“She’s with her mother and sister, along with my wife. If I’m brave enough to leave Allyson in their care, you can survive Cairstine being in theirs too.”
Eoin shook his head ruefully. “Things changed last night.”
“I’d figured as much, even if the entire keep hadn’t heard you,” Ewan chuckled.
Eoin’s mouth tightened into a thin line as he glared at his brother, but he knew Ewan was teasing. “I mean more than justthat.Ewan, I finally told her I love her, and she said she feels the same way. I have never heard a sweeter sound than those words coming from Cairstine’s lips.”
“I have,” Ewan clapped his brother on his back. “It’s when they’re coming from my wife’s mouth.”
Eoin playfully shoved Ewan away as they walked toward the water buckets. It was midafternoon, and the sun was high overhead. It was a sultry summer day, and most of the men in the lists had stripped their leines off. Eoin swiped his off the ground and ran it over his face and neck as he waited his turn for the water ladle. He leaned in to whisper to Ewan.
“We said our handfast vows for real. She’s my wife now.”
“Aboot bluidy time,” Ewan wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “Does Da ken?”
“Aye, we found him before we went belowstairs. He offered his blessing and welcomed her into the clan. Did Allyson bring an extra plaid?”
“Aye, a few.”
“Do you think she would lend one to Cairstine? She can’t wear one of mine very easily for the same reason Allyson doesn’t wear yours. She’d drown in it. I’d like her to have it in time for the gathering.”
“Staking your claim?” Ewan teased.
“Is your wife still wearing an Elliot plaid?” Eoin cocked an eyebrow at his brother but ducked from the halfhearted punch Ewan threw.
“Point taken. I’ll ask Allyson to set one aside before the evening meal. Clans have started arriving and setting up camp outside the wall. The bailey is already filling up with lairds and their families. Let’s go inside and bathe before there’s no hot water left. My wife can’t scrub my back if I’m all the way at the loch.” Ewan grinned.
Eoin’s mind flashed to the bath he’d helped Cairstine take a few hours earlier. They’d skipped the morning and midday meals, and Cairstine happily fled back upstairs once they’d made an appearance. Far too many knowing smiles and winks embarrassed her. After their supposed wedding night a fortnight and a half earlier, they hadn’t remained in their chamber past Lauds. Their conspicuous absence left little to the imagination. He looked forward to Cairstine helping him with his bath, just as he’d helped with hers. He lowered his head to hide his grin as he thought about how his help delayed them at least an hour.
“Bluidy hell,” Ewan muttered, and Eoin looked up. “The bastard has the nerve to not only show up here but bring his rabble clan.” Eoin followed Ewan’s gaze and spotted Laird Farlane Gunn arriving with his entourage of clan members and personal guards.
“He needs those guardsmen,” Eoin snarled. “That mon is naught but trouble. The world was lucky when the Sinclairs rid it of his piece of shite brothers. But even James and Tomas weren’t as bad as Farlane. He was never meant to be laird, but two dead aulder brothers does the trick. That mon is naught but a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“Aye. The king forced the Sinclairs to make their peace with them, but everyone kens the role they played in Callum’s wife’s mistreatment. Siùsan was lucky Callum and his brothers found her.” Ewan groaned, “Och, Christ on the cross. The Mackenzies aren’t far behind them.” Ewan stretched to his full height to see how many accompanied the Gunn laird and the Mackenzie laird.
“Aye, Lady Mackenzie is riding next her brother rather than her husband. I think there is something not right aboot them.” Eoin didn’t bother hiding his disgust.
“I just hope they pitch their camp a good, long distance from the Sinclairs, Mackays, and Sutherlands, or there will be a brawl every night.” Eoin chuckled, but it held little mirth. Eoin and Ewan had fought alongside all four Sinclair brothers and their father Laird Liam, along with Laird Tristan Mackay who was a brother-by-marriage having married their only sister, and Laird Hamish Sutherland and his son Lachlan. Hamish was Liam’s brother by marriage, making Lachlan cousin to the Sinclairs and somewhat indirectly related to Tristan. Among those three clans, they ruled the northern Highlands with one unbreakable alliance. The Gordons’ money would always be on the three clans tied by blood and marriage.
“Aye, and don’t forget the MacLeods of Assynt.” Ewan nodded. “They may not be large, but Siùsan’s grandfather and cousin will run anyone through who looks even a tad sideways at the lass.”
Ewan and Eoin watched as Farlane Gunn, his sister Lady Elizabeth Mackenzie, and Laird Ulrich Mackenzie dismounted and made their way toward the keep. Something about seeing Farlane Gunn set Eoin’s hackles on edge. He glanced around and realized why. The Gunn’s sniveling and conniving son, Arlan, wasn’t far away. Eoin had had more than one run in with the Gunn heir, and he didn’t trust the man within an inch of his life. Eoin’s sense of urgency to find Cairstine grew as he watched the newcomers enter the keep ahead of him. He exchanged a glance with Ewan, and Eoin knew his twin was in as much of a hurry to check on his bride as Eoin was to check on his.
* * *
Cairstine draped the Gordon plaid over her shoulders, marveling at the softness of the wool. She’d been deeply moved when Allyson presented her with the plaid just before the women returned to their chambers to prepare for the evening meal. She’d spent the early afternoon with her mother, sister, and sister-by-marriage. When the brothers returned from the lists, both couples disappeared for a couple of hours. It escaped no one’s notice that the wives’ return to their chamber coincided with their husbands’ baths. There were four damp heads of hair that emerged from their chambers rather than only two. Eoin and Ewan found their father and joined Edward and Fingal in Edward’s solar. They discussed the upcoming feast and games. Eoin mentioned his concerns about the Gunns and Mackenzies pitching their camps too close to the Sinclairs, Sutherlands, and Mackays. Edward reassured them that while Lairds Gunn and Mackenzie, along with their families, would sleep in their tents, Davina had assigned chambers within the keep to the Sinclairs, Sutherlands, and Mackays.
Eoin slid his arms around Cairstine’s waist and nuzzled her neck. “I’m honored to see you wear the Gordon colors,mo chridhe.”
“I’m a Gordon now,” Cairstine smiled. “I know you asked Allyson to lend me one of hers. That means a great deal to me. I admit I’ve wondered more than once what I would look like in them.”
Cairstine finished fastening the belt around her waist, which was a task made harder when Eoin kept attempting to unfasten it. She adjusted the plaid, so it hung as an arisaid. She peered into the looking glass and sighed. She never imagined that the sight of Eoin standing with her while she wore his clan’s plaid could fill her with such a sense of rightness.
“You’ll be the bonniest lass anywhere on Grant land.” Eoin kissed her cheek and began nibbling her earlobe. Cairstine shivered as Eoin pressed kisses along her throat.
“How will you be able to tell if we never leave here?”
“I already ken.” Eoin turned Cairstine around and pulled her in for a kiss that made them both consider skipping the evening meal. When they pulled apart, Eoin tucked a loose strand of hair behind Cairstine’s ear. She’d begun braiding it after Eoin announced their pretend handfast, no longer wearing it unbound like an unwed woman. She’d decided to wear it up while the clans were visiting, ensuring no man confused her for a maiden. “Cairrie, I won’t leave your side. Tensions are bound to be high throughout the next fortnight. If aught happens, and we get separated, or if something happens to me, come up here. Bare the door and don’t open it for anyone but me, my father, or Ewan. If you and Allyson can make it to a chamber together, that would be even better. Do you understand?”
