“Mackenzies, ye ken we’ve had ties to the Sinclairs since ma sister wed Callum. We strengthened our bond when Seamus and I fostered among them. Our connection is unbreakable now that I’ve married Lady Saoirse Mackenzie. I’d like ye to meet ma wife. Some of ye may recognize her. She’s Alex’s auldest daughter.” Magnus gazed down at Saoirse, his love clear to everyone. “Lady Saoirse, I welcome ye to our clan.”
He turned to Caroline, who handed him a folded plaid with a Cairngorm brooch on top. It was a deep hazel that nearly matched Saoirse’s eyes. Her mother and aunts performed the kertch ceremony the night she and Magnus handfasted, so she wore one that day. Now Magnus presented her with her Mackenzie plaid. It was the laird’s family pattern, making her status clear to anyone who looked. She accepted it and unfolded it. It was the right length for her. She’d refused to allow Magnus to ruin one of his plaids for her, and he’d understood her need to wear the Sinclair plaid for as long as she could. But now, she quickly wrapped it around herself as an arisaid and remained still as Magnus fastened the brooch to her left shoulder.
“I love ye,mo sheud.” My jewel. Magnus’s earnest gaze left no doubt that he meant the phrase.
Saoirse ran her fingers over the brooch before stepping into Magnus’s open arms. If the devotion radiating from them didn’t assure everyone that they were a love match rather than one for an alliance, their kiss certainly did.
“I love ye,mo chridhe.” She turned toward the gathered clan and smiled. “I am proud to be a Mackenzie. I recognize some of ye, but nae others. I look forward to kenning ye all.”
The clan cheered, but a few faces—several women’s faces—looked less than enthusiastic. Saoirse noticed and looked up at Magnus, but he was still watching her. He kissed her cheek, then the back of her hand. He continued to hold it as they sat. Saoirse swept her gaze over the crowd, and there was still disapproval radiating from the women.
“Magnus, how many of yer clanswomen have ye bedded?” Saoirse whispered.
Magnus’s eyes widened. “What?”
“There are at least half a score of women who look like they’d knife me in ma sleep. Are they women ye’ve bedded?”
Magnus’s eyes darted to the crowd, recognizing the women who were most hostile. “Nay. I kept ma liaisons to wenches and widows. And it’s been a long time, remember?” Saoirse nodded. “They’re wary because of their experience with Louisa. I was never excited to introduce her to anyone, and I never kissed her beyond a quick peck at the betrothal ceremony. They’re apprehensive.”
“I have much to prove then.”
“Nay. Ye dinna have to prove aught. They’ll ken the difference before the end of the night. Even a blind mon can tell how different ye are from her.”
Saoirse nodded as the priest began the blessing. The dais was crowded and noisy, with so many people seated together. She followed the conversations flowing around her, but she observed most of the time. Magnus sat so the servants couldn’t serve his half of the trencher until after they served Saoirse, ensuring the deference went to her. Their joined hands rested on his thigh, but as the meal progressed, it became awkward. However, Magnus refused to let go. He didn’t want to stop touching his wife, so they rested their hands on the table.
“Uncle Magnus?” Henry came to stand between his uncle and new aunt. “What do I call her?”
“Henry, that isnae polite.Heris sitting here. Turn to yer aunt and ask what Lady Saoirse prefers.” Magnus smiled indulgently until Henry looked at Saoirse.
“I’d like it if ye’d call me Auntie Saoirse or just Auntie.”
“Ye’re already married to Uncle Magnus, arenae ye? That means ye’re staying for good.”
Saoirse knew what the child really wondered. “Uncle Magnus and I will be here for a day or two. Then we must travel again for a while. But soon this will be ma home for good. I havenae been here since ye were a wee bairn, much younger than Thomas. Would ye show me around, so I dinna get lost?”
Henry’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. Saoirse realized he’d seen and overhead Louisa manipulate the maid. She wondered how suspicious he would remain.
“Is that rope still tied to the third apple tree in the orchard?”
“Aye!” Henry’s expression changed to excitement. It was his favorite place to play. “How’d ye ken?”
“It’s one of the things I remember. Uncle Magnus tied it for ma cousins and me to play on.”
“Ye played here?”
“Aye. I’m a wee younger than Uncle Magnus. I used to come here as a lass. Ma aunt Siùsan is Uncle Magnus’s sister.”
“She’s ma da’s sister too. How can she be yer auntie and mine too?”
Saoirse pushed back her chair and tapped her lap. Henry hesitated for a moment before he climbed on. She arranged him and leaned to speak conspiratorially with the child. “Do ye see the mon who’s been the quietest all night? He’s ma da. His name is Alexander, but everyone calls him Alex. Over there is his aulder brother, Callum. He’s married to Auntie Siùsan, so he’s yer uncle too. The loud one next to him is ma uncle Tavish. The really big mon is ma uncle Magnus. When ma uncle and yer uncle Magnus are together, we call him Mòr. Our Magnus is Óg.”
“They’re all really big men. Even bigger than Da and Uncle—” Henry twisted to see Magnus. “Uncle Óg?”
“Only when the aulder Magnus is here,” he explained.
“Why didna Auntie Siùsan come or yer mama, Auntie Sersie?”
Saoirse smiled at the little boy, who couldn’t say her name. She liked the nickname. “Mama and Auntie Siùsan stayed at home because our clan needs them while the men are gone. And we arenae staying long before we must leave again. But I ken once I’ve been here a while, they will all come to visit. I have Mama and Auntie Siùsan, but I also have Auntie Ceit and Auntie Deirdre. I have two sisters.”
