Her uncle had neglected to describe the man he planned to wed her to, only saying he’d introduce her when the time was right. The thought made her swallow nervously. She searched the men at the front of the crowd, where the dozen or so clan elders gathered. Not only did she greatly fear his choice would be someone old and disgusting, being the clan’s Lady would mean everyone would be interested in what she said…and did. She did not want to be noticed. She would not survive that kind of attention, not if these folk distrusted what she could do.
One of the elders stepped up onto a large flat-topped stone and recounted the past year’s events. He said nothing she hadn’t heard—or lived—already. She barely listened, crossing her arms over the hollow in her belly and studying the men shifting around below him as he continued to talk. He seemed determined to recite the entire MacAnalen history from the time the first MacAnalen left Ireland to come to Scotland. And his descendants went back again. Too bad at least one man here had not joined them. Shona pressed her lips together, then returned her attention to the speaker. She needed to find out who might be her likely suitor.
She spotted her unruly admirer, and her heart thumped a single hard beat in her chest, then paused before speeding up as though she’d run across the glen. Oh dear, was he highly placed in the clan? A council member? If he complained to the new laird about what she’d done, her uncle would be furious. She cringed when one of his companions slapped him on the back and laughed, shaking his hand when it came away wet. Her admirer gave a rueful shrug and made a comment she could not hear. From the twist of his lips and the grins lighting a few of his companions’ faces, she guessed he was being subjected to some mockery.
For a moment, she felt sorry for what she’d done to him, for causing him embarrassment. Then she changed her mind. He’d deserved what he got for taking liberties with her. She hoped he had accepted that. In case he didn’t, she moved through the crowd, positioning herself behind a group of women where she might blend in and escape both his and her uncle’s notice. Two of the women glanced her way and nodded, acknowledging her presence. She nodded back, thankful they returned their attention to the proceedings. Then the woman who’d passed by her earlier noticed her and moved to stand beside her.
“I’m Christina,” she offered. “And ye are new here. I saw ye standing near the wall a little while ago.”
“I’m Shona.” She took a breath to steady her nerves. She shouldn’t let the confrontation with her admirer make her jump at shadows. Christina’s comment seemed friendly rather than prying, but to deflect attention away from herself, she asked, “What do ye think of the candidates?”
“Angus has earned the job, but Colin may win it.” Christina lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Some say he has several of the Council under his thumb.” Then she shrugged, as if dismissing the rumors. “Have ye met either of them?”
Shona shook her head. “I dinna believe so.” She glanced aside. Christina might be shocked to learn how she dreaded her eventual meeting with one of them.
“Ye’d recall Angus if ye had. He’s a braw lad. A doer. And, I must say,” she declared with a grin, “a pleasure to look upon. Why some lass hasna snatched him up e’er now…well, ’tis beyond my ken. Colin is older and given to blather.” She rolled her eyes and laughed, adding, “Which might also be a useful trait in a laird.”
“Do ye favor one of them?” Though tempted to ask Christina to point out Angus, she hesitated, fearing the braw, comely candidate might be the man she’d already met…with disastrous results. What would she do if he won?
Christina didn’t get a chance to answer. The elder raised his voice to announce the vote would be taken. The conversational rumble stilled, and the crowd surged together. Shona made herself small and listened. The elder called two names in turn. Tucked behind the group of women, she could no longer see the front of the crowd or whether the men named joined the elder on his rocky platform. Hands went up and down and the crowd around her grumbled or cheered at the showing for each. After the elder spoke again, cheering erupted. She still did not know which of the men were the candidates, much less who had won. Frustrated, Shona resisted the urge to rise onto her toes to better see what had happened. She’d be too visible.
After the vote, her uncle moved though the crowd, speaking to several men. Eventually, despite her efforts to blend in with the other women, he spotted her and headed her way. Her attempt to remain unnoticed hadn’t mattered. In a moment, he reached her.
“Come along, lass.” He grabbed her arm. “’Tis time to meet the new laird.”
He seemed more brusque than usual. Could he have found out what she’d done? Nay, he’d have plenty to say if he knew. Perhaps he was anxious about making this introduction. Having his niece wed the laird would add to his importance in the clan.
She gave Christina an apologetic shrug and got a nod in return. Seamus dragged her forward just as the clan elder invited the new laird to speak to the clan. She stumbled and nearly fell when she saw the man who stepped onto the flat-topped stone. Her uncle’s grip on her arm kept her upright while he railed at her, a low, vicious tone.
“Now is no’ the time for ye to become clumsy as a newborn lamb! The laird can see ye.”
Indeed, he could. Shona quailed, wishing she could slip into the crowd and disappear. At least for now, the new laird was busy. Her introduction, and her uncle’s plans, would have to wait.
* * *
“Ye’re a free man, my friend,” Brodric said, slapping Angus on the back.
At least his back had dried some in the breeze and wasn’t sopping as it had been when Murdo slapped him there before the vote. Brodric didn’t cringe. He simply stepped aside for others to offer their condolences.
“Stay sharp, lad,” one elder told him with a sniff as he offered his hand. “Yer time will come.” With a laugh, he added, “I hope ye’ll be sober by then.”
Angus grimaced and accepted the teasing, knowing he should at least be disappointed, or even angry, at the result, but deep down, relief made him numb to more negative emotions. Brodric was right. He was free! Disappointed. Embarrassed. Reeking of ale and angry the clan had rejected him after his leadership over the last several months. But free.
“I didna expect the vote to go against ye,” Brodric continued when the crowd around them thinned, his voice filling the space left by Angus’s silence. He rolled his eyes as the breeze blew from Angus to him. “Did ye have to drink enough to drown yerself, then?”
“Nor I,” Angus finally answered, ignoring Brodic’s well-placed barb. He had his gaze on the well-wishers now gathered around Colin, the new Laird MacAnalen. “It seems I’ve spent the last six months making enemies.”
After all he had done for the clan, he’d thought most would be happy to see him confirmed as its chief. He pressed his lips together, determined to hold back the denial making his belly clench and threatening to erupt in a string of curses he knew he’d regret. He would not sully his reputation, or his dead brother’s, with such dishonorable conduct. He’d done too much good to throw it all away today, no matter the provocation.
When the ragtag lowlander army occupied MacAnalen land last autumn, he’d helped Toran, the visiting Lathan laird, escape. Together, they’d freed the MacAnalen captives, then Angus had led them to safety. He’d taken on the laird’s duties to work with the council elders in his missing brother’s place. He’d set aside his grief when Gregor had been found nearly dead, and the Lathan healer had been unable to save him. He’d worked tirelessly for the good of the clan, leading the effort to rebuild what the invaders had razed before they’d moved on to lay siege to the Lathans’ Aerie. The clan had survived, even prospered, during the long winter.
And what had Colin done during that time? Angus snorted. Colin had done as little as possible except nurse his long-standing grudge against Gregor for winning the lairdship instead of him. He’d pointed out every delay, every mistake, every fault he could find to paint Angus as too young and too inexperienced to take over his dead brother’s duties. How any in the clan, in the face of what Angus hadaccomplished, could accept Colin’s twisted version of events and vote for him, Angus failed to understand. Even worse, Angus heard Colin was behind the slanderous rumor that Gregor had been found by the lake because he’d fled there to avoid capture while his people fought and died. Angus clenched his fists against the useless fury that slander aroused, then forced his hands open, feigning indifference. People watched his every move today. He could not prove Colin’s perfidy, so he was forced to accept the will of the clan. And swallow his own outrage.
“Nay, laddie, ye didna make enemies,” Brodric objected. “I think the manner of Gregor’s passing did ye a great disservice. Ye shouldha been chosen to replace him. I expect the rumors about his passing took just enough support away from ye…”
“And if I could prove Colin started the rumors, things would be different now, and Colin would be dead. But ye ken I canna. Worse, Colin kens I canna. He laughed in my face when I confronted him weeks ago to warn him to stop.”
“Ye’re lucky he only laughed. He’s a lazy sod, but he’s good with a dirk.” Brodric glanced around, then added, “And he’s cunning as hell. I’d wager another rumor is true, and he’s got a few of the Council under his control, especially if he caught them doin’ anythin’ they’d rather no’ have become common knowledge in the clan.”
