Page 30 of Tempted
Tina thought she would scream at the slow progress of the litter, but she firmly squelched her impulse to ride hell for leather into Doon to tell her poor beleaguered brothers that not only was Lord Kennedy home, they could expect the chief of Clan Kennedy to descend upon them shortly.
She patiently listened to her mother’s tale of woe, gently helped her from the litter, summoned Duncan to carry her up to her chamber, ignoring his look of desperation, and began to feel positively virtuous for the sacrifice she was making. She ordered the servants to plenish the room, and she bathed her mother’s pale face with rosewater, removed her shoes, and asked softly, “What can I get you?”
“You can get me Beth,” Elizabeth said in tragic tones. “Valentina, you are not the most restful person for an invalid. Just looking at all that flaming hair and vulgar vitality is exacting a toll upon what little strength I have left”
“I’m sorry,” Tina whispered, quickly lowering her dark lashes to mask her hurt. “I’ll get Beth and ask Mr. Burque to make you some chamomile tea.”
“Yes,” her mother said rather petulantly, “but have Ada bring it to me, if you please.”
When Lord Kennedy arrived home, his mind was so preoccupied, he saw naught amiss at Doon. His three sons met him at the door rather than waiting to be summoned. They did not want to further exacerbate Rob Kennedy’s temper.
When Tina joined them in the hall, her father was alternately describing the harrowing sea venture and raining curses upon the English. His Scots was so thick, she could hardly comprehend his words until he said all too clearly, “Arran an’ Archibald Kennedy will be here the nicht. Tina, direct yon peste Mr. Burque tae prepare somethin’ fittin’ fer two earls o’ the realm.”
She saw her brothers exchange trapped looks.
“Tell Elizabeth tae prepare guest chambers. Davie, see there’s room in the stables—they’ll both ha’ their men wi’ em”
David slunk out like a rat deserting a sinking ship. Donal cleared his throat as if he were about to make a clean breast of things. Tina shot him a warning glance and said, “Mother’s in bed.”
“God damn an’ flay the woman! What use is she tae a mon?” he choked.
Tina said, “I’ll give the servants their orders. Everything will be ready for them. Mr. Burque is ever prepared, no matter how many descend upon us.”
“There’s ma lass,” he said, thankful that one of his offspring could be counted upon. “I want ye at the table the nicht, sittin’ smack atween James Hamilton an’ Archibald Kennedy. Ye can cozen them intae givin’ me their full support when I take ma complaints tae the king. Neither o’ them can resist the blandishment o’ a beautiful lass.”
She glanced at Donal, now feeling just as trapped as he. “It must be catching,” she muttered to herself.
Though he had farther to come, Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Cassillis, was the first to arrive. He had twenty of his men at his heels, all armed to the teeth. David had the presence of mind to keep them out of the stables by having a dozen grooms and stableboys on hand to receive their horses in the bailey as soon as they dismounted.
Valentina took a deep breath and came forward with ale on knees that felt like butter. Archibald Kennedy was so coarse in appearance, he made her father look refined. He had once been barrel-chested, but with age all had slipped into a heavy paunch. It seemed a miracle his short bowlegs supported his girth. He seemed to have no neck—his wide florid face, marred by broken veins, sat directly upon his shoulders.
His men drank off their ale, but he grabbed the goblet from Tina, sniffed it loudly, then flung its contents to the back of the fire. “Wheest, lass, what’s this muck?” he demanded, fixing her with a small beady eye. Rob came forward with the whisky, and Tina thought, well, so much for being unable to resist me!
“There’s no need tae tell me—ye’ve been raided. Yer no’ the only one, Rabbie. Every Kennedy has been systematically raped, frae Newark tae Portpatrick. When we find the culprits, there’ll be the biggest reivers’ battle ever fought. We’ll gibbet the lot! The whoresons lifted all ma prime horseflesh, an’ one in especial was earmarked fer the king!”
Rob looked up sharply at Donal. “We’ve no’ been raided? Weesucks, we’re overrun wi’ horses an’ cattle.”
Archibald’s beady eye became instantly suspicious. “Is that a fact? I’d best ha’ a look aboot Doon. Yer meadows did seem uncommon full o’ beasties when we rode in!”
Rob Kennedy’s face turned purple with choler, but Donal’s ruddiness vanished completely.
“Are ye accusin’ me, Rob Kennedy, Lord o’ Galloway, o’ liftin’ cattle frae ma ain kith an’ kin?” he demanded.
“We’ll see!” said Archibald, snatching up his riding whip and gauntlets from where he’d flung them on the oak table. The two Kennedy lords elbowed each other as they exited the castle, but wide as the doorway was, it could not accommodate two such broad individuals at the same time. Tina noticed it was Archibald who took precedence. She heard Donal mutter to Duncan, “I’ll lay ye ten tae one they’re the earl’s horses.”
Tina followed, unable to resist observing what could very well be the doom of Doon. Rob Kennedy’s eyes bulged as he saw that every stall held at least two animals The stablehands and Archibald’s men fell back to watch the fireworks.
“Ye filthy, thievin’ rogues! Here’s the proof these are ma horses. This Barbary mare was fer King Jamie hissel!”
Rob Kennedy felled his son Duncan with one powerful blow, though Duncan topped him by a full head. Donal had wisely stayed beyond his reach. “Ma ain sons are a curse tae me! What a’ pox have ye been doin’? The minute I’m off tae sea, ye whore aboot the country, disobey ma orders, squander my siller, and now ye’ve lifted the earl’s horseflesh. ‘Tis like bitin’ the hand that feeds ye, tae rob yer ain!”
Tina had to do something. “My lord earl, you are mistaken about this particular mare.” She fished the paper from the leather purse at her belt. “I’ve a bill of sale to show she was purchased at the horse fair in Paisley. She’s mine, and you can see I paid a fortune for her.”
Archibald Kennedy snatched up the paper, and his rage doubled. “‘Tis a conspiracy! Yer lass is the biggest liar o’ the bunch!”
“Why, ye bandy-legged bastard, ye’d best keep a civil tongue in yer haid when ye speak o’ ma daughter Tina!”
“Ye maggot-blown bladder o’ lard, I’m the haid o’ Clan Kennedy—I’ll see ye hanged fer yer crimes afore this day is done!”
