Page 55 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
Keane glanced at Alisdair, who struggled to hide his own amusement.
“Aye, she is that.” His smile disappeared then, as he looked determinedly at the men sitting around the table. “What we now have tae consider is whether they will try again.”
The men nodded and murmured among themselves.
“I believe they will, me laird,” Matthew said. “Gunn took a chance sending his men tae grab her. The fact that they failed will only incense him more.”
“I agree.” Keane nodded.
“Then it is wise that Lady Mackay remain inside the castle walls,” Alisdair said. “We can protect her far more easily inside than out. Besides,” he looked at Keane pointedly, “we dinnae want a repeat o’ the last time. Ye are nae yet fully healed, me laird.”
The older men nodded, all agreeing with Alisdair’s points.
“We cannae lose another laird,” Callum said, his brow furrowed. “On a personal level, I dinnae think me old heart could tak’ it. We lost a good man nae a year ago. We cannae lose another.” He looked at Keane sadly, holding his gaze for several seconds.
Keane acknowledged Callum’s words with a grateful nod.
“I appreciate yer sentiments, Callum. And ye are right, we did indeed lose a good man nae a year past.”
He took a deep breath in before he continued. Keane had spent some time thinking about how his outlook needed to change. The attack could have had a more dire result, and it would have been his fault. All because he wanted to avenge his father's death.
“I also have tae say something tae all of ye,” he said. “It is now obvious that me behavior, the path I took in response tae me father’s murder, has been a reckless one. Allowing a darkness tae consume me, I have put everyone in danger just tae feed me need tae avenge me loss. I owe ye all an apology.”
The men shook their heads, some of them beginning to object to his words, but Keane lifted his hand to stop them.
“Please. There is nae one man at this table who didnae love and respect me faither deeply. I also ken many o’ ye were nae in agreement with me plan tae eliminate Lady Mackay. I ought tae have listened tae ye, fer that is what ye are all here fer. Tae advise me. Instead, I chose tae dae it me way, which, I now see, has nae only brought danger tae our door, but has eaten away at me soul.”
“It takes a humble man tae admit when he is wrong, me laird,” Michael said. “It is why ye are such a strong leader, like yer faither ‘afore ye. If it is now yer will that we take a different course, I think I can speak fer all o’ us here present when I say we will support whatever course o’ action ye decide tae tak’.”
The men nodded while murmuring agreement.
“Thank ye, Michael.” Keane looked around the table at the men he had known all his life, and nodded. “I appreciate all yer support. What I am concerned about is what is tae come. The deed has been done, and Laird Gunn will want his own revenge. Me actions have brought danger tae our door, but I cannae change that now. We must prepare fer the battle ahead.”
“Then that is what we will dae, me laird,” Matthew said.
A little while afterwards, the meeting came to a close, and Alisdair and Keane left together.
“Ye look tired, Keane. May I suggest ye return tae yer bedchamber and get some rest.”
“There are things that must be done?—”
“And theywillbe done. Just nae now. One more day o’ rest isnae going tae mak’ any difference. Please.” Alisdair placed a hand on his shoulder. “Fer me.”
Keane sighed and nodded. “Fine. I will return tae rest. What are yer plans?”
“I am going tae gather the men. They already ken the danger ahead, and by now, they are bound tae have learned o’ the attack. Perhaps a little more training will dae them the world o’ good.If naething else, it will keep them occupied, fer I ken they have been edgy since it happened.”
“Very well. Be certain tae report tae me if anything untoward occurs.”
Alisdair hitched an eyebrow. “Just go and rest, will ye? Naething is going tae happen yet.”
Keane had not long settled into bed, when the adjoining door to his bedchamber opened. A second later, Elsie hurried inside.
“Och,” she said, coming to a halt when she saw him. “I didnae ken ye were here. I will come back.”
“Nae,” Keane said hurriedly. “Please. Stay.”
Elsie hesitated. By her expression, she was trying to come to a decision. With a final glance toward the adjoining door, she moved further into the room.
