Skye O'Malley

her wiles, Niall!”,

He laughed bitterly. “Whose wiles would you have me yield to?then, wife? Yours? Let me tell you something about Skye O’Malley,?my dear. The last time I saw her she told me she never wanted to?set eyes on me again because, through an awful quirk of fate, we?were wed to other people. I then said I would kill her husband. She?chided me, asking what I would do with my own wife, kill her also??She said you had been as wronged as the rest of us were, and we?must all make the best of our situations. She would tempt neither ?herself nor me by seeing me again.”

“Ah! The most wicked ones are always the most clever, Niall!?She has skillfully misled you into believing her virtuous. Beware?of her! Beware!” And with a strange look in her weak blue eyes,?Darragh turned and left him.

Niall went about the business of changing his clothes. His father?had told him he wanted him there when the O’Malley swore her?fealty, for she must swear it not only to the MacWilliam, but also to his heir. He debated whether to be elegant or simple, finally?settling on black velvet because it was both.

Entering the main hall of the castle, he was surprised to find that?Skye had not changed from her riding clothes. Her captains at her?back, she knelt. Placing her hands in the old and gnarled ones of?the MacWilliam, and then into Niall’s warm firm grasp, she twice?swore her loyalty to the Burkes, then rose gracefully to accept their? kiss of peace. Lord Burke noted the pride and love flowing from the?eyes of the rough-looking O’Malley captains. That they adored her?was obvious, and he was reassured to know that she would sail with?such devoted men.

Then suddenly, to everyone’s shock and embarrassment, Darragh?appeared in their midst, her nun’s robes swirling about her, and cried?out, “My lord the MacWilliam, on behalf of the O’Flahertys of?Ballyhennessey I cry for judgment against this evil woman! Oh,?wicked whore of Babylon, your days of evil are numbered! The Lord?God will strike thee down with fire and the sword!”

Skye looked swiftly to Niall, her eyes filled with pity.

“Clear the hall, dammit!” shouted the MacWilliam, red-faced and?very angry. When all but the four of them had gone, the old man?turned on Darragh. “I hope, madam, that you have a bloody fine?explanation for this intrusion, and for your unwanted charges!”

“No longer ‘madam,’ sir, but Sister Mary Penitent. That was to?have been my name before you stole me from my convent, and?forced me into carnal bondage with your son. It will soon be my?name again, for I will no longer remain here, but return to St.?Mary’s. Before I go, however, I will right a great wrong done by?this wicked woman. First, she deliberately crippled her husband.?Then she willfully deserted him, stealing both his sons and his?money. She must be punished! God demands it!”

“What the hell nonsense is this?” roared the MacWilliam.

“She claims to have a letter from Claire O’Flaherty,” said Niall?quietly to his father.

“The lying, deceitful bitch!” said Skye furiously, and the?MacWilliam and his son grinned at each other.

“All right, O’Malley, what’s your explanation?” demanded the?old man.

Skye glanced scornfully at Darragh. “Is she strong enough to hear?the truth of this? It’s not very pretty.”

“Speak, O’Malley,” commanded the MacWilliam.

“Claire O’Flaherty lies, my lord. I caught her and her brother,?my husband, in incest.” Skye outlined the story, concluding; “When?I dodged him, he fell down a flight of stairs.”

Darragh Burke, who had turned white at the mention of the word?”incest,” gave a moan of horror and fell to the floor in a faint. The?MacWilliam and his son glanced briefly at her, then returned their?attentions to Skye.

“The surgeon said Dom will never walk again. Under the cir-?cumstances, I feel no obligation to him. The estate was in a ruinous?condition when I married Dom. Your annual tributes had not been?paid in three years, but it is all paid up now, thanks to me. The?O’Flaherty lands are again prosperous because of my skillful man-? agement. This, despite Dom’s having gambled and whored away?my dowry. Claire O’Flaherty owes me for every mouthful of food?she consumes, every drop she drinks, the very clothes on her back..?She might have been safely wed, but for her own crimes. It was her?choice to remain at Ballyhennessey and commit incest with her?brother rather than wed her own man. When Dom was injured I told?her she could stay and nurse him or go, as she pleased.” Skye looked?hard at the MacWilliam. “If you feel her charges have merit, my?lord, I will abide by your decision.”

The old man reached out and gently stroked Skye’s beautiful hair.?”There is no merit in her charges, O’Malley,” he said gruffly. “If?she will not accept my decision in this matter, then I shall turn her?over to the Church. They will deal with the wench far more harshly?than you or I would.” He smiled at Skye. “Now, lass, will you?accept my hospitality for a few days’ time? You’ve come through?a hard time and you’ve great responsibility ahead of you.”

She smiled back at him, and he thought again how extraordinarily?beautiful she was. For the briefest moment he regretted his age and?his infirmities. He envied his son this beautiful woman who would?undoubtedly become his mistress.

“I will accept your kindness, my lord, but only for a day. You’re?right in that I am now laden with responsibilities. My father’s entire?fleet stands awaiting my orders, and they must remain idle until I?have studied his books. My eldest brother prefers the Church to the?sea, and though I will train him in my father’s ways, for boys are?known to be fickle creatures with changeable minds, I doubt that?Michael will change. Therefore it will be my half-brother, Brian,?who’s most likely to become the next O’Malley. He is but six now.?It will be at least ten years before he can take over his duties. Then,?too, there are my own two sons to raise.”

“Stop, lassie!” said the MacWilliam. “You’re exhausting me. It’s?too much for a woman to take on, and I wonder at your father, God?assoil him.”

Skye looked at the old man proudly. “My father knew I would?not fail him. He might have chosen any of my sister’s husbands, or even my uncle Seamus, but he chose me. I am the O’Malley!” Then?her look softened, and her eyes, which had been a deep purple-blue,?lightened to a clear blue- green. ‘Tonight, however, I shall be just?Skye O’Malley, and your most grateful guest.” She turned without?another word and walked from the room.

The Mac William bellowed for a servant, who quickly removed?the still unconscious Darragh. “If you mean to have the O’Malley?lass,” he said to Niall, “you had best tame her quickly, my son. This?is no milk-and-water wench, but a full-blown woman. Once she gets?the bit of power into her teeth, you’ll not easily get a bridle on her.?I’ll see if I can start annulment proceedings on your marriage, for?the O’Neill girl belongs back in her convent. As to O’Flaherty, the?health of a cripple is precarious at best. I trust you’re not too noble?to object if we assist him now to a better life… discreetly, of?course.”

Niall shook his head without hesitation. “May I speak to Skye?of marriage?”

The old man grinned wickedly. “If ‘twill aid you in your wooing,?yes, and I imagine you’ll need all the help you can get. She’s a?strong-minded woman.”

Niall grinned back as he strode from the hall and headed for?Skye’s chambers. His heart was singing. She was his! They would?finally be together, and they would make marvelous love, and she?would bear him strong sons and beautiful daughters, and they would?be happy. He burst into her room, startling Mag, and a half-clothed?Skye.

“My father’s starting the annulment proceedings, my love. We?can soon be wed!”

He reached out for her, but she eluded him. “Mag! Get out! I’ll?call you.” Then, “Don’t touch me, Niall! I cannot bear to be touched.?I told you what they did to me. I never want to be touched again!?I am happy you’re to be free of Darragh O’Neill; but find yourself?another wife, my lord. My husband lives, and even if he did not,?I would not remarry. I will never again put myself at a man’s mercy.”?She shuddered deeply.

He was stunned. This was not the girl he had known. “Skye, my?love,” he began gently, “I know they have hurt you; but / never hurt?you. Remember how it was with us? It was sweetness beyond mea-?sure. Come, love,” and he held out his hand to her, “come let me?love you, and wipe away the unhappy memories.”

“Niall!” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please understand. I cannot?even bear for Mag to touch me. My own good Mag. I bore Dom’s?brutal lovemaking for three years. Even then I remembered how it?had been with us, and I prayed that someday we could be together.

There was no obscenity that Dom forced upon me that spoiled you?for me, not ever. Not until the night he and his vile sister…” She?could not go on.

He finished it quietly for her. “Until the night they both raped?you.”

“Aye,” she said, and was silent once more.