Page 93 of Cottage in the Mist
“In England surely, but no’ in the Highlands. A laird names his own successor and, while it is common for it to be a son, nothing says it must be the eldest.” He smiled down at the woman who was now his wife. “Or for that matter, even a son.”
“A woman can inheirit?” Her eyes widened at the thought.
“Aye, if ’tis believed to be best for the clan.”
“Imagine that.” She nestled closer with a smile, then tipped her face to meet his gaze. “So Malcolm believed he was your grandfather’s heir.”
“That he did. And being close to his mother, he resented my grandmother from the beginning. And once his mother was dead and Deirdre became the new wife, his anger grew. It festered and found a worthy source once my father was born.”
“What about Ealasaid?” She was chewing on her bottom lip as she contemplated his story. “Did Malcolm hate her too?”
“Nay. I dinna believe he saw her as a threat. And I think for a while she acted as a shield of sorts. Protecting my father from Malcolm’s ire. But then, when Deirdre died, my grandfather sent her away. To the Macqueens, which is where she ultimately met Ranald’s father.”
“But that meant there was no longer anyone to stand between the two boys. How terrible for them both.”
“True enough. And mayhap it would have passed as Malcolm grew to manhood, except as I said, my grandfather liked to play the boys against each other. And for better or worse, my father often came out on top. So Malcolm’s ill feelings grew. And my grandfather’s games only fanned the flames.”
“Which in turn fed Malcolm’s anger and jealousy.” She snuggled closer, her warmth keeping Bram’s emotions safely at bay.
He sighed, then nodded. “Then fate stepped in to make it worse. When my father came of age he fell in love with my mother. Aileen Mackintosh was a beauty and a wealthy womanin her own right. And there were many men who sought her hand. But she never had eyes for anyone but my father.”
“And I’m guessing Malcolm was one of the other men.”
“That he was. And when my mother agreed to marry my father, he was incensed. Demanded that his father grant him Aileen’s hand. He was older than my father, after all. But my grandfather refused. So Malcolm appealed to his uncle.”
“The head of your clan?”
“Aye, and because my grandfather had always gone his own way, my great uncle was only too happy to countermand his orders.”
“He gave Aileen to Malcolm?”
“He tried, but my father would have none of it. He and Aileen sought the approval of the head of her clan.”
“Chattan,” Lily prompted.
“And the Mackintosh gave the couple his blessing. They were married at Moy. Of course this dinna sit well at all with my great uncle or with Malcolm. But it was too late and Ian Ciar couldna risk angering the head of Chattan. Although he ne’er forgave my grandfather or my father. Anyway, Malcolm turned his mind to other things. My grandfather was getting old, and my uncle pushed him to let him take over Dunbrae. But my grandfather was still angry over what he viewed as Malcolm’s betrayal.”
“Going over his head to his brother.”
“Aye. And so in a fit of anger, he gave the lairdship to my father. Malcolm swore revenge and began gathering men to the cause. But Iain’s grandfather stepped in and with the might of Chattan behind him, forced a truce.”
“I bet that went over well.”
“My great uncle never forgave my grandfather or father for bringing the wrath of Chattan down on him and the clan. When my grandfather died, my great uncle was forced to let my father take over Dunbrae, but he cut off any kind of support fromDunmaglass. And he showered favors upon Malcolm. He gave him a prosperous tract of Macgillivray land and helped him make a strategic marriage. He was, for all purposes, the favored son of the clan.”
“But it wasn’t enough for Malcolm,” Lily said. “He still wanted Dunbrae. And he wanted your father dead.”
“If what Frazier says is true, then that would seem the way of it.”
“Oh, God, Bram, I’m so sorry. What a horrible situation.”
He shrugged, the twist in his gut belying his dismissal of her words. “I’ve never had any love for my uncle. And I know he has none for me. But I ne’er believed he would do something like this. When my mother died, it seemed that his vengeance had at long last been served, for my father was never the same again. I truly believed that was the end of it.”
“But instead, now you have to face him. To take back what rightfully belongs to your family.”
He rolled over to face her, grasping her hands in his. “Yours now, too. And one day our wee bairns.”
A soft smile tipped her lips. “You want children?”
