Julie Garwood - The Bride

"Who is this Mary Kathleen?"

"Helena's daughter."

"And she was mistreated?"

"She bloody well was," Jamie stated. "She's just a baby, too," she continued.

"And certainly couldn't defend herself. Gavin said Kevin, her blood father, would turn in his grave."

"The king would stand by your side," the soldier announced then. "Now tell me about the commotion going on outside when I arrived, if you please."

"Justin grabbed me and kissed me. I had to retaliate, of course, and so I hit him in the back of his legs with one of Alec's clubs."

The soldier's eyes widened over that confession. "I'm certain your wife would have done the very same thing," Jamie continued. "No lady wishes to be pawed by any man but her husband."

"I'm not married," he countered.

"But if you were?"

"I'm certain that if I were, my wife would have done the same."

"You are most kind, sir, for agreeing with me."

"Did Alec know you hit Justin?"

"Yes-I mean, no. You see, it wasn't Justin I felled. It was Philip. It was an easy mistake to make, sir, because I didn't know Harold's sons were identical twins, until Alec told me."

"After you hit Philip?"

"Sir, this isn't the time to laugh. Nay, this is a serious matter."

"I do apologize, my lady," the soldier returned. "And then what happened?"

"Alec picked up the laird's son and sent him flying, just like a caber."

"He threw Philip?"

"No, no," Jamie countered. "Do pay attention," she suggested. "It was Justin he threw. He shouldn't have done it, but I can't really be angry with him."

"Justin?"

"Alec," she countered again. She gave him a look that showed her displeasure over his short attention span, then said, "Alec shouldn't have tossed Justin, and he ruined my surprise."

She suddenly started crying again. "How did Alec ruin your-"

"Alec didn't ruin anything," she wailed. "If you want to hear this story, I beg you to try to concentrate on what I'm saying. Do you know what the worst of it is? I wanted to kneel before Edgar and recite my pledge of loyalty in Gaelic.

Alec didn't know I could speak his language, you see. Then he heard me shouting at Justin in Gaelic, and of course he knew. I dressed in his plaid, but I can't fashion these pleats to save my soul. I wanted everything to be perfect when I knelt before my king. I was going to tell him I loved him, too."

"Your king?"

"No, my Alec," Jamie answered. "I honor my king, sir, but I love my husband.

Surely you can see the rightness in that, can't you?"

"Alec will right the damage you believe you've done," the soldier stated. "Why don't you show me how you were going to give your king this pledge?"

Jamie thought that was a rather odd suggestion. She didn't want to offend the kind gentleman, though. He'd patiently listened to her trouble. "I do suppose I could use the practice," she admitted aloud. "He might want me to recite my pledge before he has me flogged."

She knelt down and bowed her head. "I wasn't certain if I should put my hand over my heart or not," she admitted.

"He wouldn't have a preference," the soldier stated.

Jamie closed her eyes and recited the words of loyalty. The soldier helped her stand again. He looked very pleased with her effort.

"And now I shall help you adjust your plaid," the soldier announced.

Jamie smiled her appreciation and turned around so he could get to the task.

Alec leaned against the arch of the entrance, a soft smile on his face as he watched the king of Scotland adjust his wife's plaid.

He knew he really should tell her who the man she'd wept all over was, yet he didn't have the heart to upset her again.

Jamie was in much better spirits once her plaid had been adjusted for her. She sounded happy, too, when she again offered her appreciation. When she spotted her husband lounging against the entrance, she gave him a wide smile. Alec was so pleased she wasn't crying that he smiled back.

No, he wouldn't upset her now. He'd wait until they were alone and no one else could witness her embarrassment.

Jamie walked up the steps, her hands folded demurely in front of her pleats, drawing her husband's full attention. She stopped in front of him, bowed her head, and whispered in Gaelic, "I love you, Alec."

"I love you too, Jamie."

He tried to take her into his arms but she backed up a step and shook her head.

"We have a guest," she reminded him.

"So I must wait until later to… paw you?"

"You heard it all, didn't you?"

"I did," he admitted. "You don't look too distressed with me, though."

"Your king is a very kind man."

His mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Then you knew, all the while?"

"Do you honestly believe I would have instructed the man to pay attention to what I was saying if I'd known all the while?" she whispered. "I'm a little slow, Alec, but I'm not completely ignorant. I realized who he was when I was kneeling."

Alec started laughing. "You mustn't tell him I know," she whispered.

"Why?"

"It would hurt his feelings."

"It would?"

Jamie nodded. "He thinks he's protecting my feelings, Alec. We mustn't disappoint him."

She'd bowed and left the hall before he could make a comment to that ridiculous remark. His king called out to him then, drawing his full attention.

Alec said, "Do you think I'll try to challenge you, Edgar, or thank you for forcing me to marry her?"

"You'll thank me, of course," Edgar returned. "And we'll both be challenged by Henry if he realizes what a gem he's given us."

Both Alec and Edgar laughed over their own cunning. "We won't have long to wait," Alec predicted. "My wife will probably start a war with England in another week or two. There was a moment when I thought she was Henry's secret weapon," he admitted.

Jamie could hear the howls of laughter coming through the doors. She wondered what jest Alec had just told the king, then decided it was probably that foul story about the dead Englishwoman.

She'd nearly collapsed to her knees the minute the doors had closed behind her.

All the horrible comments she'd made to Edgar were screaming inside her head.

Heaven help her, she'd actually cried in front of the man.

And he'd given her his understanding. That sudden thought made her heart warm with gratitude. He really was a kind man.

"Jamie, what are you doing out here by yourself?" Gavin asked.

"Why do you ask such a question, Gavin? Am I to have an escort all the time?"

"You are," the soldier admitted before he could stop himself.

"By Alec's order?"

He turned the topic rather than answering her. "One of our cooks has burned her hand, Jamie. She'd like you to look at it."

Jamie's attention was immediately swayed. "Oh, the poor woman," she said. "Take me to her at once, Gavin, and I shall see what I can do."

The next two hours were spent ministering to the sick woman. The woman's burn really wasn't too severe, but Jamie ended up having a nice visit with the cook's large family.

Gavin stayed by her side all the while. When they started back toward the main house, Jamie said, "I'd like to put fresh flowers on Helena's grave, Gavin. Will you walk with me?"

"I will," he agreed. He called out their errand to Marcus when they passed the stables and saw him readying his mount.

Jamie and Gavin maintained a tranquil silence as she picked wildflowers. When her arms were brimming with her collection, they started up the hill to Helena's grave. They passed the consecrated cemetery, squared off by old pine slats, and continued on.

"Gavin? Were you here when Helena died?"

"I was," he replied.

"I was told she killed herself," Jamie went on. "Father Murdock said she jumped off one of the cliffs."