Page 47 of Kidnapped By her Highland Enemy
Chatter about roasted pheasant and mulled wine had him realizing that the servants were out, preparing for the feast later on. He shot a look to a still slumbering Maisie and decided to check in with his father and then send up a meal for Maisie so she could have another hour away from the scrutiny of his clan-members.
After notifying the kitchens about Maisie’s morning meal, he then went to see his father—only to find that his father was not alone.
“Laird McKenna,” he bowed his head to the other Laird. “How do ye do?”
The laird bowed as well, “Very well, Barclay, but nae as much as ye, I’d imagine. News has met me ears but I daenae ken if it’s true so I came to find if it is true.”
“I suppose ye mean about me marrying Laird Dunn’s daughter,” Lucas replied.
He did not fancy McKenna, he was too mealymouthed for Lucas’s taste. Even when he had voiced that opinion to his father, Cinead had brushed it off, saying that the man was harmless, a groveling rat, but harmless.
“Aye,” McKenna brushed a hand over his faded great kilt. “I suppose this means ye two clans have come to make peace between ye then?”
“It does.”
Delight marked McKenna’s face. “I’ve hoped that one day ye two would broke peace between ye and now that is true, I give ye my best wishes, Barclay.”
“Thank ye, McKenna,” Lucas took the compliment with grace. “We have a feast to commemorate the engagement this eve. Ye are welcome to take part if ye would like.”
“T’would be me honor,” McKenna replied.
With a curt nod, Lucas turned to his father, “Faither, may I speak with ye for a moment?”
“Aye,” Cinead said. “McKenna, one of me men will show ye to the great hall. Have a meal while I speak with me son.”
After McKenna left, Lucas turned to Cinead, “It’s barely past dawn, when did he arrive?”
His father grunted. “Damned if I ken, but daeanae ye worry about him. What do ye need, Lucas? Shouldnae ye be with the lass?”
“I’m going back,” Lucas ruffled his hair. “I just needed to see if ye had the arrangements for the feast under way.”
Clapping a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, Cinead assured him, “Ye needn’t worry. All is going on well. The storehouses have been opened and the kitchen is working double-time. Whatever we dinnae have has been sent for and the great hall is getting a scrubbin’. Ye need to go back to yer room and rest easy.”
“Nay so,” Laird Dunn scowled as he walked into the room. “Barclay, ye and I need to talk.”
“Whatever ye need, I’ll take care of it,” Cinead faced Angus. “Go back to the lass.”
Laird Dunn’s face was thunderous, and he called to Lucas as he headed out the door. “Ye better nay be filling the nursery so early boy! Ye hear me?”
Lucas did not hear his father’s reply as his only concern was for Maisie. Had she woken up without seeing him there? He entered to see her still curled up in the middle of the bed, her creamy limbs bright against the dark sheets.
Shucking his shirt and boots, he slid into the sheets and tugged her onto his chest. Instantly, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and nestled her head under his neck.
When he kissed her forehead, she tightened his hold and murmured, “Stay with me.”
“Forever,” he vowed. “Ye have me word.”
17
The heavy silk, green brocadebliautdress the Barclay servant-women dressed her in was the finest garment Maisie had ever worn. With the neckline and hem lined with white silk and seed-pearls, the tunic was fit over a white linen underskirt that barely topped her slippers.
“There ye go, me lady,” a woman, Sara nodded. “The gown is lovely on ye.”
“I must agree,” the missed voice of Eilidh said from the doorway, making Maisie spin on her feet. Her eyes landed on Mister Jamieson’s wife, who was still heavily pregnant.
“Eilidh!” Maisie exclaimed, hurrying to her and embracing her tight. “I am so glad ye are here.”
“Me too, Maisie,” Eilidh pulled away to find a chair, her eyes glimmering knowingly. “I had me suspicions about the attachment Lucas had for ye, but I was taken-aback when I heard he was about to marry ye. How had things progressed since ye left the seaside cottage?”
