Chapter 25 – More Guests and Secrets
It was high summer.
Lizzy woke and found the place beside her empty. She blinked. It was still too early for Alex to wake again. He had woken before dawn. Lizzy had not been quite able to move, her hip was sore, but Jamie, went and fetched the boy to her and stayed, lying down, watching as she nursed him. Jamie then took him and tended to him in the low light as Lizzy laid back.
Her husband had returned to her and tenderly made love to her, in the gentle way that only a large man could, holding her, kissing, fondling, and finding the places that made her sigh in pleasure without effort. Since discovering that he could do it, he playfully nursed, as he often did, for a few seconds, to make sure she would not be in pain he claimed. She knew he liked it in some strange way and she allowed it because it was an odd bonding moment. Then he kissed her belly, whispering words of love and affection to her in Gaelic. Then he had made love in earnest and she was only too happy to let him.
Alex would be three months in a matter of days. She could not believe how much time had flown by. Jenny, her stoic sister-in-law was due any day now and the thought worried Lizzy as it did the two grown males in the house. Births were an uneasy time. Though full of joy, a mother and child could have problems arise that could take them both.
She took a breath and looked about, but then she heard something.
She lifted her head and saw her husband lying out his kilt on the ground. He was in his boots already. His shirt hung down to his mid thigh as he shifted the fabric making the pleats in it. He would pull and smooth it out and do it again.
She smiled watching a moment before she laid back a moment. "You're up early." She said.
He looked up at her. "Aye. Well...crops dinnae plant themselves." He said smiling.
He rubbed his eyes like a child as he moved.
She smiled. Such simple things of being home that lingered in her mind about him. He would always shave from the left side working to the right. It made sense since he was left handed.
He moved, tucking the belt under the cloth before he laid down on the pleats and wrapped the kilt about himself. He pulled the belt tight and then sat up smoothing down the kilt. The back was longer, but that was the part of the plaid he could pull up around himself when he wished.
He sighed and rose to his feet putting his dirk at his hip and looking about for what else he would need for the day.
Lizzy smiled up at him and patted the bed. "Come back to bed." She said looking up at him.
"Ah wid loue tae, mo gràidh, bit..." He said softly. He planted a hand on the bed as he leaned down looking at her lying deliciously naked in the thin sheets, breasts bare, and the sheets bunched at her hip, just covering the place of her secrets that only he knew.
She shifted a little and he swallowed as a little more was revealed.
"We hae a hail lifetime fur that." He said teasing her as he bent forward to kiss her as she leaned up to him.
She took his soft kiss and smiled softly. She took his hand and for a second as he went to the length of his arm, she refused to let it go. He turned back a little and smiled at her and she chuckled lightly before letting him go.
"I love you." she said as he went to the door.
"Ah ken." He murmured as he walked out.
She sighed. She was refreshed and needed to help gather eggs for breakfast. She rose and dressed. Alex was still sound asleep and would be for another hour or more. She heard voices in the great room. She had not fully closed her bodice and it still rode low to make it easier to nurse.
She looked back. Alex would sleep for another hour yet or more. She cocked her head and came out of the room.
"Keep calm noo lad." A voice that sounded oddly familiar to her said.
"Wi' whit richt did ye comin' tae this hoose wi'oot..." Jamie said indignantly, but was cut off.
Lizzy moved to the balcony and gasped. Jamie was surrounded by six rough looking men. The leader had a pistol to Jamie's head. Lizzy knew him.
It was Taran McQuarrie.
"Dieu Saint." Lizzy gasped.
"A've heard enough fae th' likes o' ye. Noo ye bade silent as a wee lamb mah mukker..." MacQuarrie said walking around Jamie, the pistol leveled at his head. Taran looked up and saw Lizzy there looking down in horror at the scene below her. Her breathing heaved the breast of her bodice.
"Or this bonnie lass is gonnae be scrubbing yer brains aff th' flair."
Jamie turned his head slightly, hands out to his sides slightly as he looked up at Lizzy.
Lizzy took a breath. She was shaking.
"Ah hawp ye kept yer powder freuch." Jamie said, not looking at MacQuarrie as he spoke calmly. "Misfire..." He said turning to face the weapon fully in the face. "'n' ah will ram that gun doon yer gullet."
Lizzy took a breath and then moved down the balcony to the stairway.
"Weel, thir's ainlie yin wey tae fin' oot." MacQuarrie said putting the pistol closer between Jamie's eyes.
Jamie did not flinch, only swallowed, blue eyes holding malice as he watching the stranger.
Lizzy trotted down the stairs. Another one of the men turned and looked at her.
Jenny came onto view then from the other hallway.
Lizzy moved forward as well.
At the same time, both women spoke.
"Taran!" Lizzy said even as the man closest to her laid a hand on her to keep her still.
"Taran..." Jenny said.
The overlapping female voices made all the men freeze.
"Pat yer gun doon." Jenny said putting a hand on her back as she arched back against the weight of her child as she walked into the room.
"Ah fun this scoundrel in 'ere, Jenny." Taran said. "He's jammy a've git a steady haun or he'd hae a baw in his brain by noo."
Jamie was watching, not moving, blue eyes narrowed even as his eyes flicked between sister and wife. How in the hell did they both know him? Jenny he could understand marginally, but Lizzy? His Lizzy? How would she know of the Watch and know him enough to know him by name?! And his Christian name no less.
"That's na scoundrel, ye fool." Jenny said. "That's mah cousin. Jamie."
MacQuarrie shifted a little realizing his mistake, but did not yet lower the weapon.
"Jamie MacTavish." Jamie said softly.
"Cousin, ye say." MacQuarrie said looking at Jenny.
Jenny chuckled at him.
MacQuarrie looked over to Lizzy. "Ah, sae yer man then." He smiled at her.
"Yes." Lizzy said watching, wide eyed.
He then pulled back the pistol. He smiled at Jamie and tapped him in the chest in a friendly gesture. "Mah pardon tae ye. Ye'll ken mah caution. A've ne'er leid een oan ye, MacTavish." He said shaking his head a little.
"Jamie cam fur a visit. Traivelt in yin braw day wi'oot warning 'n' his gey up th' duff guidwife oan his arm." Jenny said coming to her brother's side as he remained still.
Taran chuckled looking to Lizzy. "Sae ye hud th' bairn then. Whit wis it?"
"A boy." Lizzy answered putting more French into her voice. "Jenny and Ian didn't know me yet." She said coming to her husband's other side. "We surprised them. Then my time came..."
"A Frenchwoman." One of the men said.
"Fur a bride." Another said looking her up and down.
Lizzy half smiled at Taran. She looked nothing like the lady of the estate. She did not look like a whore either, but she showed enough skin of her shoulders and breast that she knew the men were wondering about her.
"Nearly pat a gun tae his heid masell whin ah heard." Jenny smiled. Lizzy looked at Jenny from around Jamie. "Bit we've come tae ken catherine elizabeth. She's a gid wifie. We dinnae mynd her french-ness sae muckle. At least she insae a Sassenach, aye?"
Taran smiled a little. "Catherine Elizabeth. Sic a bonnie name." He said looking at Lizzy. "Ah prefer Elizabeth though. Suits ye." He then bowed to her. "Pleased tae catch up wi` ye again, mistress."
Jamie looked on, watching the leader of the band of the Watch carefully.
"A'm Taran MacQuarrie." Taran continued. "Ye'll excuse mah confusion." He said moving back to the chair nearby. "Ah thought yer husband wis intending tae rob th' steid ." He set his pistol on the small table.
Jenny chuckled. "Na, taran, we lik' tae lea th' robbing tae ye."
Lizzy chuckled a little at that while Jamie's face remained impassive.
Taran smirked in amusement as he poured himself some whiskey.
Jenny looked back as Ian came into view. He chuckled as he limped into the room. "MacQuarrie. We didnae expect ye till neist munth." He said looking from Taran to Jamie. Jamie stiffened a little. Did everyone know this man, except him?
"Aye, That wis th' plan." Taran said. "Bit ah wis pining fur jenny's rabbit stew."
Ian moved. "I...ah...i teuk that sword o' yers tae th' smithy." Jamie turned watching him his face full of disbelief and anger as Ian lifted a broadsword from a cabinet. He hobbled back. "Hud th' nicks ground aff th' blade, 'n' polished o' th' rust wi' a wee bit o' whale oil."
Jamie stood hands on hips as Taran sat down in the chair and took his weapon as Ian handed it to him.
"Ye needn't hae troubled yersel'." Taran said.
"Och, 'twas na trauchle." Ian said waving it off.
Taran inspected it as Jamie pulled his wife closer and watched, still silent. "That's better than new." He said.
"Aye."
"Taing dhut."
"Ye're welcome." Ian said nodding as he wrapped an arm around his own wife.
"Sae, mah stomach's rumbling lik' thunder. Jenny, howfur aboot ye pat some supper oan th' fire."
Jenny smiled and dipped her head. "Ye ken yer wey tae th' dining room, lads." She said. She turned and walked toward the kitchen.
"Ah dae indeed." MacQuarrie said.
Lizzy moved to follow and Jamie was right behind her. Ian followed at a slower pace.
Mrs. Crook was there. Jenny looked at her. "MacQuarrie's come. Let's git supper duin." She said softly.
Jamie came passed his wife, his long stride overtaking his wife. "Urr ye dunderheided sister?" He asked as he came into the kitchen. "Welcoming th' watch intae oor hame?"
"Och, Haud yer tongue." She said bringing over some onions. "Tis nae lik' we hud a choice, noo, is it."
"Tis ainlie fur a tae o' days." Ian said gently, trying to soothe his best friend. He patted Jamie's arm. "MacQuarrie's a gid fellow."
"'n' ye fixed his sword fur him. Mibbie you'd lik' tae polish his bits as weel." Jamie said indignantly sweeping a great arm back toward the dining room.
"Ah did th' jimmy a favor, that's a'." Ian said.
Jamie leaned on the counter his sister was working on. "They're criminals oot tae line thair ain pockets."
Jenny was ignoring him as she worked on the root vegetables.
"Th' dosh we pay is fur protection fae th' redcoats 'n' ither raiding clans." Ian said lifting some potatoes from the bin in the corner. "Thay keep edgy fur us jamie, 'n' oor tenants."
"Whit aboot th' cost oan mah heid?" Jamie hissed at his sister. "Oan baith oor heids." He said nodding to his wife. "If th' watch knew, they'd caw me ower tae th' redcoats in a heartbeat."
"And not me?" Lizzy smirked.
"Ye'r a wifie. Thay kin tak' pity oan ye wi' th' bairns 'n' a'."
She laughed without humor. "Like hell. I am worth more than 100 pounds sterling. They would hand deliver me to London." She hissed at him.
Jamie looked at her, his face twisting.
Jenny straightened. "That's how come we're aff tae fill thair bellies, gie thaim a steid tae kip, 'n' ye cousin, ur aff tae keep yer wits aboot ye 'til they've moved oan."
He straightened as though she had slapped him, his eyes angry.
"How often do these men come around?" Lizzy asked.
"Ilka few months fur nigh oan twa years noo." Jenny said. She nodded to some carrots. "Cuid ye see tae they, katie?"
Lizzy nodded moving to work enjoying something to do with her nervous energy.
"Ah ne'er wid hae 'greed tae this." Jamie growled.
Jenny whirled to face him. "Bit ye weren't 'ere, noo, wur ye, Jamie MacTavish?" She barked back.
Lizzy looked at them both. "Keep your voices down. Do you want them to hear you?" She asked looking between them. She could hear the men coming into the dining room, laughing a bit to themselves.
Jamie took a breath and stepped back, lifting garlic and tossing it in his hands.
Ian stepped to him. "Jamie. Ye think it hasn't taken tis toll oan jenny 'n' me? weel, it haes." He took a breath watching as Jamie listened, but did not look at him. "Bit 'twas oot burden tae bear." Jamie looked over his shoulder at him. "If ye'v git a better idea, let's hear it."
Suddenly Jenny winced, gasping as a pain made her double over.
Lizzy set her knife down and Ian hobbled to her side.
"Jenny?" Ian asked, touching her arm.
"Breath, relax." Lizzy said as her sister-in-law held her belly a moment. "Let's get you a seat."
Jenny waved them off. "A'm braw."
Jamie looked at her, his face softening. "Is it th' bairn?" He asked softly.
"Aye." Jenny said looking at him. "Kicks lik' a mule oan fire." Jenny said looking at him. She looked at Lizzy. "Hae ye hud that, richt thare?" She asked pointing to the spot.
Lizzy nodded. "The worst is your ribs of your bladder."
"Och 'n' ye pish yersel' a bawherr. It's a guid thing they're bonny whin thay come oot, aye?"
Lizzy smiled. "Oui." She said rubbing Jenny's back as Jamie looked on in bemusement.
Ian took a breath realizing that it wasn't labor, yet...
Lizzy looked up at her husband as he set down the garlic. "Listen to your sister. Tread lightly and don't provoke them."
He nodded and then stepped closer. "Howfur dae ye come tae ken him?" He asked. He had wished to speak to her privately, but now seemed as good a time as any.
She lifted a bowl and scooped the cut vegetables into it. She looked at him. "He came to Leoch while you were banished."
"Banished?" Jenny looked at her brother. "Whit th' hell did ye dae?"
Lizzy smiled a little even as Jamie's mouth twisted to protest. "He did not do much of anything. It was Dougal who was in exile. Jamie was sent with him." She moved to the pot. "Taran came to seek a bed from Colum."
Jamie watched her. "He seems kenspeckle wi' ye." Far more than I would like, was the undercurrent to the tone his tight voice held.
"We talked while I was cutting potatoes. As Ian says. He is a nice enough fellow once you know him." She said dumping the contents of the bowl into the pot before moving it over the fire. She turned back to him. "Christ, Jamie, are you jealous?"
"No...Ah..."
Mrs. Crook came in with Alex. The boy was crying for his meal. Lizzy sighed and moved to a stool to nurse him looking at her husband.
He came beside her and sighed. "Sorry." He said softly. "Ah juist..."
"I know. I was too fat to do anything, Jamie, and Colum tried to keep him away. He was only there a day."
He nodded and sighed cupping the head of his son. The son she had been carrying when MacQuarrie had first met her.
When the lad finished, Jamie took him and rocking him in his arms to make him drowsy.
Lizzy set about kneading bread while Jenny saw to trimming the meat.
Taran then popped in and Lizzy looked at him evenly. "And just what the fuck do you want now?" She asked exasperated. "Can't you see we are busy?"
The Murray's, the servants, and Jamie all looked at Lizzy as she stood there, hands on hips ignoring them looking at Taran.
He beamed at her. He then clapped Jamie on the shoulder. "Ah see how come ye lik' her. Bit o' a mouth oan her, bit a'm sure she does braw weel in th' mairriage kip." He then smiled at Lizzy. "Th' lad, Didnae ye say wis yer third?"
"Oui." Lizzy said shifting a little.
Taran laughed. "Cannae keep yer hauns aff her, kin ye. Weel ah wid nae be able tae as weel, wi' a lass sae bonny 'n' foreign."
Jamie looked at him, startled.
Taran lifted a hand to Lizzy. "We dae nae hae a'body tae blether tae, oot 'ere, wid ye be sae kind?" He asked. "A'm sure a former camp follower wull keep us maist amusit."
Jamie stiffened wondering what Taran truly thought about Lizzy. The way he said camp follower. Did he think he a former whore? Of course with her language, one might jump to her being a low born. Where on earth had she learned to play at being one?
Lizzy looked about. "Do you want your supper or not? I need to help..."
Jenny waved her off. "Och gang oan. It wull keep taran fae comin' in 'ere fur samples ilka few minutes anyway."
Lizzy chuckled and nodded moving to take the hand. "All right."
He led her back into the dining room and the men cheered seeing her.
Jamie looked at his sister who smiled a little and shrugged.
Lizzy looked at Taran. "What would you have me do then?"
"Sing us a song." He suggested.
Two of the men produced instruments. A Celtic pipe and a bodhrán, both likely stolen, but two could play them well enough. They started a tune and Lizzy began to sing.
"By night I stalked alone
paw prints in the shimmering snow
Hungry like a carnivore
for a beating heart
Hunting this frozen waste
flesh sticking to my rib cage
I buckle under my own weight
alone in the dark
Then I see it
I see it
I see the moon
And I feel it
I feel it
I feel the sound coming through and I…
Howl
calling out to my wolf pack
When I Howl
Now I'm running wild and free
with the wolf pack following me
and in the cold I can feel their heat
and there beating hearts."
She smiled and then looked at them. "We need something wi' a bawherr mair beat tae it eh lads?" She asked as she moved kicking off her shoes. The two smiled at each other and nodded as Lizzy hiked her dress up on the left side to her belt, kilting her skirts to nearly her knee.
The tune started Lizzy smiled clapping and then moving her feet moving to the beat. She moved looking more like a gypsy than a Frenchwoman or Scot, her movements exotic, and almost inhuman as she moved her lithe body in ways that made the men cheer and beat the table as she moved about the room.
Jamie watched from the shadows, holding his son as his woman became another as she danced to the beat. After a time Taran got to his feet and moved to her side and joined her, watching her her feet he mimicked it with some skill and the men laughed and clapped.
After the song ended, Lizzy smiled and clapped at the as the men poured her a drink. Taran sat down and pulled her into his lap. Lizzy gasped, but settled when she realized she was perched on his knee.
Jamie watched as Taran reached around her to get his own drink as the men spoke to each other. Jamie pressed a kiss to his sleeping son's cheek as he narrowed his eyes.
Jenny came up to him. "Whit's th' maiter?" She asked.
He nodded to Lizzy who was speaking and then laughing at something that was said. Jenny took a breath and watched as Lizzy took a drink, her expression falling for a moment, unguarded, when the men could not see.
"She is huvin fin." Jamie said. "She haes ne'er bin sae. She haes ne'er acted in sic a manner. Whit haes come ower her."
"Acting. That is whit she is daein'. She isnae huvin fin jamie. She is daein' whit needs tae be dane." Jenny nodded to her. "Keek at her een."
"Whit?"
"Thay guessed she wis a whore fae france, sae she is playing yin, making herself sae ah kent that awreedy tae thair thoughts that thay wid ne'er think o' her as anythin' else, least o' a' th' lass o' th' estate."
Jamie took a breath. Jenny was right. This was not her, but she was playing. Acting. He looked and saw an unguarded look as Lizzy shifted her skirts. No, this was an act. A very good one, it would seem. She played with her skirts.
It was just as well Jamie was not there also. He might have run Taran through, but then he noticed that Taran was not really touching her in anyway. Perhaps this was a way of keeping the other from grabbing her and pulling her into their laps and thus starting problems. On Taran's lap she was safe and he was making no move to either touch her or seduce her.
After an hour Lizzy rose to her feet and smiled as Jenny came in. "Less than an oor lads. Ah see oor katie is keeping ye amusit."
"Aye she is." Taran said as he looked at Jenny. "It's a wonder. If ah hud met someone lik' her ah likely wid ne'er lea."
She chuckled. "Good thing I was already wed then, Taran?"
"Oh, Aye. Though ah wull nae pursue anither man's guidwife. However, dae ye hae a sister by chance?"
"Oui. Several actually, but father keeps them on a tighter leash after where I turned."
There were hoots of laughter from the men and Lizzy chuckled also. She looked up at Jenny as they passed behind Taran's chair at the head of the table. Jenny pressed a hand to her wrist as Lizzy winked at her.
Lizzy then smiled and took the bodhrán from the man who held it and then began to play a slower beat.
"L'Irlandais's épouse était aussi juste que le soleil, et ses baisers étaient plus chauds que le printemps. Mais les Irlandais's la lame était en acier noir, et son baiser est une chose terrible. L'Irlandais's femme allait chanter comme elle baigné dans une voix qui est doux comme un Peach, mais l'Irlandais's blade avait une chanson de son propre, et une morsure sharp et froid comme une sangsue." She paused smiling as she moved a little like the wind was moving her about. "Comme il gisait sur le sol avec l'obscurité autour, et le goût de son sang sur sa langue, ses frères s'agenouilla par lui et pria de lui une prière, et qu'il a souri et qu'il a ri et il Sung." She smiled and changed to English. "Brothers, oh brothers, my days here are done, the Irishman's taken my life, But what does it matter, for all men must die,and I've tasted the Irishman's wife!"
At the last line the men cheered and Lizzy made a point of saying it in the most wanton way she could. She smiled continued the beat for a little longer.
Supper was served with the men in high spirits. Lizzy had gone up stairs to change and found Jamie there holding their son who had woken from his nap. He pressed a kiss to the tiny fist that was reaching for his nose.
He looked up as Lizzy moved to change. "Lizzy." He breathed. "Whaur oan earth did ye learn tae dae that?"
"You were watching?"
"Some o' it." He said rising.
She pulled off her petticoats and bodice. She sighed. "I..."
"It matters nae. Ah ken whaur ye bide noo."
She smiled and took their son as Jamie came and handed him to her. "Oh yes, my little piglet."
She allowed him to nurse and then laid him down. Mrs. Crook had promised to look in on him while they were at supper. He would sleep for a while now, but Lizzy was nervous.
She dressed and then she felt Jamie's hands on her hips. He pressed a kiss to her nape and then sighed.
"I love you Jamie."
"Ah ken." He said.
"I do not want them to have a clue who were are."
"Ah ken."
"Are you angry?"
"No." He said looking down at her. "A'm juist amazed fowk gaithers fae lady fur lallybroch tae french whore in seconds."
She smiled as she walked for the door.
"Lizzy...We need tae wirk oan yer leid." He said coming after her.
She chuckled and opened the door. "Piss off, m'laird." She said and was out the door and down the hall before he could catch her.
Xxx
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