Page 66 of An Angel at the Highland Court
“Blessings from our Lord,” Madeline whispered. Despite her years away from the convent, some old trappings of her life among the nuns remained.
“When will the others arrive?” Abigail asked.
“If the weather holds, Mama, Da, Lachlan, and Arabella will be here with the weans in a couple hours. Hardi and Blair should be here with their weans before nightfall.”
“The keep will be bursting at the seams,” Madeline grinned. “I ken ye wouldnae have it any other way, would ye, Maude?”
Maude wrapped her arm around her sister-by-marriage, a woman who had once tormented her mercilessly. With years and the court at Stirling behind them, Maude and Madeline were almost as close as Maude and Blair, and Madeline and Abigail. The four women laughed and teased as kindred spirits.
“This is exactly perfect,” Maude sighed wistfully. “Christmas has been ma favorite time of year since I was a bairn. Mama says I used to clap when the cold air blew across ma face. I like it now because of the beauty that comes with the snow and ice, but more than aught, I like it because I ken we will all be together. I couldnae ask for more.”
Abigail’s cheeks sucked in as she tried to stifle her giggle, but she failed. It came out more like a snort. When Maude and Madeline turned toward her, she waved her hands as she tried to compose herself enough to speak. “That’s such a lovely sentiment. I shall only ruin it if I say what I was thinking.”
“Now I must ken,” Maude grinned.
“I’d say ye’ve been asking ma brother for quite a lot more.” Abigail placed her hand over Maude’s swollen belly, making her sisters laugh along with her.
“Ye’re one to talk. Dinna wake the bairns this year, Abigail,” Madeline teased as she laid her hand on Abigail’s rounded belly.
* * *
“How was the journey?” Kieran asked Ronan as he poured whisky for his brothers-by-marriage.
“Just as I like it. Uneventful.”
“Landry still keeping to himself?” Fingal asked.
“At least for the holidays. Cecily would never forgive him the impropriety of ruining her holiday celebration by attacking us, or worse, causing us to disturb her festivities.”
“I still canna believe she married him,” Kieran mused.
“I canna believe she bellowed at the king, refusing an earl because she loves Landry,” Fingal chuckled.
“The pair are suited to one another,” Ronan noted. “Besotted while still bringing out the worst in one another. Landry will be back to trouble the day Epiphany ends, but likely nae looking our direction. He kens after the last time that I didna exaggerate all those years ago. I didna teach him everything, and I will always ken more. It’s Cecily who urges him on, leading him by the cods. Hopefully, their sons have more sense than him.”
“He’s sniffing around here, hoping a couple will foster here in a few years. I canna stand him any more than I could Cormag and his brothers, but it serves our purposes for me to train his sons to suit us.”
“I feel the same, since he’s hinting I should eventually take the other two.”
“I would,” Fingal chimed in. “All the MacLeods and the MacKinnons allied? John of Islay willna ken what to do.”
“Visit Sleat more often, then ride over to eat me out of house and home,” Ronan grumbled. “Hardi can help pay for it, since it’ll keep that MacDonald away from Lochaber and the Camerons.”
“To the isles,” Kieran toasted before snickering at Fingal. “Och, and I suppose to the Highlands.”
“Dinna let Hamish hear ye,” Fingal and Ronan said together. Built like a bear, Laird Hamish Sutherland was every child’s favorite person, but he still terrified all the men. Kieran, Fingal, and Ronan chuckled, waking the sleeping Bram, who gurgled and grinned.
* * *
By the time the evening meal laid before them, the Great Hall was filled with laughter and children’s voices. The dais overflowed with people, children sitting on their parents’ laps, while husbands and wives were wrapped in one another’s arms. The MacLeods of Lewis, the MacKinnons, the Sutherlands, the Grants, and the Camerons filled Stornoway with love that only comes from a family who cherishes one another.
“Are ye happy, Abby?” Ronan murmured against Abigail’s ears.
“Blissfully. I love ye, Ronan.”
“Just as I love you, Abigail.”
