“Are ye unwell?” he asked.
“Of course not.” But even as she spoke, a cough rattled through her chest. The sound was harsh and wet, and she pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Ma—”
“It’s nothing,” she said firmly, waving away his concern. “Just a summer cough. The dust on the road, most likely.”
Alec’s expression suggested he didn’t entirely believe that either, but he said nothing. Instead, he clasped Craeg’s shoulder. “Good to see ye. The barmkin looks well-kept.”
“Of course.” Craeg smiled back, although the expression felt brittle. He was wary of letting his lack of enthusiasm for lairdship show, yet there were times when he found it hard to keep the mask in place. “We don’t want to let standards slip, do we?”
Alec laughed.
Meanwhile, his sister had dismounted and was rushing toward him, her dark hair escaping its braid. “Did ye miss me?”
“Every day.” Craeg caught Lena in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. She squealed with laughter.
“Liar! I wager ye haven’t thought of us once since we left.”
“Come inside,” he said, releasing Lena before giving her cheek a gentle pinch. “Ye must be parched from the ride. We’ll have some cool ale and a pork pie.”
“Pork pies?” His sister’s eyes lit up.
“Aye, cook made them for the noon meal, but there will be some left over.”
Leading them toward the keep, Craeg noticed his mother’s gait was slightly unsteady. She leaned more heavily on Alec’s arm than usual. The cough had left her breathless.
Worry gnawed at his gut, but he kept his expression neutral. Lady Liza was proud. She hated being fussed over.
They settled in the hall, where serving lads brought ale and a basket of pork pies. Lena immediately reached for one and took a large bite. His sister straddled the gap between girlhood and womanhood.However, her restless energy sometimes made her seem younger than her years.
“So,” Alec said, settling into a chair with a grunt. “How are ye managing? Any troubles we should know about?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” Craeg took a drink of wine. “I settled a dispute over a fishing boat last week. The harvest looks promising. And Nat’s doing well as captain.”
Speaking of Nat, the young man appeared in the doorway, clearly having followed them inside. He stood stiffly, hands clasped behind his back.
“Nat!” Lena waved the pork pie she held. “Come, sit with us!”
Color rose in the captain’s cheeks. “I shouldn’t intrude on family time.”
“Nonsense. Ye are practically family anyway.” Lena patted the bench beside her. “Tell me everything that's been happening at Moy. Has Craeg been a terrible tyrant?”
“Lady Lena, I—” Nat cleared his throat. “Yer brother is doing a fine job.”
Craeg bit back a smile. Poor Nat. He took everything so seriously and never knew how to handle Lena when she was in one of her teasing moods.
“Afinejob?” Lena laughed. “Come now, surely, ye can do better than that?”
Nat flushed scarlet.
“Enough, lass,” Alec said sternly, though his eyes glinted with amusement. “Leave Captain Black alone.”
Liza had been quiet, nibbling at her pork pie. Now she coughed again—a deep, rattling sound that made everyone pause.
Lena’s pixie face sobered, a groove appearing between her dark brows.
“Ma.” Craeg leaned forward. “That cough concerns me.”
