Breckin rose from his seat and stood before the king. “Whatever trickery this is, I better not be saddled with a hellion or, God forbid, a shrew.”
Alexander bellowed with laughter. “Trust in me, Breckin, you will be more than pleased with your wife. On the morrow, there will be a feast at the evening meal where you will meet the ladies. The bouts will be discussed and we shall move forward quickly. I intend to have the marriages solidified before I leave for England. You will stay here in the castle until after the sacraments are performed by the priest. Now, leave me.”
He walked to the door and when he closed it behind him, Breckin stood by the wall in complete despair at what had just passed between him and the king. Nowhere was it written that they had to pay the tithe on their land to the king but that did not mean it wasn’t true. Perhaps he should seek Lord Lennox and find out exactly what had been stipulated when his grandfather had been given the land. He’d always ensured a pound of wax was delivered to Lord Lennox rightafter Saint Stephen’s Day as was agreed upon when his grandfather had purchased the land, but he never considered that they also owed tax to the king.
“Laird Buchanan?” Edmund approached. “Are you finished with your meeting with the king?”
“Aye.” He couldn’t bring himself to speak of what transpired, but he was certain that the king’s chamberlain was probably privy to what the king demanded.
“Come, let us get you settled in the chamber with the other lairds. You shall be here for at least a sennight or possibly longer.” Edmund motioned him forward.
Before they reached the chamber where the men stayed, Breckin stopped him. “I need to collect my belongings and see that my horse is settled at the hostelry. This night, I will return to stay in the chamber.”
“Very well, Milord.” Edmund bowed to him and when he straightened, he chuckled. “There is a fine inn down the lane where you might find a stronger drink than ale. I suspect you might need a good stiff dram…”
Breckin agreed. He wanted to dull his senses a wee bit and to forget even momentarily what the king demanded. He hastened to the exit of the castle and passed the gate without so much as a glance at the guardsmen.
Outside, the early evening air placated his angst and affront. Breckin did not appreciate being put in such a position—having to take a wife—to make reparations for something unknown to him. He supposed, though, that taking a wife in lieu of having to pay a hefty tax was somewhat of a blessing. Recent harvests had barely sustained them throughout the winters. He only hoped that the woman he’d marry was worthy and that they were well-matched.
*
The king’s antechamberwas a flurry of activity. Breckin stood just inside the door and awaited the night’s revelry, not that he wanted to celebrate the thought of his marriage. Try as he might to be enthusiastic about the brides or sparring with the lairds, he was bored and anxious to get back on the road to Buchanan land. Twice now he refrained from yawning. Breckin wasn’t one to spend the night mingling with lords or being entertained. He hoped the night would end early enough to afford him a good night’s sleep.
Then he noticedher—the woman he’d seen in the village the day before—the woman he’d tried to rescue from the thief. She appeared even more beautiful than she had at the market. In a long, flowing, cream-colored gown that fit her to perfection, she walked with such an elegance he’d never seen in a woman before. He wasn’t the sort of man who shied away from women, but since their run-in, he wanted to make a good impression. As he approached, he stood aside when she helped an older man whom he assumed was her father, setting him in a chair near the buttery.
She stepped forward and fetched a drink for the man; her eyes widened when she took him in. “You. What areyoudoing here?”
He bowed but kept his expression devoid of mirth. She didn’t sound pleased to see him again. “Mistress, ’tis good to see ye here. I hope ye did not go after that lad, the one who thieved your coins.”
“Indeed I did. If you had only taken a moment to ask him why he tried to thieve from me, you would have realized that the poor lad was only hungry.”
“Ye ask for trouble with that brashness, lass.” He couldn’t keep the irritation from his tone because she put herself in peril. “Hungry or not, ’tis unlawful to thieve.”
“So you uphold the law at all times? Cast the first stone, sir—”
“I cast no stones, only truth and honor.” Breckin wanted to laugh at her absurd view of thievery but instead, he grunted at her insult. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to wring her bonny neck or kiss her. She irkedhim but at the same time charmed him. “Aye, I sin, as I am certain ye do as well. If ye like, we could sin together.” He flashed a grin to her but she seemed not to get the hint of his jest. A maiden, then. He continued, “I am gladdened ye are unharmed. Ye could have been more grateful and offered courtesy for my assistance and—”
She busied herself in pouring a cup of ale for the older man and turned her back to him. Still, he heard her say, “Your intrusion. No one asked you to save me.”
“I could not stand aside and not give aid to a fair maiden such as yourself.” Breckin watched her walk away. How such a bonny woman irritated him, and yet, captivated him at the same time, he couldn’t reason. If only she didn’t speak, he could gaze upon her loveliness and be content. He appreciated the sultry cadence of her voice, but it was the words with the slight bite to them that he disliked.
The side door panel opened and Alexander entered. He almost had to duck beneath the threshold as tall as he stood. The queen followed him to the dais. Breckin shuffled back and leaned against the window casement ledge, thankful that finally, the evening diversion had begun so he could get it over with.
Alexander cleared his throat and motioned to all. “This is a day of import, and I am pleased to see you here. This evening, we shall have a feast with dancing and merriment. I will give you this time to greet each other and become familiar. Before the night ends, the selections will be discussed and finalized on the morrow. I bid you to eat and drink.”
Breckin stayed near the window and watched the bustle of servants open the doors to the great hall. Almost everyone in the antechamber made their way toward the large adjacent room. It was lit with large candelabras and the glow shone on the faces of those already making for the dance. The plucking of the harpist sent a melodic ambiance through the chamber but did nothing to allay his mood.
A servant passed by and Breckin snatched a cup of ale from him. He wasn’t about to join in the revelry and considered the night a complete waste of time. Still, he would partake of the king’s ale and dull every single one of his senses.
“Why are you standing here by yourself?”
He glanced up to find the queen standing nearby. “Your Grace…” Breckin bowed. “Ah, I was but sipping my ale. How are ye? Alexander tells me that ye are expecting a bairn. On behalf of all the Buchanans, we are delighted to welcome our future king.”
Margaret giggled. “How presumptuous of you, Laird Buchanan. Perhaps we shall have a princess. Now tell me, was it my imagination or did I see you and Mistress Eva rowing by the buttery earlier?”
Eva? The market woman’s name was Eva. It was a lovely name, not that he wanted to care about it. “Nay, Milady, not rowing but simply having a difference of opinion.”
The queen stepped beside him, out of the way of the dancers on the floor. “Alexander tells me that you are against this marriage. Is this true?”
