In Bed with a Highlander (26 page)

Ewan’s eyes went dark and his lip curled. “I’ll make sure the clan is provided for. I always have.”

Mairin laid a hand on his arm. “I know you will, Ewan. When my dowry arrives, we won’t have to worry about what to eat anymore.”

He touched her face, palming her cheek for a long moment
before letting his fingers trail down to her jaw. “You’re a miracle to this clan, lass. We’ll be hale and hearty again thanks to you.”

She flushed to the roots of her hair, warmed by the tenderness in his touch.

“I’ll be going now. Expect us back before sundown.”

She watched as he strode across the courtyard and called for Alaric and Caelen. Then she turned and hurried back to the steps of the keep. There was still much to be done in preparation for the McDonalds. She’d be lucky if she slept any this night.

Mairin surveyed the hall with weary appreciation. It was nearly dawn and the women had worked through the night. Those with children, Mairin had sent home the night before, but a small group had stayed on with Mairin to see to the final preparations.

The result was astonishing. Not that Mairin would ever want to do such a thing again in less than a day, but she was well satisfied with the results.

The inside of the keep sparkled. The floors and walls had been washed. The candles in the ceiling fixtures had been replaced with new ones, and light danced shadows along the ceilings.

Sweet-smelling flowers ridded the musty odor of sweat and dirt, and Mairin had taken furs from the bed chambers to line the floor in front of the great stone fireplaces.

The smell of simmering stew had tortured Mairin for the last hours, as Gertie had prepared the rabbits that Ewan and his brothers brought back from the hunt. She was drooling over the idea of a hot piece of crusty bread straight from the oven.

Ewan had tried to get Mairin to take to their bed hours before, but she’d been adamant that the tasks be done since they didn’t know exactly when Laird McDonald would arrive.

“It looks wonderful, my lady,” Maddie said proudly.

Mairin looked over to where Bertha and Maddie stood and she smiled. “Aye, it does. It looks nothing like before. Even with the repairs that must be done and the damage from the fire, no one can find fault with our work.”

Bertha wiped a stray hair from her forehead. “The laird will be proud to welcome guests here. You’ve performed a miracle.”

“Thank you both for giving up your night to help me,” Mairin said. “You and Maddie tell the other women to take to their beds and not to worry about rising before noon. The other serving women can take over your duties while you rest.”

Both women nodded gratefully and hurried off, leaving Mairin alone in the hall.

Mairin surveyed her handiwork one more time before she turned and trudged toward the stairs. She’d not exactly kept her word to Ewan. Her side pained her considerably, and she hoped she hadn’t torn any of the stitches, but the truth of the matter was, the work needed to be done, and it wasn’t fair to expect the women of the keep to work long hours if she herself wasn’t willing.

She felt great satisfaction in the role she’d taken on. The women had worked long and hard but with a cheerful spirit. They had gone to great lengths to please Mairin, and that in turn pleased her.

For the first time, this felt like home. Her home. And she felt truly a part of the McCabe clan.

She eased into her chamber, but she needn’t have bothered. Ewan was awake and dressed and was just finishing putting on his boots.

He frowned when he caught sight of her and immediately stood, his hand going out to steady her when she swayed.

“You put in far too many hours,” he admonished. “Are you in pain? Did you tear your stitches?”

She leaned her forehead on his chest, content to remain there for a moment as she collected herself. He swept his hands up her arms to her shoulders and squeezed.

“You’re going straight to bed, lass. I won’t have any argument. And you aren’t to rise until the McDonalds arrive. Are we understood?”

“Aye,” she mumbled. She wouldn’t even have to pretend to obey that order.

“Come, let me see your wound.”

He guided her toward the bed and, with gentle hands, divested her of her clothing.

“ ’Tis a sin how expertly you rid a woman of her clothing,” Mairin grumbled.

He smiled as he turned her to her side. He thumbed over the stitched area and frowned when she flinched.

“ ’Tis red and swollen. You’re not taking proper care, Mairin. If you aren’t careful, you’re going to end up in bed with a fever.”

She yawned broadly and fought to keep her eyes open. “There’s too much to do to be abed with fever.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, leaving his lips there a moment. “You don’t feel warm to the touch. Yet. Sleep. I’ll have one of the women send up hot water for your bath when I receive word the McDonalds have reached our border.”

“That would be nice,” she murmured sleepily, but she had already lost her hold on wakefulness and she surrendered to the darkness.

Mairin came awake to a knock at her chamber door. She blinked to brush the heavy veil of sleep aside, but it felt as though someone had poured sand in her eyes.

“Lady McCabe, we have your water for your bath,”
came the call from the door. “The McDonalds will arrive within the hour.”

That woke her up.

She shoved aside the bedcovers and hurried to answer the summons. The women carried in pails of water and soon Mairin was immersed in the comfort of hot water. As much as she would have loved to have soaked until the water chilled, she hurried through the washing of her hair.

Two of the maids remained to help dry and brush out her hair. Mairin was fidgety and agitated throughout the process. She was nervous. This was her first real test as the new lady of the keep.

She didn’t want Ewan or the McDonalds to find her lacking.

She dressed in her wedding finery and descended the stairs an hour later. The hall was bustling with activity, and Ewan stood talking with his brothers near the high table.

When she entered, Ewan looked up and saw her. The approval in his eyes made her spirits soar. He gestured for her to come to him and she hurried over to stand next to him.

“You’re just in time to greet our guests with me,” he said. “They arrive in a few minutes’ time.”

Ewan led her from the hall, his brothers following behind. When they reached the courtyard, the McDonald soldiers were filing over the bridge and through the courtyard arch.

She was of course biased, but the McCabes presented a much more impressive sight.

Ewan stood on the steps with Mairin by his side, as the man in front dismounted and gave Ewan a nod.

“ ’Tis good to see you again, Ewan. ’Tis been far too long. When last I was here, your father greeted me. I sorely regret his passing.”

“As do we all,” Ewan said. “May I present my lady wife, Mairin McCabe?”

Ewan escorted her down and she curtsied in front of the other laird.

Laird McDonald took her hand and bowed, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “ ’Tis a great pleasure to meet you, Lady McCabe.”

“The honor is mine, Laird,” she said. “I offer you and your men refreshment, if you would come into the hall. The meal is set and ready to serve at your leisure.”

The laird smiled broadly and then gestured behind him. “May I present my daughter, Rionna McDonald?”

The young woman was reluctant in both manner and expression as she edged forward. So this was the woman whom Laird McDonald wanted Ewan to marry. It was all Mairin could do to keep the frown from her face. The lass was quite beautiful. Indeed her hair shone in the sun like spun gold and her complexion wasn’t marred by a single blemish. Her eyes were a peculiar amber color that caught the highlights in her hair and seemed similarly gold in the sunshine.

Mairin cast a quick glance at Ewan to judge his reaction. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel regret that he’d missed an opportunity to wed this woman.

Ewan’s eyes glimmered with amusement. He probably saw right into Mairin’s head and plucked out her thoughts.

Mairin turned and smiled to the other woman. “Do come in, Rionna. I’m sure you must be fatigued from your travel. You can sit by me at the table and we can become acquainted.”

Rionna offered a faltering smile of her own and allowed Mairin to take her arm to lead her inside.

The meal was a lively affair. Laird McDonald was a loud, boisterous man, and he ate with an enthusiasm that appalled Mairin. Why, if she had to feed this man
on a regular basis, the McCabe hunters would be hunting night and day with no rest in between.

Gertie frowned her disapproval as she refilled the laird’s trencher for the third time. Mairin caught her eye and shook her head. It wouldn’t do to insult the laird.

The talk centered around mundane topics. Hunting. Raiding. Concerns over protection of their borders. After a while, Mairin tuned out, struggling to suppress the yawn that threatened to overtake her.

She tried in vain to engage Rionna in conversation, but the lass focused on her food and kept her head down during the entire meal.

When finally the men were finished eating, Ewan caught Mairin’s eye, and she rose to excuse herself from the table. The time had come for the men to discuss whatever they discussed in meetings like this, and they no doubt had no desire for women to be present.

She thought to invite Rionna outside to take a stroll about the keep and perhaps indulge in play with the children, but as soon as Mairin excused herself from the table, Rionna hastened away.

With a shrug, Mairin went in search of Crispen.

When the women departed the hall, Laird McDonald nodded toward Ewan. “Your wife does you proud. The meal was magnificent and the welcome was warm.”

“My wife is a credit to our clan,” Ewan agreed.

“I was dismayed to hear of your marriage,” the laird continued. “I had hopes of a match between you and Rionna. It would seal an alliance and bind our clans.”

Ewan lifted his brow but didn’t say anything. He eyed McDonald to see where he was going with the current conversation.

McDonald looked over at Alaric and Caelen before returning his gaze to Ewan.

“I would speak plainly with you, Ewan.”

Ewan motioned for his men to leave the table. Alaric and Caelen remained behind along with Ewan, Laird McDonald, and a few of his men who stood to the side.

“I want this alliance,” McDonald said.

Ewan pressed his lips together in thought. “Tell me, Gregor, why do you seek this alliance? Goodwill is not something I associate with our relationship since my father’s death. And yet, you were loyal to him and he to you.”

McDonald sighed and leaned back in his seat, his hands covering his protruding middle. “ ’Tis necessary now. Duncan Cameron threatens my holding. We’ve become embroiled in a few skirmishes over the last months. I think he’s testing the might of my army, and I’ll be honest, we’ve not faired well in the battles we’ve fought.”

“Son of a bitch,” Ewan muttered. “Your lands adjoin Neamh Álainn. The bastard is planning for the day he thinks to take over Mairin’s lands.”

“Aye, and I can’t hold him off by myself.”

“What are you proposing? ’Tis obvious I can’t marry your daughter.”

“Nay,” McDonald said, drawing out his words. Then he looked over at Alaric. “But he can.”

Alaric nearly choked on his ale. Caelen looked relieved that McDonald’s remark hadn’t been intended for him, but he glanced sideways at his brother with sympathy written all over his face.

Ewan shot Alaric a warning look and turned his attention back to McDonald.

“Why is it so important that we seal this alliance with marriage? Surely there are important enough factors at work that we would ally ourselves for the common good.”

“Rionna is my heir. My only heir. I have no sons to take over when I die. The man she marries must be willing to assume the duties of laird as well as be strong enough to protect the holding from threats like Duncan Cameron. If our clans are allied not only through agreement but marriage, your loyalty to your brother won’t allow you to ever break with our agreement.”