“Certainly.” Grinning, Kyla leaned forward to make her point. “Well, I think that Bryce has done something tae bring out a new ye. Ye were so long in Watt’s pocket, as it were, and now ye are free tae do and think as ye please. Ye fight with him, and ye flirt with him, and it brings out a new side tae ye that ye didnae ken about. With Watt, ye were all smiles and kindness. He never urged ye tae be anything else. But that is because his heart was elsewhere.” Kyla paused and lifted a brow. “Do ye see what I mean?”
Lorna took a breath and let Kyla’s words sink in. She bit her lip as she thought. “Ye are wise beyond yer years, Kyla,” she said in a teasing voice, but deep down, she knew that Kyla was right. Bryce had brought out more emotion and feeling and thought in her than Watt had ever done. Perhaps that’s why it had been so easy to forget him, easier than expected after so many years of longing for him. “I think ye could have the way of it, but I should like tae go tae bed now. Much tae think of.”
“Of course, Lorna. Let me help ye.”
Kyla assisted her out of her gown and into her nightclothes, and when she was gone. Lorna slid into bed and listened to the crackling of the fire before she fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
After dinner, Bryce watched as Lorna left, and Athol asked him to stay in the hall to drink until they felt nothing else. A death had happened, and Bryce was there to witness the finding of the body, so it was time for a drink, according to Athol.
Bryce agreed after he bid a curt goodnight to Fergus and Arrin, knowing now where he stood in the eyes of Lorna’s father. Drinking was better than returning to his room and thinking about Lorna and how she fared.
“I spoke tae Lorna,” Athol said, twisting the glass of whiskey in his hands as he spoke, staring into the hearth. “She will listen, I hope. I told her about me past.”
“Yer past? And what is that?”
“Well,” Athol shrugged. “It is nae all of me past, but I see so much of meself in her, and I want her nae tae make the same mistakes. She has the same recklessness, the same energy. It is what caused her tae rush off in secret tae that wedding. I want her tae stop and think a bit more. Nae tae run off with the first foolish notion that enters her head, that is all. I hope that she heeds me, but time will tell. I’m just glad that she is back with us, and that Watt seems to be fading from her mind.”
Bryce pushed away the excitement those words gave him. “Well, ye are her brother. Ye must advise her as ye see fit.”
“And I do. But she fears that she will be married tae an unwanted man.” Athol shook his head and sighed, while Bryce’s every muscle was tense with waiting for his friend’s next words. “It is true that women must be given away tae further the clan, but I shouldnae wish that for her. Her sadness is too overwhelming. It is enough tae make a man change his mind.”
Bryce’s blood went cold, and his muscles went steely. He took a breath, trying to calm himself. “Would ye also nae feel fear and anger at the thought of being given away tae a stranger ye donnae care for?”
Athol nodded, still looking at the hearth, oblivious to the anger which resided just below Bryce’s surface. “Aye, I suppose so. But it is the way of things. Me sister is a woman, like any other. She will have tae follow the tradition, as I must.”
“But she is nae like any other!” Bryce cried before reeling himself back in with another breath. He clenched his fists, trying to keep his temper under control. A whole lifetime of rage was behind him, pushing him to go forward, like he had in wartime, but that was over now. This was life, real life, and he couldn’t be the same. “I mean that it doesnae mean that she should be unhappy. She should be paired with a good man. A man of her choosing.”
“Aye, aye, well said,” Athol replied, still seemingly unaware of the changes that had come over Bryce in the last few minutes. “I suppose I shall have tae give it some thought.” Bryce rolled his eyes at the complete ignorance of the man when it came to his own sister. He resolved right then and there that if he had any daughters, he would not treat them as such, like chattel to be sold and bred, just to follow the tradition.
“How long will ye stay, do ye think?” Athol asked, looking at Bryce for the first time and changing the subject.
“As long as it takes, tae make sure that Mrs. Creech has had her justice. It doesnae bode well for the clan tae have a strange murder like this. A murder of such a prominent and useful figure too.”
Bryce knew it was wrong, but even if they were to solve Mrs. Creech’s murder tomorrow, he would want to stay on longer, and he would have to try to think of ways to do just that. “Why do ye ask?”
“Nae reason,” Athol shrugged. “Ye will come and train with the men when ye have time then. We can discuss clan matters too. I should like yer opinion on a few things, and as ye can see, me father is nae the best man tae discuss them with, especially when he is in a sour mood. I think this murder and Lorna have raised his ire.”
Bryce felt that protective energy again. “Why should Lorna bother him? She has done naething wrong.”
Athol narrowed his gaze at Bryce. “Ye are certainly solicitous when it comes tae me sister. Any reason for that, friend?”
Bryce stared back at Athol, knowing that he was treading on difficult ground. He didn’t want to cause any trouble, especially now that he was there to solve a murder, and he also didn’t want to alienate a future clan Laird or anger the brother of the woman in whom his interest was growing.
“I think it is only because I remember her from our childhood, and I saw how hurt she was when she couldnae speak tae Watt at the wedding. When she saw just how in love he is with his wife.”
Athol chuckled. “Is he then?” and Bryce was relieved that the awkward subject was over.
“Och, aye. I had never met the lass until I returned home, but when I saw them taegether, I kenned that he cared for her. She is a good woman, and they will do well taegether. Me brother was the best of us both. She is a lucky woman, too.” He smiled and looked down at his own whiskey glass before taking a long sip.
“I never had a brother. That must be an interesting thing, tae fight for the approval of yer father.” Athol said with understanding.
“It was nae like that, but since I was younger, it was understood that I would go off tae war while Watt stayed, and it is a good thing too. He makes a far better Laird. He is patient and kind in a way that I am nae.” Bryce sighed, realizing just how different they really were, especially after he came home from so long away. Watt had truly grown into a man and fit his role well.
Athol shook his head. “I think that patience and kindness is all well and good, but a Laird also needs tae have a spine of iron. They need tae be able tae be strong when it counts, ye ken? I wouldnae want any other warriors or clans tae think that I will be patient and kind with anyone who walks through me door. They will need tae prove themselves first.”
Bryce nodded, even though Athol’s words had an edge to them, as if Athol was making a sort of threat. He might not have even realized he was doing it, but Bryce got a sense of his meaning well enough. “Aye,” he said. “Then ye are thinking like a soldier. One must always be wary and suspicious. I have gotten used tae that over the years. Perhaps that is better then, that I do remain.”
“Aye. Then I can focus on me men a bit more, and ye can help with that.” Athol threw back the rest of his whiskey and stood. “Ye will train with us taemorrow?”
“Aye, if there is naething that the commander wishes me tae do.”
“Good.” Athol nodded. “I will go tae bed, I think. But keep an eye out for that man. I donnae trust Englishmen.”
Athol left the hall, and Bryce listened to the echo of the man’s footsteps as they disappeared. He sat for a little while longer, soaking in the loneliness he felt at the empty sounds of the big room. He was glad to be there for a little while longer no matter the reason. He didn’t want to go back to his castle yet. He didn’t feel he belonged there.
He didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere really. He finished his whiskey and left the hall, thinking about Lorna. It was her first time seeing a brutal death so up close, and her family didn’t seem to really understand her and appreciate her. He wanted to see her. Fueled by whiskey, he crept along to her room and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
He looked from left and right down the passage, and seeing no one, he crept inside. He spotted her form on the bed and sat in her chair by the fire, feeling better to be sitting there with her. He wanted to make sure she was all right, rather than be alone, not knowing. He fell asleep to the sound of her breathing from the bed.
