Chapter 13

13

Interesting Visitors

D akota paced the length of her room, trying to wrap her head around what just happened. William had been so callous and coarse with her before, yet the kiss was something she had not been expecting. Not even during their wedding 1 did he show an ounce of passion.

Fiddling with her necklace, she tried to push aside her thoughts and think logically about the whole thing. After all, she’d spent most of the day with Mrs. Portsworth and heard bits and pieces about William’s family, yet nothing resonated with her so much so than seeing the fire smoldering in William’s gaze. Dakota wanted to swoon. Her knees grew weary under her weight.

Moving swiftly to the bed, she sat down. The room before her seemed to fade as William’s face became more dominant in her mind. With her heart racing, she wondered what the morning would bring. Would he be the passionate man he presented himself as tonight? Or would he go about ignoring her? These questions plagued her mind as she chewed her lower li

The pitter-patter of feet down the hallway caught her ear. Dakota’s head whipped around. She stared at the wooden door. The anxiety and anticipation wreaked havoc through her. In the back of her mind, she wondered whether William was coming to her. She wanted to believe that maybe he would. After all, she knew the kiss did more to jumble his thoughts than hers.

Rising slowly, she held her breath, waiting for the knock . Yet, as she stood there and listened for the steps to pause, her mind raced through all she would say. Every second dragged on until she couldn’t take it any longer. The footsteps stopped and she studied the door handle , half expecting William to barge in. When the piece of parchment slid across the floor and the footsteps continued, her heart dropped into her stomach.

All her hopes were squashed in an instant. She moved to the folded parchment on the floor and stared at it for a moment. With her heart pounding in her chest, she reached for it. Dakota’s hands trembled as she thought of all that it could obtain. Peeling back the creases, she walked back to the bed and sat.

"Do as ye will - to yer room."

The handwriting was forced and looked like chicken scratching. She re-read it before letting the paper fall to her side. Exhaling, Dakota glanced around the foreign room. Every painting, every unfamiliar knick-knack, burned in her eyes. She jumped to her feet and plucked the items from their places. One by one, she cleared her room and stacked the objects and paintings to one side. When she finished, she looked at the barren walls as tears streamed down her cheeks.

The walls of her gilded cage were bare now, ready to be remade. A sense of relief and acceptance washed over her. With a blank slate before her, she wondered if it was the decoration that would make this place her own or if it was William’s heart she wanted to obtain.

"It’s a start," she mumbled. Sleep overcame her. And by the time the log burned down to nothing but embers and soot, Dakota curled up on the soft mattress of her bed and slept.

The dawn came too soon and she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as Ava entered the room. Dakota tried to smile at the servant, but her body ached and her soul felt weary.

"What is this?" Ava asked as she glanced around the room.

"The laird said I could change things a bit," Dakota answered sheepishly. "I may have gotten a bit carried away."

"The room is bare," Ava said, placing the tray of food on the small table near the fireplace. "What are ye goin’ to do wit’ the Laird’s belongings? Surely, yer nae goin’ to burn them are ye?"

"Nay, of course nae. I’ll see that they are distributed amongst the other rooms. There’s a few places in the drawin’ room and library the paintings can go. And the trinkets can be scattered about the guest suites."

"I’ll have the others come in and sort it all out for ye," Ava said as she glanced at Dakota. Dakota stretched the sleep from her bones and tried not to dwell on last night, but she couldn’t help it. A part of her was curious how William would take the news of what she had done.

Ava moved about the room, tidying it up. It was clear by the way she delicately handled things , she was uncertain if what Dakota did was permissible.

"Ye ken the Laird doesnae like changes. Especially ones so dramatic."

"It was by the Laird’s permission I removed these things," Dakota reassured. "If ye daenae believe me, ye can find the letter on the dresser."

Ava moved to the dresser and picked up the parchment. Dakota smiled as Ava’s eyes widened.

"He’s never done such a thin’ before," Ava mumbled.

"I am the Lady of Rottrich, am I nae?" Dakota asked. "Perhaps he has finally come to terms wit’ bein’ married to me. By and by, where is the Laird today? I’d like to thank him for such a kind gesture."

"Ye’ll have to wait on that," Ava said. "The Laird slipped away in the wee mornin’ hours. Some say he’s gone huntin’, others noted he’s gone to handle clan business in the west. Either way, the Laird isnae here."

Dakota’s heart dropped to her stomach. She had hoped that he’d be around today and she’d be able to discuss what happened between them. Yet, with him gone, it put her right back in the same situation as before. Dakota swallowed hard and moved to the bed as Ava pulled her outfit out for the day.

Dressing quickly, Dakota tried not to let William’s absence bother her too much. But she couldn’t help but wonder when he would return. As the day drifted on and the sun drew higher in the sky, Dakota found herself wandering toward the windows of the castle, looking out to the open fields, searching for him. She’d hoped to be the first to find him riding up through the vast green fields. Yet, with each pass, all she found were empty fields and white clouds billowing in the sky.

Feeling lost and a bit out of sorts, Dakota made her way to the sitting room. She paced the floor, hoping and praying that William was all right. After all, this was her first time alone in the castle without him. The thought of him not coming back at all filled her with dread. As her imagination ran wild, Dakota thought of him hurt. She envisioned his horse toppling on him or bandits coming back to finish what they had started.

Her heart quickened and she knew it did her no good to worry over things she had no control over. To put her mind at ease, Dakota sat at the small rotary desk and pulled a piece of parchment out. She had thought of sending out letters to find him, but found her hand scribbling notes to her family back home.

Pouring her heart out was easy as her mind filled with many thoughts. Dakota wondered if Delilah had come back yet and how their father handled the situation. As she signed the parchment and sealed it up, she glanced out the window and gasped.

Her heart fluttered to see the stablemen rounding up horses and bringing them to the front. Quickly grabbing the letters, Dakota made her way to the front entrance. There she noticed a rather tall, lanky man standing with his back to her. He moved quickly from view before she could properly see his face or take in his attire. She did not see him enter her husband's study, but the Englishman's footsteps certainly took him that way.

She tiptoed after the stranger, intrigued about what he was doing there. She could not risk looking into the study for fear William would spot her, and she had irritated him enough. Besides, she was the lady of the castle now, and it would be impolite to be caught spying on guests. Well, it would be far worse than being impolite.

She got close enough to make out snippets of the conversation over the crackling of the logs in the roaring fire. She watched the shadows dance on the floor in the doorway, not stepping close enough to see within.

"I’m terribly sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Please understand it was never my intentions for such things to have happened," the stranger said in a heavy English accent. An icy finger ran up Dakota’s spine as her eyes widened.

"What’s an Englishman doin’ here?" she muttered. From her youngest childhood, she heard tales of the English and how her father despised them. Never in her life had one ever stepped foot inside her father’s house. Yet, by the way William seemed so at ease with this one, Dakota couldn’t help but wonder if, perchance, her father had exaggerated his experiences with them.

"Best come away from there," Mrs. Portsworth said, curling her fingers around Dakota’s arm and giving her a slight tug from the doorway.

"Who is that?" Dakota whispered to the housekeeper.

"Nay one ye need concern yerself with," Mrs. Portsworth answered. "The Laird has to keep relations with everyone on the border."

"What business does William have wit’ an Englishman?" Dakota asked.

"There's always trouble when we are so close to them," Mrs. Portsworth said.

"I daenae understand," Dakota said as she looked back at the light spilling from the door. She ached to go and have a proper look at the Englishman.

"Laird Rottrich has a lot of land and people to keep track of. When ye accumulate so much, someone else always wants it. Ye cannae always keep power by fightin' for it in the traditional sense. Sometimes, ye have to talk with yer enemy to make them see sense. This way is better than takin' a hundred young men to their deaths. Nay need for death if it can be prevented," Mrs. Portsworth explained. "Nay doubt that’s what's happenin' now."

Dakota's chest tightened, and she swallowed hard as she thought about William leading a hundred men into battle against the English. This must have been why they had left her father's castle so soon and didn’t celebrate for as long as she had hoped.

"I’ll ensure that this does not happen again," the Englishman's voice boomed, causing Dakota to stand up straighter. She swallowed hard as the shadows in the doorway grew longer.

"Aye, ye see that it doesnae," William answered. "I’d hate for another war to come through the lands."

"Come on," said Mrs. Portsworth. "We shouldnae be listenin' to the Laird's private conversations.”

Dakota allowed herself to be dragged down the hallway, and she smiled when she realized the housekeeper wanted to listen to the conversation as much as she did.

"Yes, war is a dreadful thing," the Englishman said. "Was that your servant scurrying off or your new, young wife? She looked far too well dressed."

Dakota and Mrs. Portsworth rounded the corner. They had been caught fleeing the scene, but there was no indication that they had been spying. Dakota held her breath and wanted to peek around the corner to take stock of the Englishman.

"Ye daenae need to concern yerself with such matters," William growled.

"I had heard the rumors you had been married," the Englishman said.

The footsteps approached, and Dakota was dragged off once more.

"Let's leave the men to it," suggested Mrs. Portsworth. "I believe the Laird is showin' him out, anyway."

"Aye, sometimes the rumors are true," William said. "A Laird needs an heir. I hear that ye are nae married yet. I can give ye some tips if ye would like."

"I do not think you could tell me anything I do not already know. Besides, I have heard rumors of what happens on this side of the border."

"Yer estate is on this side of the border now. Are ye sure ye have heard the rumors or are ye creatin' them?" William chuckled as he asked the question.

Dakota wanted to laugh, too, from the small room she and Mrs. Portsworth were hiding in. They both had their ears glued to the door.

"I am only saddened that I did not get an invitation to your grand event," the Englishman said. "But are you hiding her for a reason? Is it not customary for a Laird to introduce his lady when he has a visitor?

"A welcome visitor, perhaps," replied the Laird.

"I did feel welcome, but I am starting not to. It is probably for the best. The most beautiful flowers are the ones that are left untouched and allowed to bloom. If you keep her locked away, she will forever be safe. You would not want something so delicate to be bruised."

Dakota swallowed hard as Mrs. Portsworth curled her fingers around Dakota’s arm and pulled her closer.

"Was that supposed to be a threat?" asked William.

"If I want to threaten you, I will come out and say it. I would not want to stir up any more trouble than there already has been. Perhaps I will take my leave before one of us says something we will regret."

Dakota listened to the Englishman leave. "What did he mean by that?"

"Ye pay that man no mind," Mrs. Portsworth said. "He likes to tease the Laird, that’s all."

"What do ye think ye are doin’?" William asked as he threw the door open, revealing the two hiding women. Dakota blinked several times, trying to figure out why William’s face burned with such anger.

"I had come to see a letter was sent," Dakota answered. She showed William the parchment. He ripped it from her hand as his lips pursed into a tight line.

"Ye shouldnae have come down here," he said as he nudged his head to send Mrs. Portsworth away. Suddenly, Dakota felt exposed. Her heart fluttered as the warmth of her body drained from her. William grabbed her arm, escorted her into the study, and slammed the door behind them.

"I daenae understand why ye're so upset," Dakota said. "Ye told me I could go where I pleased. How was I to ken ye had company when I’ve been waitin’ for ye to come back from yer huntin’ trip?"

"Huntin’? Is that where ye think I went?"

"That’s what the servants told me this mornin’ when I had asked about ye," Dakota said. She held her breath as William circled her like hounds rounding up a fox.

"Of course, ye believe them," he snorted. "Yer faither may have been a lazy man and squandered his things, but I daenae do such things."

"I never said ye did," Dakota said as she wondered where the hostility was coming from. If she had known he would be this way, she would have stayed in the sitting room or ventured elsewhere in the castle.

William opened his mouth and snapped it shut before uttering a single word. He glanced at Dakota’s letter and exhaled.

"Who did ye write to?"

"Me family," Dakota answered as she lifted her chin . "I wanted to see how everyone was doin’. Is that so wrong? Would ye rather me cut all ties to my younger siblings? Because if that’s what ye expect, I’ll nae do it."

"Nay, I daenae expect that," he said as he moved to his desk and plopped down into his chair. Dakota glanced at the door, wondering if he wanted her to go or stay. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"I’ll see that the letter is delivered," he said after some time.

"Thank ye."

"And I trust that ye received my letter?"

"Aye," Dakota answered. "I did."

"And?"

"If yer wonderin’ if I rearranged my room, I have."

"What are yer plans for the items in yer room bein’ discarded?" William’s fingers tightened around the nub of his chair. Dakota noticed his knuckles turning white from the stress.

"I thought I could dole them out around the castle. Would be a pity to ruin such fine things," Dakota said. "I’m certain many of the items have sentimental value to ye. Why? Did ye think I’d throw them out like common scraps?"

William slowly drew his eyes to her. His gaze unnerved her. She held her breath as he tilted his head.

"Nay, I daenae suppose ye’d do such a thin’," he said. The rap on the door caused Dakota to jump. She spun around as it opened. Cameron came in, spotted her, and began to backtrack when William lifted his hand.

"What is it?" William asked.

"Forgive me, but there’s a matter that needs yer attention," Cameron said as his eyes shifted from William to Dakota. She couldn’t help but feel as if she were the uninvited intruder.

"I’ll leave ye be," Dakota said and quickly bowed. Before William could protest, Dakota scurried out of the study and didn’t stop till she was in her bedroom.

She gazed out the window, mulling over her encounter with William and the Viscount. Clearly, William didn’t like the man, and she understood why. There was something off about the Englishman. Perhaps it was her father’s prejudices that influenced her thoughts. Either way, she was glad he was gone and hoped she’d never have to see him again.

Over the next several days, Dakota drifted about the castle keeping to herself. Any time she spotted William, she’d turn down a different hallway or slip into a room. Although she wanted to believe that things between them were different, nothing really had changed since the kiss. He still remained distant from her, only making small talk during their time at dinner. It seemed to Dakota that the kiss they shared was nothing but a dream.

She didn’t dare bring it up at dinner. Not with the servants around. And since she wasn’t spending any time alone with him, she couldn’t talk about it. Dakota tried not to let it eat at her when she would catch a glimpse of him in the garden or walking down the steps. Yet, no day went by when the memory didn’t pop into her head.

Nights were the hardest for her, though. Her mind played and toyed with her desires for him in ways she wasn’t expecting. And each morning she rose, hot and bothered by the events, Dakota wondered if she’d ever get another moment like that again.

"M’Lady," Ava gasped as she entered Dakota’s room. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Dakota glanced at her maid.

"Aye? I’m awake," Dakota groaned as she tried to hold onto the memory of her dream.

"Best get dressed," Ava said. "Ye got visitors."

"What? Nay one comes to visit me," Dakota said.

"Tis yer family that’s come to check on ye," Ava said with a huge smile. Dakota jumped out of her bed and rushed to the window. To her surprise, she noticed her father’s carriage coming down the road toward the castle.

Dressing as quickly as she could, she scrambled out of her room and flew down the steps. The mere prospect of having guests thrilled her. She never realized just how lonely it had been living with Laird Rottrich with such limited company until she saw Daisy poke her head out of the carriage window to wave to her.

"Daisy!" Dakota cried out and waved to her. The carriage stopped and before Daisy could open the door, Dakota was there, prying it open, eager to hold her little sister once again.

"Well this is certainly a pleasant welcome," Daisy said as she hugged Dakota. "Ye’ve never been so affectionate before."

"Aye, well, I havenae had need to miss ye before, now have I?"

"Step aside," Dominic grumbled from within the carriage. "My rear hurts and I need to stretch my legs."

"Dominic? Ye came too?"

"We’re nae the only ones," Dominic said as he flashed his crooked grin. Dakota’s heart sank into her stomach. She stepped aside and glanced at Daisy. The smile on Daisy’s face made her wary.

"Has faither come too?" Dakota asked.

"Nay," Daisy answered as Dakota’s eyes widened the second she spotted Delilah hidden away in the corner of the carriage.

"Good day, sister," Delilah said in a low whisper.

"Delilah?" Dakota’s heart quickened. She didn’t know if she wanted to hug her sister or slap her. Delilah slipped out of the carriage with Dominic’s help and stood before Dakota. "But I thought…"

Delilah dropped her eyes and lowered her head. "Sister, I implore yer forgiveness. What I did, I had nay way of knowin’ it would lead to ye takin’ my place."

Dakota swallowed hard as she stepped back from the shock. With Dominic and Daisy’s eyes on her, she didn’t know what to do. With so many emotions bombarding her, Dakota tried to find the words to speak but found them lodged in her throat. A clap of thunder rolled through the sky, drawing Dakota’s eye off Delilah.

"Well, best we all get inside before the rains come, aye?" Dakota said as she held onto Daisy. "I’m sure ye’ll tell me in great detail what transpired and a good reason for leavin’ yer weddin’."

1 ?In case you haven’t read the historical fact sheet on Traditional Medieval Scottish Weddings click HERE to read it for free! Most of my readers LOVED IT!