“Would you have me sleep on the street, then?”
“Alainn, I have only coin for one room,” Cookson complained. “Sure, ye can’t be intendin’ to stay with Pierce and me. Not in the same room!”
When she’d seen Cookson leaving Castle O’Brien in the cart to collect supplies in the city that day, she’d taken the opportunity to escape and jumped into the back of the wagon. Cookson and Pierce, the captain of the guard’s son, had attempted to discourage her, but she would not be dissuaded. Once they arrived in Galway, they were reluctant to share a room with her.
“I suppose it would please you if we were to sleep out on the street?” Pierce snapped impatiently.
“At the moment, Pierce, I shouldn’t care if I sleep on the floor or in the same bed as the two of you. I simply wish for a place to lay my weary head.”
They realized there would be no reasoning with the young woman. Once settled in the small bedchamber, however, the two young men remained ill at ease, their faces ruddy with uncertainty and embarrassment at sharing a room with her.
“You can both stop acting so confoundedly awkward. I have known you lads all my life and consider you to be my valued friends. On the morrow, when I am warmed and rested, when my mind is clearer, I will seek employment and shelter.”
“And what of Killian?” Pierce asked brusquely.
“What of him? He’s off fetching his intended.”
“So you will simply disappear from his life without explanation? He will surely search for you.”
“Aye, Killian is a determined man, and he well loves you,” Cookson agreed.
“I will write a letter of farewell to him. I shall tell him I am most pleased he will soon marry a noble woman, someone who is his equal. I shall insist he has my blessing and my good wishes. I will encourage him to leave Castle O’Brien and go off to rule as chieftain of his mother’s clan. And I will explain I have ambitions of my own. It will surely dissuade him from searching for me. You’ll deliver the letter for me, won’t you, Cookson?”
“I am not certain I care for that task, Alainn. But, aye, I will do so.”
Her deep sigh was audible. She retrieved a small portion of paper and a quill pen from within the pocket of her frock, sat down on the bed, and began composing the letter.
“What are these ambitions you speak of?” Pierce demanded, interrupting her.
“Perhaps I will set off by ship to a far-off land,” she mused.
“You couldn’t!” Cookson blurted. “It wouldn’t be safe!”
“An unmarried woman cannot travel alone, it is unheard of! You couldn’t board a ship unaccompanied, a young...beautiful...woman,” Pierce stammered. “You would be accosted, violated. Would that not be considerably less appealing than being forced to wed someone you don’t care for?”
“But it’s to be the swine handler or the aged Widower McLean,” Cookson reminded him. “They are the O’Brien’s choices for her.”
“Well, you could marry her then, Cookson. Or I—” his young face flushed deep red. He cleared his throat and tried to avert his eyes from the bed.
Perhaps if she had been feeling less miserable, she would have found humor or gratefulness in the young man’s offer, but she felt neither.
“Though your generously charitable offer is very much appreciated, Pierce,” she said, her voice chilly, “I will not be marrying anyone. Only when or if I should ever desire it.”
They left her to her dark mood and the unpleasant task of inking Killian’s letter, and hovered near the doorway. Tears slid slowly down her cheeks as she wrote the words of farewell to her only love. She dabbed at her eyes, neatly folded the paper, and handed it to Cookson. He kindly passed her his handkerchief.
“But in seriousness, Alainn, where will you go?” he asked, his voice tender with concern. “We’ll all miss you. What shall we do without our healer?” Alainn affectionately patted his round cheek.
“I am confident the chieftain’s new physician will be most adequate in his abilities.” Cookson’s face told her he believed otherwise.
“I shall worry much regarding your safety, Alainn.”
“Sure I will find employment in an alchemist’s shop. I am told there are more than a few here. My knowledge of herbs, potions, and remedies is vast. I am confident I will manage to provide for myself, should I choose to stay in this city.”
“It is my understanding that many young women alone in a city are forced to seek shelter and employment in a brothel,” Pierce cautioned.
She did not respond, nor glance at the two men, but wearily chose a pillow and blanket from the bed, and slowly lowered herself down on the chair, hoping to finally rest. The young men insisted she take the bed and pulled their chairs near the window. She might well have offered them the bed, for she slept not a wink, weeping every time she allowed herself to dwell on being forever parted from Killian.
She thought even now, as she stood on the beach, her swollen eyes bore the evidence of her many tears. She hoped Pierce had finally given up his search for her and gone to meet Cookson. Surely they would have left the city by now.
The sun was moving westward, and it was time for the children to think about going home. Two parents came to fetch their children and offered her coins for keeping them occupied all day. She had not known where she would spend this night and thought there may now be enough coin to pay for a room at an inn. Her mood suddenly lighter, she hummed a tune as she and the children skipped their way toward the wharf.
As they got closer, Alainn saw a cluster of people on the docks surveying the fishing vessels in the harbor. They were finely dressed and obviously of wealth and position. A middle-aged man and woman walked arm in arm. Upon seeing the remainder of the crowd, Alainn turned abruptly, lowered her head, and began walking in the other direction. The children followed her without breaking stride, clearly thinking it was a new game. Her heart beat at an unhealthy rate, and she quickened her pace. Finally she was clear of the group and looked up. Pierce was heading straight toward her, his face dark with anger and frustration.
“Pierce!” she hissed. “Why have you not left with Cookson?”
“He has not set off yet! He’s awaiting our return!” he shouted.
“Shhh!” she shushed loudly, moving toward him and lowering her voice. “I told you I have no intention of returning with you. Go to where you are to meet him and be gone. Sure your father and Cook will be fit to be tied.”
“We have agreed we cannot leave you here in this city alone. ’Tis a dangerous place for anyone, most especially a woman.”
“I am not alone, Pierce. I will be kept safe.”
“And you believe these wee wains are going to keep you safe from harm then?” he demanded, his voice rising with his anger.
He looked past her to the docks, and his face softened with relief. Alainn lunged for his hand, but it was too late. He waved enthusiastically and called out to them. Alainn started walking quickly away from him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the docks, the young boy still clamped to her back.
When she resisted, he became most displeased and snarled, “Alainn McCreary, we are taking this matter to Killian. You know well enough what his opinion will be. You’ll not be stayin’ here in the city alone!”
Alainn had never heard Pierce use such a sharp, demanding tone with anyone before, and certainly not with her since he’d taken a fancy to her years ago. The children immediately came to her defense. One of the young boys kicked him hard in the shin with his bare foot. Two others joined in. Another leapt upon his back punching him in earnest, while a small girl grabbed hold of his hair with both hands and pulled with a mighty fury. Pierce let go of Alainn’s arm, yelping in pain, trying to dislodge the children.
“You wee buggers, what are you about?”
“Don’t you hurt our Lainna!” one child lisped. Alainn closed her eyes. Only Killian had ever referred to her by that fond name.
As the children continued with their attack on Pierce, the young boy on Alainn’s back leaned over and threw himself upon Pierce. His legs, still tucked safely in place, unbalanced him. He missed Pierce altogether and pulled Alainn with him to the ground. They landed with a thud as a sizeable wave crashed over them. Alainn held onto the boy as the wave tried to pull them back into its depths, her scream drowning in a mouthful of briny water. She came up coughing and sputtering, spitting sand and seawater. The child shook off her hands and scampered onto the beach.
Alainn glared at Pierce and flushed with anger. She picked up a large handful of the wet sand and threw it at him. The children delighted in this and, amid peals of laughter, splashed the young man with feet and hands, hurling fistfuls of sand and pushing him farther into the water.
“Stop it, ye wee hooligans!” Pierce ordered, but his fury was clearly directed toward Alainn. “Make them stop this at once!” In reply, Alainn grabbed more sand and aimed for his face. Pierce swept her legs out from under her.
“Pierce? Alainn? Whatever are you doing?”
It was Rory, one of the chieftain’s sons. He was crouched at the end of the pier, looking down on them with amusement. “Children, that’s enough,” he said with authority. The children stopped their splashing and ran to stand behind Alainn and Pierce.
Alainn managed to get to her feet with little dignity and half-heartedly brushed dirt from her sodden clothes. Her hair was dripping wet and matted with sand. She gingerly removed a piece of seaweed from across her face and attempted to smile. Her teeth were caked with grit. She coughed and spat sand from her mouth.
“My word, the wee urchins are filthy! And the entire lot of them wears no shoes, not even that young woman!”
Alainn looked past Rory and her face flamed red at the sight before her. Rory was not alone. Behind, at a safer distance on the pier, stood the older couple with a young woman. They watched her with unhidden disapproval. Riley was with them, accompanying another young woman. Both women had bright red hair and matching snooty expressions. As they leaned in to whisper to each other, Killian was revealed, his betrothed on his arm. It was the woman from Alainn’s dreams.
She was tall, willowy in form, with lovely dark curly hair, and she was indisputably beautiful. Alainn met Killian’s eyes and found she could no longer breathe. She turned swiftly toward the children. Pierce had yet to answer Rory’s query.
One of the redheads made a sound of disgust as she glanced at the children. “Look at their clothes; they are scarcely better than rags!” Her sister giggled nastily.
Alainn turned back, stepping forward to give her opinion of their rudeness, when Killian’s intended walked closer. Alainn looked down in embarrassment.
“That looks most enjoyable, walking on the sandy seashore with no shoes,” the woman said in a thick Scottish brogue. “Why, I haven’t done that since I was a wee child! How I would love to do so again. Or maybe even a swim, the water looks lovely and appealing.”
“Sure no one will stop you if you wish to join us.” The impulsive words were out of Alainn’s mouth before she had thought them through. She began to untangle her lengthy locks, eyes lowered.
“You wouldn’t dare think of it, Mary. You would ruin your dress!”
“Och, I’ve at least a dozen just like this one.”
“Don’t you dare consider it, Mary MacDonald! I forbid it!”
“Oh, Aunt Ida, it looks like great fun.”
The young woman had reached the edge of the pier and was clearly thinking of jumping off into the sand. Killian took her hand and gently guided her as she lifted her long rich skirts. His eyes met Alainn’s once more. They held a hint of guilt.
“Robert, really, you must stop her. She intends to interact with these vile creatures.”
“Aye well, she’s always been a spirited lass. With only brothers in her family, my sister and her husband have allowed her to cavort about with them, I suspect. She’ll be a handful for you to be sure, lad.”
Killian nodded without taking his eyes off Alainn.
“Do you know these people?” one redhead asked with great disdain.
“Aye,” said Riley, “they are from our castle.”
“They’re servants then?”
“Aye, we’ve come to collect supplies for the celebrations,” Pierce finally managed.
“And you allow your servants time to frolic freely about on the seashore?” the older woman asked, obviously most taken aback.
Alainn’s eyes remained helplessly locked with Killian’s as he approached with Mary.
“You have verra long hair,” the woman said to her. “And och look at what a beautiful shade it is, even when it’s wet.”
“Aye, you might say it is the color of sand!” the older redhead tittered.
Mary walked closer, and Alainn was startled to see her long flowing skirts drag into the water. The woman seemed not to care.
“Truly, I’ve never viewed such a lovely golden color.” She reached out and helped to rid seaweed from the back of her hair. Alainn fought the urge to knock her hand away. “And your eyes! They are surely as blue as the sea near the coast of Antrim.”
“Th-th-thank you,” Alainn stuttered, her teeth beginning to chatter as the cool ocean breeze blew across the bay, sending a chill through her. Pierce stood quietly at her side, trying to still his own trembles.
The woman continued to assist her with brushing away the sand and then thoughtfully passed Alainn her shawl. She was reluctant to take it and shook her head.
“No, I insist, you take it, for you appear to be verra cold. You’ll catch your death standing here soaking wet.” She draped the fine garment over Alainn’s shoulders and smiled encouragingly at her.
Killian moved in so close that Alainn could feel warmth from his body. He dared graze her hand and an electric charge spiked through her body. Alainn moved away.
“How could you give her your lovely shawl, Mary? She’s sure to get it filthy. That’s probably the first water she has seen in months,” complained the redhead on Riley’s arm. “Stay away from her, Mary. You’re sure to catch something!”
“Alainn is much valued at Castle O’Brien,” Rory chastised. “She is a gifted healer and a great asset to our clan and kin.”
“Why would a gifted healer be so far from your castle if she is so important? And why would she be seeking supplies from Galway?”
“Seaweed is most beneficial for many maladies,” Alainn answered, her jaw clenched. “A great cure for a bitter tongue and a haughty temperament. Perhaps you might try a hearty mouthful.” Alainn picked a slimy piece from her hair and held it out.
“Did you hear that, Father? She insulted me. This meager servant has just insulted me!”
Mary stifled a giggle. Alainn frowned, for she wanted to despise this woman.
“How many of these filthy wee imps belong to you?” the older woman asked, holding a cloth to her nose.
Alainn’s eyes flashed with anger. She took Pierce’s arm most possessively, smiling at him and batting her eyelashes. He looked down at her warily. “Only three thus far,” she said brightly. “But sure we intend to have an enormous family, don’t we my darlin’?” She leaned into him affectionately while he looked on with mortification. She stood on tiptoe and planted a lengthy kiss upon his equally sandy lips. His cheeks blushed scarlet. Rory and Riley guffawed. Killian did not appear so amused.
“Alainn, is it then?” Mary inquired.
“Aye, my name is Alainn McCreary,” she sniffed.
“Mary MacDonald of Ayrshire Scotland.” She curtsied to Alainn. “I am sincerely pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“You most certainly will not become friends with a chieftain’s servant!” the older redhead scolded, horrified.
“I will if I choose, Iona. My dearest friend in the entire world was my maidservant. She has married and is now with child, so she could not make the journey with me. But I am searching for another. Should you find yourself interested, Alainn, I would welcome you to come live with Killian and me once we are wed.”
Pierce coughed loudly.
“Alainn is much needed by my uncle and our kin,” Killian declared gruffly. “She is far too valuable for my uncle to permit her to leave Castle O’Brien.”
“Then why has she been given leave from her duties to procure supplies?” asked the younger redhead.
“Aye, I was wondering that myself.” His eyes burned into Alainn.
“Milord.” She bowed her head and curtsied very low. “Your uncle has recently employed the services of a physician, so I have made the journey to the city, in search of...in search of...seaside herbs.”
“Might I speak with you, Milord, before we leave to meet Cookson?” Pierce asked, his eyes pleading. Killian nodded.
“Chieftain McDonnel, I have business with our captain’s son. Would you escort Maiden MacDonald, back to the inn while I attend to this matter, sir?”
“Och Killian, I think you might refer to me as Mary. We are promised to one another, after all. I think it isn’t necessary for us to be so formal.” She touched his arm with affection.
Alainn curtsied once more, turned swiftly, and fairly ran down the beach, the horde of children following close behind.