A servant rushed through them and gave Uncle Leo a note. Upon looking at it, he scowled and sent the servant off. He approached Moira. ‘My lady, if I may have a word.’
Gooseflesh rippled along her skin. She followed him to an alcove off the main hall away from the ears of the servants. The edge in his voice startled her. He was a jovial man most of the time, but his tone rang cold like steel. ‘’Tis your father, my lady. He awaits you outside to take you back.’
Moira laughed aloud. ‘What? Now? After months of being here? The idea of it is lunacy. Surely there is a mistake.’
‘Nay. The lad tells me he demands entry. I fear he will break down our doors and use what men he has brought with him to battle his way in.’
Of all the times for her father to press in upon her and her life. Anger rippled through her hot and bright. She was no little girl to be bandied about as a possession. She was a grown woman, and she would face him and command his departure.
‘I will battle him out of our grounds, my lady. All of us are willing to fight for you. Just say the word.’ His body was taut, and in that moment she realised how delicate the situation was. The McKennas were loyal and fiercely protective of those they loved. If she wasn’t careful, a battle might break out on the drive in front of Blackmore while her husband’s life hung in the balance.
‘Nay.’ She clutched his forearm. ‘I will speak with him. There will be no battles other than the one to keep Rory alive.’
‘As you wish.’
She released his arm. ‘But I will need ten of your fiercest soldiers at the ready to come with me as I greet him. He responds to force and I want him to know that I am prepared to battle for my husband and for my right to stay here. Blackmore is my home.’
Uncle Leo gave a satisfied smile and thrust his chest out. ‘Aye. Consider it done. I will have them accompany you immediately. As shall I.’
‘Tressa,’ she called.
Her lady’s maid set down the laird’s chalice along with a comb and soap and hurried to her.
‘I am in need of my most intimidating and noble gown. Can you help me?’
Her eyes widened, and she smiled. ‘Aye. I have just the one in mind.’
Moira’s legs quaked as she walked through the large castle doors and stepped into the arc of soldiers, including Uncle Leo, who flanked the landing. To her pleasure, the McKennas were an impressive and foreboding lot of men with their legs anchored like statues and swords in their waist belts at the ready. Their scowls were fixated on the mirror of soldiers that skirted her father. She paused. And to her surprise, her brother, Ewan.
Thistles.
Betrayal stung her. Why was her brother here? She had hoped Ewan wasn’t a part of this, but here he was at Father’s side once more. Shoving the hurt away, she summoned the steely rage and caged emotion that years in Peter’s ‘care’ had instilled in her.
‘Father. Brother.’ Her words carried across the void between them strong and even, and she lifted her chin. A spitting ice storm brewed and the tinny sound of the pellets landing on the smooth drive surrounded them. Her dark cloak and the skirts of her heavy scarlet gown caught the crystals and reflected in the torchlight just as it did off the Stewart men glaring at her. The very men who used to guard and protecthernow threatened the nest of happiness she had found and created for herself.
Her father and brother didn’t answer immediately, but studied her and the men surrounding her.
‘Is he already dead, then?’ Father asked, his words as brittle and harsh as the weather.
She gripped the fabric of her cloak and commanded herself not to lash out as she longed to. Her father was baiting her, even Ewan knew it. His gaze slid to her and back to their father, interested in who might lose their temper first. The soldiers on each side were taut and eager to battle, but she had little time for base things. She needed to end this and get back to saving her husband’s life.
If they wished to, they could attempt to kill one another at a later date.
‘I have no time for your baiting, Father. My husband is ill, but he will recover. Just as you will leave me to this life that I have chosen for myself. You have no legitimate claim here. ’Tis only your pride that presses this issue forward. I am surprised my husband’s coin did not appease you. It was sizeable if I recall.’
Ewan’s eyes widened and several of Father’s men shifted on their feet. She had stung and stung hard. There was no other way with Father. She realised that now. He’d never give her grounds for her independence. She would have to be brave and seize it, just like that day of the tournament.
‘I have already challenged the legitimacy of your union with Laird McKenna and soon you will hear from the king.’ Her father took two steps forward and the McKenna soldiers responded in kind ready to draw down.
Lord above.The king would do no such thing. Her Father’s threats were baseless and empty.
But the last thing she needed was a battle on the Blackmore grounds to assuage his bruised ego. She raised her hand to her men and approached her father and brother. ‘Then you have wasted correspondence, time and resources. I am not leaving Blackmore. Our marriage is legitimate.’ She took another breath and puffed out her chest allowing the hood of her cloak to fall back to rest on the base of her neck. ‘Especially now that I carry his heir.’
A few McKenna soldiers sucked in a breath, as if the air had been stolen from them. Most of the clan had not known that she was with child, but this seemed the moment to reveal all, even to her father. It was her last hope of getting him to focus on the future rather than the past and let go of his pride. If he couldn’t do that for a babe, for his future grandchild, then there was no hope for any of it.
Laird Bran Stewart, not her father, stared at her, his eyes scanning her face, perhaps in hopes of finding a hint of weakness or deception he could exploit. She held his hard gaze, willing him to accept the truth in her eyes and in her heart. Willing him to see her as his daughter for once rather than the enemy, his property or a prize to be bartered. Sucking in a breath, she risked one more push. ‘So you will withdraw your threats as will the Frasers, and you will cease your actions against us. There is no truth to either of your claims. Nor will there ever be.’
‘While I will ceasemyclaim now that you are with child, I cannot promise the Frasers will do the same.’ He started to leave and then faced her once more. ‘But I will try to assist you. For the sake of your bairn. He has part Stewart blood after all.’
