Page 9 of A Sinful Night with a Scot (Bound by a Highland Curse: The Morgan’s Clan Stories #8)

CHAPTER NINE

A fter seeing to Jonathan Barnes, whose roof had collapsed before Keane had left, thus impelling him to send men to help fix it, Keane strode across the cobblestone on the main road of the village, and back to the horses. The man’s house was now as secure as it had been before, if not better. Jonathan had been extremely grateful and had thanked him profusely. Keane had inclined his head.

“If there are any more problems, dinnae hesitate tae get word tae the castle.”

“Thank ye, me laird,” Jonathan had replied, holding on to his two sons who stood close by his side.

With a fleeting glance at the boys’ admiring faces as they looked up at him, he had turned and left.

Approaching the group he had left in the village, Keane noticed Elspeth looking more dejected than ever. With his eyebrows pinched together questioningly, he threw a glance to Alisdair. But his friend shrugged and shook his head.

Taking his companion to the side, he hissed. “Did something happen?”

“Aye,” Alisdair replied a little tersely. “Ye ripped the woman from another prison only tae lock her intae yer own.”

Keane was a little stunned at Alisdair’s words, and yet, he supposed he ought not to be. Alisdair had been against this from the beginning, and while they had shared a joke or two on the road, his closest companion had clearly not come around to the circumstances.

He was about to argue when he thought better of it. He was tired, he needed decent food, a change of clothes, and a rest. But before all that, he needed to speak to the council and inform them of what had occurred.

“Let’s get back tae the castle,” he growled.

Approaching Balnagown, the castle he had been raised in, the home he knew and loved, Keane finally felt the tension release from his shoulders. The whole time they had travelled, he had been wary of Gunn’s men tracking them, but now, he was home.

Entering through the gates to the excited delight of the guards who tended to them, the sense of relief increased a hundred-fold. Now behind the castle walls, he and his men were safe. For now, at least. The protection was not just that of the stone that surrounded the castle, but also his army of men who would die for their clan and their laird.

The steady clipping sound of the horse’s hooves hit the cobblestone beneath and echoed throughout the courtyard. As usual, it was busy and filled with clan members all working hard, while animals grazed at bales of hay, and children’s laughter filled the air as they played nearby. Those who were working stopped to look at the arrival of their laird and his men, some smiling, some relieved, but all seemingly pleased to see him.

Once dismounted, a stable hand hurried toward his horse, and after greeting him, the lad efficiently led the horse to the stables. While the rest of the weary men dismounted, Keane took determined steps toward Elspeth’s horse. She was looking about her, taking in her surroundings.

“Yer new home, Lady Mackay,” Keane said, once he had carefully lifted her from her beast.

“Aye. So I’ve been told,” she hissed.

Keane was a little surprised at her words, and wondered whom she had been speaking to, but then, he quickly realized that it had likely been Alisdair who had said such a thing.

“Come,” he said, taking her by the elbow.

Behind them, Alisdair followed closely until all three were inside the castle. They passed huge tapestries and large portraits hanging proudly on the wall, as well as looming candelabras holding thick candles that lit the dark stone of the corridor. From his periphery, he caught Elspeth’s eyes roving about her, examining all that she saw, but she did not linger and kept pace with him as they continued.

Seeing the first maid who approached him, Keane called out to her.

“Anna.”

She was a young and industrious lass with a round face. One of the daughters of a maid who had long since retired from service, Anna had been raised inside the stone walls that surrounded them.

“Aye, me laird?”

Nodding to Elspeth, he said, “Take Lady Mackay tae me bedchamber.” Anna flashed a surprised look at Elspeth before swiftly returning her gaze to Keane as he continued. “When she is settled, get a chamber ready fer her. A chamber beside mine.”

“Aye, me laird,” Anna replied, trying and failing to hide her astonishment. She then turned her attention to Elspeth. “Please, me lady. Come with me.”

Elspeth threw a glance at Keane before allowing herself to be led away by the maid. Keane watched her go until the women rounded a corner and were no longer in sight.

When he and Alisdair were finally left alone, Keane turned to his companion.

“I need the council gathered in the great hall immediately.”

“O’ course,” Alisdair said with a nod, before turning on his heel and hurrying away.

It would take some time to gather the older men, and thus, Keane made his way to his study. As tired as he was, he could not yet rest, so he might as well fill his time doing something of some use.

Opening the door to his study, he took a long breath in and scanned the room. He was home. Back to the place he spent most of his time. Back to the place he had planned his revenge against Gunn for the last four months.

Nothing had changed. The shelves on the left wall were still full of books, papers and ledgers, the large fireplace held burning logs that hissed and crackled, with the two high backed chairs beside it, and his desk stood at the far end of the room. He made his way over to it and dropped himself into the chair.

Leaning back into it, he heaved a long groan, feeling the relief in his body at finally being surrounded by some comfort and support. Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander from the plan he had originally made to what had actually happened.

Did I dae the right thing?

He now had to do something that, while it had to be done, he dreaded the outcome of.

Taking a sheet of parchment, he began his letter.

Dear Iseabail,

I trust ye and Owen are well. I’m sorry I havenae been able tae come and see ye, but being laird now takes up much o’ me time, as I’m sure ye understand. Much has occurred since our last correspondence and thus, I am writing ye now tae keep ye informed.

It is a little sudden, but I am now a married man. I ken it must come as somewhat o’ a surprise, but there is little I can dae about that. Fer fear ye hear it from another, I wanted tae write ye and tell ye mesel’ and I am certain I will be hearing from ye soon with yer opinions on the matter.

When the opportunity arises, I will travel tae ye with me new bride and the two o’ ye can get acquainted. Until then, I remain yer braither, in love, and in family bond.

Keane

There was no point elaborating too much on the news. Iseabail was bound to hear something soon and he would feel her wrath. Thus, better she heard it from him than any other. He gazed at the letter, looking it over again, imagining her reaction when she read it. It would not be a pretty sight, and he was only relieved that he would not be near her when she did so.

Folding the parchment, he sealed it with a wax stamp. Taking another moment to gaze down at it, he eventually stood from the desk and took the letter with him as he left the study.

Striding down the corridors, passing flickering flames of lanterns secured into the wall with metal frames as he went, he reached the large stone staircase and made his way down to the great hall.

After turning a corner, he spotted a servant, and stopping as the man passed, he pressed the letter into his hands. “John, have that delivered tae me sister immediately.”

“Aye, me laird,” John replied, hurrying away again.

When Keane entered the great hall, his footfalls echoing off the stone walls around him, the older men were already gathered together, murmuring in low tones as they conversed with one another.

The great hall was always in two very different states. Either it was almost empty, as it was then, the echoes of the few people in it travelling up past the heavy beams above them. Or it was full of laughter, conversation, and music, for this is where the evening meal was served for all those living in and around the castle.

At this moment in time, however, Keane was relieved that it was almost empty. He and his men had journeyed for days, spent most nights under the stars, and had been constantly wary, their nerves on edge, waiting to be discovered or attacked. With the tiredness he currently felt, Keane would struggle to face a room full of people.

Upon seeing Keane approach, the older men moved apart, bowing their heads to him, before making their way to a nearby table.

Only when Keane sat, did the others follow suit.

“It is good tae see ye returned well and in good health, me laird,” Michael, the oldest of the group, and the longest member of the council, began. “What news dae ye bring?”

Keane then went on to tell them about the successful attack at the chapel, and that they had managed to capture Lady Elspeth Munro as planned.

“That is great news, me laird,” John began.

But Keane raised a hand to silence him as he continued. “However, I decided against killing the lass.” Murmurs and intakes of breath were heard around the table as he went on. “Instead, I married her.”

“But, me laird,” Callum interjected, his astonished tone mirroring some of the older men’s expressions. “Surely, that cannae be good fer us.”

“Why nae?” Michael objected. “It will humiliate Laird Gunn even more.”

“Aye,” Matthew interrupted, “but it will also give the man an opportunity tae attack and steal her back.”

“Aye, and use her against us,” Callum added. “We should proceed with the initial plan and kill her.”

The debate continued for another ten minutes between the men for and against Elspeth Munro being eliminated. Keane watched and listened to the men’s arguments, noting that Alisdair remained conspicuously quiet.

After a while, Michael spoke up again. “Perhaps, ‘afore we jump tae conclusions, and mak’ decisions we might regret, it might be advisable tae send scouts out intae the land. We at least need tae ken if Gunn or his men have any intention o’ attacking.”

“O’ course, they’ll attack,” Callum said, struggling to contain the growing exasperation in his voice. “We’ve stolen his bride-tae-be.”

“Sure, he would have attacked had we killed her, too,” Michael pointed out. “We all kent what the risks were.”

“Aye, but this is just asking fer trouble,” Matthew added.

“We’ll send scouts out,” Keane said, quieting the men. “And ye’re right.” He looked at Callum and Matthew. “Laird Gunn will come looking fer her. But Michael is also right. He was going tae come after us nae matter what we did. Was nae that the plan, men? That we bring him tae us so I could destroy him?” Keane growled.

All the council members nodded, some agreeing more begrudgingly than others. They were still clearly unsettled, however, which annoyed Keane. None of them had travelled across country risking life and limb.

“May I ask, me laird,” Michael spoke up. “Is the marriage binding?”

Any other asking the same question might have trembled in their shoes, but Michael was old, and wise, and had been a close friend of Keane’s father. He had watched Keane grow up, and, when Hamilton had been murdered, he had shed a tear at Keane’s side. There was a strong bond between the men, and since then, Michael had been there to comfort Keane, as much as he would allow himself to be comforted.

“Aye, Michael. The marriage is binding. Alisdair stood as me witness in the chapel.”

Michael nodded and continued. “Then, may I put forth that since the clan was unable tae celebrate yer union with ye, that we have a feast tonight. The two o’ ye can create a failte stone for the hearth here in the great hall.” Michael gestured to the huge fireplace behind him. “That way, the clan can share in yer union with ye and Lady Mackay.”

Keane considered this idea, and noting the rest of them nodding in agreement, the first time they had agreed on anything since they had gathered, Keane eventually inclined his head.

“Very well. If it pleases ye,

I will dae it.”

“I think the clan would delight in sharing the celebration, me laird,” Callum said, his tone now far more amicable.

“Then so be it,” Keane said.