Page 28 of The Handfasting
“What do ye mean?”
Instead of answering, Caimbeul focused on the ground and said tightly, “Ye’ve slept with her, haven’t ye?”
No?l let the lad’s words sink in. What did he mean, “the right one”? Was it possible he’d married the wrong sister?
“She’s Cathalin. Aye?” he asked, fearful of the answer.
“She’s not.”
No?l felt the breath freeze in his chest. How could that be? How could he have wed—and coupled with—the wrong sister?
Then he glanced again at the young man. Perhaps Caimbeul was mad. Perhaps he was confused. Perhaps that was why his father had chained him up.
“Are ye certain?” he asked.
“O’ course I’m certain. I know my own sisters. Ye’ve wed…and bedded,” he added with a sneer, “Ysenda, not Cathalin.”
No?l couldn’t comprehend it all. He rose slowly to his feet. “But why would…”
“My father wanted a Highlander, not a Norman, to inherit his land.”
“But ’tisn’t up to your father. Two kings have decreed this marriage.”
“Aye, and ye’ve seen it through. As far as ye know, ye’re wedded to Cathalin.”
“But that’s ridiculous. If she’s not the real Cathalin, then when the laird dies—”
“Ye’ll inherit nothin’. The land will go to therealCathalin and her Highlander husband.”
No?l was astounded. “That can’t be true. Every member o’ the clan would have to be privy to the deception in order for—”
“No one said a word when you mistook Ysenda for Cathalin. They were too afraid to gainsay the laird. My father was overjoyed. Ye played perfectly into his hands.”
All the air went out of No?l’s lungs. How could this have happened? Had his honest mistake become an act of rebellion? He shook his head, which was spinning as he recalled the events of the past day.
“Your father was afraid ye’d speak out,” he realized. “That’s why he had a knife at your throat.”
Caimbeul nodded.
“And why he’s put ye in chains now.”
“Aye.”
“Then he mustn’t know I came to speak with ye.” No?l straightened and placed a hand of reassurance on Caimbeul’s forearm. “I don’t know how, but I promise ye…brother…I’ll make everythin’ right.”
With that, he left the chamber. But his mind was far from settled. And as he descended the stairs, he began thinking—not like a suitor, but like a warrior.
By offering him the wrong bride, Laird Gille had intentionally broken an oath to two kings. By rights, No?l should drag him before the royal court.
But the clan would turn on him if he made a prisoner of their laird. That was the last thing he wanted to do, considering that some day these people would be his responsibility. He’d always ruled his knights, not by force, but by earning their respect. And that was how he wished to rule the clan.
Besides, he’d only brought a small contingent of his men. True, they were Knights of de Ware. But they were no match for a hundred angry clansmen.
There had to be another way. And he was determined to find it.
Still, that wasn’t the most troubling aspect of the deception for No?l. The worst part was knowing his bride had lied to him. She’d held his hand, kissed him, spoken the handfasting vows.
His brow creased as he remembered she’d asked him not to consummate the marriage. Perhaps she’d had one moment of regret then.
