by Amanda Scott
“He is on his way now?”
“Aye,” she said. “I was nearly ready to depart for Glasgow, in any event. So I put my journey forward a day and hied myself here instead. I doubt that I fooled him any more than you have, however. He is far too likely to be acting in haste. You understand what this could mean, I expect.”
“Clan war,” Rob said curtly. “I never meant that to happen.”
“Mind your tone,” she said. Her expression was rueful, though, when she added, “I realized on the way here that you must have thought you were acting for Clan Maxwell. I ought to have recalled how headstrong you can be when you react to anger or resentment. I had second thoughts after I’d mentioned the clan, but I hoped… Never mind that now, though,” she said briskly. “I want to meet her, so go and tell her that I am here. I trust you at least had the kindness to lock her in the great chamber and not in the smaller one upstairs.”
“She is in the great chamber and has not been locked in since just a few days after her arrival,” he said. “In fact, she has already tried to escape.”
“Then she has more spirit than I’d expected. Go quickly now and fetch her. You may bring her to me here, and we shall go down and sup together.”
“I’ll have to bring Annie along as well, then,” Rob said.
“Annie?”
“Fin Walters’s good-sister,” Rob said. “You’d know her as Dora’s sister.”
“Sakes, that bairn was no more than ten the last time I was here!”
“Then it is time and more that you came to us, madam.”
“Get her before I hand ye a clout on the lug,” she said sternly.
Remembering other times she had made his ears ring with a slap, Rob grinned but decided not to tempt her further.
Hurrying upstairs, he opened the door to Mairi’s chamber without ceremony.
Annie was setting the stool at the table for their supper, and Mairi stood by the window, her figure outlined by the light there. She stood in profile, drawing his gaze briefly to her memorable firm, silky breasts before he looked her in the eye and said, “My grandmother is here. She wants to meet you.”
Her mouth dropped open, which, he was sure, was how he had met the news himself. “Come along, lass. Annie, you will sup with us at the high table, but Lady Kelso wants to speak with Lady Mairi privately before you join us. So you can have a few minutes to tidy things here and lay out whatever her ladyship will need later, if you will.”
“Aye, laird, just shout when ye want me,” Annie said.
He nodded. Then, noting that Mairi had not moved, he said, “Now, lass. Gran has less patience than I have.”
Smiling then, she moved toward him. He was glad to see that she wore the pink velvet that became her so well, until he remembered whose dress it was.
Suppressing any alarm that stirred at the memory, he put a hand under her elbow and ushered her out the door, murmuring for her ears alone, “She can be a termagant. But if one does not show fear or defiance, she will remain civil.”
“Am I to thank you for telling me that?” she asked with her eyebrows raised. “I own, you have put me in a quake, sir. Yet, how any Maxwell could feel aught but shame for what one of her own has—”
“Enough of that,” he said sharply. “She was born a Bruce of Annandale, not a Maxwell. And what she feels is anger, not shame. But she will reveal neither to you. She came to help us both, lass. Of that you can be sure. Now, come.”
Mairi drew a deep breath and was glad when he released her elbow and stepped ahead to precede her down the stairs as any gentleman would. He stood in such awe of his grandmother that she had half expected he might let her go first.
They rounded the turn before the next landing, and she was able to see beyond him enough to note that the door in the same position to the landing as hers stood ajar. He paused at the threshold there until she was beside him.
Drawing her inside then, he said respectfully, “Madam, I would present to you the lady Mairi Dunwythie of Annandale.”
The woman who turned toward them from the window looked nearly as tall as Rob was. She was elegantly dressed in a pale green tunic over a skirt of soft brown camlet that swirled gently around her legs as she moved toward them.
Watching her, Mairi saw feminine versions of Rob’s eyes and nose but a kinder expression. Her ladyship’s lips were thinner, her chin more pointed. Unlike Phaeline, who insisted that fashion decreed a perfectly oval, hairless face, she had kept her natural eyebrows. That tended to endear her to Mairi from the outset.
Realizing that she was staring when she ought to be making her curtsy, Mairi hastily dipped low.
“Rise, my dear,” Lady Kelso said. “I want to have a good look at you.”
Her voice was pleasant, her tone cheerful, and Mairi willingly complied. “I am honored to meet your ladyship,” she said. “The laird has spoken often of you.”
“Has he? He did not say a word to me about you until I commanded him to, my dear. I hope he has at least apologized to you for his scurrilous behavior.”
“Why, nay, madam, I do not believe he has,” Mairi said, avoiding Rob’s gaze. “But in troth, he has treated me most kindly from the start.”
“He abducted you kindly?”
Feeling fire ignite in her cheeks, Mairi said hastily, “Not that part. But for the rest, he has been most considerate.”
“He did learn some manners, then. But enough of this, for I am ravenous after my journey. I do want to say just one thing more to you, though. I could not be sure until I had met you, but…” She hesitated, glancing at Rob.
“Sakes, madam, do not let my presence dissuade you,” he said. “I cannot think what else you might say to her ladyship, but it is unlike you to hesitate.”
“It is not on her account that I do, Robbie,” she said. “I trust that you will heed what I say, however, and think carefully before you refuse.”
“Go on,” he said.
Turning back to Mairi, she said, “I am quite willing to tell the world you have been safely with me all this time, my dear. If I do, the most censorious critic will not guess that you and our Rob have been alone here at Trailinghail with no better protection for you than young Annie.”
Mairi nearly protested that Rob had taken care to protect her reputation. But after the previous night’s activity, she doubted she could say it with a straight face.
Before she could decide what to say, Rob said to his grandmother, “By my troth, madam! How can you make such an offer when you have been staying with Alex in Dumfries? Would you expect him to support your claim?”
“I have not the least intention of asking him to do so,” she said. “I shall simply make the declaration the first time I hear anyone discuss Mairi’s abduction. If I assure that person that you, having excellent cause for your actions, brought her to me—We must arrange a stronger tale to explain why you took her, of course.”
“Gran—”
“But once we have plotted out what that must be, I shall simply make the statement. You need not fear Alex. He will not dare to contradict me, especially as to do so would incriminate you. Say what you like about him, dearling, Alex knows what is due to his family. Now, what do you say, my dear?” she asked Mairi.
The door snapped open and Gibby burst into the chamber. “Laird! The sheriff ha’ come and he be looking black as thunder!”
“Run back down and tell him I’ll be at his service straightaway, lad,” Rob ordered. “Wait, though! Does he lead a large company?”
“Aye, a score, mayhap two! But Fin Walters did tell him they couldna come in as the place be gey small for such a crowd. ’Twas Fin told me to come quick and tell ye that the sheriff be in the yard and in a right foul temper.”
“Then do exactly as I bid you and speak to Fin, not to the sheriff unless he calls you to him. Tell Fin he did right and to keep them all out but for the sheriff’s personal servants if he brought any. Hurry, Gib. I don’t want the sheriff to come up here, so I shall be close b
ehind you. Madam?”
“Aye, I’ll go down to him,” Lady Kelso said. “But keep the lass out of the way, Rob. It will not do for him to see her here. Faith,” she added. “I forgot you put her in the great chamber and that I told Gib to send my woman to the small one. Mairi, lass, hie thee upstairs and tell my Eliza that she is to move my things swiftly into the great chamber. You and your Annie will take the smaller one tonight.”
Mairi opened her mouth to explain that Annie did not stay nights, but Rob intervened, saying curtly, “Do as she says, lass, and hurry. Tell Annie she must expect to stay. The bed in the small chamber is the same size as the one in yours.”
Knowing she could take up no more of his time, Mairi caught up her skirts and ran up the stairs, only to meet Annie coming down.
“We’ve had a change of plans,” Mairi said, and explained.
Annie turned around at once, and Mairi followed her, wondering if even the indomitable Lady Kelso could keep the Sheriff of Dumfries at bay.
It occurred to her only then that she no longer wanted or needed rescuing.
Rob followed his grandmother downstairs, thinking it typical that she had no hesitation in bearding Alex in a fury. Then he realized that he had no hesitation, either. In fact, if he were truthful, he was looking forward to it.
Lady Kelso paused on the landing outside the hall. Then, straightening her shoulders and raising her chin, she entered the great hall with regal dignity.
Rob lengthened his stride to walk beside her.
Alex stood staring into the fireplace, where a fire roared. Gillies scurried to and fro, putting food on the lower tables. Others did likewise at the high table.
Alex looked up with a frown, directing it first at his grandmother but shifting it at once to his brother. “This is a fine thing,” he snapped.
“I am surprised to see you again so soon, too,” Lady Kelso said blandly.
“Do not hope to cozen me, madam. I ken fine why you came here.”
“Welcome to Trailinghail,” Rob said, extending his right hand.
Alex looked as if he would ignore it. However, Lady Kelso said tartly, albeit in a tone unlikely to carry beyond the three of them, “Alexander, recall where you are!”
Grimacing, Alex shook Rob’s hand and said, “Where are you keeping her?”
“Who?” Rob asked, meeting his angry gaze with uncustomary ease. “I’m told you brought a large force with you, Alex. Has aught occurred to warrant that?”
“You must know it has. Dunwythie, may the devil fly off with him, accused me of abducting his daughter. Sakes, I don’t even know the lass’s name! But I have no doubt that you do. What is going on, Rob, and where the devil is she?”
“Not now, and certainly not here,” Lady Kelso said crisply. “You ken fine that you cannot roar at him here just as everyone is about to take supper, Alexander. Not unless you want Maxwell affairs bruited over all of Galloway and Dumfries.”
“It can be here or elsewhere, but we are going to talk! And I’ll be damned if I’ll sit down to sup with him before I have learned all I want to know.”
Raising her chin, Lady Kelso said, “Do you mean to say, sir, that you would leave me alone here to take my supper on that dais by myself?”
Alex hesitated, but Rob said, “It must be as you choose, madam. However, the great chamber is prepared for your use, and I will have a lad take supper up on a tray for you and your woman if you will only agree to it.”
Her eyebrows shot upward. For a moment, she looked into his eyes. But her expression did not otherwise alter before she said, “I see too much of Eliza as it is and would much prefer to enjoy the company of my grandsons. However, if Alex is bent on fratching, his company would be unpleasant. Just be generous, Rob. I’m famished.” Turning toward the stairway, she paused to say, “Send up that imp Gibby with the tray, dear. He’ll likely amuse me more than either of you would.”
“Aye, madam,” Rob said. He motioned one of the gillies over and gave the orders, then said, “Come with me, Alex. I doubt you remember much about this place, but there is a chamber beyond this one that will serve our purpose.”
“Only if it boasts a gallows, Robert. I’m ripe to hang you for this mischief. And by heaven, if it results in clan war, I’m likely to do that.”
Although Rob knew he was exaggerating, he also knew that Alex was angry and even frightened that Dunwythie might persuade the other Annandale lairds that the Maxwells had taken his daughter. If they joined him, clan war would result.
He had to hear Alex out, to learn all he could about exactly what Dunwythie had said. He wanted to be sure that his lordship’s threat had been sincere. If he meant war, then war there would be unless Rob could stop it before it began.
To do that, he knew he would have to choose between his loyalty to his clan and his vow to protect the woman he had wronged, a woman he was rapidly coming to realize meant more to him than his life did.
Chapter 15
Mairi and Annie, with the help of her ladyship’s Eliza, quickly shifted enough items to the small room so that if the sheriff came up, he would see naught to show that anyone save her ladyship had occupied the great chamber.
“What if he looks in here?” Annie asked Mairi as the two carried one kist of clothing into the smaller room and Eliza shifted the other aside to make room for it.
Much the same age as her mistress and nearly as stately, Eliza smiled and said. “He won’t come in, lass. That I can promise ye. Master Alex kens fine that I’d no welcome him in my chamber. And for all he’ll ken, this one be mine alone.”
“I am sorry to be doing you out of a private chamber,” Mairi said to her.
“Never fidget yourself, my lady. ’Tis me own mistress gave the command, and I ha’ nae objection to aught that she asks o’ me.”
“There be somebody on the stairs,” Annie hissed.
“I will go,” Eliza said. “Shut the door behind me and dinna speak!”
Whisking out, she returned shortly afterward to assure them that it was only her ladyship, come to ask them to take supper with her in the great chamber.
Mairi’s hair was curling in damp wisps around her face and on her neck. She washed quickly and let Annie pin her plaits up under the white veil before returning to the great chamber with Eliza and Annie, to face Lady Kelso.
Although she had been wishing she still had Rob to support her, she quickly realized she need not worry. Her ladyship was thinking only of her supper.
“I shall be grateful for your company, my dear. Eliza, prithee meet whoever is bringing our food. I asked Master Robert to send our Gibby up, but as Rob will not have entrusted our tray to the lad, he will also be sending a gillie. So take it from him. I’d liefer not remind the servants of her ladyship’s presence here.”
“They are all completely loyal to the laird, my lady,” Mairi said, recalling how many had seen her take a late supper with Rob the night he returned from Annan House and found her in the cave.
“I know they are loyal,” her ladyship said. “But ’tis gey easy for anyone to slip if a question is put the right way. ’Twill be safer an Eliza brings our food.”
“What of Gibby?” Mairi asked her when Eliza had left the room with Annie at her heels. “He has been much in my company from the outset.”
“Gibby would tell you that he does not talk to Alexander.”
Mairi smiled. Although she doubted Gib would defy the sheriff’s order, the lad was resourceful enough to elude Maxwell if he thought it wise to do so.
In the small chamber beyond the hall, Rob faced his older brother, feeling confident for once and determined not to lose his temper.
“Damn you, tell me what you did with her!” Alex demanded again. “I’m telling you, Dunwythie has blood in his eye. He was brazen enough to inform me that he means to return with all Annandale behind him. He is certain that Maxwells took her. But I know only one Maxwell daft enough to do that.”
“I see,” Rob said. “Has anyone else sugge
sted that I took her, Alex? Or do you just assume as much because Dunwythie suspects a Maxwell? I’d remind you,” he added caustically, “that you, not I, inflamed his hatred of Clan Maxwell.”
“I have done nowt but my duty,” Alex growled. “And we do not talk about some possible role of mine in this but of what you have done, Rob. Once again, I expect, you let impulse rule what sense you have and acted without thinking. Good God, but the lass is yet unwed and his heiress. Did you expect him—?”
“I expect nowt of him,” Rob said. “As for clan war, Alex, you planted its seed by threatening to raise the Maxwells against him to force his submission to your self-assumed authority. You told me you made that threat. By my troth, I acted to prevent bloodshed. Mayhap one reason the Annandale lairds refuse to submit is that they think you serve Clan Maxwell as sheriff more than you would serve any of them.”
“I can certainly call together all the Maxwells to aid me against Dunwythie. He may call up Annandale, but few will answer. They ken fine that Clan Maxwell is larger and stronger than they are.”
“Stronger than Douglas?” Rob countered. “Recall that Archie intends to control all of southwest Scotland. He may decide that such an attack is reason enough to impose his will at once on Dumfriesshire. Have you considered that?”
“Aye, sure. ’Tis why we must settle this before he moves to take the shire. He will not dismiss its hereditary sheriff, though. When he does take over, we can still take our rightful share of the rents before he takes his and those of the Crown.”
“You are ever quick to overreach,” Rob said tersely. “If you were the leader you’d like to be, Alex, you might accomplish what you want. But you are not. You carp, complain, and criticize men who would serve you when they fail or when the result of their action is not exactly what you had imagined it would be.”
“Now, you listen here—”
“Nay, then, you listen. You push others to do your work, Alex, even to issue unpopular or difficult orders so that you need not do so. If things go well, you take the credit. If not, you shift the blame. Believe me when I say you had better think again about this business, because if you have misjudged Archie, you will lose. And you will lose not only Annandale, I fear, but mayhap all of Dumfriesshire.”
