Page 38 of Highland Dove

Duncan put the bird back on the post. “It means that somethin’ must have happened and Mari wasna able to do anythin’ but send the dove. I feel we need to go. Pack our weapons and get the men together. We will leave for the MacKeefe camp anon. The sooner we get to MacLean Castle the better. And I just hope that we willna be too late.”

Chapter 14

The next day was Hogmanay. It was usually a festive, happy time, bringing in the New Year. However, for Mari, it was the worst day ever. Tonight was the night when Eideard would take her to his bed, and she had run out of ways to stop him. With Angus and Emmaline locked up, she had to do whatever Eideard said, or he might kill them. If that happened, she would never forgive herself.

She’d been cleaning the castle all day long. Now, she was on her knees scooping the ashes out of the hearth in Eideard’s room. It was customary to clean out all of one’s debts, to make room for bringing in new wealth and luck for the New Year. Eideard was superstitious. That is why he was having her do this, not to mention why he planned on taking her virginity at midnight when the bells tolled.

She was sure Duncan would have tried to rescue her by now so she didn’t understand where he was. Then again, she hadn’t been able to send him her last note, telling him how to get into the castle.

It didn’t matter, she decided, scooping the ashes into a bucket. Eideard had most of his men posted in the dungeon by the tunnel. If Duncan and his army came in through the grate, they would be killed immediately. If they tried to get into the castle any other way, Eideard’s men on the battlements and at the front gate would take them down. They didn’t have a chance. Eideard had already won before the battle even began.

“Eideard requests yer presence down in the great hall,” came a small voice from behind her. She turned to see a serving girl standing there.

“Well, I’m no’ goin’,” she said sadly, brushing off her hands, leaving the bucket at her feet.

“He’s brought Angus and Duncan’s mathair into the great hall for the celebration.”

“He has?” she asked, curious as to why he’d do that. “All right, I’ll join ye in a minute.” After dumping the ashes and cleaning up, Mari made her way to the great hall. The place was crowded when she walked in.

“Come, sit with me for the feast,” said Eideard, appearing from nowhere, escorting her to the table. She walked across the hall seeing that Angus and Emmaline still had their hands and feet chained together.

“I dinna feel much like eatin’ or even celebratin’.”

“Why is that?” he asked as they sat down at the dais. “Because yer precious Duncan hasna showed up to save ye? Well, he willna be joinin’ us tonight. I have enough guards posted to stop him and his men from even steppin’ foot inside the castle. Tonight will be our time to celebrate our marriage and it will end with our consummation durin’ the ringin’ in of the bells at midnight. I even brought Angus and his mathair here to witness the happy event.”

“I can hardly wait,” she muttered, picking up her cup to drink. She noticed Harris watching her from the opposite end of the hall. Their gazes met and then he slipped back into the shadows and disappeared.

“Everyone lift yer cups and drink to the night when I will finally make Mari my wife,” shouted Eideard. “Tonight we will consummate our marriage, and no one is goin’ to stop us.”

Mari was so nervous and upset that she barely remembered what they ate for the meal. She kept thinking about Duncan and looking over to the door, hoping he would show, but he didn’t.

The meal was followed by loud bagpipe music and drums, making her head pound. Eideard spun her around dancing until she became dizzy. The night went too fast and before she knew it, Eideard was dragging her to the door.

“Wait, where are we goin’?” she asked, looking over at Angus and Emmaline as they passed by, feeling more fearful than she ever had before.

“It’s almost midnight,” said Eideard. “We’re goin’ to get naked and finally couple.”

“Nay, I dinna want to couple with ye.” She tried to pull away from him, but he flung her over his shoulder. Angus jumped to his feet and two guards pushed him back onto the bench. “Angus!” she cried out, but Eideard reached up and slapped her rear and chuckled.

“No one, no’ even that big brute can help ye now. Ye are my wife and in a few minutes, everyone will ken it. I want ye to scream out loud in passion when I thrust myself into ye.”

Tears dripped down her cheeks as he entered the solar and slammed the door behind them. He flung her onto the bed and she landed with a whoosh of air from her lungs.

“I have waited so long for this,” he said, removing his weapon belt and dropping it at his feet. Then he pulled off his clothes and stood there naked, looking like he was about to stalk her.

“Leave me alone,” she cried, scooting back on the bed as he leaned over and crawled toward her.

“Ye’ll no’ deny me yer pleasures again.” He reached out and ripped her bodice, leaning his body over her as he pushed up her skirt, preparing to enter her. She couldn’t move under his weight.

“I love ye, Duncan. I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes and turning her head, crying as she heard the sound of the bells ringing in the New Year. She expected to feel Eideard plowing into her next but, instead, she heard the sound of someone kicking in the door.

“What the hell?” Eideard turned to look. Mari opened her eyes and, to her surprise, Duncan stood there with his feet firmly planted. His sword in one hand, he gripped a bottle and a bag in the other.

“I heard it’s guid luck for a dark-haired man to be first-foot on Hogmanay, and come bearin’ gifts.” He threw the bottle on the floor along with the bag. The glass broke and the smell of whisky filled the air. “I brought some coal, a wee bit of black bun, and some whisky. Now get off of my lass or I’ll stab my blade right through yer heart.”

“How did ye get in here?” When Eideard tried to get off the bed, Mari slipped out from under him and ran over to the window to get out of the way.

“I saw yer little welcomin’ party at the tunnel entrance in the dungeon.” Duncan walked in slowly with his sword extended. “Too damn bad they’re the ones occupyin’ the cells now.”