Page 2 of Awakened By Time
Brenna threw herself into her aunt’s arms. “I cannae live like this anymore. I have nae purpose here.” The tears she’d held back burst forth in a torrent of sadness.
Saundra held her close, stroking her back. “There, there, love. All will be well. Ye’ll see.”
Brenna had a hard time believing that to be true, especially if she weren’t allowed to travel to her brother.
* * *
Next morning, Brenna went to the great hall at sunrise, where she’d wait for her Da to come down to break his fast. It might be the only time she’d be able to speak with him alone as Greer liked to sleep late and never made an appearance until mid-morning.
Her brothers came and went, all while Brenna sat with a bowl of porridge in front of her. She hadn’t taken a bite, instead stirring it back and forth until it had cooled into an inedible solid mass of oats. Her appetite had not returned this morning and the longer she waited for her Da to appear, the more her stomach roiled in protest at her meeting.
Brenna’s ears perked up as she heard the sound of Paddraig’s voice coming closer to the great hall. He was laughing, which was a good sign. She sat up taller and put a smile on her face as he entered. “Good morn to ye, Da,” she said, trying to sound as bright and cheerful as possible.
“Brenna, me dear. I’m so happy to see ye this fine morning.” Paddraig walked towards her and she thought he might kiss her cheek, as he always had before Greer arrived.
The knot in her stomach loosened somewhat. There was no morning kiss, but this might not be so bad after all. She continued smiling as Paddraig MacRae sat in his usual spot and motioned for her to join him. He held a missive in his hand and was reading over it, chuckling as he did so.
“Da, I’d like to speak with ye about something,” Brenna began.
Before she could continue her Da looked up from his reading. “Brenna, me love, good news has arrived this morn and it concerns ye. I hope ye’ll be pleased.”
The knot began to tighten again. She tried to remain optimistic, but chances of good news arriving with regard to her were slim.
Paddraig took her hand in his and with the other, cupped her chin. “Do ye remember Laird Munro?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “He’s known ye since ye were a wee bairn and has been a good friend to me and to our clan. I sent word to him not long ago. His wife was recently verra ill and there was nae a thing to be done to save her. I thought he may be in need of a new wife and since yer nae needed here any longer, I offered ye.”
The room began to swim as Brenna fought to keep from fainting. She began to shake uncontrollably.
“Are ye cold, Brenna? Yer shivering as if ye sat upon an icy block.” He wrinkled his brow and examined her face. “Yer nae ill, are ye?”
“I dinnae wish to marry, Da. I came to tell ye this morn that I wish to live with Dougall and Helene.”
The happy smile her Da had been wearing was replaced by an angry scowl. This is what she had hoped to avoid. “Ye’ll do as I say! I’ll nae have another of me bairns refuse a marriage I’ve arranged.” His voice had risen so that the servants scurried from the hall and all others stopped to see what had riled him so.
“Da, he’s an old man,” Brenna squeaked, hoping against hope that it might be a different Laird Munro.
“Am I an old man? He’s the same age as I. I would never have expected this from ye Brenna. What’s come over ye? Is it that brother of yers? Is he the one who put this crazy idea into yer head?” Paddraig’s face was turning a frightening shade of red as he continued to shout at her.
Brenna didn’t dare to look up at him. She was terrified of his anger. He’d never been like this with her before, instead reserving his anger for her brothers.
“Well, speak up!” He bellowed.
Brenna shrank back away from him as the strong smell of whisky on his breath permeated her nostrils. “Da. I’m so sorry. I dinnae wish to disappoint ye or to go against yer wishes…”
“That’s me lass,” Paddraig interrupted in a more civil tone.
“Da. I’ve been most unhappy of late. Yer new wife and her sister have made me feel unwelcome in me own home. I came to speak with ye this morning because I wish to go live with Dougall and Helene.”
“Brenna, Greer has told me that ye are the one making her life miserable here. I cannae allow it. She’s me wife and I wish her to be happy. She tells me ye treat her rudely and speak unkindly of her to anyone who’ll listen.”
She did her best to control the anger that was consuming her on hearing these blatant lies. The fact that her Da believed them broke her heart. She’d need to tread carefully here. It was obvious that Greer was quite capable of making Paddraig believe every vile lie she chose to tell about Brenna. Chin trembling and eyes wide, Brenna swallowed hard and took a moment to control her voice before speaking. “That’s nae true, Da. Ye have to believe me. Please,” she begged. “Please dinnae make me marry Laird Munro.”
“I’ve said ye will and I’ll nae change me mind. Ye will marry Laird Munro. He sent a messenger with his reply and he is happy to take ye to be his wife. He will be here in two days time and ye will be wed. Ye will have what ye want. A castle to manage, much as ye’ve managed mine over the years. Ye will do yer wifely duties, as Greer does. Ye will obey yer husband and I’ll nae hear another word about it.”
At that inopportune moment, Greer and Gillian entered the room and stood, hands to their mouths, whispering to each other. Of course, laughter bubbled up as they gazed at her.
“What are ye laughing at?” Brenna yelled. She’d had enough of Greer and Gillian Matheson.
“I see ye’ve told her,” Greer said to Paddraig.