Page 41 of The Lone Wolf's Bride

Ilene had little hope that there would be more order inside. Murray dismounted, seemingly oblivious to its deprivations.

Suddenly the door flew open and a dirty looking man came forth.

‘You’d be Murray Campbell then,’ he said cheerfully through a mouth almost totally devoid of teeth. ‘Greetings Lord, my name is Duff and I have got the place in readiness as instructed by Laird Campbell. I expected you a good deal earlier to be sure, but it is good you have come at last, for I fear we have a wild storm coming our way.’

Indeed the wind was picking up and flurries of sleet had started to blow in with it. Murray said nothing to the man, regarding him stonily, so Duff turned to Ilene.

‘Come inside out of the wind Lady, warm yourself.’

On entering the cottage Ilene was relieved to see a roaring fire in the hearth and food on the table - a hunk of bread, cheese and some apples. There were a few basic necessities, a bed, a high backed bench before the fire, a table, a few chairs, but it was far from the comfort she was used to. Her things were being sent on from Cailleach and until then, she would have to make do with what was here.

Murray looked around with a bleak look on his face.

‘Laird Campbell was not lying when he said there was but a basic dwelling at our disposal,’ he said.

The servant looked offended but did not contest his observation.

‘I have done my best to make it sufficient for your needs, Master, until the main house is put back in good order.’

‘No doubt you have done your best,’ he replied flatly, giving him a cold look and towering over him. ‘Where is the village?’

‘West of here, just follow the path against the sea about a mile along, you can’t miss it. There is a small harbour and fishermen come and go for trade and such like.’

Murray said nothing, turning away and stalking around the room like a beast in a cage. The silence hung heavily between them. The man tried to fill the void by saying the worst possible thing.

‘I understand congratulations are in order as to your recent nuptials.’

Ilene sensed the tension in Murray by the set of his shoulders and his balled fists. ‘I thank you,’ she said quickly. ‘You live in the village?’

‘Aye, Lady. I am blessed with a wife and three fine sons and another ‘bout to come and…’

‘Best get back to them before the storm breaks,’ said Murray abruptly. ‘We can shift for ourselves from here.’

‘As you wish. I’ll bid you goodnight then,’ he said, moving eagerly to the door. He glanced back at Ilene and his eyes met hers. There was concern and kindness in them.

‘Come back at first light,’ said Murray curtly, ‘I will have need of you then.’

***

The storm was the harshest she could remember and beat against the thick stone walls of the house. Draughts came howling in through gaps around the door and windows, turning the room to ice, despite the fire glowing in the hearth. Ilene watched Murray as he sat before it in brooding silence.

‘Murray, I would speak to you, please.’ Her voice sounded small and pathetic over the wind gusting outside.

‘You may do whatever you like Ilene, as I’m sure you always have.’

Ilene tried to choose her words carefully. ‘I am sorry for deceiving you.’

He did not look at her and his face was stone as the firelight flickered over it.

‘I should have told you and thrown myself on your mercy.’

‘I’m afraid that is a quality I have little of, Ilene.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true. Murray what I did to you, what I concealed from you, was to keep my family and my clan safe.’

‘How honourable of you. I suppose I can take comfort in the fact that, by taking a lying unchaste bride, I have served the clan well.’

‘I never meant to wound you, Murray. I felt I had no other choice.’

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