He couldn’t make up for what he lost. He couldn’t replace Iona or his parents any more than he could replace Eithne’s losses or Callum’s family, but he could move forward. Myrna and Jonah would be married later this year, and Eithne and Ivor themselves were thriving with their small family.
It’s a good life. So why do I still feel like something is missing?
Just then, as if to distract him from his ponderings, Eithne arrived with the tray carrying the three bowls of soup. She placed it on the table, and he noticed that a letter sat on top of it.
“What’s this?” Ivor asked, picking it up.
“Nae idea,” Eithne said with a shrug. “It’s addressed to us both, so I wanted to wait and read it with ye.”
Ivor took out his knife and slit along the top of the envelope, unfolding the letter. Eithne leaned over his shoulder to read together.
To his surprise, he saw that it was Laird MacDonnell’s signature on the bottom. He glanced at his wife, whose mouth had tightened into a thin line. They had received many apologies over this last year, though Eithne had yet to forgive him entirely.
“The man’s still in grief for his sons,” Ivor reminded her gently. “They didnae die that long ago.”
“I ken,” she said. “Though the whole disaster only happened at least partly through his own foolishness. Let’s just see what he has to say.”
Me dear niece and nephew,
I am nae writing for forgiveness for all that I have done, though I once again beg my heartiest apologies for everything. The blood price I paid in the death of one son and the betrayal and then the death of the other still doesnae adequately make up for it. Me sister would be ashamed, and I’ll spend the rest of me life trying to recover from me guilt.
I hope ye are both living well. Yer sister, Myrna, has started to write to me again, and I have been invited to her wedding later this year. I wanted to send ye this message before it happens.
Me sons lived on a stipend provided by me lands. I would like to put this into Eithne’s name so that the pair of ye will have a comfortable amount of money to live life as ye would please. It isnae a gift so much as it is yer rightful inheritance as the eldest surviving child of either Siobhan or meself.
Ivor blinked. The number written below was enough in Scottish pounds to see several families through a year – and this was to be their yearly stipend! They could feed and care for not only themselves in relative comfort with this amount of money but also help to fund the orphanage, which he and Eithne had decided to start together in the clan.
“This is unbelievably generous,” Ivor said.
Eithne nodded, looking uncertain as they read on.
There is more, however. As I have nae sons nor nephews, the next in line for the Lairdship is ye, Eithne. As yer husband, I would like to name Ivor Sinclair as the formal heir to Clan MacDonnell. In five years, I will retire, and both of ye are then welcome to come and take yer seat.
After that date, the seat will pass to yer unborn children. The lad Callum will not be in line for inheritance, but I will name him a member of me estate so that his needs, too, are taken care of forever.
I hope this can begin to heal the damage done between us.
Yer uncle and apologetic servant,
Laird MacDonnell.
“He wants to make ye Laird,” Eithne whispered. “God above, perhaps there’s hope for this man yet.”
“Laird? Me?” he asked quietly. Eithne busied herself with the bowls, setting them in their places. “I cannae.”
“Ye can and will,” Eithne told him, not sharply. “Ye’re a leader of men, Ivor. And even if ye werenae, I’d be at yer side. It’s only right.”
He swallowed, his head still spinning, then nodded. “Aye. Aye. I cannae believe it, but aye. Lord above. Are there any more shocks heading me way?”
The door opened then, and Callum came inside, his dog at his heels. He was filthy. “Look what I found!” he said, holding up a flower in excitement. “For ye, Mammy.”
Eithne took it. “Go wash yer hands if ye want to eat,” she told him sharply, but she was smiling.
Callum did, letting the dog back outside, then he and Eithne took their seats at the table. The three of them began to eat their soup, and then Ivor noticed the slight smirk on her face.
“What?” he asked, suddenly scared and excited all at once in a way only Eithne ever managed to bring out in him. “What’s that look for?”
“Well, there is one more surprise,” she said with a smile. “It’s a good thing me uncle is giving us that stipend now, so we dinnae have to worry about money.”
