Highland Grace (3 page)

“Well, there did seem to be some sort of
connection between her and Bao, if you remember.”

“Bao! They’d only met two days before we left
to negotiate a settlement between the MacGregors and the Gordons,
and then he left a fortnight after we returned. Are you suggesting
that Jesslyn would have had carnal knowledge of a man she barely
knew?” Daniel vehemently shook his head. “Nay, the father is
not
Bao.”

“I must agree with Daniel, Maryn. If only
because of the lack of opportunity.” Lady Maclean sighed. “Callum
is the father, I doubt it not.”

“I admit, the possibility does seem awfully
remote,” Maryn said, “but I keep remembering how avidly they gazed
upon each other as Jesslyn handed those tarts up to Bao, just
before he rode out of the courtyard that day. There was something
between them.”

“Aye, there may have been an attraction
brewing, but that still doesn’t lead me to believe Jesslyn would
have lain with the man after barely meeting him.”

Maryn sighed. “Aye, I suppose you’re right.
Tho’ I cannot help wishing that it
were
Bao; ‘twould make
things so much easier. After all,
he
is free to wed.”

“Except, he’s now miles away in Perth,”
Daniel reminded her.

Lady Maclean straightened on her stool and
placed her hands over her knees. “So, ‘tis settled then? We agree
that Callum fathered the bairn and that we must speak to Jesslyn
about revealing such on the babe’s first birthday?”

“Aye,” Daniel and Maryn said at the same
time.

“We must tell Branwenn before you speak to
the elders. ‘Twould not do for her to find out afterward,” Maryn
said to her husband. “Her feelings would surely be crushed—you know
how sensitive the lass is.”

“Aye. I should have spoken to her before
supper this eve, but there simply wasn’t enough time to do so. I
know she was highly curious as to the reason we asked Jesslyn and
Alleck to move to the keep, but,”—Daniel turned his gaze to his
grandmother— “your training has gone well, because she kept her own
counsel and did not question the decision publicly.”

Lady Maclean nodded. “She’s a good lass. And
‘twas not my training, but her brother, Bao’s. She’s amazingly
well-mannered, considering the upbringing she’s had.”

“I’ve been surprised, as well,” Maryn said.
“Bao had to have been gone quite a bit on the king’s campaigns.
Yet, Branwenn and he are so close. I hope ‘twill not be too many
more moons before he visits.”

Daniel turned the focus back onto their
original topic. “I must begin my search for a suitable husband for
Jesslyn forthwith.” He looked at his wife and said, “I expect your
full support this time.”

“Aye, you shall have it. But I insist on
helping you to find the man. Steward Ranald and Derek, your
lieutenant, must not be considered again, agreed?”

Daniel nodded. “We’ll begin the search on the
morrow. Noticing that his very pregnant wife had begun to knead her
lower back, Daniel assisted her to her feet, saying, “For now, let
us retire to our bedchambers and get some rest.” He turned then to
his grandmother and helped her to rise as well. “We must also speak
to the clan elders on the morrow. I’ve arranged for them to gather
in the great hall at noon.”

“With our support behind her, Jesslyn will
not be banished,” Maryn said.

He placed his arm around his wife’s back to
give her support as they moved toward the door. “Nay, she’ll not.
But the sooner she’s wed, the better.”

“Aye,” Lady Maclean agreed.

* * *

The meeting with the clan elders went much as
Daniel had expected, he told Jesslyn afterward. At first, they’d
insisted that she be sent back to the MacLaurins, which, of course,
would have suited Jesslyn, but Daniel and his grandmother managed
to dissuade them of that notion. And, as Daniel had suspected it
would, the fact that she and her son would be residing at the keep
under his and Lady Maclean’s protection had aided the elders in
changing their opinion.

* * *

The next sennight was filled with activity as
Jesslyn was admonished to begin sewing swaddling clothes for her
babe. She now sat with Maryn, Branwenn, and Lady Maclean in the
solar working on the second of her feeble attempts and listening as
the ladies made plans for the
Hogmanay
feast in a bit over a
moon’s time.

“Callum and his new wife will be attending,
so we must make sure to have his chamber furnished with more hooks
for his wife to hang her clothing upon while she is here,” Lady
Maclean said.

“‘Twill be good to see Callum again. I do
hope he’s happy in his union, he deserves to be,” Jesslyn said.

“Daniel assures me that Callum was pleased
enough with the match, even tho’ ‘twas contrived to keep peace
between the clans. He said the lass is quite pretty—and Callum does
love a pretty face,” Maryn replied. “I remember how unsure I felt
when I arrived at the MacLaurin holding and knew no one, so I shall
give the lady a special welcome. Some cut flowers and herbs placed
in their chamber will do nicely, I think.”

“She will appreciate the gesture, I’m sure,”
Jesslyn said.

“My father will also be attending. I’m
looking so forward to seeing him again,” Maryn said, her smile
broadening.

“And I as well. We’ll serve swan again, I
think,” Lady Maclean replied. She looked up from her sewing and
asked Maryn, “It
is
Laird Donald’s favorite, is it not?”

Maryn nodded, her smile shifting, becoming
wry. “Aye, tho’ I’ve yet to see him turn away anything he’s been
offered. Ouch!” Her hand flew to her stomach. “The babe’s a bit
restless, it seems.”

Lady Maclean studied her. “‘Twill not be many
more sennights until your babe makes his appearance. Mayhap, even
while our guests are here.”

“Aye, ‘tis what Daniel keeps saying, tho’ I
hope ‘tis
after
the festival. For everyone’s sake.”

Jesslyn smiled. There was much to celebrate,
it seemed.

“I only wish Bao would be here,” Branwenn
lamented.

Jesslyn’s shoulders stiffened at the sound of
her babe’s father’s name, but she quickly let go of the tension.
‘Twould not do for anyone to suspect her secret. And, thank heaven,
she’d managed to defer Daniel’s decision to find her a suitable
husband until after the new year. That would, at least, give her
some time to accustom herself to the prospect once again.

“Aye, that would truly make my old heart sing
if all my grandsons would be at my side for the holiday,” Lady
Maclean replied.

“Daniel sent a missive to him, but,
curiously, we have yet to receive a reply," Maryn said
worriedly.

Jesslyn’s heart tripped and her head shot up.
“I…I doubt he’d travel all the way back here so soon, anyway,” she
said a bit breathlessly to Maryn, then turned her gaze on Branwenn.
There was a much-too-wise look in Branwenn’s big violet-colored
eyes before the lass looked away, which unsettled Jesslyn further.
Branwenn had been acting very peculiarly toward her since being
informed of Jesslyn’s pregnancy. She watched her constantly.
Surely, Bao hadn’t told his sister about their tryst? Nay, he was
much too protective of the lass’s innocence to have done such a
thing. A blush formed on Branwenn’s cheeks and Jesslyn became even
more alarmed that she somehow knew the truth. If Daniel ever found
out, he’d bring Bao back and force him to wed her. And she could
think of no greater torture than to be wed to a man that would
resent her for all his days for taking away his much-desired
freedom.

“Branwenn, you look flushed. Are you feeling
well?” Lady Maclean asked.

“I do feel a bit tired, Grandmother Maclean.
May I go to my bedchamber and lie down for a while?”

“Aye, lass, I think it a good idea. We can’t
have you catching a fever.”

Branwenn rose and placed the garment she was
working on in the basket next to Lady Maclean’s stool.

“I’ll send Daniel up to see you. He may have
some herbs that will help you to feel better,” Maryn said.

“Nay, that will not be necessary,” Branwenn
said in a hurry. “I’m sure I shall feel much revived after a
nap.”

Maryn nodded and turned her attention back to
the seam she was working on.

After Branwenn departed, Jesslyn and the
other two ladies continued their sewing in silence for a time, each
in their own quiet contemplation. They’d been thus for a bit over a
quarter-hour when Maryn turned to Jesslyn and asked, “Have you felt
the babe move yet?”

Jesslyn placed her hand over her slightly
rounded tummy and replied, “Nay, not yet. Surely, 'twill not be
many more days hence.”

Lady Maclean nodded. “You said you believe
the babe will arrive at
Bealltainn?
By my calculations, the
babe should quicken in about three sennights’ time.”

“I pray you are right,” Jesslyn replied.

* * *

That night, Jesslyn lay in her bed, her mind
churning. Ever since she’d learned that Daniel had invited Bao here
for
Hogmanay
, she’d been filled with apprehension. Mayhap
she shouldn’t wait until the new year to find a husband. At least
the man she chose would go into the union willingly. And he’d be
well aware of her childing state as well, and have agreed to wed
her anyway. Surely, that match would be, if not joyous, quite
comfortable. She could live with that.

Jesslyn pressed her fingers over her eyelids
in an attempt to stave off the tears she felt pooling in them.
“Ow!” She’d forgotten about her newly pricked fingers. She was
no
seamstress. Sighing, she settled that same hand behind
her head and stared up into the darkness. But what if Bao actually
wanted
this babe? That question had been plaguing her since
she’d first discovered her condition and decided to keep the babe’s
paternity a secret. Could she truly refuse the chance to give this
bairn a life with its natural father? And what of Bao? If the roles
were reversed—impossible, but still—would he keep the knowledge of
the babe’s blood tie to her a secret? She shook her head. Nay, he
would not. For, tho’ everyone believed that she and Bao barely knew
each other, that was not the case. They had met in secret a couple
of times prior to their tryst. Had actually formed a bond, a
friendship, she believed. And she did know him. He was both loving
and responsible. Nay, he would never keep such a thing from her.
She sighed in resignation. And neither, it seemed, could she any
longer.

* * *

Jesslyn was in the tower larder counting the
number of bags of grain they had in preparation for the
Hogmanay
feast when the news of Bao’s arrival was given to
her by a kitchen maid who’d been sent in to retrieve her.

“Tell Laird MacLaurin I shall be in the great
hall in just a moment,” she said to the lass.

The servant nodded. “Aye, m’lady,” she
replied before turning and scurrying away.

Jesslyn hurriedly took off the soiled tunic
she’d put on over her silver-blue woolen gown and tried desperately
to realign her veil and filet, stuffing her bedraggled, thick
flaxen braid back under the covering.

She had yet to make her confessions to the
others, as she’d sworn to herself she’d do this day. Nay, she’d
intended on giving them her admission when they broke their fast
together later in the morn. She’d thought it a good idea to include
her son in the discussion as well; allow him to have his say
amongst the others, as this new babe in her womb affected his life
as well. She knew without being told that he’d be over the moon
with gladness that Bao was the babe’s father, however.

But now, it seemed, she’d hesitated too long.
For ‘twas vital that she speak with Bao first and find out his true
thoughts on his pending fatherhood before she convey the babe’s
father’s identity to Bao’s family members.

As she hustled toward the keep, she agonized
over the coming reunion. Had he thought of her at all these past
moons, as she had so often thought of him? Would he be pleased to
see her, or think her a nuisance?

Oh, God! She pressed her hand over her
pounding heart. What if Daniel had already told Bao that she was
with child before she’d had a moment to speak with him in privy?
Jesslyn doubled her speed, hoping to get to the great hall before
Daniel had had a chance to explain her condition to Bao. She would
discreetly tell Daniel that she did not want him to speak of her
childing state now. That she would prefer that he spoke of it
later, after the family members had had some time to enjoy each
other’s company.

The family, as well as a very beautiful
raven-haired woman of evident wealth, were already assembled by the
time Jesslyn arrived, but it quickly became clear that Bao had not
been told of her condition as yet, for which Jesslyn gave a mental
sigh of relief.

She stood in the entryway a moment, the
others not having noticed her arrival as of yet, and stared at Bao.
Her breath caught in her lungs. He had grown more masculine in the
passing moons, it seemed to her. More vividly beautiful. His black
hair, that fell in a straight line down his neck and ended at his
broad shoulders, shone with blue highlights that could be seen even
from across the room. And that massive
uisge beatha
-hued
frame. The well-thewed chest, the mighty arms, the trim waist.
Fortunately for her thrumming nerve-endings, the green woolen tunic
he wore hid the long, sinewy legs and thighs she knew he possessed,
else she would surely melt into a puddle of desire where she
stood.

“I’d wondered why I’d not received a reply to
my missive. You must have only just departed Perth when I sent it,”
she heard Maryn say to him.

He smiled. “Aye, tho’ knowing now that you’d
threatened to bring the family to me would have brought me here to
you in any case.”

“And why is that? I believe I would enjoy
visiting that town. After all,
‘tis
near the abbey at Scone,
where our king was crowned. There must be quite a bit to keep one
entertained there,” Maryn replied.