Page 2 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai (The MacKai Brides #5)

“Long before my grandfather’s actions caused all Scots to revile the name MacFearann, one of his ancestors deeded the land to the abbey. The abbess, at that time and ever since, was a Scot. The English woman is a recent replacement ordered by the Vatican, or so she claims.”

“And you have a plan for rescuing Ladies Alisoun and Labhra from this place. It would seem to me that any such attempt would involve great risk with little chance of success,” Seona remarked.

“The risk is great, but the reward—the lives of my mother and sister—is beyond price. Currently my plans are fluid, since I do not yet know if I’ll have men, horses, and arms enough to do the job.”

Seona nodded. She understood. Hadn’t she thought earlier that she would do everything necessary to rescue any of her family held captive.

“How can we help?” Asked Raeb.

“We need men with armor, weapons, and horses,” stated Sir Dougal who had been silent to this point.

“I can give you that,” Raeb confirmed.

“Excellent, when can you leave?” asked Rhuad.

“I cannot,” her brother said.

“I’m sorry I don’t understand. Won’t your men need your leadership?”

“Under normal circumstances that is true. However, my wife is within a month of delivering our first child, and I promised I would be at her side. I will not break that promise to her.”

Rhuad frowned.

Would he blame a man for keeping a promise to his wife?

“Do you think they would follow me?” Sir Dougal queried. “I was once their captain.”

“But you are not captain now, nor are you part of the MacKai household. Some of the men feel betrayed that you left us to seek greater fortune,” her brother asserted.

“But I had to do that. You said...”

“I know what I said, but I cannot control what other men think or feel. No, I will have to send my seneschal with you.”

Seona clenched her jaw to keep it from dropping open.

“That should work,” stated Rhuad. “A laird’s steward is his direct representative and speaks in his name.”

“Then it is decided. Will you remain the night with us? We celebrate the feast of St. Valentine tomorrow and would welcome you as our guests.

“As it is late, we would appreciate shelter for the night. However, I cannot find it in me to celebrate while my mother and sister languish imprisoned.”

He foregoes entertainment in sympathy with his family. That is not consistent with the flirtatious lover of japery I met before. Much has happened in the years since I last saw MacFearann. Perhaps I would be wise to hold my opinion of the man in abeyance pending greater evidence of his character.

“I understand.” Raeb signaled for one of the knights guarding the keep doors. “Guillam,” he said when the man drew near. “Please see our guests settled for the night. Chambers within the keep are available for both.”

“I know whereof you speak, my lord. I will see it done. Lord MacFearann, Sir Dougal follow me, please.”

Seona stood when the men rose.

“Stay a while sister. I wish to speak with you about all of this.” Raeb gestured toward the departing figures.

“Very well.” She settled back onto the bench and smoothed her unwrinkled skirts. “Let’s begin with how you think I, as your seneschal, will get your men to listen to my orders.”

“I will order them to do so before they leave. A seneschal speaks with a laird’s voice in his absence. The men know this, but I will remind them of it and of the consequences should they fail to obey you.”

“And those consequences are?”

“Dismissal from MacKai service along with loss of armor, sword, shield, and of course any MacKai steeds. As all our knights are mounted on MacKai blacks that would be all the man’s horses.”

“I will certainly say the words dismissing a man should it be necessary. However, I doubt I could force any man to leave all knightly gear.”

“You will have Dougal with you to enforce your orders.”

“Sir Dougal is no longer part of our household, and as you pointed out, does not owe fealty to you or me.”

Raeb smiled. “However, he wishes to wed Maeve. He’ll support you, if for no other reason than to remain in my good favor. Although, I suspect he would enforce your orders simply because he is a good man.”

Seona considered what she knew of Sir Dougal Aitken. “Given our past experience with Dougal, I must agree. I wish that the same were true of Laird MacFearann.”

“MacFearann proved his worth when he aided in the capture of his brother. I know from my own involvement in that affair that arresting his brother and seeing Ranulf banished hurt Rhuad greatly.”

“Which is reason enough not to put too much faith in his promises. He needs us now. What about after the women are rescued? Worse what if his plan fails, and we are unable to save mother and daughter? He could easily become angry and blame us rather than take responsibility himself.”

“That is possible. Yet I doubt Dougal would aid him if he thought Rhuad’s character so weak. I encourage you to rely on Dougal’s advice where MacFearann and our men are concerned.”

Seona nodded. Her brother believed in the wisdom of his words, but she would keep her own counsel.

Experience, even within her own family, had taught her that too many people tended to react emotionally.

They mostly tried to call it logic, but the justifications they used were simply that, justifications and lacking in sound reason.

Look at how Raeb had imagined he could rid himself of an unwanted English bride by being rude to her.

“Very well,” she concurred. “Now about departing first thing tomorrow? I cannot leave the preparations for tomorrow’s feast at this point.”

“I’m afraid you must, however. Maeve is perfectly capable of seeing the preparations completed.”

“She has a tendency to overspend.”

“We have sufficient to cover some of Maeve’s love of excess. Nonetheless, I will give her motivation by telling her that a successful feast within the limits you’ve decided will be a test of her ability to manage Dougal’s household should I ever give my permission for them to marry.”

“I can live with that. You are aware that this journey and rescue attempt will involve unexpected expenses. We have some savings, but will have none if I go with MacFearann.”

“I am aware. I am negotiating stud fees with MacTavish, Marr, and a few others. Our stallions are in high demand. I expect to have the savings replaced before you return.”

“You seem to have thought of everything. Have you been expecting MacFearann’s request?”

“Aye, that I have, but I expected it to come sooner. I respect him for waiting until the Guardians granted him the title his brother lost through treason. I can feel for him, nonetheless. Leaving his mother and sister in captivity for more than two years is enough to drive any man to careless action. One thing I’m discovering about Earl Rhuad MacFearann is that he’s anything but careless. ”

“So you say.”

“I do, and I know that you’ll hold your own counsel until you have evidence to convince you of what kind of man Rhuad is.”

“True enough. I have little experience of him. He was only here for a short while before you wed, nearly two years gone now. At that time, he occupied himself flirting with our sister Neilina.”

“Has it been that long? I swear I find Jessamyn as intriguing as the day I met her.”

Seona stood. “You are in love, brother. I would expect nothing less”

Heaven save me from falling in love. It turns good sensible people into addlepated fools .

“Now I must hurry to find Maeve, so I can instruct her on what remains to be done for the feast as well as make my preparations for tomorrow’s departure.”

“Take time to visit with Jessamyn before you retire tonight. She’ll worry less if she sees you go willingly instead of out of obligation to duty.”

“Of course. I will worry less for her and your babe, if I see her before I leave. I’ll speak with you at supper.” She left quickly, mentally listing all the things that must be done before morning.

***

W HEN SEONA DESCENDED to the great hall the following morning, she was greeted with a loud babble of noise. Normally, mornings at Dungarob were quiet, with folk coming in small groups at random times to break their fasts before going about their day’s work.

Not so today. The trestle tables and benches filled the hall.

People filled the benches. Servants, many hired just for this occasion, rushed tither and yon, filling cups with wine, ale, or cider.

Others served trenchers from large platters of food they carried from one end of the crowded hall to the other.

At the end of the hall opposite the great outer doors, stood the high table.

She was amazed to see it dressed in a pristine white cloth and laden with platters heavy with food.

The clan’s finest chairs had been brought out to seat the laird, his lady and his honored guests in comfort.

And there, next to Raeb, sat Jessamyn, swelled belly and all, laughter and delight shone in her eyes and her smile.

At least her sister-in-law was pleased, which meant Raeb was pleased. Seona, however, was far from happy with this situation.

She had to find Maeve. What was she thinking to start the St. Valentine’s celebration so early? For economy’s sake, if nothing else, she should have waited until the work of the day was past, perhaps until after Vespers.

She searched the crowded room until she found her sister.

Maeve was seated at the high table beside Sir Dougal Aitken staring dreamily into his eyes.

He stared right back at her. They leaned towards each other with their hands twined together.

So closely they sat, a blade of spring grass would not have been able to come between them.