“I admit we would say some of it. At least, I would have before I married ye. They’ve spoken aboot other men’s daughters and sisters, and naught’s done aboot it, except for when Blaine hears it. But he was away so much recently that the men think they can continue. Marcus never should have allowed it to start.”
“That’s a pity. That makes more work for Blaine.”
“Aye. But I can tolerate Marcus as a warrior, and I trust him to arrange our guard. If for nay other reason than he’s devoted to Blaine. They’re nay just cousins. They’re best friends, and I understand why. Blaine’s responsibilities as acting laird made him mature faster than some men. Even though Marcus has acted as tánaiste while that’s still technically Blaine’s title, he hasnae had the same burden to represent Clan Keith that Blaine has.”
“I can understand that. It makes sense. Are ye more mature than yer cousins because ye’re second in line?”
“Nay. At least, I dinna think so. Our family has given us all a great deal of responsibility from a young age, and we all wish to keep our parents’, aunts’, uncles’, and Grandda’s respect. We dinna want to jeopardize that.”
“I’m glad I’m joining yer family,mo ghràidh.”
“Me too,mo ghaol. There are Marcus and Blaine. Do ye wish to be there when I speak to them?”
“I do. I’ll look for Rose.”
The couple rose from the garden bench, and Greer went in search of her friend. She wasn’t hard to find since she carried two ledgers toward Blaine’s solar. Greer knew they often worked together in the chamber. Rose didn’t have a lady’s solar, and the lady’s chamber would one day become a nursery.
“Rose, Thor’s asking Blaine and Marcus to join us in here. We’d like to talk aboot our plans for returning to Dunbeath.”
“I dinna wish ye to leave yet. Ye just got here.” Rose knew Greer would finally find happiness by being surrounded by Sinclairs, but she selfishly didn’t want to end the time she spent with her best friend. And she feared she would grow lonely. The altercation she heard about in the Great Hall remained nothing like the welcome she’d experienced. No one had accosted her, but neither had anyone warmed to her enough to call them a friend. She feared she’d be adrift without Greer and Thor, and she didn’t want to cling to Blaine either.
“We’ve been here more than a moon. Thor has duties, and I’d like to make a permanent home somewhere with him.”
“Ye have plenty of time for that, and Thor and I have enough cousins that he isnae missed when it comes to duties.”
“Rose, are ye scared aboot when we arenae here?”
“Nae scared, but I ken I’ll be lonely. I’m trying to make friends, but there doesnae seem to be room in anyone’s life for another one. I’m busy enough during the day, but I’d like to ken I have someone to talk to, someone to join me with some of the chores.”
“We’re nay that far apart. We can visit each other.”
“Until we both get too busy to have the time.”
“I will make the time for ye. Always.”
“I will too.” Rose looked up as three massive shadows fell upon Greer and her. Thor wrapped his arm around Greer’s waist, and Rose enjoyed seeing them happy together rather than at odds. Now that they were reconciled, it was easy to see how deeply they’d loved one another, and she couldn’t fathom the pain they’d suffered while apart.
“Let’s go inside,” Blaine offered. Rather than moving to sit beside the empty fireplace, Blaine pulled out a chair next to his for Rose at the massive oblong table. He held his clan council meetings in his solar, and they sat around the table. Thor helped Greer with hers before taking her hand as he sat. Marcus watched the two couples, wary of Thor. The man told Blaine and him he wished to plan for his departure with Greer, but Marcus worried he was in the Sinclair warrior’s crosshairs.
“Greer and I ken we need to travel to Dunbeath soon. We canna remain here indefinitely. Nay one kens what’s become of the English bastards, but they canna be that far away. The Gunns have been quiet, but they’ve proven to be patient when they hold a grudge. We have those two enemies looming and nay army to travel with. I have a score of men with me, and I would ask for a score to travel with. When we reach the border, I’ll have the Sinclair patrol join us.”
“When do ye plan to leave?” Rose leaned forward, one arm resting on the table, and her other hand’s fingers biting into the back of Blaine’s hands.
“Within a sennight.” Thor watched as Rose’s lip trembled, and it broke his heart. Reasonably, he knew he and Greer couldn’t remain much longer, but he knew Rose was still adjusting to her new home. He didn’t want to abandon her. He still struggled with his guilt over doing that to Greer. He didn’t want to commit the same crime twice. Rose tucked her lips between her teeth and nodded. “As soon as we settle this, we will come back to visit. Mayhap Mama and Da can come with us.”
“Just dinna send Shona without Mama. I had a hard enough time keeping ye from throttling her at Dunrobin. I dinna need to hear ye carping at her again.”
“Mama can deal with her until she finds a husband barmy enough to love the wee hellion.” Thor had threatened to lock their younger sister in her chamber while the siblings visited their Sutherland family. Shona got away with far more with Great-Aunt Amelia than she did with Siùsan, and everyone considered Amelia strict. Her antics terrified Thor, and he’d been riding into battle for years. Marcus and Greer met Shona at Blaine and Rose’s wedding, so they knew exactly what the twins meant, and Greer had heard about her for years.
“I feel better kenning ye plan to visit sooner rather than later.” Rose sat back in her chair and eased her hold on Blaine’s throbbing hand. She glanced down and realized what she’d done before offering a sheepish expression and a peck on the cheek.
Thor turned his attention to Marcus. “I’d like to ken which men ye’ll send. I trust ye and them. It isnae a test or for me to approve or deny. I just want to ken who will travel with ma wife.”
“I can understand yer concern. I dinna think ye wish to hear this, though. Drew is one of our best scouts. I ken ye dinna like him, but he’s good to have with ye. I can promise ye, he will nae speak as he did again.”
Greer remembered the man who’d appeared at the evening meal with a battered face. She never learned what he’d said, but Thor told her the gist. She gazed up at her husband and watched the muscle in his jaw tick. There was a heavy silence in the room before Thor nodded. She knew he didn’t like agreeing, but she could tell he would put aside any dislike for her safety. She prayed for their sake and Drew’s that he didn’t step afoul of Thor again. He wouldn’t forgive a second time.
“If there are two score men riding out, then I need to plan provisions for that. I ken it’s only a day’s ride each way, but the Keith men will need food for the way back. And ye ken Mama taught us to always have enough for at least one extra day, just in case.”
