Page 51 of Kilty as Sin
Barclay whirled on his commander. “Aye, and I’ve listened to ye for years. Ye think I set out to fall in love with Grace? Love isnaeplanned, Drum! It sneaks up on ye, then bashes ye over the head if ye dinnae give into it!”
“So romantic,” murmured Grace.
To his surprise, his commander sighed and lowered his arms. “Aye, I ken it. I also ken the heartbreak that comes when ye learn she’s betrayed ye.”
“Thatwillnaehappen,” Grace stated emphatically. “We want to bemarried, Drummond.”
“What did the King say about that, eh?” prompted Payton, exchanging a glance with Craig. “Ye’re being awfully grumpy, Drum.”
With another sigh, Drummond rubbed the back of his neck, an expression very much like regret on his face.
“His Majesty believes ‘tis no’ seemly, a lady such as Grace marrying a landless Hunter like Barclay. Ye have some money, aye, but nae home, nae estate to support a wife and bairns.”
Fook.
Fook fook shite fook.
This was what Barclay had been afraid of all along.
Mayhap Grace could sense his panic because she squeezed his hand. When he glanced at her, she offered a soothing smile.
“Yeareworthy of my love, Barclay. I dinnae care what the King says about it; I love ye, and I’ll no’ allow ye to spiral down into that place of doubt. Ye are worthy.”
‘Twas beautiful.
Barclay was staring at her, uncertain how to respond to such a vow, when Drummond cleared his throat.
“Worthy he may be, but Barclay doesnae have an estate, and the King doesnae want an unlanded Hunter marrying one of his noble’s daughters.”
Fook.
No matter Grace’s pretty words, ‘twas everything Barclay had feared.
The silence in the room was deafening, and he was certain he could hear Grace’s heart pounding as loudly as his was.
“’Tis why…”
At Drummond’s careful words, Barclay wrenched his head around to stare hopefully at his commander.
Drummond rarely smiled. ‘Twas one of his finer points, all the Hunters agreed. But now, under Barclay’s hopeful gaze, Drum’s lips pulled into a grin.
“’Tis why His Majesty has appointed Barclay MacGill—ye have to accept the auld bastard’s name, ye ken—as the new laird of Clan MacGill.”
Grace sucked in a breath as both Payton and Craig released pleased whoops.
Turning, Barclay took Grace’s hands in his. “What do ye think, love?”
“Ithinkone doesnae turn down such an offer,” she quipped with an impish smile. “But are ye going to be content, leading yer father’s people?”
Would he?
“The MacGills…they’re also my mother’s people, are they no’?” He felt her squeeze his hands and continued. “They are good people, we learned, and they need a leader.”
“Could ye be that leader?”
“Aye,” he breathed, staring into the gorgeous blue eyes of the woman he loved. “I could. And ‘twould mean a place for ye—for both of us. Ye could still be near yer father.”
“And our son will lead the MacDonalds after him.”
