Page 80 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Shaw pulled out a chair at the table for her and then one for himself. They sat and he poured them each a cup of ale. “I told Edra to have a feast prepared for this eve.”
She smiled and nodded. “Did I hear Clovis say that Edmund is here?”
“Aye, he is letting him through the gates now. Strange, because I can think of no reason why Edmund would come all this way. I hope nothing happened to Alexander or Margaret or that he means to call all to arms against Norway. I did not deem he’d do so this soon.”
Sorsha folded her hands on her lap and peered at them. “Lord, I hope that is not why he comes.”
Steps came from the hallway and Shaw rose from his seat. When Edmund entered, he approached and greeted him. “Chamberlain Edmund, this is a surprise visit. What do ye here?”
Edmund lumbered past him to the table and sat in his vacated seat. “Lady Mackintosh, ’tis good to see you. You look well. Are you still pleased with your marriage to Laird Mackintosh? If not, I can have our king remedy that for you.” He grinned teasingly.
“I am more than pleased, sir. How are you? You have traveled a great distance. I hope you do not bring bad tidings,” Sorsha said.
Shaw reached the table and took the seat on the opposite side of the table. He poured Edmund a cup of ale and set it before the man.
Edmund immediately snatched the cup from the table and drank. When he finished, he gave them a look of dismay. “I am afraid my news is not good.”
“Is Margaret all right? She fared well birthing the baby?” Sorsha asked.
“Indeed. She is well and gave our sire a daughter at the end of last winter. ’Tis rumored that Alexander might betroth his daughter to Haakon’s son but as yet has not made a decision. It could be years afore he gives her hand.”
“I am pleased though for Margaret, and that she is well. Please, forgive me for being forward, Edmund, but what is your news?” Sorsha sat forward and her eyes seemed to send a pleading urgency.
Shaw suspected that his wife was impatient because the man wouldn’t have come all the way to the Highlands for a simple visit and he’d said his news wasn’t good.
“My news is for you, Lady Mackintosh. You received the news of your parents’ presumed deaths?”
“I did. My thanks for sending me the news. I am sure it was a difficult task to send such a disparaging message.”
He bobbed his head. “I kept my missive short at the time because I was unaware of the facts and until I could confirm the truth of the matter… I’m sorry to say that your parents indeed perished in the sea. Your father, mother, and his brother Ottuel traveled with King Henry’s heir William Adelin aboard the White Ship. They unwisely left the harbor against sound advice and the ship capsized and sank near an embankment. ’Tis stated by witnesses that all drowned and none could be saved because the channel was quite rough. You have the king’s condolences, My Lady.”
Sorsha’s gaze fell to her lap and when she looked up, she had a sadness in her eyes. “I am sorry to hear that so many died. Who will be my father’s heir be? He has a vast shipping business and earldom.”
Edmund drew a heavy breath. “That is being decided by the king himself. There is only one male heir, your cousin Ranulph, your father’s nephew. If your husband objects to running your father’s business then it shall be passed on.”
Sorsha turned her face to him. “What say you, Shaw? Do you want to be in the shipping business?”
“Hell, no. I am pleased enough with my lot in life here in the Highlands and being laird to my clan. Besides, I know naught about shipping. Give it to my wife’s cousin.”
“I will convey your rejection to Alexander on my return. There is another matter though and that is the trunks of coins that were left to My Lady by her father and mother. I was told to deliver them to her at the soonest.” Edmund called out and his attendants marched forward, carrying trunks of various sizes into the hall. “These are filled with coins. Your father wanted you to have what he deemed to be your dowry and since he did not have to provide one when Laird Chattan agreed that there be no recompense. ’Twas unlike him but for some reason, Rodick professed that he did not want to take coins from your father. Lord Richard, your da, wanted the trunks sent to you upon his death.”
Sorsha’s eyes widened but she said nothing until he cleared his throat. Shaw stood and was astounded by his wife’s father’s gesture. Such wealth would never be rejected. He disbelieved his good fortune. Not only had he won the hand of the loveliest lass in the land, a woman whose tender heart rendered him completely enthralled, but she brought him wealth beyond his wildest dreams.
“I wonder why Rodick refused her dowry. That was unlike him but then his brother Geoff stated that his brother was weak and gullible.”
“I am told that Lord Richard and Laird Rodick had a verbal agreement that if ever Rodick needed his aid or ships to travel upon he would provide him with such.” Edmund refilled his cup and drank again.
“I do not know what to say…” Shaw’s eyes roamed from trunk to trunk, ten in all likely filled with enough coins to see his clan through many a winter.
“Say you accept,” Edmund said.
“Of course I do…that is if Sorsha accepts too.”
Her shoulders rose with a sigh but then came the slight movement of her chin as she nodded. “I feel horrible because I cursed my parents for forcing me to leave my home and demanding I marry Rodick.”
“There is one trunk that is from your dear mother, My Lady. She wrote a note to go with it.” Edmund handed her the parchment.
Sorsha took it from him and opened it. She read aloud: