Page 59 of Kilted Abduction
“That is excellent news, Laird MacDougal,” Edmund said.
“What now, me lord?”
“By taking your daughter under their protection, the MacLeods have declared war,” Edmund said. “So, now, we march on Dunvegan to take back what is rightfully ours.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The mood in the castle the last few days had lightened as everybody seemed to be growing excited for the coming holiday and getting into the spirit of things. It also seemed that, after being questioned by Domhnall at length several times, they were now satisfied that Ciara was not the spy they were looking for. He told her she was free to go if she wished but also welcomed her to stay. Ciara thought about it, and with another snowstorm bearing down on them, she thought it best to stay, at least for a little while longer.
From that day on, Ciara had been given freedom. She was able to move about the castle and even into the village without guards shadowing her every step. The MacLeods treated her well. Not that they hadn’t when she was still under suspicion, but since they’d decided she was not a peril to the clan, they’d made her almost feel like part of it. Almost like part of their family, really. She had never been made to feel more welcome anywhere, not even in her own clan’s lands.
Ciara sat and laughed with the siblings as they ate in the family hall. All the while, she kept stealing glances at Magnus, who sat at the far end of the table by himself. Enya, sitting across from her, gave Ciara a knowing glance and a smile.
“Ye’ll have tae forgive me braither,” Enya said. “He’s never had social graces.”
“Has he always been so… serious?”
Enya nodded. “Aye. From a young age.”
“Why?”
“Part of it is just how he is,” Enya replied. “And the other part is that our faither put a lot of responsibility on him when he was just a bairn. He was bein’ groomed tae be Domhnall’s chief advisor almost from the time he could walk. Our faither made sure Magnus understood that he had tae take that responsibility seriously. He was never as carefree as the rest of us, for both those reasons, I guess.”
Ciara looked at Magnus and frowned. For the first time since she’d met the man, she understood him or at least, she understood him better. To have that burden of responsibility for his clan explained why he was usually so serious. Why he seemed to know nothing but duty. It made her feel terrible for him.
“That’s sad,” she murmured.
“’Tis very sad. Me braither tends tae live in his head.”
“’Tis never too late tae learn tae laugh,” Ciara said.
“Aye. ‘Tis true,” Enya replied. “Maybe ye should go sit with him.”
“Ye think?”
“Maybe ye can teach him how tae laugh.”
Ciara giggled. “I’m nae sure I’m the right person fer that job.”
“I’m nae sure ye’re nae. There is only one way tae find out, eh?”
“Maybe ye’re right.”
“Of course, I am,” Enya said brightly. “Now, go on. Go make the lad laugh. It looks like he could use it.”
Still giggling to herself, Ciara took her plate down to the end of the table where Magnus was sitting, unaware of the rest of his family who were laughing and hooting it up. He turned as she sat down with a questioning look on his face. She gave him a smile.
“Mind if I sit here?” she asked.
“The partying nae tae yer likin’?”
“I was actually curious as tae why they’re nae tae yer likin’ and why yer sittin’ down here at the end on yer own all dark and broodin’.”
“I’m nae dark and broodin’.”
She laughed. “Aye. Ye are.”
“I’m just nae in the mood tae sit around laughin’.”
