"Aye." Evelinde leaned into her husband as they walked. "Still I feel bad. I like her and truly do not think that she is behind it, but this all started after the wedding. I get the feeling that means something, but cannot sort out what. None of it makes any sense really. Why make Alex randy and then try to kill him? If they are trying to kill him," she added, worrying the problem fretfully.
Cullen rubbed his hand over his wife"s back as he urged her through the door before him. "Let it go, wife. Ye"ll no sort it out tonight. "Twill just keep ye awake fretting, and I have better things fer ye to be doing in our bed than fretting."
"Oh, Cullen, I do love you." Evelinde chuckled as the door closed behind them.
Alex stared at the closed door as blissful silence fell around him and then shook his head with mild disgust. It seemed that taking a blow to the head made people think you"d lost your wits, because no one seemed to care what he thought or felt. They"d snapped and snarled at one another as if he was not even there, his wife even going so far as to hush him when he"d tried to speak. And Cullen hadn"t even asked how he felt the sleeping arrangements should go. The man was laird here and his word was law, but not over Alex or his people. As Lord D"Aumesbery, he was the one in charge of them, but apparently the Devil of Donnachaidh didn"t think so, and Alex suspected that was all down to his being stuck in this bed all day, appearing an invalid.
Well, Alex thought, he would correct that impression on the morrow. He was getting out of this bed first thing in the morning and taking charge of matters. And he would also sort out what was happening and who was behind it, he decided firmly and then blew out the candle still burning on the bedside and settled under the linens and furs.
However, it was a long time before Alex was able to find sleep. The room was incredibly quiet and the bed seemed extremely empty without Merry there. After tossing and turning for a while, he slipped from the bed and-relieved to find he wasn"t quite as weak as the first time he"d tried to rise-made his way to the chair by the fire to think over the problem some more. It was near dawn before Alex gave it up and slipped back into the big empty bed. As he drifted off to sleep he decided he just didn"t like not having Merry there and wasn"t going to sleep alone again...even if he had to leave Donnachaidh to do it.
"I truly am sorry, Merry," Evelinde said for the third time in the last half hour since Merry had joined her at the trestle table to break her fast. "I really do like you and I do not believe you are behind any of these attacks on Alex, but-"
""Tis all right," Merry interrupted quietly. "I do understand. Ye love yer brother and so ye"re doing what"s in his best interests."
"Aye, but I feel bad you went to bed last night thinking I suspect you. I just-"
"Well, I was a little hurt," Merry admitted quietly. "But I still understood even then. Ye"ve no need to keep apologizing like this." She patted her hand soothingly and then added, "Besides, "twas Cullen who ordered the sleeping arrangements last night, and his suspicions were fair. He kept Gerhard from staying with Alex, too, and I am grateful for that."
"Aye."
Merry quirked one eyebrow at her troubled expression. "What is it?"
""Tis just...Well, Gerhard was at d"Aumesbery my whole life and I thought I knew him well, but..."
"But?" Merry prompted.
"His time on the Crusades seems to have changed him somewhat. He is harder than I recall and yet softer in some ways as well." Evelinde scowled as she tried to explain and then burst out, saying, "Do you know when I came to the table this morning, he was telling Cullen he did not think there was any way Edda could be behind all of this. That she was not as bad as everyone thought, had nothing to gain from it, and was basically an unhappy woman who was sadly misunderstood."
Merry"s eyebrows rose slightly at this news and she glanced around the great hall in search of the man.
"He was up talking to Alex with Cullen earlier and then went out to the bailey for some reason," Evelinde muttered unhappily, sending a glare in the general direction of the stairs. "I cannot believe the man would take her side like this. He saw how Edda was all those years after she married my father. Granted, he left with Cullen on crusade ere my father died and Edda did keep herself somewhat reined in while he still lived, but she was still unpleasant and cold to everyone. And yet he appears to be falling for her line about being unhappy and behaving badly and now regretting it. I mean, I understand you believing it. You never met her ere a month ago, but how Gerhard could-" Apparently realizing she was ranting, Evelinde reined herself in and smiled wryly. "I am sorry. I shall give you indigestion with such talk while you are trying to break your fast."
Merry smiled faintly but asked, "Is it not possible she has changed?"
Evelinde considered the suggestion and then nodded reluctantly. "I suppose "tis possible. Howbeit it was only weeks ago that she arranged the marriage between Cullen and myself."
"Aye, and that obviously worked out well," Merry pointed out.
"But that was not her intent when she pet.i.tioned the king to arrange the marriage," Evelinde said solemnly. "All we knew of Cullen was that silly reputation he has as the Devil of Donnachaidh."
Merry had to repress a smile. That silly reputation was well-earned. Cullen had gained it in battle and he truly was a Devil under such circ.u.mstances, wielding his sword with deadly speed and accuracy. He was an opponent to be feared and respected. However, it appeared he was a much different person with those he cared about.
"Nay," Evelinde a.s.sured her solemnly, "Edda"s intent when she arranged to marry me off to Cullen was not to see me happy. I merely got lucky that way. Howbeit, if you wish to see Edda"s true face, then when you return to d"Aumesbery, you should tell her how blissfully happy I am. I doubt she will be able to maintain a sweet disposition then."
""Twill make her furious," Evelinde"s maid, Mildrede, said solemnly, drawing Merry"s gaze to where she sat. The woman looked grim and knowing, and Merry glanced down unhappily, finding it difficult to imagine that the sweet dear woman who had been so kind to her and made her feel welcome at d"Aumesbery could be the same one these women knew.
"I can see what we are saying is not sitting right with what you know of Edda," Evelinde said sadly, and then added, "But mayhap you could err on the side of caution for now? For Alex"s sake?"
"Aye," Merry agreed. She would be happy to err far on the side of caution to keep her husband alive. Her feelings for the man were growing by leaps and bounds since the night before they"d set out on this trip. She was now certain he wasn"t a drinker, but had been suffering the effects of some drug, and having got to know him as she had, Merry was starting to think she could be as happy with Alex as Evelinde was with Cullen, and that was saying something. The day she"d arrived at d"Aumesbery she was sure she"d been landed in h.e.l.l, but now her future was showing the possibility of being closer to heaven.
If her husband could care for her in return, Merry thought suddenly, knowing the future might not be so bright if he didn"t. It would be hard indeed loving someone who did not love her back, but he did seem to like her, and always showed her courtesy and consideration, and she hoped over time that could turn to love.
Merry"s main concern at the moment was this business of the dosing and the attacks. While she feared losing him before they could enjoy the happiness Evelinde and Cullen had found, she also feared the possibility that Alex might believe Gerhard"s accusations and suspect she was behind it all. Love did not come without trust, and she wanted that love and trust.
"What do you suggest?" she asked quietly, determined to do anything she could to earn Alex"s trust and love.
"Mayhap you could just be cautious and when you return to d"Aumesbery, suggest Alex send Edda away."
Merry nodded unhappily at the suggestion, willing to do so to earn her husband"s trust, but displeased with the possibility of hurting the woman who had been so kind to her.
"Not forever," Evelinde said quickly, apparently spotting Merry"s reluctance. "After all, she may very well have turned a new leaf."
Merry couldn"t help but laugh at the doubt Evelinde couldn"t hide.
Grimacing, the blond rushed on, saying, "Perhaps you could just suggest she go to her sister"s for a visit."
"She has a sister?" Merry asked with surprise.
"Aye. Lady Helen. She married Lord Alfred Duquet some twenty years ago, long ere Edda and my father were ordered to marry," Evelinde told her, and then added, "I do not think the two get on well, though. At least Lady Duquet never visited d"Aumesbery and Edda never went to visit her. Actually," she added dryly, "Edda has never visited anyone at all in all the time I have known her. I suspect she has no friends. I have always put it down to her unpleasant demeanor."
Merry murmured something of an acknowledgment, but she was wondering to herself why Edda had never mentioned having a sister. They had spent a lot of time talking the three weeks before this journey had parted them, and Alex"s stepmother had told her much about her childhood and life at court, but had never once mentioned having siblings. Strange, she thought, but then shrugged the matter away. From what Evelinde had just said, it seemed obvious the two were not close; perhaps that was why.
"Sending her to visit her sister would not give her offense did you frame the suggestion right," Evelinde went on. "And it need not necessarily be permanent. Once you and Alex have sorted out this mess and caught her ally-I mean, the one responsible, and determined whether he worked alone or with someone else." She shrugged. "If "tis not she he was working with, you could have her back."
"Aye," Merry agreed, but she was still wondering why Edda had never mentioned having a sister. It seemed an odd bit of information to leave out. The woman had always given the impression that she was alone in the world but for Alex and herself. Strange, Merry thought, and then glanced around in question when G.o.dfrey suddenly appeared at her side, a fretful look on his face.
"What is it, G.o.dfrey?" she asked, concerned by his expression.
"My lord Alex is up," he announced in an exasperated tone. "I told him you would not be pleased, but he insisted I help him dress. I did, but then came directly to you to tell-"
His words died, and the boy turned away with alarm as a crash and commotion sounded behind Merry.
She followed suit and swiveled abruptly on the bench in time to see her husband tumbling down the stairs, Merry was on her feet at once and rushing toward him.
Alex landed at the bottom of the stairs with a curse, followed by a groan as his body announced the various new aches and pains he could add to the one in his head. He then thanked his lucky stars that he had been clever enough to hold on to the banister as he descended. He"d done so just in case his legs weren"t as steady beneath him as he"d hoped, but that hold on the st.u.r.dy wooden rail had probably saved him breaking his neck. When his foot had slipped on something on the stairs, his grip on the rail had kept him from pitching headfirst to the bottom. Instead, he"d slid down the steps on his behind and back, gaining more bruises, but keeping his neck intact.
"Husband!"
"Alex!"
He cursed under his breath again as he recognized the worry and upset in his wife"s and sister"s voices as they rushed across the great hall toward him. G.o.dfrey and the maids were following. Of course, they had witnessed his clumsy moment. No doubt this would simply reaffirm their view of him as an invalid, and that was the last thing he wanted at this moment. Alex had determined to dress and rise this morning with the express purpose of appearing capable and in charge so that no one would kick up a fuss when he once again exerted his position as Lord of d"Aumesbery. He was determined he was not going to sleep alone again tonight, but knew he had to appear strong and able to be sure his decisions were not overridden. This was not a good start.
"Husband?"
"I am fine," Alex said firmly, forcing himself to sit up as Merry dropped to her knees on one side of him and Evelinde on the other. "Truly. I merely slipped on something on the stairs. It could have happened to anyone."
"Mayhap your legs are not yet quite strong enough to carry you," Evelinde suggested quietly. "We should return you to your bed for another day or two and-"
"Nay," he said sharply, and then forced himself to smile to ease the effect of the snap in his voice. Getting to his feet, he spoke more calmly as he added, "Nay. That is the last thing I need. I need to be up and about. I am not an invalid, Evie."
She smiled faintly at the old nickname, but also tried to put herself under his right arm, even as Merry moved to wedge her shoulder under his left. Alex sighed inwardly, but merely stepped back from them both.
"My legs are perfectly fine. I am just clumsy," he a.s.sured them both solemnly. Though that wasn"t absolutely true. After the tumble he"d taken his legs were a little shaky, but he"d die before admitting that and being forced back to his bed. "Allow me to escort you back to the table, ladies."
Alex crooked out his elbows so that both his wife and his sister could slip their arms through his, and after a brief hesitation, each did. He let out a relieved breath then and walked them back to the table where they"d been seated when he"d made his grand entrance.
"How are ye feelin"?" Merry asked anxiously as they paused at the table and each began to reclaim her seat.
"Fine," Alex a.s.sured her as he settled to sit on the end of the bench between his wife and the chair where his sister sat. "I have a bit of a headache, but otherwise I feel fine."
"I shall mix ye up a tonic to ease it and-" Merry had started to rise, but paused and glanced to him in question when Alex caught her arm.
"I do not want a tonic," he said firmly, noting the worry and hurt this brought to her face.
He didn"t understand it until she settled to sit again and said a bit stiffly, "Then perhaps Evelinde or her Aunt Biddy would be kind enough to mix one up fer ye."
Alex realized then that she thought he was refusing because he didn"t trust her and might suspect she was behind the dosing. He didn"t wish to address the issue there in front of everyone so merely said, "I do not wish a tonic at all. The headache will pa.s.s in its own good time, and I wish to maintain a clear head for our journey."
"Journey?" Merry and Evelinde asked together.
Alex could feel them peering at him wide-eyed from either side of him, but didn"t glance to either woman. Instead, he smiled at the maid who had arrived with some mead, bread, and cheese to break his fast and merely said, "Aye. Gerhard is gathering the men together right now so that we can return to d"Aumesbery."
He did glance to Merry then to see how she was taking the news. His wife looked briefly startled, but then her eyebrows drew together as she apparently tried to work out what this meant. It was Evelinde who protested, "But you have only just got here."
"Aye," he said solemnly, turning an apologetic gaze to his sister. "And I wish that we could stay longer to visit. But I have found you happy and well, which was my main concern, and it has become obvious on this journey that there are some matters I myself need to address to reach that same happy state. It does seem best do I handle them now before whoever is behind these attacks succeed at their efforts. And since it all started at d"Aumesbery, I think I need to return there to sort it out."
Evelinde looked like she wanted to protest further, but held her tongue, and Alex was grateful for it. He knew she was disappointed, but suspected staying would simply draw out the matter presently plaguing them, and until it was resolved, Alex would have Gerhard accusing Merry and her maid, and Merry accusing Gerhard and the rest of his men. Alex knew he wouldn"t be able to concentrate on his relationship with his wife until he had this out of the way.
The thought made him glance to Merry to see her looking thoughtful and unhappy. Before he could ask what she was thinking, Evelinde asked, "When do you plan to leave?"
Alex took a breath, knowing this was going to upset her even more than the fact that he was leaving and then admitted, "As soon as Gerhard returns and tells me the men are ready."
Merry gave a start at his side, drawing his attention to her surprised expression.
Alex raised an eyebrow and asked quietly, "Is there anything you wished to do ere we leave?"
"Nay," Merry murmured and peered down again.
Alex opened his mouth to ask her if she was all right, but then paused and glanced across the room as the doors to the bailey opened. Cullen was the first to enter, but he was followed closely by Gerhard. The soldier walked a deferential step behind the Laird of Donnachaidh as they crossed to the table, but while Cullen merely nodded in greeting and then pa.s.sed by to reach and kiss Evelinde good morning, Gerhard paused beside him before he, too, nodded.
"All is ready?" Alex asked.
"Aye. The wagon is packed, the horses are saddled, and the men are waiting."
"Go ahead and mount up then. We will join you directly," Alex said. He waited for the man to turn and make his way back out of the great hall, and then stood and reached down to help Merry to her feet before glancing to his sister.
Evelinde was already standing when he turned toward her and Cullen. His sister hesitated briefly and then threw herself into his arms and hugged him soundly, saying, "You must come again once everything is settled. In the meantime, write often so I know you are well."
"Of course," Alex murmured, pressing her close before releasing her. Cullen immediately pulled his wife to his chest, encompa.s.sing her with one brawny arm even as he reached out his other to offer Alex his hand.
"Safe travels and good luck with the matter. I will be curious to find out how it all works together in the end."
"As will I," Alex said wryly, and the two men smiled.
He started to retrieve his hand then, but Cullen tightened his grasp on it and held him in place as he said seriously, "Ye"re welcome to come back fer a proper visit when ye"re ready. Evelinde and I"d both enjoy that."
Alex felt his eyebrows rise slightly at the solemn words and knew he had just received a large compliment from his new brother-in-law. In man-speak, he"d just been told Cullen liked him. Since the feeling was mutual, he could do no less than offer, "And the same goes for you. You are welcome at d"Aumesbery at any time. I would enjoy the chance to get to know you better."
Cullen smiled and released his hand to look down at Evelinde. "The Scots blood in yer family shows through. Two such fine specimens couldna be produced by pureblood English parents."
"Oh, Cullen." Evelinde laughed and hugged him briefly even as she shook her head at her brother. "Ignore him. He is sure the English are weak and foolish."
"Aye, I am. And that"s how I ken the two o" ye are no" pure English," Cullen teased.
Evelinde clucked her tongue with mock irritation, and Alex found himself smiling over the pair and then stepping aside to make room when Evelinde gave him a gentle push to get past him. Eyebrows rising slightly, he watched her hug his wife, pleased when Merry hugged her in return. He also noted that Evelinde whispered something to Merry and that she nodded solemnly in response, and then the two women linked arms and headed for the door, heads together as they walked.
"They like each other," Cullen commented as they started to follow the women.
"Aye," Alex agreed with a smile as he watched the pair, one pet.i.te and blond, the other a little taller and with long, gleaming chestnut hair. He had always thought Evelinde had been graced with lovely hair, but now thought that his Merry had the loveliest hair he had ever seen. Long and flowing, it shone with good health and seemed to capture bits of the sun with red and blond highlights as they stepped out under the midday sun.
"Ye"re no" feeling a tad drunk and likely to start slurrin", are ye?" Cullen asked suddenly.
Startled by the question, Alex glanced to him with surprise. "Nay. Why?"
"Well, the randy way ye were just lookin" at Merry made me think mayhap ye"d been dosed again," the man teased.
Alex chuckled at the suggestion, but shook his head. "Trust me, I need no dosing to look at her like that."
Cullen smiled slightly and nodded, but then said more seriously, "Mayhap ye"d best rea.s.sure Merry o" that at some point in the near future. Women can be a strange breed and get the oddest ideas in their heads. "Twould no" surprise me that she"s now thinkin" the only reason ye"d bed her was if ye"d been dosed."
"That had not occurred to me. Thank you, Cullen," Alex murmured, now peering at his wife thoughtfully. He had been so concerned that she might think he had suspicions regarding her being involved in his attacks, he hadn"t even considered what she might have made of this dosing business and whether he would be interested in her that way without it. It was definitely something he would have to see to, however. He wouldn"t have Merry doubting his attraction for her and thinking he"d bedded her only because of some tonic.
The issue made him doubly glad he"d decided to leave Donnachaidh today. He could hardly prove he was attracted to his wife were they forced to sleep apart to ease everyone"s worries and suspicions.
chapter Thirteen.
M erry was thinking of home. She supposed that shouldn"t surprise her since she was on Scottish soil, but what did surprise her was the fact that she was feeling a little blue, and even longing for her childhood home at the moment. After so many years spent wishing and praying to get away from Stewart, it did seem ironic that she was now homesick for the place. But the fact was, at Stewart the only people trying to kill anyone were her father and brothers, and they were only trying to kill themselves. There was no great, incomprehensible plot afoot there, and no one in her childhood home, from her father and brothers down to the lowliest servant, would ever have even imagined that she might be capable of dosing anyone with something or attempting to kill him...except perhaps for her father and brothers, she acknowledged, but then only under great provocation.
It wasn"t just that, however. While it was troublesome to think that her husband might now suspect her of being behind this ridiculous plot, as Gerhard did, what bothered her most was something Evelinde had said while they"d hugged and said good-bye before leaving. Evelinde had whispered in her ear, reminding her of her request to send Edda away to visit her sister once they"d returned to d"Aumesbery, and then had added, "And never fear, I am sure whatever Alex has been dosed with is not the only reason he...er...likes you in that way. I am sure he finds you attractive."
Alex"s sister had pulled back to smile at her encouragingly then, but Merry had merely stared back blankly and then allowed herself to be led from the keep. She"d hardly heard a word Evelinde had said as she"d chatted on about the things they would do when next they visited as they"d walked out to the horses. Merry"s mind had still been stuck on her rea.s.surance. Until that moment, it had never occurred to her that her husband"s desire for her might be tonic-induced. Certainly, the night she"d noted that his eyes were dilated, she"d realized that his aggressive behavior was due to being dosed. But surely the other times hadn"t been...Had they? she wondered now with worry, recalling that according to Una his eyes had been dilated for the entire three weeks ere the journey, and yet he hadn"t touched or even looked at her as he had on this journey. But they suspected the dosage had been increased since then and that this was why he"d acted as he had. Was it only whatever he"d been given that had brought him to her bed? she worried.