Surrender to the Highlander(Terri Brisbin)(41)

       
           



       

Even knowing that, he could not give the answer he wanted to, for in  that moment, he knew it was a choice between a woman he loved and  everything else he'd ever wanted in his life. The acceptance of his  father's offer of a name and family and all that he'd lost years ago  restored, all that stood in the balance now against Margriet's love.

It was the worst moment in his life and it seemed to stretch on forever.  He knew in his heart that he needed to protect Margriet, and he could  have sworn that it was only a momentary pause, but when she faced him  with sad acceptance on her face, Rurik knew that it had been too long.

"Margriet," he said as she pulled away from him. "Wait."

He wondered if he was looking into a mirror now when her expression  collapsed and he knew she felt betrayed. "I understand, Rurik. Truly I  do," she said in a desolate voice.

"Father, this has been unpleasant enough. Can we finish the arrangements  in the morning?" Thorfinn asked, an unrecognizable sincerity in his  voice now that he'd won. At their father's nod, he turned to his  stepmother. "Lady Agnes, would you see to my betrothed?"

Rurik watched as the countess and the physician assisted Margriet from  the chamber. He shuddered as he had a premonition that the worst was yet  to come.

"Gunnar, I will not take responsibility for a bastard when I do not know  if it even mine. So, no marriage will take place until she whelps it.  What you do with it, if it survives at all, is your concern and not  mine."

Rurik turned then and walked away without looking back.



The fog that rolled in before dawn and covered the castle in an  impenetrable layer only signified the mood of many of its inhabitants.  Especially his. Rurik had walked the battlements all through the night  and could tell anyone interested the exact moment when the fog appeared  and moved into place.

When morning came, and it was difficult to cipher due to the fog, he  went to see Gunnar, to try to convince him not to accept Thorfinn's  explanations or offer of marriage. He found empty chambers and a servant  said they'd left before dawn for his estate in Orphir.

He went to his father and tried to reason things out with him, sharing  his suspicions about Thorfinn with him to no avail. Without proof, there  was no way he could answer the accusations and at the bottom of it all  lay the truth-Margriet surrendered her virtue to him and now carried his  child. Rurik knew there was proof somewhere, he just could not figure  out where it was.

Unfortunately, he had no standing in the matter, so trying to break any  betrothal would fail. Loving the woman promised in marriage to his  brother was not a legal reason in the eyes of the church. Rurik had  admitted in front of all of them that there was no chance the child was  his, so he could not even claim that right. And, there was his own  betrothal, being finalized within days, to consider. Soon, the locks  would turn on all of the chains and there could be no freedom.

Since the foul weather matched his foul mood, he gathered twelve of the  guards and battled them one after another until none could move.  Exhausted but now clear-minded, as battle tended to make him, he finally  realized who among his men had been working against them and giving  Thorfinn the information-even the truth of things-that had been used to  bait and spring the trap. When a servant brought news of a body  discovered in the middens outside the castle, Rurik knew how he could  prove it and hopefully find a way to put a stop to any marriage between  Margriet and Thorfinn.



His men entered his chambers a short time later, all silent, for most  knew what had happened last evening. Most every inhabitant of the castle  and the town knew, for when one of the highest fell from grace, some  gloated, some celebrated, some mourned, but they all knew. Gunnar had  long been in his lord's favor and he'd made enemies over the many years  for counsel given and recommendations made or opinions held. Thorfinn  was not the only one who wished disgrace upon him.

Rurik stood before them and looked from one to the next as he spoke.  "You know what happened last night and I am here to find out the name of  the man who helped Thorfinn perpetrate this attack on Gunnar's honor."                       
       
           



       

"What do you mean, Rurik? Do you think one of us a spy for him?" Sven asked.

He could feel their indignation rise at his statement, but he nodded  anyway. "Aye. One of you has been helping Thorfinn from the beginning.  The delays in receiving my father's summons. Thorfinn's accidental  meeting with Margriet near the convent. The tainted meat that took us  ill. Someone even followed me back from Thurso and reported on what  happened between Margriet and myself."

Some angry muttering began among them, but no one admitted anything. He  approached the canvas-wrapped bundle on the floor and untied the cords  holding it closed. As he unrolled it as gently as possible, he watched  their faces for some sign of their recognition and guilt.

"The guards found her body in the middens this morning."

To a one, they grimaced at the sight before them. He looked from one to the next as he explained.

"My brother's handiwork, or his man Sigurd's. He sent her to me to offer  me pleasure, but I refused. I do not use children. When she begged me  to kill her rather than make her face his displeasure, I took her to  Gunnar for safety. Thorfinn must have found her there when he went to  discuss the marriage contracts."

He knelt down and pulled the canvas sheet back around the battered and  bruised body, covering her from their sight. It mattered not, for he  knew the memory of how the girl died would be with them forever and more  so for him, as it was his failure to protect the girl that led to her  death.

"This," he said, pointing at the bundle as he rose to stand, "is the fate meant for Margriet Gunnarsdottir."

"Nay!" cried the one who'd betrayed his trust. "He did not kill this girl."

"Do not believe his lies, Magnus. You saw her. You saw the marks from  his whips on her back and legs. He left his signet ring on to make  certain I knew it was him."

"Rurik," Magnus began, but Rurik stopped him, dismissing the others before continuing.

"I care not that you chose my brother over me, but I will not stand by and let him do more harm to Margriet, Magnus."

"He will not, Rurik. He said he's pleased now that he will receive a  huge dowry, for your father is adding to whatever Gunnar pays to make it  worth his while."

That was something he did not know. More money meant more reasons to  make certain the marriage did not last very long. It meant Margriet was  in even more danger than he first thought.

"You will not act against him even for her?"

"Our bond goes back years, Rurik. You would not understand. Thorfinn and  I have both been displaced by … " Magnus paused then, realizing he  probably did not want to finish his explanation.

"Bastard sons returned." Rurik finished it for him.

It always came down to class. A bastard son, no matter how accomplished  and brave, was never worthy enough for those born legitimately.

"I can do nothing to protect her, Magnus. I ask only that you inform me  if you begin to suspect I might be correct. Simply send me word and I  will see to her safety."

Magnus did not agree, but he turned and, with a silent glance at the  bundle on the floor between them, left the chamber. Rurik prayed that he  had gotten through to the man he thought his childhood friend.

Days passed and Thorfinn wisely walked a wide path around him, not even  appearing at meals or meetings. Gunnar remained at Erengisl's side, but  showed no enthusiasm for business or negotiating or any of the tasks  that made him an asset to the earl. The cloud of dishonor would hang  over his head until the marriage was accomplished and that would not  happen for months.

Thorfinn had effectively neutered his most vocal opponent and Rurik knew  it was but a matter of time before his brother began to use his  newfound strength of position to his advantage. Some of those recently  vying for his favor now knocked at his brother's door with their offers  and gifts. Knowing that his own marriage would take him from these  islands, these men were not fools and knew who would control things here  after Erengisl.

Three weeks after Margriet's disgrace had been exposed, Rurik returned  to his chambers to find a one-word message left on his bed.

Now.



                       
       
           



       

Chapter Twenty-One





The day had dawned clear, unlike so many lately, so Margriet begged  leave to walk on the shore. She was not exactly a prisoner, but she not  did have the freedom to come and go as she pleased. Her betrothed  husband sent directions for her care and made it clear to the men and  women left in charge of her the price for failure if anything happened  to her.