He glanced at his friends. “The hidden silver is still hidden.”
“Then what do we do with this?” Aldred asked, his irritation evident. “Bring it to the nuns or give it back to…” He glanced at Ethne. “Her! She’s the one that found it.”
She raised her hands in submission. “I have no need of silver coins.”
“Am I interrupting ye?” Malcolm’s words came just as Finn jumped onto his aunt’s lap.
Ethne kissed the boy, squeezing him against her as if it were the last time. “How are ye, my little Finn?”
“I dinna want to be here anymore,” he said. “Can ye take me home?”
Malcolm was quickly flustered, the babe in his arms fidgeting against him. “I’ve told ye, Finn. We go to a new place now.” He searched the hall and found the nursing mother who saw to Mongfind. “I’ll be but a moment. Ye stay here, Finn.”
Finn nodded, slouching forward.
“I have an idea.” Niall held one of the coins up to Finn. “Is this yers?”
The boy gasped, taking it into his hand. Just as quickly, he frowned at Ethne. “Am I allowed to say that?”
She chuckled. “Verily, ye are. And anything else ye may wish to tell them. No more secrets. Ever.”
“And it looks like ye’ll have more than one to wear about yer neck now.” Lachlann handed another one to him.
Lachlann glanced at Niall and then Aldred. Both nodded their agreement, so he said, “I believe all of these belong to ye and yer da.”
Finn’s face lit up with joy. “Is that true, Ethne?”
“If that is what they say.”
Niall added, “That means we still have a job to do for the nuns.”
“How much time do ye suppose yer uncle is willing to allow us to be gone for?” Aldred asked.
“He has his precious sons to fight his battles,” Niall said with a shrug. “I dinna see why we must hurry back.”
“Mayhap he’ll think ye died.” Aldred laughed at his own joke.
Niall did not. “That is one way to deal with it. Something to think about.”
Rhona brought fresh creamed butter to the table and placed it down with a thud. Cull and the others were out and about seeing to their duties.
“Where did Sophie go?” Aldred asked, munching on another piece of thick, crusty bread now slathered with butter. A stern gaze remained on him until he noticed and swallowed. “What?”
“Her husband is due back with the mormaer, Aldred.”
“What?” His surprise was as sincere as the man could get, but Lachlann had his own suspicions.
“Did she not tell ye?” Rhona’s dark expression shifted to concern. “If ye’d accepted one of the willing lasses offered ye, no problems would have ensued, dear Aldred.”
He grinned now. “But where’s the fun in that?”
Niall and Lachlann exchanged glances.
“Tell us ye didna!” Niall’s irritation was shifting to anger. Anger Aldred definitely deserved.
Rhona said, “If the girl didna share her betrothed status, then the law will see no fault on yer part.”
Even with all eyes on him, waiting, Aldred refused to respond. His lack of response was as telling as the splash of red rising into his cheeks.
