Page 152 of Claimed Highland Brides

IMPROMPTU

Euan beckoned to Barclay as the dance was winding down, and he leaned in to tell Aileen that it was time. Aileen took a deep breath, looking nervous. “Alrigh’ let’s go.”

He stood back, gesturing for her to precede him, and they left the ballroom floor to join Euan on the sides. He inclined his head for them to follow him, and they did so, keeping a step behind him as he turned down an empty corridor. He knocked on a large ornate door, and they heard someone tell him to come in.

There were three men in the room already. Barclay gasped as he caught sight of one of them. He remained seated while the other two men stood up.

Euan turned to Barclay. “Mr. MacFarland, may I present to ye, the governor of Edinburgh, Coluim Grahame. And this is Torquil MacDonald.” He gestured at the third man. “I’m sure ye ken yer grandfaither, the Chieftain of Clan MacFarland, Ewen MacFarland.”

Barclay made a leg. “Yer servant, sirs.” He turned to Aileen. “Allow me to present Miss Aileen Douglass, a dear family friend.”

His eyes slid to his grandfather, wondering what the man was doing here. He still had a full head of butter-yellow hair and was smoking a cheroot, looking hale and hearty. But as far as he knew, his grandfather was not one to attend social events. Not when there were crops to be harvested, sheep to be sheared, and cattle to be sold.

He barely glanced at Barclay, his eyes sweeping curiously over Aileen before turning away. Barclay turned to the governor with a smile. “I thank ‘e for granting us an audience.”

The governor smiled, clapping Euan familiarly on the shoulder. “When Mr. McGregor here told me ye wished to speak t’me, I admit I was curious. I did not know that Hamish had a son who survived the purge of Inchcree.”

Barclay frowned. “Purge?”

“Aye. From what yer grandfaither says, the tacksmen rose up and attacked the laird, yer faither.”

Barclay’s frown deepened. He knew it probably was not a good idea to contradict his grandfather, but he could not let that slander lie. “No, that is not what happened. My parents were attacked on the way back home from a visit to the MacFarland. My mother was killed, and my father was injured.”

The governor made a sound of distress. “An unfortunate business all around. But what help do ye require from me?”

“My uncle has taken over my land and refuses to respect my right to it. I would like to request the assistance of the rule of law, to help me evict him.”

The governor’s brows rose, and he turned to the MacFarland. “Do ye have anything to say aboot this, Ewen?”

His grandfather blew out smoke from his cheroot with a sigh. “I cannot intervene in any little dispute between my descendants. I would not get anything done if I embroiled myself in every little collieshangie.”

Barclay hissed in anger, taking a step towards his grandfather. Aileen’s fingers were suddenly an iron band around his wrist.

“Mr. Grahame, I must point out that MacFarland gave his son Hamish this land, free and clear to be passed down only to his direct male descendants,” Mr. MacDonald cut in. He reached into his pocket. “I have here the conditions of that agreement.”

The MacFarland sighed with annoyance. “That is all well and good, but we have no evidence that this man is who he says he is.”

“I can vouch for that, as can his Spanish cousins with whom he traveled.” Aileen turned to the governor. “Estefania MacFarland, Hamish’s wife, was a Spanish noblewoman. When Hamish died, Barclay was taken and raised by his Spanish relatives.”

“And how do you know this, Miss Douglass?”

“My faither took Barclay in after his parents’ death. He is the one who wrote to his Spanish relatives, and he is the one who handed Barclay over to them.”

“I see.” The governor turned to MacFarland. “Weel, Ewen, it looks like this is most definitely yer long-lost grandson.”

“I cannae make Gilroy vacate the place. He’s looked after it since the boy left.”

“I am back now,” Barclay snapped.

Mr. MacDonald held out the script. “The boy is entitled to the land on the occasion of his twenty-fifth birthday or the day after his wedding, whichever comes first. If this is indeed Mr. MacFarland, he will only be two and twenty if my calculations are correct.”

The governor took them and read them over. He looked up at Barclay. “This is true. So it looks like yer uncle will be able to stay on the land undisputed for another three years.”

“But he’s engaged to be married!” Aileen looked just as shocked by her outburst as Barclay was.

“I beg yer pardon?”

Barclay was glad that his lawyer had asked the question so that he did not have to. Aileen reached out her other hand and closed it around his wrist. “Barclay and I are promised. We are to be married very soon.”