“Chief,” she called out, stopping him. “Now that ye are here with me, why dinna we take a walk? Are ye up fer it?”
Thankfully, he nodded, seemingly pleased with the idea, though he did not smile. Since she had known him, he was not the kind of man who bared his emotions for all to see. Like her, he was a master at hiding. Mayhap that was why she noticed the smallest nuances of change in his expressions more often than not lately. She pleased him, and despite once being repulsed by the idea of belonging to a man, she thought it would not be so terrible to belong to Constantine Cameron.
“Let us go to the loch’s edge!” she said with an enthusiastic bounce in her step, close beside him. “Show me where ye bathe so I can join ye next time. Och! I mean,” she paused and felt her face go up in flames. “Not together! Goodness, what I meant was…”
“Verra well, I’ll take ye there now, and then in the mornin’, I’ll bring ye with Bethia and Joan so ye can bathe. I willna remain while ye bathe but I’ll stay close by in case there are any men in the area.”
Her cheeks cooled but her heart remained warm. “Do ye mean it?”
He looked a little insulted, even pouting his lips. “Iwouldna have said it if I didna mean it.”
She ignored his insult and gave him her best, most happy smile. “Thank ye, Chief.”
“Constantine,” he mumbled and turned to look away. “Ye thank me fer nothin’, lass. Why would it be so difficult to please one who makes nae demands?”
“Me?” she asked, a bit surprised. “I make nae demands?”
“Nae.” He continued on his way down the stairs.
She followed, then caught up. “What about when I wanted to walk with ye in the mornings?”
“That was no’ a demand,” he pointed out in a gentle voice.
“When ye refused I followed ye anyway.”
He shrugged. “Nae harm came from it.”
Was this the Lochiel she was speaking with? What about obedience?
“And did I no’ demand that ye no’ return to battle while convalescing?”
“’Twas fer my benefit,” he defended her.
Well, he was certainly singing a different tune. But she was not complaining. If he wanted to absolve her of her demanding ways, she was grateful. In fact, she was so grateful she considered looping her hand through the crook of his elbow. Not too long ago, she would never have done such a thing. But now…she trusted this man. Like Fraya, his bonnie coo, he was winning her trust more every day.
With a sigh of resolution, she closed her eyes and took his arm, keeping pace with his steps.
He didn’t flinch. He didn’t seem to mind in the least.
Finally, she stopped clenching her jaw and smiled. He didn’t mind her touching him. She felt her face go hot and then remembered to breathe when they ran into Lewis and Geoffry. The Lochiel exchanged words with them and then led her away.
Hugh stopped him to read a missive that had arrived. It was writtenby Angus MacKintosh, Clan Chief of the Chattan. He was writing in response to his cousin—the troublesome chief John MacKintosh’s last correspondence and list of grievances against the Cameron chief. John MacKintosh wanted his cattle, twenty Cameron women, to pay for the death of John’s sons, and finally, the return of their land, mainly near Loch Akraig and Glen Lui. The Confederation ordered a battle to end the 360-year feud. No other clans from the Confederation would fight, but they wanted the feud over one way or the other.
“One way or the other?” Ismay asked, drawing his and Hugh’s attention. “Does that mean one chief or the other?”
“I willna lose to him,” Constantine assured her in a low voice—like a growl.
“The Chattan chief will help him. They are cousins,” she argued. “Do ye believe they will stand by while ye beat him?”
Hugh stared agape at her. “Miss Drummond, who taught ye such disrespect?”
“Ye are correct,” Constantine said to her as if Hugh had not spoken a word. “It gains them nothin’ if I win. They know I will beat him, and if I do, I will be bigger than the Confederation. They willna leave it to chance.”
Ismay agreed, relieved that he was strategic and not a prideful oaf that ignored sound advice because it came from a woman.
“Hugh, advise the men to meet me in the Great Hall after supper. There is much to be discussed.”
“Where should I tell them if they ask where ye are right now, Lochiel?”
