Page 50 of At the Highlander's Mercy
‘Does anyone in this room have knowledge of a formal treaty with the MacKenzies?’ he asked quietly and then he waited to give someone, anyone, a chance to answer. When none did, he continued. ‘Has anyone beenin contact with the MacKenzie laird or others since my father died?’
‘Rob, you know I have spoken to my father’s cousins there,’ Symon replied. ‘My support of that is not unknown.’
He laughed then at Symon’s understated and unexpected admission. ‘I think we all know of your support to break from the MacLeries.’ He stopped smiling and waited. ‘Any of you have anything to add?’ When they did not, when no one else spoke, Rob leaned on the table with his knuckles and shared his knowledge of Connor’s methods with them.
‘If we are to get out of this situation that Symon has put us in and if we are to get out well enough to continue negotiating with the MacKenzies as you all seem wont to do, I need to know if there will be any other surprises or disclosures. I asked for gold for Lady
MacGregor’s return and will negotiate her release under those conditions.’
Symon began to argue, but Rob would not hear it. ‘You kidnapped her and brought her here, Symon. Though I did not give the orders for that action, as laird and chief, you act on my behalf. I am responsible for what you’ve done.’ Rob stood up and glared at his cousin. ‘It is the way of it, Symon! Now, I ask one last time—have promises of any kind been made to the MacKenzie laird?’
Silence filled the chamber for several moments.
‘Very well,’ Rob said. ‘I will meet with the MacLerie peacemaker and see if he can work out a peace between us.’
Rob stood near the door, signalling that this meeting was done and watched as each one left. He asked Dougal to remain and then he grabbed Symon’s arm.
‘Cousin. Did you have something else to say?’ Something had flashed in Symon’s eyes at his last question, but his cousin had said nothing. He just pulled from his grasp and left.
‘That went well, did it not?’ Dougal asked with a smirk on his face.
‘Symon or the whole discussion?’ Rob asked.
Dougal walked over to a table in the corner and poured two cups of ale. After he handed one to Rob, he backed up a pace and asked. ‘So, will you really return the lady to her family?’
‘Aye.’ Rob drank most of the ale in one swallow. When Dougal said nothing more, he turned and faced him. ‘I did not bring her here, Dougal.’
‘I did not think you had,’ he replied. Watching him over the rim of the cup, he said, ‘But it’s clear to anyone with eyes that you are not unhappy she is here and sharing your bed.’
Though Rob wanted to pummel him for bringing up such a thing, he decided not to protest too much. ‘She is, as it turns out, a lonely widow.’
‘You insult the lady’s honour, Rob,’ Dougal said in an angry voice. ‘And you seem to forget that we have been friends for many years. I saw you when you returned from Lairig Dubh.’ Dougal drank again without taking his gaze off Rob. ‘And I spent three days with you when your father told you of her marriage. You are a talkative drunk, in case you did not know it.’
He’d been a ranting lunatic in those days. Dougal probably did remember more of it than he did. His friend had taken him somewhere to suffer through it where no one else could be privy to his pain. Or to any of the truth that caused it.
‘It cannot be, Dougal. Connor objected then and he’ll object now—especially with the way this began. There is no way that does not threaten this clan.’
‘If you say so.’ Dougal finished his ale and put the cup down. ‘You still suspect Symon’s motives.’
‘Something does not fit, Dougal. He wanted, he wants, to be chief. He wants this clan to be taken seriously and be allies with the best. Some of his actions just do not make any sense.’ Rob thought on the day they’d gone riding across the farmlands and villages. ‘His suggestions were well thought out and are good ones. They would improve the way we do many things with our crops. His defensive strategies are the same. You said his ideas were intelligent when you travelled with him the other day.’
‘Yet he acts out of turn.’
‘Aye. As though like an angry dog that has been poked in the eye by someone with a large stick.’ Rob shook his head. ‘I put two men on him. Mayhap they will see or hear something to explain it.’
‘Laird?’ The guard spoke from the doorway. ‘The lady asks for permission to visit with her maid.’
‘Is it a good idea, Rob? To have her roaming through the keep when the MacLeries are at our gates?’
‘She is less trouble when she is kept busy, Dougal. Since there is only one way into that chamber, it is easilyguarded.’ Rob nodded at the guard. ‘She may go there now and stay until I say so.’
The guard went off to relay the order.
‘And when her mother asks to see her again?’ Dougal asked.
Rob smiled. Lady MacLerie was not difficult to understand. She was here for her daughter and wanted to be with her as much as possible. Would the lady talk her daughter out of his bed if he allowed them to keep company together? Rob shrugged against the inevitable and his friend laughed at him as he left to see to another matter.
Rob called a servant in to ready this chamber for the MacLeries’ arrival. It was large and private, a good place to hold their talks. Though there would be food and drink provided, it would not be a shared meal, so Rob went off to the kitchens to eat something more substantial before the negotiations began.
