James, however, had proven Ian wrong. The Scot had truly cared about Iris and it hadn’t taken Ian long to realize that Iris had felt the same way. He had all but pushed them together after his da’s death, wanting his sister to find something to believe in.
Even if Ian didn’t believe in love himself.
Now everything was as it should be. Iris was happy or at least so he thought until he could put his eyes on his sister himself and ensure that Lennox was keeping her happy. Reaching out, he clamped his hand on James’s shoulder, squeezing hard. “Aye James. Ye know that I consider ye family now.”
James winced slightly under Ian’s tight grip and Ian grinned inwardly. It didn’t mean he wasn’t going to rile him up a bit when he got the chance. Releasing his brother-in-law, Ian looked about the great hall. It was the same size as his back home, but whereas he had teems of Scots milling about constantly, the hall was largely empty, including the laird’s seat near the fire. “Where is Laird MacGregor?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.
James cleared his throat. “He’s meeting with his council this afternoon. He bids ye a welcome tae his keep and states that anything ye require will be provided tae ye during yer stay.”
Ian tried not to show the disappointment on his face. While they had both agreed to a truce, it didn’t mean they were goingto start enjoying each other’s company right away. This was one of the reasons he had agreed to his sister’s summons. He needed to build a fragile bond with the laird as his equal and not his da’s son any longer. “Then I look forward tae mah time here,” Ian forced out. “I trust that mah men will be taken care of?”
“We have rooms procured for yer men,” James answered, giving Remy a nod. “Near our rooms of course. I figured ye would want tae be close tae Iris.”
“Aye,” Ian said, suddenly weary. His nose was still throbbing even though he could breathe easier and he was tired from the journey, longing for a comfortable bed.
“Come then,” James motioned with his hand.
Ian’s boots rang out on the stone flooring as they climbed the stairs all the way to the third level of the keep, down a clean, but narrow hallway lit by torches encased in iron. James opened one of the doors and stepped back, allowing Ian entrance. Ian did just that, taking in the comfortable surroundings and cheery fireplace before his eyes landed on his sister, who was placing a small bairn in a wooden structure with high sides. “Come on,” she was saying, placing her hand on the small girl’s forehead. “Tis time for yer nap dear one.”
“Perhaps she’s not tired,” Ian suggested softly, causing his sister to spin around, her eyes widening.
“Ian!” she called out, rushing over to embrace him. “Yer here!”
He allowed himself to be engulfed by her embrace, breathing in her scent. “I’ve missed ye so much!” she said, pressing her face to his tunic. “How are ye? How is Stephan, Gretna, and Lena? Is the clan surviving well?”
Ian laughed as he pulled back, gazing into her eyes that mirrored his own. “Too many questions sister.”
She flushed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Aye, I should give ye room tae breathe at least.”
Ian didn’t want to let her go, emotions welling up in his chest that he was unfamiliar with. He had missed his sister. Their relationship hadn’t always been warm, but she was the one who would listen when he needed an ear. Lately, he needed advice a great deal. Being a laird was not an easy position nor did it allow for many people around him that he could trust fully. Stephan, of course, he could trust, but he had his brother busy making certain that their warriors were ready for any sort of attack.
Most days, he didn’t even see his brother.
Iris’s smile faltered. “Wot is it?” she asked, sensing his warring thoughts. When he shook his head, Iris turned to her husband, who was waiting by the door. “James why donna ye see tae the rest of our visitors? I would like a moment alone with mah brother.”
James gave them both a nod and promptly shut the door behind him, leaving the siblings alone. “He has no qualms aboot doing yer business does he?” Ian teased as he let go of Iris.
She shot him a hard look. “Leave him be Ian. He still thinks ye donna like him.”
“He’s wed tae mah sister,” Ian argued. “I shouldna.”
Iris just shook her head, a smile playing on her lips before she held out her hand. “Come see yer niece, ye dolt.”
Ian took her hand and she led him over to the bed, where the bairn was resting. Immediately, he could see Iris’s features in his niece’s sleeping face, but there was a hint of Lennox there as well.
Only a hint. “I’m afraid her temper is that of a Wallace,” Iris began, reaching out to cover her daughter with a blanket. “She’s stubborn and short-tempered.”
“Sound like ye,” Ian teased, bumping her shoulder with his.
She bumped him back and they shared a smile. “Tell mah wot is wrong Ian,” Iris said in a soft voice. “Wot can I do tae help?”
He shook his head, not wanting to burden his sister with his own concerns about being the laird that their clan needed. “Ye have done enough getting mah here.”
“But not without injury, it seems,” Iris fought back, reaching up to touch his swollen nose. “Wot did ye do?”
He winced, pulling away from her. “Nothing. Tis was a misunderstanding.” He would not put Ida or her uncle in any sort of concern with her laird. He had promised her that much. “There is still discord in the Wallace clan aboot this alliance.”
Iris swallowed. “And in the MacGregor one as well. I’ve spoken with the laird aboot it, but he, well, thinks that there is more tae be worried aboot.”
