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22: I WILL NOT BE A BURDEN

NO ONE SPOKE when Davina finished her tale.

Those present in the solar had watched her closely as she explained what had befallen her over the past few days.

Among them was Sheena—mother to Iver, Lennox, and Kerr.

The woman, tall and regal, her white hair braided and wrapped around the crown of her head, had a piercing gaze that Davina wagered missed little.

Davina tried to keep her explanation brief.

The only thing she left out was what had happened between her and Lennox—no one needed to hear about that.

The silence that followed her story made Davina nervous.

What happened now would decide her future.

Her fate was in the laird of Dun Ugadale’s hands.

Eventually, Iver spoke up.

“Yer father won’t be pleased when he hears about this.”

Davina’s throat tightened, her pulse quickening.

“He washed his hands of me,” she reminded him.

“He won’t care where I go, or what I do.”

The look on the laird’s face told her he disagreed.

Moments passed, and no one spoke.

Lennox looked as if he wished to say something, if the flexing muscle in his jaw was any indication.

Yet he held his tongue.

Davina was grateful.

She’d told Mackay everything; the decision was now his.

But as she waited, a lump of ice settled in her belly.

If he refused to let her stay, she was in deep trouble.

Where would she go? She drew in a deep, steadying breath, trying to quell the panic that fluttered up within.

Lennox had told her that the nearest town was Ceann Locha, a busy port south of Dun Ugadale.

She’d have to go there and see if she could find work.

“Yer father is bull-headed,” Iver said finally.

“But he only let ye go because he thought ye were to live in seclusion upon Iona. When his men return and tell him what has happened, he will have something to say about ye taking refuge here.”

“I remember Colin Campbell as a prideful man,” Sheena piped up.

“I’d wager he will be vexed indeed.”

Davina’s heart started to pound.

She then shared a glance with Lennox.

His jaw was clenched now, his brows knitted together.

This wasn’t how either of them had expected things to go.

Davina’s breathing grew shallow.

She had to make Lennox’s brother understand the gravity of her situation.

“He won’t,” she whispered.

“He has disowned me.”

The chieftain sighed then, raking a hand through his hair.

“I doubt he will forget ye as easily as ye believe, Davina … yet I will not deny ye sanctuary,” he assured her.

“Ye may reside at Dun Ugadale.”

Davina’s breathing caught, relief slamming into her.

He didn’t appear overjoyed about it, yet the laird was letting her stay, after all.

Iver glanced then at where Bonnie sat by the flickering hearth, his expression softening.

“My wife will enjoy yer companionship, and she could do with yer assistance in managing things within the broch.”

A warm smile flowered across Bonnie’s lovely face.

“I could,” she agreed.

“Aye, there’s always work to be done here,” Sheena said then.

She was watching Davina with a speculative look, as if assessing whether she was up to the task.

“Ye won’t sit idle. I hope ye are stronger than ye look, lass?” There was no mistaking the challenge in the older woman’s voice.

Davina met Sheena’s eye, her mouth curving.

“I am,” she assured her firmly.

She then fixed her attention on the chieftain once more.

“I thank ye, Mackay. I swear I will make myself useful here … I will not be a burden.” And she meant it too.

She’d shut herself away at Kilchurn, had let melancholia drown her, but she wouldn’t do so here.

From now on, she’d be industrious, would contribute to the running of this broch.

Davina wasn’t a talented weaver, yet she could sew well, and she was adept at managing servants.

The laird favored her with a cautious smile.

“I have no fear of ye being a burden,” he assured her.

“I just worry yer father may have something to say about all of this.”

Warmth suffused Davina’s chest at the sight of the welcoming chamber that would be hers now.

Swallowing to dislodge the sudden lump in her throat, she smiled.

“Is the room to yer liking, Davina?”

She glanced over her shoulder to find Bonnie standing behind her, her smooth brow furrowed.

“The chamber is small … but I think ye shall find it comfortable.”

“I definitely shall,” Davina assured her before turning back to the room.

It was indeed small, yet not cramped.

The chamber was lodged in the tower, above Kerr and Lennox’s chambers.

It had a hearth to keep her warm in the winter and even a narrow window that looked out across the sound.

A servant had rolled the sacking up, letting in a fresh breeze.

A canopied bed dominated the space, while a wash bowl sat on a nightstand in one corner.

And under the window, there was a desk and chair.

“I’m happy to let my maid, Elsie, tend to ye in the evenings and mornings,” Bonnie said then.

“She doesn’t usually spend long with me.”

Davina turned to the laird’s wife.

“That’s kind of ye, Bonnie,” she said softly.

“But not necessary. I’ve gotten used to looking after myself, of late.” She paused then, favoring Bonnie with another smile.

“I’m no longer ‘Lady’ Davina … and in truth, I prefer it that way.”

Bonnie’s face tensed, and she wrung her hands together.

“Are ye certain?”

“Aye.” Ironically, their roles were now reversed.

Once Bonnie had been a chambermaid and Davina a lady.

But now, Bonnie was the lady and Davina was a woman without rank.

It didn’t bother Davina though—if anything, the change made her feel free.

Nonetheless, Bonnie didn’t look happy about the situation.

“I want ye to feel at home here … and welcome.”

“And I do.”

Bonnie’s mouth quirked.

“I hope Sheena didn’t intimidate ye … my mother-by-marriage can have a tongue like a blade.”

Davina laughed.

“Aye, so I’ve noted. However, she appears to mind ye ?” Earlier, as they’d waited for the men in the solar, she’d noted that the older woman deferred to Bonnie.

“Aye, well, it was hard won,” Bonnie replied, her smile turning rueful.

“Sheena didn’t believe me worthy of her son when I first arrived.” She sighed, her expression sobering.

“Iver did warn me, yet her viciousness knocked me just the same.”

“Well, I’m glad ye have settled things,” Davina replied.

“Life for ye here would be wearying indeed if yer mother-by-marriage were against ye.” She paused then, surveying Bonnie with interest. “Ye seem far surer of yerself than last time we met. I hoped yer marriage to Iver would be the making of ye … and it appears it has.”

The brilliance of Bonnie’s smile lit up the chamber.

“Aye,” she murmured.

“I took yer advice to heart too … do ye remember how ye told me that if I was to fit in here, I had to stop believing I was inferior?”

“I remember.”

“Well, it was sage counsel and has helped me settle in. Every time I catch myself feeling as if I’m an interloper, I remember yer words.”

Davina smiled.

“I’m glad to have been of help … although I must have been gloomy company that day.”

Now it was Bonnie’s turn to observe her.

There was a probing look in her eyes that made Davina a little uncomfortable.

“Ye were unhappy,” Bonnie said softly.

“A shadow lay over ye then … but no longer.”

Davina nodded, shifting her gaze away from Bonnie’s.

“Leaving Kilchurn was a wise decision,” she admitted.

“There were too many memories there … too many regrets.”

Moving to the bed, her attention rested upon the two saddlebags a servant had brought upstairs for her, and she reached out, her fingertips tracing the worn leather.

All her possessions in just two bags.

It didn’t depress her though.

Instead, she felt lighter in the knowledge that she could begin again here.

She hadn’t lied before; she was relieved to leave her title behind her.

“Ye and Lennox traveled quite a distance together,” Bonnie said then, drawing her attention once more.

“Aye … we spent a week on the road together since leaving Kilchurn.”

“How did ye find him?”

Davina turned once more, inclining her head.

“What do ye mean?”

“Sheena wasn’t the only one who disapproved of Iver’s choice of bride,” Bonnie replied, swallowing.

“Lennox was also vexed by it.” She paused as if choosing her words carefully.

“In truth, I wasn’t sure what to make of him.”

Davina frowned.

“He wasn’t rude to ye, was he?”

Bonnie shook her head.

“He barely spoke to me … although on the day we left Kilchurn, he did offer an apology.” Her mouth kicked up into a smile.

“Rough though it was.”

Davina sighed.

“He’s a complex man,” she admitted.

“During our journey south, he admitted he sees himself as the black sheep of the family … he never felt understood. I think that’s why he took the position at Kilchurn.”

“A position he cast aside to help ye,” Bonnie said softly.

There was a glint in Lady Mackay’s eye now, one that made Davina’s stomach somersault.

Her pulse then started to race.

She’d forgotten how astute Bonnie was.

She and Lennox had barely spoken since their arrival, but Bonnie would have noted how easily they met each other’s eye during the meeting in the solar.

The men wouldn’t likely pick up on such a detail—but Bonnie had.

Stop panicking , Davina chided herself.

She doesn’t know anything.

“There’s a chivalrous side to him that he fights,” Davina replied with a snort, deliberately making light of the comment.

“Lennox Mackay pretends he cares about nothing but himself … but that’s a ruse. He missed his family and this broch.” She broke off there, her gaze going to the rippling expanse of water beyond and the shadow of the Isle of Arran on the horizon.

“And I can see why he did.”