Page 69 of Claimed by a Highlander
“Rory has a difficult path, and I did not believe a Lowland noblewoman would be up to the tasks ahead.” He raised his cup to her. “I admit I was wrong.”
“I want to protect him too, so ye needn’t worry that I’ll tell him about this…incident,” she said. “That would cause a breach between ye and serve him ill.”
“Of course,” he said. “You’re far too clever to make that mistake.”
“I do understand that Rory will need a different wife.” Despite herself, her bottom lip trembled. “I’ll not stand in his way when the time comes.”
“I see,” Lovat said. “What is your plan, my dear?”
She gave him a weak smile. “I don’t have one yet.”
“Don’t be in a hurry to leave,” he said, patting her hand. He hesitated before he spoke again. “I’ve done something ye ought to know.”
“Besides poisoning me?”
“The day ye arrived, I sent a message to Edinburgh, to your uncle the bishop,” he said. “I told him where to find ye.”
The message would fall on deaf ears. None of the men in her family had troubled themselves over her plight before she escaped. And they’d all known where to find her.
When Rory rode through the gates a short time later, Sybil’s heart swelled with joy, and she ran across the courtyard to meet him. He appeared tired and weighed down by troubles until he saw her. He caught her in his arms and spun her around, laughing.
“Ye came back for me.”Thank God. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest.
“I told ye I would,” he said.
A part of her had doubted him, despite his promise and what she’d overheard him say to Lovat. Trust was so hard after how she was deserted by her brothers and all her friends.
“You’re my wife,” Rory said. “I’ll always come back for ye.”
She felt like a thief, knowing the loyalty he gave her was based on a lie. If Rory knew she was not truly his wife, would he still return?
The final leg of their journey was far different from the rest. Sybil had her own horse, and they were accompanied by Lovat and a large number of MacKenzie warriors, with more joining them with every mile. This was much like she used to travel in her old life, but she missed riding with just her and Rory on Curan.
“Your meetings with your clansmen must have gone well,” she said, turning to look at the long line of MacKenzie warriors riding behind them.
“Aye, but I missed you,” he said with a wink.
She felt a warm glow of happiness. After a time, she asked, “Did ye find your sister?”
“I asked everywhere I went.” Rory’s jaw tightened. “No one has seen or heard a word about her.”
“She said she’d come to ye at Castle Leod, so I’m sure you’ll see her soon.” Sybil prayed it was true, but Rory did not look convinced. “What will happen when we get to the castle?”
“I’ll make my claim,” Rory said, “and Hector will either swear his loyalty to me or he’ll challenge me.”
“What happens if he challenges you?”
“Then the men of the clan will decide between us,” Rory said. “The one not chosen must swear an oath of loyalty to the new chieftain, as will every man present, or be executed.”
Executed?Sybil prayed even harder that Rory would prevail.
“If Hector does challenge me,” Rory continued, “it could take several days for the men of the clan to come to agreement on who should be the new chieftain.”
“And if they don’t agree?”
“The clan will be divided,” he said, “and there will be bloodshed until one of us concedes, dies, or emerges as the victor.”
Sybil prayed that it would not come to that. Her heart beat fast as she got her first view of Castle Leod. The large L-shaped tower house was built of beautiful rose-tinged stone and set on a rise amidst gently rolling hills of fertile fields and forest. It looked deceptively peaceful.
