Page 45 of Love Beyond Time (Morna’s Legacy #1)
After taking a few brief moments to introduce my mother to everyone in the room, Eoin hushed us all, taking his place as leader among us so that we could make a plan of attack.
“It’s nearly dark, and we must decide how to act quickly.”
Arran gave him little chance to continue before interrupting. “I doona see why we need to decide anything. The best thing to do would be to cut the bastard down, at once.”
“Nay. I want to allow him the opportunity to change his mind. Perhaps, he will take it, and no blood will be shed.”
It was Edana’s turn to speak up, albeit nervously. “He willna do it. Once he’s set his mind to a task, doona expect him to back down only because he’s been found out.”
“Ye may be right, lass, but I will no kill a man for something he’s yet to do. Mary, do ye think tis too late to prepare a meal?” Eoin looked in Mary’s direction, smiling at the irritated expression on her face.
“Do ye really think that’s what we should be speaking of now, lad? I know I’m no warrior, but that seems a shoddy battle plan.”
“Aye, Mary. Ye are quite right about that. But if Ramsay willna change his mind, he will call his men to battle when I confront him. If we are sitting down for a meal, at least it will take them a moment to gather for a fight. It will give us an advantage. Ramsay will wonder why I would have us sit to eat when we should be preparing for battle. It will make him nervous, and I’d like him to be so. ”
Mary crossed her arms and looked exasperatingly in his direction. “Aye. I expect he shall think ye’ve gone and misplaced yer brain, and I’m no likely to disagree with him. But if ye want food, ye shall have it. I know better than to try and change yer mind, ye stubborn fool.”
Eoin smiled. “I’d ask something else of ye, Mary, as well. We canna let Ramsay see Edana again. Give yer kitchen maid instructions as to the meal, and then make yer way up to the top tower to hide with Adelle and Edana.”
“Aye, o’ course. Where do ye expect Bri to be?” Mary glanced in my direction as if she thought he’d forgotten me.
“Ramsay will expect to see Bri at the table. He knows that at Conall Castle, the laird dines with his wife. He thinks it mad, but he knows tis our custom. Twill arouse suspicion if she is no there.” Eoin paused and turned his gaze to Arran.
“If fighting begins, ye are to take Bri away at once. Doona let anyone harm her. I must handle Ramsay, myself.”
Arran nodded. “Aye, she will no be harmed, Eoin.”
Once everyone knew our plan of action, we all dispersed into our positions. Mary quickly attended to dinner and then escorted my mother and Edana up to the castle’s top tower. It was difficult to get to and was certainly the safest place for them to stay.
Arran left to ensure that men would be waiting outside every door of the dining hall, ready for entry into battle if it came to that.
I sat nervously in our bedchamber, waiting for Eoin to come back from his talk with Ramsay. He’d left shortly after making plans to invite Ramsay to dinner. I glanced up as Eoin made his way into the room.
“What did he say?”
“Well, I doona think he believes I suspect him. He only said I was a fool to worry over my stomach at a time such as this, but if I wanted to spend the last moments eating before Laird MacLyrron’s men arrived, then he’d no stop me.”
“So he’s coming?”
“Aye. It’s of no concern to him when Laird MacLyrron’s men should be arriving, since it is he who shall start the bloodshed.”
I walked over and leaned gently into his side. “When is it starting?”
He took my hand and made for door. “Now, lass. I’m eager to end this; I doona like waiting for the unknown. And the sooner ye are truly safe, the better.”