She heard voices outside and a moment later, Seamus entered, followed by Stellan. “Laird,” Seamus said.
While they settled, she tried to recall whether Seamus could have any idea who Stellan really was. He was no fool. He might have figured it out, too. “Take a seat. I need yer wisdom.”
The men exchanged a glance and sat down. “What do ye need, Mariota?”
“Call yer man on guard inside, too,” she told Stellan. “Erik overheard much of the last meeting. He may have impressions I missed.”
Stellan went to the door and fetched his guard, then closed the door behind them.
Mariota gestured them to a seat and explained what had happened in the council meeting, and her thinking since then, all except her thoughts about Sutherland and her possible future there.
Stellan’s man added only that as the councilors left, they went from silent and introspective to egging each other to anger.“It doesna bode well, my laird. They will cause trouble for ye and whomever ye choose for yer new council.”
“Overt trouble can be handled,” Stellan observed. “Danger lies in the ones who remain silent and strike suddenly from an unexpected direction. People ye ken and trust— and shouldna.”
“Seamus? Yer thoughts?”
“Ye will win them over, Mari, in time. Ye are capable, more than any other lass in the clan. More than they will expect.”
“Thanks to ye, no’ to my da. And thanks to what ye and Cook taught me, else Alber might have done what he wished with me. Instead I was able to fight him off. Still, I dinna believe I have time,” Mariota admitted. “Nor do I have the will to do this job as it should be done. I intend to abdicate in yer favor, Seamus. I will leave MacKay, and all of the problems associated with me being laird will go with me. Ye will have a fresh start. Ye are a man the clan admires and respects. Ye will do well here.”
“Mari, nay.”
“I recommend ye choose yer own council. Dinna make the mistake of adopting Da’s. They are moribund and will be nay help to ye.”
“Ye truly mean to do this?” Stellan’s brows winged and a hopeful smile lifted the corners of his lips.
“I do. Do ye still want me to go to Sutherland with ye, Stellan?” Despite the import of his answer, she couldn’t help glancing at Seamus to see how he reacted to her revelation.
He grinned. So he had suspected.
“Ye ken I do. But Mariota, what ye will be giving up?—”
“Naught that I want. Everything I wish for is with ye.” It took strength to turn away from the joy reflected in Stellan’s eyes, but she looked to Seamus and stood. “Ye may as well begin now. I have some packing to do. We will make the announcement to the clan at supper and leave in the morning.”
“Have ye considered, Mari, that I mightna want the job either?” He asked as he and Stellan got to their feet, too.
“Nay, I havena, because ye are perfect for it and will be a much better laird than my da was. Than I could ever be.”
She walked around the desk and went first to Seamus, kissing him on the cheek. “My friend, I entrust MacKay to ye. I ken ye can handle it better than anyone.” Then she turned to Stellan and took his hand. “Let’s get ready to go. I’m eager to start a new life with ye.”
Mariota feltlike holding her breath the entire way back to Sutherland, fearful that something would happen to force her to return to MacKay, or that she would wake up and realize this was a dream and she was locked in her chamber by her father, with Alber pacing outside her door. Only Stellan’s calm presence at her side helped her accept that this change in her life was real. His men surrounded them, along with an honor guard of MacKay’s best warriors chosen by Seamus to accompany her to her new home. Over his objections, she had refused his presence, reminding him that he had much to do to cement his place as MacKay’s laird.
Stellan reached over and took one of her hands from the reins she clutched. “Fashingagain, love? We’ve no’ far to go, and we’ll be home.”
She summoned a smile for him and released a sigh. “I’ll be glad to see Dunrobin. I keep expecting something to happen?—”
“Naught will, lass. We’re well protected and have been on Sutherland land since we camped last night. Besides, ye should worry for me. Once Da finds out what Anders and I did, he’s likely to skelp the both of us. But dinna fear. He’ll welcome ye.”
“I hope so. Ye canna ken how much I hope all of Sutherland will welcome me. And support our marriage.”
Stellan’s face lit with one of his rare, heartfelt smiles. His eyes twinkled with mirth, making her laugh.
“What is it?”
“Ye ken who will support it the most? Anders. The lasses will now have to put all their hopes on him, and believe me, he’ll take advantage of that.”
“That sounds terrible.”
