” Hacon announced. “She has accepted.”
Jennet was stunned when both Lady Serilda and Sir Lucais moved to give her a hug. They appeared honestly sincere in welcoming her. She wondered if Hacon had told them much about her.
“I have no dowry,” she was compelled to confess.
“None?” demanded Katherine, who had not moved from her seat in the window.
“A dowry isnotimportant,” Lady Serilda said, and gave Katherine a stern look. “Come and welcome your new sister.”
Katherine strode over to Jennet and curtly shook her hand. “Welcome. Now, if ye will excuse me, I must find my son.” She left the solar.
Lady Serilda grasped Hacon by the arm, stopping him from going after her. “I will speak to her later.” She smiled at Jennet. “Pay our Katherine no heed. She feels God and fate have been unfair to her and wishes all of us to share in her unhappiness and ill humor. We dinnae need her to plan this wedding.”
Sir Lucais tugged Hacon toward the door. “Weel, ye will have no need of our aid.”
“Nay—not yet.” Lady Serilda grinned when Hacon and his father quickly left, then she winked at Jennet. “We shall allow them this retreat.” She led Jennet over to the window seat. “Now, let us begin to make a few plans.”
It was not long before Jennet felt her fears ease. Hacon’s mother truly did welcome her to the Gillard family. Jennet hoped she could win over Katherine as well. She did not wish to be the source of any contention within the family.
The need to see that the evening meal was properly set out finally ended Lady Serilda’s planning. Jennet slipped away and started up the stairs. She wanted to wash, change her clothes, and check on Murdoc before the meal was served. Just as she reached the sixth step someone called to her.
She turned to see Ranald bounding up the few steps and smiled when he halted just in front of her.
“Greetings—Aunt.” He grinned and kissed her cheek. “I want to welcome you into the family.”
“Thank ye, Ranald.” She smiled briefly. “I hope I can soon bring your mother to my side.”
Ranald grimaced. “Pay her no heed, Jennet. Ever since my father died, she has grown bitter, her temper sour. In the beginning we all tried to soothe her but it did no good.” He shrugged. “So, we avoid her or shush her. Ye must do the same. Weel, I have to fetch my uncle and grandfather. They are helping Lame Walter get his cow and her calf out of the mire. They will need to clean up for the evening meal.” He started down the stairs.
Jennet tried to picture Hacon struggling to get a cow out of a mudhole, then hurried to follow Ranald. “Wait. I will come along with you.”
They found Hacon and his father in the field to the west of the village. Jennet did not even try to hide her laughter. A bare-chested, grime-covered Hacon stood knee-deep in mud as he cursed and pushed at a bawling calf. A skinny, gray-haired man stood on the edge of the quagmire swearing and yanking on the tether of the calf ’s dam. A grinning and mud-spattered Sir Lucais also stood nearby, ready to push.
Hacon looked Jennet’s way, a grin curving his handsome mouth. “Unfair! I have one stubborn female who willnae move to save her own life and another who laughs at me.”
Jennet couldn’t contain her peals of laughter at the amusing sight. It was also a touching one. Hacon, Baron of Dubheilrig, cared enough for his people to help a poor herdsmen get his cow out of the mud. That he could tend to such a menial chore with such good humor told her a lot about the man she would soon marry. Perhaps he would be a simple farmer, would be perfectly happy to stay at Dubheilrig and manage his lands. Now that he was a baron and his fortunes were bound to increase, he did not need to go to war. He could send others, even pay mercenaries to fulfill his obligation to the king. She felt her hopes for a peaceful future begin to grow.
Chapter 13
The sound of the door to the solar creaking open caused Jennet to look up from the shirt she was making for Murdoc. She grinned when she saw Hacon slip into the room. He had the air of a small boy planning some mischief. After being with him here for two weeks, she was not surprised to see the powerful knight Hacon acting this way. Since their arrival he had been carrying out duties that befitted a baron, hunting for game, meting out justice, and poring over the ledgers and estate accounts with his father. However, she had also seen him kicking a ball around with some of the village boys, teasing his mother, settling a squabble over a fat hen, and even lending a hand in the building of Robert, Elizabeth, and Donald’s house. He rarely wore his sword unless he rode out beyond the village boundaries or required some symbol of his authority. Although she was delighted to see this lighter side of Hacon, it sometimes left her wondering just how well she knew him.
“Aha! Mother has left you alone and unguarded,” Hacon said as he strode over to the window seat and sat down next to Jennet.
