Gabriel met Cameron’s unwavering gaze, his lifelong friend addressing him so formally a proof of his allegiance.
“Aye, Laird, I follow where you lead,” echoed Conall, followed by Alun and Finlay and the rest of the men surrounding Gabriel.
Deeply moved, he felt his throat tighten even as he uttered the next words.
“Aye, then, there is much to do before we leave at dawn. Finlay, Alun, see that all those who stay behind are prepared tae defend the castle—and Finlay, you will remain tae command them.”
A flicker of disappointment lit his kinsmen’s eyes, but he nodded solemnly. “As you wish, Gabriel.”
“Good. I entrust you with my nieces’ welfare and that of every soul within these walls as well as the villagers, who will look tae you for protection. If there’s a siege, we’ve provisions enough tae last until help arrives. Take in as much livestock and as many of our kin as you can before you must draw the bridge and close the gates.”
“Aye.”
“Cameron, Conall, ready the rest of the men. I’ll rejoin you shortly.”
More solemn nods came as Gabriel left them to stride across the bailey in the direction of the walled garden, the oaken door left ajar.
His heart pounded harder with each step, that Magdalene hadn’t resisted his command, telling him much.
She could have laughed crazily and whirled in place and then run off in the opposite direction, leaving the girls gaping after her—but there had been no effort on her part to play the lunatic.
She had stood there during his entire discourse with her brother’s messenger, listening, watching, her eyes widening in dismay when Gabriel had said—untruthfully—that one of his nieces had been ill.
At once she had bent down to embrace them, but Keira had whispered something in her ear and Magdalene had straightened again just as Gabriel had ordered her to take the girls to the garden.
Och, Keira was a clever one, handling the whole scene so masterfully though so young!
He wanted to give her a big hug himself, and little Rhona, too, and mayhap even Magdalene if she looked to welcome it. Aye, he could hope—
“Laird, wait!”
Groaning inwardly, Gabriel stopped in his tracks as Grania hurried to catch up with him.
“Is it true, Laird? You gave that madwoman free run of the castle? I couldna believe my ears, and Euna and Donella refused tae allow me tae go after her when she ran outside with the bairns—och, those wretched women! They held me by the arms as ifIwas the lunatic!”
Imagining the scene, Gabriel tried not to smile, knowing it would upset Grania further. She was the girls’ nurse after all, her charge to watch after them.
“Aye, I gave that command. There’s no sense in keeping her locked up and miserable.”
“Well, she didna look miserable at all when she swept into the hall as free as she pleased with those two hanging back behind her. Startled everyone, she did! My poor heart nearly stopped when Rhona jumped up from the table and ran to her—why, I feared your wife would squeeze the life from the wee bairn for how tightly she hugged her!”
“It’s a good thing the girls care for her,” Gabriel said, continuing toward the garden as Grania had to double her pace to keep up with him. “It might help tae bring her round—”
“Bring her round?” Grania echoed, clearly shocked, from the look on her face. “You canna bring a lunatic round as if it were a fever passing! It’s true she didna look like a madwoman eating and drinking as prettily as she pleased, though I feared she’d fling her cup at any moment and the soup bowl not far behind it—”
“Grania,enough!”
Stopping to face her again, Gabriel could hear giggles drifting from the garden that only made his impatience to reach Magdalene and his nieces all the keener.
“My wife is no madwoman, do you hear me? It’s not common knowledge yet, and I’ll trust you not tae speak a word of this tae anyone—but she only played the lunatic because she didna want tae marry me. Her sister, Debora, was wed tae a cruel man and he put her in an early grave. Do you understand now how Maggie feared the same thing might happen tae her?”
Grania nodded, though she stood still as if scarcely breathing, the strangest look upon her face. Yet it was her hazel eyes darkening that gave Gabriel pause, a coldness in them that hadn’t been there before.
“So she’s no lunatic. One could have pity for a crazed soul…but if she’s not—”
“Laird MacLachlan!”
Again Gabriel groaned, this time aloud as Tam came hustling toward him.
