The Laird's Captive Wife(61)

Her sister-in-law gestured to the chair opposite. ‘Will you not sit awhile? Then you can tell me your story for I long to hear it.’

Ashlynn related the main events, leaving out only what was too personal to be shared. As she listened, Jeannie’s face registered horror and sympathy but when it came to the part about the wedding her dark eyes narrowed.

‘Did my brother force you to wed him?’

‘He could not do other than marry me, my lady, since the king commanded it.’

‘Malcolm disposes as he sees fit and always to suit himself,’ replied Jeannie. She eyed Ashlynn closely for a moment. ‘Has my brother treated you well since?’

‘Yes, very well. He has been most generous.’

‘Has he indeed? I’m relieved to hear it.’

‘I have no cause for complaint.’

‘You must be the first person ever to say so.’ Jeannie smiled. ‘But that’s enough of him for the moment. Tell me about your brother.’

Ashlynn explained how she and Ban had been reunited. When she finished there were tears in her listener’s eyes.

‘It is a strange fate indeed that brought you here, but I am so glad it did.’ She paused. ‘Iain and I have been at odds for some time, and I began to fear that our estrangement might never end. It is in part due to you that it has a chance of doing so.’

‘Then I am glad of it. Families should be united.’

‘Aye, they should.’ Jeannie eyes her quizzically. ‘Did my brother tell you the nature of our quarrel?’

‘He said that it concerned Fitzurse.’

‘It is true. What Fitzurse did was cruel beyond believing.’ The older woman sighed. ‘Yet I could not bear to see Iain so consumed by rage and hatred.’

‘I can understand that.’

‘He and I were very close at one time. He was the person I looked up to most. Our childhood was not an easy one and he stood up for me many a time against our father.’

Ashlynn remained silent, listening avidly. She wanted so much to know more about the man she had married.

‘He took some beatings on account of it,’ Jeannie went on, ‘but I never saw him cry. It was as though it had become a point of pride with him not to. When our mother died the situation got much worse. Iain said it was our father’s unkindness that caused her death. Perhaps in part he was right.’

‘I’m sorry to hear it.’

‘He and Father had a terrible row and came to blows as a result. A short time later Iain was sent to France.’

‘But what of you?’

‘I was rescued by an aunt, one of my mother’s sisters. She was ever a kindly soul and her house seemed like heaven to me. The three years I spent with her were among the happiest of my life. It was there I met Duncan. He came courting after that and when I turned sixteen we married.’

‘Did you ever hear from Iain?’

‘He would send word from time to time. It was clear that France agreed with him.’

‘He married there, did he not?’

‘That’s right.’ Jeannie paused. ‘Did he tell you what happened to his wife?’

‘Yes.’

‘It almost destroyed him. I never saw a person so changed. For a while I thought he might run mad. However, he channelled his energies into fighting instead.’

‘That was when he joined Malcolm.’

‘Aye, and began to carve out a reputation for himself into the bargain. He always was a good swordsman and he honed his skill. Those who saw him in battle said he was fearless. As time went on he became involved in a lot of other wild exploits and his reputation grew.’

‘I had heard of it long before I met him,’ replied Ashlynn.

Jeannie nodded. ‘He had learned the value of being feared.’

‘But you did not fear him?’

‘No, I feared for him. I dreaded what hatred and rage might turn him into and begged him to give up the quest for Fitzurse, but he would not and so we quarrelled.’ She sighed. ‘Heaven knows how often I have regretted it.’

‘You did what you thought you had to do.’

‘Yet it got me nowhere and earned his enmity into the bargain.’

‘But surely that is at an end now,’ said Ashlynn.

‘I hope so, for this quarrel has resulted only in tears and bitterness and we have seen enough of that.’ Jeannie regarded her keenly. ‘Perhaps now that he has you my brother will put aside the thought of revenge.’

Ashlynn smiled sadly, knowing she possessed no such influence. Iain was set on a course that could only end in bloodshed and death—for him or for Fitzurse, or both. Nothing she could say would ever change his mind.

* * *

Further friends and relations appeared later that day, braving the weather to make the ride to Glengarron. All were warmly welcomed and, Iain having performed the necessary introductions, all received the news of the laird’s marriage with frank astonishment. Suddenly Ashlynn found herself the centre of attention.