Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

Sunlight poured through the Great Hall the next morning, bathing everything with autumnal golds, and the sky was a sharp, gorgeous blue. Everything was bright, and late birdsong drifted through the window, a fair breeze from the west bringing a hint of the sea. Laughter and song rang out across the tables, his folk light-hearted as they greeted the day.

The fire had not dampened their spirits in the least, and Leo felt a warmth flicker in his chest at that as he gazed around. Then his eyes landed on Agnes, and that flicker turned into an inferno.

The bright sunshine and merriment of the room all turned to ash in comparison to his wife.

Her green eyes flicked to his, bright under the unruly waves of dark hair falling over her forehead, and her lashes fluttered down and then up. Leo felt the corner of his mouth quirk up as she flushed a beautiful color that roses would envy. Because of their guest, he and Agnes were on opposite sides of the table, too far.

So far, Lavinia Wells had dedicated herself to being a pleasant addition to their table. She'd worked hard to engage with Granny Ro and Kristie, and to inquire after the latter's health. She'd also been polite and gracious to the servants, and Fergus had whispered that those who'd shown Lavinia to her rooms had left impressed.

"Said they'd nay inkling that English ladies could be so kind—but it makes sense, as she's Nes's kin."

Leo listened now as Kristie, Granny Ro, and Lavinia made themselves silly over the cat. Even Fergus was charmed by Dusty, laughing as the gray mite climbed over his shoulder. But the creature always returned to Agnes, arching under her touch and gazing up at her with the same adoration that Leo had only seen in dogs.

Whatever else that kitten was, it was a smart creature and knew it owed Agnes its small life.

Leo ran his eyes over the curve of Agnes's neck as she looked down at the cat. He now knew how soft the skin there was, how she would gasp and beg if he kissed her there. How she had surprised him with a hunger and energy to match his own.

Though, after a rousing, early morning tumble in his bed, Leo thought he should not have been surprised. Agnes had been locked away for too long, forced to keep her head down, beaten any time she dared to keep a bit of her fire lit. Rage and heat licked through his veins.

She'd asked him to stay his hand when it came to vengeance against Craeghil and those who dared to hurt her, yet Leo honestly did not know if he could.

"Me Laird," said a loud voice in his ear, and he started with a grunt.

Agnes glanced over with a perplexed look, and a small smile curved her lips. He gave her a mock-stern look, but then, as he turned, he caught Kristie's wide, delighted grin, while Fergus looked a bit misty-eyed and Granny Ro was outright cackling.

Heat rose up his neck. All three of his family had caught him staring at his wife.

"Me Laird, Grierson has come to visit," his guard was saying.

Leo shook his head. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, and then the words had him sitting straight up. All the lazy joy of the morning was quickly doused as he stood up and faced the entrance.

"He wanted to check on the English lady, said she was his guest…"

The guard's words faded into nothingness as Laird Grierson entered the hall, followed by his young, slope-shouldered son, who was looking around, and then Flora.

Leo's fists clenched as he heard her words echo through the seven years since she'd last stepped foot here. He could see the toss of her fair head, the cruel curl of her lip, and the pout as she made demands of a grieving, broken man.

"I cannae say I care for this mask, Leo."

"Ye were always so handsome."

"Ye cannae deny yer future wife this. I must ken what I'll be lying with—a beast or a man."

"What are they doin' here?" came Fergus's voice next to him.

His man-at-arms had not cared for Flora or any of the Griersons, really. And although Fergus never knew what had happened, why the hasty betrothal fell through, he had taken Leo's dislike for outright enmity.

As much as soft-hearted Fergus could despise anyone.

Leo almost laughed, half-wishing he told Agnes the whole story so they could laugh about it later. But the other part of him was sinking into that deep place, dark water submerging his head, and the hall felt far away.

He could hear the screams of Flora as she now walked further into the hall, where she might have been Lady. Wincing and smiling while her father beamed fatuously around as though he had a claim to Briorn. The son—Willy? Well, the lad had gone from a half-asleep boy to a half-asleep man.

"Me Laird, we dinnae have to give them a damned thing," Fergus said in a low voice, but Leo held up a hand. Only, Fergus did not stop, his voice barely lowered as he added, "Nae a quarter, nae a room. Send them off with a flea in their ear, man."

Leo felt a flicker of amusement, but he was focused on Briorn's newest guests. He greeted Grierson coolly, shifting his gaze to Flora and nodding. He did not notice how Flora preened and smiled, a smile that dimmed as she finally realized that he took no notice.

Leo did wonder why Willy started snickering when his father tried to greet him.

"I—enough, William," Grierson barked. "Foolish lad. Go sit." William slunk off as Grierson mopped at his bald pate and nodded at Lavinia. "‘Lo again, Fair Lady Cumbria. When I heard the roads werenae fit for travel, I had to come to check on ye."

To Leo's surprise, Lavinia appeared at his side, and her gaze met his for a moment, full of understanding and allyship. "While I appreciate that, there was no need. I did send word."

"Ach, we must have passed yer messenger on the road," Grierson said, and his beady eyes darted to the table. "And I realized it has been far too long since I'd come to call on ye, MacLarsen. Nay good behavior for neighbors, as we once were."

Next to Leo, Fergus gave a soft snort, and Leo heard Fergus's fist tighten on the pommel of his sword. All of Briorn knew that Grierson had a weakness for gossip and tales. He had not only come for Lavinia—he'd come to see Agnes. They'd expected Grierson, just not so soon. Or for Flora to come along.

"Nothin' tempted yer appetite till now, Grierson?" Fergus asked, a bit too loud, and someone laughed in the hall.

Leo slapped a hand against Fergus's chest, and his man-at-arms shrugged then strode back to Kristie. "Ye are welcome. Now ye saved me a trip of thankin' ye for takin' such care of me maither-in-law." He bit back a sigh. "Come and join us."

Already, the servants were bringing extra chairs, and folk were rearranging themselves. Leo took the chance to move over and sit next to Agnes, resting a possessive hand over hers. She was still pink-cheeked and starry-eyed, looking more like a nymph who'd strayed in from the woodland than a lady.

Her green eyes brimmed with curiosity as she inspected Flora, and Leo realized that besides Kristie, she'd probably met few lasses her age.

Flora still had her golden-hued loveliness, her thick blonde hair touched with red, and wide blue eyes. But to Leo, it seemed a veneer. It caught the eye at first, but the longer one looked, the more of her selfishness and meanness came through.

No longer could her beauty hide her empty heart from Leo. And while Grierson annoyed him, he did not mind the man. The only person he wished to kick out of the hall was Flora. At least he could depend on them not overstaying their welcome—Grierson was too restless for that.

Introductions went around the table, with Grierson staring at Agnes with plain curiosity and Flora offering his wife a shallow nod, her smile tight. Leo saw that and felt a flash of fury, but he swallowed it and looked away. So, he did not see the way Flora's eyes narrowed or the way Agnes faltered under her contempt.

He did sense the change in the air, from a relaxed and merry state to a more stilted, formal conversation, over which Grierson presided. The old man had grown even more vacuous and droning over the past years, and Leo found himself wishing that their relationship had soured more.

"Ach, and we were worried, too, that another storm might've been chasin' on the heels of Fair Lavinia."

Grierson, a widower, gave Agnes's mother a simpering look, and Leo bit back a sigh. He should have known. The man thought Lavinia was a widower as well and thought to take an English bride. He had always had a strange fascination with the English, often hosting nobility and travelers. The previous Laird and Lady MacLarsen used to jest about it, though Leo remembered that it had also irked his father.

"We appreciate the warning, do we nae, Braither?"

Kristie's voice pulled him from his thoughts, and Leo looked over to see Grierson studying him, a look of half-pity, half-wariness on his face.

Of all the fools who might believe the Beast of Briorn stories, Grierson was first in line. His brother George, his man-at-arms, was the true might behind Clan Grierson, yet he was also content to let Grierson be Laird and lead. Truly, the man had no idea how fortunate he was.

"I confess that me mind wandered," Leo said. "Warning for what?"

"Another storm," Grierson said. "Fast-moving and deadly. We received reports and…" His face dimmed. "I did worry that perhaps I should have insisted that me guest wait another day."

Leo appreciated that even as he lifted a shoulder. "I built Briorn Castle to last a thousand years—and withstand all the storms in that time. We'll do just fine."

Kristie snorted. "Storms put out fires, too." Fergus and Leo shot her warning looks, and she put a hand to her lips and then mouthed, "Sorry."

"Aye, just so," Leo finally said, breaking the curious silence. "Perhaps that's why there hasnae been another raid."

Now Kristie gave him a searching look, and he arched an eyebrow.

Might as well take advantage of Grierson's appetite for news, he thought to himself and hoped she could read it in his eyes. A soft nod said that she did.

"Someone raided ye?" Grierson asked, outraged. "After the treaties?"

"We dinnae ken for certain," Leo admitted. "It could have been an accident."

"We've heard nay rumors about raids," Flora suddenly said, loudly, and Leo's hands clenched under the table. The sound of her voice scraped like a knife on raw skin. "Only the rumor about ye taking an English bride."

At that, Leo did look up, his gaze flicking between Grierson and Flora. He realized that Flora was not looking at him, but eyeing Agnes in the same way he'd seen an old tomcat eye a hurt bird once. A throb started at the base of his skull, and he wished he'd listened to Fergus.

"I'm nae sure how ye get yer news," Leo said shortly. "Nor do I think Queen Marianna would take kindly to her Edict being bandied as such."

"Och, aye, we heard it was the wee drake of an English queen," Grierson said with a gruesome chuckle.

Leo's heart lurched. He exchanged a quick glance with Fergus, both alarmed at Grierson's foolhardy words. Queen Marianna was not a woman to be crossed, and it had been said that she considered insults like that as treason. In some ways, it was admirable that she did not suffer fools who sneered at her sex, but in others, she'd made sure to increase the power of the English Crown.

"I agree with the Queen's Edict," Granny Ro spoke up, suddenly and sternly. Everyone looked at her, and she smiled faintly. "For only a queen could make such an edict." She nodded at Agnes and Leo. "A masterful stroke of diplomacy, aye, but one of unity and joy."

Grierson harrumphed with a curled lip. "If ye say so."

"I do." Her eyes flicked at him. "One wonders what else Her Majesty's canny mind might think up."

"I also prefer brides to bloodshed," Fergus spoke up, his tone dry but laced with steel and fury.

Grierson looked between them, abashed, and nodded. "I meant nay offense, of course," he said hastily.

Leo did not answer or even cast him a look. Kristie expertly steered the conversation to news of Grierson's eldest nephew's wedding to a lass from Edinburgh. For a moment, it seemed as though breakfast would continue without further incident.

However, Leo's uncle Donal was called away to deal with a question from some Orsal villagers about the harvest and storms, leaving the seat next to Agnes empty.

Leo glanced away for one moment to listen to something Fergus was murmuring about the villagers' stores. When he turned back, he saw Flora sliding into the empty seat, quick and silent as a viper.

"It is so nice to meet ye," Flora simpered.

Agnes nodded. "A pleasure. Tell me, what was your favorite part of the journey here? Do you ride? Or?—"

"Och, are ye nae just peculiar ?" Flora let out a shrill laugh and ran her eyes over her.

Again, Leo was reminded of that old tomcat cornering a hurt bird. Agnes flushed.

"To think, a silly, little English Lady could be so lucky as to marry a fine Highland laird like Leo Aitken."