Page 64 of Highlanders for the Holidays
He didn’t have to look far. Behind Kerwyn and Constance came the dún Scoti lad, pulled into the hall by the scruff of his neck.
Iain whispered a silent prayer for strength.
Aidan dún Scoti’s hands fell away from his chest to his sides, his eyes rolling backward, his jaw turning taut.
“Constance—what in Biera’s name ha’e ye done?”
The lass had been weeping, Iain could tell. Red-eyed and pink nosed, she swiped away tears from her cheeks with a trembling thumb.
Kellen dún Scoti had the good sense to remain quiet, despite the manhandling he received, and thankfully, his father remained precisely where he stood, frowning though he was.
The hall fell silent as both youths were brought before Iain—neither a day past seventeen. When it rained, it did pour, he thought, and cast another wary glance at the boy’s father. To the dún Scoti’s credit, he merely nodded, giving Iain leave to rule as he pleased, but he crossed his arms again, clearly none too pleased.
“We found ’em sleeping in the stable loft,” Kerwyn announced.
Iain leveled Kellen a stern look, and another one for Constance. “Is this true?” he asked.
Constance nodded, swallowing tears. “Aye, though we were merely sleeping,” she said, with a watery hiccup.
God save them all.
Even were that true, her reputation would now be ruined. No decent bloke would have the girl if he thought she’d given away her maidenhead so easily. He saw visions of Constance running about as a dirty old maid, lifting up her skirts for all the married men to see—not that she would ever do so, mind you. She had long outgrown the need to show everyone her lily-white arse, and yet the image plagued Iain nonetheless. He turned to address Kellen. “How old are you, lad?”
To his credit, Kellen’s gaze never faltered. “Sixteen, laird.”
Iain remained silent, contemplating what best to do. He tapped his fingers angrily on the arm of his chair.
“But we didn’t do anything,” Constance wailed, shrugging free of Kerwyn’s constraints. “Let me go,” she said defiantly. “Ha’e ye not embarrassed me enough already? I’m going to tell your minny!” she declared.
A few of the men snickered at her threat, because Kerwyn, the lump of clod, still lived with his mother and some suspected she still took a switch to his bum now and again.
Iain waited for the hall to quiet, rubbing his brow wearily. The mystery of the huts properly forgotten for the time being, he gave his niece his full regard. There was only one way to handle this, and he feared it could come to blows.
If Kellen’s father would not have it—if Aidan rued the thought of losing even one more of his kinswomen to another clan—it would not bode well.
His voice was deceptively soft when he spoke again. “Get out everyone,” he commanded. “Out,” he said. “All save the boy and his Da.”
“And you!” he shouted at Constance, when she suddenly made to leave.
“Och, Da!” Malcom exclaimed, realizing that Iain meant for him to leave as well.
“Out,” he told his son, a bit more gently. “This does not concern you, Mal.”
“Only gi’ me two men to search the woodlands,” Malcom begged. “I will not bother you again. And if there is naught to be found I will speak of it no more.”
“Malcom,” Iain said tightly. “Dinna try me, son. We have no cause to believe there is aught amiss, and the men have worked hard enough. Please go.”
Malcom stood stubbornly, glaring at him.
“Now,” he said.
As the crowd disbursed, Aidan moved forward, and finally, Malcom turned to go, casting Iain a baleful glance as the dún Scoti laird came to stand behind his son. Thankfully, Malcom said naught more. He marched down the steps, his hands forming fists by his sides.
Iain sighed. His only son and rightful heir was nearly a man now, fueled by the fears of a little boy. He felt far more comfortable with the notion of passing down his legacy to his daughter, Liana. At least he knew Liana had an even temper and a level head. He watched Malcom go, torn between his unwavering love for his firstborn child and fear for the future of his clan. Only once Malcom was out the door did he turn to address the youths presented before him.
“I stand by whatever judgment you make,” Aidan said and Iain felt a surge of relief.
Kellen had no need to turn to look at his father to speak. He peered up at Iain and said, “I love her and I will wed her here and now, if you please.”
