'Of course not,' Alec returned. 'What are you trying to tell me, Father?'
'You're wanting her to settle in,' Murdock answered. 'I've heard you say so many times.'
'I don't deny it,' Alec answered. 'She will settle in.'
'Do you want her to change? Do you want her to become someone else?'
'No, she pleases me the way she is,' Alec admitted.
Jamie knew he'd just complimented her, but his gruff voice and frown certainly soured his praise.
'Then you don't want her to become a Scottish lass?'
'Of course not'
His voice was so emphatic that Father Murdock guessed he was as surprised as Jamie was by his own strong conviction. 'She's English. She can't change that fact. But she will settle in.'
'And so will you.'
The priest's remark fell between them. A long minute later, Alec responded.
'Explain yourself. My patience wears as thin as watered-down ale.'
'Jamie's rich in her own special way of doing things. Her traditions are part of her,' Father Murdock said. 'Just as you have your own traditions. Can you not blend the two in a peaceful manner? A fine tapestry of our King Edgar would look handsome hanging right next to William. What think you of that idea?'
Alec didn't much like the idea, but he could tell by his wife's smile she thought it had merit. Her tender feelings got in the way of his true opinions, however, and he found himself reluctantly agreeing.
'Very well,' he stated. 'But the dimensions will be larger than William.'
Jamie was too happy with his compliance to argue over the size of the tapestry.
She personally thought Edgar's likeness should be fashioned in half the size, but she guessed she'd have to make them equal. Alec would be bound to notice.
Yes, she'd make them equal. She wasn't going to put a halo atop Edgar's head, though, and that was that.
'Thank you, Alec,' she murmured.
The smile she gave him told him she thought he'd just done the bending. He was determined, however, to have the last word. 'Marcus, remove that tapestry until Edgar's is completed. The soldiers will be coming inside for their meal soon.
They'll be too sick to train this afternoon if they have to look at him while they eat.'
Father Murdock waited until his laird had left the hall before he let his amusement show. The old man gave Jamie a slow wink, then strolled out of the hall, whistling a snappy Scottish tune between his chuckles. The priest couldn't wait for the next storm to start brewing.
In the Highlands, when it rained, it hailed. Jamie had just asked Marcus and Gavin if they didn't have something they needed to do. She'd just started back up the stairs and noticed the two of them chasing after her.
Both soldiers shook their heads. She put them to work then, carrying her baggage up to the clean bedroom. She thought it strange the important soldiers would want to do servants' work.
When her tasks were finished, she came back downstairs to repair her appearance.
She noticed Annie and Edith standing together near the hearth. They'd been staring at her chair, but both turned when she called out a greeting to them.
Annie was smiling until she caught Edith's dark scowl. Then she joined in and scowled, too.
Jamie didn't pay any attention to Annie. The child couldn't help the way she was. Edith was another kettle of fish altogether.
Jamie thought Edith had to be the most unbending woman in all of Scotland. There was a rigidness in her bearing and appearance that wasn't at all appealing. The woman always had her hair plaited into a crown atop her head. There was never a single strand left unattended. Her plaid gown was always spotless, too. Jamie had never seen her disheveled. Yes, Edith was as thorough in her grooming as she was in her hatred for her mistress.
And her mistress had had enough.
'What happened to you?' Edith called out, a snarl in her voice. 'Did you fall into a bucket of suds?'
Marcus had been standing behind Jamie. He took a step forward, all but blocking her view with his broad back, and shouted at his sister. 'Don't you dare use that tone of voice with your laird's wife.'
Jamie felt as though she were in the middle of thunderclouds. Marcus's roar made her head start pounding. She prodded Marcus's shoulder, and when he'd turned around, she asked him for permission to handle his sister.
He immediately nodded agreement.
Jamie walked to the center of the hall. 'Annie, go outside, child. Edith, you'll stay right where you are.'
Her voice must have lacked authority, she guessed, when Edith completely ignored her command and started for the doorway.
Marcus intervened once again. His harsh command made Edith come to an abrupt stop.
Jamie turned to thank him, then asked if she could have a few minutes alone with Edith. In truth, she didn't want any witnesses to her conversation.
Gavin answered her. He stood on the bottom step, scowling fiercely at Edith.
'Neither one of us is leaving.'
She decided not to argue with the soldier. He did look quite determined. She walked back over to Marcus. When she was standing directly in front of him, she brushed her hair out of her eyes and motioned him closer to her.
Her whisper was so soft that only he could hear what she was saying. Marcus's expression didn't change, but when she was finished, he gave her a quick nod.
She thanked the soldier, then turned to confront his sister.
'Since the moment I arrived here, you've treated me like a leper,' she told Edith. 'I'm quite tired of your attitude.'
Edith snickered right in her mistress's face.
'You're unwilling to try to get along, then?' she asked, her voice harder.
'I see no reason to get along with the likes of you,' Edith muttered.
'Marcus?' Jamie called out. She hated having to ask his assistance, but she wanted to push through Edith's anger.
'Yes, milady?'
'If I ask Alec to have Edith removed from Kincaid land by nightfall, will he agree?'
Edith let out a loud gasp.
'He will.'
'Where will I go?' Edith asked. 'Marcus, you cannot let-'
'Silence!'
Neither Marcus nor Gavin had ever heard Jamie use that tone of voice. Gavin smiled in reaction. The look of outrage on Edith's face made him want to laugh.
Edith's hands were clenched at her sides. She was obviously furious. That wasn't good enough. Jamie wanted to push her beyond reason. She hoped that once her anger was completely out of control, she wouldn't guard her words. Then Jamie would be able to find out why her hatred was so fierce.
'I'm mistress here, Edith,' she said in a low, arrogant voice. 'If I wish you to become an outcast, I will get my way.'
'Marcus would never let you.'
'He would,' Jamie boasted. Lord, she hated the horrible lies she was telling.
'He's your brother, and your guardian, too, but Alec is his laird. Marcus is loyal to my husband,' she added. 'Unlike you. Yon aren't loyal to anyone, are you?'
'I am,' Edith shouted.
'Perhaps once you were,' Jamie countered, affecting a shrug. 'Yes, you were probably loyal to Alec when he was wed to Helena. Father Murdock told me you were very close to Alec's first wife.'
'You can't replace her. I won't let you.'
'I already have.'
Those last taunting words snapped the shreds of control to which Edith was clinging. Before she could stop
