Jamie shook his head. “I fear I must disappoint ye. I am Jamie Lathan, envoy, come to answer the Fletcher’s request at my laird’s bidding.”
“Ah, be welcome then. I am steward here, Hugh Fletcher at yer service.” He gestured to the lads with him. “These laddies will take yer mounts to be cared for. Come within. I’ll get ye and yer men settled, and send lady Caitrin word ye’ve arrived.”
“Thank ye. I’m looking forward to meeting her again.”
Jamie beckoned to his men as the taciturn Will dismounted.
“I’ll leave ye in Hugh’s capable hands,” Will said. “I must speak to Caitrin.” He headed for the door before Jamie had a chance to respond.
Jamie frowned briefly at his back then, at Hugh’s gesture, moved forward. He stepped into the Fletcher keep’s windowless lower floor behind the steward. Will had already passed through and disappeared.
Torches lined the walls, every other one lit to illuminate the large space. A hearthfire glowed in the opposite corner of the room and stairs ran along one wall, ending opposite the entry. Under the stairs, a low doorway gave into a hall Jamie surmised to be in one of the wings built after the original tower. Sure enough, Hugh led them through. The Lathan men had to duck to get under the lintel. Doorways lined the hall and stairs were visible at the far end. Hugh indicated several doors. “These are guest-chambers. Make yerselves comfortable as ye see fit. There is water for bathing in each, should ye care to clean up before ye meet the mistress.”
Jamie grinned. “Aye, and welcome that will be.”
“An hour, then?” Hugh asked. “The evening meal will be served at that time in the tower hall abovestairs.”
“We’ll join ye, then. I look forward to renewing my acquaintance with Lady Fletcher.”
****
Rona answered the knock on the door as Caitrin finished brushing out her hair. At Uilleam’s low-voiced greeting, the old nurse stood aside and allowed him entry.
Caitrin’s nerves tightened. The Lathans were here. But which Lathans? “Will, itwasye who rode up. I thought as much.” Caitrin stood and went to the Fletcher ghillie, placing her hand on his forearm in greeting. “It’s good to have ye back. Did the Lathan return with ye?”
“Thank ye. And nay, Toran Lathan didna make the trip. His wife is nearing her childbed, so he was loathe to leave.”
“Toran, married?” The woman must be a saint.“Who came with ye, then?” Caitrin’s heart beat a little faster. She took a calming breath and told herself not to be a silly fool.
“He sent an envoy and a handful of others to escort ye.”
Could it be? “Do these Lathans have names?” Trust Will to withhold the one piece of news she could not wait to hear.
“Aye.”
So that was the game he played. “Will…”
He narrowed his eyes, but a corner of his mouth quirked up. “I answered yer question.”
Caitrin huffed an exasperated breath. “What are their names? I wish to find out if I kent any of them while I lived there.”
“Ye’ll see them all at evening meal, won’t ye?”
“Will!”
He glanced at Rona, but since she couldn’t see his expression, Caitrin knew he’d get no help there.
“Verra well. The envoy is Jamie Lathan.”
Caitrin’s heart beat faster at the mention of his name.Jamie, at Fletcher!After all these years.
Only the slight knitting of Rona’s brow signaled her displeasure at this news.
Caitrin kept her expression calm as Will named the other Lathans, Kyle, Bram, Ewan and Lorn. None seemed familiar.
“I argued for a larger group,” Will continued, “but the Lathan and his envoy both felt a smaller party would attract less notice.”
Caitrin managed not to roll her eyes. “They did? Well, let’s hope they are correct.” A sudden case of nerves plagued her. Her hands tingled and she wanted to pace, but her chamber felt too crowded. What she’d hoped for had come to pass. Now she had to deal with it and with him.Jamie. What if Rona was right and she’d spent the last six years imagining rather than remembering him? She could only guess who he was now. How had he changed from the gangly lad she knew?
