“Aye, but we can deal with it. We have before.”
“We can talk on that after ye bathe and then join us for some food. I suspicion ye will be in dire need of some rest, too.”
“Oh, aye.” Brian cursed as he realized how he had left Arianna alone. “I should have seen to Arianna instead of leaping onto a fresh horse and joining ye in the chase.”
“My Jo will see to her. And, if the lass is as weary as ye look, I wouldnae be expecting her to greet ye when ye return.”
Sigimor proved right and Brian was not surprised to hear that Arianna was already asleep when he returned. He suffered a brief disappointment over the fact that she revealed no concern for his safety but easily shook it off. They had been chasing Amiel and his men, him and about twenty well-armed Camerons. Arianna had enough sense to know there was little danger for him.
After bathing and donning clean clothes, he made his way down to the great hall. He wanted to sleep but his belly told him he needed some food first. Once in the great hall, he kissed Jolene on the cheek, ignoring Sigimor’s scowl as he did so, and then sat down next to his cousin to fill his plate.
“Lady Arianna was so tired I feared she was about to fall asleep even as she ate her meal,” said Jolene as she sat down across the table from him.
“She may weel have if ye hadnae gotten her into bed quickly.” Brian told them of how she had fallen asleep on her horse and grinned when they laughed. “She hasnae had much time to recover from nearly drowning.” Between bites of food he told them everything that had happened before and since he had found her on the beach.
Jolene shook her head. “I cannot understand how men can do such things just for the sake of gain. One begins to think that no child who might inherit something of worth is ever safe.”
“There is that to consider. This is unnecessary though, for his family will surely get the boys disinherited simply because their mother was a common wench.”
“Amiel may ken something they dinnae,” said Sigimor as he sprawled in his chair and sipped at his wine. “Mayhap the lass wasnae as common as they thought. Some lord’s bastard daughter or the like. There may be someone who will fight the Lucettes on their plans to mark the boys as bastards.”
“Hadnae thought of that,” said Brian. “Yet, if she was better born, surely that fool Claud would have openly declared her his wife.”
“Nay. Blood-proud people dinnae like the fact that someone is a bastard, especially since many of them spring from common stock. ’Twas just a thought. When this is done, however, I would have a wee look at what is happening concerning those lads and their inheritance if I were you. Even if they are marked as bastards, a deal leaving them something of worth may be made to get that marriage annulled.”
“Aye, that will be done if only because Arianna also demanded something be given to the boys. Since the elder Lucettes must be pleased the boys are now out of France and Arianna has implied she willnae shame them with the truth of what their son did, she might just get what she asked for.”
“Clever lass. A little blackmail can be a good thing.” Sigimor caught his wife’s disgusted look and winked at her. “Your brother sent out word to the Murrays once the lads were safely at Scarglas.”
“I sent out word as weel.”
“Then help should be on its way. But, I think ye need to seek your bed, cousin. If I felt as weary as ye look, I would be snoring with my head on the table right now. We can talk on this in the morning.”
“I was thinking we should continue on our way in the morning.”
“Then ’tis even more important that ye get some rest.”
“Where was Arianna put then?”
“In Ilsa’s old bedchamber,” replied Jolene. “I have put ye in the one across from her.”
“Nay, I will stay with her,” Brian said, and could hear the force of demand in his voice despite how softly he spoke.
“Brian, she is not some simple wench. She is a lady, and a Murray.”
“I ken that. I also ken she is a widow, so ’tis nay as if I sully some cherished innocent.”
“I know what men think about widows, but that does not mean it is acceptable to treat them like you would some tavern wench. They still have a good name to protect.”
“I dinnae treat her like that but I willnae leave her alone, either.”
“Do you mean to marry her then?”
“Jo, m’love, leave the mon be,” said Sigimor.
“But ...” Jolene began.
“Nay. Go on with you, Brian. Ye will see that she is safe and cared for. Sleep weel and we will talk in the morning before ye leave.”