The diminished look in her eye made Hugh want to strike each man down. He understood that they were angry, but Anna hadn't done anything wrong. The interrogation should have concluded yesterday. It shouldn't extend to her.
I must let them ask some questions, though. If I daenae play along with them, they'll make everyone's life much harder.
"We need to inquire about the nature of yer relationship with the Laird," Callum said, leaning forward.
Hugh realized instantly that he was aiming to expose the letter. It was a low blow, and Hugh realized it was meant to highlighthis own recklessness. Even so, revealing the missive that began it all would undoubtedly hurt Anna more. He didn't get a chance to speak, though.
"It was a case of mistaken identity," she said, repeating the lie Hugh had told his mother when they arrived. "I hadn't anticipated Hugh being the recipient of my letter."
"The late Laird McDonald didnae have any engagements that we were aware of," Aaron said, keeping his frustration in check.
They're all coverin' their arses with this calm presentation.
"He's correct," Callum said, holding himself as if he were the authority in the room. "We daenae ken about any engagements he had. How do ye explain that?"
Hugh practically growled as he asked, "How do ye expect her to ken what the last Laird was doin'? I believe yer ignorance is more concernin' than hers."
"We're havin' this discussion because ye got married without seekin' our advice," Callum said, a dangerous edge to his voice. "I believe that anyone's capable of hidin' things. Ye've done it. Why wouldnae yer predecessor do the same?"
Lacking a proper response, Hugh groaned. "Ye think I didnae ask her?"
"I—" Anna began before she was promptly spoken over.
"We're nae askin' ye, Hugh," Callum replied, speaking to him as though he were a petulant child. "We need to hear what happened from yer wife. We need to ken if she's worthy of bein' our Lady."
Marcus scoffed, saying, "It's a little late for that, daenae ye think?"
"There are steps that can be taken to protect the clan," Aaron said. "We need to ken if we have to put the precautions in place."
"Ach, ye cannae be serious," Marcus said, his passion surprising Hugh. "Ye're goin' to ask her about a past we cannae verify? Why daenae ye get to ken her? The staff seems to be enamored with the lass!"
He did say he'd try to help me win them over. I just didnae expect him to be so vehement about it.
"Nae only that," Hugh added, cutting in before anyone else could. "But the villagers we met on the way to the castle adored her. They demanded that I bring her back soon so she can greet them properly."
There was a tense silence. In his chair, Marcus sat up a little taller. Anna seemed to hold her thoughts closer to her chest. The council was decidedly quiet, almost as if they hadn't been expecting this kind of pushback.
"Ye didnae tell us that ye had already introduced her to the village," Callum said slowly.
"I didnae get the chance to speak when we met yesterday," Hugh said. "And that shouldnae influence this conversation."
The observation rippled through the council. They shifted, none of them able to provide a proper response. Hugh realized that they were going to leverage that bit of information to try to sway public opinion. It was a dirty trick that they clearly weren't ready to have discovered.
But with nay proof, I cannae do anythin'.
"Ye're right," Callum said through gritted teeth, the first of the council to recover. "And if the villagers already approve of her, then much of this meetin' doesnae matter. There are still more things that we need to discuss. We will take their opinions into consideration, but they daenae understand the intricacies of what happens here."
"I'll be sure to tell them that," Hugh said as he rose from his chair, signaling for Marcus and Anna to do the same. "But I think this introduction has served its purpose."
Hugh led the three of them out of the room before Callum or Aaron or anyone else was able to interject. None of them spoke as they walked through the corridors. They didn't stop until they were in the atrium.
"I wish I could tell ye that they aren't always like that," he said, stepping in front of Anna. "But they've been a bit… tense lately."
She gave him a half-hearted smile before her mouth contorted into a frown once more. Softly, she said, "I'm sorry that I couldn't convince them on my own. I…"
"Ye daenae need to apologize," Hugh said. "They should be apologizin' to ye." He paused, waiting for her to nod in agreement. "How about we get to the village? We can get ye new clothes and visit with the villagers ye didnae get to meet."
"That sounds nice," she said after a moment. "And perhaps Marcus can come as well."
