Debra Kay Leland (14 page)

William nodded and glanced at his beautiful wife.  “Aye, I shall.  Thank ye both, for I know the risk ye both took in bringing her to me.”

The monk nodded softly and smiled at the couple, as her father spoke.  “Ock, I could not see the lass married to a man she did not love; but ye, English, take good care of my daughter or ye shall answer to me for it!”

William laughed. 
“Aye, I shall…”

It wasn’t long a
fter that they bid the two good day and William turned to his bride again bringing her against him as he clasp his hands behind her in a soft embrace, peering down into her lovely face as he spoke,
“Well, my bride, the men and I have to see to building a shelter for them before winter takes us all by surprise.  I shall not be far, just at the meadows edge.  Will ye be alright if I leave ye here alone?”

She nodded and smiled into his handsome face.  “Aye, I shall.”

He put a long tanned finger under her chin tipping her face to meet his.  “And will ye miss me then, lass?”

She blushed at his soft words.  “Aye, husband… I shall miss thee…”

His eyes lingered over her lovely face, her long lashes, and deep blue eyes and came to rest on her soft sweet lips before his head dropped slowly brushing hers with his, making her heart skip a beat.  She smiled under his cool firm lips and he laughed, his lips still against hers. 
“Ye aren’t supposed to smile while I kiss thee, lass.”
  She stifled a soft laugh and looked up at him again as he continued, “And why is it that ye smile?”

Her smile brightened even more at his teasing words. 
“…I am happy, William.”

He laughed and drew her against his strong chest, her lovely soft
sing song
voice pleasing him even more.  “Ah lass, we shall have a fine life, thee and I; but for now I must see to a house for my men.”

She nodded softly.  “And ye’ll come back at midday then?”

“Aye.”  He straightened then kissed her cheek before he stepped away.  “Good day to ye, wife.”

She smiled and watched him go, then turned to her new home feeling as if this was all merely a dream…  But yet on the edges of it all was the worry of what Egan might yet do…

Phillip glanced at the narrow house.  “And ye think the lass shall be alright in there alone?”

William glanced back also and frowned.  “We won’t be gone long, nor be far.  Egan may visit me, but I believe he would not hurt the lass.”  Or so he hoped…

Chapter Eight

T
o all their surprise, the next week went by quietly though they were all sure it wouldn’t last for they had yet to hear from Egan.  The men busied themselves laying timber on stone and setting the foundation for the house and beams they’d just cut for the roughened wood floor; while Miranda busied herself cleaning the house and readying things for winter.  She looked around at the hut she would now call home, it was larger than her father’s, and made from roughened timbers that lie crosswise instead of those that were lashed together as they ran up and down.  The hut was a welcome sight, and so was the life he would offer her here.

Her mind went to the man she had married, the son of the Earl of Whittington had
fell in love with a Welsh peasant.  She wondered if his powerful father, the man who had destroyed this village would even allow such a thing…!  And she couldn’t help but worry that when news of it reached him, that he would yet have her sent away, or worse… 

She frowned at her thoughts and began to set the table again
with a trembling hand.  She and William hadn’t had a chance to talk about anything yet—not his father nor mother, not even his siblings; for in a way he was yet but a stranger to her...  And to now know of his title and from where he had come made her wonder even more… 
For would she be a disgrace to him with his family?
  She herself wanted nothing to do with his title nor with Whittington, she had married an honest and brave man, a man who was determined to live in peace and do what was right even in the face of opposition.  And though she now knew of his title it hadn’t mattered to her then! She had fallen in love with William of Glenton Moor, not the son of an Earl, and all she could hope was that his family would let them live their lives here in peace…

William and his men managed to set the foundation of the floor by midday.  The house would be small, but the men had agreed that it would be warm and easier to keep if it were not so big.  As he worked, he found himself glancing towards the darkened house hoping to catch sight of her; wondering what she had been doing there all day, and when he did it brought a smile to his face.  It was like a dream come true, to have her here with him.  Truly, he had lost the only home he’d ever known, the family he’d loved, his whole life as he once knew it; but he’d been paid back for it all abundantly with her!

When the men came in for the midday meal she stood by the table waiting, her hands clasped behind her back shyly.  On the table a large kettle of stew awaited with fresh bread and butter beside it.  He stopped at the delicious aroma and smiled at her.  “What smells so wonderful?”

He peeked into the kettle and smile
d again.  “Ye have out done thyself, lass.”

Phillip and Thomas agreed with smiling faces as they settled down on the benches aside the narrow table.  She waited for William and then served the men up heaping bowls of stew and crusty bread.  They ate it hardily, plying her with complements as they did so, making her blush as she looked to her husband’s handsome face.  “Ye did well, lass.  We haven’t eaten this well in months.”

She glanced around at the wildflowers she had picked and put in on the mantle, though the days were cooler, there were still some to be had.  “I wanted ye to feel like ye were home.”

He leaned forward and kissed her before he stood.  “Anywhere ye are shall be home to me now
.”

The meal done, she smiled up at him as she walked him to the door.  “We need to get a few more logs down before the day’s end.  If ye need me, just call and I shall hear thee.”  He kissed her again then turned towards his men and left.

It was towards evening when her father came with a hardy smile and a fat cow in tow.  She smiled and ran to greet him lifting the hem of her tanned skirt as she went, threading her arms around his stout middle and smiling up happily into his weathered face.  He laughed at the warm welcome and smiled down at her.  “Ah, there’s my lass!”

She s
miled brightly as they walked.

“I’ve brought William yur dowry.  The cow shall have her calf come spring.”  He look
ed around.  “Is he here then?”

“Aye, over the crest of the hill cutting down tre
es for his friend’s shelter.”

Alden spotted the foundation near the edge of the meadow, and then looked down at his
smiling daughter again.  “Run along now, lass, I wish to speak with yur husband without a woman pestering us.”  He tied the cow to the gate and gave her a wink, before he strode towards the hill.  But she couldn’t help but worry for she had noticed his frown also, making her wonder if Egan was to blame...  She stood there watching him for a long moment, then turned glancing down the roadway he had come from with a worried frown, before she went back into the hut, her dark thoughts in no way eased.

“Ah, there ye be, English!”

William straightened at the sound
of his father-in-law’s voice.

“And what brings thee
to my home, Alden?”

“I bought ye the lass’s dowry, five pieces of silver and a cow, just as I said.  The cow is to calf by spring.”

He smiled.  “I accept, though I would have taken the girl even without it.”

“Aye, I know ye would have; but I am a man of my word, now are I not?”  He looked down and shifted uneasily before he looked at the younger man in front of him again.  “English—Egan came to me today…  I have made excuses for her all week, but sooner or later I knew he would find the truth.  He knows
now that ye have taken the girl as yur wife, and he’s not pleased about it in the least.”

William glanced at his men, and then back at Alden with
a frown before he spoke, “We shall keep watch for him.  I was sure he would not take the news of it kindly.  But I thank thee for the warning, and though I do not seek trouble with him, I shall protect my own!  But do ye think he shall strike back against thee also?”

Alden shrugged.  “Me?  Ock, I d
o not believe so, the man would risk turning those in the village against him if he came after me.  Just watch yur back, English, he would think nothing of claiming yur widow.”

William’s face tightened into a scowl at his words; he knew it was true, but he
wasn’t about to let Egan Wallace dictate to him as to his own affairs.  If he came here, then trouble would greet him at the end of his sword…!  He drew a long breath then pressed a smile on his face as he said, “I shall heed thy words well.  But ye have come all this way, can ye join us for dinner?”

“Nay, I must be getting back
.  Take care of her, English.”

William extended a strong hand.  “Aye, I shall, Alden.  I shall.”

He watched the man walked away again; Thomas and Phillip joining him where he stood looking on with worried faces.  He glanced at them.  “Ye heard
then…?  We shall need to keep watch for Egan…”

Thomas nodded.  “Aye,
we heard…  But we shall not let aught happen to thee or the lass!”

Yet even at his word, William still felt uneasiness in his heart at the thought that Egan might seek revenge.
  For he would not lose her, nor let everything be taken from him again!

The two lay together in the darkness, her head on his warm hard chest, his hand threaded though lush reddish curls.  They had not talked at all about Egan, nor would she now…  “William, what of yur father and mother?  Ye have not told me of them...”

He paused a moment at her question, then his deep voice murmured against her hair.  “My mother died when I
was yet a child, my father is well… and still very dear to me, though I may not ever be able to see him again…  And truly it saddens me… Though those here see him as a tyrant, he is a fair man who rules a hard land and does as he must to keep order here…  I may not always agree with his decisions, but I respect the man regardless of it… 
My brother on the other hand
—has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, yet he shall be the Earl when my father is gone…  ‘Twill be a sorry, sorry day for all when he takes the title I fear… even for us…”

She lay in his strong safe arms listening to his words, his hands as gentle on her as his words as he continued, “We are not welcome at Whittington, Miranda…
Glenton Moor is our home.”

“I do not wish to go there. 
For truly, I am contented here with ye.”

He kissed the top of her head.  “As am I, with thee…  No more questions now, lass.”

She smiled and closed her eyes savoring his warm frame against hers and the scent of the woods that still lingered on him.  She was happy and in love, and she would not let anyone or anything take that from her!

The morning dawned fair and bright; she woke first and set about making eggs and slicing bacon from the smoked meat that hung high above the hearth on the rafters.  William sat up and watched her with a smile, wondering how he had ever managed to catch the eye of such a fine girl as this.

She noticed him looking at her and turned sweeping a stray
curl from her face.  “Good day to ye.”

He smiled back and pulled on a shirt.  “And to ye.”  He came up behind her and threaded his arms around her narrow waist and drew her back to rest against his tall frame.  “And do ye have a kis
s for thy husband, good wife?”

She laughed softly.  “Aye, I do.”  She tilted her face to his and let him kiss her gently, before she pulled away laughing.  “Yur food gets cold, hus
band.  Call yur men and eat.”

He smiled and r
eleased her.  “I’d rather hold thee, but alas I shall do as it am bid.”

She gave a soft laugh and put the food on the table, then waited for them to come in.

After they broke their fast the men went out again to cut more trees hoping to get started on laying the walls that day, as she set to clean things up and readying a hearty potage for the midday meal, and then she washed clothes at the well.  The day flew by quickly, and soon the men were bidding them both a goodnight.  But William stayed at the table for a long time and did not speak.  She glanced at him wondering what was amiss; fearing she had somehow angered him—or perhaps it was worry of Egan that kept him there so long.  She watched him silently waiting for him to go to bed, but yet he lingered.  He dropped his head into his hands, his body almost shaking with the tension of it.  She came up beside him and rested her thin hand tentatively on his shoulder, feeling how badly he now trembled. 
“William?”