Chapter 14

The supper continued, with the wine, ale, and whisky beginning to flow and great platters full of delicious foodstuffs being delivered to the diners. They drank and supped plentifully, and the atmosphere in the hall became convivial. Unfortunately, it did nothing to prevent Rollo from continuing his sly attacks on Odhrán, whose molten hatred for his cousin continued to bubble inside him.

"Now, what's this I hear about someone attackin' yer borders, Odhrán? Seems ye dinnae even ken who's doin' it. That's nae good fer a laird. It shows weakness," Rollo said with a provocative grin.

"I've got a fair idea who's behind it," Odhrán replied, giving him a steely look.

"So, why have ye nae made a move on them yet? Yer faither would have crushed them by now. But then ye're nae yer faither, are ye?" Rollo said with scorn.

"Nay, ye're right," Maddison chimed in. "He's ten times a better man than his faither, thank the Lord. Murphy Lennox was an evil man. And I'm sure naebody around this table regrets his passing." The words were like a bomb being dropped. Odhrán just stopped himself from flinching at the declaration, and the look of shock on Rollo's fat face would have been comical in other circumstances. Tadgh and Liam, who clearly heard Maddison's comment, also looked taken aback, and Odhrán noticed Ursula lowering her eyes and studiously applying herself to her plate.

"Ye think so, me lady?" Rollo said, seemingly undeterred. "I always thought me uncle a fine man, and a fine, strong laird too."

"Well, we cannae all be a good judge of character," Maddison countered, shooting him a sickly sweet smiled that reeked of false pity. She casually speared a piece of chicken and popped it in her mouth.

"Aye, Murphy Lennox, God Rest his soul, was a real man," Rollo continued. "The truth was, ye see, that Odhrán here was a bit of a disappointment tae his faither, tae say the least. He thought the lad too soft tae be the laird. That's why it took ye so long tae find a wife, eh, Odhrán?"

"Odhrán's a man of discernment. He was nae about tae marry the first lassie his faither happened upon just fer the sake of it. He has a mind of his own, is that nae right, me love?" Maddison countered, turning to Odhrán.

"I was waitin' fer ye tae come along, me darling," he said. "I didnae like any of the lassies me faither wanted me tae wed. I chose me own bride." That's nae more than the truth, he thought, watching Rollo sneer. Ursula, wisely, was keeping out of it.

Then, to Odhrán's fury, Rollo leaned across the table and said in a loud whisper to Maddison, "Fer all ye say he's romantic, I'll bet yer new husband's nae great shakes in bed, eh? Bit of a disappointment in that department, I'll wager, but I'm only repeatin' what I've heard."

Odhrán raised his arm, about to punch his cousin in the face, when Maddison's hand gripped his hand and stopped him.

"I'm surprised at a man like ye, a lord, listenin' tae such scurrilous gossip," she told Rollo straight to his face. "'Tis also nae a fit subject fer the dinner table fer those who have manners. Look, ye've made me and yer wife blush." She was indeed blushing furiously. "But since ye mention it, I'm more than satisfied in that department, as ye call it. Odhrán's a wonderful husband, in every way ye can think of." The glare she gave Rollo was full of meaning.

She squeezed Odhrán's hand beneath the table, sending tingles up his spine. The topic was embarrassing and vulgar, to be sure, but her words made him feel ten feet tall, even if they were a tissue of lies. He could hardly believe this was Maddison talking about him, defending him hotly against his cousin, and he was deeply grateful.

Rollo seemed to back off a little after that exchange, though he continued to make little digs at Odhrán's expense whenever he got the chance. But to Odhrán's relief, the others simply ignored them. As the meal progressed, he could not help secretly enjoying Maddison's change of demeanor towards him and the way she was dismantling his cousin's tomfoolery easily with her wit and sharp tongue. He had never seen anyone cut Rollo down to size so effectively, and his hatred for his cousin was tempered by amusement at his obvious frustration. She was as good as her promise; she was actually talking to him, saying nice things to him and about him, and helping him. It seemed like a dream come true. He had to remind himself it was not to last.