Page 81 of Highland Sword
“Who knows that the duke is coming?” Searc asked, obviously in favor of putting an end to the talk of the canal.
“I should think the military command at Fort George and Fort William will be notified,” Niall suggested, drawing a nod from Cinaed.
“Then our friend Sir Rupert will know as well?”
Aidan turned to see a glint of mischief in Searc’s eyes, and he wondered if there might be some other plot in the works that he hadn’t yet been told about.
CHAPTER28
MORRIGAN
With the severe cold, heavy snow, and ice limiting their time out of doors, Fiona’s daughters needed to be kept busy, and Morrigan was glad to oblige. She, too, needed activity to distract her. Aidan was back, but she had yet to see him. The men had been sequestered in the laird’s study all afternoon. She was excited and anxious, happy and nervous. She wanted to run with the children one moment, but considered locking herself in her room the next.
The large drawing room on the floor above the Great Hall provided a comfortable gathering place for the women, especially during inclement weather. An hour ago, snow had again begun to fall. Isabella was ensconced by the fire with a medical journal that Searc had brought her from Inverness. Auld Jean nodded in a chair opposite her, her mending on her lap. Maisie and Fiona had their heads together at a table in an alcove and appeared to be making plans to storm Westminster. The large fire in the hearth warmed the room nicely, and Morrigan and the children were at the far end, where they could play and carry on.
Three other youngsters from the household had joined Catriona and Briana. The current game they were playing was What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf. In this case it wasMissWolf, and Morrigan was playing the lead role.
She stood with her face to the wall while her playmates squabbled and tried to line up some safe distance behind her. All day, she kept thinking about the night of Samhain and Aidan’s hints about choosing games and having a wife and children. Unfortunately, the warm glow of the memory was continually torn away and replaced by the chill, intrusive reality of her present situation.
After her meeting with Baker, Sir Rupert Burney had written her back. Of course, the letter came unsigned, but Morrigan knew the identity of the sender. He made no effort to disguise the contents. If the letter fell into the hands of the Mackintosh leaders, that was clearly Morrigan’s issue to deal with. In the missive, he told her he was pleased with the information she’d provided. The warehouse had been raided, and the stolen weapons secured. No one had been at the location, and no proof established a tie with the Mackintoshes of Dalmigavie or with the son of Scotland. Sir Rupert warned that she needed to do better the next time, and she was to reply to K. Baker at the post office on Church Street. There was no mention of her father’s letter or a face-to-face meeting.
“What’s the time, Miss Wolf?”
The children’s shout cut into her troubled thoughts, and Morrigan forced her attention on their game. “Two o’clock.”
The youngsters counted their steps loudly and together, then the question came again.
“Five o’clock, my wee lambs,” she called out.
There were some giggles. Five steps were counted out.
“What’s the time, Miss Wolf?”
“Three o’clock, my sweet, fat piglets.”
The laughter became louder. Morrigan heard women at the other end of the room chanting the steps too.
“What’s the time, Miss Wolf?” all the players yelled out.
“It’s dinnertime,” she shouted.
The children shrieked and raced for the starting line.
Morrigan turned and lunged toward the players. She had to tag one person to make them the wolf, and she now knew why the adults were laughing. Aidan was standing right in front of her. He’d quietly come in and joined the game. His long legs had brought him closest, and he wasn’t making any effort to escape her. She fell against him, and they both tumbled to the floor.
Aidan caught her by the waist, and she ended up sprawled on top of him. Her hair blanketed his face. Her breasts pressed against his chest. His arm remained around her, holding her. She longed for him.
Morrigan swept her hair back and tried to raise herself off him, but the devil held her tight. Their faces were so close. She stared into his grey eyes. It was far too easy to be lost in their magic. She wanted to press her lips against his. But they had an audience. The sound of laughter rang around them.
His hands fell away, and she was free to go.
“I apologize.”
“I’m the one who needs to apologize.”
“It was my fault.”
“Hardly. The fault was mine completely.”
