It took her a full minute to realize he was giving her his approval.
"You're far more clever than I am," he said.
She tried to tell him thank you for his compliment but couldn't. She burst into tears.
Everyone started shouting at the same time. Keith blamed Calum's rude reaction to their mistress's clothing as the reason for her distressed state. Calum was just as emphatic in his opinion that Keith's constant browbeating tactics were the true reason Lady Johanna was weeping.
Gabriel seemed to be the only one not affected by his wife's tears. He ordered her to sit down, then moved to stand behind her. He put one hand on her shoulder and turned his full attention to his soldiers.
"Seeing my wife dressed in both plaids has opened my eyes. I have only just realized the great lengths Johanna has gone to in order to accommodate all of you. She has been told which plaid to wear, which chair to sit in, who to walk with, and so on, and she has never been anything but gracious in her bid to please you. From the day she arrived here, she has accepted all of you, Maclaurins and MacBains alike. She has treated Calum and Keith with equal affection. She has given all of you her devotion and her loyalty. Her repayment has been your criticism and your disdain. She has even been called coward by some, yet she didn't come to me with a single complaint. She suffered the humiliation in silence, proving without a doubt she is far more understanding and forgiving than I could ever be."
Silence followed the laird's speech. Gabriel squeezed his wife's shoulder before continuing. "Aye, she's been damned accommodating," he repeated. "And so have I." His voice was hard now and angry. "I've tried to be patient with you, but I find it's one hell of a strain, for I'm really not a patient man at all. I have had enough of this conflict and, obviously, so has my wife. From this moment on, we are united as one clan. You have accepted me as your laird. Now you will accept each other. Those of you who cannot do this have my permission to leave at first light."
Another minute or two of silence followed the laird's command. Then Lindsay took a step forward. "Laird MacBain, which plaid will we wear?"
Gabriel turned his attention to the Maclaurin soldier. "You have given me your loyalty, and I am a MacBain. You will wear my colors."
"But your father was a Maclaurin," Keith reminded his laird.
Gabriel turned his frown on his first-in-command. "He neither claimed me nor gave me his name," he replied. "And I do not claim him. I'm a MacBain. If you follow me, you wear my colors."
Keith nodded. "I follow you, Laird."
"I, too, Laird," Lindsay blurted out. "But I'm wondering now what we will do with the Maclaurin plaids."
Gabriel was going to suggest they burn the things, then changed his mind. "The plaid belongs to your past," he announced. "You will hand it down to your children with the tales of your history. The MacBain plaid you put on tomorrow is the beginning of your future. United, we will become invincible."
The tension in the hall was broken by their laird's last remark. A resounding cheer went up.
"'Tis cause for a celebration," Father MacKechnie announced.
"A toast it is," Gabriel agreed.
"Without spilling," Johanna blurted out.
For some reason, her instruction was found to be vastly amusing by the men. She couldn't imagine why they were carrying on so, then thought that perhaps they were simply laughing with relief. There had been a few worrisome minutes during Gabriel's speech. At least she'd been worried.
She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her linen square, embarrassed now because she couldn't seem to quit crying.
Dear God, she was thankful she'd married Gabriel. Her life had been so bleak and desolate. She'd never known what joy was until he came into her life.
Such thoughts only made her weep all the more. The men didn't pay her any attention now. She heard Keith whisper it was her delicate condition causing the undignified display of emotions. Calum nodded agreement.
Johanna looked up and spotted Leila standing by the entrance. She immediately stood and motioned for the woman to come to her.
Leila seemed hesitant. The men all stood with their goblets. The jug was being passed down the line so that each soldier would pour his own. Johanna walked around the group and met Leila in the center of the hall.
"Did you hear…"
"Oh, yes, m'lady, I heard," Leila interrupted. "Your husband gave a powerful speech."
"Come and sit down next to me, Leila, at the table."
"But I'm a Maclaurin," she whispered. "At least I was until a few minutes ago."
She blushed after making the comment. Johanna smiled. "You are still a Maclaurin, but you are now also a MacBain. Calum won't have any excuse not to court you now," she added in a low whisper.
Leila's blush intensified. Johanna took hold of her hand and pulled her along.
The soldiers had just finished a toast to their laird and their future. They were about to take their places at the tables when Johanna gained their attention.
"I would like to make a few changes in the seating," she began.
"We like where we sit, m'lady," Michael told her.
She ignored the protest. "It is only fitting that both commanders sit with their laird. Keith will sit on his laird's left, and Calum will sit on his right."
Gabriel shook his head at her. "Why not?" she demanded.
"You will sit next to me."
He didn't sound like he was going to bend on the issue. "All right then," she agreed. "Calum, you'll sit next to me. Leila, come along. You may sit next to Calum."
Johanna wasn't quite finished making changes. When she was finished, a Maclaurin sat next to a MacBain at each table.
Father MacKechnie sat at the head of the second table where Keith used to sit. He was thrilled with the honor bestowed upon him. Keith was just as pleased with the new arrangement, if his smile was an indicator, because he now sat next to his laird.
"Why does it matter where the rest of us sit?" Lindsay asked his mistress.
She wasn't about to tell him the truth that she wanted to completely eliminate the division by the clans. She never again wanted to see the Maclaurins all clumped together at one table and the MacBains seated at the other.
The soldier repeated his question when Johanna didn't immediately answer him. She couldn't think of a logical reason to give the inquisitive man. And so she gave him an illogical one. "Because my mama's coming. That is why."
Lindsay nodded, then turned to repeat her explanation to the MacBain soldier seated next to him. "Her mama's coming. M'lady wants everything to be just so."
The MacBain soldier nodded. "Aye, she does," he agreed.
Johanna turned her attention to the table so the men wouldn't see her smile. She wanted to laugh over Lindsay's naivete but didn't dare.
Dinner was a wonderful success by her measure. Calum and Leila started out as stiff as boards, but by the time the meal was finished they were talking to each other in low whispers. She was straining to hear what they were talking about when Gabriel realized what she was doing and pulled her closer to him.
"There will be a wedding soon," Gabriel remarked with a nod in Calum's direction.
Johanna smiled. "Yes," she whispered.
The mention of marriage turned her thoughts to Clare. The MacKay woman needed a husband, and in Johanna's estimation, there were several fine possibilities sitting at the table.
"Keith? Have you-" Johanna began, thinking to ask him if he'd considered his future.
Keith wouldn't let her finish her question.
"I've been waiting for you to bring that up," he said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You have?"
"It was my duty to tell your husband, m'lady. I tried to keep your promise, even felt a bit relieved because I felt responsible for the Maclaurin women and their offense was mine, but I didn't get through the full day without realizing my first loyalty belonged to the MacBain."
"What are you talking about?"
Joha
nna had never seen a grown man blush until now.
Keith was turning red with embarrassment.
"Never mind, m'lady."
She wasn't about to let the matter drop. "Exactly what did you tell my husband?"
Gabriel answered her. "He explained about the names, Johanna, and how Glynis came up with…"
She wouldn't let him finish. "She was most contrite, husband. You mustn't take issue with her. Promise me you won't talk to her about this."
Since Gabriel had already had a talk with Glynis, he felt it safe to give his wife his promise.
She nodded, satisfied. "I wondered where you'd heard I was being called a coward," she said then. She turned her frown to Keith. "It never entered my mind, however, that you would tell my husband. I believed someone else had overheard Glynis and then went to his laird with the tale."
"It was his duty to tell me," Gabriel announced. "You will thank him, wife, not sanction him."
"It all came out in the wash," Johanna announced.
"What in thunder does that mean?" Gabriel asked.
"She's giving us another lesson, Laird," Keith explained with a grin.
"I see," Gabriel replied.
"Nay, Laird, you won't see. None of your wife's lessons make any sense."
Johanna would have explained what she'd meant by her remark, but Alex drew her full attention when he came running into the hall. She saw the frightened look on his face and immediately stood up.
Alex circled the table and hurled himself into her arms. He buried his face in her plaid.
"What happened, Alex?" she asked, her concern apparent in her voice. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"There's something under the bed. I heard it."
Gabriel rolled his eyes in exasperation. He reached over to pull his son away from Johanna. Alex wouldn't let go until his father ordered him to.
"You're sleeping on a mat on the floor, Alex," Gabriel said. "It isn't possible for anything to get underneath."
"No, Papa," Alex argued. "I got in your bed. It's under there. It might get me if I close my eyes."
"Alex…" his father began.
"You'd better go up with him and look under the bed, husband. It's the only way he'll be convinced. Besides, there might really be something under there."
"There is," Alex insisted.
Gabriel let out a loud sigh before complying with his family's wishes. He stood up, lifted his son into his arms, and walked out of the hall.
Johanna took her seat again. She smiled at Keith. She was thrilled to have his attention without Gabriel. Her husband would certainly interfere in the discussion.
"Children," Johanna drawled out. "They're such a joy. When you get married and have a family of your own, you'll understand what I'm saying. You are going to get married someday, aren't you, Keith?"
"Aye, m'lady," he answered. "Next summer as a matter of fact. Bridgid MacCoy has agreed to become my wife."
"Oh."
She couldn't quite hide her disappointment. She turned her gaze down the table and settled on Michael as a possibility.
He caught her staring at him. He smiled. She nodded. "Children," she began again. "They're wonderful, aren't they, Michael?"
"If you say so, m'lady."
"Oh, I do say," she replied. "When you get married, you'll understand. You do plan to marry someday, don't you, Michael?"
"Eventually," he answered with a shrug.
"Have you anyone in mind?"
"Are you matchmaking, m'lady?" Keith asked.
"Why would you think that?"
"I'll marry Helen when I'm ready," Michael interjected. "I've told her I will, and she agreed to wait."
Johanna frowned. The possibilities were becoming a bit limited. She turned to Niall.
"Children…" she began.
"She is matchmaking," Keith announced.
It was as though he'd just shouted the alarm that they were under siege. The soldiers literally jumped from their stools. They bowed to Johanna and left the room in the space of a single minute. She didn't even have enough time to order them back into their seats.
Only the soldiers already spoken for remained. And Father MacKechnie, of course, but then he wasn't a viable possibility either, for priests couldn't marry.
Gabriel came back to an almost empty hall. He looked around him in puzzlement, shrugged, and then sat down again to finish his supper.
He smiled at his wife.
"Well?" she demanded.
He looked sheepish. "There was something under the bed."
She laughed, for she believed he was jesting with her. Then he explained, "Dumfries crawled underneath."
Leila and Calum both stood up. Leila bowed to her laird. "Thank you for giving me the honor of dining with you," she said.
Gabriel nodded. Leila blushed. "Thank you, too, m'lady."
"It's dark," Calum announced.
He didn't have anything more to add. Johanna tried not to smile. "Perhaps you should escort Leila home," she suggested, "if it's dark, Calum."
The soldier nodded. "As you wish, m'lady."
Calum motioned for Leila to walk ahead of him. Johanna turned back to her husband. Keith caught her attention then. The look of surprise on his face indicated he'd only just realized a romance was budding between Leila and Calum.
He suddenly grinned. He stood up, bowed to his laird, and then called out, "Wait up, Calum. I'll walk with you."
Johanna could hear the laughter in his voice. Calum wasn't amused by Keith's offer. "You don't need to…"
"Oh, but I want to," he said. He hurried to catch up with the couple. "It's dark outside."
Leila kept walking. Calum tried to shove Keith aside. The soldier wouldn't be shoved, however. They bickered hark and forth as they left the hall.
"I wonder if those two will ever learn to get along," Johanna remarked.
Father MacKechnie was feeling lonely. He picked up his goblet and moved to take Keith's place at the other table.
"It's just a bit of good-hearted rivalry between two commanders," the priest remarked. "Laird, that was a fine speech you gave tonight."
"Yes, it was," Johanna agreed. "I would like to ask you something, though," she added. "Why did you wait so long? Why didn't you give your speech a month ago or two months ago? You would have saved me quite a lot of aggravation, husband."
Gabriel leaned back in his chair. "They weren't ready then, Johanna."
"But they were ready tonight," the priest interjected with a nod.
She was still puzzled. "What made them ready tonight?"
"Not what," the priest said, "but who, lass."
She didn't understand. Gabriel nodded. A warm glint had come into his eyes. "You made them ready to accept the change."
"How did I do that?" she demanded.
"She's begging for compliments," Gabriel told the priest.
"It appears she is," Father MacKechnie bantered back.
"I'm begging to understand," she countered.
"It was your quiet defiance," Gabriel finally explained:
She still didn't know what he was talking about. The priest seemed to understand, however, for he nodded several times.
"Explain my quiet defiance to me."
Gabriel laughed. "You will never make me believe you. couldn't keep track of which plaid to wear on which day," he said. "You forgot on purpose, didn't you?"
"Gabriel, no one forgets on purpose," she argued.
"You put no importance on keeping track," the priest said.
She sighed. "That is true," she admitted. "I thought it was nonsense, but I…"
"Quiet defiance," Gabriel repeated. " 'Twas the reason you learned to read," he added. "Isn't that so?"
"Yes, but that was different," she explained.
"No, it isn't."
Johanna let out a sigh. She knew she shouldn't let her husband believe she'd deliberately worn the wrong plaids just to make the men realize how foolish they were behaving in their determination to maintai
n their separation from each other. It wouldn't be honorable to accept praise for something she hadn't done.
"I'm not so clever," she remarked.
"Aye, you are," her husband said. "You convinced Laird MacKay to wait another couple of weeks before taking his daughter home."
"Clare isn't up to a long journey."
"And you stopped me from telling MacKay none of my men touched his daughter. I know you were deliberately stalling so that Clare could stay here, and I did keep silent," he added. "But when MacKay comes back, I will have to tell him the truth."
"And so will she," Johanna said. "She'll be strong enough by then." And hopefully married, Johanna thought to herself, if she could find a suitable possibility.
Gabriel could prove helpful. "Husband? I find it honorable indeed that you have such faith in your soldiers. To know without a doubt that none of them would ever have touched Clare…"
"Where did you get that notion?"
"From you," she replied, puzzled by his question.
"Now, Johanna, you can't believe my men wouldn't take what was offered."
"But you defended them and led me to believe none had touched her," she argued.
He looked exasperated. "We are talking about two different issues," he explained. "I don't believe any of my men would refuse the opportunity to bed a willing woman," he said. "However, I also believe that if he did touch her, he wouldn't leave her there. He would bring her home with him."
"There is also the fact that the soldier would certainly admit he'd bedded the lass. He wouldn't lie to his laird."
Father MacKechnie added.
Gabriel nodded. "And that, you see, is the real issue."
She didn't see, but she didn't want to argue with her husband. In her opinion, he was making the issue far more complicated than it needed to be.
Father MacKechnie stood up to take his leave. He once again praised Gabriel for his cunning and forceful speech, then turned to bow to Johanna.
"You do realize, lass, that you saved the Maclaurins from certain exile? You used your wiles to get their cooperation," he explained. "You gained their affection, too."
Johanna was humbled by the priest's opinion. She whispered her thank you for his kind words, even as she thought that tomorrow she would have to straighten out his opinion. Gabriel was the reason the Maclaurins were cooperating. Surely the priest would realize that fact soon enough.
Saving Grace Page 33
