“Of course,” she said. “Please, introduce us.”
Colin bowed and turned to his uncle. “Uncle Silas, may I present Lady Miran MacKay, cousin to my laird, and his captain-of-the-guard, Kai MacKay.”
Silas bowed and then indicated his wife. “My wife Mary.”
“Lady Miran, Captain.” She curtsied. “Please, do come inside and warm yerselves by the hearth. We have wine and fresh bread, some cheese to hold ye until the stew is done.”
They crossed the threshold of the cottage. Kai was surprised to find a larger-than-he-imagined room with a generous stone hearth with three padded chairs and a bench situated before the fire. A sword hung above the hearth and beside it, a tapestry depicting a ship rolling in the waves of the sea. Beyond the sitting area, a trestle table with two benches and another hearth used for cooking.
“You have a pleasant home, mistress,” Kai praised Colin’s aunt.
“Thank ye, Captain.” She smiled. “If ye will sit, I will have my eldest daughter fetch the wine.”
Kai, Miran, and Uncle Silas occupied the three chairs while Colin waited on the bench.
“I trust yer ride from Sands Airgid was uneventful?” Silas asked.
“Aye,” Miran offered. “As well as can be expected for this time of year. How large is this farm?”
“Two hundred acres,” Colin answered. “This land has been in our family for centuries.”
“I will look forward to seeing it in the daylight. And what about children?” Miran guessed they had several judging from the size of the rooms.
“Three sons and three daughters.” Silas beamed. “See there, my eldest comes now.”
Kai accepted a cup of wine and took a sip. The girl was pretty, tall, and strong looking with brown hair and sharp, blue eyes. She would make a perfect maid in Laird Jamie’s household. He cast Miran a questioning look, then motioned to the girl as she served her father wine.
Miran nodded, acknowledging she had the same thought as he. Once the girl left the room, she said, “Did Colin explain the purpose of our journey, Master Silas?”
“Aye.” Silas turned to her. “First, I must say how pleased I am to know we have a powerful neighbor again to protect these northern reaches. How long has that great house been empty? And though our village and surrounding lands are no’ officially part of the MacKay holdings, the people here have always paid tribute to the laird in exchange for protection.”
“I am sure my cousin, Laird Jamie, will be pleased to hear this sentiment. I assure ye, he has nothing but good intentions, to expand our defenses against those who would attack by sea, and even though he married Helen Sutherland, as ye well know, the MacKays and Sutherlands are not allies.”
Silas leaned forward and rested his folded hands on his knees. “The only good Sutherland is a dead one,” he whispered. “With the exception of Lady Helen, of course, who is a MacKay now.”
Kai swallowed his laughter. He liked the older man even more. “I am searching for recruits for Laird Jamie’s ranks, and Lady Miran is seeking maids to serve Lady Helen.”
“How old is yer eldest daughter, sir?” Miran asked.
“Near eighteen seasons, not much younger than ye, I imagine.”
“And would ye consider letting her come with us?” Miran took a drink of wine and patiently waited for Silas to speak.
“I am no’ the kind of man to force my children into anything,” he said. “We’ve suffered at the hands of the Sutherlands and rogue clans for too long. The king is not too quick to lend a helping hand in the north, we’re considered too uncivilized, practically an embarrassment to the crown. And though I prefer it that way—the nobles keeping their noses out of my business—I am not against my daughter earning her way in the world if she so chooses. Tis her mother ye will need to convince, though.”
Colin cleared his throat. “There is another hindrance, I am afraid.”
“Oh?” Kai said.
“Aye. The lass is betrothed to Craig Kinnear, the son of another farmer. Ye would need his permission to take her away,” Silas said with a sigh.
“Unless…” Kai began.
“Unless, what?” Mary entered the room with a tray laden with the food she had promised.
“The captain and Lady Miran want to take Gara along to serve Lady Helen.”
Mary set the tray on the nearby table and wiped her hands on her apron, her expression unreadable to Kai. Would she order them from her home for even suggesting such a thing or understand the honor being bestowed upon their daughter. Any woman who agreed to serve would immediately fall under the protection of Laird Jamie, including her family.
