Page 44 of The Return of the Heir

He squeezed her fingers. “Rowena, I had no idea.” His voice was soft. “I can only guess at your pain, and I am so sorry to have put you through that, alone. You are a very brave young woman, braver than many men I know.” He caught her gaze, connected with it in a way he hadn’t ever before. “I am very proud to call you my sister.”

Determination shone in her gaze. “Does that pride extend to me knowing what is good for me?”

“I trust you to know your own mind, if that’s what you mean.”

“Good. Then you will have no problem with me marrying Marcus MacDonald.”

Alastair laughed. “Let’s not jump too far ahead of ourselves. If Marcus MacDonald is of great importance to you, then I promise to get to know him better. Then, and only then, will I consider such a connection.” He raised their joined hands and kissed her fingers before releasing her. “You are precious to me, Rowena. And I will not hand you over to just any man.”

She smiled. “Marcus is not just any man. You will see.”

“I am certain I will.”

Rowena’s gazed moved to the empty frame between the two windows. “What will you do with the replica of the Fairy Flag now that you have it?”

“Nothing at the moment.” Alastair returned the lid to the hat box and buckled it closed. “I will keep this somewhere safe until after the council meeting, as I had intended to confront the laird of the MacDonalds about stealing the flag from us through Garrick’s machinations.”

Rowena placed her hand atop the hat box. “Then let us hope this replica will bring our family more luck than the original flag ever seemed to.”

Alastair smiled. “How could it not? It was made with love.”

“Let’s hope that is enough to push the odds in our favour. The outcome of this council meeting affects not only this clan, but all of Scotland.”

Rowena was correct. War was coming. This meeting of the Isle Council would help to decide if that war was amongst the clans or if they could somehow put aside their differences with each other to join forces against the English.

The English were a far greater threat. When the time finally came for the Scottish armies to battle the English, they would need every advantage. And that included the MacLeods taking possession of the real Fairy Flag once more.

Only a MacLeod could call upon the fairy magic and turn the tide of battle in their favour when the flag was unfurled for a third and final time.