Plead Forgiveness: Betrayed Twice (Loyalty Series) (6 page)

After bidding the
remaining occupants of the hall good night, Lady Esme walked up the stone
staircase to the second floor. She suddenly startled, hearing Ella cry out from
her chamber. Her heart pounded in her chest as she threw open the door. The
older woman quickly discovered Ella in the midst of a terrifying nightmare.

  “Ella,
Ella, wake up! ‘Tis only a dream,” Lady Esme said as she wrapped her arms
protectively around the young woman.

“Yer safe,
sweetheart. All is well,” she continued to croon.

“He is hurting
her, beating her, and she is in a pool of blood,” Ella cried as she clung to
Lady Esme. “I tried to stop him, but he is too strong. Uncle James is fighting,
but he is hurt. I can do nothing to help either of them.” Ella sobbed in the
older woman’s arms, fearing that her dream is a premonition of the future.

“Shhhh, ‘twas only
a dream, naught more. Ye have been in a fretful state these past few days,
plagued by fear for yer family. I often have nightmares when my sons are away
fighting in battle. When they return, safe and sound, I realize the dream only
reflected my fear.”

Ella gave a slight
nod, content to remain in the arms of the kind woman, who reminded her of her
own mother.

“Do ye want me to
stay until ye fall back to sleep?”

With tears
streaming down her face, Ella nodded.

Leaning back
against the pillow, Lady Esme tightened her arms around the lass, and then
began to hum softly until Ella slumbered once more. She carefully eased out of
the bed, and then kissed her cheek before leaving the chamber.

Ella felt a
lingering trepidation the next morning that covered her like a thick fog
preventing her from focusing on any task or conversation. By midday, she
excused herself from her usual routine and went to the barbican to walk the
parapet wall that overlooked the vast countryside. A slight breeze made the
warm early June day more than tolerable.

Ella wore a deep
blue side less tunic over a dove white, short sleeve chemise. The garment fit
loose, but pulled together at the waist with a thin leather belt that hung low
on her hips. Since her back had not healed completely, she preferred this style
of dress to those that required a tight fitting girdle. If only her aunt and
uncle could see her in this beautiful dress. They would love the sight of her
dressed as a proper young Lady.

Over the next
hour, her gaze remained fixed on horizon as she walked the parapet wall. She
hoped and prayed to see a sign of Gavin returning with her family.

Suddenly, off in
the distance, she spotted riders coming towards the castle. Although unable to
identify who or how many rode in the party, nevertheless, Ella’s excitement
peaked.

Running to one of
the guardsmen, she asked, “Do you see what I see? Pray, tell me I am not
imagining riders coming this way?”

“Yer eyes dinna
deceive ye, Milady.”

Horns suddenly
blared, warning all within the keep that riders approached.

To Ella, the guard
said, “Allow me to escort ye to the hall, Milady.”

Although, she did
not want to go to the hall, she allowed the guard to escort her to the bailey,
where Paen and Tavish waited.

The bailey filled
with curious men and woman, all wanting to know if their laird returned with
Lady Ella’s family.

“We should wait in
the hall,” Tavish suggested.

Neither Paen nor
Ella moved as they stared at the battlements, waiting for the guards in the
gatehouse to confirm the identity of the riders.

Paen left their
company briefly, and then returned with disappointment in his eyes. “’Tis nae
Gavin. They are from Greystone with a message for Lady Ella.”

Fear, stark and
vivid, glittered in her eyes. She choked back a cry as a cold knot formed in
her stomach. A spasmodic trembling overtook her body when two Greystone
soldiers rode under the raised portcullis.

After dismounting,
they walked over to her and Gavin’s brothers. With contrite expression, the
English soldiers handed her a written missive.

She unrolled the
missive and read:

My Dearest Niece,

It is my deepest
regret to inform you of the death of Lady Eleanor of Greystone and Sir James.
After word arrived that you broke your betrothal to Baron Montgomery and
married against your guardian’s wishes, profound grief consumed my dear wife
and she tried to run away.

As for Sir James,
instead of returning to King Henry’s service, he attempted to aid Lady
Eleanor’s folly. We caught them on the cliff above spitting caves. James forced
me to stab him when he would not relinquish his hold on my wife. Unfortunately,
before I was able to get my wife out of harm’s way, the cliff ledge gave out
and both Eleanor and James fell to their death.

I hope you will
not blame yourself for their death or let the loss of your only family mar your
newfound happiness in your marriage. I have sent your belongings, along with
Eleanor’s favorite tapestry, to give you comfort while you grieve. I will keep
you in my prayers and heart always.

Until Our Paths
Cross Again,

Philip Canbury,
Baron of Greystone

Acute pain, so raw
and primitive, overwhelmed Ella. As if burned, she dropped the parchment, and
watched it float to the ground. She felt hands try to pull her into an embrace,
but she broke free and bolted from the bailey. Tears blurred her vision as ran
away from everyone and everything. Her need to be alone outweighed all else.

Paen watched her
disappear through a postern gate, knowing she headed to the loch to grieve in
solitude. After he read the missive, one of the Greystone soldiers handed him a
sack containing the remnants of a shredded tapestry. He cursed viciously at the
devastating blow while his mother rushed over to him.

“What has
happened?”

Paen faced his
mother and Tavish, and then relayed the contents of the missive.

“Dear God and
heaven! Where is she? She canna be alone,” Lady Esme cried.

Taking hold of his
mother’s shoulders, Paen stated, “She went to the loch, Arth followed. Dinna go
to her. We must allow her to mourn in private. I will watch over her from a
distance and keep her safe.”

His fierce gaze
turned to Tavish. “I want Greystone’s men escorted off our land immediately.
Also, assign men to wait on the southern border for Gavin.” Handing the missive
to Tavish, he added, “I want Gavin to read this before he arrives, and inform
him that his wife has already done so.”

“Aye, the latter I
will see to personally.” Tavish started to walk away, then turned and said, “Do
ye think Gavin kens of their death?”

“Aye, and I
believe he will be here verra soon.”

After Tavish left,
Lady Esme cried to Paen, “What can I do to help? Dear Lord, all I want to do is
hold her, to take away her pain.”

“There will be
time for that later, for now, just make sure there is plenty of food ready for
Gavin and the others.”

She nodded, hugged
her son, and then rushed off to the kitchens.

Before following
Ella, Paen glanced around the bailey, stunned by the sight that greeted him.
More than a hundred men, women and children gathered and openly mourned the
loss of Lady Ella’s aunt and uncle. He realized at that moment how important
Ella had become to the Macleods. Her pain is now theirs, and they will stand by
her during this difficult time. Paen had never been prouder of his clan, of his
people.

Gavin’s eyes
flamed with rancorous ire when he arrived an hour later, aware of Philip’s
intentionally cruel missive to his wife.

Paen greeted and
accompanied him to the loch as he explained, “I dinna leave her, but kept my
distance and watched over her nevertheless.”

“Thank ye.”

“Good Luck! Ye
will need it.” With that said, Paen went back to the castle.

Gavin entered the
forest and walked briskly along the path that led to the loch. All thoughts
centered on Ella.  He wanted to crush her to his chest and absorb her
pain.

Impatient to reach
his grieving wife, he lengthened his powerful strides. Suddenly, a twig snapped
behind him. When he whipped around, he saw his little woman swing a thick tree
branch at his head. He instantly threw his head back, and then heard it whoosh
passed his face and slam into an adjacent tree.

So stunned by the
attack, Gavin did not prevent her next swing, which she aimed at his
midsection. Deftly jumping back, he avoided the blow, and then watched the
heavy branch smash into a tree. Before she could swing again, he wrapped his
arms around her from behind, pinning her limbs to her sides.

“Let me go! They
are dead because of you! I hate you! Do you hear me? I want nothing to do with
the man who destroyed my only family!”

With a soft,
controlled voice, he said, “Ella, I dinna destroy yer family. I promise that
Baron’s Greystone and Montgomery will pay for what they have done.”

“Keep your
worthless promises,” she spat. “I have nothing now because of you. They are all
gone, all dead. They were the only ones who wanted me, the only ones who loved me.
Oh God, I’m alone.” Her voice became a whisper as her body went limp.

“Ye are nae alone.
And they were nae the only ones who want and love ye, little one.”

Tearing herself
away, Ella pummeled his chest with her little fists and cried, “Nae, I want
them back. Do not take them from me. My heart. . . it hurts. They all die . .
.because of me.”

Gavin let her vent
her pain on him, then gathered her close and allowed her to sob into his chest.
When her legs started to buckle, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to
the creeping willow tree that sat on the bank of the loch. With his back
against the massive trunk, he sat down and held her against his heart, while
her grief piqued. She wept for over an hour with her fist clenching the fabric
of his tunic.

As he gently
rocked her, yielding tender kisses to the top of her head, he silently prayed.

‘Lord, I ask ye to
see me through my vow to destroy the men responsible for my wife’s loss. She
has endured so much pain, so much heartache. I pray to ye, ease her suffering,
for I love her more than my own life.”

After Ella cried
herself to sleep, Gavin carried her to her chamber in the castle and undressed
her with the utmost care. He soon had her in a knee length, sleeping gown and
tucked into bed. Despite

his hunger,
fatigue, and desperate need to bathe, he remained with her. He settled himself
on the padded window bench to watch his slumbering wife.

Well past
midnight, he finally departed her chamber and went to the hall. To his
surprise, his family and guard had not sought their beds; instead, they waited
anxiously for him on the dais. The loyalty they displayed for Ella filled him
with pride and gave him the support he needed.

While consuming an
abundance of food and ale over the next hour, the occupants of the hall voiced
their opinions on how to care and seek retribution for Ella. When Gavin finally
retired for the evening, he yearned to go to his wife and remain close-at-hand
if she needed him.

He found her small
body curled in the middle of the large bed, looking so young and vulnerable.
Quietly, he stoked the fire, and then made himself comfortable in the
well-cushioned chair in front of the hearth. Sometime later, he felt his mother
cover him with a plaid, then saw her go over to Ella and place a kiss upon her
brow.

After his mother
left, his concern for the grief-stricken woman in the bed made it impossible to
find sleep. When Ella began to whimper softly, he slipped in beside her and
cloaked her with his warmth and love. Blessedly, she did not wake or even stir.

I pray this will
nae be that last time ye allow me to hold ye throughout the night, my love.

When the rays of
the awakening sun bathed the chamber, Gavin carefully extracted himself from
Ella’s unknowing body and retreated to his own solar. While he dressed, he
thought on how to care for his wife as she mourned the death of her beloved
aunt and uncle.

Her anguish and
bitterness had only just begun, but he vowed to give Ella his unwavering love
and support. 
Nae matter the cost, I will win her love
. With
purposeful strides, he departed his chamber and ventured into the hall.

After a brief
greeting to his mother and Bowen, the lone occupants of the dais, he learned
that the night before last his wife woke screaming from a nightmare.

“She was so
distressed by the dream that she did not eat or drink, and barely spoke with
anyone the entire day.”

“I will nae allow
her to starve herself. If ye canna sway her to eat, inform me at once.”

“What she needs is
our love, nae upbraiding,” Lady Esme admonished.

“When it concerns
her health, I will nae tolerate any willful defiance,” Gavin adamantly stated.
“I suspect over the next few days she will seek solitude over solace, which we
will give her in limited measure. She may eat in her chamber, but if she loses
an iota of flesh, I will intervene.”

“Aye, I agree,
especially since she dinna have much to lose,” Bowen interjected, receiving a
scowl from his wife.

“I will do as I
see fit,” Lady Esme said as she stormed from the hall, not caring for the
company of insensitive men.

“Dare I ask why
she is so displeased,” Gavin asked Bowen.

“She will smother
the lass with warmth and affection, and rebuke those who do otherwise. ‘Tis her
way, ye ken. On the night of Ella’s nightmare, yer mother held her close as she
cried herself to sleep. And last eve, distraught by yer wife’s suffering; she
wept till the wee hours of the morning.”

“I will nae
gainsay her or her maternal inclinations. In truth, I am well pleased that
mother has come to love Ella.”

“’Tis an
understatement ye speak and she is nae the only one who has come to love the
wee lass. I would have been proud to call her daughter.”

Gavin arched his
eyebrows at Bowen and asked, “Dinna ye mean ‘ye are
’ 
proud to call
her daughter?”

“Aye,” Bowen
chuckled. “Ye have the right of it, since I am yer stepfather.”

“Ye are the only
father my siblings and I recognize, old man.”

“Aye, and I thank
the Lord every day for that miracle,” Bowen acknowledged, genuinely touched by
Gavin’s words.

He stood, clapped
the young laird on the back and asked, “Will ye join me on the training field
this day?”

“Aye, I will
within the hour.”

Bowen took his
leave while Gavin went to sit by the hearth, isolating himself from the
gathering in the hall. He needed a private moment before he conveyed to his
clan how they would proceed in seeking reprisal for the death of Ella’s family
as well as his concerns about her welfare.

A quarter of an
hour later, he stood in front of his clan with his hand raised for silence.

“As ye ken, my
wife has suffered a terrible lost. I stand before ye, as yer kin and laird, to
beseech upon ye. . . .”