“I have nay intention of looking,” Kieran grumbled. “She’s yer wife now. But do one thing to upset yer wife, and I will kill ye.”
“Kieran,” Abigail scolded.
“What? Ye dinna think Lachlan said the same thing to me aboot Maude?” Kieran chuckled. Maude’s older brother Lachlan threatened far worse when there were no female ears within hearing. He thrust a parchment out to Ronan and yanked the door closed as soon as Ronan held it. Abigail waited quietly as Ronan took a seat before the fire. He reached out an arm to Abigail, and she perched on the arm of the chair. Ronan unfolded the parchment and held it so they could both read it, but Abigail shook her head.
“It was meant for you. It might be private.”
“Private now means you and me, Abby. You’re not only my wife, you’re Lady MacKinnon. Whatever affects me and our clan affects you too.”
“That doesn’t mean I was intended to read it. I think you should read it first. If you believe it’s aught I should ken, then I’ll read it.”
Ronan frowned but decided the matter wasn’t worth their first argument as a married couple. He scanned the missive and grinned. “It’s naught more than our seneschal, Angus, complaining that John of Islay showed up and expects our hospitality. Angus tried to insist that MacDonald couldn’t stay since I’m not in residence, but he had to relent when MacDonald snarled at him.” Ronan laughed louder and shook his head. At Abigail’s bewildered expression, he explained.
“Angus’s father was my father’s seneschal. Angus never took an interest in keeping the ledgers and pled with his father to train in the lists rather than my father’s solar. His father compromised, allowing him to train with a swordafterhe trained with parchment and a quill. He agreed to be my seneschal because I trust few others. But Angus is enormous. He’s one of the biggest men in our clan. If you think I’m tall, I look like a wean next to him. He’s nearly a head taller than me and twice as wide. He’s ten years my senior, and I’ve avoided sparring with him as often as I can. He terrifies me. So to hear him back down from MacDonald makes me laugh.”
“If you look like a wean next to him, then I’m sure to look like a bairn. I shall be a pea to his mountain.”
“Aye. His wife is your size. As much as Angus terrifies me, Bethea is scarier. She also happens to be our housekeeper. I have never seen Angus move so fast as when she’s after him. She’s as mild as a lamb until she’s pushed too far. I suspect Angus does it often just so they can make up. They have seven children!”
“Merciful saints. I shall be careful where I trod,” Abigail grinned.
“Bethea will adore you. As I said, she’s mellow except with Angus and her children. She’ll help you become acquainted with Dun Ringill, and she’ll make it easy for you to become chatelaine.”
Abigail bit her bottom lip, a long pause before she nodded. “Ronan, there is still much I need to learn aboot being the lady of a clan and running a keep. I ken more than I did when I left here the first time, but I’m not adept enough yet to do it properly. She’ll wonder what kind of lady you’ve married.”
“Abby, you can tell Bethea that you didn’t take an interest in learning. Or you can say your mother was alive while you were here, you had an aulder sister, and then a sister-by-marriage. It’s understandable why you’d be inexperienced.”
“And when people learn I was handfasted before I met you?”
Ronan shrugged. He didn’t have an answer to that or all it would imply. He pushed the matter aside when it came to mind, but he would have little choice but to address it to his clan when they arrived. They could attempt to hide it, but the truth would inevitably come out at some time during their lives. It would be better if they were direct about it.
“It’s still your choice how you wish to present yourself to Bethea, but we will have to tell the clan you were handfasted.”
Abigail rose from the chair and moved toward the fire, suddenly chilled. She’d been ashamed of her failed handfast long before she met Ronan. But knowing that her shame would be shared with a third clan, even after the entire royal court learned of it, felt overwhelming. Ronan came to stand behind her and eased her around to face him. Cupping her elbows, Ronan dipped his head until she met his eyes.
“Ronan, I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“Chisholm would have repudiated you even if you were the greatest chatelaine to ever live. He wanted your land and your money. I loathe pointing that out. But he was set on gaining that and a mainland bride to increase his holdings. He wanted to have it all. He ended up with very little. That was never your fault. It still isn’t. That’s easy enough to explain. What islander doesn’t understand mainlanders trying to gain land that isn’t theirs?”
Abigail offered a wobbly smile, knowing Ronan was right. The Hebrideans would have been content to remain unto themselves rather than being dragged into the fray with the rest of Scotland. But men like John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, made that impossible. Ronan’s words reassured her that her new clan members would understand at least that part. But she still felt uncomfortable with Bethea, or anyone else, realizing how inexperienced she was for her age and her position.
“I will make an effort to work with Maude until we leave. This time, I’ll truly pay attention and actually practice what she shows me.”
“I ken you will. But Abby—” Ronan squeezed her arms gently then eased her chin up, so he could brush his lips against hers. “I’m already proud of you.”
Abigail wrapped her arms around Ronan and inhaled his pine and musk scent. They stood together, enjoying the calm of one another’s presence. Eventually, they both knew that while they’d jested that they wouldn’t leave their chamber until at least midday, they had to make an appearance.
“Are you going to train with Kieran?”
“Aye. Are you going to find Maude?”
“Yes. With all that I need to learn, I will be her shadow when I can. Otherwise, I’ll be playing with the weans.”
“You were incredibly good with them last eve. They adore you.”
“I adore them. But I wish I weren’t such a stranger to them. They warmed to me, but they’re too young to understand I’m family, even though I’m not here.”
“You can be as often as you wish. I will bring you here whenever you want to visit.”
