“Wheest,” Elene teased. “I enjoyed riding my horse. I’m just stiff. That’s all. A bath will bring everything to rights. Then I can share that bed with you.”
“I shall ask for one immediately.” Elene’s brow furrowed as she watched Liam scowl. He shook his head and grinned. “I forgot we will have to wait until my parents finish. It will be awhile.” Liam rolled his eyes. It hadn’t taken Elene long to realize that all five of the Sinclair siblings and their mates were still as in love and in lust as the days they wed. While they were moderately discreet, there were plenty of times when Elene overheard or caught glimpses of the couples when they intended a private moment. It wasn’t hard to understand where Liam learned to give affection freely. While it reddened her cheeks often, she appreciated the family tradition.
Tristan and Mairghread came to stand with the younger couple. Tristan surveyed Liam before grinning. “I can have a second tub made within a few days.”
Elene thought she might go up in flames. Liam merely nodded. Mairghread took pity on her and took her by the hand. Standing to Mairghread’s left, the older woman guided Elene to the keep’s steps. Liam walked to Elene’s left, with Tristan on his other side. The family paused when they reached the top step. Hamish, Alec, and Ainsley took spots one step below.
“Today, Clan Mackay welcomes a new member. I am proud to introduce our clan to ma daughter-by-marriage,” Tristan announced in Gaelic. Elene understood much, but as Tristan continued she found herself lost. She only recognized her name. “Ma tánaiste and auldest son has taken a bride. Lady Elene is fair of face, but more importantly, she is hardworking, intelligent, and a match for Liam. She will one day be yer Lady Mackay. I am proud to call her daughter.”
Liam quietly interpreted into Norn as his father spoke. Elene watched Tristan, honored by his introduction but somewhat intimidated, too. When Tristan finished, Liam spoke. Mairghread whispered to Elene what Liam said.
“I met ma bride, Lady Elene, while in Rousay. I met a woman with a sharp mind, and an unwavering loyalty to her family.” Liam gestured to Johan and Katryne. “She has many talents. She—”
Elene watched as Liam snapped his mouth shut when a man spoke in the crowd. Liam’s glower was enough to send anyone up in smoke. Tristan gestured to someone, and a guard appeared. They removed the offender from the crowd as the surrounding people stared, aghast, at whatever the man said. Elene turned to Mairghread, but the older woman shook her head. Elene turned her attention back to Liam as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“Ye all ken the story of ma parents falling in love. Ye all ken that ma mother’s brothers married for love. Do nae think for a moment that I am any different. Lest anyone be confused, I love ma wife unconditionally and without reserve. Anyone who speaks ill of her speaks ill of me as yer tánaiste, and speaks ill of ma parents, yer laird and lady. Ye’d all do well to remember that I am ma father’s son, inside and out. How ma father would react if anyone said such filth aboot ma mother is how I will respond to anyone who insults ma wife.”
Liam scanned the crowd, certain his clan members understood his meaning before he continued.
“Lady Elene is still learning Gaelic as are her younger brother and sister, Johan and Katryne. While they are sometimes slow to answer, all three understand most of what we say. They are sweet children, and Lady Elene is a hard worker. I’m proud to bring them into ma family and into our clan.”
Elene was unprepared for the cheers that went up among the crowd. She noticed some people were less enthusiastic than others, but she figured the man who insulted her was an outlier, much like the merchant had been. She glanced at Liam as the crowd dispersed.
“What will happen to him? What did he say?” Elene looked at Liam, but her gaze flicked to Mairghread and Tristan. Ainsley chatted with her mother, and Tristan spoke to an older man Elene assumed was on the clan council and giving the laird a report. Alec and Hamish had slipped into the crowd, but when she turned away from Liam, she saw them headed in the same direction the man was taken.
“My brothers will take care of it.”
“Liam, stop.” Elene refused to budge when Liam tried to guide her toward the keep’s doors. “You aren’t protecting me by not telling me. It’s scary not to know. And I don’t like feeling like you’ll keep secrets from me. I’m not your child. I’m your wife. I deserve to know.”
“Ellie, I never intended to hide this from you. I wanted to speak to you in private. Even if people don’t understand, I don’t want anyone listening in. Will you please come inside?”
Elene nodded, feeling horrible that she’d jumped to conclusions. Once inside, Liam watched Tristan lead the clan council into his solar. Mairghread and Ainsley went straight to the kitchens. Liam entwined his fingers with Elene and led her abovestairs to a ladies’ solar. She smothered her grin as she watched her mountainous husband nearly crush a low stool. She took a seat in front of him, their knees brushing together.
“The man said I must have traded the whisky with a Norseman to get you in exchange.” Liam watched Elene, ashamed that she’d received a poor reception within minutes of arriving. The man, Stuart, had never been of sound mind and was prone to blurting out profanities and threats he never meant. There was no way Elene could have known that, but he tried to explain. Elene listened to him and could do little more than nod.
“Everyone else seemed happy enough,” Elene noted.
“They are. My parents have never pushed the issue about me marrying, but other people have asked when I was going to settle down. I think people are eager for my parents to become grandparents. Bairns are exciting, but new generations in a laird’s family promise stability and future prosperity. It gives people hope.”
“What if I don’t get with child right away?” Elene felt immense pressure that she hadn’t considered before.
“You are not my broodmare. We will have bairns when the Lord decides we should. Whether it’s in nine moons, nine years, or never, I care not. I have two brothers who will probably have weans one day. My family line will not end with me. What I want is to make a happy life with my bride. If that includes weans, all the better. But I love you for you, Ellie. Not your womb.”
“You’re quite the bard,” Elene teased.
“You make me say the floweriest things.” Liam playfully batted his eyelashes. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. A maid announced a bath was being prepared in their chamber. Liam pointed out the other chambers on the floor before leading her to theirs. Elene thanked the servants as they left. The chest Laird Liam gave her was already at the foot of the bed. It was only moments later that they were both stripped bare and soaking in the tub. After a jarring introduction, Elene felt much more prepared to meet the clan once more at the evening meal.
CHAPTER17
Late summer passed into early autumn as Elene and her siblings adjusted to life among the Highlanders. The three Isbisters grew more comfortable speaking Gaelic and were all apt pupils once they started to read and write Scots in earnest. Elene appreciated the warm welcome the clan offered not only her, but her siblings. She realized the two men who’d insulted her, one at Dunbeath and one at Varrich, were the exception and not the norm.
Elene wasn’t sure what her position within the laird’s household would be. Siùsan taught her what she could in a sennight, and Mairghread taught her far more. But she wasn’t chatelaine, and at first, she felt out of place. It wasn’t long before Mairghread consulted her about many household decisions making Elene feel valued and accepted. As her Gaelic improved, she found the servants receptive to her instructions and requests. There were times when the Highlanders’ customs seemed strange, and she was certain people questioned some of her own ideas, but they all adjusted.
Despite finding a place among the clan and growing closer to Liam every day, she could not quell her fears that Gunter would find her. Castle Varrich and Castle Dunbeath were roughly equidistant from Orkney, even though Dunbeath lay on the eastern coast of Scotland, jutting into the North Sea. Varrich was along the north coast, only eight miles from the Atlantic. The Norse could easily sail their dragon boats into the Kyle of Tongue and attack.
Elene often looked toward the kyle and north toward the ocean. When Liam took her for walks along the battlements, she tried to be inconspicuous as she strained to see the waterway. The first time a ship arrived from the Hebrides, goods coming from the MacLeods of Lewis, Elene had been prepared to seek the hidden passage and escape through the tunnels and caves. Liam calmed her terror, explaining the MacLeods were yet another branch of extended family as well as trade partners. When they awoke to bells clanging, warning of a fire in the village, Elene dashed to the window embrasure to see if tall blond warriors descended on them.
Finally, as autumn moved toward winter, Elene felt at ease. She doubted the Norse would sail through the violent waters where the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean met during the coldest days of the year just to hunt her. She reasoned with herself that Gunter had given up and was no longer interested in what became of her. At times, she thought of her mother and worried about how she fared. But then she recalled what she’d seen, and what Liam told her, when they returned to Skaill for Katryne and Johan.
