Page 10 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Sloan

Sloan came back from the lists and headed toward the stables. He thought to take a quick ride to Clan Grantham to see if Logan had heard anything new on the attack. Unfortunately, he was stopped by his sire outside the building.

“So you can’t even find yourself a wife, I hear.”

That comment halted him in his tracks. “What, Da?”

“I said I heard Eva refused you.” He crossed his arms and stared at his eldest son, his eyes telling Sloan exactly how upset he was about this.

He let out a loud groan, wishing his brother was nearby so he could throttle him. “Who told you that?”

“Doesn’t matter, does it? The truth matters. MacVey was going to force her to marry you, and you refused. What the hell is wrong with you? Women don’t get to make decisions. If Lennox said he’d accept the betrothal, you should have agreed. Did I teach you naught?”

Sloan was too angry to sort out his thoughts, but he knew better than to yell at the old man. He moved until he was a hand length away from his sire. “You taught me too much, Da. How to punish lads. How to favor one lad over the other. How to ignore the lasses of your clan. How to run the clan without listening to your clan members.”

His father waved his hand in dismissal. “Stop your whining, boy. I did a good job raising you and your siblings. But you don’t do what I ask you to do. Why not?”

“What have I ignored?”

“You should force the marriage. You need to marry, Sloan.”

“I’m trying, Da. But honestly, it is none of your concern. I want to know who told you.”

“I’m not saying.”

“Rinaldo did. And where the hell is he today? He was supposed to brush down the horses, and I see it hasn’t been done yet. Does that upset you, or do you prefer to stay mad at me and me alone?”

“He’ll get to it. He wanted to go on a boat ride. Rinaldo will be back. He’s a good boy. He always does what I ask him to do.”

“I know. You remind me of my lackings often enough.”

“Sloan, I don’t mean to be so hard on you, but you have an important job. Rinaldo doesn’t, and he has a hard time being second to you. He always has. You were fortunate to be the heir to my land. I think it’s important to keep him involved.”

“Da, I give him responsibilities, but he shirks them.” Right now, Sloan could jump in the sea and swim over to Coll and his father would still be talking about the wonders of Rinaldo. “I have work to do. I’ll see you at the evening meal.”

Sloan headed down the hill toward the coastline, grumbling at his brother along the way, waving off his father. He thought he’d seen a boat out of the corner of his eye. Sure enough, it was Rinaldo coming back from some unknown destination.

“Rinaldo, where the hell have you been?” Hellfire, but he sure looked like a fool when his own brother refused to do whatever he asked of him.

“Greetings, brother. I have new information for you that I’m sure you’ll find pleasing.”

“Where have you been?”

“I went to have a brief repast with our neighbor, Angus MacKinnis. Interesting enough, he’s been trying to find a husband for Theebet. I suggested your name, Sloan. She’s a fine lass. Verra pretty. I told him you’d call for her soon.”

Sloan stared at his brother wide-eyed, denying his need to choke the breath from him. He shook his head, certain that he’d heard incorrectly. “You did what, Rinaldo?”

“I suggested a betrothal between you and Theebet. She smiled when I asked her if she would be agreeable.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

“Because Eva refused you. And I couldn’t bear to see you arguing with your best friend in the entire land, Lennox. This way you and Lennox won’t fight again. You’re welcome.”

Rinaldo put the oars away and headed up the hill, a wide smile on his face.

“Rinaldo, halt!”

His brother turned around, that innocent expression that he always wore still there. “What can I do for you, Sloan? I’d be glad to help you in any way at all.”

Hellfire, but the simpleton pushed his patience. He loved his brother, but he truly pushed him too far sometimes. “Why did you tell Da about Eva when I asked you not to?”

His brother frowned. “I didn’t tell him. He overheard the whole discussion. I overheard him asking Miles about it.”

Sloan slapped his forehead, closing his eyes. Blast the stars out of the sky, but his name was doomed to be on the end of every wagging tongue on the isle.

“Pardon me, but I must go brush down the horses as you have requested, Sloan.”

And Rinaldo disappeared.

Sloan wished to rip every single hair out of his head, one at a time. In fact, perhaps he’d hire a bird to come along and peck at his scalp while he yanked on them. Or a flurry of crabs to crawl up and tear at his bare feet when he swam the next time. Or mayhap he’d fall onto a pile of nettles while he was taking his next pish.

His sire was daft and hated him, his brother was a simpleton who could not be controlled, and now the entire clan would know Eva refused him.

Miles and Ingelram came down the hill toward him, and he knew what he had to do, the purpose twofold. “Ingelram, I need you to go with me. We are heading to Clan MacKinnis to undo what my brother has done. Miles, you are in charge.”

He’d relax by rowing across the calm sound, then he’d explain to MacKinnis that he wasn’t in search of a bride, and his brother should not speak for him.

“Aye, Chief. Rinaldo went into the stables. Is that where you wish for him to go?”

“Aye, Miles. Make sure he brushes all the horses in the stalls at present. Keep him busy, if you please.” Grumbling, he waved Ingelram over to the boat and the two pulled it out, finding another set of oars so both could row.

They made it halfway across their short trip to Kinlochaline before Sloan could speak. “So the tongues are all wagging thanks to Rinaldo, I’m guessing.”

Ingelram cleared his throat before he spoke. “I’ve heard some rumblings, but we don’t believe everything Rinaldo says, Chief. I know he’s your brother, but many times he tells tall tales. It’s my preference to wait to hear the truth from you.”

“I appreciate that. Does anyone else agree with you?”

“Many do. Some prefer to listen to Rinaldo, but they wag their tongues more than I do.”

“This trip is to chat with Angus MacKinnis. Rinaldo offered for his daughter, not for himself, but for me. My brother has decided to start arranging marriages, apparently. I’m going to undo his promises before there’s too much damage. We’ll put the boat in, and you can chat with Isaac in the stables while I try to smooth things over.”

Nothing was said until they arrived at the neck of Loch Aline, but then Ingelram said, “I cannot believe he would do something so careless, Chief. I believe it to be one of his worst actions, to come over here on his own. Mayhap the chieftain never truly entertained his words. And I hope Theebet never found out about it. She’s not your type, in my opinion.”

Sloan couldn’t help but be surprised by his words. As they glided down the tranquil waters of the loch, he said, “And what is my type, in your opinion?”

“Someone strong, someone not afraid to back down. Theebet strikes me as timid, Chief. Not your type.”

Sloan couldn’t argue with that, so he said nothing as they approached the dock near Kinlochaline Castle. Isaac was on the hill above the coastline, talking with Angus. Sloan waved as they approached.

Angus smiled and moved over to the dock, waving them in. “Not surprised to see you, Rankin. Come in for a brief repast.”

Sloan accepted the help of one of MacKinnis’s men, who managed the boat with Ingelram’s assistance, and followed Angus up to the castle.

Once they were inside, Angus spoke to one of the serving lasses. “A goblet of ale and a meat pie for our guest, if you please.” Then he led Sloan into his solar at the top of the staircase, leaving the door open for the lass to enter.

“I’m not surprised to see you here, Sloan, though I didn’t expect you’d arrive until the morrow.” He smiled, and Sloan knew he was thinking about his brother’s meddling.

Sloan made small talk until the lass brought his ale and pie, then once she closed the door behind her, he decided there was no reason to delay. He took a swig of the ale and sighed, deciding to deal with the issue first thing. There was no reason to avoid the discussion about the irresponsible act his brother had committed. “My apologies that my brother came and acted on my behalf when I did not give him the rights to do so. I honestly don’t know what came over him, but I’m not in a position to offer for your daughter’s hand, Angus. I hope you will forgive us.”

Angus leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his abdomen, his eyes sparkling. “Your brother. He is changing. He certainly surprised me with that visit. I’d heard of Lennox’s quick wedding and I’m happy for him, but I’ve heard little about you. Only that you offered for Eva MacVey and you were refused.”

“You heard that too?” Sloan closed his eyes and rubbed them with his thumbs. Would his embarrassment never cease?

“Only from Rinaldo,” he said, sitting up. “Did you offer for her?”

“I did. Lennox is in favor of the match. Eva is not, so we are not betrothed. That’s all I care to say, but either way, I had no plans for offering for another so quickly. I think that would be an insult to Eva, saying that I was not truly bothered by her rejection. While others might like her to think that, I do not. I hope you have not informed Theebet.”

“I did not. She overheard us speaking, but I told her once your brother left that it was a false offer.”

“And she was not upset?” he asked but wasn’t quite sure what he hoped the answer would be.

“Nay, Sloan. I would have accepted as I think you would make a fine match, but Theebet considers you a bit— gruff is the word I believe she used.”

Gruff? Had he ever been called gruff before? Only when he dealt with his brother and his father and his men. Well, that meant nearly everyone. He’d have to ask his sisters. Either way, he wouldn’t dwell on that. It needed to be shoved into the back of his mind where he could hopefully forget the words.

“It would be an honor to be betrothed to your daughter, but this is not the right time, Angus. And I thank you for understanding.”

“Sloan, I wish you much happiness. After what happened to your first fiancée, I’m sure it must be hard to find another. I hope it will work out for you.”

Sloan had been betrothed for a few months, but his betrothed threw herself off a cliff into the sea. Gormal was probably dead before she ever hit the water, but it had been tragic and horrific for everyone, no one else more than himself. He’d known Gormal for many years but had only agreed to the match after he’d learned of Eva’s impending betrothal to an English earl. Gormal was the daughter of the armorer, and though he hadn’t been in love with her, he had hoped for a good marriage. He respected and trusted her, so he’d hoped for the best with the match.

Even though his heart had belonged to Eva.

It hadn’t come to fruition, so it was another one of those things he pushed into the caverns in his mind, locking it up and throwing away the key. He couldn’t dwell on Gormal either. The event had affected him for so long that he’d sworn to let the pain of it go. He couldn’t dwell on what had happened forever. He honestly had no idea why the lass would take her own life. He thought she’d been pleased with their betrothal and had been excited to be his wife.

How wrong he’d been. He’d done his best to ignore the wagging tongues, to not take the awful situation as being his fault. A few others had tried to place the blame on his shoulders, as he’d done for a short while, but Gormal’s sire had insisted it was not Sloan’s fault.

It had taken nearly six moons for him and his clan to come out of that darkness.

If only Eva would allow the two of them to explore a relationship between the two of them, but it was not to be.

He took a bite of the meat pie and said, “Please excuse my brother’s ignorance, Angus. He doesn’t understand the implications of his words. I apologize for him. If you wish for me to apologize to Theebet, I will.” Not that he wished to, but the honor code of his clan said he would.

“Nay, she knew it was not a true offer. But I wish to bring something else up to you.”

“I’m listening,” he said before taking another bite of the meat pie.

“Your brother is wiser than you think he is, in my opinion. I think that, as he has matured, he’s come into a better understanding of the world and its ways, if you know what I mean.”

Sloan couldn’t have been more surprised by his comment. “In terms of lasses and marriage? Those types of ways?”

“Nay.” Angus leaned back again and sighed. “I don’t know how else to say this other than to be blunt about it. Many consider your brother’s mind to be simple.” He glanced at his hands, then back up at Sloan. “I do not. I tried to tell your sire that once, but he got upset. However, I want you to know that I’ve seen your brother in some situations that are not the type that a simple-minded person would be in.” Sighing again, he sat up and said, “I’ll put it simply. Rinaldo is smarter than you think he is. Please consider that in all your dealings with him. And now, I have somewhere else I have to be, so I’ll escort you back to your boat.”

Sloan felt as if he’d been dealt a blow to his gut, but after a moment or two, that feeling changed. It blossomed in a good way. “Many thanks to you, Angus. I’ll take my leave.”

Had he been right about his brother all along? Was the favor his father gave Rinaldo false?

Angus escorted him back, and they chatted easily. “Sure was glad to see Lennox marry. Meg’s quite a lass. I chatted with her at the wedding, and she has a quick mind. Quite a beauty too. I wish them much joy in their lives. I’ve never seen Lennox happier.”

Sloan said, “I agree. He’s found his mate, and I’m sure the bairns will follow soon enough.”

Now if he could only find his own wife. He’d be able to survive living with his father and his brother much easier if he had someone like Eva in his life.

But he forced himself to a topic he couldn’t ignore.

Was Rinaldo putting on a show for everyone?

A year ago, he’d have dismissed the thought without considering it, but now he had to reconsider.

Was Angus right?

Was his brother a phony?