To Vex a Highlander: The Sutherlands of Dornoch Castle ~ Book 4 Page 2

  “The task should have fallen to me.” She stood and smoothed her skirt again. “Well, since there is no reason for me to remain, I shall be about my day.” She glided out of the room and turned back, her hand on the latch. “Yer laird is intending to leave on the morrow. I suggest ye have someone help ye pack.”

  Christine stared at the closed door for a moment. That is no’ information a lass should have until she must put up with it.

  Put up with it? That dinna sound encouraging. That might explain why her sister-in-law appeared so sour every time her husband Louis told her he was ready to retire for the evening. Yet, the way Hildie and her husband stared at each other, it appeared her sister had not been putting up with it.

  She spent her time packing, holding various items and wondering if they would be better left behind, or taken with her to her new home. She was excited about her new life.

  Malcolm Sutherland. Cousin to Laird Haydon Sutherland.

  Was the mon comely? She never even asked about his age. Hopefully, he wasna one of those older men looking for a young wife merely to have bairns. She wrapped her arms around her middle and walked to the window.

  Although she was mostly ignorant of the marriage bed, she kenned from overhearing the maids talk that ‘twould be quite pleasurable. Despite what Sophie tried to tell her. She imagined the entire matter would be made easier if one had a handsome husband.

  As she gazed out the window, she noted autumn was fading into winter. The air was cold, and all the leaves were gone from the trees.

  The next time she saw the arrival of winter, she would be in her new home, with her new husband. Who would no’ be new by then. ‘Twas possible she might even be a mam. She blushed at that thought, then shivered, not sure whether from the chilly air or the thought of living somewhere else besides Balnagown and her entire life changing.

  She’d had a letter from her sister once she’d learned about her betrothal. Hildie was quite happy for her and gave her wonderful advice on how to please a husband. Since her sister was verra happy in her marriage, Christine had taken her advice to heart. In fact, the letter rested in her valise so she could read it over and feel as though her beloved sister was there with her, helping her to adjust.

  It had been difficult watching her sister marry and move on to a new place and a new life, leaving her behind. As the younger sister, she kenned her turn would be last, but there had been times she thought her da had forgotten about her. At almost one and twenty years, ‘twas past the time she should have married.

  Once her things were packed, she asked to have her supper sent up to her room. She just dinna feel like facing everyone this last night. She wanted to enjoy her final night at Balnagown in her room where she’d slept since she’d left the nursery.

  Of course, Sophie took it upon herself to bring the tray to her room so she could once more ‘advise’ her on her new role as wife. Christine pleaded a headache to get the woman to leave.

  Then she ate her supper, removed her clothing, and went to bed, where she tossed and turned all night.

  * * *

  Malcolm rose from bed sore, his muscles aching. He’d been anxious about the eminent arrival of his bride and had been training extra-long and hard on the lists. The men had even started to complain about it. For his aches and pains, he’d gotten some cream from their healer, Dorathia, and that had helped. Although he had been sure to bathe before his new wife smelled the stench from the helpful ointment.

  At present, there wasna much left to do except wait for his bride.

  His bride. Lady Christine Ross.

  According to Haydon, she was a bonny lass. While that would certainly make bedding her easier, he was more interested in how well she would adjust to married life. As a laird’s daughter, she certainly enjoyed certain privileges that she wouldna have as his wife.

  He’d been surprised to be offered such a high-ranking bride, but Haydon had explained that The Ross was determined to have a connection with the Sutherland clan and was willing to work out the agreement for the only daughter left to marry the laird’s cousin.

  While they could take their meals at the keep if they wished to travel there three times a day, it would be easier for them if the lass could cook. He’d already arranged for two maids to come to the house each day to help with the normal chores that Christine would most likely not be familiar with. Hopefully, she would not be the type who demanded things he was not prepared to give her.

  The house they’d built had no’ been as large as the keep, of course, but ‘twas a good size with six bedchambers, a solar for him and one for Christine, as well as a drawing room, a good-sized dining room, and a well-equipped kitchen. He hoped she would be pleased with it.

  All this worrying would cease since a rider had come to the castle the night before to say the Ross party would be arriving today.

  The blast of a horn from the tower to announce the arrival of visitors interrupted his meanderings and alerted him to the appearance of his bride and her family. At present, they would be riding over the drawbridge.

  ‘Twoud be a good thing for him to hurry to the keep and meet his betrothed.

  Using a path that was a shortcut leading directly to the keep from Malcolm’s new house, he arrived at the castle no’ long after the Ross party had dismounted and their horses taken to the stable.

  The lass was nowhere in sight as he walked up to where Haydon and The Ross spoke.

  “Ah, here is Malcolm now, Laird.”

  Ross took his measure, and apparently finding him acceptable, smiled and held out his hand. The two men clasped each other’s forearms in the traditional Scottish way and stepped back.

  “My daughter requested time to ready herself,” The Ross said. “Ye ken how the lasses are. Lady Sutherland was good enough to show her and my daughter-in-law, Lady Ross to a room where they could freshen themselves.”

  Haydon slapped The Ross on his back. “What say ye we retire to my solar and have a bit of whisky while we wait?”

  Malcolm was anxious to meet his betrothed. He dinna think the way to meet her was with a drink in his hand, but he found he was a tad uneasy, so perhaps he would indulge.

  Haydon, Conall, Malcolm, The Ross, and his son, Louis took seats in Haydon’s solar. Haydon passed cups of whisky around and held his up. “To a fine marriage and alliance between the Sutherland and Ross clans.”

  “Slàinte mhath!” Haydon said.

  “Slàinte mhath!” they all responded and then downed their drinks just as the door to the solar opened. “Ach, I kenned I would find ye all here,” Ainslee said.

  She stepped into the room and turned to allow the two women behind her to enter. Malcolm straightened his shoulders and turned, a smile on his face.

  He took one look at his new wife and scowled.

  She did the same thing.

  They glared at each other. “You!”

  2

  Malcolm could not believe his eyes. He briefly hoped the frivolous lass he’d met at the last Highland Games was The Ross’s daughter-in-law, and not his bride.

  His hopes were dashed when Lady Christine placed her hands on her hips and looked at her da. “This is the mon you’ve betrothed me to?”

  The Ross’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Aye. Do ye ken the mon?”

  She began to tap her foot. “I do. And I canna say he is someone I wish to spend my life with.”

  “Just a moment, lass,” Malcolm said. “Do ye think I wish to marry a lass who is irresponsible and flighty? I’d be spending my life chasing ye about to keep ye from hurting yerself or causing trouble.”

  The two of them continued to glare at each other.

  Haydon held his hand up. “I dinna ken what is going on here, but I think ‘tis time for ye both to calm down.” He nodded at Malcolm. “I doona care for the way ye speak to yer betrothed. In fact, ‘tis quite displeased I am.”

  Malcolm bowed. “My apologies, Laird. I was taken by surprise.”

  “Clearly,”
Haydon said. “But I think ‘tis Lady Christine ye owe yer apology to.”

  “My apologies, my lady. I dinna mean to disrespect ye.” His teeth ground so hard he thought they would break.

  She raised her chin and gave a brief nod.

  The Ross took Christine’s hand. “Daughter, ‘tis no’ like ye to behave in this manner. The marriage contract has been agreed upon. Malcolm Sutherland will be yer husband, and ye are to cease yer improper behavior. The Laird has assured me Malcolm is an honorable mon.”

  “Might I suggest we all retire to the great hall where we can share some food and drink?” Ainslee, always the gracious hostess smiled at them all as if nothing untoward had just happened.

  The three women left the room, with the men following. Malcolm was still trying to imagine this lass as his wife. Truthfully, he had given her some considerations over the past year. Mostly, it was thoughts of her deep blue eyes, bright smile, and lovely swaying hips. And lips just begging to be kissed.

  He ne’er did learn her name and looked for her at other clan gatherings, but eventually put her from his mind. But ne’er had he expected to end up married to her. Ach!

  * * *

  Christine followed Lady Sutherland from the solar to the great hall. The group all took seats, and serving maids immediately arrived with jugs of wine and ale and platters of food. It appeared they were just waiting for them to arrive to begin serving.

  She snuck a glance at Malcolm Sutherland. Her betrothed. The cold, judgmental, stiff arse. Aye, he was handsome and braw. He’d done quite well at the Highland Games. She well remembered his strength.

  Now he was to be her husband. God’s bones. He would probably hand her a list of can do and canna do before the wedding. Kenning him, the canna do list would be lengthy. She would almost prefer to return to Balnagown and suffer Sophie.

  Almost.

  While she was watching him, he turned and looked directly at her. She felt heat rise to her face, and immediately glanced at her food, suddenly interested in the way the meat had been cooked.

  “How was your trip, Lady Christine?” Lady Sutherland, a charming woman, asked.

  “’Twas fine, my lady. We dinna have any trouble along the way, which always makes for a pleasant trip. Especially when travelling so close to winter.”

  “Please, call me Ainslee. We are no’ formal here.”

  “Aye. And please call me Christine.”

  “Such a lovely name,” she said.

  Sophie cleared her throat, and Christine feared what would come out of her mouth. “I always find ‘tis better to remain on a formal basis since there are certain expectations from other clan members as far as the clan leadership is concerned.”

  Christine winced. Sophie had the nerve to chastise Lady Sutherland.

  Ainslee smiled. “Indeed? Well, I’m afraid we doona feel that way here. We are quite informal, and our clanfolk appreciate it. We believe it makes the laird more approachable.”

  Good for ye, Ainslee, Christine thought but kept her smile hidden lest Sophie decide to chastise her as well. Although, mayhaps she should get used to it, since she was quite sure her new husband would be the same.

  She sighed. Another Sophie, but this one in trews.

  But oh, how he filled out those trews! She wished she hadn’t noticed, but she had. The mon was truly well formed. Strong muscular thighs and a wide chest. He must spend a great deal of time on the lists.

  Sophie had the good sense to not continue the discussion, but merely sniffed and returned her attention to her food.

  Christine asked a lot of questions of the laird’s wife about the keep, the castle, and the clansfolk. Ainslee was open, friendly, and happy to share her experiences with the Sutherland clan.

  “I tricked the laird into marrying me, ye ken,” Ainslee said before she took a sip of ale.

  “How did ye do that?” Mayhaps she could learn something from Ainslee that would help her get out of the marriage to Malcolm.

  She then told the story of her and her twin sister who was supposed to marry the laird, but since she was so afraid of the mon, they switched places at the wedding.

  “So I ended up married to Haydon, and my sister is happily married and living in Freuchie Castle with her husband, Duncan, laird of Clan Grant.”

  Christine burst out laughing, loving the story and Ainslee’s courage. She was sure she and the laird’s wife would be friends.

  “Most improper,” Sophie sniffed.

  Ainslee looked at her with raised brows. “Indeed. And seeing as how things turned out so verra well, ‘twas such a verra good idea.”

  Christine was ready to throttle her sister-in-law. She would be glad to be out from under her sour disposition and judgmental ways. Except she had a sense that her stiff-necked husband-to-be was similar in nature.

  She sighed just as Malcolm stood and immediately gained her attention. Christ’s toes, the mon was big. When she’d encountered him at the Highland Games, they’d been on a hill, and he was standing lower than her, so their heights dinna seem so drastically different. But they were.

  He walked over to her and extended his hand. “Lady Christine, I would like a word with ye, if ye please.”

  “I dinna think ‘tis proper to leave the room,” Sophie said.

  Malcolm regarded her with a slight smile. “Is that so, Lady Sophie? We are to be married tomorrow. Her father and brother are present and not objecting. I doona think we have a problem here.” He dismissed her by turning back to Christine. “My lady?”

  Giggling on the inside at the set-down Malcolm had given Sophie, Christine took his hand and rose from the bench. Startled at the touch of her hand in his, she looked up into his hazel eyes to see a similar reaction in him.

  She climbed over the bench, and linking her arm with his, the two of them walked out the front door of the keep. “I hope to have a pleasant conversation with ye to smooth over the uncomfortable start we had.”

  “Are ye referring to here in the laird’s solar, or on the fields at Fife?” Christine asked with a smirk.

  The stiff mon rubbed the back of his neck and actually smiled. Well, almost smiled. His lips moved anyway. “Both I would say.”

  She nodded. Let him begin. She dinna feel as though she had anything to apologize for. “Ye may start.”

  Malcolm turned her so they were walking around the outer bailey. “If we are to be married, and it appears we have no choice, we should get some things settled.”

  Christine’s back stiffened. She dinna like the sound of this. Was he inferring that given the choice, he would send her back with her da? And it also sounded as if she was right, and he was about to hand her a list of things she could and couldna do. “And what would that be, Mr. Sutherland?”

  “I would request that ye be a bit more careful of where ye go. In fact, I insist ye do no’ go wandering about by yerself.” He turned to her. “Did ye bring that vexing dog with ye?”

  Her jaw dropped. “Pompeii?”

  “Aye. If ye did, he will need to be kept outside. I dinna approve of animals in the house.” He paused for a moment. “Ye will be responsible for running my household. I expect meals on time, and clothes mended and cleaned. Of course, I have arranged to have two maids attend us every day to make things a tad easier for ye. I have built ye a house, large enough, I believe to satisfy ye and to allow for any bairns that come our way. There is a stable for yer horse and mine, and I’m considering purchasing a cow or two, but until then, I can arrange to have milk and butter sent up from the keep.

  “We can get our supplies from the village. I’m thinking a trip or two a month should be enough.” He looked down at her. “I am no’ a wealthy mon, but I have more than enough to provide for ye if ye doona waste money on frivolous things.

  “I think that is everything I need to tell ye.” He stopped their stroll and tapped his lip with his finger. “Aye, one more thing. We have sufficient furniture in the house, but Lady Sutherland has offered to help ye decorate, or
whatever it is ye lasses like to do to houses to make them seem more comfortable.”

  The fool arse had the nerve to smile at her. “Doona ye have anything to say, lass?”

  Say? Her head was about to explode.

  * * *

  Malcolm was quite pleased with how their conversation had gone. The lass had been quiet throughout, so she no doubt enjoyed having things laid out for her so she kenned what to expect. He congratulated himself. Things might no’ be so bad after all.

  She moved close to him and stuck her finger in his chest. “Ye, Mr. Sutherland, are the most obnoxious, arrogant, overbearing arse to walk the face of God’s earth!” Christine’s chest heaved, and her face grew so red he was afraid she would suffer an apoplexy.

  “I doona understand.”

  She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “’Tis what the problem is, Mr. Sutherland. Ye doona understand. Now, let me tell ye what I expect.” The lass had the nerve to begin counting on her fingers. “First, I doona care if ye ‘insist’ I do or doona do anything. If I wish to take a stroll to the castle I will do so.

  “My dog, Pompeii, will be allowed in the house because he has ne’er slept outdoors before. Of course, I expect to run our household, not yer household, but I willna be dictated to on how things are done. If I am particularly busy, mayhaps meals willna be on time. Ye will have to live with that.

  “While I am pleased that ye saw fit to build a house and a stable, doona bother purchasing a cow because I have no intention of milking it. If the maids ye have arranged for are willing to do the chore, then buy five cows if ye wish.

  “I have always been cautious with my spending since my da had watched over the household money carefully. However, if I have the urge to buy a fancy bar of soap or a new ribbon, I will do so without yer permission.”

  She panted and struggled to gain her breath. “One last thing. I enjoy knitting and embroidery, so I will decorate our house as I see fit. I will be happy to visit with Ainslee, but she willna be telling me how to decorate my house.”