Page 88 of Taming the Highland Misfits

Freya shook her head. “I have all I want right here.” She smiled at Alex. “But if you think it might help Aidan and Bearnard to find brides, then I am quite happy to oblige–as long as the wine is good, of course.”

The two men laughed. Both of them loved Freya in completely different ways; the Laird as a doting father and Alex as her future lover and husband. Both recognised her spirited, sometimes irrational, sometimes fierce temperament, but loved her despite, or even because of it. There was only one Freya.

Shortly afterwards, they left, both bubbling over with happiness. However, Alex could not help remembering what Gerald Patterson had said to him;if you do not stop the relationship with her, you and your clan will suffer the consequences, and I will not be responsible for anything that happens.

The words echoed over and over again in his mind, and although he had thought about them from time to time since Gerald Patterson had uttered them, he could not fathom what consequences the man meant. They were clearly meant to be a warning–but a warning about what?

Perhaps he had only been trying to put the fear of god into him, but if he had, then he had not succeeded. Granted, Alex was afraid, but not for himself, because he was quite capable of defending himself, but for Freya, and he would rather die than let anything happen to her.

He decided not to tell her about the threat, though. She was likely to run screaming to Gerald Patterson and try to warn him off, and that would make everything ten times worse. Then she would run to tell her father, who would deal with the situation by dismissing Patterson, and all hell might break loose.

The more he thought about it, however, the more he became convinced that Patterson’s threat had been an empty one, but as a precaution, he decided to tell a few of his most trusted men. It was better to be safe than sorry.

11

Freya had no idea what was going on in Alex’s mind. She literally skipped out of the Great Hall, then grabbed Alex’s hands and whirled him around before pulling him towards her and kissing him soundly. She was giggling uncontrollably and though she was aware that the eyes of most of the maidservants and guards were on them, she could not help herself. The joy inside her was all-consuming, and as she looked at the man who would soon be her husband she felt as though she would soon burst with love.

Humility was not one of Freya’s traits, so it was unusual for her to wonder, as she looked at Alex, what she had done to deserve him. She was well aware of her own shortcomings: she was scatterbrained, impulsive, and inclined to fly into a temper without much provocation. When she contrasted this with Alex’s calmness and patience, as well as his ability to sit and listen while she talked incessantly, mostly rationally but sometimes about complete drivel, she was astonished that he had the fortitude to put up with her. He was a very special person, and he was hers.

Alex was well aware of his own faults. He was exactly the opposite of Freya; he was guilty of holding in his emotions, damming them up until one stray word cracked the wall and the whole edifice cracked open in one mighty display of fury. It had only occurred a few times in his life, and each time he had resolved never to let it happen again, but he could feel it swelling again when he thought of Aidan. However, he resolved to try never to let Freya see him lose his temper. She might hate him for it, even if for a little while, and he could not stand the thought of that.

However, now she was as happy as he had ever seen her. “I wish I had a token to give you,” he told her, with a touch of sadness in his voice.

Freya brushed back a lock of fair hair from his face and smiled at him. “You mean a ring?” she asked. “I do not need a ring, my love. I only need you, but if you want, we can use my mother’s ring at the service, and that way we will keep it in the family.”

“And give them to our son to give to his wife,” Alex said mischievously, his face brightening.

“We do not have a son,” Freya pointed out, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Yet.”

At that moment, a young, pretty red-haired woman who looked to be still in her teens came up to them and curtsied before addressing Freya.

“Milady,” she said shyly, “I am one o’ your chambermaids. My name is?— ”

Freya smiled. “I know your name, Agnes. You clean my father’s suite of rooms, do you not?”

The girl’s eyes widened in surprise. “Aye, Milady. I dae, but how did ye know my name?”

Freya was puzzled. “I know everyone’s name,” she replied, frowning. Then she smiled. “What can I do for you, Agnes?”

“Nothin’, Milady,” she replied. “I just wanted tae be the first tae congratulate ye both. A’ the lassies saw the Captain o’ the Guard goin’ down on his knees tae ye an’ we a’ think it is that romantic! Nane o’ us has ever had anythin’ sae lovely happen tae us. Anyway, I willnae take up any more o’ your time. I wish ye a long an’ happy life, and may ye have many healthy bairns.” She curtsied again and began to turn to walk away, but Freya caught her arm. She turned back, looking as though she feared that she might be in trouble.

Seeing the look on Agnes’s face, Freya hastened to assure her that she had done nothing wrong. “Be at ease, Agnes,” she said gently. “I just wanted you to know that our wedding is in two weeks’ time, and since you were the first to congratulate us, I am giving you the first invitation. All the servants and guards are invited too, and I am now placing the responsibility of spreading the word on your shoulders.”

Agnes gazed at Freya in disbelief. “Thank ye, Milady. I will no’ let ye down.” She scurried away to her appointed task, and Freya felt warm inside. It had taken so little to make Agnes feel happy and important!

Presently, Alex put his arm around her shoulders and whispered: “Shall we go to our special place?” He was grinning with a wicked light in his eyes.

“Yes, please!” Freya answered eagerly.

* * *

A little crowd of housemaids stood waiting for Agnes to come back. They had all dared her to go and speak to Freya, and since she had not been working in Kilkenrigg Castle very long, they had to assure her that the mistress of the castle did not bite!

Agnes was beaming all over her face when she returned. “She asked me tae invite ye a’ tae the weddin’!” she told them excitedly.

All the women looked at each other and began to talk and laugh excitedly.

“It is the best news we have had here in years!” Bettie Boyd said, clapping her hands. She was the oldest of all the housemaids, having been with the Murdaugh family for almost thirty years, and had been through each and every triumph and tragedy that befell them.