Page 42 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds (Clans of Mull #3)

Eva

Later that night, Eva hurried into the keep, rushing over to her mother and giving her a giant hug and giggling, Sloan directly behind her. Then she leaned down to pick up Goldie, who was barking at her feet. “Oh, I’ll hug you too, sweet thing.”

Her mother assessed her daughter carefully. “Lass, is that blood on your tunic? Where the hell have you been?”

Lennox and Taskill strolled in behind her. Lennox said, “Entertaining me and everyone else. Shall I tell her or you, Sloan?”

Sloan said, “Go ahead. I’m exhausted, but before anyone else says a word, I respectfully request your daughter’s hand in marriage, Lady MacVey. I love her with all my heart, and I vow to protect her with my life.”

Eva chuckled and looked at her mother. “I’m in love, Mama!” Then she hugged her mother again, twirling her around. “Say aye! I’m marrying him!”

“Aye!” Her mother finally laughed but then pushed her away. “What the hell do you have all over you? You’re ruining my gown.”

“Then get another!”

“Lennox, would you please explain a wee bit? After the poisoning?”

“Nay! Me!” Eva paused to take a deep breath, then began, “I snuck away, and Sloan followed me. We were both kidnapped near Ulva and then locked in a dungeon where we found the bairns. They took us on two boats headed for Coll, but I jumped in the water with Tora and Sandor and got them to shore while Sloan got Maeve and Grant to safety. Garvie’s man Odart was one, and he’s dead, along with his friend. The bastard who dared touch me will never touch another lass, and …” She paused to gather her breath. “We came back, and Rinaldo tried to kill Sloan because he wanted to be chieftain so he could marry Alycia and their son could be heir to Dun Ara! And they poisoned everyone at Duart and let the men kidnap the bairns. Dermot killed Rinaldo and Alycia’s been banned from Mull and …” She spun around. “Did I miss anything?”

Meg came in and joined Lennox, who stood with the largest smile she’d ever seen on her brother’s face.

Sloan tucked her next to him and said, “You covered it well.”

Her mother asked, “Alycia? She wished to marry Rinaldo? Our Alycia? She helped him poison everyone?”

“Aye, Mama. I thought she was a true friend, but she said she hated me. She was as evil as Rinaldo. But I know where I’m meant to be. I love Sloan and we belong together.”

Her mother began to cry, then said to Lennox and the others, “May I speak with Sloan and Eva alone?”

Eva looked at her mother, confused. There was no need to send the others out.

Lennox came and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek, then his mother, and escorted the others out.

Sloan asked, “Should I take my leave?”

Her mother said, “That is entirely up to your betrothed.” Then she strode over to a chest and pulled out a box, unlocked it, took out a folded piece of parchment, and brought it over to Eva.

“Mama, what is this?”

“Please sit down and read it. It’s time.”

Her mother smoothed her skirt and took a chair in front of the hearth, pointing to a seat for Eva to take.

“Mayhap I should leave,” Sloan said.

“Nay, stay, Sloan. I have no secrets from you. I’ll read it.”

Rut explained, “It’s from your father. He asked me to help him pen it for you the day before he passed.”

Eva’s hands shook as she unfolded the parchment, looking at the careful strokes on the page she held.

She began to read aloud:

Dearest daughter,

I’m sorry I’ll not be with you when you are ready to marry. If I were, I would choose a certain man for you. You are my only daughter, my sweetest lass, with a quirkiness that I love. It will take a special man to take care of you, one who will allow you to be yourself—a beautiful girl who has a strength inside her that she has yet to discover.

But that day will come.

The man I have chosen I have studied from afar. He has an impeccable character. A man of honor who is the only man I’ve seen who deserves you, who will love you and also guard your tender heart.

Sloan Rankin …

Eva stopped because the tears burst like they’d been kept inside for years. She reached for Sloan’s hand and continued:

Sloan Rankin is an honest, hardworking chieftain who takes his responsibilities verra seriously and manages his clan and its members as if they were all part of his family. A fierce warrior, he will pick up the tiniest bird in his hands and set it back in its nest with such care that I know he will always treat you with kindness.

I can ask no more of any man, but I’m convinced that you and Sloan Rankin are destined to be a truly happy couple who will have several fine bairns.

How do I know? From deep in my heart, I know he is for you.

But also, the small golden bird sitting on my window edge chirping is telling me so.

I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world.

I love you, my sweet princess Eva.

Love the man with all you have,

Papa

Sobbing so much that her mother grabbed a linen square for her, Eva hugged Sloan first, then her mother. “How did he know Sloan was right for me? It had to be something more than a bird.”

Her mother smiled, leaning back in her chair. “Many moons ago, you snuck out the back door when your brothers and the other lads went down to fish in the sound one summer. Your sire and I were arguing about something, so we never noticed that you disappeared. I never would have guessed that you would do such a thing, but half the hour later, Sloan came up and handed you to me. You were soaked, had jumped in the water after the others had climbed into a boat and rowed to the middle. Sloan told your father that he saw you coming so he stayed back, but you jumped in before he could stop you. Poor Sloan thought we were going to yell at him for allowing you to get all wet. But your father had nearly fainted with fear, thanking Sloan for saving his wee lassie for him. Once Sloan left, your father told me that Sloan was your person. He always believed it.”

“Mama, why did you never tell me? I knew he chose someone.”

Rut kissed her daughter’s forehead, brushing the wild strands of Eva’s waves back from her face. “Because you , not your father, needed to choose your husband. But I’ll also tell you something else that has haunted me since I helped him write that letter.”

Her mother brushed the tears away. “That golden bird never left until I finished the last word.”

Eva looked out the window. “What did the bird look like?”

Her mother smiled, her eyes misting.

“Oddly enough, she reminded me a wee bit of that Lia.”