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Post by anjelrocker on Jan 9, 2012 20:42:19 GMT -5
There was something about the English court that made him cringe, perhaps it was the screaming ladies who took one look at his right side of his face and cried out. One of the nervous idiots even fainted into her maid's arms... it was not that terrible. His face was scarred from an accident with falling off a pony when he had been only a lad in the highlands of Scotland. The damage scarred him and took away his sight in his right eye, leaving it a dull pale blue colour. His good eye was a rich velvet brown. His father and mother had thought that he would be crippled from his injuries and that his younger twin, Tavis would be the sole Laird of the MacLeod clan and yet, he had had a teacher who taught him to use his disadvantage. Despite not being able to see from his right side, Tomas MacLeod could predict his opponents movements when fighting with a sword and even a dagger at some moments
And he was one of the best in the highlands, even beating his brother who had two eyes. However, the two of them were the Lairds of the clan since when his father passed on giving the power over to both rather than just the one son. And Tomas was glad for it because he thought of his younger brother as his friend and a man that one could trust when battling. Glancing to his left with his good eye, Tomas was scowling as he thought of the idiot woman who had screamed just now. It was not as if he was some sort of beast, atleast the ladies of the Scottish court did not think so. Perhaps it was because the ladies of the English court were supposely more delicate.
However, here they were in the English court because of the order by their King to wed an English lady so that Scotland and England would have a tighter bond. Both himself and his twin were to court a woman, or pick one. "Can we not pick one out of the flock and lift them onto our shoulders and be done?" He grinned making a jest as he thought of the idea of marrying someone who he did not know and doubted that he would like. The idea of picking one of the ladies up like a sheep was an amusing one as he chuckled. Shaking his head, they had been introduced to the Queen since there were a few other arranged marriages between to two countries taking place. However, he wanted to be back in Scotland for he missed the Isle of Skye where the two of them had been born and raised.
Hopefully, they would find two of them that were suitable. They were holding a banquet that evening and a few evenings after which there would be a number of women to choose from and dance with. He disliked dancing because he was quite terrible at it. "What say you, brother?" Tomas said to Tavis as he lifted a cup of ale to his lips watching as another group of ladies walked by them whispering before one noticed his face and stared at him, he raised an eyebrow giving the woman a look that said. 'It's rude to stare.' Lifting his own hand, he ran his hand over his head... he knew enough that he was handsome on one side of his face but the other was not as handsome.
---
Their pranks had gone too far as she was terrified of what the Queen might do to her or even her arch rival. Looking over to the other young lady, Lady Joanna Sidney could said that she did not know what was to happen to the two of them. They had been like this since they were but girls and yet being ladies' maids to the Queen of England. Well, they were trying to get one another into trouble. Joanna was unsure why she disliked Lady Alice Hartford, only that her father and mother said that Hartford's were disgusting people and did not deserve to live.
It had been drilled into her mind and so, she disliked the other young lady. Not saying a word, the two of them were lead into the Queen's chamber as two lady's maids were helping her dress. "Which of you put tar in my white concealment cream?" Joanna closed her eyes and said. "It was I, your Majesty..." She said stepping forward. "I was trying to get Lady Alice in trouble." There was nothing she could do... she would have to tell the truth.
"And, my favourite gown... what that you as well Lady Joanna?" The Virgin Queen looked furious as she was asking them. Shaking her head, she had known that Lady Alice had done that and she had been struck because of that. "No, My Queen."
"Why is it that my other ladies tell me that you two can not get along?" She asked as Lady Joanna blinked and glanced to the other young woman. How could she answer this?
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Post by Raynesleigh on Jan 10, 2012 8:33:20 GMT -5
Tavis chuckled. "Could you imagine the screams we would hear. I think it best we find a woman with a fine figure and a strong personality. Women of the highlands need backbone and I am not finding it in any of these so simpering little damsels," he mused. He was the oldest of the two of them, by only a scant few minutes and would always take a. Opportunity to badger his twin at least once a day on being the older and more mature of them when the truth was the complete opposite.
He was a man that enjoyed life to the fullest, tupped wenches and men's wives alike. In fact, he had a very good nightly appointment with a woman named Jane Goodwin tonight. Married to some British lord but a sexy little thing that had him feeling pretty good about the night to come. He clasped his brother on the shoulder and grinned. "God knows we won't hear the end of it if we bring back ugly ones," he smirked. "Doona fret none though. We will find us two lasses and be done with it and go back to our keep in the highlands away from all o' these blasted lowlanders." he smiled, taking a seat at an empty part of the banquet table, pouring wine for himself and his brother. "Here we are. Drink up and toast to the hope of finding a lass as beautiful as she is dutiful," he chuckled.
-----
Alice sighed. The past couple of months had been a trial of wits and patience. It had started when Lady Joanna had put a dead mouse in her shoe and she had retaliated by dipping her favorite necklace in ink so the whole of it turned black. Admittedly, she regretted some of it, but no more than she dud now as the queen looked at both of them with an equal dispersion of anger and disappointment. She glanced at Joanna then back at her queen whim she had been serving for near on three years now.
"Our fathers live in close proximity to one another your majesty, and there has been an ongoing feud for as long as I can remember. We were raised to hate one another..." she said as if that explained if well enough but the Queen did not loom satisfied with an answer. As she was finished getting dressed, the woman sank down in a chair looking at the both of them.
"Both of you are grown women and to tamper with my things, well it is most inappropriate. I should have you both banished from court. However..." she took a deep breath, observing both of them. Alice winced, lowering her blonde head. Her father would kill her if she returned home because she had displeased the queen. The third daughter and youngest of five, being a lady to the queen would be the only way she would make. Fine match without a handsome dowery. She was eighteen already and the hope of becoming a wife to some English gentleman passed every year and made her think she would be a spinster.
"However," the Queen continued. "It has come to my attention that both of you are of an age where marriage should of already come and yet has not. I know both of your doweries are by no means large, so in your interest, I am arranging you both matches to two brothers. "Lairds Tavis and Tomas MacLeod...of Scotland. My cousin and I agree that such things will strengthen the bonds after all that has occurred in the past between us," she mused thinking of the queen of Scotland who had been her cousin and whom she had seen executed. Now her son James ruled but it was not without some say by herself.
Alice lifted her head. "S-Scottish highlanders?" she asked wide eyed, having heard of what barbarians such men were. That they were nothing at all like the men of court and so loud and uncouth and uncivilized. This punishment was to much.
"Yes, I plan to speak with them tomorrow. I am sure they will be agreeable when I enhance both of your doweries," she said. "Now, the two of you together, share a room this night and get used to each other's company for if all goes well, the both of you will be living in the same house before long..." she said acing her hand dismissively.
Alice curtsied slowly. "Yes your majesty," she muttered gently then turned and walked to the chambers that one of the other ladies pointed her to to share with the other cause of her demise besides herself. She sank down on one of the beds slowly. Her father would nor be pleased and her stomach clenched for she had not meant to disappoint him.
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Post by anjelrocker on Jan 10, 2012 14:53:38 GMT -5
He could drink to that but a part of him thought that it would be nice to find a woman who was not instantly afraid of his scarred face. However, he did not say this to his older brother as he lifted his cup and said. "Aye, one can only hope." He was a little less of a male whore compared to his brother, he had had a few mistresses in the Scottish court as well as had tupped a village girl a time or two. Unlike Tavis who must have had a number of the village girls along with some of the wives of the men of the village. Luckily for Tomas, Tavis had never tupped a wife of one of their guards... atleast he had more respect than that.
---
She had been terrified and now... Joanna was upset as she was pacing the room that she had to share with the blond. Crossing her arms as she stood she suddenly pointed to her and spoke. "This is your fault that we are to wed two barbarians... if you had not ruined the Queen's favourite gown then this would have never happened." The idea of having to marry a highland laird... well, she shook her head as her dark brown hair hung in loose curls. She was tall for a young woman at 5'7 with a bit of a larger bone structure, Joanna was not fat but she was buxom and was noticed for such a thing. She was very pretty and yet, being that she was the second daughter to a poor Earl, her dowery was not large either.
"Scots... bloody fucking Scots..." She said not caring that she was using unladylike language, they had to be use to that since the women must be just as bad as the men.
Sinking to the bed, Joanna thought of her father and how upset he was going to be when he heard this. She was going to get the thrashing of her life as she closed her eyes and curled into herself not wanting to cry. Her father had beaten all of the children as well as her mother if he was not pleased and the idea of that happening, well... it sickened her. She had been away from home for sometime and so, her bruises had healed but a few of the scars from her more severe beatings marred her body in places that were under her gown.
"Oh... what are we going to do..." She asked herself as she did not look to the skinney bitch across from her.
---
To say the least, Tomas was not pleased that he did not have a choice in this matter since this was his marriage and that the Queen's. The old bitch was in her fifties and never married and yet, she was making it so he was to wed one of her lady's maids or something of the sort. Bowing to the Queen of England, he could only say. "Yes, your Majesty." as the ladies in question entered. One was blond and petite, very pretty and the other was taller but with a bit of a fuller figure. Atleast the two of them were beautiful to say the least but it did not help that both of them were staring at him as if he were some sort of beast.
It was the right side of his face, he knew that it was as the one with the dark hair looked away before looking back and the blond one did not look away. Well, he knew which one he was damn well choosing... to hell with his brother picking first as he glanced at Tavis.
On the other side of the room, Joanna had a brave face on as she looked to the two giants. They were supposely twins and yet, they did not look a like... she supposed that both were handsome but one was scarred on one side of his face and the other one had an unnerving grin as she raised her eyebrows wondering how the one with the scarred face got it like so. Perhaps in some sort of highland war where they were running around hald naked with only kilts on. That idea made her go a little red in the cheeks.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Jan 10, 2012 18:52:29 GMT -5
Queen Elizabeth stood and stepped down, nodding to Alice and Joanna before looking at the twins. "These are Lairds tomas and Tavis MacLeod who hail dorm the isle of Skye..." she introduced. Then she turned to the men. "these ladies are of my court. Lady Alice Hartford and Lady Joanna Sidney. Their doweries are substantial and both of them will make good wives to you." Alice sighed and curtseyed, her gaze fixed on the man with the scars. He seemed to of had an accident that had marred the beauty of his face. She had seen fires give more horrific scars. That didn't bother her so much. It was his size. She was small and slight, often compared to a porcelain doll with her pale skin and fair hair, and tiny. This man was twice her size at best. And his hand could Spanish her waist. He could break her in two. Both of them could. What if they were large oafs with cruel tempers. He could kill her with one blow if he struck hard enough.
"My lords," she said as courageously as she could muster then glanced at her queen before returning her gaze to the scarred man who was staring directly at her.
Tavis smirked at the two of them guessing out of the two, he would have a better chance with the blonde but he acquiesced for his brothers sake because even though the brunette seemed haughty, she was far more ample in curves and he didn't want to be plowing through a bag of bones. He nodded to the old english queen then bowed, slowly walking over to the brunette and giving his most charming smile.
"Milady...I am the elder MacLeod Laird, Tavis. I hope ya would be honored to be my wife," he said graciously, glancing at his brother with a wink before looking back at the buxom brunette. Ya must be the lady Joanna?" he asked amiably, trying to be at his most charming. Sure the lass was a virgin but he was sure he was good enough a lover to get her enjoyable to the act on the first time. But he wouldn't be bedding the lass till they reached the highlands. He imagined being sore between her thighs for a few days would make her complain and he was not of a mood to hear a woman bitch and moan.
He glanced at Alice then back at Joanna and grinned. Then his gaze went to the Queen. "Majesty, when will the nuptials be?" he asked curiously. "My brother and I are verra eager to get back to our home. Being as raiders are common and we only have the guard captain overlooking everything. And then their is the MacLean clan whom we are in a wee bit of a feud with," he said as explanation.
"This afternoon, and I am seeing their thing packed now as we speak somthey will be prepared to leave whenever you two are. Their families will of course, be present as witnesses. Lady sidney's father and lady alice's father and oldest brother lord Henry...it will be a small ceremony but I am sure you two don't mind if you are wanting, expedience." the older woman smiled.
Alice sighed, glancing at her own bridegroom. She was nervous. His brother seemed nice enough so she could hopenthat he was as agreeable in nature as the one called Tavis.
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Post by anjelrocker on Jan 10, 2012 20:26:08 GMT -5
She could only wonder why this idiot barbarian of a man could think to ask her if she would be honoured to be his wife? That was like asking if she wished to be taken away from any sort of society. "I am she..." She said quietly, the look of arrogance and distaste on her face as she glanced at her Queen before arranging herself to look more presentable. The idea of her father being present during the wedding terrified her but she did not show it on her face. The man had beaten her mother to death when she was only a girl and being the middle child of three and the only daughter, she had felt the brute of her father's hand as well as her older brother's fists when he had been upset.
Her younger brother had become a priest to get away from the house, but it had left Joanna alone before going to court. Her mother had been a gentle woman who had tried to protect her children but took most of the backlash. Not wanting to think of that, she looked up at the man who was to be her husband. She had to wonder if he would beat her like her father had beaten her mother. Naturally, he was a Scot after all... and so he must be the violent sort. There was something about his grin that she did not know if she could trust him, to her... it seemed fake or forced.
As for Tomas, he was watched his bride as she looked like a scared rabbit that was about to bolt out the door if given the chance. Atleast she had not screamed at the sight of him, that was a good thing and he was quite happy about that for the moment. "Lady Alice." He said simply preferring to be the silent type as he made a formal bow to the woman with whom he was to wed. She seemed comely enough and would bare a child or two, not that it was an immidiate concern since his older brother was bound to have a bastard or two roaming around the Scottish countryside. "A pleasure..." He said quite happy that the nuptials would be arranged so quickly before he took his bride's hand and kissed it.
His blind eye moved with his brown eyes as he glanced up at the blond lady with who he was to wed by the afternoon. Unlike his brother, he would be taking his wife to his bed that evening thinking it best to get it over and done with for the time being. "We look forward to the wedding this afternoon." He said in a low tone, he supposed that they would need to get ready.
---
"How could you get caught?!" Joanna winced as she was listening to her father yelling at her behind closed doors as she feared that he would slap her across the face as he had many times before. Her hair had been neatly pinned and she was wearing her best gown since this was her wedding, one should try to look their best. "I'm sorry, Father but... she was doing the same..." Joanna said trying not to show the fear in her eyes as her father slammed his fist onto a table.
"Pranks... and now you are to be wed to some bastard when I had promised you to Lord John Grey." He said with a glare as her as she swallowed as she thought of the handsome Lord with whom she had met only once. Handsome or not, she did not like him since he had said that her 'arse' was too big and that she was nothing more than a seacow. "I am sorry, father..." Joanna said quietly as her father slapped her across the face.
"You are sorry... your bitch of a mother always said that too... crying and weeping..." He looked disgusted as Joanna was refusing herself to cry in front of him... she was better then that...
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Post by Raynesleigh on Jan 10, 2012 21:15:10 GMT -5
Alice took a deep breath as she straightened her own gown. She was in a separate chamber than her soon to be sister in law with her own stepfather and her mother there. She looked at her stepfather in the mirror. "You couldn't do better than tha bastard?" she heard him ask. Her gaze lowered. He was a terrifying man, in hisearly fifties now. And had married her mother after she had been widowed. At the time, Alice had oly been four. And by fourteen, he had been taking to her bed and using her as a wife would be uses. Two years of sexual abuse and then her mother had taken her and given her money, begging the queen to take her on as a lady. And so she had spent the last three years as the queens lady's maid, never hearing from her family. Yet here they were. The man she had called father, and her ,other who had aged so much since marrying him fourteen years ago.
"Well it does not matter, he is my husband in all ways once the vows are read...being married to a man from the highlands cannot be much different then being married to you," she said simply, giving him a soft glare as she put in earrings and then slid a silver necklace around her throat. Slowly, she turned and looked at him. "You cannot hurt me anymore," she said to him and then room a deep breath, kissing her mother's cheeks but the woman seemed motionless, not dare coming to her defense or saying anything. Just standing there. Alice drew away and sighed. Her stepfather, the one who had adopted her and given her a name smirked at her.
"What do you plan to tell that husband of yours when he beds you and finds you are not a virgin but rather a whore..." he said to her. She swallowed and looked at him bravely. "Then I shall tell him that the man who took my virginity was an old man who forced himself upon me. After all, tis truth," she spat then turned on her heel, walking out. At least one good thing about Scotland is that it would be far away from the likes of her tormentor. And if her husband to be was anything like that man, then she would overcome it....as she had the abuse that Hubert Hartford had upon her....
-----
The wedding was a simple affair and the rest of the afternoon was spent packing, getting ready for the journey and then an escort to her lord husband's chambers. She had been dressed and prepared for him, the bed blessed but she did not feel comfortable and was standing by the fire with her hair loose as the door to the bridal chamber opened. She glanced at him and took a deep breath then looked st the fire.
"My lord, " she said softly, swallowing hard. Feeling that same nervous tension she had when Hubert had come to her rooms and forced himself on her. Se shivered but fought against the feeling of helplessness. This was her
Punishment for displeasing her queen.
She took a deep breath and looked at him, fighting to control her nerves. "Is that what you prefer to be called inprivste or shall I call you by your first name?" she asked wondering if he was going to be cruel with her. Well, if he was, she prayed it ws cruel and quick so she didn't have to endure it so much.
-----
Tavis entered his own chambers where the lady he had wed had been prepared for him, but he was going to wait. Entering the room, he Watcjed as her maid left and he saw fit to lock the door. Walking to the table by the small window, he poured two glasses of wine and then handed her a cup. " I willnae be touching ya this evening my fair one. If only to save ya the pain....and to travel with it. Though, I admit, I am sorely tempted my wife." he saw the red hue of a mark on her cheek and sighed.
He hated that a man would to Uh a woman in anger and he had every reason to think the cause was her father who had been glaring daggers at him the whole time of the wedding and at dinner as whe had sat by his bride. Sorry bastard. He dropped his hand from her chin after observing it then sank down slowly in a chair and loosened his doublet, looking at her. "Is that yer father's handiwork?" he asked her curiously as he took a sip from his cup, wondering if she would sit or if she was to scared he might pounce on her.
He knew the English had all of these myths about highland men. That they were no better than savage. It was just that most had a tendency to be to proud or hot tempered. He had more of the former while his twin had taken the latter. Granted, his temper was nearly even but there were sometimes that he exploded in rage. Hitting something or going out into the trainngyars to blow off steam. When their father Laird William MacLeod III, had passed away, the man had spent most of the next two weeks working himself until exhaustion forced him to retire to bed.
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Post by anjelrocker on Jan 10, 2012 22:38:05 GMT -5
To say the least, he was going to bed his new wife on that evening but he could tell that the comely young blonde was rather nervous as he had entered. The wedding had been short and sweet accompanyed by a banquet. The families of both his brother's new wife as well as his own were apparently not pleased with the arrangement nor were they pleased with each other it seemed. To him, it had been amusing in a way.
However, as he stood in the chambers... Tomas watched her with his good eyes. "Ye may call me Tomas or Milord... I prefer Tomas when we are engaging in carnal activities..." He said in his soft blurr as he saw that there was wine for the two of them and decided to pour himself some as well as his new bride. He wondered if she was afraid of him and decided to ask that very question. "Do ye fear me, lass? I promise that I willnae hurt ye. Best if we get this business done with, aye?" He asked her as he paused feeling self conscious about his appearance.
He brushed this thought away as he went to her side and gave her one of the pewter cups of wine. "Best if you drink one to get the edge off, no?" Tomas asked as if he was making a jest wondering if he was talking too much for the young woman. Looking her up and down, he could see the sihouette of her body through the thin nightgown.
"Tell me about yerself, lass?" He asked her knowing that women tended to like to talk about themselves.
---
She almost winced when he took a closer look at the red mark on her cheek as Joanna opened her eyes and was watching him. She was so sure that he was about to strike her and yet, he had not. "Yes..." She replied truthfully as she slowly saw herself down across from him with the cup of wine in her hands as she lifted it up to drink slowly. "I thank you for being so considerate, My Lord." She said with her chin up and her nose up even further. "How long of a ride is it to the Isle of Skye? She asked curiously.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Jan 11, 2012 7:36:09 GMT -5
Alice glanced at him, taking the wine slowly. She took a deep breath. She probably should confess she was ot some pure virgin bride but the shame of it kept her silent. She sank down slowly and glanced at him. "I was raised in the country till I was fifteen and being unwed, mother sent me to court to be the Queen's handmaiden thinking that I would find a suitable match with the queens blessings....and i have been her lady's maid for three years...there is not much to tell my lord..." she said, still to nervous to call him by his christain name. She took another sip of her wine and swallowed hard.
"My stepfather is the Earl of Winchester....but of little means and my older brother Robert is now the Earl of Sutton...the younger of my older brothers are either of the church or of the army...I was...born a bastard..." she said then sipped at her wine again. Slowly, she looked at him. "What of you my lord? I fear I know nothing about you with the exception that most ladies are terrified of you just because of a scar...". She had seen worse and was not afraid of him for that reason. But she was afraid of his large size.
-----
Tavis thought on it. "If the weather proves fair, two weeks at best for it is near the very tip of Scotland's north. Craggy hills, snow for half the year. Most who grow up there dinnae appreciate the beauty of it but it's a spot me family has owned for three generations passed." he smiled. "And English blood is common with our family. In fact, my great grandfather was in fact English as was his wife...." he said, trying to talk her into comfortably. He sighed.
"It's a lovely place once ye get used to it...and in the spring and summer, tis a lovely sight," he smiled then took a sip of his wine. "Also ye dinna have to worry o'er any man taking a strike at ye. Our da raised us right," he promised her then adjusted himself, taking off his doublet to reveal his strong frame hidden barely under his chemise. "I s'pose, the mon was angry because ye were marryin' me rather than an English gentleman," he mused, observing her calmly.
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Post by anjelrocker on Jan 11, 2012 16:44:39 GMT -5
Touching his face, he was use to ladies being terrified over the scar all because he fell off a pony at the age of six or seven. He was not quite sure when it had happen since he had been only a lad. "You already know that I come from the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. Probably think that my brother and I are nothing but a bunch of brutes as well." He said as he thought to himself. "I'm in my mid twenties and since I had unwed, I was forced by my King along with my brother to find a match. O' course, if the Queen of England is giving me a match, best if I take it." He mentioned as he sipped at the wine. "Both myself and my older twin are the Laird's of a kept called Tulloch. There is a small village there with a school, chapel... I suppose you can call it a quite village amongst the Highlands. It is my home and where I grew up."
He thought of Tulloch with fond memories as he thought of cousins and his younger siblings. "My great grandfather was William Alderidge of Brighton before he was said to be dead and went into exile during the lifetime of King Henry. I suppose the Queen and I are distant cousins." He shrugged knowing his lineage, he preferred to be a Scot rather than English. "I have two sisters and a younger brother as well as a number of cousins against Scotland and even some in England. The Bedford line comes from Tulloch as well. But, he is long since dead... I think the Dowager is still alive."
He had studied more so than his brother preferring to read then to fight with the sword. Not that he was not good with it, even in his blind state he would hear better than most. "Are you terrified of my scar, Alice?" He asked her with a gentle voice as he approached her, finishing his cup of wine and putting it on the table before sitting down beside her but not reaching for her.
Not just yet, he wanted to know more about his wife.
---
"He was upset because of this punishment that the Queen gave myself and Lady Alice." She stated wondering if he knew the reason that they were chosen out of all the Queen's handmaidens. "It is a rather silly story but, my Father is a cruel man... he does not like Lady Alice's family nor does he like much of anything." Joanna stated as she looked up at her new husband. She was only wearing a nightgown and was dressed according to what was to happen on a wedding night. However, he had stated that he would not be taking her that evening.
"I do admit that I am not pleased either... but beggers can not be choosers, I suppose." She lifted her shoulders as he had said about not striking her. "Do you promise...?" She asked seriously as she tilted her head. "Do you promise that you will never raise a hand to me or if we are to have any children?" Joanna wanted his word. "And that if you do then I am to return to England?"
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Post by Raynesleigh on Jan 11, 2012 20:19:24 GMT -5
Alice looked at him. "Nay...I am not afraid of a scar. I have seen worse before...A scar does not make a man...it is the person..." She took a deep breath. "I do not know of the Dowager but I do know of the Duke of Bedford and his son. As well as his daughter. We were playmates as children...the Bedfords are rather nice people...and I think I met the Dowager when I was just a child. She is a good soul..." She smiled softly then looked down and took another sip of her wine.
"Being a bastard, it did not matter if I was adopted or not...I was blamed for the sins of my mother but, it was no sin that got me here. At least not on my mother's part. I'm bastard of my mother's husband's brother. He took advantage of her while her husband was away fighting, and as her husband died, I was born, eleven months after his absence...A bastard..." she said, knowing her position. She was not ashamed of it. It was of her previous sexual experience that she was shamed.
-----
Tavis observed her. "My lady wife, if ever I raise a hand to you, I give you full permission to take a dagger and cut off my manpart. And as for you returning to England, if that is your wish...but any children I have, I wish to be left in Scotland and if you are of a mind to leave any children for the sake of this country, then I willnae stop ye," he swore then took a deep breath, taking another sip of his wine.
"I know you do not wish this marriage my lady, but not many who marry these days are of a mind to want it either. It is the way of the world and the way of highborn men and women...I promise to give you everything I can, within my power, and to offer you a good home." He gave her a smile and then drank down his wine before siting the cup down by the chair. "As for this feud between you and my brother's new wife, I mean to tell you it won't do to have you two playing tricks on each other, and causing mischief. My brother and I get along well, and I would hope you would set aside this feuding due to the fact that you both are now sisters-in-law."
He got up, taking his cup with him and poured wine before looking back at her. "How old are you my lady?"
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