Page 44 of Kilgannon #1

’s mother Edina was quite frank about their visit here today.

“We were not sure of our reception,” she said as we sipped wine before the fire.

“Kilgannon’s letter was most displeased, I heard, and then Sibeal came to me and told me she was” —she glanced at her daughter—“in the same condition, and that the child was Malcolm’s.

Sir Donald thought that verra amusing, and he told her we’d just pay ye a little visit and fix it all up.

” Edina met my eyes. “I want my daughter to be happy. And she says Malcolm makes her happy.”

“I would want my daughter happy as well,” I said softly, although I seriously doubted that Malcolm could make anyone happy. I wondered how Alex was faring, and as if in answer, the men catapulted from the library.

Alex came to me at once and whispered in my ear, “Dinna fret, Mary. All is well. I may have gray hair before the year is out, but all is well.” I patted his hand and smiled up at him. He straightened then and called for music and whisky.

They stayed for three days. It had been decided that Malcolm and Sibeal would marry in two months in Skye, and Lorna and Seamus before that in Glendevin.

Word was sent to Lorna, and I suspected when I did not see him that the messenger was Seamus himself, delivering the letter that Alex had written to her mother.

Sibeal, clearly delighted, clung to her proposed bridegroom.

Malcolm was his usual self, shrugging when anyone mentioned the marriage.

What he thought I never discovered, nor did I care, but he was not attentive to Sibeal and he did not seem the least bit embarrassed.

Alex’s manner was reserved, but he held my hand under the table as he listened to the MacDonald’s opinions.

The man had a lot of opinions. Alex rose the moment I yawned behind my hand, and we said our good nights, inviting everyone to continue celebrating.

He took my hand openly then and the MacDonald called out remarks as we left the hall, but Alex did not banter as he usually would have.

Upstairs, the staff was bustling under Berta’s direction, preparing rooms for the.

unexpected guests, and I was grateful she was here to oversee the situation, for tonight I wanted to be with my husband.

When he closed the door to our room Alex sighed and leaned against it.

I stood in the middle of the room, waiting, having decided not to say anything against Malcolm until I could better judge his mood, despite the many comments running through my mind.

Alex moved at last from the door and began undressing, then paused in front of the chest where he kept his clothes, his gaze somewhere beyond the wall he was staring at.

I waited for what felt like an age, then went to stand next to him.

“Alex,” I said at last, and he turned slowly to me. “Are you all right? What happened that I haven’t been told? What did they say? What did you say? What did Malcolm say?”

He shrugged. “Nothing much, lass,” he said, but smiled.

“Alex,” I began in a low voice meant to be threatening, but he had pulled me to him and my voice came out in a squeak. He kissed me, a thorough, lingering kiss, and then looked smugly down at me.

“Speechless. I can still do it.” He grinned.

“I am not speechless,” I snapped. “And you will be sleeping on the floor tonight if you don’t tell me.”

“I dinna think so. If I want to be in yer bed I will be there. Dinna show yer teeth if ye canna bite.” At my puzzled expression he threw his head back and laughed. “I do love ye, Mary.”

“Alex,” I said, leading him to the chairs in front of the fire. “Tell me before I burst. What happened? What’s the matter?”

He sat in a chair and pulled me onto his lap. “I’m just tired, lass. I’m verra tired of Malcolm and the energy it takes to sort out the messes he creates. This one went well and we’ve not made an enemy of the MacDonald, but not without an effort.”

’ What happened in the library?”

He sighed and ran a hand along my thigh, then down my skirt and up my leg beneath the material.

“The tale’s not worth the trouble, lass.

We established that both Lorna and Sibeal are with child.

No one disputes that Seamus and Malcolm are responsible, and neither lass cries foul.

Both want to marry. Seamus is eager to marry Lorna, so that one was easy, but the MacDonald was quite displeased about Sibeal and he cornered Malcolm.

I’m not sure Malcolm wanted to marry, but marry he will. ”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that Malcolm dinna come forward and declare his true love like Seamus, so by comparison he looked reluctant. Sir Donald wasna pleased with a reluctant bridegroom and a pregnant bride, and being Sir Donald, he was. … persuasive.”

“Did you leap to Malcolm’s defense?”

Alex shook his head. “No. He got in the predicament without my help, and I let him get himself out of it without my help. Besides, lass, I couldna very well look Sir Donald in the eye and say, aye, my brother’s gotten this girl with child, but he’s no’ of a mind to marry just the now, so will ye go on home and we’ll think on this later?

Can ye see Donald’s face had I said that? ”

“No.” I laughed softly and brushed his hair back from his face. “Alex, would you have married me?”

“I did. Wait, let me think.” He looked at the ceiling and then met my eyes. “Aye, I did. Twice.” He kissed me and stroked my leg. “I would have married ye fifty times, Mary Rose.”

Lorna and Seamus were married in a quiet ceremony in Glendevin.

Alex had invited them to marry at Kilgannon, but Lorna wanted to be married in the little chapel near her home.

A buoyant Duncan gave the bride away, and I was warmly welcomed by his family.

This time I did not offer to eat anyone’s foot, although they teased me and offered me several.

I laughed with them, delighted that they felt comfortable enough to banter with me.

Still, by nightfall, I was glad to return home.

It was almost dark by the time we came through the small pass and entered the glen at the far side of Loch Gannon, I caught my breath at the sight of Kilgannon ablaze with lights, its reflection shining in the water before it.

The keep loomed above the yard and was topped by torches.

Torches were at each corner of the outer wall as well, and I realized I’d never seen Kilgannon from outside the walls at night.

“How beautiful,” I said in awe. Alex, a sleepy Jamie on his shoulder, turned to me with a tender smile.

“Aye, lass,” he said. “Paradise. I wasna exaggerating to the MacDonald. The most beautiful spot on earth. Ye see why I couldna marry just any woman. I had to find one who would do my home proud.” I smiled, then saw Malcolm’s glance at his companion behind Alex’s back.

The two looked at each other with raised eyebrows, and I knew they would mock Alex later.

Alex followed my gaze and gave them an appraising stare.

“Of course,” Alex said, more to them than to me, “I made my decision with my mind rather than just my body.” He added something in Gaelic that caused Malcolm to frown and Malcolm’s companion to laugh.

The phrase was not one I’d been taught, but I didn’t ask for a translation.

What a wonderful day it had been, I thought. Lorna’s wedding had been perfect, the bride and groom blissful. And soon Malcolm would marry and leave for Clonmor. It looked like a lovely summer.

The peace lasted for one day. It was Thomas’s Liam who came running to us the next afternoon, his arms flailing and his eyes wide.

“Sir,” he gasped, skidding to a stop before Alex.

“Please come. My da—” He glanced behind him as though pursued.

“My da says to tell you they found the bloody bastard stealing cattle.”

At my gasp, Liam blushed. “That’s what he said to tell Laird Alex, ma’am. I’m sorry.” I nodded, trying to hide my smile, and glanced at Alex, expecting him to be amused. But Alex, with narrowed eyes and raised chin, was angry as he looked down at Liam.

“He said ‘the bloody bastard’?”

Liam nodded. “Aye, sir, and he told me to use those very words. Da says Dougal's gone to fetch him here.”

Mo Dia, ” Alex said to himself as he looked over the boy’s head. “I dinna expect this. Where is he, lad?”

“At Glengannon, sir, but they’re coming here.”

“Aye, well, tell yer da I’ll be right in.” Liam nodded and started away. “Liam,” Alex called, and the boy turned. “Find my sons. Have them wait for me in the hall.”

We both watched as the boy darted away and then I turned to Alex. “Who is ‘the bloody bastard’?” I got a glacial look in return. Alex pressed his lips together. “Alex?”

“Allen MacGannon, though God kens he’s no’ really a MacGannon.

His parents came twenty years ago from MacDonnell lands, and my father let them stay.

That was a mistake. Allen’s father was a drunken lout and his sons no better.

” His eyes met mine. “It was Allen’s brothers that I was coming home to deal with, lass, when I went to Robert Campbell’s estate. Do ye remember me telling ye?”

“The men who attacked your clansman?” I asked, remembering Alex showing me their bodies hanging from the tree.

“Aye. And I should have finished it then.” He sighed heavily and gave me a sideways glance. “Aye, well, I will now,” he said, and strode away, leaving me to stare after him.