Page 6 of Betrayed

Morag favored him with a brilliant smile, and when he grinned back at her she giggled. It was a wonderful sound, like water tripping over small rocks on a clear bright day.

“She does not usually take to strangers, particularly men,” Fiona observed, surprised. “She isn't used to men. By the time she could distinguish between men and women, most of my father's clansmen had run off back to their relatives in the glen.”

“I was raised with two sisters, and they have daughters, although not as old as Mistress Morag. I believe yer sisters will like Brae Castle,” he told Fiona. “Itis set upon a small island in the loch, and connected to the shore by a causeway. The lasses can learn to swim, and row their own boats.”

“Ye speak as if we have some permanent arrangement,” Fiona said to him, “and we don't, my lord.”

“For now it is permanent. Afterwards, who knows? No matter, I don't believe yer grandfather, Ewan Hay, would approve of my leaving ye here upon the ben now that I've found ye. I think if he had but known ye, the lands in the glen would have been yers, and ye an heiress.Yerfather was not just a cruel man; he was a foolish one as well, I fear. Ye could easily be in danger now that so many are aware of yer existence. Keiths, Innes, and Forbes all know ye live here upon the ben, alone and unprotected with but two elderly servants. Any of them could attack ye and steal yer lands, poor as they may be.Yeand yer sisters will be safer with me. Tomorrow I will make certain that yer brothers-in-law and their clansmen know that ye are under the protection of the laird of Loch Brae.”

“I wonder, my lord, who is more dangerous? My brothers-in-law or ye?”

Angus laughed. Then, reaching out, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. “In due time, Fiona Hay, ye will learn the answer to yer question. For now I would but ask that ye trust me.” He kissed the hand in his, turning it over to press his lips upon her upturned palm, his eyes never leaving hers.

Fiona felt as if she had been struck in the belly. She couldn't breathe, and she could feel her heart leap suddenly, then pound wildly in her ears. Startled, she pulled her hand away.

He gave her a slow smile. “Don't be afraid, lassie,” he murmured so only she might hear him, and not be embarrassed. “I will not hurt ye. Harming ye is the furtheresttherest thing from my mind.” This morning, he thought to himself, suddenly bemused as to his softening in attitude, he had wanted to hang the thief who had stolen his cattle. Now all he wanted to do was cover her face with kisses. What sorcery was this wench practicing upon him? She had made a bold bargain with him that he fully intended she keep. She would pay in full for the cattle she had so daringly pilfered from his meadows. There would be no escape for Fiona Hay from Angus Gordon's bed.

Fiona arose quickly from the high board and shepherded her sisters up the stairs to their chamber. “We'll have to waken early so we can bathe. Ye'll not go to yer husbands dirty,” she added, looking at the brides-to-be.

“He's verra bonnie,” Elsbeth remarked as the door to their chamber closed behind them.

“Who?” Fiona asked.

Elsbeth laughed. “The laird, ye witless fool.”

“He has the look of a rogue,” Margery said primly.

“I like him,” Morag said.

Jean looked thoughtful. “I wonder if he'll give us our own ponies? I'm going to like living at Brae Castle.”

“How can ye be certain? Ye've never even seen it,” Fiona said.

“It will be warm and dry, and we'll get to eat regularly,” Jean said, thinking practically.“I'll like it!”

Fiona felt guilty at her sister's words but then wondered why she should. She had done her best for her siblings, especially in the years since their father had died. But it was true that Jeannie was always hungry and complaining about it, whereas the others, if they were also hungry, had not whined and fussed. “Wash yer faces and get out of yer clothes,” she ordered the girls. “Morning will come before ye know it, andthere'll be water to draw and heat for the baths. Elsbeth, Margery, are yer trunks packed for the morrow?”

“Aye,” the twins chorused.

“Then see to the younger ones and get to yer beds. I must make certain the laird is settled and comfortable before I can sleep,” Fiona told them, hurrying from the room before they might tease her further.

“She is giving up a great deal for us,” Margery said slowly. “I wonder if it is right that we let her do it.”

“And if we don't, what would happen to the rest of us?” Jean asked, with far more wisdom than her years allowed. “We'd all die old maids here upon the ben. No, tomorrow ye two will wed with yer laddies because that is the way Fi wants it to be. Then we shall go off to Brae Castle to live. If Fi pleases the laird, he will probably find fine husbands for our Morag and for me.”

Fretting, Margery asked, “But what would our mother think of such an arrangement as Fi has made?”

Jean snorted. “Our mother did what she had to do to survive our father, and Fi will do the same to survive the laird.”

“Ye don't know that,” Elsbeth said. “Why, ye can't remember our mother, for she died when ye were barely three.”

“No, I don't remember her,” Jean admitted, “but Flora often says how like Mother in character Fi is, even if she looks like our father.”

“Did I know our mother?” Morag wondered aloud as Margery wiped her face clean of the supper stew.

“Mam died when ye were born,” Margery said.

“Why?” Morag said. She always asked why, though she knew the answer that she would be given.

---