Page 13 of Highland Dove

“What do ye mean?” asked Duncan. “What kind of problems?”

Mari knew exactly what the gypsy meant. She was talking about her marriage to Eideard.

The old woman looked up at Duncan and sighed. “That’s no’ for me to tell ye.” This time, she looked back at Mari. “I’m goin’ to see if there is anyone here who wants their palm read.” She walked away without saying another word.

“Duncan, I’ve missed ye,” said Mari, once again giving him a hug. “God’s eyes, what happened to ye?” Her hand covered her locket with the etched doves on it, palming it for strength. Her stomach was in knots and her head throbbed. This wasn’t how she wanted to be reunited with Duncan. If only she hadn’t been tricked into marrying Eideard, everything would be different.

“We were prisoners of the English,” Angus broke in. “They demanded a ransom but our clan never paid it. If we hadna escaped, we’d be dead right now.”

“Ransom?” asked Mari in surprise. “But Eideard told me ye two were dead. I dinna ken anythin’ about a ransom.”

“Eideard told ye that? Does that mean our faither truly is dead?” asked Duncan, looking so distraught that Mari didn’t want to admit it.

“Duncan, ye should get somethin’ to eat,” she told him, trying to avoid his question.

“Mari, tell me.” He took her by the arm and looked deeply into her eyes. She’d never lied to Duncan before and didn’t want to do so now. Or at least not about something as important as this. He needed to know the truth about his father.

“Aye,” she told him, feeling his sadness at her word. “I’m sorry, Duncan, but it is true. Yer faither is dead. If he had been alive, I’m sure he would have kent about the ransom and paid it.”

“That bastard, Eideard,” growled Angus. “I wouldna be surprised if he kent about the ransom but didna pay it or tell anyone about it because he wants us dead.”

“Wants ye dead?” asked Mari. “Why would he?”

“I agree with Angus,” said Duncan. “With us out of the way and our faither dead, it is Eideard’s opportunity to take over the clan. I’m surprised my faither’s men even listen to him.”

Mari bit her lip, contemplating how much to tell him. She didn’t like being in this position. “Duncan, sit down. I need to tell ye more.”

“There’s nowhere to sit, lass. Now tell me everythin’ and dinna leave out a thing,” Duncan urged her. “I need to ken.”

Mari’s heart broke having to tell him, but she did as he requested. “Most of yer faither’s loyal men are dead as well. Eideard brought in men afterward that I’ve never seen before when he took over as yer clan’s chieftain.”

“God’s eyes, nay! This is worse than I thought.” Duncan’s hand went to his head to smooth back his long, tangled hair. “Mathair must be havin’ a hard time. With Da’s death and her thinkin’ Angus and I are dead as well, this is goin’ to kill her. Is that why ye went to our clan? To comfort her?”

Mari’s eyes flashed over to Angus and then back to Duncan. They both looked like they were about to fall over from exhaustion. As much as they needed to know the truth about their mother, they also needed rest. A hot bath and a good meal to regain their strength would do them wonders. If she told them now that their mother disappeared and that she thought Eideard had something to do with it, they would leave for the MacLean Clan tonight. If so, they would never survive an encounter with Eideard in the shape they were in. Nay, Mari couldn’t tell them yet about their mother because, if so, she’d be sending them to their deaths. Besides, she didn’t know how to tell him that she had married Eideard. It was going to destroy him, and she couldn’t have that. He’d been through so much already that she didn’t want to make things even worse. One more day might not matter. They couldn’t do anything to change things tonight anyway.

“Aye, my sister and I came to yer clan to comfort yer mathair as well as to wait for yer return,” said Mari, not liking the way it felt to hold back the rest. Still, she was only doing it for their own good. Her hand stayed clutched around her heart locket and she fingered it in worry.

“But didna ye think we were dead as well?” asked Angus.

“I didna trust Eideard,” she told them.

“What else has that man done in my absence?” asked Duncan through gritted teeth. “Tell me everythin’, Mari, so when I return I can kill him.”

She froze. Duncan was so angry that this wasn’t the time to tell him about her marriage to Eideard. She needed to confront her father first, telling him that Duncan was alive and that she wanted to marry him instead. Mayhap he could help her out of this horrible situation. “It’s nothin’ that canna wait until the morrow,” she said, taking Duncan by the arm and leading him to the stairs that led to the upper rooms. “I think ye should accept Storm’s offer. Go up to the room. I’ll talk to Callum and have a hot bath and food sent up.”

Angus and Duncan exchanged glances. “I think ye should go, Brathair,” said Angus, clearing his throat. “Ye and Mari use the room. I’ll stay down here tonight and get better acquainted with the servin’ wenches.”

“Leave them alone,” Duncan warned his brother. “I ken it’s been a long time, but dinna touch the lassies.”

“I’m talkin’ about gettin’ food from them only, Brathair, no’ what ye’re thinkin’,” Angus answered with a chuckle, heading in the opposite direction.

“All right,” Duncan finally agreed. “But ye’re stayin’ with me tonight, Mari.”

“Oh,” she said with a nod and lump in her throat. She’d agreed to it only to get him to go upstairs and not leave. She’d figure out what to do about everything in the morning. “I’ll meet ye upstairs,” she told him.

“Guid,” he said, leaning over and kissing her passionately. Then he whispered in her ear. “Mayhap we can do more than just sleep. After all, we’ll be married in a week’s time.”

“Go,” she said, flashing him a smile, realizing it was going to be impossible to keep him away from her, but she had to. After all, like it or not, she was now a married woman.