Page 1 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai (The MacKai Brides #5)

D ungarob Keep on the Scottish Northwest Coast

“Were the lady not carrying our laird’s first babe, I’d give that Englishwoman a piece of good Scottish wisdom.

Imagine the foolishness she wants. Extra trenchers to be shared by couples yet unknown.

Heart shaped cakes? Spiced wine and cider.

Servers to attend on each of the couples, and the number of them is not yet certain.

How can I prepare a decent feast, if I don’t know how many folk will be eating? ” The cook paused for breath.

Seona siezed the opportunity. “I realize, Mistress Findlay, that Lady Jessamyn’s current condition has increased the difficulty of your work.

However, consider how your reputation will improve when you succeed.

I suggest that you plan for twenty more guests than the one hundred or so we might normally expect. ”

“Hmm,” Mistress Findlay mused as she considered Seona’s comments. “Ye allus say the right thing, Lady Seona. Ye make a good point about me reputation, but what of the waste?”

“What is not consumed at the feast must be given to the poor.”

“Hmpfh! Ye are too kind giving away good food to slackers who’ve not earned it.”

“Christ begs us to be charitable. It is our Christian duty to provide for the poor. In addition, St Valentine....

“Sister,” The voice of the youngest MacKai, Lady Artis, broke into the conversation. “Our brother demands your attendance in the great hall immediately.”

Seona stood and patted the cook’s hand. “All will be well, Mistress Findlay. I will authorize use of any supplies you need for the feast. You will inform me of all that is used so I may plan how to replace the stores.”

“Aye, my lady, I’ll do that.”

“Excellent. Now I must go.” Seona turned, lifting her skirts as she stepped onto the stairs behind her sister. “Did our brother say why I’m needed, Artis?”

“No, but I imagine it has to do with the two men who just arrived seeking shelter and an audience with him.”

Seona grimaced. The keep was full to bursting with guests, clansmen, their families, and loyal retainers, all invited by Lady Jessamyn, Raeb’s wife.

She was in the last months of carrying their first child, and throughout the pregnancy had been plagued with moods and odd starts.

The Valentine feast was the latest in a long list of, what to Seona’s practical mind, were capricious and wasteful demands.

But Raeb would deny his wife nothing. As seneschal it was Seona’s job to make sure the exchequer of the keep could provide for the demands made upon it.

Had it not been for the recent sale of a number of MacKai bred destriers, the feast would have been impossible.

In fairness to Jessamyn, when Seona discussed the family’s money problems with her sister-in-law, that lady understood completely and agreed to all suggested economies.

However, even as she agreed, tears would cloud her green eyes.

Seona would relent and tell Jessamyn that a way would be found to pay for the expenses.

The joy in Jessamyn’s expression was reward enough to make worthwhile all the subsequent difficulties.

As they entered the great hall, Seona followed Artis to the large hearth where their brother and two dusty travelers sat deep in conversation.

Seona took in the scene with one glance. “Artis, please send to the kitchens for ale and trenchers for our guests. They’ve traveled far and no doubt are hungry.

Three pairs of male eyes turned in her direction. The conversation stopped, and all three men stood as she spoke.

Out of courtesy, Seona repressed a frown on seeing one of them was Rhuad MacFearann. Instead, she concentrated on his fellow traveler. "Sir Dougal Aitken, it is good to see you old friend. Tell me how you have fared since you left my brother’s guard.

On her other side, Rhuad, pushed a bench in her direction.

“Please sister,” said her brother. “Sit and rest a while. You’ve been busy since Prime preparing for tomorrow’s feast and taking care of MacKai affairs.”

Seona took a place on the bench, and the men resumed their seats, all but MacFearann.

That annoying man chose to sit beside her.

Suddenly the bench was entirely too small.

Seona refused to show her displeasure. Rhuad MacFearann should have no effect on her.

The last time he’d visited Dungarob, he’d flirted shamelessly with her older sister Neilina.

She would not permit him to use her for amusement.

Nor would she permit herself to be upset because he had treated her dismissively in the past. Such nonsense wasn’t practical or logical.

“Laird MacFearann, has come to us with quite the tale, sister, and a request for our aid.”

“Since we are one of the few clans in Scotland willing to have anything to do with clan MacFearann, it makes sense he would come to us. I suspect the help he will request involves the loan of some of our best steeds.”

“You would be right about that, Lady Seona.” Rhuad’s voice rumbled in her ears and an echoing vibration shivered her skin. “I value your plain speaking and will do the same. I have come to ask the aid of Clan MacKai in rescuing my mother Lady Alisoun and sister Lady Labhra from captivity.”

“I recall that they had been seized and held to ransom in order to force your older brother to spy for the English. At the time he did not know where they were being held. Have you found them?” she asked, turning to observe his response.

His deep blue eyes were open. His mouth formed a stern line in a square face under a shock of dark red hair.

She saw no sign of guile and continued her observations while he spoke.

His shoulders were broad and his body fit.

The length of his legs suggested he was tall, perhaps taller than her brother.

She suspected many women found Rhuad MacFearann attractive.

His appearance certainly set her stomach aflutter, but she’d not let that influence her.

Logic and reason, those were the guiding principles of her life.

Were she to marry—and she was by no means certain she wished to enter such and emotionally messy arrangement—it would certainly not be to anyone like Rhuad MacFearann.

Prior acquaintance with the man had left her with the impression he was ruled by his appetites.

He seemed to enjoy women and japes in equal measure.

However, the man was not joking now. Indeed, his tone was deadly serious.

“Aye,” he answered. “I received a message suggesting I might wish to follow my brother’s example and spy for England should I want to see my mother and sister alive.”

“And you refused?” She was surprised. Had it been her family at risk, she would have done everything necessary to secure their release. What should she think of a man who chose country above family?

“Nay,”

He surprised her again. Perhaps there was more to Rhuad MacFearann than previous experience suggested.

“I accepted and received my first instructions,” he continued. “With those in hand, I went to the Guardians and proposed that I pretend to agree to the demands then use the connection to pass false information to the English.”

“That is very clever and very dangerous. If your deception is discovered, you may cause the deaths of your own family,” Raeb said.

“Indeed. Which is why the rescue is essential. Now that I know where they are being held, I can attempt to save them.”

“But you cannot do it on your own.” Seona added.

“Nay, they are being held by the holy order of Cistercium at the Abbey of St. Margaret. The Abbess, Reverend Mother Eadbrugh Huelgas of Selby, is an English woman who is related to Eleanor of Castille, Edward of England’s deceased wife.

Evidently Mother Superior Eadbrugh manages Edward’s web of spies in Scotland. ”

“I see now why you need assistance. I saw the abbey many years ago when I last visited Castle MacFearann,” Raeb said. “As I recall, the convent is located on an island just off the northern coast of your lands.”

“Yes,” Rhuad said. “The isle is more like a pillar of rock, as great cliffs form the sides. The only access is by a causeway that is usable only during low tide. At the island end is a small, fortified keep that houses a well-armed troop of guards. We believe they are English.”

“Is it possible to gain access to the island and the abbey without confronting the guards?” Seona asked.

“Not to my knowledge?” Rhuad said.

How much knowledge did he actually have of this island and its inhabitants?

“Hmm. I wonder how the holy women get foodstuffs and other supplies?”

“I believe them to be self-sufficient,” their guest announced. “The island is not of great size but is large enough for a considerable garden and has enough forage for a small herd of kine. I suspect they also raise their own swine and chickens.”

“Do the women never leave or receive visitors?” queried her brother.

“If they do, it is not well known.”

“Whoever built the abbey in that place was very wise,” remarked Raeb.

“There must be some way to get to the convent,” Seona said. “Else how could your mother and sister be there now.”

The convent as MacFearann described it existed in total isolation.

Logic alone made nonsense of such an idea.

Nothing existed in complete solitude. Why, she wondered did Laird MacFearann not recognize this?

Perhaps his understanding of logic was faulty.

Pity, she might have found him interesting otherwise.

“One thing I know for certain.” said Rhuad. “The abbey often suffers damage from wind and storms. Maintaining the structures is a constant battle.”

“Then they must have a means of obtaining the materials necessary to repair and rebuild.” Seona thumped a fist on her thigh.

“I wish I knew what that was,” MacFearann stated.

“How did you come by what little information you have?” asked her brother.