Page 49 of Bride Takes a Laird

“My dear, how pleasing you look this day. One day I hope we have a daughter as fair.”

Kendra’s shoulders slumped when she realized that he thought he was speaking to her mother. She somewhat resembled her mother, from what she’d been told, with her fair hair and light eyes. “Papa, I’m Kendra… I’m not Catherine.”

“You look akin to my wife. Are you certain you are not her?” Her father grunted as if he disbelieved her.

“I am your daughter Kendra.” She pressed her hands together and tried not to be solemn. To take her mind off his disremembering, she continued to eat the bread Laird Hugh gave her.

“My wife is the most beautiful, kindhearted woman. I loved her from the moment I spied her in her da’s hall. Her father wasn’t impressed with me and it took me months to win his acceptance.” Her father chuckled and looked far off as his memories took hold.

Kendra had heard him reminisce about meeting her mother before but he hadn’t spoken about it in some time. His eyes always shone with mirth when he spoke of the tale. “I am gladdened you did.”

“Oho, but her da made me wait to marry her and I confess that I thought he would never allow me to marry my sweet Catherine. Sweet,” he said with a guffaw. “She was far from sweet and challenged me on everything. I liked the confrontations and often let her win just to keep the peace. I shall join her soon and then we will be together…” he mumbled and his voice trailed off. Her father grew saddened and he pouted slightly until something caught on his line.

Kendra wondered what he was going to say. But he was now focused on fishing so she let him be. That he spoke of her mother tensed her heart. Her worry for him grew as each day passed. She hoped he lived long enough to see his cherished home and land again.

Speaking of marriage and confrontations reminded her that somehow she needed to make amends with Magnus. He would hear noexplanations that morning and she hoped by the time she saw him that evening his anger would have lessened. Perhaps then she could make her apology and get him to accept it. But then she scoffed to herself. Magnus was stubborn and it was unlikely he’d understand why she needed to help him.

The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly. In the heat of the afternoon, they swam for a bit. The water cooled her and was a little chilly, but it offered a respite from the heat of the day. Six fish had been caught in all when the day drew to a close: three by Laird Hugh, two by her papa, and one by John. Kendra took up the cover from the ground and folded it. Dusk swathed the land and the day’s light dimmed. She was hungry and hoped supper would be soon. A queasiness overtook her and she closed her eyes and breathed slowly to abate it. After a brief uneasy spell, she regained her composure and set off toward the fief’s walls.

On the way back, she looked apprehensively for Magnus but didn’t see him. Would he come to their bedchamber that night? She hoped he would and that his laird duties didn’t keep him away. Kendra drew in a resigned breath. It seemed she’d be forever awaiting him.

Chapter Eighteen

Magnus stood bythe garrison and tried to pay attention to what his brother was saying, but he couldn’t help but think about Kendra and that she purposely kept from him the fact that she was betrothed when they’d met. That she hadn’t confessed when he asked her dejected him. He didn’t want his wife to keep secrets from him. There had to be a reason why she’d done so. Eventually, he’d get her to open up about it. Until then, he needed to settle the matter.

Wyren grumbled and shoved his shoulder. “Only two men are missing from the garrison. Since there’s no sentry out about our lands, I say they might be the two we search for.”

“That makes sense. Aye, have a search made for them and when we find them, I want to question them.”

His brother nodded. “I’ll see to it.”

“I must take care of something, a personal matter, and need two messengers. Pick two of our most trusted soldiers.”

Wyren tilted his head to the side. “And where are these messengers headed?”

“It doesn’t concern ye. Just have the men await me outside the fief.” Without another word, he strode off toward home and entered. Someone was inside the hall and he heard voices. He supposed it was his parents because no others resided within. He’d spotted Kendra earlier headed to the back of the fief so she wasn’t inside. Taking thesteps two at a time, he entered his chamber, left the door open, and rushed to the table.

There, he picked up a quill and found a blank parchment. After he dipped the quill in the small ink pot, he considered what he’d wanted to reply. He hastily wrote:

Lord Heatherington, enclosed within ye shall find the sum which ye paid to Lord Graham for his daughter’s hand. I consider this matter closed and ye will not have contact with my wife or her father henceforth. If I hear that ye try to extort coins from my wife or her father again, ye shall bear my wrath. Magnus, Laird of Clan Cameron.

He reached for the small coffer on the table and retrieved the coins needed to pay the debt. Once he placed the coins in the center of the parchment, he folded it tightly so they wouldn’t fall out and sealed it with wax along the seams and in the center with his seal.

Before he left the chamber, he glanced around and noticed his wife had tidied it. His shoulders slumped because he should have just told her what he’d found out instead of trying to get her to tell him. He realized he’d been overly harsh too with her and that tightened his chest. Kendra was a kind-hearted lass and she had tried to help him even though she should have spoken to him about the parchments. With that thought, he returned to the tables and picked up a volume.

Magnus thumbed through the pages and he sighed at the work she’d done. All were correctly inputted, summed, and properly categorized. The discrepancy wasn’t as great as he’d thought it would be. Ned hadn’t squandered their fortune. He gave praise to God above for that because the coin belonged to the clan and their needs.

How had his wife come by such knowledge? He should’ve known she would be apt at such a task. When next he saw her, he would have to apologize for being brash and perhaps even thank her for her aid.

He set the volume down and picked up the missive that he wanted to be delivered to Heatherington. Trudging down the stairs, helistened again but didn’t hear anyone in the hall. He left the keep and found the two soldiers his brother had assigned to the task of delivering his message. Magnus handed the missive to James and instructed where to deliver it.

The men bowed to him and set off.

Magnus headed for the stable and met with the stable master, Vincent. The man stroked the feathered back of the hawk that his brother had brought to him for healing. The hawk skitted around on the protective cover on Vincent’s forearm and eyed him curiously.

“How is he? Almost ready to be freed?”

“Aye, he’s sound now, he is. I was awaiting Jake’s return and thought he might want to release him. When is he expected home?” Vincent lowered his dark-haired head toward the bird a made clicks with his tongue.