Sinking down onto a weathered tree stump, worn smooth over time, she thought of her current predicament. What was she to do now? She had no idea of what direction they were going other than northeast. Her father hadn’t told her much. Only that she needed to marry and he had found her a husband. The union would bring much needed coin to their depleted coffers. Her father hadn’t mentioned the sad state of their financial situation, but she had heard enough conversations betwixt he and others to learn that Auchenford Castle would not remain in Duran hands much longer if they could not find the needed funding to maintain it.
Understanding that was why she hadn’t questioned or pushed back to her father once he had told her of his plans. Not that she could have anyway. She was his daughter and she wasn’t naive enough not to realize a young woman’s place in the world. She was there as a bartering tool. Naught more. When she’d first learned of her place and function as a young lass, she had been upset. Her mother had explained that it was just the way things were. She, too, had been bartered by her father when she was young in exchange for land and coin.
And now Alana saw that this deal struck betwixt her father and her husband-to-be was the same thing.
She only hoped that the man she was to marry was close to her age and pleasant to gaze upon. That he would be a kind husband and a good father to the children that he would no doubt insist she bear him. That last piece was to be expected. Every laird needed an heir.
And for that, she would also do her duty.
It would just be much easier to perform said duty if her future husband wasn’t an old crotchet.
Alana took solace in kenning that even though her parent’s marriage had been arranged, they enjoyed a happy union and a life filled with love.
Footsteps stomping the ground nearby pulled Alana from her thoughts and she stood quickly, trying to quickly brush the mud, dirt, and leaves from her skirts. A quick flash of worry washed over her but quickly diminished as three young lads appeared, stopping short when they noticed her and her overturned carriage.
“Are ye weel, my lady?” The tallest boy of the group asked, stepping forward, concern creasing his forehead.
She nodded. “Aye, I am. Thank ye. I am in need of assistance though.” She waved her hand toward the carriage as if they hadn’t seen it.
He looked from her to the carriage and back again, nodding. “We can bring ye back to the village with us. ’Tis just a short walk.”
“Thank ye. But what of my things?”
“Men will come to retrieve those and bring them to ye in the village.”
“I cannae stay at the village. I need to get to my betrothed.”
The boy scratched his chin and shrugged. “That is no’ for me to say.” He turned on his heel and began walking back the same way he had come from.
Was he going to leave her there? For certs not. “Wait,” she called out.
The lad paused and threw her a look over his shoulder. “The village is this way.” He pointed in front of him.
Sighing, she kenned she wouldn’t get any more information from him. She took a deep breath, swallowing her frustration as she quickly made her way to his side.
The other two lads had already run ahead. Probably to warn the village that an outsider was coming.
“Did ye perchance see two men on yer way here?”
The boy shook his head. “Nay. No one. Why do ye ask?”
She blew out a breath. “I was just trying to locate my guards.”
“I havenae seen anyone. Were they hurt in the accident?”
“Nay. I checked the surrounding area. ’Tis only me here.”
“Sorry, my lady. I am of no assistance for that.”
“’Tis fine. Mayhap they made their way to yer village afore ye began yer journey here,” she said wistfully. “’Tis possible I will see them there.”
His look told her that he didn’t believe her, and quite frankly, she didn’t believe it herself. But she couldn’t fathom why they would have abandoned her. There would for certs be a consequence to pay for such an act. How could she explain to the villagers that her guards had left her without nary a care for her well-being? It was embarrassing. What if they thought she was a horrible person and that the men escaped the first chance they got?
She sighed as she continued to walk beside the lad. She was not dastardly. And she was not some miscreant off the street. Surely, her trunks alone would prove that.
If she wasn’t so dirty and her dress in such a state, they would easily be able to tell. But not in her current condition. They might even think she was lying about the contents of what her trunks contained.
As they neared the village, she clenched her hands into fists. Damn those guards. Every single last one of them. The two that had run, andall the others that left the moment they were out of view of Auchenford. She would ensure her father kenned about what had happened.
