When Thor wrapped his arm around her and drew her against him, Liam released her hand. She looked around and noticed everyone watched her. She’d expected cheers and congratulations for Ward. Instead, she shifted uncomfortably, disliking being the center of attention yet again. Her brow furrowed when Ward left his spot behind his wife and walked around the table to her. He offered her his hand, palm up. She hesitated for a moment before resting her hand in his. She didn’t know what to think when he bowed over it.
“Lady Greer, I ken what a surprise this must be for ye since it nearly shocked me out of ma boots when Da told me. I never imagined I’d be a laird, even though I’ve kenned the role since I was a wean. I watched everything ma brothers did, wishing to be just like them. I ken I’m ready to lead. Yer life is here at Dunbeath, and I can understand why ye may nae want to visit yer clan of birth, but ye will always be welcome at ma table. If ye’re willing, I’d like to meet with ye and get yer advice on many things, so I can prepare. The Gunns have much to do before they earn back anyone’s trust and respect, but I hope one day ma new clan can earn yers.”
“Thank ye.” That was all Greer could manage along with a weak smile. She wished Liam told her in private rather than in front of a full chamber. But she supposed she was fortunate to be involved in any conversation about the Gunns’ future. Ward nodded and walked back to where he’d stood before speaking to her.
“Do ye wish to retire?” Thor whispered. “I dinna like how pale ye look.”
“I’m all right.” She reminded herself of the role she’d played for so many years. She could hide her thoughts and emotions better than anyone else she knew. With a fortifying inhale, she eased into a warmer smile, appearing as though she was accepting the news and feeling better about her former clan’s future. She noticed how relieved many appeared, and that only made pretending feel worse.
Thor didn’t care for how wan Greer appeared, and he sensed how troubled the news made her. He shot a reproving look at his grandfather, annoyed that Liam placed Greer in a position of scrutiny. What could she say? She had no choice but to be gracious about this news, even if it hurt her or she disagreed. He pushed back his chair and guided Greer to her feet.
“Congratulations, Ward. Ye shall make a fine Laird Gunn. If everyone would please excuse us, ma wife and I have much to do before our wedding this evening.” Thor didn’t wait for anyone’s response, his arm wrapped around Greer’s waist as he guided her to the door. But Greer stopped and turned toward everyone.
“This surprised me. Part of me is relieved to ken that I have nay responsibilities or ties left to them. It’s nae that I dinna think Ward will make an excellent laird. I just canna find it in me to care what happens to them anymore. The only piece of advice I’ll offer is that Albert is the only one ye can completely trust. He’s ma real father and sacrificed almost everything to keep me alive while I sacrificed almost everything to serve that clan. I wish ye the best, and I appreciate yer offer to dine at yer table. But I will never go to Gunn Castle again. I suggest ye burn everything that was in the chamber I once used. Naught but evil existed there.”
Greer turned back to the door and left with Thor. She didn’t care what people made of her final words. They could do as they pleased. As the couple made their way outside to the gardens, a place they both preferred when they wanted privacy outside their chamber, Greer’s emotions settled into one overwhelming feeling. Peace.
“Before they leave, can ye meet with Ward and tell him everything? I canna do it, Thor. But he should ken the truth before he arrives and before anyone poisons his ear. I dinna care what he thinks aboot me, but ye’re family and ye’re an ally. I dinna want him to question yer decision to marry me and whether that makes ye a sound future leader.”
“Wee one, Ward has kenned me ma entire life. He kens the mon I am, and I believe he understands how I fell in love with the most wonderful lass in Scotland. But I will speak to him if that’s what ye want.”
“Aye. Tell yer grandfather, parents, and aunts and uncles at the same time. That way it’s done, and nay one needs to speculate anymore.”
“If that’s what ye want. But they’ll all respect yer privacy and nae expect ye to share.”
“I ken, and that’s why I’m asking ye to do it for me. I ken they dinna expect it, but they should ken too.”
“I’ll do it after the wedding and before everyone leaves.”
“Nay. Please do it now. While everyone is there and before I officially enter the family. I would do so with a clear conscience.” Greer sighed.
Thor wanted to refuse, but he sensed how important this was to Greer. He relented and kissed her before she went through the garden gate, and he left her to return to Liam’s solar. He didn’t worry about Greer’s safety, but he disliked leaving her alone after such a surprise. When he reached his grandfather’s solar, he steeled himself for the imminent conversation. He knocked and waited to be bade entry.
He moved back to his chair, but he remained standing for a moment, then decided it would appear better if he sat. He gathered his thoughts as everyone watched him. He clasped his hands on the table and leaned forward.
“What I say now never leaves this chamber. If anyone who isnae here right now says aught aboot this subject, I will ken it came from someone in here. I willna forgive that. Greer asked me to come back and speak on her behalf. I dinna want to, but I will do aught to protect ma wife, and she believes ye should ken aboot her past.”
Thor looked at his mother as he began, her smile encouraging and knowing. It made him wonder what she’d deduced over the past few months and what she might have known from all those years ago.
“Greer and I met at the same loch where Great-uncle Daniel met Ceana Gunn. Our story is far too much like theirs. We met there nearly every sennight for nine moons. I arranged hunting trips and patrols so I could see her. After six moons, we handfasted. I should have brought her here, but we were worried aboot what would happen if we told anyone we married. Greer feared leaving her people in Edgar’s hands, and I feared our clan would reject her. We thought we’d have more time to work it all out. We had a horrible misunderstanding—one that was entirely ma fault—during that battle when Jamie died. I thought she’d betrayed me, and I left her, saying horrible things aboot the life I thought she deserved.”
Thor paused and breathed through the tightness in his chest. He closed his eyes as he gathered his courage to go on.
“After that battle, Edgar kenned we’d handfasted. He had men watching Greer, and they figured it out. He beat her so badly that she lost a bairn we didna ken she was carrying. She’d kenned since she was a young lass that Edgar wasna really her father. He used that truth and her nay longer being an innocent to justify assaulting her repeatedly over the past eight years. Her clan members didna ken what he did to her in private, but they kenned what he allowed his men to do to her. When she said naught but evil existed in that chamber, she didna lie. They restrained her for days at a time while men—”
Thor thought he might be ill. He swallowed several times.
“She bears visible and invisible scars from the torture she survived. She did it because she feared what would happen to her people if she left Edgar unchecked. If I’d kenned even a hint of what was happening, I would have brought her here. But she didna tell Rose or me what was happening. I’ve loved Greer since we were five-and-ten. We spent years believing in a betrayal that could have been avoided if I’d kenned how to deal with ma emotions after ma first battle and after Jamie’s death. I will never stop feeling like I caused what happened to ma wife, even if she doesnae blame me. When ye go to the Gunns, ye will learn aboot this. Marcus Keith’s father was one of the men, and he spread rumors aboot Greer that some of the Keiths still believe. Apparently, word of what happened to her even reached John MacDougall in England. But it isnae aught I want to be common knowledge here or anywhere. This goes to yer grave, or I’ll leave and take Greer somewhere she can be safe. I ken ma duty to this clan, and she would never agree to me leaving, but I canna endanger her again.”
The ensuing silence made Thor’s heart race faster than telling his family about Greer’s past. He feared the lack of reaction, uncertain what that meant for Greer and for him. He turned to Callum when his father spoke.
“Greer is ma daughter now. Ye willna forsake yer duty to this clan or yer birthright to protect her. There will never be a reason to need to. I will love her just as I do Rose and Shona. I canna think of a mon fool enough to speak against one of ma weans to me or yer mother. God help the fool who does. There willna be a scrap left to them after yer mama is done.”
“And if there is, it’s ours,” Deirdre pointed to her sisters- and brothers-by-marriage. “Nay one comes after one of us without getting all of us.Familia prima.”
“Semper familia,” every Sinclair plus Tristan responded. Family first and always family.It was the family creed; the one ingrained into each of them and their strongest belief. It was all they needed to say to prove they accepted Greer as one of their own.
* * *
