Forget Me Not, My Scottish Love by Allie Palomino
Chapter Three
“Where is the wedding going to take place?” Alice asked her son, as she packed the finest plaid for the wedding.
“At Baron Wexford’s holding,” Cameron responded, looking out of the window of his room.
“That’s odd, Cameron. Why there?”
“I’m nay certain. Perhaps Alexander thought it best to meet there. Wexford is a neutral baron and perhaps Alexander thought it was safer to have the wedding there anticipating problems between the English and us.”
“When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow morning. I doona want ye going, Mother,” Cameron said, turning from the window. He saw her collecting his things. “I can gather my own belongings for the journey, Mother.”
Her cheeks dimpled, and her eyes filled with humor. “So that ye can take a dirty strip of plaid and nay be presentable?” She sucked her teeth and shook her head. “I am going and that’s all I’m hearing about this issue. I will welcome my new daughter into the family,” Alice said optimistically.
“Ye’d be the only one. All Englishwomen are aristocratic elitists in need of sound discipline.”
“Cameron! When did ye become so cynical?”
“Very early in life, Mother, when I realized what bastards the English are, and when they nearly caused the downfall of this family.”
Alice was pensive for a moment in quiet remembrance. Sadness slipped over her features but she quickly put it aside.
“This will be a good marriage, Cameron,” she said in a no-nonsense kind of voice. “Ye’ll have yer baby, of that I’m certain.” Her face glowed as she looked at her oldest son.
He gave her an intent stare.
“I can only hope, Mother, but I believe ye’re wrong.”
It was such an odd feeling for Cameron. It was difficult to believe that his only hope for a child rested with an Englishwoman.
Life was damned ironic.
The next day, they began the journey to the Wexford holding. Patrick, Cameron’s cousin, stayed in command since both Keith and Aidan rode with Cameron. It was expected that the laird’s family would be present to witness the marriage, as much as he didn’t want them to go. Catherine, the oldest daughter, would be attending, but Frances, the youngest, was due to give birth soon and wasn’t allowed to travel.
That afternoon, Cameron would be married. He wondered what she looked like, although, he admitted to himself, he didn’t care if she was horribly ugly. If this bride gave him a son or a daughter, she could bear a striking resemblance to a wild boar and he wouldn’t care.
The ride wasn’t a long one since their lands were on the border. Wexford’s holding was a half day’s ride on horseback from the border and sat on the English side.
Once the party arrived, they were greeted and shown their rooms. Cameron didn’t spend long there, preferring to get the damned ceremony over with. He went searching the grounds, not liking the solitude of his chamber. Walking, he came across a room where many were gathered. Some of his own warriors were there and he saw the rage on their faces. He marched over to them, curious to know why they were upset.
“Do not anger me again. She will come with me now, Diane!” Haynsworth said in a loud whisper. The room was quiet as several attendants witnessed the spectacle.
In the center of the commotion was Cameron’s rival. He saw Haynsworth slap his wife when she pleaded with him again.
“Damn it, Diane, do not disobey me! Look at her appearance. She is completely unkempt and she is not appropriate for public viewing!” Haynsworth hissed. “Let’s go, daughter. Tidy up!”
The woman he spoke about just kept rocking herself and humming. Cameron wondered what had been transpiring. Then he saw Haynsworth draw his hand back to slap the young girl.
“Doona lay a finger on her, Haynsworth,” Cameron said with deadly calm from behind.
Haynsworth turned and saw Cameron.
“Do not mettle with family affairs, Scot. What are you doing here?” Haynsworth narrowed his eyes.
“The question meriting answering, Haynsworth, is what ye’re doing here?” His voice was cold as the ice running through his veins at seeing his enemy before him.
“I am here for the wedding,” he replied, dancing around the subject.
“Doona attempt to strike a woman while in my presence, Haynsworth.”
“Who do you think you are, MacPherson?”
Abby’s head turned slightly at the mentioned name, but continued to rock herself.
“Haynsworth, doona question me. I’ll nay answer to ye or anyone else. I’ve issued ye a fair warning. Doona strike a woman when I’m present, or ‘twill be yer children who become fatherless.” His eyes flared with rage.
“If you’re going to accuse me of something, Scot, then do it!” Haynsworth shouted.
“I doona accuse, Haynsworth, I destroy.” Cameron looked down at him with disgust. Although Haynsworth was tall by an Englishman’s standard, he was not by a Scot’s. Cameron stood more than a head taller than him.
“Come, darling, it’s all right. Come with Mama,” Diane said to her daughter. Abby stood up, her hair in disarray. She quickly glanced over in Cameron’s direction but it was too brief for either Cameron or Abby to see one another.
Haynsworth grabbed Abby’s hand and Abby whimpered loudly, shrugging it off. It became obvious to Cameron that the girl was scared of her own father.
“I’ll take her, John,” Diane said, soothingly patting Abby’s back and led her away.
“Stay out of my affairs, MacPherson. I don’t know why of all the loathsome Scots bastards in this world you are here, but I’ll find out and have you forcibly removed.”
Cameron pinned Haynsworth down with a stare.
“Yer meager threats do nothing to me, Haynsworth,” Cameron said in a hard voice. Keith quickly came over and took Cameron away.
“We’ve things to discuss, Cameron. Come.”
Cameron’s eyes remained trained on Haynsworth as he turned to leave.
“Leave it be, Cameron. There’s no substantiation,” Keith said, his hand on Cameron’s arm in a light restraint.
“He killed Da and I will kill him,” Cameron said vehemently.
“There’s no confirmation, Cameron. It’s been years.”
“I tire of Alexander’s schemes to strengthen the relationships with England. Father was killed when Alexander requested that he go to Haynsworth under a flag of truce. Alexander wanted the families to settle all disputes and have a peace agreement. Now I’m the sacrificial lamb ordered to marry an unknown Englishwoman. My fury grows twofold every day,” Cameron said heatedly.
“What if it wasna Haynsworth, Cameron? Have ye thought about that possibility?”
“It was him Keith and doona try to calm my fury by presenting the possibility of a different murderer, for well ye know it was Haynsworth. I’ll confirm what I know to be truth and take revenge into my hands. I’ll nay die believing that our father was robbed and murdered by border raiders. He rode with many men that day. Father was not a novice with the sword. Nay, Father died because Haynsworth ambushed him, knowing that he was on a truce mission.”
Keith let a couple of moments pass before addressing the dreaded topic.
“The day grows late, Cameron. ‘Tis high time ye got yerself prepared. There’s a wedding to attend, and ‘tis yers,” Keith said laughing. He slapped Cameron’s back.
“‘Tis more like my funeral. I’d rather attend my own hanging,” Cameron said and both men left the room.