Page 84 of Highland Renegade
“Like they had come to some kind of agreement,” Broderick said.
Ian frowned. “Agreement? Did ye hear it?”
“Nae, I was too far away and it was too noisy.”
“Then how do ye ken it wasna simply a conversation?”
Rory snorted. “About the weather mayhap?”
Ian ignored his sarcasm. “I doona ken that, but Lady Woodhaven was married to an earl and Lord Bute is also an earl. Aristocrats travel in the same circles so ’tis nae unusual for them to talk.”
“Aye, but aboutwhat?”
“Rory does have a point,” Carr said. “The fact that both the Duke of Argyll and the former Prime Minister came to Kilchurn Castle for a harvest ball seems odd.”
“Unless they wanted to conspire with Henry about keeping us proscribed and nae getting our lands back,” Rory answered. “Ye remember Devon and I followed the dragoons. They were delivering a message from Henry to Inveraray and then some of them rode south, mayhap to Bute.”
“We doona ken for sure.”
“It does make sense, though,” Alasdair said. “Gavin Campbell invites Lady Woodhaven and her sisters to the ball and we are included only because it would look strange if we were nae. She accepts. Henry sends word to his brother and Lord Bute that she will be attending. What better way to meet and mayhap get her opinion of us?”
“Aye, her opinion could go a long way in helping Bute decide whether to support the bill or nae,” Carr replied. “Unfortunately, it stands to reason that she will want to be assured of her deed remaining valid, so her opinion might be negative.”
Ian frowned. “Em…Lady Woodhaven has told all of us she hopes we get our name restored.”
“Our name, aye, but the land deed is a different thing.”
He couldn’t argue with that, knowing why it was so important to her. It was equally important to them. Ian grimaced, feeling like he was about to be drawn and quartered. He was the chosen leader of the MacGregors, even if it wasn’t lawfully recognized, and he was honor bound to do the right thing for his people. If he defended Emily, he would be betraying his clan, but if she lost everything,shewould feel betrayed and he would lose her. Like a lightning bolt, the thought struck him that he had begun to care for her.
“Are ye listening?” Alasdair asked.
Somehow he managed to pull himself together. “Aye. Ye were speaking about…about…”
“What Lady Woodhaven’s real opinion of us might be.”
There was resignation in his brother’s tone, although he wasn’t sure whether that was from his lack of attention or that there might be real cause for concern. Ian looked at each of his brothers and uncles. “Ye have never heard her say a bad word about any of us MacGregors.”
“Nae to our faces, but that doesna mean she willna try to sway Bute,” Rory said.
“I think ye all do her a disservice. Em…Lady Woodhaven wants to be accepted by us.” Ian fully expected Devon to explode at that, but his brother remained strangely silent. It was Broderick who scoffed.
“She is a Sassenach.”
“She canna help where she was born.”
“When have the English ever regarded Scots as equals?” he asked. “Have ye forgotten Culloden already?”
“I have nae forgotten. But remember, we were allowed to remain here because we dinna take up arms against the Crown.”
“Only because Bonnie Prince Charlie’s strategy to restore the throne to a Stuart was nae well-planned and the young buck wouldna listen to his elders’ reason,” Donovan said.
Rory nodded. “Aye. The MacGregors were nae so easily convinced to run off half-cocked.”
“Likely because our survival depended on our wits,” his uncle said.
“Be that as it may,” Ian interjected, “the English have nae cause to distrust us now or to uphold the ban.”
“The question is, can we trustthem?” Carr looked thoughtful. “Both our uncles have a point. The Campbells could have as much to lose as Lady Woodhaven if Parliament sees fit to restore the lands awarded to them during Queen Mary’s reign.”
