Page 77 of The Lion

“Laird,” the man began. “I am Tavish Robertson, from the eastern shore of yer lands. I have a good home and plenty of livestock. Lilia has agreed to my proposal of marriage. I can provide a good life for her if ye would permit us to marry.”

Isobel felt her eyes widen.

Darach studied the pair. “I know ye. My brother Duncan and I went to yer father when younger, to learn to be better at manning bìrlinns.”

“Aye, ye did,” the man said with a soft smile.

“Lilia, are ye willing to marry Tavish Robertson and be a good wife to him?” Darach asked the question never looking away from Lilia.

The woman’s eyes became bright with unshed tears. “I would very much like to be married and raise a family with Mr. Robertson.”

“Very well,” Darach said. “Ye have my permission to marry. Ye are a good man Tavish Robertson, I trust ye will treat Lilia well.”

Lilia slid a look to Isobel with what she would describe as curiosity.

As propriety dictated, Lilia and Robertson were invited to stay for last meal, but they declined. They were to travel immediately back to his homeland to get married.

By the time Darach announced hearings for the day were over, he looked exhausted. He turned to her. “I have to meet with the council to decide about the MacNeil and also about patrols for the borders and lands. Do ye wish to come with me?”

Isobel shook her head. “Nay. I must see about the staff’s duties and ensure all is well with preparations for last meal.” Before standing, she reached for Darach’s hand and pressed hers over it. “Ye are a good and fair leader.”

Their gazes met for a long moment and Isobel saw truth in his eyes. He was not lying about what had transpired. He had not been disloyal to her. What she had to forgive was the insult of him going to someone else before her. And who was she to hold anger in her heart for so long.

Darach was holding himself accountable and doing all in his power to prove his remorse.

When Isobel walked away, she hurried to find Annis.

“Is something wrong Lady Isobel?” Annis asked jumping to her feet when Isobel burst through the door of the servant’s hall.

“I need yer help,” Isobel said. “I am moving my belongings back to the bedchamber I first shared with my husband.”

Annis smiled widely. “Thank God. I was not sure how long I was to pretend he did not sleep in yer bed.”

Isobel shook her head unable to keep from smiling at Annis.

Chapter Twenty-One

Stuart, Ewan, and Gideon sat around the table in Darach’s study. Across from him, two elders, who’d been members of the council, also remained.

“We’ve sent warriors after Cairn. They will find him. It is doubtful he will remain hidden for long,” Ewan said and shook his head. “What did he truly hope to accomplish by plotting against us?”

Fury evident in his expression, Gideon pounded his fist on the table. “It matters not what he hoped for. What he will receive is hanging for it. We cannot allow his kind of treachery to go unpunished.”

Darach agreed. “Once he returns and we question him, he will be put to death. Duncan is seeing to arresting several others who the farmer identified as being at the meeting and asking to lead a rebellion. They too will be punished.”

The late laird had often executed people for things that in his opinion, merited a more lenient punishment. Now he wondered if by doing the same, he’d been seen as another tyrant and people would fear him. He did not wish to rule by fear, but by gaining people’s loyalty.

“I think only the leader should be executed,” Stuart said in a solemn tone. “He may have misled them. People were hungry, their families with little hope. It was easy for Cairn to place the blame on ye, lying to them that ye would be like our father.”

“They should have known better,” Gideon argued. “Ignorance is not an excuse.”

“I disagree,” Ewan said. “It was too soon. Darach hadn’t the opportunity yet to prove himself. It is only recently that they are beginning to see he leads in a fairer manner.”

Darach looked to the elders. “What is yer opinion?”

The oldest council member, Amis Ross, a distant cousin, scratched his beard. “Treachery is a very serious offense. Leaders in a rebellion against a laird, should all be punished. I believe that Cairn misled the people and only looked to gain power for himself.” He paused to meet Darach’s gaze.

“Yer father was an unfair and cruel man. The clan expected ye to be no different. They have little options, so the men who followed the treacherous Cairn hoped for the betterment of their families.”