“Then run and tittle-tattle to ma da or anyone else who wants to listen to yer clishmaclaver. If Da or Grandda or any of ma uncles take issue, then they can send one of ma cousins to fetch me.”
Magnus watched the men stare agog at Saoirse. From the way her shoulders just rounded and how she leaned away from them, along with their reaction, he figured she rarely asserted herself like this.
“We need to make our way to the beach, Lady Saoirse, or we’ll miss the tide.” Magnus gestured for Saoirse to go ahead of him on the path. He turned toward the cliffs, but before he followed her, he looked over his shoulder at the young men. “Just remember that if ye speak out against me just to be arses, ye risk ruining Lady Saoirse. She’s done naught wrong. If ye take issue with me, see me in the lists tomorrow. If we return, and there’s even a hint of a rumor or gossip aboot our lady, I will challenge ye. Then I will kill ye.”
CHAPTER6
Magnus’s long legs easily caught up to Saoirse, his plaid swishing against the back of his thighs. He took several deep breaths to calm his irritation before he came alongside her. She kept her eyes straight ahead, even though he was certain she knew he was looking at her. Once they were far enough along the descent to the beach that no one could see them, Magnus stopped and put his hand on her arm.
“Saoirse?”
“Ye’re right. The tide will change while I’m in the cave if we dinna hurry.”
“First of all, ye’re nae going in the cave alone. Yer da would really kill me if I allowed that. Look at me, Saoirse.”
She shook her head and looked at her feet. He stepped in front of her, using his forefinger to ease her chin up until he could see her face. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze, but he saw the tears in her eyes.
“Dinna fash.”
“I’m so sorry they behaved that way. I’m so embarrassed. I will talk to Da and Grandda aboot that. It’s nae acceptable.”
“Wheest, wee one. How they behaved isnae acceptable, but it isnae yer shame to carry.”
“It reflects poorly on the clan. I dinna want ye to think—”
“Saoirse, they are their own men. They arenae a reflection of anyone but themselves. Mayhap it would be different if I were a stranger, but I ken the Sinclairs. And even if they were rude, at least they take guarding the laird’s family seriously. They take guarding their clanswomen seriously.”
“Nay. I mean, they do. But they’ve always bullied me. Even as weans. They still like to tell me what to do. They wouldnae do it to Rose or Shona, or even ma sisters. They definitely wouldnae dare do it to Maisie. Nae because Blake and Torquil would get upset, but because she would castrate them.”
“Why ye?”
“Because until today, I’ve never stood up for maself. I’ve either avoided them, or someone else has defended me.”
“And today?”
Saoirse looked straight ahead, which placed her gaze squarely on his chest. She would much rather contemplate Magnus’s physique than why she stood up for herself. But he deserved an answer.
“Because I felt confident with ye beside me.”
“Do ye fear them doing something to ye if ye arenae with someone big enough to defend ye?”
“Nay. They’ve been like that in front of ma boy cousins. Ma cousins have defended me, but I’ve never felt confident enough to stand up for maself before.”
“Were ye worried that if ye didna, I would get in a fight with them?”
“Nay. Ye arenae a lad like them. Ye ken ye dinna need to prove yerself. They think they do.”
“Shall we get yer algae?”
“Aye.”
Magnus offered Saoirse his arm and took the basket in his other hand while she gathered her skirts with her free hand. He didn’t want to press her further and ruin the little time they had together. They made their way to the beach and across to the sea caves. Magnus remembered exploring the area with Seamus. They weren’t allowed to go inside when they first arrived without Mòr or one of the other Sinclair brothers to go with them.
“The light inside has always fascinated me.” Magnus pulled his boots off and rolled down his stockings.
“Aye. The way it comes in through the hole in the top but looks like it shines up from the bottom is incredible. It fascinates me, too.” Saoirse pulled the back of her skirts between her legs and up to her belt, where she tucked them in. She pulled off her stockings and tucked them into her boots.
“How long do ye think it’ll take ye to gather what ye need?”
