“Aye, but ye’re quite… particular,” another councilman said. “I do believe that we were beginnin’ to worry about wee Agnes bein’ yer sole heir.”
“She may nae be able to carry on me name, but I still believe she’s a fine heir,” Liam said, sharp and leaving no room for further argument. He understood their concern, but he wouldn’t hear any disparaging comments toward his daughter. “There is the possibility of a male heir now, but nae until after we’ve had the bindin’ ceremony.”
He’d only offered the words to keep his council from picking further. His pride in his daughter wasn’t something shared by the men who oversaw his decisions. It would be difficult to find anyone who felt the same as he did.
His pride aside, he had seen what it cost to earn something as precious as Agnes. He would never impose that on another woman again.
“Ye’ve done somethin’ great for the clan,” another member of the council continued, placated for now at the very least. “We’re pleased with how ye’ve been runnin’ things, and now, we ken that yer legacy will be secured.”
“Much less trainin’ for a new laird if, heaven forbid, somethin’ happens to ye, Laird MacDougal,” Harold said, tapping his fingers upon the tabletop. His tone was objective, the kind of man that thought only of the logistics that supported a robust clan. “Once ye have a son, we can begin teachin’ him exactly how ye run things. As he gets older, we will begin includin’ him in council meetings, so he kens what to expect.”
“We’ll also have significantly more to gain when it comes time for him to marry,” a member who hadn’t spoken up until this point added. “He willnae need a dowry as Lady Agnes will. With yer excellent reputation, he will have his pick of eligible women.”
“That’s enough,” Liam said, unwilling to hear any more of this. He’d been hoping to avoid discussions such as this, at least for the evening. “What I do within the arrangement is me business and mine alone. I needed a woman to help raise me daughter, and now, that requirement has been fulfilled. What happens within me household isnae yers to dictate.”
His interjection brought the meeting in the conference room to a sudden halt. A few of the younger council members lookedchastised, while the older members kept their expressions carefully neutral though they held themselves in a more controlled manner.
It wasn’t often that they truly tested his patience. He took pride in the collection of advisors he had assembled, all of them understanding that they were there to advise, not dominate. Most days, they performed their jobs effectively and efficiently.
Though sometimes they seemed to be operating on an agenda Liam wasn’t privy to, all it took to get them back on track was a sharp correction. They were good men.
He held eye contact with the loudest voices, ensuring they understood that this was the only warning they’d get. They held his gaze, silently confirming that he was heard and that, for now, the discussion was tabled. When he was satisfied that the subject would be dropped, he nodded. Wiping a bit of rainwater from his jaw, he turned his gaze toward the window.
“With the bindin’ approachin’, we will need to prepare and secure our lands,” he said, shifting their focus back to the practical matters where his counsel’s input was appreciated.Thiswas truly the point of this impromptu meeting. “Nay only will we have allies in attendance, but the announcement could draw unwanted attention from enemies.”
He didn’t need to voice the enemy he had in mind. Ever since his father had attacked the Pirate Laird and the man’s younger sister had been killed, Liam stayed in a constant state of battlereadiness. It wasn’t a matter of if the Laird would retaliate butwhen.
And, considering that the pirates’ last attempt had been calculated and executed at a time when the castle was vulnerable, he was not willing to take any chances. Word could get out and back to them regardless of how fiercely the information was guarded.
Or they could be watchin’ us like before. We didnae ken they were watchin’ us last time, either.
“It willnae take much adjustin’ of patrol schedules,” Harold said, professionally changing subjects, aware that their enemies were much more deserving of their worry than whether or not there would be a male child produced. “Over the next few weeks, we’ll increase the number of guards we send out as well as the frequency of walkin’ their routes.”
“Excellent,” Liam said with a sharp nod of his head. His let his gaze sweep over the councilmen “We will also need to coordinate the staff. Lady Agnes is too old to plan the bindin’, and Katherine isnae yet familiar with the workings of the castle.” Before any of them could suggest she try, he added, “Her function is takin’ care of Agnes first. One day she will organize the household, but she isnae ready for that yet. Me priority for her is Agnes’s education.”
The conversation shifted to logistics then, his council accepting the reassignment of duties without complaint. He knew that they weren’t pleased to be doing such feminine work, but theywere smart enough to keep their thoughts to themselves. He wasn’t sure that he’d be able to stand them insisting that Katherine be involved in this planning.
The woman was far too free-spirited. She was loud and seemed to lack the kind of grace he’d expect from a lady. In fact, he was doubtful that she would be receptive to teaching Agnes anything unless she thought that it was her own idea.
I daenae ken what I’ve gotten meself into, but I suppose I can rest easy kennin’ I’ve pleased me grandmother one last time.
Chapter Six
“We didnae ken if anyone will be joinin’ us,” Tilly said as she led Katherine into the chambers that would be hers. “So if there is anythin’ ye need, tell me, and I will ensure we get it to ye as soon as possible.”
The gratitude died on Katherine’s tongue when she stepped over the threshold, but not because she no longer felt it. Warmth enveloped her, the fire crackling and keeping the room from feeling cold and drafty like the quarters she’d left, the quarters she’d known for most of her life. Her breath caught when she saw the bed.
The mattress was piled high with more quilts and pillows than she’d seen in years. Some of them were thick, others thin. It was obvious thatshewas meant to choose which sheets would help her sleep most comfortably.
It was so overwhelming to be on the receiving end of this kind of hospitality.
“Saints preserve us,” Tilly said, all at once sounding incredibly worried. “Is there somethin’ missin’? I assure ye it willnae be a problem at all to get whatever ye need.” She followed Katherine’s gaze to the mattress. Her brow furrowed further as she tried to deduce the source of Katherine’s perceived distress. “Are they nae enough blankets? Or perhaps ye need more pillows? I’ll get them right away.”
“Nay, nay,” Katherine said, blinking away the mist that had begun to cloud her vision. She shook her head to dislodge the tidal wave of emotions. “It’s perfect. I suppose... I wasnae expectin’ such a warm welcome.”
She hadn’t thought about the kind of welcome she’d receive at all. It had been impossible for her to think past the auction itself. That felt like a mix of being overly optimistic and allowing herself to dream of a fairy tale existence. Her life had been so dreary, nothing but cold beds and unsatisfying meals, that she’d begun to think that she’d never know true comfort again. Even considering it felt like a luxury she wasn’t allowed to indulge in.
“Ach, well, we wish we could have given ye a warmer one,” Tilly said, tilting her head to the side sympathetically. For a beat, she held Katherine’s gaze, soft and understanding. She brightened quickly, clapping her hands together once as she plastered a grin to her lips. “Now, let’s get ye into somethin’ dry. Ye must be freezin’.”
