Page 105 of The Guardian's Bride
Rowena leaned toward Aedan. “After you go to Brechlinn, I hope you will come back to Kincraig for a bit before Bruce sends you away on some new task.”
He reached for her hand. “For a bit, sweetling, I promise,” he murmured. She knew him now, so well, in so many ways—and knew he kept his promises.
“Tamsin’s vision will prove true, I think,” Henry went on. “The younger Edward will want to show his might as a new king. But he lacks his father’s hatred for Scotland. He is—insouciant, they say. He lacks his father’s cunning. Bruce is a determined and strong king, and Scotland will grow stronger and more unified under him. But we all know that victory will be neither easy nor quick.”
All murmured agreement. Listening, Rowena was glad that here at Kincraig, they could all find respite in the comfort of home, family, and friends.
At the far end of the great hall, the door opened, and she whirled to see three newcomers—a knight, a gentleman, and a woman. For a moment, she recognized only Sir Gilchrist Seton—then realized the others were his twin brother and their sister. She moved toward them to greet them just as Liam Seton took the length of the room in long strides to greet his siblings.
“Gilchrist—and Gideon!” she said, as she approached. “And Agatha! How wonderful to see you all.” She hugged each in turn. “I have not seen you since we were at Holyoak. I feared you might not be able to join us here.”
“We had some delay,” Gilchrist said. “As you can see, Gideon and Agatha have made some decisions, and needed extra time before we could leave for Kincraig.” With a wide and handsome grin, he indicated his twin brother—their smiles identical—and their dark-haired, beautiful younger sister.
“Indeed!” Rowena grasped Gideon’s hand and took one of Agatha’s as well. “Gideon, the last I saw you at Holyoak, you wore a monk’s robe and a shaved tonsure, and were still undecided about taking your final vows.”
“I made that decision since.” He gestured toward his clothing, a simple long garment of dark brown, with a long plaid pinned over his shoulder in a pattern similar to those worn by the other Scotsmen in the room. “I will tell you all about it later.”
“Good,” Rowena said. “And Agatha, I am so pleased to see you. This is my husband, Sir Aedan MacDuff.” She embraced the young woman, who had just greeted Tamsin and Liam, admiring the new baby.
“Dame Agatha.” Aedan took her hand cordially. “I am glad to meet you.”
“It is Lady Agatha again, I suppose,” she said. “I recently resigned from my position as prioress and decided to leave the order altogether.”
“I know you were considering it,” Rowena said.
“It was the incident at Dalrinnie last fall that made me realize that I wanted to be with my family again. My brother Gideon felt the same as a lay brother at Holyoak. We discussed it endlessly, and decided together.”
“Ah, the nun!” Aedan said. “You are a legend where I come from, my lady.”
With a curious glance, Agatha tilted her head. The light caught the long scar that traced from her left eyebrow to her mouth. Rowena noticed the scar anew—but the young woman was so beautiful in face and in spirit, radiating calm strength, that the scar seemed to all but disappear.
“A legend?” Agatha asked.
“The one who took down Malise Comyn,” he said, inclining his head.
“I heard you took down Malise.” She made a little fist and imitated a punch.
“I bow to your greater accomplishment,” he said, bending low.
Gideon laughed. “Rowena, I see you and Sir Aedan found each other again, and with a lovely outcome.”
“Quite.” Aedan shook hands to welcome Gilchrist and then Gideon. “Thank you again for your help at Holyoak when I was ill, and for escorting Rowena.”
“Alas, we did not reach her at Soutra before she was taken away. Finley and I searched frantically until we had word that she was safe,” Sir Gilchrist said. “Where is Finley?” He glanced around.
“On the parapet with a couple of the garrison,” Rowena said.
“Kincraig and all Scotland remain under constant vigil,” Aedan said. “The conflict is far from over. But it brought many of us together.” He gestured around the room.
“Come sit and rest from your journey, and have some refreshment,” Rowena urged. She led them to the trestle table where a maidservant had just refilled jugs of wine and set out platters of bannocks and cheese.
A while later, Gilchrist sat back. “We have some additional news,” he said. “I managed to leave Carlisle without much notice in the kerfuffle following Edward’s death. And I heard some word of the captive Scotswomen. Aedan, I know your kinswoman is there—and yours as well, Duncan Campbell, your brother’s wife, aye?”
“You have word?” Duncan asked, as he and Aedan sat forward.
“The ladies kept in cages, Lady Mary Bruce and Lady Isabella MacDuff, will be moved to convents in England once negotiations are agreed between the new King Edward and Robert Bruce. Edward will honor his father’s promise about the women, since several witnessed MacDuff’s request of the old king.”
“Aedan informed the council, who submitted another letter,” Duncan Campbell said. “We are all indebted to you for exacting that promise, sir.”
