Page 22 of A Bridge Through Time
What she really wanted to do was head back upstairs and clamber into bed with a certain grey-eyed dream man.What was wrong with her?One handsome face, one gorgeous smile, and she turned into putty in his hands. He'd been such a gentleman, yet all she could think about was kissing him and touching him and…
"Ashley." Cormac was trying to catch her attention.
"Yes," she said. "I'm sorry; I guess I'm just a bit tired, what were you saying?"
"‘Twas nothing, lass. I just wondered if ye'd like to go outside for a wee bit of fresh air, but I can see yer tired from yer journey. Would ye like me to escort ye to yer room?"
"I'll escort Ashley to her room, Cormac. Ye and Robert must speak with Cailin about Richard," Irene interrupted.
Cormac had clearly been put in his place by the beautiful Irene. Ashley could see that she was not one to be argued with when she made a decision.
"If yer done, Ashley, I'll walk with ye to yer room," Irene said, getting to her feet.
"Thank you, Irene, and thank you Robert, and Cormac. You've all been so kind."
The men nodded in her direction as she walked away with Irene.
SIXTEEN
Irene and Ashley mounted the stairs to the sleeping chambers. Ashley was still marveling over how welcoming and accepting these people had been to a perfect stranger. They were a tight knit family, from what she could see, and it had put her in a melancholy mood as she thought about her own family.
"Do ye feel well, Ashley?" They’d reached the door to Ashley's room and Irene opened it, ushering Ashley inside.
The tub had been removed and a fire blazed in the hearth to help ward off the chilly night air. Ashley walked across to the bed and slumped down on the edge, watching tearfully as Irene settled beside her, taking Ashley’s hands in hers.
"I asked if ye were well and I can see that yer nae happy. What troubles ye?" She waited quietly for Ashley to speak.
It took Ashley a few moments to compose herself. "I don't want to cry, I really don't," she began. "I've been trying so hard to be strong these past two days. I'm not used to being attacked and having to fight off two men in one day and then trying to get Cailin safely back here… I guess it's just all been too much."
Irene wrapped her arms around Ashley to provide her with comfort. It seemed a very natural thing for Irene to do, although Ashley had not seen this side of the woman until now.
"Ashley, there is nae shame in tears. Ye are a strong woman, but even strong women must cry. Fate has brought ye to us. If the man at the bridge had not attacked ye, then Cailin would not have saved ye, and ye in turn, would not have saved Cailin. So it's grateful I am to the man on the bridge."
Ashley sniffled and pulled back to look at Irene.
"But those men thought Cailin was the one who attacked me, and that's why they tried to kill him!" A fresh stream of tears made their way down her cheeks.
"Nae matter what they said to ye, Ashley, they would have shot Cailin. Thomas holds a deep hatred for him and Richard has vengeance in his heart and would see my family dead to get to me."
Ashley shook her head, brushing at the tears on her cheeks. "I don't understand, Irene.”
Irene sighed and patted Ashley’s hand with her own. "Sir Richard is a jealous, vengeful man, with a black heart. Ye see, I was quite young when I first met Richard. He was visiting a neighboring clan to attend the marriage of his cousin, to their daughter. My family and I were invited to the celebration and Robert, who was fostering with us, stayed behind. From the moment Richard set eyes on me, he was determined to make me his. I was young and I didn’t realize this, or I would never have allowed his attentions. He spent the evening at my side. We danced some and spoke much, about Richard mostly. My mother and father were not at all happy with his attentions and we left the next day to head home. I thought nothing of it. I was not interested in him and I was happy to leave. A few days later, Richard rode up to our gate for a visit. My family did not wish to offend him or our neighbors and so they invited himin and allowed him to stay for a time. He realized very quickly that Robert and I only had eyes for each other and he did his best to come between us. At one point, he challenged Robert. Robert agreed on the condition that the loser would leave, never to return. Robert was not worried. He knew he would come out victorious, but Richard was not aware that Robert was the best swordsman amongst all of the neighboring clans. Much to his disappointment, he was no match for Robert and he was forced to leave. If Richard had won, I would have left with Robert. There was never a choice to be made. I knew whom I wanted and it was not Richard. My heart has always belonged to Robert."
“And why does Thomas hate Cailin?
“‘Tis a long tale.”
“I’d like to know, Irene.”
“Very well. Thomas married a lass named Elise. She had long been in love with Cailin, although he never returned her affections. In fact, he barely knew the lass. They met a time or two at clan gatherings, but no more than that. Elise’s father tried to arrange a marriage through Robert, he wanted his little lass to be happy, but we would nae force Cailin to marry someone he did not love. Her father was impatient and felt Elise was far beyond marriageable age. He wanted her married quickly, so he arranged the marriage to Thomas through Sir Richard. It was a good match for Thomas, giving him a fine dowry. Elise was devastated and Thomas did not take kindly to her refusals to join him in their marriage bed.”
“I can understand why she wouldn’t. He is the smelliest, dirtiest man I’ve ever come across.”
“He wasn’t always. At that time, he took pride in his appearance. He was never a handsome man, but ever since Elise rejected him, he has not cared how he looks.”
“But I still don’t understand why he hates Cailin.”
“Well, let me finish my tale and you’ll ken. After they were married, Thomas and Elise left for England, and along the way, they ran into Cailin and his men. They all dined and camped together that night and after everyone was asleep, Elise snuck away from Thomas and woke Cailin. Cailin was shocked to see her and told her he would walk her back to her tent. She cried and told him she hated Thomas, and that Cailin was the one she loved. He tried desperately to calm her, but her pleas for Cailin to take her with him got louder and louder. Soon Thomas awoke and was most unhappy at the scene before him. Elise had thrown herself into Cailin’s arms and was pleading with him. She told him it wasnae too late, as she and Thomas hadn’t consummated their marriage. Thomas pulled her away from Cailin, roughly throwing her to the ground. He pulled his sword on Cailin, who was unarmed. He wanted to kill him then, but Cailin’s men surrounded them and Thomas knew he wouldnae win that night. He dragged Elise back to their tent, where he had their belongings packed up and they left immediately. Cailin was upset to see Elise treated so poorly and was of a mind to follow them, but there was naught he could do. Elise was legally wed to Thomas. After that, Thomas wouldnae wait any longer to bed his wife. As I mentioned, she refused and so she was forced by him and as a result, she took her own life. Thomas blames Cailin for that.”
