Highland Blood

Chapter 5

I traveled down the familiar hallways to the first floor of the castle. Once more, the ale hall was brimming with rowdy laughter and loud talk. But something was different. The scene inside was nothing like the drunken Sodom and Gomora that Alister had preferred. Instead, I found nicely dressed gentleman and ladies seated at the table. The fire burned cheerfully. Bread and wine heaped the table, but the meat had not yet been served. Had they been waiting for me? As well, the men who’d become such a familiar part of Alister’s household were missing. Instead, I was greeted by the eyes of strangers. From their dress, I understood that these were the men of Fife, Madelaine’s new husband, and of Moray, my fiancé. The room fell silent when I walked into the hall.

“Gruoch?” Tavis called. He’d been standing beside the fireplace smoking a pipe and looking noticeably relaxed. It seemed that having Alister gone had brought relief to many.

Tavis crossed the room quickly and took my arm. “They didn’t announce you.”

“I know. I wanted to catch them off guard. Which is he?”

“Standing. End of the table,” he said but turned me in a different direction. “My Lord of Fife,” Tavis called, escorting me across the hall to a white-haired gentleman with a kind smile, short beard, and twinkling blue eyes. The man’s stomach ballooned over his belt. “May I introduce the Lady Gruoch?”

I kept my gaze on the Thane of Fife but flicked my eyes just once to the tall man standing at the end of the table. He was watching me intently but said nothing. Madelaine was right. He was handsome. In the least, there was that. But he was not Banquo.

“My Lady!” the Thane said in surprise, reaching out to take my hand. “We would have sent a page for you. We thought to give you more time after your long journey.”

“I’ve little use for waiting around,” I replied.

The Thane looked taken aback by my words, but then he grinned. “So, you are like your aunt after all. I warned Moray that the line of MacAlpin didn’t breed wilting flowers.”

“Gruoch?” I heard Madelaine call from behind me. She crossed the room to meet me. “How wonderful. I was just about to send someone to fetch you,” Madelaine said, taking me from Tavis who stepped dutifully away.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my uncle,” I told the Thane. “The serenity of my aunt’s smile has led me to be predisposed toward you already.”

Madelaine’s new husband smiled. “Well, I hope I can put a smile on your lovely face as well.”

By the old gods, I hated courtly pleasantries. “I’m certain there is another gentleman in attendance that will vie for that right?” I said then cast a glance around.

The assembled audience giggled.

I scanned the room until my eyes fell on Moray. He stepped away from the end of the table and moved toward me. He was older than me, perhaps thirty-five years of age, but by no means old. He had squinting eyes and a rugged, square jaw. His tanned face spoke of days in the sun. He was clean-shaven and dressed in a handsome dark green tunic, the blue and green cloth of Moray, and recently-shined riding boots. Had he dressed up in anticipation of meeting me?

“It is my hope to best you, Fife, for the smile on this Lady’s face,” he said.

Remembering my manners, I curtsied to him.

“I am Gillacoemgain of Moray, Lady.”

“I am glad that you are, or I would have offended my betrothed by falling in love with your countenance,” I replied. Play the game. I had to play the game.

Gillacoemgain laughed quietly, his stance relaxing. “Well, I’m glad it pleases you. I see you take after your lovely aunt.”

Gillacoemgain was playing the game too. I smiled. He was charming. I could deal with a charming man.

I inclined my head to him.

Fife clapped his hands happily. “Well done. Well done. Now that our fair ladies are here, let’s have music and wine. What do you say, Moray?”

Gillacoemgain nodded.

A servant came forward and led Gillacoemgain and me to seats at the head of the table.

The hall erupted with the sound of flutes and lyres. The music was soft and sweet. Fife must have brought his own musicians with him. The servants from the kitchen, most of whom I recognized, began moving quickly about carrying large trays of food.

“How was your journey from the nunnery?” Gillacoemgain asked me then. He lifted the wine carafe and poured me a glass.

“Without consequence,” I replied.

He smiled then, causing a dimple to form on his left cheek. He chuckled to himself.

“Something amusing?” I asked, sitting back into my chair.

Gillacoemgain shook his head. “No. It’s only…I was told you’ve lived at the nunnery for several years. I expected a churchish girl. I was worried that you wouldn’t fare well in Moray where the weather can be harsh. I see now my fears were unfounded. You take after your uncle.”

“I’ll assume you mean that as a compliment,” I said, lifting my glass of wine.

Gillacoemgain laughed. “Oh, well, now I see the family resemblance even more clearly.” He clinked his glass of wine against mine.

When Gillacoemgain drank, I set down my cup and waved to a servant I recognized.

“Aggie, isn’t it?” I asked the girl.

“Yes, My Lady, and many welcomes home.”

“Thank you, my dear. My dog, Thora, can you inquire where she is? If she’s at the stables, tell them I want her brought here.”

The girl nodded. “Yes, My Lady.”

“Is something amiss?” Gillacoemgain asked.

I shook my head. “I’m certain you will find this as odd, but I have a dog that I dearly love and haven’t seen since my arrival. I was concerned for her welfare.”

“What manner of dog?”

“I don’t know.” I was pretty certain a dog who can speak when you meet her in the otherworld was not the answer he was looking for. “She is large and black.”

“Mastiff, perhaps? Deerhound? Trained to hunt?”

“I’ve trained her to track.”

“You’ve trained her to track?”

I nodded.

Gillacoemgain raised an eyebrow at me. “Is that a normal part of daily devotions at your nunnery?”

“Of course. Isn’t it everywhere?”

Gillacoemgain eyed me closely. “You are an interesting woman, Gruoch.”

“And what about you? Are you an interesting man, Gillacoemgain of Moray?”

“Depends on what you’re interested in.”

“Well,” I said with a sidelong smile, “I guess we’ll have to learn what we have in common.”

“I look forward to that.”

It was not long after that Thora was brought discreetly into the hall.

“Now that I have you in my sight, you must behave. Sit quietly here and stay out of trouble,” I told her.

Thora wagged her tail then went under the table and put her head on my feet.

“She acts as though she understands you,” Gillacoemgain said.

“We’ve been together a long time. We understand one another.”

He nodded appreciatively. “I, too, am fond of animals. Dogs, horses, but especially birds…but I’ve never trained a dog to track. Will you teach me?”

“I’ll do anything you wish, My Lord.”

“Then sons for Moray, Lady. Straight off.”

“Of that, I can assure you.” More than he could ever know.

Gillacoemgain smiled.

Later that evening, after everyone had eaten and all the lords and ladies in attendance had introduced themselves to me, people began dancing. Gillacoemgain and I joined them.

He was very tall, and his arms were massive. I studied his body closely, trying to shut out all the images of Duncan. I tried to remember how nice it had felt to be with Banquo. I tried to remember the pleasure of being with a man. But it was hard to force myself to forget. If I wanted to survive this with my mind intact, I had to believe I wanted Gillacoemgain. I had to fool myself. I touched his body gently, feeling his strong arms. Being so close to him, our bodies pressed together, I caught his scent. He smelled of cedar and lavender.

“When will we be leaving for Moray, My Lord?” I asked.

He smiled then gently stroked the backs of my arms. I had to bury the instinct that made me want to pull away. I had to get past it. I had to.

“Tomorrow. But I’m afraid I will have to leave Moray shortly after we arrive.”

“That’s unfortunate. May I ask the reason?”

“There is discontent in the north. Our marriage should persuade Thorfinn to quiet his claim, but arms is often a better reminder than marriage vows. And sons, Gruoch, will further silence that half-Viking who would control my lands,” he said, and this time I heard the angry edge under his voice.

“Well, we will have to get to work on those sons very soon,” I replied playfully, letting my fingers dance along his neck.

He pulled me close. “Has the nunnery made you eager?” he asked.

“I wasn’t eager until I looked upon you,” I whispered in reply.

Blood. I would need to get some blood. I would need to stain the sheets to assure them that Gillacoemgain was my first, that I had given my maidenhead to my lawful husband.

Gillacoemgain pulled me closer, and this time I felt him. His cock was hard. He wanted me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. When I felt and smelled him, feeling his protective arms around me, I questioned myself. Could I lust after such an act of violence? Did I have it in me to choose this man? Not just take him, but choose him? And in the end, when I took Gillacoemgain to bed, was I betraying the man I truly loved? Banquo, where are you?