Page 30 of Bride Takes a Laird
“I dare say you are right. Magnus does seem capable of scaring anyone. I found him somewhat daunting when we first met.”
Hugh chuckled. “And now, Milady?”
“He seems to want to please me. I do not fear him now.”
“Await me,” Hugh said and lumbered through the doorway of his cottage. He returned a moment later and took her hand. In it, he placed a brooch. “This was my wife’s, Magnus’s grandmother’s. She said it had magical powers and drew me to her. Perhaps it will help ye to win my grandson’s heart even more.”
Kendra was in awe of his gesture. “I cannot accept this, Laird Hugh. Please, keep it.”
“There has been no other lass that I wished to gift it to. You keep it, Milady. I vow it will draw my grandson’s regard, just as it drew mine toward my dear wife.”
“Should you not give it to your daughter? Lady Faye is your daughter?”
He bobbed his head. “Aye, she is indeed. Faye has other items that belonged to her mother. She won’t miss it, and besides, she already caught her husband’s adoration.”
Kendra clutched the beautiful brooch which appeared to be a thistle flower entwined with silver vines and had a purple amethyst jewel embedded in the pewter. “It is beautiful.”
“Wear it, Milady, on Bealtuinn, at the festival. Pin it to the Cameron tartan for I am sure it will bring your husband joy.”
“I promise, I shall. Speaking of Lady Faye… She mourns her son and says she doesn’t leave the keep. I worry for her.” Kendra placed the brooch inside the seam of her overdress to keep it safe until she returned to the fief.
“My daughter doted on Ned and his loss greatly affects her. She will ease with time.”
“I got the sense that she didn’t dote on Magnus.” Kendra shouldn’t be so forward by speaking of such matters with the man, but shehoped to gain an understanding of Magnus’s relationship with his mother.
“Magnus was taken from his mother at a tender age. She never had the chance to adore him and she’s always been distant toward him. Of her four sons, both Magnus and Wyren were born for the duty of the clan. Ned and Jake had their mother’s love for they were spared the responsibilities that the others were not.”
“That is sad.” Kendra didn’t know what to say. Her husband hadn’t had his mother’s care and had been raised for his obligation to his clan. The insight of his rearing explained much about his manner. “Thank you for explaining. It is getting late and I should say my farewell to my father.” She left Hugh and stepped inside her father’s cottage.
By then, John had returned and set on the table a large trencher of food. Linet placed food on smaller trenchers and fixed her gaze on John. Kendra smiled at the thought that her friend had often reacted as mirthful when John was near. Linet hadn’t said she cared for John but it was evident in her look and smile.
Kendra approached her father and set a hand on his shoulder. “Papa, I am leaving now. I will come back later.”
“Dearest, when did you get here?” Her father seemed surprised to see her.
“I…sometime ago. Laird Hugh tells me that he took you on a walk beyond the walls.”
“Aye, lass, and he said he would take me fishing at the loch that he favors on the morrow. I have not been fishing in years and long to enjoy it again.”
“I am certain you shall have a good time.” Kendra set a light kiss on his slightly whiskered cheek and hastily left the cottage. Outside, she stood by the door and wiped at her eyes. Tears sprang to her lashes and she couldn’t help but feel sorrow. Her father’s memory returned in short bouts, but the fact that initially he hadn’t remembered whoshe was sank her heart.
She waited for Linet who came outside a moment later.
“We should get back to the fief.” On her return to the keep, she spotted Ellen walking with a young maiden. They both carried hefty baskets of laundry. She hurried forward and took Ellen’s basket. “Let me carry this for you, Ellen.”
Ellen rasped with heavy breath. “My thanks, Milady. Supper will soon be served. Cook has made a delicious pottage with rabbit and fine vegetables. It smells heavenly. Where has the day gone?”
Kendra entered the back of the keep and set the basket with the one the maid had carried. Ellen was correct. The day had flown by. She wondered if she would see Magnus before she sought her sleep. He had to have left the holding because she hadn’t seen him on her walk about the keep’s grounds. How she wished he had woken her this morning and told her that he’d be gone. But she realized he wasn’t used to answering to anyone, let alone a wife.
Ellen rushed to the small table in a pantry room and collected a clean pitcher. “I must see about setting the table for supper. Cook must have the meal ready by now.”
“I’ll take the pitcher and you see about the supper.” Kendra took the pitcher from her and hurried to the great hall. It was more crowded than it had been the night before. Lady Faye and Stan sat at the table. A woman walked by the large hearth, with a crying bairn cradled in her arms, trying to soothe him. Jake stood by a window casement with his back to everyone. There were also three other men in attendance.
“Oh, there ye be,” Stan said, stepping forward. “Come and I will introduce ye. All, this is Magnus’s wife Milady Kendra.” He motioned to each of the people and said, “This is Osmond, Hayden, and Craig, the laird’s closest guard. There, by the hearth, is Wyren’s wife, Marny, and their bairn, Hale.”
“Good eve, everyone,” Kendra said. She stood by the buttery andfilled the pitcher with ale from a barrel then rushed to the table and set it before Stan. Afterward, she approached Marny. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Marny. Magnus told me that you had recently had a bairn. He is a handsome lad.”
“He is rather bonny, is he not? But he’s got a cantankerous disposition like his great-grandda,” she said and giggled.