Love Letters from Largs: Brodie and Celestina (Highlander Clan Grant Series Book 3) (13 page)

He needed the king to be too busy
with the Scots state of affairs to bother with him. The money had changed hands with the wedding, and the king must have obtained the support he needed from the Norwegian vassals by now. He would send Celestina back to Grant land with Nicol and a couple of other warriors. Maddie would welcome her with open arms and she would wait for him there.

Wouldn’t she? If she had others around
to love and value her, would she still want him? The lass had been so sheltered, she had claimed to fall in love with him in less than a sennight. Would that strong bond last once she met lads who had more to offer her? She was a baron’s daughter…even Robbie had more to offer her. Would she fall for his brother as many of the lassies he’d tried to woo had done in the past?

He shook his head to stop his foolish thoughts. Celestina loved him as much as he loved her. He was sure of this. Loki had told him how happy
“missy angel” had been to receive his message. There had been tears in her eyes when she read his note. He thought it had to be a good sign. He didn’t know why, precisely, but he trusted the young lad.

Alexander of Dundonald
brought his head out of the clouds. “Our response is no concession,” he said. A small cheer arose from a few of those gathered. “We want our land back and we will fight if we have to, God be with us.”

Walter Stewart
spoke next. “All my sergeants, prepare yourself to protect our royal castle with your lives, if need be. We expect Haakon will travel up the Firth of Clyde to Ayr once he has gathered his force. We expect the royal burgh to be a primary target. We must be ready.”

King Alexander asked, “How many
warriors have we gathered at this point?”

The Boyd answered, “Around one thousand, with more on their way. Nowhere near the twenty thousand headed
in our direction.”

The king chuckled. “One thing you must always remember in times of war. Never believe the
stories about your opponent. The other side will always encourage talk that at least doubles whatever their true numbers are. My guess would be no more than five thousand men, but know this. We must be ready. Our men’s training should include swords, battle axes, and bows, and it should be done on both foot and horseback. I am preparing our galley ships for war, as well. We must be at the ready for every possible type of attack.”

He searched the group before his gaze
landed on Robbie. “The rest of you may take your leave. Grant, I must speak to you.” He strode over to stand in front of Robbie. “Grant, advise your brother I want the mail clad horses here now along with another hundred of his warriors.”

“Aye,
Your Grace, I will send a messenger.” Robbie nodded before standing. He waited as the group slowly broke apart. “Who would you like me to use? Do you have a preference?”

“The Blackfriars
. Send one immediately to The Grant.”

Robbie nodded his thanks.

“And tell your brother I expect him here as well. That is an order.”

Brodie glanced at Robbie. This was not good news.

Chapter Fourteen

Windows to the Soul

Celestina sat at her table and smoothed
out the parchment in front of her. She had decided to pen a note to Brodie so if Loki came back, she would have something to give him. She vowed never to endanger the lad’s life. While he was unlikely to get caught in her chamber since no one visited her except Inga, she knew it was not safe for him to linger in the tower room.

My dearest husband, Know I am as well as can be expected without you by my side. I miss your touch and the feel of your arms cocooning me in your warmth. I am sad to say that I do not carry our babe, but Inga has lied to Ivarsson about my courses to keep him at bay. He is accepting of this for now, but please do not tarry.

Inga flew into the room and yanked her to her feet. She stuffed a folded blanket inside the front of her gown without explaining.

“Inga, what are you doing?”

“Do no’ ask, just do as I say. And I must hurry.” She tied the blanket in place with linen strips and ran back out the door. “And hide that,” she said, pointing to the note in Celestina’s hand, “he’s on his way.”

Celestina’s hand shook as she
folded the parchment and hid it under the mattress with her quill. Staring down at her padded stomach, her confusion blossomed. She trusted her maid implicitly, so she must have had a reason to do such a strange thing, but what?

The sound of heavy footsteps
approaching her door vanquished all her thoughts in an instant, leaving only fear. Jerking around as the door banged open, her breath hitched when she saw Ivarsson with a man she did not recognize. Bile threatened to force its way up her throat as she recalled the indignities she had been force to bear with the wiry doctor. What further humiliation did he have planned for her?

Fredrik
’s eyes bore his usual twisted humor. His partner, bald and muscular, stood at the doorway with his feet apart and his arms crossed, his eyes avoiding hers, his face expressionless.

Without her conscious choice, Celestina’s
body slipped into protection mode, a mechanism it had developed to help her survive her father’s brutality. She knew the signs well—her mind fogged, her heart sped up, and her vision tunneled

Ivarsson
strolled over to her, never taking his gaze from hers. Sweat broke out across her brow and gathered between her breasts. The look in his eyes frightened her, but his demeanor told her even more. He was sick of waiting for her…and he was not happy. She remained standing, her hands folded in front of—the way her father had always instructed her to receive his punishment. Somehow, she knew what was forthcoming.
Lord, please help me get through this.

“Your maid informs me you have not had your courses yet. Is this true, my dear?”

The way he uttered the word “dear” sent a chill up her spine. “Aye.” No other words came to mind except
Lord, give me strength.

He tossed her skirt up in front
, closed his eyes, and stuck his face in between her legs. “And you still do not have them now or I’d be able to smell you.” Celestina gasped at the intrusion and the crude comment, and tried to tug her skirt down against his invasion. After his head came back up, his hands grabbed hers, twisting them sharply. “Do not ever touch me without my permission,” he growled, “and do not ever try to prevent me from doing what I please with what is mine. You are mine. You will always be mine, and I will do as I wish with you.”

He changed his grip to her upper arms and
forced her to the tip of her toes, her back arching to endure the pain of his rough treatment. In an instant, he released her arms and swung her around to stand in front of him, her back against his chest. He wrenched her arms tightly behind her back, forcing her breasts and belly to jut out.

His hot breath scorched her ear.
“Did I not promise you that you will not bear another man’s child? It seems we need to be sure you do not embarrass me.” He turned her body toward the man by the door. “Aldrik, do as I instructed.”

The odor of Fredrik Ivarsson invaded the fine hairs of her nostrils. She could smell t
he sweat from his pores and hear his breathing speed up in anticipation of what was about to happen. His entire body tensed as the bald man headed in her direction. The big man’s gaze swept right past her as he approached, but she couldn’t take her eyes off his huge biceps, the clenching of his fists, even the tightness of his jaw—all the things she saw whenever her father was preparing to beat her. Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to think of her true husband, Brodie Grant.

Aldrik’s
fist swung into her gut and her knees came up in reflex.

Fredrik
screamed at her. “Whore, you are nothing but a whore and I will punish you for your transgressions.”

She
closed her eyes as Aldrik’s fists pummeled her belly. Nausea alternated with stabbing pain. Hoping to get through to one of them, she whimpered, “Please, nay.” Her words were drowned out by Fredrik’s chuckles.

He held his hand up to
indicate Aldrik should stop. “Foolish girl, did you truly think to you could outwit me?” He reached inside her gown and pulled out the blanket. He thrust it on the floor and said to Aldrik, “Again.”

Celestina’s vision waned. She fought to retain consciousness, but
it was a losing battle. The next punch struck her particularly high and nausea rocked her body. Aldrik moved just in time and Ivarsson let her tumble to the floor as vomit erupted from her mouth.

“Thank you, Aldrik. You may go.”

Celestina lay on her side
on the floor, her knees tugged to her chest, unable to move. Her gaze followed Fredrik as he paced the room. He marched the perimeter of the room grandiosely, as if expecting the applause of a large crowd. When he reached her feet again, he stopped.

“By the way, you don’t believe your Scottish lad cares anything about you
any more, do you? Since I know how naïve you are, allow me to give you a little dose of reality. Had you offered your virginity to any man out on the road, he would have taken it. Sex is more important to men than anything. He took your maidenhead and ran off cheering to his friends. You are nothing to him. Your lad wouldn’t have married you. Be thankful you have me.”

Before he left, he turned back to her.
“See how well that baby does now.” He spun on his heel and stalked out of the room.

Celestina groaned and fought to sit. She was able to
shift enough for her back to lean against the side of the mattress. Forcing herself to calm her rapid, shallow breathing, she fought to retain consciousness. Thank goodness she was not carrying Brodie’s babe, or the wean would surely be dead by now. She placed one hand on the floor in an attempt to lift herself to her feet, yelping from the pain in her gut. If she could just make it to the bed, she could pass out.

The door opened again and she
flinched before realizing it was Inga. Her maid rushed to her side and helped her into the bed.

“Thank you, Inga.”

“Och, lass, do no’ thank me.”

“Aye, I must. The blanket you placed inside my gown saved me during the first half of the pummeling.”

“You poor thing. Tell me what I can do to help.” She brought over a cloth and fresh water and rinsed her face and mouth.

“Cover me, I must sleep.” She fought to remain awake, but she needed to do one more thing. “Inga?”

“Aye, lass.”

“Find me the parchment under the mattress. I want to hold it close.”

Inga found the quill and the note and gave it to her. While Inga was cleaning the floor, Celestina kept it tucked under her pillow, but as soon as she left, Celestina pulled it out and scrawled:

My love, forgive me if I do not make it. I love you and only you. If I could, I would stay with you forever and ever. I am sorry, but I think I must join my mama. I will wait for you in heaven. Then we will be together as we were meant to be.

She clutched the note in her hand and passed out.

***

Celestina attempted to move out of bed, but her legs were too heavy to be budged. She opened her eyes and looked across the room. A woman cleaned the table, humming as she worked. The tower room looked a little different, but there was still only one bed and one table. The door was in the same place, but the rug had changed colors and the garderobe had disappeared.

It took her aback to realize the woman was not her beloved maid. Golden plaits of hair were wrapped about her head
. A hand reached in and squeezed her heart; there could be no other explanation for the ache in the center of her chest. She closed her eyes to refocus, then opened them again and forced her gaze back to the center of the room.

“Mama?”
Celestina squeaked out. “Is that really you, Mama?”

“Why, of course, my dear.
Why does my little doll slumber so this morn?” She moved to Celestina’s bedside and brushed a lock of hair out of her face. Her mother’s lavender scent washed over Celestina, who closed her eyes, inhaling the beautiful aroma as she savored the sound of her mother’s voice.

This must be heaven
, she thought.
I made it to heaven
. The only thought that sunk her heart was the prospect of leaving Brodie behind. She loved him so. Then she turned on her side and yelped in pain.

Her mother’s finger moved immediately to her lips.
“Hush, child, do not awaken your father. We do not need him in here with us. What a miserable man he has been lately.” Her mother moved to the table and picked up her note. “I found this note on your bed. I am so happy to see you are writing. You have no idea how valuable notes can be. Write what is in your heart and the letters will be a window to your soul. You are too young yet, but you will see, I promise.”

Celestina’s gaze followed her mother around the room, afraid she would disappear.

“Oh, and Celestina? Search, always keep searching, and you will be pleasantly surprised at what you may find.” She moved to the bedside and kissed Celestina’s forehead. “’Tis all right, dear, you may sleep now. Remember I am always with you.”

She closed her eyes as her mother
moved back to the table, still humming, and fell fast asleep to the lilt of her mother’s voice.

***

Celestina stirred as someone jerked her hand, tapping it lightly.

“Angel?
Missy angel?”

Her eyes flew open and Loki leaned over her bed, his face less than a couple of inches from hers. “
Greetings, Loki.”

He stepped back and s
he slid her legs to the side of the bed and attempted to sit, moaning and clutching her belly. It was only then she realized her gown had been removed and her shift had rucked up around her breasts. She grabbed the blanket to cover herself, but not before Loki spotted the multiple bruises covering her belly, sides, and the tops of her legs.

“Oh my.
Missy angel, Master Brodie will no’ be happy when I tell him about this. Who beat you? Those bruises could only have come from fists.”

Celestina covered herself as
the memories of her attack assaulted her. She shoved them away. “Loki, why are you here? And how do you know about bruises and fists, lad?”

The boy
stared at his feet. “I do no’ wish to talk about it.”

Celestina ruffled his hair and kissed his cheek. “I am sorry, my wee friend.”

The lad was quiet for a moment, then excitement bubbled from him once more. “Nay, ‘tis no’ important, but this is. Master Brodie said to tell you he will be here on the morrow as soon as the sun sets. Do no’ sleep and make sure you are wearing outside clothes, missy angel.”

“Loki, I ha
d a note for Brodie, but now I can’t see it. Did you find it?”

“
Aye, and I put it in my belly tie. ‘Twas the one on your bed in your hand?”

Celestina nodded her head.

“Aye, I took it.”

“Loki, thank you for risking your life for me
again.” Celestina smiled at the young lad.

“’Tis all right, missy angel. ‘
Tis the same any Grant warrior would do.” He nodded his head once to give his words more meaning.

She couldn’t help but grin at the wee sprite.

He turned and headed to the garderobe, but then ran back to her and said, “I suppose you have to hug me again before I go, being a lass and all.” His serious face broke into the sweetest smile she had ever seen. She hugged him the best she could with her injuries and planted a kiss on his cheek before releasing him. “Please tell Master Brodie that I love him.”

He turned his head back to
look at her after he stepped up on the seat. Squeezing both eyes shut and wrinkling his nose, he declared, “I know you love me, too, missy angel.”

With that announcement
and a giggle, he disappeared.