Page 31

“ W hy are ye ending the morning training early, Magnus?” Campbell asked as he stepped into the courtyard to see the men putting away their weapons.

It was still early in the day, before the noon meal, and it was an odd occurrence, as they usually ran trainings until it was time for the evening meal, among other things.

“There’s a fair in the village, and the men and I will be taking our families there,” Magnus answered with a smile. “Elspeth and Poppy have been looking forward to it, and ye ken Poppy willnae forgive me if I am late.”

Aye, Campbell did.

He felt guilty that he hadn’t remembered the fair, and the sight of all the men chattering excitedly reminded him of his own little family, which would no doubt enjoy the festivities.

He had never visited the fair, as he had had no reason to in the past, but after the shock of Darragh’s visit last week, perhaps this would be just what they needed to put the darkness behind them.

“Ye can bring the lady and the bairns,” Magnus suggested.

“Ye dinnae need to remind me, Magnus,” Campbell scoffed, which earned him a grin.

“The villagers will be pleased to see ye,” Magnus added.

“‘Tis a good time for them to see the new lady of the clan as well as me heirs,” Campbell agreed.

“I will take me leave now, Me Laird. Me wife isnae the patient sort.”

“I am a most lucky man to have been given one so kind,” Campbell bragged.

His man-at-arms shot him a mock glare. “Just wait until she is accustomed to ye; she will show ye her true colors,” he warned. “There’s a harridan hidden in the heart of every woman.”

They shared a laugh and went to find their families.

Campbell’s steps were almost hurried with excitement about the surprise he had for his little family.

He found them in the boys’ chambers, having their lessons, and smiled at how much closer they appeared to have grown. They were sitting in Mabel’s lap and squinting at the papers scattered in front of them as they learned their letters.

He cleared his throat to get their attention and felt his heart soar when the boys ran over to hug him. His eyes flicked to his wife, who was sitting on the sofa, looking surprised, but there were dark shadows around her eyes.

“I apologize for interrupting yer lessons, wife, but I have a surprise for ye,” he began. “There is a fair in the village, and I wanted to take ye and the boys.”

“A fair?” the boys cried.

He nodded and turned to his wife, thinking she would be happy. Instead, she had a smile on her face as she nodded, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. He wondered if she had been taken ill.

“Are ye unwell, wife?” he asked, moving towards her.

Her eyes shot to his as she rose quickly to her feet, as though he had surprised her.

“I am well,” she answered hastily. “A fair sounds delightful. I will get the boys ready so they’re warm and?—”

“Talia can get them ready. Ye should dress warmly yerself,” he suggested.

He frowned when she refused to meet his eyes, not looking in the least bit excited as he had hoped she would.

“Alright,” she relented. “I will meet ye in the courtyard, then.”

She made to hurry past him, but he took her arm, which caused her eyes to flick to his hand and then his face.

“Is everything well, wife?” he probed. “Has somethin’ displeased ye?”

“Nay.” She shook her head. “Everything is well.”

“Are ye ill, Aunt Mabel?” Ollie asked, running up to hug her legs. “Dinnae be ill, or we willnae go to the fair.”

“I am nae unwell, Ollie,” Mabel assured the boy, who already had tears in his eyes.

“Are ye sure?” Connor pressed, looking more mature at that moment than his five years.

Mabel crouched down so she could look them in the eyes.

“I am sure, lads,” she answered with a smile, before placing a kiss on Ollie’s cheek. “I am excited as well. I will go and change into something warm. Ye should do the same.”

They nodded, and she laughed, rising to her feet. Now she sounded more like her usual self, which eased Campbell’s fears.

Perhaps he had been reading meaning into nothing.

“I will walk ye to yer chambers,” he offered.

She nodded and fell into step with him until they stopped outside her door.

“I will wait for ye in the courtyard.” He bid her goodbye, smiling when she lowered her eyes.

She was still nervous around him, a fact he found rather funny, as they had been married long enough for her to be used to him.

Nonetheless, her smile had him feeling giddy as he made his way down to the courtyard to await his family.

“Are ye excited, boys?” Campbell asked when they were finally in the village, staring at the elaborately decorated streets.

The boys had been chattering excitedly on the short walk to the surrounding village, but they fell silent when they finally reached the village square.

They didn’t answer, but were looking around nervously. He and his wife shared a look and smiled.

“Is it scary?” Mabel asked them, and they nodded.

“There are so many people,” Connor mumbled.

“Ye cannae get lost,” Campbell told them with a nod. “If ye get lost, ye can ask any of the villagers, and they will take ye back to the castle. Or ye can just return here, and I will find ye.”

“Me Laird!” he heard someone call, and turned to find Magnus approaching with his family.

“Magnus.”

“Me Lady,” Magnus greeted with a bow. “I am glad to see ye here.”

Mabel smiled and nodded her greeting.

“Elspeth,” Campbell greeted. “Poppy. How are ye?”

“We are well, Me Laird.” Elspeth smiled. “I am glad to see ye finally attending a fair. I thought ye were permanently trapped in yer castle like a mythical creature.”

Campbell smiled at her jest.

She was the only one who teased him despite how others quivered at the sight of him, and that was one of the things that had endeared her to Magnus. Campbell had teased his man-at-arms endlessly for falling in love and marrying her, but their love was beautiful to witness.

“Uncle Campbell?” Poppy called.

“Aye, Poppy mine,” he answered.

“Who are those boys?” she asked, looking down at Ollie and Connor from her father’s arms.

Campbell brought the boys closer as Magnus lowered her to the ground. They were a head shorter than her and watched her curiously.

The adults shared a look and smiled.

“Connor, Ollie, this is Poppy,” he introduced. “Poppy, these are me boys.”

“Good day, Connor, Ollie,” Poppy greeted. “Me name’s Poppy.”

“‘Tis nice to meet ye, Poppy,” Connor told her. “Ye are verra bonny.”

Magnus guffawed while the women smiled fondly.

It seemed that Connor was more confident around women.

“Yer dress is bonny,” Ollie noted, eyeing the garment as though it offended him. “But can ye run? Ye dinnae look comfortable.”

This time, Mabel laughed while Poppy pouted and folded her arms.

“That isnae verra nice, Ollie.” She frowned. “Me faither says that ye have to be nice to lassies. If ye arenae nice, I willnae be yer friend.”

Ollie rushed forward with a sad look. “I am nice,” he insisted. “I can be nice. I am sorry if I hurt ye.”

Poppy continued to pout for only a second longer before she shrugged her shoulders.

“Have ye seen the jesters?” she asked, taking their hands. “I will show ye. They arenae very far.”

The boys stiffened and eyed the cloud warily.

“Are ye scared?” she asked, turning to them. “Dinnae worry, I will take care of ye.”

The boys eyed Campbell and Mabel, who nodded at them, and they followed along. The adults watched them whisper conspiratorially before running into the crowd.

“Yer Poppy is verra good at making friends,” Mabel told Elspeth.

“Aye. She gets it from her maither,” Elspeth answered, taking her arm. “I ken the Laird hasnae shown ye around the village yet, so allow me the honor of escorting ye, Me Lady.”

“Nay, Elspeth,” Campbell interjected. “‘Tis me duty to?—”

“Dinnae worry yerself, Me Laird.” Elspeth leaned in to whisper to his wife, even though they could all hear her. “I ken all the best places to drink sweetened wine.”

“Do ye intend to intoxicate me wife?” he asked with a mock glare.

“Aye,” she answered cheerily. “‘Tis the only way she can stand being married to ye.”

To his surprise, Mabel burst into laughter. He smiled seeing her with Elspeth and let them go ahead of him and Magnus.

She looked much happier than she had been that morning and laughed and even traded jokes as they went to different stalls, sampling food and wine.

“We should look for the children,” he said suddenly. “‘Tis getting late.”

Elspeth and Mabel turned to him.

“We should check the square,” Elspeth suggested. “Old Fergus tells stories that all the children want to hear. They will be there.”

Campbell nodded and let them go ahead, scanning the crowd.

So far, it had been peaceful, but as evening descended, no doubt the men would get in their cups, and silly brawls would break out.

He wanted to make sure that the children were returned home safely before that happened.

The women took longer than he had expected to return, and anticipation prickled under his skin.

“Let’s find them,” he told Magnus, who looked as worried as he felt.

They headed to the square and found their women looking around frantically.

“We cannae find them,” Elspeth said, her brow creased in worry. “‘Tis getting dark.”

Magnus held her to him, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “Dinnae worry, lass, we’ll find him,” he assured her.

Campbell turned to his wife, seeing her wrap her arms around herself. He itched to reach out and pull her close, but something held him back. So he called out to one of the clansmen and ordered a search for the children.

Perhaps they were playing in a corner.

Poppy was responsible, so she wouldn’t have strayed too far.

“Me Laird,” one of the clansmen called softly.

Campbell turned to the man, who had a worried look on his face.

His heart started pounding as dread seized him.

“What is it, Alastair?” he asked.

“We found Poppy.”