Maren’s hands tightened on the reins. She had felt Orla watching her all day, and now she braced for another fight. ‘I did not like the tone she took with my husband,’ she replied.
‘Nor did I. And do not fret. Fenella is no friend of mine, albeit she is wed to my hapless brother, Hew. Preening fools, both of them.’ Orla smiled, and it transformed her face, turning her fierce green eyes sunny and good-natured. ‘I wish I had more chance to get acquainted with you today, Maren, and to congratulate you on your rather sudden nuptials.’
Maren stiffened. Another person to probe and doubt her story. She was already tired of pretending, so she said nothing in reply.
‘I am inordinately fond of Bryce, you know. I want to see him happy and ….’
‘And you think he will not find that with me, I suppose,’ snapped Maren.
‘Oh, don’t be so prickly, lass. I mean no offence. And if you had let me finish, I would have said that I can tell he loves you. I have been observing the two of you, and it is there, the love, in every look he gives you. My word, Bryce cannot take his eyes off his new bride. Completely obsessed, the poor sap.’
Maren’s heart soared at Orla’s words even as she discounted them as fanciful nothings. ‘Forgive my snapping at you, Orla,’ she said. ‘It is just that folk have not been too welcoming, especially the ladies. I am an outsider here, and they make sure I feel it.’
‘Oh course, they do, for they are jealous, twittering hens, always picking on the bird lower down the order. Spiteful creatures, most of them. But you will find that I am of a different ilk, and as long as you make Bryce happy, you may count me as a friend.’ She reached over and put a hand on Maren’s arm. ‘Come to my home at Blackreach should you ever need a confidante or respite from my cousin, for he can be exhausting at times.’
Maren let herself relax for the first time all day. She had a feeling that if she had gained Orla’s good opinion then she had gained a small triumph.
Bryce glanced back at Maren. She was smiling at Orla, which gladdened him, but the lass was still pale, and her hands were white-knuckled on the reins. Guilt overcame him. He had pushed her too hard this day, and she had suffered a terrible fright on his account, not to mention the wolf almost taking her life. He pulled up his horse, and when the ladies caught up, he let Orla go ahead and drew close to Maren.
‘Hold,’ shouted Callum, indicating a party of horsemen riding towards them. ‘Tis Munro clansmen.’
‘Word travels fast,’ sighed Bryce.
The men came to a halt, and after a brief exchange explaining they had been sent as an escort for Lady Munro, at which Orla rolled her eyes, she took her to leave, but not before extracting a promise from Maren to visit Blackreach.
Bryce rode on alongside Maren.
‘Why did her husband not come and get her and see her home safe,’ she said.
‘Wolfric is away at present, in London for some business, and Orla can look after herself. I assume her father-in-law Rufus would have sent his clansmen out for her, and she will berate the poor soul for it when she gets home. She is ever the independent spirit, my cousin. What was Orla saying to you?’
‘That she approves of us,’ said Maren. ‘She is friendly, in a hard kind of way. I think I could grow to like her.’
‘Aye, Orla is an acquired taste. She is too blunt for many, but she speaks as she finds, so if she likes you, then you are honoured.’ Bryce gave Maren his most reassuring smile. ‘On the other hand, it would appear you are not too fond of Fenella and on such short acquaintance. What did she say to you?’
‘She came up and complimented me on my nuptials. ‘It is high time Bryce wed after all his exploits,’ she said. Then she tittered and said, ‘Oh, but it is indiscreet of me to mention such matters to a new bride. I am sure such sinful escapades are behind him now. Forgive my candour.’ As if she cared a jot. That bitch meant to taint my opinion of you.’
‘Calm yourself. As your opinion of me is not very high in the first place, I am sure her efforts were meaningless.’
‘Aye, they were, for I replied, ‘I sincerely hope his sinfulness is not behind him, for I intend to enjoy marriage to Bryce to the utmost.’ Maren gave a little smile of triumph.
‘Hah, an excellent reply, and that would have wounded her, for she and my cousin Hew are not the happiest of couples. In fact, they despise each other.’
‘Not completely, given her swollen belly.’
‘Aye. Hew has gritted his teeth and done his duty by her, but I am sure there was little pleasure in it for either party. What did she say to you after that?’
‘Oh, she resorted to being spiteful. She said, ‘What a remarkable riding habit, such economy of colour and decoration. Is that what country fashions are these days?’ As if I would care for her good opinion or care about my clothes at all, in fact.’
‘Ah. I suspect Fenella is jealous.’
‘Why would she be? Is she one of your sinful escapades, Bryce?’ said Maren with steel in her voice.
‘God’s teeth, no. I’d as soon put my cock in a vice as put it in her. No, I suspect my cousin’s wife is jealous because you were the centre of attention today, for you are a stirring sight upon a horse, Maren.’
‘I disagree.’
‘Take the compliment, lass.’
