The Love Slave Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Hae ye sent for the MacFhearghuis yet?” Regan asked her twin. “He will want to know of Malcolm’s birth and our mam’s condition.”
    “Nay, I hae sent no one,” Gruoch replied. “I hae been sitting here thinking how odd it will be to nae hae our mother wi’ me. I shall be alone when yer gone, Regan mine. I cannot bear to think on it.”
    “You will hae a husband and children to fill yer days, Gruoch,” Regan answered her. “I am the one who will hae nothing. I dinna think I particularly like the sound of this convent, but then what other choice do we hae than accept the fates decided at our birth by the MacFhearghuis? We will be warm, and dry, and fed, but is that enough, I wonder?”
    “There is love,” Gruoch said softly.
    “I dinna know what love is,” Regan admitted. “No one hae ever loved me, Gruoch, except perhaps you. Our mam has nae loved me. The lads will nae even smile at me for fear I am you, or for fear I am me, and to be a holy nun.” She laughed almost sadly. “What is love? It is naught to me, Gruoch, but if it is a good thing, then I wish it for ye, my sister. May you hae it in abundance!”
    “I may nae get the opportunity to say it once the MacFhearghuis comes, but I thank ye for yer sacrifice, Regan MacDuff,” Gruoch said.
    “I would nae do it, but that it is for you,” Regan replied seriously. “Yet you are a part of me, Gruoch. I canna deny it. There is a bond between us, and if it is in my power, I will nae let any harm come to you. I think our mam wrong to have convinced you to do this thing. It will nae bring back our father. Yer marriage will unite the MacDuffs of Ben MacDui and the Fergusons of Killieloch. Hae ye ever thought if our sire had lived, he might hae ended the feuding between our families with such a marriage?”
    “But he dinna five. He was murdered by the Fergusons,” Gruoch said harshly. “I will revenge him and our poor mamwho lies dying now because of the Fergusons. And what of ye, Regan MacDuff? The Fergusons hae condemned ye to a barren life wi’ out love. How can I nae revenge
that?
”

Cha
p
ter 2
    T he MacFhearghuis was finally sent for, and he came quickly. He admired his latest son, raging Malcolm; observed Sorcha’s deteriorating condition; and ordered that the wedding be held that same evening.
    “She’s a strong woman, but I canna be certain she’ll last the night,” he told the twins. “I want her to see ye wed to my laddie, Gruoch MacDuff.” His glance swung to Regan. “Prepare yer sister, lass, as yer mam canna now. I’ll fetch the priest myself.”
    “Bring water for bathing,” Regan commanded the servants, and when they had obeyed her, she sent them away, saying, “I will tend to my sister alone. Come for us when the MacFhearghuis returns wi’ the priest and the bridegroom, but do not disturb us before then.”
    “Why did ye send them away?” Gruoch asked her sister curiously when they were alone.
    “I dinna want anyone to see ye naked lest yer belly, small though it may be, arouse suspicion,” Regan told her. Then she smiled. “See,” she said, holding out her hand to show Gruoch. “I made a wee cake of soap for this day, and scented it wi’ lavender for ye.”
    The two girls stripped off their clothing, and then each in her turn bathed, Gruoch first, and then Regan, washing not just their bodies, but their long golden hair as well, which they dried by the fire. Regan went to the storage chest and removed clean clothing for them both: first, fine soft linen chemises, and then high, round-necked tunics, both under and over. The bride was garbed in an undertunic woven of light wool, greenin color, and a shorter outertunic of rich purple silk belted in gilded leather with an enamel buckle. Her sister wore the same colors, but reversed. Neither wore shoes, as they would be indoors.
    Gruoch fitted a narrow gold band studded with small sparkling stones about her forehead to hold her hair. Neither she nor Regan knew what