Page 30 of The Highlander’s Dangerous Desire

When they entered the study and shut the door, Devlin moved with practiced ease to pour Ewan a drink. He hesitated, ever a responsible subordinate, and Ewan waved for him to pour a second drink for himself. “What is kent about the fires?”

“They were extinguished easily enough, but a few cottages burned in both places. Folk are uneasy, nae kenning if ‘tis bandits or bad fortune.” Devlin’s tone was heavy. “But in truth, I’m o’ a mind that it is Gael MacTavish. He wants tae make ye seem like an unreliable laird who cannae defend his people.”

“Usin’ fire?”

“Aye. Fire is more dangerous than soldiers. Soldiers can be driven away; men can die. But fire… fire can tak’ a man’s livelihood. Can tak’ a village, from crops tae homes.” Devlin shook his head. “He could convince the Council that ye cannae defend yer people… an it doesnae help that ye’ve been gone fer the better part o’ two fortnights.”

“I ken. But ‘twas an urgent matter.” Ewan downed the rest of his drink and considered pouring himself another. “What did the Council say? The messenger lad said the fires were near the holdings o’ two o’ them.”

“Aye. The holds themselves are nae damaged, but it was close enough tae make the Elders o’ the clan uneasy.” Devlin shook his head. “I’m fair certain ‘tis Gael MacTavish behind it, but I cannae prove it, an’ more’s the pity.”

“Aye.” Ewan took a deep breath. “’Twill nae be much, but make sure the villagers have lodgin’ even if they have tae live here in MacTavish Keep. An’ see that extra coin an’ supplies are given tae replace those that were lost.”

“I’ve done most o’ that already.” Devlin responded. “But I wasnae certain what supplies ye would wish tae give tae the families.”

“What would ye recommend?” Ewan considered the matter. “Two bags o’ seed, two sets o’ clothing an’ two blankets for each member o’ the households. What else?”

“Cookin’ pots and utensils fer each o’ the family, an a pouch o’ coppers fer purchasin’ whatever else they need.” Devlin suggested.

“An’ the clan can support it, or dae we need tae petition Clan MacDuff?” He was fairly certain MacTavish was prosperous enough, but then, he didn’t know how many families needed the support.

“The clan can support it easily.” Devlin nodded. “’Tis six families in all. We’ve the resources tae spare, after the fall harvests.”

“Then that’s what we’ll dae.” Ewan agreed. Then he sighed. “What are the Elders thinkin’ in regard tae Gael MacTavish?”

“He’s young. An’ he has nay experience as a laird, or a leader. But he’s MacTavish stock, an’ he has a wife an’ child. The last is important tae them.” Devlin hesitated. “I ken ye’ve served as a good laird tae the clan since the previous laird fell. An’ though there’s folk who’d call me a fool an’ disloyal for sayin’ so, ye’ve done better by the clan than the man who ruled us afore.”

“I’ve done me best. But what are ye sayin’?”

“Dae ye want tae be the Laird MacTavish?” Devlin’s statement was blunt and straightforward. “There’s nae doubt that ye’re a good leader o’ the clan, but would ye prefer tae be Laird MacTavish, or Laird MacDuff’s second-in-command?”

“I wouldnae be here if I wasnae willing tae claim the responsibility o’ leadin’ the clan.” Ewan frowned. “An’ ye ken that well enough, so why are ye askin’?”

“Because if ye want tae lead the clan, ye have tae establish yer own household. ‘Tis the least o’ what the Elders will expect.”

Ewan scowled, but said nothing. He knew quite well that it was true. Only a year before, he had been arguing the same issue with Alistair.

Now I understand better why he was upset about the matter… ‘tis nae so easy tae be pressured intae marriage ‘fer the sake o’ the clan’. But what is me choice? Tae go back tae bein’ me braither’s shadow?

I love Alistair, an’ he did his best tae treat me as his equal, but if I truly want tae be his equal, then I need tae tak’ the opportunity he gave me… an I need tae defend it. Just as I counseled Alistair tae defend his lairdship afore.

He could defend the lands and people he had taken as his own. But if he truly wished to be a proper laird to his people, he would have to start considering his legacy as well. And, unfortunately, he had little time to deal with the matter.

“M’Laird?” Devlin spoke softly. “The Council o’ Elders will be meetin’ within the next seven-day. An’ they’ll be meeting both ye and Gael MacTavish. I can tell ye now that they’ll be meeting Gael’s wife and son too.”

“I ken.”

“The lass ye brought with ye… will the Council be meeting her?”

Ewan fought back a groan. When he’d told the council he was planning to meet with Laird Cameron in regards to an alliance, and that he might bring back a bride, he’d intended to tell them his search for a proper wife had been unsuccessful. He hadn’t intended to bring Grace near MacTavish lands. Now that she was here, the situation had become difficult.

There was a possible solution. However, he was absolutely certain that Grace was not going to like the idea. He wasn’t sure he did. On the other hand, it might give him some time to find a better - more acceptable - alternative.

He turned to Devlin. “Perhaps ye’d like tae come with me tae find Malcolm, an’ the two o’ ye can meet the lass I’ve been travelin’ with fer the past ten-day or so.”

The bath made Grace feel much more like herself, and the bracing tea that Anne served her afterward was both warming and comforting. The room she was offered to wait in was stone, but hung with thick wall hangings that kept the warmth of the fire in the room. Unlike her uncle’s keep, the place had minimal furniture, heavy but comfortable. There weren’t a lot of mementos or paintings, but the austerity of the plain stone was oddly appealing as far as Grace was concerned.

A knock on the door was followed by Anne. “M’lady. M’laird asks if ye’ll join him and Steward Malcolm an’ Master Devlin fer supper.”