Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

A s the days unfolded over the next week, Mae found herself observing the havoc that Brian wreaked upon the fort and its inhabitants. It seemed that he possessed an insatiable appetite for their ale and whisky, draining their reserves without a hint of remorse. With each passing night, his drunken escapades grew more brazen, leaving a trail of broken objects in his wake.

One evening, Mae crossed paths with Brian in the main hall, where he clumsily swayed, his eyes glazed with intoxication. In a slurred voice, he addressed her with an air of false sophistication. "Ah, lass, you're a bonnie sight," he mumbled, but the look on his face was lecherous and lustful.

Mae, masking her revulsion with a practiced smile, responded with measured politeness. "Thank you," she replied, her tone betraying an underlying hint of sarcasm. Then she walked away, returning to Niall's side in the dining hall.

As the night progressed, Brian's behavior grew more audacious. He shamelessly propositioned the female staff members who were attempting to clear tables, his words dripping with lascivious intent as he fondled them and tried to get them to sit in his lap. Mae clenched her fists, her patience waning with each passing moment. "Naill, this is beyond appalling. Someone needs to stop him."

She watched one of the younger maidens shove his hands away and then proceeded to accidentally let one of the tankards of ale spill partially on him. It made her smile, but she didn't like how the young girl exclaimed apologies as he berated her.

She was tired of watching this man get away with treating women and staff like they were less than nothing anymore. Nobody deserved that. They weren't slaves, which thankfully wasn't taking place here — she would have raised holy heckfire if it was — and didn't deserve to be treated that way.

"I can try to have a word—" Niall started, but as he spoke, Brian got up and stormed out of the dining hall. "Maybe I won't have to though."

Mae sighed. "I doubt this will be the end of it. He's getting worse."

As Mae made her way to the stairs later that evening, a voice caught her attention. Niall wasn't with her, he had been called over to speak to the Chief, so she was on her own. She moved toward the kitchens to see none other than Brian Campbell. He had a young girl, one of the scullery maids pinned against the counter, blocking her in.

Brian, clearly fueled by liquid courage and more drunk that he'd been that evening thus far, leaned into the young woman who couldn't have been more than fifteen, and gave her a lecherous grin. "Why don't you leave this dreary life and come join me in my chambers, lass? I'll show you a taste of luxury you've never known," he slurred, his voice brimming with arrogance.

Mae, her fiery spirit unwilling to tolerate such behavior, stepped forward with resolve, grabbed Brian's arm and pulled him away from the girl. "Look you disgusting pig, you need to leave this girl alone. She clearly doesn't want shit to do with you and she's just trying to do her job. She doesn't need you propositioning her and trying to get your drunk rocks off," Mae fumed. "You are a guest here, but that doesn't grant you the right to treat any of these woman as your property or playthings. They aren't here for your amusement."

Brian, clearly taken aback by Mae's boldness, glared at her with indignation and disdain, his lip curling up in a cruel manner. "And who are you to lecture me, lass? A stranger to our country? Not even a lowly Donald. You are nothing, no one of importance," he spat, his slurred words laced with an infuriating arrogance.

Undeterred, Mae met his gaze head-on. She was filled with anger and defiance as she stared at him. "It doesn't matter who I am. Common decency and respect for others should always be retained," she retorted, as she kept her back ram-rod straight, not wanting to back down from the man.

The confrontation drew the attention of the other kitchen staff, who watched the exchange with awe.

"Have you ever heard the like," one of the women whispered, her eyes wide.

"She's going to get us into trouble with the Campbells," another fretted.

In that moment, Niall stepped through the doorway, joining Mae and standing by her side. "You heard the lass. Show some respect for these women, or face the consequences," he warned, his tone carried the weight of authority.

Brian was obviously frustrated by the united front before him as he staggered backward, a glimmer of recognition crossing his drunken stupor. His jaw worked for a moment as though he was going to verbally spar with them, but then thought better of it. He ducked his head and retreated to his room for the rest of the evening.

Mae couldn't help but feel good about the confrontation, especially as the echoes of their confrontation lingered in the air. With Niall backing her up, it showed the women on staff that they didn't have to put up with that kind of behavior and it led to a feeling of power among them. As though they had the right to protect themselves and the fort from one such as Brian.

In the days that followed, word spread through the staff that Brian was to be given the bare minimum of hospitality and they had the authority to deny him their attention and indulgence. The Donalds weren't going to allow this man to continue to take what didn't belong to him or the Campbells.

Of course there were a few who supported Brian and his behavior, but Mae used her skills of manipulation to sew discord between him and those who were on his side. A well placed rumor, a word in someone's ear of some hearsay, and she was able to undermine him at every turn. She wasn't blatant about it, but went about it subtly so it wouldn't be traced back to her. One moonlit evening, as the sound of music and laughter filled the great hall, Mae and Niall escaped to the courtyard to view the stars and Mae hoped that he might kiss her. They'd gotten much closer over the last few weeks, and she was drawn to him more than she'd ever been drawn to anyone.

As they stood, staring out over the lock, Niall wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "You are unlike any lass I've ever known." He smiled and tucked a stray hair that was blowing against her cheek in the slight breeze, behind her ear. "Remind me not to get on your bad side, you can be quite devious." He grinned, taking the sting out of his words.

Mae shrugged, but a smile touched her lips. "Only when it is necessary to save others from someone like him."

Niall's thumb still caressed her cheek. "I admire the way you handle yourself and especially how you handle the Campbell problem."

Mae felt her heart sore, something it did often in his presence, though it was reaching new heights now. She knew, if Jen were to see her or anyone were for that matter, at that moment, her cheeks would be flushed and she'd look star struck, but she didn't care. She really liked Niall.

"Niall…" she began as she stared up at him. "Will you kiss me?" She held her breath as a slow roguish grin stole over his lips.

"Absolutely, lass, I've merely been awaiting an invitation to do just that," he murmured, his lips moving closer to hers.

A moment later, his soft and firm lips were on hers, stealing her breath from her as she melted into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his pulled her more firmly to his chest as he deepened the kiss.

Later that evening, in half a daze, Mae wandered the halls back to her room. As she passed by one of the bed chambers, she paused, overhearing two of the staff discussing Brian.

"He tried to tell me that his family is wealthy and the Donalds were nothing but buffle-headed buffoons who should be locked in Newgate for going against the king. That the Campbells owned all of us and as a Campbell he could do what he wanted."

"And I suppose he be wantin' you to join him in his chambers," the other replied.

"Aye, and I skedaddled right on out of there quick as rabbit. He was drunk off his socks, so he didn't catch me. You be careful goin' anywhere near that one."

"Aye, I have been. Been worrying about Claire, he's cornered her thrice now. Mae stepped in that once, but twice more he's gotten her away from others and attempted to have his way with her. She's managed to slip away, but he's been persistent."

Mae could hear them moving toward the door and she didn't want to be caught eavesdropping, so she continued down the hall, but she decided it was time to take action against Brian Campbell. This couldn't continue any longer. Claire was practically a child and shouldn't have to be abused in such a way. She wasn't going to allow it.

The next morning, she approached Niall, her voice filled with determination. "Niall, we cannot let this continue. Brian is terrorizing the young women on staff, and berating anyone who gets in his way. We need to do something."

Niall looked serious as he considered my words. "Aye, lass, I must agree. But we must be cautious. The Campbells have long held power over our lands, and any misstep could lead to disastrous consequences."

Mae nodded. She knew with everything he and Jen had explained to her that the Campbells could choose to kick them off the land at any given time, but what Brian was doing wasn't right. "We need to find a way to stop him without it affecting the Donalds."

"Exactly, lass."

Later that day, Niall came to Mae with the idea of visiting Cam and seeking his counsel. Mae thought it a brilliant idea and was anxious to speak to the man in charge as well about the situation.

"Niall, Lady Mae, do join me," Cam directed them to a couple of chairs. "I understand you have some concerns?" he asked, looking at Mae.

"I do, sir. It's about Brian Campbell. He's making life difficult for many of the young women on staff here, and he is creating destruction and spouting abuse at every turn. Something needs to be done about him." Mae went on to tell Cam about what she'd overheard, and what she'd witnessed.

Cam was clearly displeased. "I have seen him acting belligerent and destroying things in his drunken stupors, but I wasnae aware of his aggression toward the females on staff." His jaw ticked and he looked pensive for a moment. "Being a Campbell and having been sent by the Laird, I cannae kick him out of Fort Donald, so if you have any suggestions, I would be open to hearing them, lass."

"Perhaps having someone shadow him, stop him before he goes too far?"

Niall was already shaking his head. "That is already being done, lass, but it seems young Donovan was a poor choice for the task. Brian has found ways to rid himself of Donovan at nearly every turn."

"That is true, I am afraid that Donovan does not have the cunning he needs to keep an eye upon Brian. It needs to be someone with better skills in subterfuge. I can only think of one who might be able to handle the task." Cam stared right at Niall, his brow raised as if suggesting a particular person that Mae was unaware of.

"Surely there's someone else who can handle the task. I've already been pulled in so many directions, dealing with the bandit uprising on the high road and—" Niall started to protest.

"You brought this to me, Niall, you are aware of the situation and have the necessary skills to keep Brian from harassing our family. I trust you to handle this with discretion and keep the peace with the Campbells."

Reluctantly, Niall nodded.

"There is one other thing," Cam added. "I think there is more going on with Brian than his behavior. I believe there may be something nefarious taking place as well. I'd like for you to attempt to discover what that plot is."

Mae glanced over at Niall, who seemed stunned by Cam's words. "I would like to help, keep an eye upon him, I mean. Perhaps with me being a woman, I'll be less noticed by him?" She paused and then added, "I mean, he'll probably notice me, but only as someone he might bed, not as someone spying upon him. I don't think he has much respect for women, nor thinks us capable of anything but housework."

"You could be right about that, lass. Aye, you have my permission." Cam smiled.

"Any idea what you think he may be planning, Chief?" Niall asked.

Cam's smile fell from his face, and he shook his head. "No, which is why I'd like you both to be extra vigilant."

"Aye, we will at that," Niall agreed.

As they walked out of Cam's office chambers, and down the stairs, Mae was glad to have a plan in place. Now all they had to do was track down where Brian was at that moment, and discover whatever it was he was actually up to.

"We should keep this to ourselves, lass. A word in the wrong ear might tip Brian off that we are on to his plan."

"Whatever that might be," Mae murmured. "But I agree. We should only discuss it between us and Cam. Though I do trust Jen as well."

"Aye, aye, if you have need of her counsel, then do seek it out. She can be trusted. Though, not to any others."

Mae smiled. "Deal."

"I donnae understand, lass, are you wanting to play cards?" Niall looked at her curiously. "I am afraid I donnae have a deck on me."

Mae giggled. "No. It's just a way of saying I agree to your terms."

"I see, how curious. I look forward to learning more of your unique turns of phrase." He smiled and took her arm. "Come, let us go see if we can lay our gazes upon Brian."