Page 14 of Love Beyond Reach (Morna’s Legacy #11)

A lasdair included nothing of Fulton’s appearance in his description.

In my mind, I imagined that I would arrive at dinner to find a horrendously unattractive man twice my age.

To my surprise, when I found my feet after running right into him, I looked up into the eyes of one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen in my life.

As tall as my brother, Fulton Fyfe had dark eyes, thick lashes and brows, and a full head of dark hair that made me want to reach up and run my fingers through it.

He looked as if he could command any room, but when he opened his mouth to speak, no words formed. He opened and closed his mouth three times before finally deciding to say nothing. Without a word, he turned and walked away.

“I told ye. Strangest man I’ve ever seen. I doona believe he’s said more than five words since he arrived.”

U pon sitting down to dinner , Alasdair and I were determined in our resolve to make certain that Father took to Jerry well enough to give him work in Kip’s stables.

I knew it would be difficult. By introducing Jerry to Father as if he were Alasdair’s friend, Father would assume that Jerry was already an equal in class.

To then ask Father for work would only arouse suspicion. I hoped Alasdair had something planned.

With Father at the table’s end, and Alasdair, Elspeth, and Eoin lining one side, I sat awkwardly between Jerry and Fulton.

Mary prepared a banquet of food, and I found myself eating more than my stomach could possibly hold just to keep my hands and mouth busy throughout the awkwardness of our meal together.

Elspeth busied herself with Eoin, Fulton said absolutely nothing, and Alasdair and I watched on with wide eyes as Jerry charmed our father as if he’d known him his entire life.

It had been months, possibly even years, since I’d seen my father get on with someone so well.

It unsettled me. My father usually liked despicable people.

Did the fact that Jerry got along with him so splendidly signal something about Jerry’s character that I’d not seen during my limited interaction with him?

Most people, even those with strong personalities, would shrink a few inches in my father’s presence.

They would choose their words with care and never dared say anything that might upset him.

Jerry didn’t seem concerned with this at all.

If anything, he sat up taller than he had at any other time I’d seen him.

Not only did he say whatever came to his mind, he even dared to disagree with my father twice before the main course.

The more disagreeable and opinionated Jerry was, the more my father enjoyed him.

“Alasdair, why have ye never brought Jerry here before? I’ve never known ye to have such intelligent friends.”

Quicker than I would’ve been had I been the one asked, Alasdair took the opportunity to guide the conversation toward our desired outcome.

“He stays verra busy, Father. Until recently, he served as Laird Creedrich’s most trusted messenger. He has only lived in this region for a fortnight.”

Returning his attention to Jerry, Father looked surprised.

“Why did ye leave?”

As if they’d coordinated everything beforehand, Jerry picked up right where Alasdair left off.

“I much prefer the landscape here. There are too many peat bogs near Creedrich’s land. I’ve a taste for the beautiful, and Conall territory is the loveliest in Scotland.”

Picking the most beautiful area in Scotland was a lot like deciding which finger you’d like to lose—impossible. But the obvious stroke of his ego allowed Father to overlook the absurdity of Jerry’s explanation.

“O’course ye do. Ye are a man of fine taste. How do ye mean to live?”

“’Tis part of the reason I invited him here tonight, Father. As ye know, Kip is now in need of a new stable hand. I thought mayhap Jerry would be a fine choice.”

“A stable hand? Jerry would go to waste with such work. If he was a trusted messenger to Creedrich, he can be a trusted messenger to me. He can stay in the castle’s cottage.”

Choking on my food in surprise, I coughed as Jerry slyly reached to pat me on the back.

He couldn’t have seemed any less shocked by my father’s offer.

Perhaps Jerry possessed magic, as well. Father’s actions were so unusual that I was beginning to wonder if he were spelled.

To suggest that a man he barely knew take on such a trusted position was strange enough.

To then offer the same stranger lodging on castle grounds was unheard of.

With the exception of those who worked directly in the castle, such as Mary, Father never concerned himself with where his workers made their home.

Jerry continued to beat at my back while he spoke.

“Ye are too generous. A stable job will suit me just fine. I’m sure ye already have a messenger.”

“Aye, but he’s rubbish. I insist. I’ll not take no for an answer.”

Quickly adjusting his tone to one of admonishment, Father addressed me just as Jerry ceased the inappropriate thumping on my back. “Morna, compose yerself. Have ye no manners?”

As Mary brought in the last course, Father pounded one fist on the table in excitement.

“Mary, ye’ve outdone yerself, lass. I hope ye’ve saved some of everything for yerself to enjoy later.”

Fulton jumped at the noise, bumping the table so that his cup of ale sloshed out on the table. The expression on my father’s face made it clear that he’d forgotten Fulton was even there.

“How can a man so tall disappear so completely? Why doona ye speak, man? Have ye said two words to my daughter all evening?”

Suddenly feeling rather sorry for him, I tried to dismiss it.

“’Tis fine, Father. Yer conversation with Jerry had us all captivated.”

Waving a hand to silence me, Father raised his voice in anger.

“I dinna ask ye. Speak and answer me. Have ye said a word since she sat down next to ye?”

While Father couldn’t see it from so far away, I could see Fulton’s hands shake as he struggled to speak. His face was so red I thought I might cry for him.

“I…I…no.”

“After dinner, gather yer things and tell yer men that ye will return home come morning. There is no sense in ye being here if ye canna even speak to the lass ye wish to wed. Morna is not a quiet woman, she canna wed a mute.”

Never in my life had two such completely conflicting emotions in regard to my father filled me at once. I was mortified that he didn’t seem to mind the pain his words caused Fulton, but I was also pleased to see that at least some part of my father did care about my future happiness.

Unable to say a word, Fulton nodded and looked down at the table in total humiliation. Satisfied, Father resumed his conversation with Jerry.

As all attention diverted away from the devastated man next to me, I whispered an apology. Every word was forward and inappropriate, but if they helped to ease Fulton’s pain, I didn’t care. Only half of what I told him was a lie.

“Fulton, I think ye one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen.

I believe my father is wrong—I’m sure I could be verra content with ye if we were married, but ye surely doona wish to have my father ordering ye around until he dies.

Be glad that he’s sent ye away. Know that ye always have at least one friend here at Conall Castle. ”

For the first time, he smiled, and his hands stopped shaking.

“Thank ye, lass.”

Quickly reaching out to squeeze his hand, I smiled then turned my attention back to the rest of the table. I could only hope getting rid of future suitors would be just as easy.