Chapter 3
Maira stood in the stable with Morag and Branton, waving to Fia and Willow as they left along with their husbands and their fathers. Willow’s wedding celebration had come to an end. Sadly, everyone was going their separate ways. Lord Beaufort and some of his men had left yesterday on their journey to campaign for the king. Even Maira’s father, having commitments to attend to, said his goodbyes and headed back to Whitehaven. Already the castle seemed quiet and vacant. But unfortunately, Maira wouldn’t have long to enjoy the solitude. At this very moment, her things were being packed and her traveling party was preparing to take her to Durham where she would live for a fortnight with the High Sheriff who was, sadly, her betrothed.
Lady Ernestine, the earl’s wife, was in charge until his return. The woman headed into the great hall with her ladies-in-waiting, followed by a group of soldiers that would be protecting her while the earl was gone.
“It seems so empty and lonely here with Fia and Willow both gone now,” said Morag.
“It’s only going to get worse when we leave in an hour for Durham,” Maira told her cousin, feeling sick to her stomach about this whole situation.
“Mayhap it willna be so bad,” said Morag, trying to comfort her. “Perhaps like yer faither and the earl said, ye’ll get used to the High Sheriff and willna mind marryin’ him after all.”
“I would rather be strung up from the battlements and have my eyes pecked out by crows than marry the High Sheriff – or any man for that matter.” Maira turned and stormed toward the keep to make sure none of her weapons were forgotten. Even if she couldn’t use them in front of the High Sheriff, she’d sneak off to the woods with them to practice when he didn’t know it.
“Lady Maira.” A young pageboy ran up to stop her.
Maira halted abruptly and turned toward the boy. “What is it?”
“The guard at the gate sent me over to fetch you.”
“Whatever for?” she asked, anxious to get to her chamber.
“He said one of the travelers has asked for you. They want to sell their wares and they say that they know you and that you will vouch for them.”
Maira’s eyes shot over to the front gate. There was a traveling party of peasants on foot. Behind them was a cart. A young man drove the wagon. Beside him on the bench was a man covered by a cloak. His hood was up and hid his face from her view.
“Peasants?” asked Maira. “I don’t know any peasants. Tell the guard to send them away.” She turned to go back to the keep but Morag stopped her with her hand on her arm.
“Are ye no’ even a little curious as to why they ask for ye or how they ken ye?”
“Nay, I’m not,” snapped Maira.
“I think we should go over there and see who they are.” Morag stretched her neck to peruse them, always making everything her business.
“If you’d like to go, then go right ahead but I’m not interested.” Maira was about to leave until the man sitting in the cart called out to her and waved his hand.
“Lady Maira, would you like to buy our wares?”
“Nay,” she called back. “I’m not interested.”
“I think I have something you want. It’s a heart with your name on it.”
“Maira, ye’ve got to go look.” Morag urged her to join the strangers as she tugged on Maira’s sleeve. “It sounds intriguin’.”
“Let go of me, Morag.” Maira shook out of her hold. “I am sure the stranger is just making it up. He doesn’t have a heart with my name on it. Why would he?”
“Lady Maira, look at this.” Branton walked over, inspecting something clutched in his fingers. “That traveler asked me to show it to you.”
“Branton, I am not interested in anything that –” Maira stopped in midsentence when she saw the item in Branton’s hand. It was a small wooden heart with holes on each side. In the center of the heart was Maira’s name carved right into it. “Let me see that.” Maira snatched it out of Branton’s hold to inspect it.
“He sent this one over, too. It has Willow’s name on it.” Branton held up a second wooden heart.
“It does?” asked Morag excitedly. “What about me? Does he have a heart with my name on it, too?”
“Nay, he said these were the only two,” said Branton, inspecting the heart with Willow’s name on it.
“I’ve seen this before,” said Maira, feeling anxious.
“That looks like the heart that was on the bracelet we made for Fia,” Morag told her.