Page 52 of A Knight To Call My Own
“Report…” Ian mumbled, taking a mouthful of porridge that for a change did not stick in the back of his throat and actually had some flavor.
“’Tis as ye suspected. A small army is camped approximately four miles away. ’Tis Calum and his men, as far as I can gather. I did not want tae get too close without giving away that we are on tae him.”
“And my Uncle?” Ian tore off a chunk of bread as Angus hesitated with his account. He went on with his meal whilst he pointed the piece of bread in Angus’s direction. “Proceed…”
“Again, ye were correct in yer assumptions that yer uncle was up tae no good. He left the castle afore dawn and has yet tae return. I have a scout tailing him, but am sure the two are conspiring against ye.”
“I am not surprised. He has become greedy in his old age and a fool to be in cahoots with the Davidson laird. Surely, they must know Lynet is now my wife, and I have no plans on giving her to anyone.”
“’Tis obvious they only look fer the coin. Mayhap, ye could offer them a small stipend and send them on their way.”
Ian wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and sat back in his chair. “Men of their ilk are never satisfied with a mere pittance of monies if they think there is more to be had to line their coffers, no matter how they procure it.”
“Perchance, if ye make the offer,” Angus urged.
“Nay, I will not. ’Twill only encourage them to find another way to ransom more coin from me, or worse, make an attempt to get to my wife.”
“Ye are aware that is what Laird Davidson is most likely planning to do?”
“With a dowry the size of Lynet’s, I have no doubt they will do everything within their ability to seize it.” Ian stood and began making his way from the hall with Angus walking beside him.
“What if he wants the young lady for himself?” Angus asked.
Ian stopped to turn and stare at the Highlander who had already risked his life for his wife. “My Uncle would not dare such an offense,” he fumed.
“Nay, not yer uncle, but Calum.”
“Bloody Hell!The man would need to step over my grave afore I would let that happen,” Ian replied hotly.
“I believe, my laird, that isexactlywhat he has planned.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lynet hummed an old familiar tuneher mother used to sing to her when she was young. ’Twas a fine day, and she had already made incredible progress on the cleaning of her hall. The floors had been scrubbed clean and fresh rushes with dried lavender made the room pleasant smelling. ’Twas a vast improvement of its earlier condition, and everyone was more than eager to help her now that Ian had married her afore the clan’s priest. She had found her place amongst them.
After giving her directives on how she would expect the same meticulous care to be given to the kitchens, she had called to Nessa to join her in the gardens to see what she could do to help the plants that were suffocating between the rocks and weeds. Nessie, as she preferred to be called, was a young wee lass of ten summers and had been more than willing to head outdoors, instead of staying in the unyielding heat near the fires in the kitchen. Lynet could hardly blame her and had spent her own childhood in much the same manner.
There was something incredibly soothing about taking care of the earth beneath one’s feet. She had always enjoyed the task of making things grow and bloom into the thriving gardens found at Berwyck. A fleeting memory of her mother as they tended the flowerbeds together flashed in Lynet’s mind and made her homesick for her family. A sigh escaped her, knowing she would soon be making her own family here within the walls of Ian’s birthplace. ’Twas her home now, as well, and she doubted she would see Berwyck anytime soon.
Moving aside her basket, she took out another tool to dig at a rock that had no business being in a garden. It seemed even a place that would provide the much needed herbs for their food or medicine was just as neglected as the rest of Urquhart. At least, she now had free reign to put things aright.
Consumed with her task at hand, she hadn’t realized Nessa was chatting away, and she had no clue as to what the child had been saying.
“…and we ne’er ’ave tae worry about the cattle raids again,” Nessa said with innocence.
Lynet stopped tugging at the weed surrounding what must surely be a boulder hidden underneath the dirt. “What cattle raids?”
The girl gave a carefree shrug, but continued on with her work. “They been going on fer years now. Neighboring clans steal our livestock from us. We steal ’em back. ’Twill change, now that the laird is ’ere.”
“You have such confidence in your new laird, then?” Lynet surmised, hiding her grin.
“Oh, aye, he’s verra bonny, isna he?” Nessa got a far off dreamy look afore coming back out of her daydream. “Beggin yer pardon, milady…”
Lynet laughed and watched as a pretty blush crept up the child’s face. “No need, Nessie. I agree with you, completely.”
A look of understanding passed between them afore they continued on in silence. Lynet saw they were starting to make some progress when her eyes alit briefly on a figure hovering near the entryway of the garden just afore the person disappeared. A frown crossed her features afore she put herself back into her work.
They had been making a significant difference in their surroundings, if the growing pile of weeds was an indication, when a voice behind her caused Lynet to flinch. She had been wondering how long ’twould take afore she was confronted.
