Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (27 page)

“Have I ever told ye the story of Isabel and her
desire to raid with her father and brothers?”

In all the years of knowing Alex, never once had the
man spoken of his daughter. Gavin did know, however, that the fair Isabel had
helped Eva tremendously during her recovery, but had died shortly thereafter at
the young age of ten. Gavin did not begrudge Alex this turn of topics, if
anything he was intrigued to hear any story of the lass.

“Nae, but I would be pleased to hear it.”

Alex let his memory drift to that blessed day, and
then spoke as if he were in some glorious dream. “Isabel always adored her
brothers, as they did her. From the time the lass could walk, she followed them
around everywhere, mimicking their every movement and gesture. The boys
relished the look of adoration she bestowed upon them and decided early that
they would teach her skills they believed she would need.”

“’Tis hard to imagine those three brutes with a wee
slip of a girl,” Gavin chuckled.

“Aye, she was just that. Like her mother, small and
delicate, but also like me, stubborn and determined. By seven summers she rode
bareback better than any lad under the age of twelve; and was able to swim the
width of the burn and back, even when the current was strong. The boys were
eight when she accomplished that feat,” Alex said with pride.

“They also taught her how to handle a sword, fight
with and without a dagger. . .”

Alex paused when he saw the look of astonishment on
Gavin’s face, and then clarified, “Wooden swords and daggers. They also
assisted me in teaching her how to use a bow and make her own arrows.”

“She reminds me of Ella,” Gavin acknowledged.

“Aye, me as well. For her wee size and little
strength, she was far better than anyone could have imagined. The boys’ dinna
stop there and proceed in teaching her to hunt, track and fish. Isabel was also
passionate about anything her mother taught her, which was reading, writing and
of course healing.”

“But, back to the story. The day the boys and I were
to raid a northern clan, Isabel had the notion she’d be joining the raiding
party.”

“How old was she?”

“Eight summers. Aye, my little minx met us in the
bailey with her small wooden dagger and deadly bow and arrows. Ah, but the best
part was what she was wearing. Damn, if the hellion dinna look like a wee
Highland warrior. She’s cut her plaid so it fell to her knees and secured it
with a thick leather belt stolen from one of the stable boys. The remainder of
the cut plaid was draped over her shoulder and child-size jerkin.”

Laughing, Gavin asked, “Child-size jerkin?”

“Aye, she had one of my men fashion it for her, and on
my order no less. She also wore blue paint on her face and had cut her
waist-long hair till it fell just below her shoulders.”

Alex and Gavin laughed so hard, they cried.

“Guy, who was always her favorite, noticed her in the
bailey first. He nudged me, then whispered, ‘I believe the last and best of our
raiding party has arrived,’ he then gestured to Isabel. And there afore my eyes
was my sweet baby, dancing towards me with nae a hint of remorse on her proud,
smiling face.”

“Ye probably wanted to throttle her,” Gavin assumed.

“Mayhap at first, but she looked so adorable all I
could do was gather her into my arms and tell her how proud I was to be her
father. She responded by hugging me close, telling me how proud she was to be
my daughter, and then she looked over to Guy, and said, ‘I told ye Papa would
let me go raiding.
He
appreciates me and my skill’.”

Wiping the tears from his face, Alex chuckled, “Since
everyone was laughing at the site of the littlest warrior they’d ever seen,
Isabel believed she’d gained my approval. Even Emma was smiling at the site of
our daughter in my arms ready for battle.”

“Before explaining that she’d nae be coming on the
raid, I boxed Guy’s ears for failing to inform me of my wee lass’s intensions.
However, he did try to help the situation by telling her that Papa would never
take his favorite child on a dangerous raid. As was norm, she argued, stating
that Papa had nae favorites amongst his children.”

“I quickly confirmed that she was indeed my favorite,
much to the delight of her brothers. The boys then explained that she was also
far too important to them to risk on a raid; they always knew how to placate
her. A scant moment later Isabel was in her mama’s arms, waving good-bye and
telling us to be safe or she would be verra, verra angry.”

As Gavin’s mirth waned, he said, “Thank ye for sharing
that story with me. I never met Isabel, but Eva absolutely adored the wee lass
and thought of her as a sister.”

“I dinna speak of her often, but hearing about yer
Ella made me think of my Isabel. ‘Tis good that I dinna have to force ye to
marry her. I would have, ye ken.” He paused then added with sincerity, “The
road ye take may be full of obstacles, but I promise ye this, ‘tis worth it in
the end.”

“Aye, she is worth it and so much more.”

ENGLAND-GREYSTONE

“Montgomery, it’s about time. I have been eager to
learn the details of your meeting with King Henry.”

Roger Montgomery had just entered the hall Greystone,
still seething with ire over Philip’s failure to keep the Scot brat from
escaping and his intended from being kidnapped. As soon as he had learned about
the latter, hell’s fury was but a candle flame to his rage.

Montgomery had just been informed that his men, the
ones sent to retrieve his bride, were all dead. The young squire, and lone
survivor, also explained how the Macleods defeated them.

“All is well just as I said it would be. I told the
king I abducted Laird Macleod’s nephew merely for ransom, but he escaped. He is
aware that Macleod killed my father and the death went unpunished.”

Philip asked, “Did he question why you did this after
eight years?”

“Aye, he did. I told him that since my bride-to-be
would come to me without a dowry, who better to make up that lost then my hated
enemy.”

“He believed you?”

“Aye, for it’s not far from the truth. However, he was
displeased that your ward had nae dowry.”

“As if you need it. Your wealth and estates outweigh
any other baron in his realm.”

“Be that as it may, he wants you to dower the little
bitch, but I care little for that. I have enough wealth from my previous
marriages to last me a lifetime.”

“The king believes Ella is a distant Welsh relation of
Eleanor’s mother. I am still surprised it was so easy to convince him of that
fact.”

“Aye, he does.”

“Good. What else did Henry say?”

“He has sent men to Scotland, along with a midwife, to
retrieve my betrothed.”

Momentarily confused, Philip asked “A midwife, you
say?”

“Aye, the Scots, especially the Highlanders, are well
known for taking unwilling English brides. The only way to keep them is through
marriage.”

“Hell, I had not thought of that.”

“Since learning that Ella sided with them during the
battle, ‘tis possible that Laird Macleod will take her for wife. Only marriage
to a laird would prevent the king’s soldiers from returning with her.”

Philip had learned only yesterday, from the lone
survivor of the battle against the Macleods, of Ella’s participation. He had
not anticipated Montgomery learning so quickly.

Clearing his throat, Philip said, “I see you have been
well informed.”

“Aye, as soon as I came through your gates moments
ago, the squire who survived the battle told me all. The little bitch I will
take as wife fought alongside the Scots and against her own countrymen. I vow
she will pay dearly for that insult.”

“You still want her, even if the Scots have had at
her?”

“I assure you, she will be mine. Now answer me this, the
Scot brat was not seen by the squire. Have you learned how he escaped or how
Macleod managed to kidnap Ella?”

“I belief she snuck out of the castle with the boy,
then went to the abbey. Sir James took shelter after he was dismissed from
service. More than likely he took the boy back to Scotland.”

“It makes sense, but why did he not just give the boy
back to the Macleods?”

“Sir James is highly skilled at remaining undetected
while traveling, a skill he picked up on the crusades I would imagine. He also
would have left in the cover of the night, with the moonlight guiding his way.”

“So why did he not take Ella with him? And how did she
end up with the Macleods?”

Philip stood and started to pace as he said, “I
suspect that he learned she was whipped and thought the journey to difficult
for her fragile state. The Macleods probably captured her when she was in route
to the castle.”

Leaning forward, Montgomery growled, “Do you also know
how they manage to leave the castle without being seen?”

“A hidden passageway would be by guess. As you know, I
inherited this castle through marriage, and obviously I was not privy to all
its secrets.”

“A good beating and your wife will tell you all.”

“Aye, but it will take more than one beating.”

“You think?”

“I know, for I started beating her days ago and have
learned naught. When Sir James returns, its whereabouts will be revealed. He
will then die, along with my beloved wife.”

“Why would Sir James return?”

“He will return for his sister. He must suspect I seek
another bride, for he is not a stupid man. Eleanor has been barren for eight
years and unable to give me an heir. If I annul the marriage, I lose my title
and lands. Only by her death will I maintain all and have the right to take a
second wife, one whom is able to breed. I cannot wait until she dies of natural
causes. I will kill her and blame Sir James.”

“The king did ask about Sir James?”

Philip stiffened at the mention of the man well
favored by the king, then asked “What did you tell him?”

“That his five years of service at Greystone had ended
and he was released to return to court.”

“And?”

“He said it would be good to have him back, and that
he planned to award him with a title and land.”

Philip relaxed, then suggested, “Let us revise our
plan in chance that Ella has been wed.”

“My thoughts exactly. But know this, I will have her
either way, along with my revenge against the Macleods.”

“Aye, and I will have my revenge against the
Mackenzies.”

In the great hall, after Lady Esme dressed Ella in one
of her daughter’s old gowns, the pair enjoyed the noon meal with Edric,
Nicholas and Osgood.

“Sorry for my late arrival, Milady,” Maeve began, “I
was just finishing packing extra food and linen for Colban and his family.”

Ella was pleased with Maeve’s eagerness to help the
poor man and his family. “That was kind of you.”

“Aye, thank ye, Milady,” she said with a crimson
blush.

“Where would I be without ye, Maeve?” Lady Esme turned
to Ella and began boasting, “She really is quite incredible and organizes all
those who work within the castle. She see that the hall and bedchambers are
kept clean, the clothing washed and mended, and the meals served with
efficiency and haste. Since Bowen and I frequently go to the Mackenzies to
visit my daughter and her family, Maeve’s assistance is a blessing.”

Maeve beamed at the praise, and then said, “Aye, I
help where I can, but Lady Esme still does more than her fair share, such as
preparing the food stores for winter, which includes all the dried meats,
spices and ale. She also sees that we have enough wool and cattle to sell come
spring. We make a fine profit from that alone and then with Gavin and his men
training the king’s men, the Macleods have become one of the wealthiest clans
in Scotland.”

“I am so impressed with everything I have heard and
seen,” Ella admitted honestly. “When we were returning from Colban’s cottage, I
couldn’t help but notice the beauty of Doran Castle.”

Ella had been stunned by how majestic the Macleod
fortress was as well as the land. The castle had four huge towers that
connected to high stonewalls. The gatehouse sat above the wooden drawbridge and
iron portcullis. Thick stonewalls encircled the castle and village.

The village was strategically located behind the
castle and alongside the mountains that line the eastern border. A burn wound
around the village and fed into a sizeable loch a short distance away from the
keep. On the outskirts of the mountains were miles of dense woods and green
foliage. The view was breathtaking.

Even though Ella knew she would be leaving soon, she
wanted to soak up as much of the splendor as she could during the little time
she had with the Macleod Clan.

When the meal concluded she was given a tour of the
castle by Osgood and his wife. With pride Maeve explained the U-shaped structure
of the keep.