Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (26 page)

She understood that Iain’s discourteous behavior was
born out of fear. He obviously cared very much for his brother. “Think nothing
of it, Iain. I was happy to help.”

For the next quarter hour she gave instructions on how
to care for Colban during his recovery.

“Over the next few days his bandages will harden,
forcing the bone to heal straight. He must remain in bed for a sennight. If he
tries to move his leg or walk before the bandages have hardened, he will walk
with a limp the rest of his life.”

“Aye, we will make sure he stays in bed,” Boyd said
with determination.

“After a sennight he can try walking within the
cottage, but only if he uses a cane. In a fortnight and with the cane, he may
take short walks outside. His strength will gradually increase, and if there is
nae pain in a month, he may forgo the use of the cane. But, he’s not allowed to
ride for at least two months from this day. I will give Rachel a small bag of
herbs to alleviate pain, which he will need three times a day for three days.”

Rachel asked, “How will I ken how much to give him?”

Ella grabbed a few small bottles from her satchel,
removed the linen that surrounded each one, and then filled an empty bottle
with the herbs needed.

As she handed it to Rachel, along with a small spoon,
she said, “He will only need one spoon full mixed with mulled wine, nae more.
Too much could make him fall sleep and never wake up. The jar contains more
than he will require. If you would, after three days give the jar to Lady
Esme.”

Turning to speak with Gavin’s mother, she said, “You
may have need of it one day, but please use it only for severe pain.”

Lady Esme nodded.

“I have explained to Rachel when and how to remove the
bandages.” Ella was thoughtful for a moment, then continued, “When Colban wakes
in a few hours, have him drink the tonic, which he will need again this eve.”

“Thank ye, Lady Ella, for all ye have done,” Boyd
began. “I give ye my word, yer instructions will be followed. We have also
arranged for one of us to be with him until he is adequately recovered.”

“’Tis good to hear. I will just clean up here and be
out of your way. If it pleases you, I would like to check on him later today
and again tomorrow.”

“Aye, ye are always welcome,” Boyd said as he eyed the
worn satchel she used for her medicinal jars and tools. He watched her try to
organize various size bottles and shabby drawstring bags, along with other
items needed to aid the ill and injured. He wondered why the English lady did
not have a proper bag to hold such important items.

He touched the threadbare sack and asked, “Lady Ella,
how long ye will be staying with the Macleods?”

“I will be returning to England either on the morrow
or the day after. But, I assure you, I’ll continue to check on Colban until
then.”

“Ye are a good, lass,” Boyd said with a smile. “If ye
need anything while ye are with us, please dinna hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. I will take my leave, but will return this
afternoon.”

After leaving the cottage, Ella learned what happened
the night of Colban’s injury. Lady Esme, along with Nicholas and Osgood, then
relayed stories about the well-loved stable master. By the time they reached
the bailey and climbed the stone stairs to the keep, the midday meal had
already begun.

Ella was about to follow the others into the bustling
hall, but stopped abruptly when she noticed her soiled gown. The beautiful,
pale yellow gown that Lady Esme allowed her to borrow was covered with the wet
mixture used for Colban’s bandages. Frozen outside the hall, she just stared
down at what she had done.

Lady Esme rushed back outside with Nicholas and Osgood
on her heels. The sight of Ella standing perfectly still, greeted them a moment
later.

In that soothing maternal voice, Lady Esme asked, “Are
ye well, sweetling?”

Shame washed over Ella as she lifted her head and met
their eyes. She shook her head and whispered, “I have ruined your dress, Lady
Esme. Please forgive me, I-”

The young woman’s words hit the heart like a lightning
bolt, but Lady Esme would not let Ella finish her emotional apology.

“My sweet angel, ye needlessly fash yerself. ‘Tis only
a dress, and there are plenty we can have fit for ye.”

“Oh, no! I will nae risk ruining another dress. I have
clothes that I can change into. If you will excuse me.”

Afore Ella could rush past the stunned trio, she was
embraced by Lady Esme.

“Ye are nae longer at Greystone. I give ye my word,
nae harm will come to ye here.” She pulled back, pushed the younger woman’s
blond hair from her face, and then continued, “Come with me, sweetling. There
are many gowns to choose from.”

Before Ella could protest, she was pulled upstairs to
Eva’s old chamber, while Nicholas and Osgood smiled in relief, knowing she was
in good hands.

The two warriors then went in search of Edric. They
were eager to boast of Ella’s healing skills and their contribution in saving
Colban’s leg.

MACKENZIE

The reunion between Gabriel and his parents was as
joyful as it was tearful. When word came that Macleods had been spotted with Gabriel
in tow, Keir rode out to meet them. He rode back through the gate
a short time later with his son seated afore him and
was greeted by cheers from at least a third of the Mackenzie Clan.

When Eva saw her son for the first time in over a
sennight, she sprinted through the bailey sobbing like a babe, and then
gathered her only son in her arms.

When his mother’s wails lessened, Gabriel ran over to
embrace his grandfather, Laird Alex Mackenzie, who was on bended knee waiting
for him with outstretched arms. And he was quick to notice that the hardened
warrior was quite emotional, which was a rarity to say the least.

In the main hall an hour later, Gavin finished giving
his accounting of the past sennight to Alex, Keir and Eva. Tension was high
after absorbing what Ella had endured for Gabriel, along with the details of
her dismal future.

“Damn that whoreson,” Keir raged over the plight of
the young lass, who had indeed saved his son’s life. “Ye canna take her back to
England, Gavin. I forbid it.”

Turning to his father, who had been unusually silent,
Keir demanded, “We will offer her our protection.”

Laird Alex Mackenzie looked around the hall to the
people he loved most in the world. His grandson, still clinging to his mother,
arose from her bosom, and cry out, “Please, Grandfather. We must help her.”

Raising his hand for silence, Laird Mackenzie finally
announced, “Lady Ella will be given our protection, along with our undying love
and respect. It would be an honor to welcome her into our clan, however, I
believe Laird Macleod has other plans for the Mackenzie savior.”

Over the past decade, Alex had come to love Gavin as a
son. He also could read him just as well as his natural sons. With a devilish
smile, Alex asked, “Am I correct?”

Gavin looked at the legendary Alex Mackenzie, the only
man he was unable to best in swordplay, even though he was two score and five
years of age. He grinned back at his mentor, and confessed, “Aye, yer correct,
old man. I plan to make Lady Ella my wife on the morrow. She will fight me, for
her love of Lady Eleanor is great; regardless, she will be my wife.”

“Such loyalty is rare, especially among the English,”
Alex stated. “But, she comes from good stock. Ye said she is a distant relation
of Lady Eleanor from her mother’s side?”

“Aye, why do ye ask?”

“My wife was Eleanor’s older sister, but dinna share
the same mother. I had briefly hoped that Lady Ella was related by blood to my
beloved wife. Nae matter. I remember Eleanor as the smaller, younger version of
my Emma. They adored each other, even though there was a ten-year age
difference. From what ye tell me, she has nae changed and still possesses great
love and devotion to others, especially her kin.”

Alex’s smile faded as he added, “I most definitely
intend to give both our king and England’s an earful about Greystone and
Montgomery. I agree with Sir James’s assessment that King Henry is looking for
any offense to be able to strip Greystone of his title and land.”

“After I married Emma, King Henry confided that he
sent Philip on the crusades in hopes he wouldnae return. He never trusted the
vile man, and looked for evidence against him. With Sir James’s written
testimony, the king will have the needed proof to condemn Greystone.”

Running his hand through his blond hair, Alex continued,
“In truth, ‘tis Montgomery who gives me great concern. He stands in good favor
with the Henry for all his past deeds in battle and in the crusades. However,
his life along with Greystone’s was forfeit the moment they took the whip to
Lady Ella.”

“Aye, I agree and thank ye for yer support, “Gavin
stated.

Alex glanced at Eva as she held Gabriel securely in
her arms, and said, “I think the lad could use a nap afore the feast to
celebrate his return begins.”

Lady Eva looked down at her son, and saw that his
eyelids were lowering fast. “Aye, ye are right. I will bathe him first, and
stay with him while he naps.”

Eva’s brothers, husband and father-by-marriage grinned
as she walked out of the great hall.

“For the next fortnight,” Keir began, “I will either
have the company of my son in my bed or the absence of my wife. Either way, he
will get all her attention.”

Laughter filled the air as Keir continued, “’Tis a
paltry sacrifice to have my son home again.”

Turning to Gavin, Keir vowed, “Ye have my full support.
Guy and Hamon will be informed of Gabriel’s return. As ye know they are both
pledged to powerful lairds, but they too will give their support.”

“I ask only that ye increase the number of men ye have
guarding our borders, which I have done as well,” Gavin responded.

“Aye,” Alex began, “we will also send men back with ye
to add to yer protection of Lady Ella. By now, England’s king has been informed
of her abduction. King Henry will send his own men to fetch Greystone’s ward,
since she is legally betrothed to one of his barons. ‘Tis a blessing that
Father Logan is still here, for on the morrow he will see ye properly wed to
Lady Ella. He will remain at Doran to verify the marriage to the English when
they come.”

Pointing a finger at Gavin, Alex stated, “I warn ye
now, King Henry will send a midwife with his soldiers to examine her and
validate her loss of maidenhead. If she maintains her virginity, they will have
the right to take her back to England. Yer marriage will then be annulled, and
she’ll be forced to wed Montgomery.”

Slamming his fist on the table, Gavin spat, “Never!
She belongs to me. Even if this threat dinna exist, I would still claim her for
my own.”

Alex thought on how similar Gavin was to himself at
that age, when he had fallen in love with Lady Emma. Thinking about his dearly
departed wife always brought on memories of his beloved Isabel. His sweet, wild
minx of a daughter would have been much like this Lady Ella, if she had lived.

“Come,” Alex said to Gavin as he stood. “Let us take a
walk together, my friend, afore the celebration gets underway.”

Alex lead Gavin to the garden Eva created in memory of
Emma and Isabel Mackenzie. The winding path that ran through the garden was
lined by scot pines and hazel trees with intersecting shrubs of juniper,
mountain willow, guelder rose and spindle. Creeping willows partially
surrounded the clearing at the end of the path and overlooked multiple
cascading waterfalls. Massive boulders, bog myrtle, and aspen trees mixed with
tall grass edged the bank of the burn as far as the eye could see.

This enchanting place is where Alex had fallen in love
with Emma, nineteen years ago. Ten years later, its where he had laid his
beloved to rest, along with their beautiful daughter, Isabel.

Since their death, Alex came here frequently to sit on
the wooden bench beside their graves. Some days he relived the happy memories
shared with those two beautiful souls, but most often, he asked his wife and
daughter to forgive him for not protecting them as he should.

Their death had shattered him, and only the love that
he had for his sons had kept him from taking his own life. Even after so many
years, the pain still raged. He’d always been suspicious of Greystone’s
involvement with Emma and Isabel’s death, but had been unable to prove it.

Recent events had only strengthened Alex’s hatred for
Greystone, giving him the long sought after chance for retribution. Aye, he
would help the worthy lass who reminded him so much of Isabel. A sudden memory
of his daughter came to mind, one of his proudest recollections of his wee
spitfire.

The two lairds had been silent since departing the
hall and coming to this sacred spot, when suddenly Alex startled Gavin with his
famous grin. The younger man was momentarily confused, though he had learned
long ago to always expect the unexpected from the legendary Mackenzie.