Creighton didn’t bother pointing out that it wasn’t a real betrothal. He suspected that Aunt Helena had always opposed the idea of false betrothals to secure the peace treaty. She would probably preferrealbetrothals, followed by real marriages and real alliances.
Perhaps her way would work better. At least there’d be less distrust. Kin could still pose a threat, but certainly less than if it were otherwise.
For a moment, the three of them stood there, glancing at each other.
Hunter cleared his throat, and for a moment, Creighton thought thathewas going to say that he liked Nora too, despite barely having gotten a glimpse of her.
“Tell me about her sickness,” he said instead.
Drawing in a deep breath, Creighton told the whole story. The shortbread, the collapse in the kitchen, the breathless three-day waiting period while Nora slept and he worried. His cousin and aunt did not interrupt him while he spoke. At last, they glanced at each other, and Aunt Helena heaved a sigh.
“The poor lass. What a stroke of bad luck. At least now she will be motivated to get the MacColl healers into shape, eh?”
“Aye, I hope so,” Creighton conceded. “Andrew was convinced that she was a witch because she’s a decent healer.”
Aunt Helena chuckled, but Hunter scowled.
“Daenae let him have those silly ideas,” he muttered. “They lead to trouble.”
“It’s been dealt with,” Creighton assured him firmly. Whether this actually reassured him or not, remained to be seen, but at the very least, he gave a grunt of acknowledgment and let the subject drop.
“Ye have reassured her clan and family, then?” Aunt Helena asked, in the silence that followed. “An accusation of poisonin’ is a serious thing. Since there are already tensions between yer clan and the Brydens, it’s wise to smooth it over quickly. Even so, suspicions will remain.”
“I daenae blame the Brydens for jumpin’ to conclusions,” Creighton insisted. “It was a strange situation. Her illness came on suddenly, and since her symptoms fit that of a poisonin’…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “Laird Bryden wants peace just as much as I do. Try not to fret about me, or the alliance.”
“It’s hard nae to fret,” Aunt Helena responded, her voice carefully light. “When me daughter is the one held for surety. I did nae want Skye to go to Keep Bryden. Nor did Hunter.”
Creighton bit his lower lip. “I am grateful for yer sacrifice, Aunt. And yers, Hunter. Without Skye, there’d be nay alliance. I had nay idea ye did nae want her to go, however. Did ye forbid her?”
“I tried,” Aunt Helena sighed, shaking her head. “But ye ken how stubborn that girl can be.”
“Then why did she insist upon goin’?”
Aunt Helena and Hunter exchanged quick, meaningful glances. Hunter shook his head.
“Ye would have to ask her, cousin,” he answered calmly. “Listen, we didnae invite ye here to berate ye. These are things we must discuss, but we all ken that there must be peace with Brydens. And we are well on the way to achievin’ that. So, let’s leave Skye to take care of herself—we all ken she can do that—and concentrate on here and now, eh?”
“Agreed,” Creighton responded, relieved that the subject of Nora’s poisoning would be left alone for now. Later, his cousin would ask how the investigation was going and whether there were any leads. He’d want to know who had done this, and once they were discovered, what their punishment would be. Would they be exposed, or quietly gotten rid of? What was their motivation, and did it mean there was more danger to come?
These were questions that Creighton did not have even a half-answer to. Frankly, he was a little afraid of those answers. But they had to be found nevertheless.
“Now, lads, for the ceilidh,” Aunt Helena interrupted his thoughts, fixing each of them with a stern stare. “I want nay strategizin’. Nay plots or plans, nayscheming.”
“I daenaescheme,” Creighton muttered, affronted.
“I want good, clean family time,” Aunt Helena continued, as if he had not spoken. “I want us to enjoy our time together. I havenae seen Laurie in far too long, and I am lookin’ forward to getting’ to ken Nora better. She’ll be good for ye, Creighton. Very good. Maybe this will tempt Hunter into matrimony.”
She shot a Look at Hunter, one that hinted at plenty of arguments. Hunter only shook his head.
“I’m too busy to think of that,” he answered with finality. “I daenae wish to marry.”
“Yet?” Creighton added.
His cousin stared at him. “Never.”
Creighton didn’t bother to argue. He let Aunt Helena reach out and take his hand, squeezing gently.
“There has been tension between our families of late,” she murmured earnestly. “That happens to all families, I’m afraid. But I truly believe that Nora is exactly what we need to bring us all together.”
