Highland Pride

by Dana D'Angelo

  William racked his brain to imagine where the robbers hid, and he instinctively led his mount along the burn. They weren’t far since they had just attacked Domlainn village. Out of all the settlements in his territory, the wealthy community near the fortress was targeted most often. Clansmen from various septs made weekly treks to the village to trade or purchase goods. The thieves knew of this and likely kept the settlement under surveillance. William surmised that if the criminals continued to roam the land unfettered, the clan members would lose confidence in his authority. And the clan itself would eventually be destroyed.

  ***

  After William returned home from the search, he felt even more exhausted and disheartened. The burdens of the clan weighed down on him, and he was hardly aware of his surroundings. He learned that some of the villagers had a general idea where the outlaws camped. He and his men succeeded in raiding the site and caught two outlaws. Unfortunately, the commander had escaped. Again.

  On top of that, he wondered about the wisdom of bringing Kila MacGregon to Domlainn Castle. What could she prove really? He already determined that she lacked the leadership skills he needed to run his estate. But he was taken aback by her unexpected confrontation in the courtyard. The fire in her face drew him to her, and inexplicably, he wanted to pull her close and kiss her. And in that moment of weakness and craziness, he made the offer to her.

  But what if he had brought her here only to put her in danger? If something were to happen to the lass, her brother would wage war with William and his men. And all the efforts he made to solidify the union with the MacGregons would be for naught.

  “William,” his mother shouted, waving her arm in the air to gain his attention.

  His mother’s sudden appearance jolted him back to awareness. When she heard of his arrival, she must have hurried down to meet him. But then as if she believed she wasn’t behaving like a lady of her station, she checked her movements and took smaller steps. She also adjusted her headpiece to make herself look presentable. When she got closer to him, she smoothed a smile of greeting on her lips.

  His mother was always concerned about her appearance and took care to appear calm and collected when she was out in public. She had married his father when she was barely a woman and was soon forced to raise bairns. At the same time, she had to learn how to manage the household. She went into a panic whenever his father went away. And even now, if the steward were not within sight, she would be beside herself with fear and worry.

  He looked beyond Kaithren to see whether Isabel was with her, but he felt disappointed when the lass wasn’t there to greet him. With all the commotion in the courtyard, she must have known about his arrival. But what did he expect? She was mostly indifferent to him, so there was little chance that she would express any excitement at seeing him. Still, he wanted to know how the lass faired. But before he could make his query, his mother spoke up.

  “I thought ye returned earlier,” she said.

  “I needed tae search for those outlaws,” he said.

  She frowned briefly at hearing this but this was old news, and it appeared that she had something else on her mind.

  “Tell me, how was the meeting, lad?” she asked eagerly. “Did ye bring Mairead MacGregon home with ye?” She glanced around as if she thought he had the woman hidden somewhere behind him. “I met the lass once, and that one appeared levelheaded —”

  “She isnae here,” he said briefly.

  After hearing about the new raids in the village, he was in no mood to have an idle conversation with his mother. He needed some time to think about how he was going to tackle this recent round of attacks. The onslaught seemed coordinated, and though he told few people of his visit to Tancraig Castle, the outlaws somehow knew of his absence. Something wasn’t right, and he needed to get to the bottom of this.

  Absently, he started to brush past his mother.

  She caught his arm, stopping him. “Son, what do ye mean, the lass isnae here?” she asked, her brows knitting in confusion. There was also a hint of alarm on her features. He was reminded that it was her idea that he should pursue a marriage with Mairead MacGregon.

  “Didnae ye say ye were going tae bring her back?” she continued. “I clearly remember she was promised tae ye. Ye were tae bring home a wife, and finally tame the mess that your last wife left. The steward —”

  “The lass wasnae promised tae me,” he said, cutting her off. “We had talks, but nay formal agreements were made. However, it disnae matter any longer. Mairead MacGregon is nay longer available since she has married someone else.”

  “What?” Her jaw dropped open, and her normally impassive face was filled with shock. “She’s married tae someone else?”

  “Aye, that’s what I said.”

  William began to walk toward the tower. As he thought about it, he just wanted was to relax in his private solar before he went for supper. He had too much on his mind. Later, he’ll think about the outlaws again.

  Knowing that he wasn’t going to wait for her, his mother hurried after him.

  “How is it possible that she’s married?” she demanded. “Ye must be trying tae fool me.”

  His mother scanned his face, and her own countenance paled when she saw that he wasn’t jesting. She pressed her palms to her cheeks and moaned as if he had just told her about a death in the family. Dropping her hands, she bunched them into fists, and anger rose to her cheeks.

  “Those bastards! They went back on their word,” she hissed. “We shouldnae join a clan that we cannae trust. Neither your father nor your brother would have approved. Ye should pull our support. In all things, ye must put the interest of the clan above all else.”

  “We willnae be doing anything drastic and withdrawing our support. I told ye before, nay formal pledge was made regarding the lass.” His mother started to say something else, but he raised his hand, stopping her. “And if ye have nae noticed by now, Mother, I always put the interest of the clan first.”

  “Well, I feel that I must remind ye of your duties tae your kinsmen,” she said in a huff. “Your father and brother always made sure they cared for the needs of the clan first and foremost.”

  “Ye remind me of this often.” He let out a sigh, not wanting to argue with her any longer. But then he decided to change the topic. The servant probably didn’t inform her of his visitors. “Ye should ken that I have brought home guests.”

  “Guests?” she asked, frowning. “We are in nay condition tae receive guests. We still have many repairs tae do. And we —”

  “I’m verra aware of the state of the castle,” he said. “Look, Mother, ye will have tae excuse me. I’m tired and need tae wash up. I’ll see ye at supper.”

  Chapter 10

  The guest chamber Kila stayed in was small but comfortable. There were feminine influences everywhere. She especially liked the exquisite tapestry that hung on the wall, and she went to examine the artwork.

  “Cherubs and faeries,” she said, letting out a delighted laugh.

  The creatures frolicked in the meadow and engaged in a midsummer dance. The person who conceived the embroidered piece truly had a whimsical imagination. The depictions almost had a childlike innocence to them. She spent more time inspecting the art on the bed canopy and the bedspread. It seemed that considerable care was used to create the embroidered panels. She suspected that this room was either designed by or once belonged to one of William’s previous wives.

  Kila might have spent more time exploring the room, but her stomach rumbled, and she became uncomfortably aware of her hunger.

  Alys had instructed the servants to bring all of Kila’s belongings into the room, but Fearghas insisted that her friend become acquaint with the other servants. The male servant had told her that supper would be ready in about two hours. She had quickly refreshed herself and was ready to leave for the evening meal. By now, she figured the two-hour mark had passed, except no one had come to fetch her.

  But that wasn’t the only thing
that bothered her. Ewan had yet to come around to visit her. It was Rory’s idea to have Ewan be her main escort. She assumed that her older brother didn’t think it was necessary to send a full entourage to accompany her. In truth, she wanted Mairead to come with her, but that would have proved too awkward. After all, her sister had gone through significant lengths to avoid marrying the MacTyrnell.

  Luckily, she at least had Alys. Kila marched to the door. Opening it, she poked her head out. She wasn’t certain, but she thought she heard the low hum of voices. If she were home, she would have already joined everyone in the great hall. But she knew full well that she was a guest in a strange fortress. As things stood, it was unseemly for her to wander into the chamber on her own.

  “Can ye find out whether I should go down for supper?” she asked Alys.

  “All right,” she said and slipped into the entrance way. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Long minutes went by as she waited for her friend to come back. She tried sitting on one of the uncomfortable chairs but then settled on sitting on the firm mattress. All the while, she tried to ignore how hungry she was. Of course, the rumbling in her stomach wouldn’t let her forget.

  “I cannae wait any longer,” she said aloud.

  Somehow hearing her own voice solidified her conviction and her need to change her circumstances. She went to the door again and flung it open. She half-hoped that Alys would return with a servant in tow. But the hallway was empty and quiet.

  As she made her way down the spiral stairs and to the ground floor, she could hear the din of voices in the distance. She naturally drew closer to the noise. Soon enough, the sounds became louder, and she realized that she had found the main hall.

  The kitchen tower and the great hall were linked by two large serving hatches. Once she stepped into the main chamber, the cooking smells overwhelmed her, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten for several hours.

  Kila stood at the entrance, taking in the vast chamber. It wasn’t much different from the one in Tancraig Castle. Two long tables were set in the middle of the floor while three sizable windows lit the hall. At the far end, the important inhabitants sat on a raised platform. Every person at that table was unfamiliar to her. And William MacTyrnell, the only person she recognized, wasn’t there.

  A servant started to rush past her when he stopped short and pivoted on his heels. At seeing her, his face paled. It was Fearghas. He hurried back to her.

  “I’m sae sorry!” he said. “There was a fire in the kitchen, and it slipped my mind tae come get ye.”

  “’Tis fine,” she said, dismissing his words with a wave. “Is there a place for me tae sit?”

  “Of course,” he said.

  The servant scanned the tables as he furrowed his brows. Every seat was occupied.

  “I dinnae need a special place tae sit,” she said.

  He looked around and saw a lad who was polishing up his pottage. Fearghas marched over to him and shoved him on the shoulder.

  “Aiya, leave me alone! Cannae ye see I’m eating?”

  “Make room for our guest, or I’ll box your ears.”

  The lad looked at her and frowned, but he grabbed his bowl and began to move.

  “Who is this?” a voice called out.

  The entire hall went silent. All eyes swiveled to watch her. Embarrassment rolled over her as she felt the heat of their stares.

  “This is Kila MacGregon, our guest,” the servant said.

  “What is our guest doing sitting sae far away? Bring her here, and have her eat with us!”

  “But there is nay space for anyone else on the dais,” an older woman said.

  From her attractive features, Kila surmised that she was William’s mother. There was a stern look on her countenance, and Kila wasn’t certain whether or not she met the older woman’s approval.

  “I’m fine eating here,” she said, not liking the attention focused on her. There were varying degrees of cool curiosity and speculation on their grim features. In the end, their attitudes weren’t hostile exactly but they weren’t welcoming either.

  “That is just nonsense,” the man said, smiling at her. She was struck on how much he resembled Adonis. “This is nae how we treat guests at Domlainn Castle. Bring over another stool.” He beckoned for a servant to do his bidding and shifted his seat over to make room for her.

  The warmth in his tone relaxed her, and the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach began to ease. Kila felt a rush of gratitude toward him. Finally, she found an ally in the sea of unfriendly faces.

  The servant settled the seat beside the blond man, and she sat down. Because she was curious, she peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. Perhaps things weren’t so bad after all. One of her goals was to get away from Tancraig Castle and maybe meet a man. Here was someone who was handsome, charming, pleasant and extremely attractive. Out of all the people here, he seemed the type of man that she dreamed about.

  “By the way, I’m Iagan, William’s cousin. This, here, is my bonnie aunt, Kaithren.”

  William’s mother silently acknowledged her. “William told me that he brought visitors with him. Sae he tells me that ye are Mairead’s younger sister?”

  “That’s correct,” she said politely.

  Iagan asked her more questions. He fell into easy conversation with her and began telling amusing tales of war. His rapt attention toward her was flattering, and she relaxed enough to appreciate his stories.

  A servant appeared to serve her a bowl of lamb stew. She seemed in a rush to leave, and she quickly plopped down the bowl in front of Kila. The impact of the bowl on the table caused the liquid to slosh to the side, and she gasped when some of the hot broth splattered on her gown.

  “A wee bit of spilled broth wouldnae hurt anyone,” Kaithren grunted. “Perhaps in your home, ye would be affected by this. But we are hardy folk. If ye are tae stay, ye willnae experience any soft treatment here.”

  “My dear aunt, ye are as soft as can be,” Iagan said, his tone teasing.

  The look on Kaithren’s features gentled as she looked at her nephew. But when she turned back to Kila, her pupils contracted into needle points. “Sae why did ye come here, lass?”

  The bluntness of her question startled her. The people at the dais became quiet as if they waited to hear her answer. But before Kila could make a proper reply, a stir of activity occurred near the entrance of the great hall. Kaithren quickly turned her head. Kila followed the woman’s line of sight and saw that William had entered the room. At his side was a young lass.

  As he walked passed his clansmen, they greeted him. He stopped and spoke with some of them. But Kila couldn’t help but notice the power that exuded from him. There was no mistaking the influence he had on his clansmen.

  Everyone was watching him, but for some reason, he decided to glance her way. Their eyes connected. An inexplicable streak ran through her body, and she became aware of his dark looks. He was tall, brooding, and something about him warned her to be cautious. His mere presence made her heart beat faster, and her skin feel flushed. Perhaps it was her body’s way of telling her to flee. He was dangerous. She was reminded once again about the talk of murder that swirled around William. She had let her impulses dictate her actions, and now she found herself in a situation where she couldn’t leave without making herself or her clan look bad.

  “Kila,” William said he was within earshot.

  Though he didn’t say anything other than to utter her name, his deep brogue penetrated her being. And unable to control it, a small shiver ran down her spine. But then she gave herself a mental shake. This line of thought was silly. It had to be the lack of food and tiredness that affected her brain.

  “This is my daughter, Isabel,” he said.

  “Your daughter?” she said. Everyone knew that he had a son, but why was there a lass standing next to him? “I heard ye had a son.”

  “Where did ye hear that?” He shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face. “I only have a
daughter.”

  “I must be mistaken.” She nodded her head, trying to cover up her own confusion and stem the hundreds of questions that flooded her mind. “’Tis nice tae meet ye, lassie.”

  The pretty girl blinked at her, her expression deliberately blank. She then looked at the ground as if Kila hadn’t addressed her. Although Kila imagined that Isabel was no older than nine years old, the way she carried her tiny body seemed to suggest that she never ran around the keep, or acted like a wild child. She wasn’t certain whether it was her imagination, but the girl appeared unusually cool and unenthusiastic. When Kila was her age, she never held as still.

  “Go sit down, Isabel,” William said.

  The lass moved past her and settled in her seat as if she had not been introduced to Kila. The undisguised dismissal made her feel awkward.

  The Highlander glanced briefly at her before he sat in his chair, but this time she refused to meet his gaze.

  “Are ye all right?” Iagan asked, touching her sleeve. “I’m sorry that everyone here is sae boorish.”

  Out of all people present at the table, he seemed to be the only one who noticed the slight from William’s daughter. The sympathetic look in his eyes almost made Kila confide in him. Yet she held back, knowing that though she was here to prove William wrong, she was still a representative of her clan. And if anything, a MacGregon wasn’t easily intimidated.

  “I’m fine,” she said, trying to control the tremor in her voice. The last thing she wanted was to expose her vulnerability to anyone.

  So far the only approachable person was Iagan. William was indifferent toward her, just as was the rest of his household. Likely he was only trying to please her brother by allowing her to visit Castle Domlainn.

  “Tomorrow is market day in the village,” Iagan said. “Would ye like tae go there in the morning? I can escort ye.”