“Aye,as I have.” Sorcha could tell by Neil’s frown that her aunt did not completelybelieve her. “As I told Margaret, I cannae say I am happy but I am sure that Iwill survive. At times, such as on a day as bonny as this one, I can almostbelieve that one day I might actually find another mon to love. Of course, Ithen recall how scarce men are about Dunweare.”
Neilchuckled and nodded. “As scarce as udders on a bull. ‘Tis good to hear ye talkso, lass. That is a true sign of a healing heart.” She winked. “And who cantell, mayhap the market fair will be aswarm with men.”
Sorchasmiled and nodded, joining in the play as Neil proceeded to conjure up visionsof a veritable army of rich unwed men prowling Dunburn in search of women tomarry. She realized it was her kinsmen who had saved her from slipping into atrue blackness of spirit after Ruari left. It would be they who would help herfinally banish Ruari’s ghost from her heart and mind. Laughing at Neil’sfoolishness, Sorcha decided she was going to do her best to enjoy the fairthoroughly and thus take one step closer to being completely free of RuariKerr.
“Thatboy will come to the fair if I must tie him to his horse,” snapped Ruari as hepaced the bailey. “Fetch the idiot down here,” he ordered one of his men.
Ruarislapped his leather gauntlets against his leg as he watched the man run backinto the keep. The April sun felt warm and pleasing after the long cold winter,and Ruari decided it was Beatham’s fault he was not enjoying it more. Despitethe youth’s continued refusal to speak to him or his own parents, Ruari hadbegun to try to pull Beatham out of his black mood. Nothing he did helped andhe grew more irritated with each failure.
“Mayhapwe should just leave the boy,” suggested Rosse, moving to Ruari’s side afterkissing his ever-pregnant wife Annie farewell.
“Nay.This has gone on long enough. He had done little more all winter than lie onhis bed and sigh mournfully. His only respite from that was to follow me about,glaring at me accusingly. He needs something to distract him. The lad couldhave any lass he wanted despite his poor and nearly landless state. Mayhap atrip to the fair with all its bonnie flirtatious lasses will remind him of thatand show him the foolishness of languishing.”
“Wene’er attend this fair as it is a long, hard ride from here. It seems a fardistance to travel just to pull Beatham free of his melancholy. Aye, especiallywhen I dinnae really think it will work. Only one thing that lad wants—MargaretHay.”
“Weel,he cannae have her, and ‘tis past time he understood that. And we arenae goingsolely to cheer that fool. Malcolm believes there may be a new source of tradethere.” Ruari looked toward where the too-thin Malcolm sat awkwardly on theoldest, gentlest mare in Gartmhor’s stables. “Ye ken weel that the poor mon isterrified of horses and that it takes a great deal to prompt him to climb onthe back of one.”
“Heshould ride in the cart.”
“Isuggested it, but he does have his pride. He would be shamed by riding with thewomen.” Ruari noticed Beatham striding out of the keep. “Finally. We havedelayed our journey long enough.”
Rossestudied Beatham as the youth mounted his horse. “He doesnae wish to go. Iwouldnae have thought the laddie’s pretty face could twist into so black anexpression.”
“Hemeans to try to dampen all our spirits, but he willnae succeed,” Ruari vowed ashe mounted his horse. “Malcolm has assured me that I will find a way to fill mycoffers at this fair, and even Beatham’s sulky face cannae dim the pleasurethat will bring me.”
Dougalreined in his mount at the top of a small rise and looked toward the busy town,then turned to smile at Sorcha who reined in at his side. “It looks to be evenbigger than last year.” He glanced toward the cart Margaret rode in as itmeandered along the rutted road to town. “There must be something at such afair that will put a smile on Margaret’s face.”
“Itwould seem so. Howbeit, dinnae take it to heart if her spirits dinnae improvemuch at all,” Sorcha said. “Margaret is determined in her melancholy.”
“S’truth,I dinnae ken why I think I can cheer her when all of ye women have failed to doso, and ye understand this far better than I do.”
“Understandingit doesnae mean we ken how to cure it. I fear Margaret is the only one who canheal her heart. The rest of us can only help as needed.”
“Loveis clearly a troublesome business,” Dougal muttered as he nudged his horseforward. “I believe I shall do my best to avoid it.”
Followinghim down the rise, Sorcha wished it was that simple. To her cost she haddiscovered how independent a heart can be, deaf to all good sense anddiscipline. Men did seem to have a tighter rein on their emotions, but shesuspected a lot of them found their hearts very hard to control. She hoped thather brother did not have to endure too much pain when he discovered that.
Thenoise of the fair struck Sorcha first as they stabled their horses at the edgeof town. It was clearly going to be a boisterous as well as a busy fair. As shewalked over to Margaret she noticed that even that heartsore girl could notresist looking toward the sound of laughter and sellers crying attention totheir wares.
“Ithink I had best stay with my sisters,” said Neil even as the other womenwalked toward the stalls of goods for sale that filled the streets.
“Goon. I will stay with Margaret.” Sorcha smiled faintly as Neil strode after hersisters, cursing them for their impetuousness. She hooked her arm throughMargaret’s. “Shall we see if there is any cloth worth spending our meager coinon?”
“Weel,I suppose a new gown would be nice,” Margaret said as she allowed Sorcha todrag her into town.
“Aye,I suspect the walls of your bedchamber would loudly cheer a change.”
“Yeneed not ridicule me. I cannae help being sad.”
“Iken it, and ‘twas not ridicule. I but tease you. Ye must ken that no one wishesto see ye so sad and listless. Can ye not have a wee bit of concern for us?Just try to enjoy today. Think of it as a favor for Dougal as he truly hopedthis fair would cheer you.”
Margaretstared at her feet for a moment then nodded. “Aye, ye are right. In truth, I shouldbe soundly scolded. I have given little thought to how others might feel. Ihave been naught but a pall of misery all winter, and that has been most unfairto all of you.” She took Sorcha by the hand and tugged her toward aneye-catching display of colorful bolts of cloth. “We can begin by choosing somematerial for new gowns. Despite my heavy heart, I truly do wish a new one.”
“Iam pleased to hear ye say so. Howbeit, we must be frugal in our choices.”
“Thatis one matter in which I am most knowledgeable.” She glanced over her shouldertoward the inn and saw Dougal and the other men. “Should not at least one ofthe men keep a watch on us?”
“Iam sure they are being watchful,” Sorcha replied, a strong touch of doubt inher voice as she observed the men ogling the buxom maid pouring their ale. “Wehave never been in danger here, nor do I recall any tales of some ill fatebefalling a kinsmon while at this fair.”
