Argeneau Family - The Renegade Hunter Part 26

The sight had apparently startled Gerhard to a halt, but only briefly, he was already moving forward, barking at the others, "I told you to hold him down, dammit!"

The rebuke had several men moving forward to help as Gerhard struggled to drag the one man off the other. It took a bit of effort, but eventually they were able to separate the two.

Merry suspected it was only because the larger man had grown weary of the struggle, or perhaps he'd got over whatever it was that had made him attack the smaller fellow in the first place. It appeared to her that the larger man simply stopped fighting and allowed the others to pull him upright and away. The smaller man immediately scrambled out of reach, and, shaking his head, Gerhard quickly stepped forward. He brushed down the larger man and straightened his clothes, saying, "Your betrothed is here."

Merry sucked in a breath as she realized that the man presently swaying in the grasp of the men still holding him upright was her betrothed. She was not the only one shocked.

Alexander d'Aumesbery appeared absolutely appalled by them and gasped, "The Stewart Shrew? What the devil is she doing here?"

The men surrounding them all turned wide and even apologetic eyes her way, and Mer ry felt herself flush with embarra.s.sment, but lifted her chin as Gerhard hissed, "She's right here, Alex, right in front of you." He then urged his lord toward her, and Merry's eyes narrowed as she noted how unsteady her betrothed was on his feet. Gerhard was having to help him stay upright with the grasp he had on his upper arm.

"My lord, your betrothed Lady Merewen Stewart," Gerhard introduced, drawing the other man to a halt before her. Or at least he tried to; while Gerhard's hold on his lord's arm should have stopped him, Alexander d'Aumesbery's feet were slower to get the message, so that he nearly walked right into Merry before the hold on his arm made him swing in a clumsy half circle. Gerhard immediately caught the man by both arms and turned him to stand before her like a naughty little boy. He then repeated grimly, "Lady Merewen Stewart."

Seeming oblivious of Gerhard's pained expression, Alex peered blearily at Merry, and then blew whiskey fumes all over her, saying, "d.a.m.n me. You're pretty. You don' t look like a shrew."

There was a collective gasp of dismay from those around them, and Eachann Stewart actually drew himself up as if to say something, but Merry placed a hand on his arm and merely said in dry tones, "Thank you."

Really, what else could she say? The man was obviously beyond drunk and wouldn' t remember any reprimand anyway.

"You're welcome." He beamed at her and then in the next moment grimaced and turned to tell Gerhard, "I don' t feel so good."

The last word had barely slipped from his lips before he suddenly fell forward and flat on his face on the floor.

For a moment, the room was silent and still as everyone stared down at the unconscious man.

But Merry's thoughts were not silent. Her mind was wailing in loss and fury as every last dream she'd had on the way here died a sudden, horrible death. She had gone from the pot into the fire, leaving one home of drunks to live in another, but this was worse. This drunk had rights to her bed and body. And he'd been in a drunken rage, throttling another man just moments ago so appeared to be a mean drunk.

Merry closed her eyes, depression and misery settling over her. She would never get away from drunkards and fools. She allowed herself a moment of self-pity, then she straightened her shoulders and forced her eyes open again. Finding everyone now peering not at the man on the floor, but at her, Merry controlled her expression and raised her head.

"Well," she said grimly. "Diya no think ye'd best carry yer laird's worthless hide up to his bed?"

Glances were exchanged and then there was a sudden rush as every single man present began to shuffle forward. There were too many for the task. In the end only four were needed, each taking an arm or leg to cart him toward the stairs. The others followed, however, even the man whom her betrothed had been throttling when she'd first arrived.

Merry watched them go and then started to glance toward her father, but her gaze caught on a woman she hadn't noted earlier. Standing on the other side of where the men had been, the brunette appeared a good fifteen years older than she. She was also taller, with a thick frame and small eyes presently narrowed thoughtfully as she looked after the men carrying Alexander away. Merry peered at her curiously, wondering who she was. Then the woman glanced toward her, offered an anxious smile, and rushed forward.

"Good morn, Merewen. I am Edda, Alexander's stepmother. Welcome to d'Aumesbery."

"Thank you," Merry murmured as her hands were clasped in the woman's larger, strong hands. "Pray, call me Merry."

"Thank you, dear." Edda smiled, but it was a crooked smile, tinged with worry, and she rushed on, "I am ever so sorry you saw that. Did Gerhard explain matters to you?"

"Aye," Merry said dryly. "He explained when he greeted us that my betrothed was indisposed."

"Oh, good." She looked relieved. "I feared you might get the entirely wrong impression. But truly, while Alexander has been away these three years, I am quite positive he has not become a drinker and normally does not down a full pitcher of whiskey first thing in the morn. These are somewhat unusual circ.u.mstances." She smiled wryly and then urged Merewen toward the table. "Come, sit yourselves down. Have you broken your fast yet this morn?"

"Nay," Merry's father answered as they settled themselves at the trestle table. "We reached yer woods late last night and camped out there until this morning, but Merry was up early and through with her ablutions by the time the rest o' us woke so we rode straight here."

Edda nodded and then glanced to a maid who was hovering several feet away. "Lia, fetch some mead for Lady Merewen and..." She paused and glanced to Eachann Stewart. "For you gentlemen?"

"Mead fer them too," Merry said firmly.

"Merry," Eachann protested, "We've been traveling for days without a drop o' whiskey, surely we-"

"-shall manage without it so long as ye're here," she said grimly and then leaned forward to hiss in a voice she hoped Edda could not hear, "I' ll no ha'e the three o' ye embarra.s.sing me while ye're here. There' ll be no whiskey fer ye."

He scowled, but didn't protest further, and Merry turned to Edda and offered a relieved smile.

"They are fine with mead too."

"Mead then for the men as well, Lia, and something for them to eat." The moment the girl rushed away, Edda turned back and offered a smile. "I hope your journey here was a pleasant one."

Merry grimaced. "Riding from dusk until well past dawn fer days on end is rarely pleasant, but we were fortunate and didna run into bandits or trouble o' that sort." "From dusk until dawn?" Edda asked with surprise.

"Aye, well, meself and me sons are all here, are we no?" her father said defensively. "We left one o' the men in charge o' Stewart while we're away, but 'tis no the same as me being there."

Merry snorted at this, earning a glare from her father before he continued, "We wanted to get the gel here, see her wed, and then get back to Stewart."

"Oh, aye, of course," Edda murmured sympathetically. "I suppose you must get back as quickly as you can. 'Tis a reflection of your caring for Merry that you would all come to see her wed and leave someone else in charge."

Merry managed not to snort as her father and brothers all puffed up under the compliment.

'Twas not caring, but eagerness to be rid of her, she was sure, but didn't say so.

"Aye, just so," her father said staunchly and then added, "That being the case, mayhap ye can send fer yer priest and-"

"Father," Merry snapped.

"What?" he asked defensively. "Yer betrothed wishes to get to Donnachaidh and we need to return to Stewart. There is no reason to delay."

"Except fer the wee matter of the groom bein' unconscious," she pointed out dryly.

"Aye, that does put a bit of a wrinkle in things," Edda said with a twinkle in her eye. "But I am sure he shall be recovered by the sup, or by tomorrow morn at the latest. There is no reason the wedding cannot take place first thing on the morrow and then everyone may set out on their journeys."

Her father and brothers agreed quickly, but Merry remained silent. She was no longer eager to be married, but there was really no reason to delay. The contract was binding and she would have to marry him eventually. Realizing that Edda was peering at her in question, apparently looking for her agreement, Merry sighed and nodded.

"Good!" Edda said brightly. "Then after you have eaten, I shall hunt down Father Gibbon while you talk to Cook."

"Me?" Merry asked with surprise.

"Aye, well, you will be the lady here by the morrow and in charge of everyone. You may as well begin now. Besides, 'tis your wedding, dear, and while it may be a bit rushed, you should really be the one to chose the menu for the wedding feast and so on."

Merry smiled uncertainly, but again nodded. Put that way, there really seemed little reason for her not to be the one to talk to Cook. She just hoped Cook agreed and would take orders from her despite the fact that she hadn't yet married his lord and officially become his lady.