Page 49 of Tempting the Highland Captive

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

The next morning, the letters went out to the lairds with all haste. Amelia was left with nothing to do but pace and worry. “Ye are goin’ tae wear a hole in the floor if ye keep a walkin’ back and forth as ye are, lass,” Ron teased her gently, taking her hand and pulling her down onto his lap. He was sitting in the chair by their bedchamber hearth reading a copy of one of the letters that she had discarded due to an ink splotch. “Ye have written well. Now it is tae their own good conscience as tae what tae do. Ye cannae help the matter by fashin’ about it as ye are.”

Amelia knew he was right but could not seem to help herself. Laying her head on his shoulder, she let the sound of his breathing and the rise and fall of his chest to soothe her. “I cannae help but fash about it,” she murmured, her heart and mind calming simply by being in his presence.

Ron kissed the top of her head. Letting the letter fall to the floor, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. “Ye will avenge yer people, wife. O’ that I have nae doubt. I am honored to be the husband o’ such a strong and powerful noble lady.”

Amelia turned her face up to him, kissing him on the lips. “It is I who am honored, husband.”

Ron lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the bed. Placing her gently down upon the bed covers, he smiled mischievously. “I ken a way tae keep yer mind from it.”

Smiling, Amelia reached up and pulled him down on top of her. “Make me forget everything,” she whispered, and that is exactly what he did.

* * *

Ron had his own reasons for wanting to forget. No matter what he did, he could not think of a way to get out of the meeting with the neighboring lairds. He briefly contemplated leaving for France as he had originally planned, but he could not bring himself to leave Amelia or her people. His duty lay with them now and not to his own personal preservation. Once Amelia kens the truth, she may want me tae leave for France. Ron had considered telling Amelia the truth before the meeting, but Father Jacob had advised against it. The priest reasoned that as Rossell would not be invited to the meeting, Ron would not be recognized. Ron was not certain of the wisdom of the priest’s plan, but he respected him enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. Ron prayed that he was making the right decision, but he deeply doubted it.

The lairds responded with respectable speed, confirming that they would attend as per Amelia’s request. Amelia was relieved to have received such a positive response to her letters. Ron and Lucas went out daily hunting to replace lost food stores. They had to be extra careful of their surroundings given the concern of possible future attacks. The bloody sight of the rents wagon guards was still fresh in everyone’s minds. Amelia had sent men to wine sellers in Edinburgh to see what could be done about replacing the poisoned vintage.

When the day came for the meeting, the castle was tense with uncertainty. If the lairds backed their claims against Michael Rossell, then appropriate action could be taken in retribution. If the lairds did not back the Clan McAlpine, then they would all be in danger no matter what they did or did not do about it. Hunting dogs were positioned near the raised dais in the great hall and at both the castle and village food stores. Guardsmen were also positioned with the dogs and the regular guard was doubled throughout the clan’s lands. Lucas was determined that Michael Rossell would not be allowed to enter unnoticed ever again.

When the first lairds arrived, Amelia, Ron, Lucas, and Father Jacob, greeted them in the courtyard. Stableboys raced about taking horses and the baggage of those lairds who would be staying the night as per the laws of highland hospitality. They had been unable to find a replacement for the castle steward yet, so Maggie had taken on many of Stuart’s duties. She had made certain that every available room was ready to receive guests. Ron and Amelia were not certain how many of the lairds would bring family or servants with them. Amelia made it clear in her letters the nature of the meeting, while not giving away too much information so as to cause conflict before the meeting had ever begun. Not for the first time, Ron found himself proud of his wife’s intelligence.

Amelia introduced Ron as her husband to every laird as they arrived. Thus far, Ron had been fortunate in not being recognized. He had seen some of the lairds at other events in the area but had never conversed with them on any significant level. When the last laird arrived, they all sat down in the great hall to discuss what had brought them there. The Clan McAlpine elders were also in attendance but had agreed to keep their peace and remain in the background of the meeting unless called upon to bear witness.

Amelia stood and thanked everyone for coming so quickly. She then explained to them all about the attack on the rent wagon and the poisoning of the castle steward. She went on to inform them of Michael Rossell’s actions toward her own person since her father’s death. Ron was proud of the way she stood tall and confident, laying out the charges against her enemy. She called witnesses to collaborate her story from the spies who had followed the tracks of the attackers onto Rossell land, to the warriors who had fought against them. Lucas had been witness to all of Rossell’s surprise visits to Amelia, and he spoke of the way in which Rossell had behaved towards her. The lairds seemed to be favorable toward her and Ron relaxed a little as the discussions began about what could be done to see the matter set right.

One of the lairds had brought his solicitor with him to offer legal advice. He now offered his opinion on the matter. “The issue lies in that ye dinnae have absolute proof that Michael Rossell himself is behind the crimes. It could be argued that the attackers simply rode through Rossell lands but were nae members o’ the Rossell clan. It could also be argued that Rossell clansmen acted without their laird’s knowledge.”

Ron frowned. He knew that the solicitor was right. He had thought of the very same things himself and knew that Rossell would see the advantages to such an argument. “What do ye propose?” he asked, taking Amelia’s hand.

“Ye need more proof. Ye need a witness, or at the verra least unearth the saboteur among yer own people.”

Ron’s frown deepened. They had been unable to make any progress in discovering who was to blame for the poisoning. At the very least, they knew someone was providing Rossell with information. “If we are unable tae do so?”

The solicitor shook his head sadly. “Then any action ye take against Rossell could be seen as an unnecessary unprovoked aggression. The king would judge such actions quite harshly. Ye ken the king’s banishment o’ the Clan Gregor and the MacGregor name o’er their conflict with the Clan Colquhoun at the Battle of Glen Fruin near Loch Lomond just last year. They have all been required tae take another name, abandoning that o’ their birth, on pain o’ death.”

Everyone in attendance nodded their head in grave acknowledgement. It had been an unprecedented punishment that had shocked one and all. It had certainly made the clans more cautious in their warfare for fear of the same punishment. Perhaps that had been the point. Ron understood what it was to live without the protection of one’s true name and how that name could be the very thing to put one in danger. His heart went out to those so effected by the king’s edict.

“Where were such punishments when Hugh Rossell took our clan lands and killed our loved ones?” Father Jacob’s bitter sorrow reflected in his words.

“Rossell is long due for punishment,” Lucas growled, his need to spill blood getting the better of him. “I will take the king’s punishment, if need be, but I will nae allow our people tae go unavenged.”

Several of the lairds nodded in understanding, but the solicitor shook his head. “Ye must abide by the law. If ye dinnae, then Rossell will still win when ye are punished and he is nae.”

A disturbance at the outer doors to the hall cut the conversation short. A familiar angry voice could be heard through the wooden barrier. “Unhand me!”

Ron and Lucas both stood at the same time and Lucas crossed the hall to the door. The guardsman standing watch on the inside, opened the door for him and a mass of struggling limbs walked through. The angry red face of Michael Rossell sneered out at them from behind the massive bulk of Angus the blacksmith who had him around the throat. The blacksmith turned to face the gathered lairds and elders. “A gift for ye, my laird,” Angus’ deep voice rumbled against the stone of the hall.

Ron would rather have had the earth open and swallow him as face what was about to happen. The look of recognition crossed Rossell’s face, and his sneer turned devious. A spark of knowing delight flickered through his eyes causing Ron’s stomach to drop. Kill him! His heart cried out, but it was too late.

“Release him,” Amelia ordered from beside him.

Angus dropped Rossell like a distasteful piece of refuse and he fell to the floor in a crumple. Staggering to his feet, he growled in displeasure at the blacksmith and looked as if he might try to kill him but changed his mind and turned to face the gathered lairds. “When I heard that ye were gathering the neighboring lairds, I was greatly disappointed tae find I had not been invited. An oversight perhaps?”

“It was nae an oversight, I assure ye,” Amelia replied, eyeing the man warily.

“I must admit that I am hurt. Seeing as how I am a neighboring laird, and family, should I nae have been invited?”