“Master Adam,” she said, bobbing a curtsy but still smiling. “Have ye been waiting long?”
“Long enough to know ye were not where ye should be.” He tried to remain detached and serious, but the joy emanating from all of them was infectious. “A word with ye, Lady.” He motioned for Kali to follow him belowstairs for privacy.
“Leave the lass be, Adam,” Raini ordered him, pointing her cane at him for emphasis. “Blame me for her disappearance. I asked her to accompany me on a walk with the children so we could gather fresh berries for our evening meal.”
What could he say to the old seer? Most importantly, he respected her more than anyone for her dedicated service to the clan, regardless of what his sire said about the woman. “I appreciate ye standing up for the lass, but I must speak with her.” He moved to the door and waved her over. “Come, Kali.”
She nodded, patted Raini on the shoulder, then followed him out of the chamber. “Is that how ye talk to all women?”
He stopped mid-stairs and turned to look at her. “What do ye mean?”
“Come, Kali.” She repeated his command in an irritated tone and braced her hand on her hip. “As if I am a wee pup ye are training.”
When Kali’s temper flared, she was even more enchanting—her eyes gleamed with intensity.
“If I wished to treat ye like a pup, I would have slapped my thigh while saying, ‘Come.’”
She stared at him for a long moment, perhaps offended by his attempt at a jest. But then she surprised him and laughed softly. “How can a lass stay angry at ye, Adam MacKay?”
He grinned at her, knowing he must look like a simpering youth. Then he continued down the steps and seated himself where he had last time they spoke. She joined him, sitting next to him.
Adam studied her profile, sure he had never seen a more lovely creature. “It is highly probable that me father has assigned a guard or two to spy on ye. ’Tis his way.”
She sighed and shrugged. “What can I do about it?” She waited for him to respond, but when he didn’t, she said, “Nothing.”
“Aye.”
“I willna sit about day after day languishing inside while the world is marching on. ’Tis not me nature. And those wee ones…” She covered her face with both hands and took a deep breath. “Have ye seen their tattered clothes? Worn shoes? Heard their tummies roil with hunger?”
“Ye’d have to be blind not to notice. But in defense of me clan, we treat our orphans better than most—I could show ye…”
She shook her head. “I am no’ concerned about how other clans respond to the less fortunate, only howyedo. How yer servants do. How yer men do.”
“A noble thing, lass. But ye must face the realities of the hard, cold world we live in. Many go hungry. Many suffer. Many perish.”
She shot up from the step and started to pace. “I willna let these children perish.”
“Neither will I,” he said with conviction, rising from the step to stand near her. “I doona understand ye. One day ye consider me an ally. The next, ye question me morals—doubt me decency as a human being.”
She stopped moving and frowned at him. “Surely ye can understand me less than favorable opinion of yer father.”
“Aye, but not me.”
“Ye are controlled by his expectations.”
He could not allow her to keep that negative impression of him. Adam grasped her wrist and tugged her close, staring deeply into her stormy eyes. “I am me own man. Protector of this clan. Not even me father can command me to harm children. I would…” He dared not voice the damning thought. “The orphans willna perish, lass.”
She focused on her arm, where he held onto her. “Swear it.”
No. That was too much to ask of him. “Didna the good Lord say let your word be your word? Make no promises.”
She separated herself from him, taking two steps back but still holding his gaze. “Are ye afraid to promise me something so important?”
“Ye are relentless, lass. Insolent, even.”
She squared her shoulders with obvious pride. “I have been forced to be such in me life.”
Adam scrubbed his face in frustration. “Let me consider yer request, lass.”
