Page 27 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
“Aye, me laird,” Anna replied, trying and failing to hide her astonishment. She then turned her attention to Elspeth. “Please, me lady. Come with me.”
Elspeth threw a glance at Keane before allowing herself to be led away by the maid. Keane watched her go until the women rounded a corner and were no longer in sight.
When he and Alisdair were finally left alone, Keane turned to his companion.
“I need the council gathered in the great hall immediately.”
“O’ course,” Alisdair said with a nod, before turning on his heel and hurrying away.
It would take some time to gather the older men, and thus, Keane made his way to his study. As tired as he was, he could not yet rest, so he might as well fill his time doing something of some use.
Opening the door to his study, he took a long breath in and scanned the room. He was home. Back to the place he spent most of his time. Back to the place he had planned his revenge against Gunn for the last four months.
Nothing had changed. The shelves on the left wall were still full of books, papers and ledgers, the large fireplace held burning logs that hissed and crackled, with the two high backed chairs beside it, and his desk stood at the far end of the room. He made his way over to it and dropped himself into the chair.
Leaning back into it, he heaved a long groan, feeling the relief in his body at finally being surrounded by some comfort andsupport. Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander from the plan he had originally made to what had actually happened.
Did I dae the right thing?
He now had to do something that, while it had to be done, he dreaded the outcome of.
Taking a sheet of parchment, he began his letter.
Dear Iseabail,
I trust ye and Owen are well. I’m sorry I havenae been able tae come and see ye, but being laird now takes up much o’ me time, as I’m sure ye understand. Much has occurred since our last correspondence and thus, I am writing ye now tae keep ye informed.
It is a little sudden, but I am now a married man. I ken it must come as somewhat o’ a surprise, but there is little I can dae about that. Fer fear ye hear it from another, I wanted tae write ye and tell ye mesel’ and I am certain I will be hearing from ye soon with yer opinions on the matter.
When the opportunity arises, I will travel tae ye with me new bride and the two o’ ye can get acquainted. Until then, I remain yer braither, in love, and in family bond.
Keane
There was no point elaborating too much on the news. Iseabail was bound to hear something soon and he would feel her wrath. Thus, better she heard it from him than any other. He gazed at the letter, looking it over again, imagining her reaction when she read it. It would not be a pretty sight, and he was only relieved that he would not be near her when she did so.
Folding the parchment, he sealed it with a wax stamp. Taking another moment to gaze down at it, he eventually stood from the desk and took the letter with him as he left the study.
Striding down the corridors, passing flickering flames of lanterns secured into the wall with metal frames as he went, he reached the large stone staircase and made his way down to the great hall.
After turning a corner, he spotted a servant, and stopping as the man passed, he pressed the letter into his hands. “John, have that delivered tae me sister immediately.”
“Aye, me laird,” John replied, hurrying away again.
When Keane entered the great hall, his footfalls echoing off the stone walls around him, the older men were already gathered together, murmuring in low tones as they conversed with one another.
The great hall was always in two very different states. Either it was almost empty, as it was then, the echoes of the few people in it travelling up past the heavy beams above them. Or it was full of laughter, conversation, and music, for this is where theevening meal was served for all those living in and around the castle.
At this moment in time, however, Keane was relieved that it was almost empty. He and his men had journeyed for days, spent most nights under the stars, and had been constantly wary, their nerves on edge, waiting to be discovered or attacked. With the tiredness he currently felt, Keane would struggle to face a room full of people.
Upon seeing Keane approach, the older men moved apart, bowing their heads to him, before making their way to a nearby table.
Only when Keane sat, did the others follow suit.
“It is good tae see ye returned well and in good health, me laird,” Michael, the oldest of the group, and the longest member of the council, began. “What news dae ye bring?”
Keane then went on to tell them about the successful attack at the chapel, and that they had managed to capture Lady Elspeth Munro as planned.
“That is great news, me laird,” John began.
