He told her all about it, learning exactly what the life of a laird entailed. Her favorite story was the one about his sailing trip.
She’d just told him how clever he must be, running a clan this size.
“You would not think that if you saw me when I was younger,” he replied. “I made many mistakes.”
“Like what?”
“Like when I was thirteen,” he said with a smile. “I was sailing out of the harbor on the north side of Black Island when this seal decided to try and play with my boat and what did I do? I leaned over to bat him away. Ended up in the water with the hull upside down above me and a sail wrapped around my legs.”
“Oh no. What did you do?”
“Nothing. I almost drowned. It was Bruce who pulled me out. Told me next time never to lean too far in search of the unknown but to concentrate on steering the right course.”
“Good advice.”
Each night she found out more about him. He told her how he’d got the scar on his right arm. “What do you think that’s from?” he asked, running his finger along the length of the scar.
“I don’t know. Some battle?”
“Hardly. I was up a tree spying on a Frazer servant girl who was apple picking.”
“You peeping Tom!”
“It wasnae like that. I was waiting for her to go so I could steal some of the apples. It was a test, one all MacGregors undergo if they wish to be truly part of the clan. You must bring back a golden Frazer apple from their orchard.”
“So, did you bring one back?”
“Aye, I picked it up off the ground after she threw one at me when she spotted me watching. But enough about me, what about you?”
She told him as little as she could get away with. It hurt to keep secrets from him but she didn’t want to lie about who she really was.
She found it easier to keep her cards close to her chest. “I have little to tell. I come from a poor family far away from here. That’s all, really.”
“Really?”
Each night she maintained the same position but each night it got harder and harder as he shared more about himself.
A fortnight after that first night in the castle, she had come closest she ever had to telling him the truth. He had come into her room, his head hanging down.
“What’s happened?” she asked as he sank into his usual chair. “You look exhausted.”
“They spent all day feigning attack but then retreating. Then as the sun set I found out they were trying to break down the sallyport door. It was only the poison thorns that sent them into retreat. At some point they’ll think to burn them and then we are in real trouble.”
“That’s not all, is it?”
“Mungo Frazer has joined their camp with his men. They are getting more organized.”
“How can you tell?”
“The way the camp is laid out. The laughter has stopped, the fires are gone. They move in the dark so I cannot track their numbers nor where they all are. I have no doubt the old crone is there somewhere though she remains hidden.” He rubbed his eyes with his hands, looking defeated for the first time since she’d met him. “Will we ever know peace in the highlands?”
“You will,” she said, taking his hands in hers. “Peace will come and when it does it will last a long time.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Trust me. There will come a day when all wars cease in this country, when crossing the border will be as easy as walking out of your front door.”
“You sound so sure.”
