Mary Wine - Bedding the Enemy

Red Stone Castle, McQuade land, Scotland, Spring 1604

L aird

Hed never courted the title. Never considered it something that might be his. Keir McQuade walked through the hallways hed covered a thousand times in the last year alone but today it felt like he crossed the polished stones for the very first time.

Today he was Laird McQuade.

An uneasy peace had settled on his fathers land. One that Keir did not trust. Everyone was watching to see what the new season would bring. His father had wielded power ruthlessly and his two elder brothers followed their sire absolutelymoonlit raids on their neighbors that had resulted in his only sister being stolen away.

Keir snarled softly. Bronwyn was the only member of the family that he held dear. He missed her now that she was wed and that was no mistake. He did not lament the loss of his father or brothers, only the fact that they had been so filled with greed that they could not remain among the living.

Hed run his brother Sodac through with his own hand after hed tried to help their eldest brother poison their sister.

And for what?

To deny her a dowry that her mother had settled on her long ago. Keir shook his head. Three months later, he was still slightly amazed when he opened his eyes in the morning and recalled the events that had left him to inherit the title of Laird McQuade.

He neared his chamber and frowned. Footsteps scuffed on the floor and two younger lads came around the corner with a heavy trunk between them.

Laird. They both ducked their heads, unable to tug on their bonnets or drop their burden. But they both looked at the top of the trunk, avoiding his eyes.

A maid came next with her arms full. Pardon me, laird. She dropped a curtsy without breaking her pace and ducked around him in a flash.

Keir frowned. Covering the last few steps to the doorway of his chamber, he stared inside. The shutters were wide open to allow the new spring air inside. A hint of new plants was in the air but all he felt was a tightening between his shoulder blades.

What goes on here, Gwen?

His mistress was standing near the bed. She tensed, the hand resting on the bedpost tightening. He heard her sigh before she turned to face him.

It is time, Keir.

Is it now? He swept the room with his gaze. All of her personal belongings were missing. Except that I dinnae recall when we decided that ye should leave.

We didna decide because ye avoid the topic every time I bring it up. I decided. She sounded resigned but at the same time there was a core of strength in her that he admired.

Ye got yer monthly courses, didnt ye? He stepped closer, reaching for her, but Gwen moved away from his touch. A soft shaft of pain went through him. Things have changed. Stop taking that concoction of yers and well marry now that my father isna here to tell us no.

You canna marry me, Keir. Gwen offered him a genuine smile. Dinnae talk that way.

Ye love me, Gwen, and I will wed with ye. Im laird now and I dinnae answer to my father any longer. I only refused ye a babe because my father would have seen it born a bastard.

But you do not love me. Her eyes glittered and she drew a deep breath. You are correct, my monthly courses have come and its time for me to go. Before I lose the strength to do what I know in my heart is right.

I didna say any such thing.

Gwen lifted a small hand up to silence his words. Hard resignation drew her face tight. You will not say it because you know I love ye and yere a good man. So it falls to me to speak the words we both know need saying.

Gwen

She interrupted him. You are the laird now. Just like your sister, it falls to you to marry for the benefit of every McQuade. I bring ye nothing.

Yere a fine woman, Gwen, and yed make a good mistress of Red Castle.

She smiled, soaking up the praise, but her resolve never faltered. Thank you. But it remains that you do not love me.

Keir hissed but couldnt deny the truth of her words. Lying about such a thing would cause so much more pain when he was found out. I wish it were otherwise, Gwen. Truly I do.

She moved toward him, reaching up to cup his jaw in her small hands. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears and his throat tightened.

I know that, dear one, but you cannot change what fate has decided. You have treated me so kindly and I was nae pure when I came to you. Her hands shook and she backed away before allowing him to comfort her. Im nae sorry for that, either. I enjoy life and will nae lie about it. I follow my heart for better or worse.

My sisters have married and my mother will be happy to have me under her roof again. Gwen moved toward the door. If yere going to marry a lass that ye dinnae love, Keir, find one that brings good things to the McQuades.

I think ye will bring plenty of good things to this clan as my wife.

Gwen paused in the doorway. Nae, Keir. I have never been a coward. Ye would have become bored with me in a fortnight if that were so. I do love you and even though it hurts to part with ye, love is sweet enough to send me looking for it. When I swell up with my first child, I want to see love in the eyes of the father and nae just the tenderness that ye give me. But I thank ye for it and love ye enough to set ye free to try and find a lass that yer heart softens for. Love is nae something to miss in this life, if ye can help it.

She stepped back, into the doorway. Remember that, Keir. Remember that I only want the best for us both. I have to leave ye because yere too kind a man to set me out and Ill nae be the mistress that ye leave a noble bride for. Shell have little choice in the matter of who she weds. No one should be unkind to her. When ye bring a bride here, this room should be waiting for her.

She was right. Keir hated it, but she was correct. Hed never hurt her by putting her aside.

All right, Gwen. Ye have always had a way of pushing me when I need it. He followed her, noticing the shiver that crossed her fair skin. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek. She leaned her face into his hand, a soft smile turning up her lips. But yell take a pair of horses with ye.

I will not. Her voice was hard as stone now.

Ye will. She narrowed her eyes but he grinned at her. Her spirit was something he had always been drawn to. And yell take a few other things, including some silver.

I am nae a whore.

I didna say ye were. I told ye Id wed with ye, today if ye like. She glared at him. Gwen never let his size intimidate heranother trait that he liked about her. She shook her head, refusing him.

Yell take the horses and some sheep, since yere set on this course of leaving me to find love. Im going to make very sure that ye dinnae end up marrying because yere wondering how to keep food on the table.

He rubbed her cheek one last time. Promise me, Gwen, that yell come to me if ye need something?

She reached up and hugged him tightly, her body shaking just a tiny bit. I will, Keir. I promise.

She ducked out the door, her steps fading down the hallway. Keir clenched his hands into fists, forcing himself to turn around. The chamber was suddenly empty, more devoid of life than hed ever thought it might be.

Oh aye, being laird was a burden, to be sure.

But it was also a duty, and Gwen was correct. He needed to marry for the clanfind himself a wife who came with powerful relatives and maybe even a good dowry. Love was for common men, most of them never realizing how rich they truly were to have the power of free choice. Being laird came with power but responsibility so heavy a man could feel his own knees buckle at times.