Page 82 of In Bed with her Highland Foe

“What? What am I missing?” Tynan asked, sitting forward in his chair so the light of the fire fell on his face.

“Well, I heard Laird Shay was looking tae marry again,” Brayden said with a shrug. “And I kenned well enough that by now Lady Kyven’s council wanted her tae wed too, after her sister’s demise. They clearly werenae going tae let me anywhere near ye, me lady, tae apologize fer what our father did, until ye were wed.”

Kyven blinked and shook her head.

“Me council intimated that the Gregor clan were still a threat.”

“I imagine they thought I was.” Brayden sighed heavily and passed his goblet to Tynan who topped it up for him. “They didnae ken we regret the actions of our father. So,” he continued on, “Laird Shay came tae marry ye, and ye, brother…” He frowned a little. “Are trying tae save Kyven from Elisa’s fate.”

“Aye,” Gilchrist said without hesitation.

“What I dinnae ken,” Brayden murmured slowly in thought, “is how ye kenned of it all. Unless that was where ye were hiding…” He pointed to Kyven. “In her clan, because ye kenned we wouldnae think ye would hide there.”

Gilchrist nodded at his brother’s words.

“I swear ye can read minds,” Gilchrist muttered at Brayden.

“Nay. I just read situations well.”

“I swear he reads minds too,” Tynan said with a pretend shudder. “It’s terrifying how well he can read mine.”

“Usually because yer mind is on one thing,” Brayden warned, and they all laughed.

Gilchrist ran a hand up and down Kyven’s arm, distracted, as she leaned toward him again. He grew aware of the way Brayden was watching the two of them, over the rim of his goblet.

“Are ye two betrothed yet?” he asked.

They both stiffened, staring at one another, and not Brayden. Kyven was the first to break the look and turn away, facing Brayden.

“Nay,” she whispered. “Me council wish me tae marry Laird Shay.”

“Now, brothers, there is more ye need tae ken.” Gilchrist told Brayden and Tynan everything. He told them of how he’d gone to hide in the McDowell clan in the first place. How he had fallen in love with Kyven, how Shay turned up one day and everything went wrong. He told them too of Shay’s attacks and how they had woken up on the borders between the clans before escaping and running here.

“Aye, nothing else fer it.” Brayden had been on his feet for most of the story, pacing up and down, as Tynan made the occasional jest to try and lighten the air. Brayden now paused and leaned on the mantelpiece, his eyes on the flames. “We can provide men, and we will come ourselves, tae escort ye back tae yer home, Lady Kyven. We’ll guard ye, make sure Shay doesnae get within a mile of ye, then when ye are home, ye can make clear tae the council ye willnae marry him.”

“Thank ye.” Kyven was on her feet suddenly, her lips parted in wonder. “Ye would dae that? After our families…” She trailed off, clearly searching for words.

“Michael, I see ye have nay quite told her everything.” Brayden stepped away from the mantelpiece.

“She didnae ken who I was until a few days ago,” Gilchrist confessed. “I was afraid tae tell anyone. I feared she’d despise me if I told her I was a Gregor.” He winced, still remembering the way her heart had broken when she had first found out.

“Then let me say it,” Brayden said, stepping toward Kyven once again. “Me lady. The death of yer father happened in our father’s battle tae gain more land. None of us are our father. We are different men, we have different hearts, different minds. I dinnae seek tae increase our lands, only protect what we’ve got and protect the men and women under our care.” He inclined his head toward her. “The death of yer father or of any other hurt in me father’s battles is something that gives me much regret. I cannae undo what has been done, but I can try tae apologize fer it. If ye will let me.”

Gilchrist held his breath as he looked between the two of them. This was the moment he had been waiting for. If Kyven could forgive them and accept that they weren’t like their father, then maybe someday, Kyven might consent to marrying the son of the man who murdered him.

“Aye,” Kyven said with a sudden smile. “I accept yer apology.”

Gilchrist smiled as he had never smiled before.

“He’s taking a while,” Kyven murmured, glancing toward the door of the room.

They had long since eaten and spent hours drinking in this room. Kyven had learned much of Brayden and Tynan, as they had learned more about her in turn. She had wanted to know more about Gilchrist, or rather Michael, as she supposed she should get used to calling him, and was afforded a few things now that he had gone to the privy.

“Aye, maybe one of us should go in search of him,” Brayden said, taking his goblet back to Tynan, who seemed to have taken the responsibility of topping up all their cups.

Kyven paused by the fire, looking between the two of them in interest. They were very like Gilchrist to look at. Brayden had the same blue eyes and sharp features, though his hair was fairer and cropped very short. Tynan in contrast, was a thorough mix of the two. He had brown hair, shaggy about his ears, a mix of the colors of his brothers. His eyes, on close inspection, were both blue and green, something very unusual indeed. He was tall and broad, very strong in build, where Brayden was just as tall but lither and more athletic. She had a feeling that facing the three brothers in a fight would be a terrifying thing for any man.

“Which one of us should go and look?” Brayden said, a knowing smile on his lips.