Chapter Five
Gavin wasn’t at all surprised to find Beatrice had disappeared halfway through the night. The woman was as puzzling as she was enticing. He suffered yet another dance with a woman who kept stepping on his feet since she concentrated too much on his face. “I apologize. I do not know what has gotten into me. I am usually a good dancer.”
Thankfully, the song ended and he could escort the now pouting woman back to where she’d been sitting. “I am so winded. Fresh air would be nice.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
“Ah, my uncle calls,” Gavin exclaimed and dashed away.
Alasdair peered down his nose at the people gathered then over to the dancers. “I expected more entertainment than just your escapade with the feisty girl, Beatrice.”
Gavin pressed his lips to keep from laughing. “What about the red-haired guardsman? I caught him slipping out a side door with someone unexpected in tow.”
Straightening, Alasdair searched the room. “Pray tell, who did he leave with?”
Settling into the chair next to his uncle, Gavin motioned a nearby serving woman for ale. “I find it more amusing to allow you the opportunity to figure it out for yourself, Uncle.”
Although Alasdair scowled, his eager gaze continued searching the room until widening. “Mullen’s wife?” The corners of his lips lifted as he leaned forward, chin resting on his right hand. “If Mullen catches wind of this, the man will not be subtle.”
It mattered not to Gavin what happened, but what he hoped was to allow Alasdair to become distracted enough to not guard his words. “Uncle, do you honestly feel I should marry soon?”
Mullen stood and trekked across the room toward the garden doors. Alasdair waved a dismissive hand to Gavin. “You should marry. Our family must keep the title.”
“If I were to meet with misfortune, there is always Sinclair and if we are both overcome and killed, you or Uncle John would take it.”
Alasdair tracked Mullen as the older man now headed to the guards’ table. “John will not have a male heir. He and Alice no longer share a bed. I won’t marry. Even if I were to...” He stopped speaking as Mullen’s wife meandered from the back of the room. The red-haired guard was not with her.
Mullen hurried to her and seemed to be questioning his wife.
“I wonder if the guard is wise enough to stay absent?” Alasdair exclaimed with exaggerated glee.
Gavin rolled his eyes. “I have plenty of time then. No hurry.”
When the couple went to sit, not seeming either angry or happy for that matter, Alasdair finally turned his attention back to Gavin.
“The Duke of Aldorf has petitioned to the crown for your title to be given to his own brother. The brother, you know, has tried to kill him several times. He grows tired of sleeping with an open eye, I suppose. With enough coin, his brother can buy even the duke’s closest guards to slit his throat.”
The entire business of titles and such was of little importance to Gavin. Not worth it in his opinion. However, the title was a matter of much pride within the family since it had been awarded to Gavin’s grandfather for bravery.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“There is no specific reason, dear boy. We believe the threat is not strong. Not yet. However, once you sire a male heir, the duke will lose ground. Until you sire a boy child, one of his strongest weapons is the lack of a new direct heir after you.”
Rage surged and Gavin clenched the tankard. “Father has only been dead a few weeks.”
A sigh escaped Alasdair and his brows lowered. “I miss my brother dearly. If anything, I expected him to live the longest. I understand you mourn Gavin. However, your duties as Lord and titled Duke of Selkirk come first. You must produce an heir with haste.”
In essence, whether he loved the woman he married or not mattered little. What was important was to marry and to produce a male child. The woman would have to be prepared to have a second child in short order if the first was not a male child. Gavin scanned the room. Not seeing anything, his mind clouded. “When did you plan to tell me all this?”
“The true reason for this gathering. The reason every family brings lasses from near and far is because word has been spread. You will be choosing a wife soon.”
Now he understood the reference by Beatrice to it being his “coming out party.”
“Uncle. You should have told me upon my arrival. Why all the secrecy?”
Finally, Alasdair looked to his brother. “He will be cross upon learning I’ve told you all this. We know you. You are so much like him. Like your father. You will not be forced into anything. Your father requested we help you marry as soon as he passed. He also told us you would resist it.”
Alasdair lifted a shoulder. “I can’t keep secrets.”
“My father planned this?”
“No. The gathering was my idea. Oh look.” The red-haired guard entered and looked around the room until finding Mullen’s wife. The woman fidgeted, refusing to make eye contact. Mullen jumped to his feet and rushed to where the guard stood.
“Now, it’s about to get interesting,” Alasdair exclaimed.
Gavin searched out Beatrice’s brother. The large male remained at the guards’ table. He stood and made his way to intercede between the guard and Mullen.
The night was about to become interesting, indeed.
***
“No. I don’t believe you.” Beatrice collapsed into the cushions of the chair she sat upon. “He asked for us to be married?”
Her mother practically floated across the floor. “Aye, he did. Most formally. He had Oscar present his request to your father.”
Of course, her mother failed to see that neither she nor Beatrice were included in the decision. “I don’t want to marry him. I’ll have to live far away.”
“It's not that far,” her father grumbled and frowned at her. “The Lord has requested we return tomorrow for the exchange of vows.”
“Tomorrow!” Beatrice jumped to her feet. “No. I refuse.” She looked to Oscar for help, her spirits boosted when he came to stand beside her.
“Why can’t we ask for a fortnight?” her brother interceded. “Beatrice needs time to grow used to the idea. I can take her to his castle when the time is right.”
“She will marry and be bedded tomorrow and that is final. The Lord already questions our fealty. This will prove our loyalty to him and ensure your mother and I have a place to grow old without fear of being sent away on a whim.” Her father refused to listen to anything more. Instead, he pointed at them both. “Oscar, you can travel with your sister to Hardigg Castle. Vow loyalty and join His Grace’s guard if you wish. But the marriage will happen.”
This time, it was her mother who looked stricken. One hand over her mouth, her wide eyes looked to her husband. “Both...both my children...are to leave?”
“Enough.” Although the command was quiet, there was no room for argument.
Beatrice’s father left the room, her mother tagging behind, no doubt, to try to talk their father out of sending Oscar away. Although Beatrice was close to her mother, Oscar was definitely the favorite.
Unable to stop herself, Beatrice stood and threw the nearest thing, a cup, across the room. “This is ridiculous. Why would the man decide to marry me of all people? There were so many willing lasses throwing themselves at him.”
The kiss. It had to be. Why had she been so foolish as to walk out in the garden with him? Obviously, after the effects of it, he’d not been thinking clearly. She looked to Oscar, who remained quiet, his eyes on the fire in the hearth. “Is there a possibility he’ll change his mind by tomorrow?”
“No.”
Her brother was not helping by brooding. She stalked over to him and punched his shoulder. “Are you going to Hardigg Castle? You don’t have to.”
His light brown eyes lifted to her and in them, she saw vulnerability. Something she’d rarely seen in her strong, brave brother. “I was to be lead guard here. At Hardigg Castle, I will have to prove myself again.”
“There is no question about it then,” Beatrice said. “You will remain here. However, you must help me find a way out of marrying that...that rogue.”
In a very uncharacteristic way, Oscar stood and enveloped her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and chuckled. “Dear sister, the man is so taken by you that I will have to say there isn’t a way to convince him to change his mind. If I had to pick a husband for you, it would be someone who will come to love you and will treat you well. I do believe Gavin Mereworth is that man.”
To keep him from seeing her tears, she pushed her face into the rough fabric of his tunic. He was right, of course. Not about Gavin being the man for her, but that, in a case like this, it was not a horrible scenario. Admittedly, she was past the age to marry and had put her father off long enough.
“I will stop being a ninny then and prepare my things.” After wiping her nose on his tunic, Beatrice stepped away and smiled up at her brother. He looked down on his clothing with a horrified expression. “Oh, don’t act so annoyed. I’m sure you’ve had much worse spewed upon you.”
When he chuckled and nodded, she went to her chambers to prepare.
“Everything is packed for you lass.” Her maid opened a large truck that was filled with her clothes. “There is another smaller one there.” The older woman pointed to the wall.
“I don’t suppose you’re coming with me?”
The older woman shook her head. “My husband and I will remain here. However, your mother has requested I send Grisilda with you,” she replied, referring to her daughter who annoyed Beatrice. Grisilda had a screechy voice and was much too prying.
“Oh.” She could not think of anything good to say about it, so Beatrice let out a breath. “Thank you for everything.”
“I bid you farewell lass. May you be blessed with many young.”
The woman shuffled away, sniffing and wiping her eyes, as Beatrice stood dumbfounded. Why would anyone think a bunch of smelly children would be considered a blessing? She huffed and sat at her dressing table to unbraid her long hair.
The next day came with bright sunshine, gay bird song and a cheerful smile from her mother as she peered down at Beatrice. “Time to rise, my beautiful child. It’s your wedding day.”
That her parents had very little time to plan her nuptials didn’t seem to bother them at all. They were probably too excited to be rid of their hellion daughter to grumble about it. Good thing the timing was short otherwise a parade from the village would have been organized.
Beatrice attempted to bat her mother away. “Your cheerfulness hurts my eyes. I am not in the mood to rise early today.”
“Nonsense.” The blankets were pulled away and her mother proceeded to pull her by the arms to sit. “Several village women will be arriving shortly. It is fortunate that Rose has a new gown she just made for Ina. Something good comes out of the misfortune of her intended leaving with the woman from the traveling peddler caravan. Of course, the poor girl wants nothing to do with the dress...”
As her mother continued rattling off the story of the gown, Beatrice managed to drink a cup of tea and trudge across the room to sit at her dressing table.
Within moments, as if by magic, she was surrounded by her mother’s friends. They tugged at her hair, pinched her cheeks, dabbed her with powders and stuck flowers in her hair.
Two women who acted as if they carried God’s very own sandals brought the gown in. Their faces reverent, they presented the gown to a roomful of accolades.
Rose beamed as she turned to Beatrice. “It’s meant to be. The beautiful shades of autumn leaves are the perfect complement to your eyes, hair and complexion.”
Since when had Rose become poetic? Beatrice pushed a flower at her temple out of the way to study the gown.
It was hideous.
To be fair, she’d never liked the color red. Her hair, complexion and eyes would not be brought out by the shade of crimson. Well, perhaps her eyes would, if she were honest. Perhaps a tear or two had been shed the night before after she’d gone to bed and her eyes felt very irritated at the moment. At least the neckline would keep her from accidentally spilling, unlike the dress from the night before.
At Rose expectant expression, Beatrice imitated the other women’s initial reaction by gasping. “It’s stunning. Thank you.”
Beatrice was guided to stand and step into the gown, which was pulled up. Finally, the fastenings were tightened until she wondered how long it would be before passing out would be the only option.
“You look beautiful, dear.” Her mother’s face appeared behind her as Beatrice studied her reflection. The woman in the glass did not resemble her in the least. She had been painted, tugged and tucked. They’d changed her to look more like a gypsy than a bride. However, she had to admit the look was rather entertaining.
Hopefully, Gavin would be appalled and change his mind. She bit her bottom lip. No, it would embarrass her family. It was time to be mature and accept her fate. She was to become the Lady of Selkirk, married to Lord Gavin Mereworth, Duke of Selkirk.
“I hope he is a strong man who will be able to keep you in line,” her mother mumbled with brows drawn. “I pray for him.”
There were whispers of agreement and Beatrice gave her mother a flat look. Eyes hooded, she let out a breath. “Women should not be tamed by men, but rather accepted and given freedoms to be themselves.”
Rose patted her arm. “Some women need to be tamed, dear. You cannot hope to continue in your wild ways. You will be a lady. Someone who, at all times must maintain decorum so as not to embarrass her husband.”
Why did the woman have to go and make the day worse? If ever there was a reason for Gavin not to marry her that was it. As soon as they arrived at the keep, she would inform him of the huge mistake he was about to make.