“Aye. But Seamus wasna the one who wished for the separate chambers. He kenned couples could share without shame after living here as long as I did. It was Caroline who was too uncomfortable. She’s the one too embarrassed, but I ken she wishes it was otherwise.”
“Mayhap they will follow our example once we are there.”
“I hope so. I think they would be happier since she spends most nights in the laird’s chamber, but she sneaks back at sunrise with Seamus accompanying her. He leaves her door before coming belowstairs to start his day. I’m certain the servants ken what they’re aboot.”
Saoirse lifted onto her forearms, which rested on Magnus’s chest. “Should I pack and bring everything with me? Will we stop at Eilean Donan?”
“Nay. We will return here with everyone else. When ye’re ready, then we will depart for Eilean Donan. Ye arenae saying farewell to yer mama and family in the morning. Dinna fash.”
“Isnae that inconvenient for ye? To come all the way back here?”
“Ye arenae riding into battle with me and nae coming back here after. Yer mama is already going to be beside herself.”
“Thank ye. I didna want to suggest we come back in case ye need to remain at Eilean Donan after whatever happens. But I really didna want tomorrow morning to be the last time I see Mama before making ma home somewhere else.”
“Saoirse, we still have our wedding coming up. We promised yer parents we’d be married in a kirk.”
“I ken. I was afraid we’d do it at Eilean Donan as a formality. I really want ma family there.”
“Aye. And I’d like Seamus, Caroline, and the weans to come back with us. I’d like them to be here too. It was going to be a surprise for ye. I sent a missive the day yer parents agreed.”
Saoirse’s face brightened. While she no longer thought of Magnus like an uncle, she still did Seamus. He was sixteen years her senior, but he’d been just as much fun as Magnus. He’d taken the weans fishing and on adventures to the beach. But just as quickly as she grew excited, it waned.
“Does he ken what’s happened to ye since ye arrived?”
“Aye. I included it in the missive.”
“What does he think? Does he fault us?”
Magnus stroked her back as he pecked her lips. “Of course nae. He trusts this clan as much as I do.”
“We still dinna ken who slipped ye the mint and who powdered yer bed. I ken ye have that mon, and he probably brought the poison. But he couldnae have sneaked abovestairs to do it. Someone—a maid—is the culprit.”
Magnus grew quiet. He’d thought the same thing more than once since meeting the prisoner. The man orchestrated the murder attempts, but he couldn’t be the one to carry it out. No man outside the laird’s family came abovestairs unless it was to help with the tub or buckets of bathwater.
“I have faith Siùsan and the others will figure that out. I ken she hasnae stopped investigating.”
“I nearly forgot that someone in our household must be involved since Da captured that mon. I’d hoped we’d solved it all.”
Magnus hadn’t forgotten. But whomever was responsible would be Liam’s to punish. The man represented a different clan, which made it far larger than something Magnus could resolve.
“Morning will come all too soon. We should sleep. We willna solve all the problems tonight, wee one.”
“I ken. I love ye.”
“I love ye.”
Saoirse slid to Magnus’s side, but they remained wrapped in one another’s arms as they dozed off.
* * *
Saoirse watched her mother approach as she stood with the men and horses. She knew Brighde disapproved of her leaving. But she also knew her mother wouldn’t stop her. There was an undeniable benefit to having a healer travel with them. Brighde merely wished it wasn’t her daughter.
“I wish ye were still a wean, and I could refuse to allow ye beyond the walls.” Brighde squeezed Saoirse in her embrace. The younger woman rested against her mother, a sense of relief flowing through her that only her mother provided. She returned the embrace and absorbed all the love and strength her mother offered. When they drew apart, Brighde cupped Saoirse’s face. “I am so vera proud of ye. Yer kind heart and yer iron will. I just wish I could keep ye with me always. There is nay one I love more than ye and yer sisters. Yer da feels the same way aboot ye lasses. Please be careful.”
“I will Mama. I’m nae leaving for good. I will be back, and I will regale ye with ma stories of adventure.” Saoirse tried to smile, but she felt her gorge rising with each word. Tears threatened, so she wrapped her arms around her mother again and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Wheest,leannan. Yer da and Óg will protect ye, as will the others. Just do as they say, and all will be well.” Brighde spoke to convince herself as much as to convince her daughter. She’d repeated the idea over and over as the riders prepared to leave. It was barely dawn, but five score men prepared to ride out. It was a massive army by most clan’s standards, but the Sinclairs were large and prosperous. They had the men to take with them while keeping Dunbeath well protected. “Give yer Auntie Amelia a warm hug for me. The same to Arabella.”
