CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"The messenger looked half-dead when he arrived, me laird."
Alpin looked up from the parchment in his hands to find Callum standing in the doorway of his office. "Aye, he rode hard through the night by the look of him. From Munro lands."
"Munro?" Callum's expression darkened. "That cannae be good news."
"It's nae." Alpin stared at the sealed letter, the Munro crest pressed into the wax. "I need tae find Mhairi. She should hear this from me."
"She's in the healin' chambers with Donnach. Saw her head that way about an hour ago."
"Good. Keep everyone away from me solar fer a while, will ye? And tell the servants to light a fire."
Callum nodded, his eyes flicking to the letter. "Whatever it says, we'll handle it."
"Aye. We will."
Alpin found Mhairi exactly where Callum had said, carefully measuring dried lavender into small cloth pouches.
Her hands were steady, her movements practiced, and for a moment he just watched her. She looked peaceful here, absorbed in her work, far removed from the chaos her father had created.
He hated to shatter that peace.
"Mhairi."
She looked up, her smile fading the moment she saw his face. "What's wrong?"
"A letter arrived this mornin’. From yer faither." He held up the sealed parchment. "We should read it somewhere private."
All the color drained from her face. The lavender spilled from her suddenly nerveless fingers. "Oh."
"Come with me."
She followed him through the corridors without speaking, her arms wrapped tight around herself. Warmth greeted them as they entered the solar.
"Sit," he said gently, guiding her to a chair near the hearth. "By the fire. Ye're shakin’."
"I'm fine." But she sank into the chair gratefully.
Alpin knelt before the fire, breaking the seal on the letter. The wax cracked sharply in the quiet room. He unfolded the parchment, scanning the contents first before reading aloud.
The handwriting was sharp, angry slashes across the page.
"What daes it say?" Mhairi's voice was barely above a whisper.
Alpin drew a breath and read:
"MacDougal—
Ye have taken what is nae yers tae take. Me daughter was sold in accordance with legal contract tae settle debts ye ken naething about. The Duke of Ravenscar has written tae me demanding her return, stating that Laird Graham refuses tae refund his payment unless the girl is returned tae complete the transaction.
Ye had nay right tae interfere in this matter. Ye have nay legal claim ae the girl, and yer actions constitute theft of purchased property. Return her tae Ravenscar immediately, or I will be forced tae seek recompense through whatever means necessary.
This is a family matter, MacDougal. Ye would dae well tae remember that and nae interfere with business that daesnae concern ye. Send the girl back tae her rightful owner and cease all contact with Clan Munro.
I will nae write again on this subject.
—Laird Angus Munro"
