Page 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

“ I wish we could have remained at Tannochbrae,” Avelina said not for the first time.

The day after their wedding, when they received word that the cottager had, indeed, seen nothing as her brother predicted, they packed their belongings and rode out.

Sleeping under the stars the evening prior, a very different night than their wedding one, along with riding all day, and Avelina really did wish she was arriving at her new home more prepared.

They’d stopped along a river where she had washed dirt from the road off her as best she could.

Though Avelina feared ‘twould not be her appearance that would come between her and Niall but his family and clan’s reaction toward her.

The bond between her and her husband continued to grow, but today, Avelina feared, all could change.

“Castle Duncraig,” her husband announced as they crested the ridge that until now hid her new home.

“‘Tis beautiful,” she said. On two sides, the sea, and protection on a third side by a natural inlet.

With two courtyards separated by a substantially large keep, both the castle and village off in the distance looked almost as if they were not real.

“It would appear the keep is well protected,” she said.

“Has it ever been successfully attacked?”

“Nay,” her brother-in-law replied, obviously proud of the fact.

Avelina thought back to the first conversation she and Niall had about marriage. He’d asked if she truly could live here among those who were, essentially, her enemy.

“You’ve both accepted me,” she said to the two men by her side. Avelina’s mount danced under her, likely sensing her worry.

“We have,” Kieran said, “and they will too.”

“Though mayhap not today,” her husband added.

Avelina took a deep breath. Not today, nor tomorrow. But they would. Both Niall and Kieran had, and Avelina had come to accept them as well.

They did not kill your father.

She did not know who struck that blow, but there would be men, including the chief, who had been in that battle.

“Lina?” her husband called her name as if it were not the first time.

“I am ready,” she said, though in truth, she was not at all. But at her words, Niall spurred his mount forward as the three of them descended the hill.

It was not until they were well past the gatehouse and into the inner courtyard that the whispers began.

None would know she was a MacKinlay, but her arrival with Niall and Kieran was enough, apparently, to set tongues wagging.

And wag they did. By the time they’d dismounted, a crowd had gathered around them.

Most openly stared at her, but none asked the silent question Niall did not seem to be willing to answer.

Instead, he helped Avelina dismount, whispered, “Come with me,” to her, and took her by the hand.

“My saddlebags,” she said, “and bow.”

“Kieran will see they are taken care of.”

Kieran winked at her as Niall led Avelina toward the keep.

“There are four floors,” he said as they approached.

“The stores and soldiers’ quarters below.

” He indicated the ground floor as the two of them made their way to a set of stone stairs built into the side of the keep.

“This forebuilding,” he said of the section they were about to enter, “was added when I was a boy.”

“The extra defense seems unnecessary,” she said. “Castle Duncraig is well-fortified by water on three sides.”

“But ‘tis the fourth side that matters most,” he said.

The guard at the door greeted them. Niall nodded as his man opened the large wooden door.

They walked into a room that separated the forebuilding from the remainder of the keep. Passing through it and another door, the unmistakable sounds of a great hall reached her ears.

“And as you can see, on this floor, the hall.”

They passed through a corridor lit by wall torches and through yet another doorway, though this one remained open.

It was well past supper, she assumed, but still the hall was not empty.

There were servants wiping tables and at least five or six others milling about, two playing chess, and the others seeming to drink ale and do naught else.

Niall pointed to one of the men who stood beside a table.

Though the man spoke with those sitting, he did not appear to be drinking with them.

“Finlay is our steward. Actually, he’s the son of a blacksmith, but my father, as a teen, noticed his natural intelligence and how hard he worked.

The two struck up a friendship, Finlay eventually becoming our steward not long after my father became chief. ”

“My lord,” Finlay said, as if sensing Niall despite having his back to him. “You’ve just returned,” he said, approaching. The man was probably the same age as her father would have been.

Master Finlay looked between them. He didn’t have to wait long.

“Finlay, I would like you to meet my wife, Lady Avelina. Perhaps you can tell me where I might find my parents to apprise them that I’ve returned. With a wife.”

Avelina could not help but smile at the steward’s surprised expression.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Master Finlay.”

He bowed, “And yours, my lady.”

Avelina noticed her husband failed to mention her surname.

“I believe both of your parents returned to the solar chamber after supper, my lord. Shall I have meals sent there for you?”

“Nay,” Niall replied. “We will go to them and then to my chambers. If you would have a bath and meal sent there.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Leaving the befuddled steward, Niall led Avelina from the hall up another set of stone stairs. “In this, the great tower, are my parents’ chambers and their solar. I am in the east tower, which is where we will remain for now.”

“For now?”

We’d not talked about our living arrangements beyond returning.

“I’ve a property within a half day’s ride I had intended to reside in once married. We can visit it on the morrow if you would like. I must speak to my father about the arrangement.”

“Should you not remain here, as his second-in-command?”

“We discussed it, but the manor is close enough. But we shall speak to him.”

Much too soon, they stood outside a door where Niall’s parents were currently located. He must have sensed her worry, because Niall took her hand.

“Lina?”

She looked into his eyes.

“‘Twill be well, love,” he said.

Though he’d used the term before, this time Niall said it in a way that made her believe just possibly. . .

The moment was gone. He knocked at the door and waited.

A man who looked nearly identical to her husband, albeit with some gray hair and more lines in his face than Niall, opened the door.

She’d not meant to squeeze Niall’s hand looking upon his father, but every part of her tensed as she tried to push aside the feeling.

Openly hating the man would do little to endear either of his parents to her.

He looked back and forth between them before opening the door wider.

“‘Tis Niall,” a woman said. Though how his mother knew her son had returned without being able to see him, Avelina was unsure.

Her father-in-law shook her husband’s hand and then stood aside.

“Our son, aye, and…”

He watched her carefully as Lina followed Niall into the chamber. He still held her hand, which seemed to be the first thing his mother noticed.

Avelina had not been expecting her to look so young. Or to have red hair as there was not a trace of the color in Niall’s. She appeared younger than her husband and quite beautiful, in fact. A handsome couple to be certain.

“And my wife,” he promptly announced, releasing her hand and stepping toward his mother. Leaning down, he kissed her on the forehead. A gesture he’d done many times by the casual nature of it.

Returning to Avelina, he held her hand once more, for which she was grateful.

Of course, his parents could not have appeared more surprised.

“Your wife?” His mother seemed less pleased than his father.

“Lady Avelina,” Niall said. “I would introduce you to my parents. Kenneth, the chief of Clan Duncraig, and my mother, Lady Mairi.”

“Pleased to meet you both,” she ground out, wishing to mean the words. Alas, she did not. Could not. Unlike her husband, the chief fought in that battle. Had killed members of her clan. Perhaps her family.

Maybe even her father.

But for Niall’s sake. . .

Something made her want to tell them. Not to hide it a moment longer. “Avelina MacKinlay,” she added. “Sister to the chief of Clan MacKinlay.”

A chill ran through her at his parents’ expressions. His mother appeared to be in disbelief. His father?

Clearly angry.

“You married Chief MacKinlay’s sister?” he asked Niall.

At the same time, his mother stood. “Son. What have you done?”

Niall gripped her hand even tighter.

His father said, “This marriage will not stand. The chief’s son will not take a MacKinlay wife,” he said, as if Avelina was not standing beside him.

“It will, Father. We’ve consummated the marriage.”

Consummated it before the wedding day, in fact. But there seemed no need to mention that to his parents.

“My child,” his mother said, coming toward her. “This must be difficult for you, dear?”

Though his mother initially seemed the more upset of the two, her expression now was one of empathy.

Avelina found her voice. “I will admit ‘tis somewhat difficult, aye.”

She peeked at the chief.

He glared at her.

Avelina’s chin raised in defiance.

“Why?” the chief asked again. Though he looked at her, the question was clearly for Niall.

“An affinity grew between us. And I would not dishonor her by taking the lady’s maidenhood without making her my wife.”

Her cheeks warmed. Though they’d discussed telling his parents that particular fact, knowing ‘twas likely necessary, Avelina had still hoped it could be avoided.

“If you wanted to bed a woman, surely you could have found one who was not a MacKinlay.”

“Kenneth,” his mother scolded.

But the first salvo had been shot.

“Surely I did not intend to wed a man whose family slaughtered my own,” she said.

“Oh dear,” his mother said. But Avelina’s attention was on the father.

“But you did. Why?”

She would not back down. “As Niall said, an affinity grew between us as we traveled together to learn the source of the cattle’s movement from our land to yours.”

He addressed Niall. “And did you learn of it?”

“Nay,” Niall said. “Avelina’s brother continues to investigate the matter. They’ve been returned, but we do not yet know by who, or why it happened.”

That clearly did not please his father.

“Someone attempted to renew the feud.”

“And we,” Avelina added, “are attempting to mollify it.”

Her meaning, clear.

“Perhaps this union is, indeed, a good thing,” his mother said. “Kenneth, think on it. We do not wish to renew the feud, and their marriage may even bring our two clans together.”

His father addressed Niall, finally turning away from Avelina who was grateful for the respite.

“We will never be allies with Clan MacKinlay.”

It was as if he’d struck her in the chest.

“Kenneth,” his mother repeated. Then she said to Niall, “Perhaps you should take Lady Avelina for a respite after your travels.”

“Perhaps I should take her to Glenhaven this eve rather than on the morrow.”

“You will retire to Glenhaven without speaking with me first?” his father asked, his voice hard.

“I am finding it difficult to speak with you at all,” Niall said.

“You would not reach it before nightfall and have already been traveling,” his mother said. Stay, Niall, and we will speak again in the morn.”

Her tone was almost pleading, and clearly it was one Niall could not deny.

“As you wish, Mother,” he said. “Come,” her husband said to her.

He did not address his father before tugging on her hand and leading Avelina toward the door. Neither did she wish to speak with the chief any further, though she would thank his mother for her courtesy.

“I am very pleased to meet you,” she said, this time with the warmth that her first greeting had lacked. “And thank you for your hospitality.”

“‘Tis more than hospitality, my dear. You are my daughter-in-law. You are family. And this is your home.”

Her words could not have been a more straightforward show of support. So very different than the chief who said nothing amidst their exchange.

“I am grateful for it,” Avelina said, appreciative of her support.

They left the solar without any other words spoken. And it was not until they’d reached the end of the corridor and climbed another set of stairs that Niall pulled Avelina into his arms. Wordlessly, he kissed her. Slowly. Deeply.

And if she did not know otherwise, Avelina might have even thought of it as lovingly.