Page 55 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
“I’m quite sure it will be muchbetter by tomorrow,” she supplied.
“It will have te be,” he grumbledas he glared at Archibald. “Help me into the great hall. Marion, ye can sitwith me there until Iain returns.”
“I’ll sit with ye,” Bridgettequickly offered, sliding Marion a knowing look.
“Ye can sit with us, as well,”Angus said, not realizing that Marion intended to leave.
Marion gave Angus what she hopedwas a convincing smile so he’d not argue too much. “I mean to visit the seer.”
“Ye kinnae—”
“I can,” she said firmly.“Archibald can come with me, and you can watch Bridgette.” Marion smiledsweetly at Archibald. “Would you mind coming with me?”
“If that’s what Bridgette wishesand if she vows to stay with Angus.”
“It is, and I do,” Bridgetteinstantly replied as she handed Marion the cloak she’d been holding whileMarion tended to Angus. As Marion took the cloak, Bridgette grasped her handand drew her near. “Will ye ask the seer something for me?” she whispered.
Marion nodded.
“Will ye ask her if my brother willbe safe should I leave here?”
“I will,” Marion replied, “butwhere are you intending to go?”
“With ye,” Bridgette said in ahushed tone. “Ye must coax yer husband into agreeing that ye need a friend whenye go to the den of women who will be waiting to torment ye.”
Marion frowned. “Who’s waiting totorment me?”
“Catriona’s sisters, of course. Shehas two, and they’re going to hate ye.”
“Why would they hate me? I’ve donenothing to them.”
“Ye are a naive lass,” Bridgettesaid, matter-of-fact. “They’re going to hate ye cause Catriona is dead andye’re alive. Nae that they need any more reason, but if ye need one it’s knownby many that Catriona’s eldest sister, Fiona, has been hoping Iain would takeher for his wife.”
The news that she had more tocontend with than her husband not wishing to ever love again bothered her, butthere was nothing she could do about it currently, so she moved to Angus and pattedhim on the shoulder. “Stay off that foot!”
“I’ll ensure he does,” Bridgettepromised.
Archibald and Marion helped Angusinto the hall and got him situated in a chair while Bridgette fetched him somefood. Once Marion was satisfied that Angus would do as she had said, she andArchibald set out for the seer’s cave.
They walked in silence for a goodwhile, and Marion decided Archibald would likely not speak at all unless shespoke first. He seemed a man of few words. She glanced at him from under herlashes as they climbed the mountain, and he held branches back for her to passwith ease. For being cousin to Alex and Bridgette, Archibald looked nothinglike either of them. Bridgette and Alex were both tall, lean people. ThoughArchibald was tall, he was certainly not lean. Everything about him was thickfrom his chest, to his neck, and even to his fingers. And whereas Alex andBridgette both had heads of unruly hair, Archibald had almost no hair left onhis head, which was surprising considering how young he looked.
“Were you reared near Alex andBridgette?” Marion asked.
He didn’t look at her as heanswered. “Aye.”
Marion scowled. It was going to bea long walk there and back if they didn’t speak at all. “Do your parents livehere, as well?”
“Nay. My mother died in labor andmy father, Alex’s father’s brother, was killed in battle when I was but a weebairn.”
“I’m so sorry,” she replied. “Wasit a battle with another clan?”
“Aye, the Campbells. But my fatherwas nae killed by a Campbell.”
Marion frowned. “What happened tohim?”
“Alex’s father cut him open withhis sword,” he said, his tone cold and unforgiving.
Marion gasped. “He murdered him?”
