Highland Vengeance

Chapter 13

Despite the awkward conversation between Macbeth and myself, I did not see him again that day. He was not in his council chambers, his sleeping chamber, nor anywhere else that I could easily discover. It wasn’t until I found my way to the stables that I realized his horse was missing.

“Has Lord Macbeth gone hunting?” I asked the stablemaster.

“No, my lady. He’s gone to the village.”

“The village? Is anything the matter?”

“I wouldn’t know, my lady.”

I smiled at the man. “Your name, sir?”

“Samuel, my lady.”

“Samuel, as far as common knowledge is concerned, are there any problems in the village? Illness or strife?”

“No, not that I know of.”

I nodded. “Very well.”

Perplexed, I went to Kelpie’s stall where I found someone inside brushing my horse. To my great surprise, it was a young girl about sixteen years of age. She had very black hair, just like mine.

“So, you’ve managed to sweet talk a pretty girl,” I said, reaching out to pat Kelpie’s neck.

At the sound of my voice, the girl turned. She jumped a little. “My lady,” she said then gave me an awkward curtsey.

“And how is my boy behaving?”

“I can tell someone has spoiled him, if that’s what you mean. He seems to think he’s the only beast in the barn, always nickering for my attention.”

“Cheating louse,” I told Kelpie, kissing him on his nose.

“Your name, miss?”

“Elspeth, my lady. My father is the stablemaster.”

“Thank you for taking good care of my horse.”

“They told me his name is Kelpie.”

“It is.”

The girl giggled. “I’ll keep an eye on him then, see if he shifts shapes at night into a handsome lad.”

I laughed. “And no doubt, he’d still be nickering behind you.”

The girl laughed.

“If he needs anything, please let me know?”

The girl nodded. “Of course, my lady. It’s good to see you here in the stables. Do you like horses?”

“I do.”

“As do I. Love them, actually. May I show you something?”

I nodded.

“I’ll be back,” she told Kelpie, giving him a pat on the back. She set the brush down then closed the stall door behind her. Waving me along, she led me through the stables and out to the small pasture.

“Since it’s winter, we mostly keep the horses inside, but I like to let them out a bit so they can breathe in clean air. Now, have a look,” she said then pointed to a beautiful white mare who was nosing through some tufts of grass sticking out of the snow.

“Beautiful animal. She’s as white as snow.”

The girl nodded. “I’m hoping to get her and Kelpie acquainted this spring. Maybe by the time you return from Thurso, I’ll have sparked a romance between the two. You have such a fine horse, my lady. I hope to get his stock intermixed.”

“That all sounds very good. Did you say to Thurso?”

“Of course. Once the thaw comes, of course, and you leave to join Lord Thorfinn in Thurso. Lord Macbeth told me he was going to leave the horses here.”

I nodded. “Indeed.”

“They don’t take to the ships well anyway. Thoughtful of Macbeth. He’s a good lord,” she said with a soft smile.

I raised an eyebrow at her. Of course, she would admire him. That was only natural. “Very good. She’s a beautiful mare. I hope you can get a spark between her and my grumpy old warhorse.”

The girl giggled. “He still has some fire left in him. He’s already nickered hello to her a few times. I don’t think they’ll need much convincing.”

I grinned then cast a glance up at the sky. It was getting late. Lulach would be looking for me. “I must go. It was nice to meet you, Elspeth.”

“And you, my lady.”

With that, I returned to the castle. Since Macbeth was out, and Banquo was busy with his men, I decided on a quiet dinner in my chambers with Lulach and Ute. The night passed quietly. After I finally got Lulach to sleep, I lay down. After the morning’s exertions with Banquo, I was exhausted. I fell asleep immediately.

I woke with a start, however, late into the night when I felt someone slip into bed with me. For half a moment, in my sleepy state, I thought it was Gillacoemgain. But the thought was short lived when I remembered Gillacoemgain was gone.

Startled, I sat bolt upright.

“My shieldmaiden sleeps,” Macbeth said, pulling me beside him.

“You scared me.”

“Sorry. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t think you would wake up.”

“You men have worn me out today.”

“Which of us is the worst?”

“Lulach.”

Macbeth laughed. “I must confess that it was you who startled me today. “

“How so?”

“Your sparring session.”

“I needed the practice.”

“I have a master of arms who can work with you.”

“I’m at a disadvantage. I know few here save the servants who came from Cawdor and Banquo and Ute.”

“Then, perhaps, you should make more of an effort to make yourself at home here. You are the Lady of Inverness now, as my mother was before you.”

“I did meet the stablemaster and his daughter today.”

“Yes, Samuel. Good man. He served under my father.”

“His daughter is very knowledgeable about horses.”

“Who now?”

“Elspeth.”

“I don’t recall her,” he said then rolled over and looked deeply at me, his hand resting on my stomach. “I was glad to see that you were feeling well. I was surprised you didn’t let me know you were ready.”

“Ready? I’ve hardly seen you.”

“We already talked about that,” he said, his hand drifting up to the tie on my dress.

My minded drifted back to our wedding night. Things certainly had not gone as planned, and in a way, our marriage was not yet consummated. Maybe Macbeth was right to come. Maybe I had avoided telling him. Now I wasn’t sure. I guess I wanted a couple more weeks to heal, but I could manage now, I supposed.

“You’ll need to go gently,” I whispered. My stomach churned. Nothing had been going right in this marriage so far. Now, at least, maybe we could get things on track.

Macbeth set his lips on mine, giving me the sweetest, softest kiss. I fell into the kindness of it, recalling the visions I’d had of him, the feelings I had harbored for him before we’d met. My king. He could still be that. I just needed to let him into my heart. Setting aside my awkward feelings, I pulled off my nightdress then helped Macbeth slip off his clothes.

I kissed him sweetly, opening my heart and mind to him. My hands slipped across his smooth back, feeling his muscles, allowing myself to enjoy his flesh. I closed my eyes and tried to relish the taste of his skin, ignoring the heady scent of incense in his hair. Andraste had shown him to me for a reason. He was my future. I had to try.

Macbeth crawled between my legs. “I’ll go slowly. Tell me if you feel any pain.”

I nodded.

True to his word, Macbeth made love to me carefully. Tenderly. He rocked in and out of me slowly, kissing my lips, moving with great skill and care. But he didn’t linger long. When he finally found release, Macbeth gently pulled back then lay his head on my chest.

“Now, finally, we are wed,” he said, entwining his fingers in mine.

“Yes.”

“I hope you’re happy here,” he whispered.

“I am. I’m still finding my way.”

“But Banquo is helping. Odd that he never mentioned he knew you.”

“Our meeting was brief, and I was a young, silly girl. Perhaps he didn’t like me.”

Macbeth laughed. “I find that hard to believe. The way he looks at you, it is certain that he liked you. Maybe he wanted to keep his fond memories to himself.”

I bit the inside of my lip. Macbeth was circling the truth but was missing pieces of the puzzle. Guilt nagged at me.

“I understand we are making plans to go to Thurso?” I said, hoping my change of subject was not too apparent.

“When the weather clears.”

“The north will be busy in spring. The farmers, your people, may need your help here.”

“With what?”

“It sometimes floods in the spring. At Cawdor—”

“The commoners have their local thanes. We need not be worried about such small matters.”

I chewed my lip. Gillacoemgain had not seen such troubles as too far below his concern. “If we will not be directly involved in the management of the north, what will we be busy with?”

“Planning.”

“Planning for what?”

“Well, I hope you will be planning for my heir.”

His comment made my stomach quake. “I shall do my best. We have taken the first step,” I said lightly, trying to hide my unsettled feelings.

“You must take care that you don’t exert yourself too much to prevent it.”

“Exert myself?”

“Yes. Your play with Banquo. Don’t you think it would be wise to restrain yourself a bit? You are a new mother, after all. And a lady. It’s not proper. And when you conceive our child, you will want to take care to ensure his safety. We cannot afford any missteps or accidents.”

“Proper is a matter of perspective. But I’ll keep it in mind, my lord,” I said, the flower of hope within me fading.

Macbeth unlaced his hand from mine then rose. Without another word, he redressed. “Get some rest before my uncle’s son disturbs your slumber,” he said then left.