Thirteen
Tadhg watched, stunned, as she fled the hall. Before he could follow her, Jock drew his attention. “That was a daft question, Laird.”
“Aye, it was daft, Jock, because she certainly isn’t going to admit to being careless with her precious toys,” said someone seated at one of the trestle tables.
“If ye believe such nonsense, Archie, ye are an eejit,” said Jock. “Laird, what young Flan there was trying to tell ye is this pile of splinters used to be a recorder yer wife’s grand-da made for her, and ye can be sure she didn’t leave it where it could be trod upon.”
Tadhg couldn’t believe his ears. It was ludicrous. Who would do such a thing? “Are ye suggesting someone put it under the rushes on purpose?”
“I’m not suggesting it, Laird, I’m telling ye it is a fact.”
Tadhg tried to reason with him. “That makes no sense. Why would someone do that, Jock?”
“Ye really don’t know, do ye? Do any of ye fine Mathesons have the nerve to tell the laird openly what some of ye whisper to each other?” Jock glanced around. “Nay? Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He shook his head in disgust. “I’ll bet yer squire knows, Laird. Don’t ye, lad? Heck tells me ye got those bruises on yer face defending yer sister.”
Tadhg’s frustration grew. He wanted answers. “Jock, what is this about?”
“Well, Laird, this might shock ye, but many in the clan didn’t approve of yer bride choice. They think ye should have married within the clan.”
“That is ridiculous!”
“Nevertheless, it is true.”
Tadhg glanced angrily around the room and Jock continued, “That being the case, it might make sense if they took their disapproval out on ye, but they don’t. They vent their jealousy on the wee lass ye married. Many of them snub her and gossip about her. What are the current rumors, Eavan? Is it that she is a helpless pampered child who can do nothing herself? Nay, that is old news. Was it something about Lady Matheson being a whore because she was seen naked with her husband in their private chamber, Finola?”
There was an audible gasp from the assembly and Tadhg’s jaw clenched in fury.
“Why are ye all so shocked? Is this not what ye heard, Taban? Nay, I believe ye said the laird had gone soft because he let Lady Matheson talk him out of beating Meriel and Kester. Wait a minute, that wasn’t it, was it, Hazel? Lady Matheson couldn’t have talked the laird out of beating Meriel and Kester. Ye said the reason the lass was quiet that evening was because she was angry the laird didn’t punish them more severely. Of course, her reserve couldn’t have had anything to do with the fact that the shy, wee lass was mortified.”
Jock sighed, shaking his head. “Laird, I guess it can be summed up by saying many in the clan have decided ye chose the wrong bride. It is their duty to stand in judgment of her every action, punishing her because of yer poor choice. Now it looks as if someone decided their chilly treatment of the sweet wee lass wasn’t hurting quite enough, so they took something precious to her and left it where it was sure to be destroyed.”
The hall was silent. Tadhg looked around at his clan, but the only people who met his gaze were Flan, Jock, and the two confused priests.
Was this true? “Jock has made some harsh accusations, will anyone deny them?”
Met with stony silence, his question remained unanswered.
“In fairness, Laird,” said Jock, “there are a growing number of people who have learned what a genuinely kind and capable lass ye married.”
“Then why, if ye all knew about this, am I only just hearing it tonight?” He looked specifically at his guardsmen with barely contained rage.
“Because your gentle wife believed ye couldn’t force people to change their hearts. It was something she said she needed to do herself,” Cael answered.
“Aye, Laird, and she is succeeding,” offered Oren. “It is as Jock said, we wanted to see the worst in her, and I count myself among those who did, at first. For that, Laird, I am deeply sorry. Lady Matheson is demonstrating daily how wrong many of us were about her.”
Jock added, “And those of us who love her would have let her continue to try, but this,” he indicated the broken instrument in his hand, “is unforgivable.”
“Do ye mean to tell me she has heard all of this foul gossip?”
“Nay, lad, never that,” Jock assured him gently. “But it is hard not to notice when ye are getting the cold shoulder. She only knew there were some who felt ye should have married a clanswoman and therefore they were not particularly welcoming.”