Medieval Ever After (115 page)

That sent her temper flaring hotter, and she turned back to Daniel. “I wish I knew what that meant.”

“I haven’t met Robert’s wife either, Rona,” he said coldly. He turned to Garrick. “Can you give us a moment?”

The amused look lingered on Garrick’s hard features, but he nodded in acquiescence and walked away along the battlements.

“What is this about, Rona?” Daniel said tightly to her once Garrick was out of earshot. “I thought we agreed that I’d accompany you to the Fergusons’ cottage. And now you’re mad at me for not telling you about a woman I’ve never met?”

Hot tears of frustration stung her eyes. “Since I’m apparently not invited to your secret meetings in the study, perhaps you are uninvited from accompanying me to Ian and Mairi’s.”

She felt foolish, like a petulant child, but she realized she was more hurt than she initially thought. Daniel, Garrick, and Jossalyn had stayed in the study doing who knew what for hours yesterday, only emerging to take the evening meal with her. Was this how it would be between them?

Some of the anger drained from his face, and his stormy eyes softened on her.

“I’m sorry, sweeting,” he said simply.

She started slightly. He’d never used an endearment with her—unless “lass” counted.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Perhaps he hadn’t slept well either.

“I’d like you to please not go to the Fergusons’ cottage today, or any time without me, as we agreed,” he said slowly. “I’ll go with you in a few days once everything is more settled here. I’d like you to be here to welcome the rest of my family to our home.”

“Why?” she said cautiously. “Why do you want me here?”

Perhaps this was the deepest aspect of her pain and frustration. The fact that he was keeping things from her, excluding her, made her feel untrusted—and unwanted.

He seemed to read the emotions that must have been churning on her face.

“Because I want to show you off to my family. Because I’m proud to be your husband.”

If his endearment had thrown her off-balance, this admission sent her spinning. Before she fumbled her way to a question, he went on.

“You are smart, strong, and capable, Rona,” he said. “And you’re stunningly beautiful.”

“What…where is this coming from?”

He shifted on his feet, suddenly looking like a contrite lad.

“Jossalyn mentioned something yesterday about my communication skills, or lack thereof. She gave me quite the verbal lashing for keeping you in the dark about—about several things.”

Her eyes widened. She’d have to thank Jossalyn later. But then she narrowed her gaze on him.

“And did she convince you to tell me about whatever it is you’re keeping from me?”

He sobered and pinned her with his eyes, which were the color of the wind-churned loch behind him. “I’ll tell you everything tonight,” he said. “After the feast.”

“Truly?” Anticipation coursed through her. No more secrets between them. He trusted her.

“Aye, truly.”

She opened her mouth to tell him how happy his decision made her, but a flicker of movement on the loch behind him caught her eye. The same large boat that had transported Garrick and Jossalyn now moved toward the castle from the village.

Her breath caught in her throat. “They’re here already?”

Nervousness mingled with anticipation at the thought of finally meeting the rest of Daniel’s family.

“Apparently,” Daniel said, turning to squint at the boat as it drew nearer. “And they look to have brought a small army.”

The two of them descended from the battlements and crossed out to the docks. As the barge docked in front of the castle, Rona couldn’t suppress a gasp. Daniel was right. Though it was by far the largest vessel that ferried between the castle and the village, the barge was nearly overflowing with enormous kilted men. They all wore the bright red Sinclair plaid, though beyond that they looked like a motley lot.

They poured off the boat and onto the dock, and Rona guessed that there were at least two dozen of them. They nodded as they walked down the wooden boardwalk toward the castle, some stopping to exchange a grin or a forearm grasp with Daniel.

“Why are there so many warriors?” Rona asked in shock.

“I’m sure it was just for…protection. They’ve had a long journey, and Robert is very protective of his wife and daughter,” Daniel replied cautiously.

“Danny!”

Rona jumped at the bellow, which came from behind the thinning line of Highland warriors.

An enormous yet lithe-looking Highlander pushed his way toward Daniel and embraced him in a hard hug, as Garrick had done yesterday. As the man stood back to appraise Daniel with a grin, Rona got a chance to look at him.

Another near-copy of Daniel, this man had darker hair but the same firm jawline and large build. His eyes were pale blue and filled with merriment, but Rona noticed a few more lines on his face than Daniel’s. He had to be Robert, the eldest brother.

Daniel glanced over his brother’s shoulder. “Cousin!” he shouted and went to embrace yet another tall, muscular Highlander. Rona had to shake her head in amazement. How could one family have so many strapping, brawny giants in it?

The man Daniel moved to hug was, blessedly, not another dark-haired, hard-faced copy of the others. This must be Burke, she realized. His light brown hair and dark blue eyes, which were filled with warmth, set him apart, but he was dressed and built like the others.

“Oh no,” said a female voice from behind the towering warriors. Then Rona heard retching. She pushed her way hurriedly between the men.

Leaning over the dock and dry heaving into the loch was an ethereally beautiful—if currently unpleasantly occupied—woman a few years older than Rona.

Burke pushed past her and came to the woman’s side. He gathered her dark chestnut hair in one hand, holding it back, while his other hand circled her lower back.

“I’m sorry the loch waters are so rough. Your passage must have been difficult,” Rona said by way of apology. Suddenly she felt five pairs of eyes on her and looked around.

Daniel gazed at her, along with Robert. Burke and the retching woman paused and glanced curiously at her. And then there was a second woman at the end of the dock whose gray eyes assessed her. She carried a bundle of blankets close to her chest, her light brown hair spreading around it like a veil. The blanket made a noise and shifted.

That must be Alwin, Robert’s wife. She wasn’t sure why Garrick had compared her to this woman—they couldn’t be more different physically. While Alwin was short and femininely curved, Rona was tall and willowy. Alwin’s hair was soft brown, while Rona’s was unruly and red. She could only guess at what Garrick had meant.

“You must be Rona Kennedy,” Alwin said, “or rather, Rona Sinclair.”

Rona nodded, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with all those eyes on her.

“These oafs were too busy bear hugging each other to properly introduce us,” she said crisply, though her eyes were warm. “I’m Alwin, and this is Jane. Your niece.” She pulled back the blanket a little to reveal a sleeping babe.

All Rona’s nervousness fell away now that everyone was focused on the babe. Daniel approached and unconsciously put his arm around Rona’s waist as he peered down at the child.

“She’s so…small.”

Alwin laughed. “She’s only two and a half months old!” Then her gray eyes, which Rona realized had traces of blue in them, similar to Daniel’s, flitted up to take in her brother-in-law. “What a joy to finally meet you, Daniel,” she said.

“Sorry about that. It-it must have been the choppy waters,” the woman who had been retching said behind Rona. “I’m Meredith.” The woman’s kind brown eyes were disarming, and Rona instantly felt more at ease.

“Perhaps we can continue this inside,” Daniel said pointedly. The men gathered the few bags that remained in the boat’s hull. Then the group walked under the portcullis and toward the great hall. The small Highland army was gathered in the yard, talking with each other and introducing themselves to the castle’s wary men.

“How are we going to feed them all? And where will we put them?” Rona whispered to Daniel as they passed.

“Don’t worry. Elspeth is more than capable, and they can sleep in the hall with the other men,” Daniel replied.

Rona glanced dubiously at the rugged-looking band of warriors but put the problem aside for the moment.

Just as they all entered the hall, Jossalyn hurried down the stairs.

“I haven’t missed all the introductions, have I?” she said breathlessly.

Another round of introductions was made, with Jossalyn warmly embracing each of the women as she had with Rona. She seemed genuinely overjoyed at the prospect of having sisters.

“You’ll be my sister, too, Meredith, if it’s all right with you,” she said sweetly.

Meredith nodded shyly, and Burke, who was hovering close to her, smiled warmly.

“Perhaps you can make some more of that tea, Jossalyn,” Rona said, longing to be helpful. “Meredith was a bit unsettled by the boat ride.”

Jossalyn took Meredith by the hand and led her toward the kitchen, leaving Alwin and Rona slightly apart from the men, who were still slapping each other on the back and catching each other up.

“Garrick said I reminded him of you,” Rona said to Alwin, feeling suddenly shy.

“Did he now,” Alwin replied conspiratorially. “What could that mean? That you are strong-willed? Stubborn? Outspoken?”

Rona’s eyes widened, which made Alwin smile.

“Garrick thinks he can subdue everyone with his glower. Just keep standing up to him. That’s what I do.”

Rona’s face broke into a wide grin. Why had she been nervous to meet her new family? She knew now that they’d all get along just fine.

“I could give you the tour, if you’d like,” Daniel was saying to one of the men in response to a comment about the castle.

“I’d better see to Jane,” Alwin said to Robert.

“I can send Agnes up to you. She’ll be thrilled to have a babe in the castle,” Rona offered. Agnes was a grandmother and couldn’t get enough of the wee ones.

“Thank you, Rona,” Alwin replied.

As the men filtered out to the yard and Agnes led Alwin to a chamber abovestairs, Rona was left standing alone in the hall.

She glanced up the stairs after Alwin and Agnes but didn’t have the faintest idea how to help a new mother and young babe. She looked toward the kitchen but decided she wouldn’t disturb Meredith and Jossalyn.

The only thing she could think to do was to prepare herself for the wedding feast later that evening. She made her way toward the chamber she shared with Daniel.

The feast would be festive and enjoyable, especially with the castle full of Daniel’s family. But she longed to speed up time so that she wouldn’t have to wait for Daniel to explain everything to her. The end of the secrecy couldn’t come soon enough.

HIGHLANDER’S RECKONING

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I can see
the Bruce’s hand in this castle,” Robert said from the battlements.

Garrick nodded in agreement. “That was my exact thought the first time I saw this place.”

Daniel had forgotten that Garrick had passed through Loch Doon once before. He was with the Bruce’s army as they fled to the Outer Hebrides and eventually Ireland. So much had changed since then. It was only a few years ago that the cause for independence looked hopeless, and that the Bruce’s claim to the Scottish throne would go unfulfilled.