Page 41 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Rut
Rut paced outside the healing chamber, ignoring the conversation going on in the great hall. They could make their plans to find the bastards who stole the bairns, and she was sure they would, though she believed Lia to be in control of her own destiny. Faeries were real in her mind. She’d never met one, but she’d never mess with one either.
Time would tell in that respect.
She had more important duties to attend to.
She’d been waiting a long time for this. Her son was smitten, and with a lass who was as smart and feisty as they come. Rut had so many moments to tell Douglas about, the old goat, and he would enjoy every one of them, though she really believed that she needn’t tell him anything. Her dead husband watched over them all the time.
She’d just witnessed the event she’d been waiting for, and how fortunate that it had taken place in front of her own eyes. When Sloan had attempted to touch Meg, and Lennox had stopped him, Rut nearly stood and cheered.
Lennox was falling for Meg.
Rut MacVey, as the wife of the past chief Douglas MacVey, had an obligation to see this through. She’d done her duty and produced two lads to take over Clan MacVey, but now she needed to ensure there were a couple of grandbairns before she could move on.
Lads or lassies, it didn’t matter. The bairns that would come from Lennox and Meg’s loins would be powerful. Of that much, she was certain.
Any lass who threatened her son with an axe deserved to be a MacVey.
Now she had to maneuver this just so. It was her duty.
She’d overheard Meg mention Loch Aline to Lennox, and she’d heard him lie through his teeth to tell her he didn’t know of such a place, another event that nearly sent her to crowing. She’d never guessed that watching her son fall in love would be so damn entertaining. Now it was her turn to act.
She’d pull Meg aside and tell her that she had a way to find the exact location of Loch Aline, that she should come to their clan because it was closer to the loch, and that she’d send someone with her to look for Lia at Loch Aline.
Sure as the moon shone at night, that would be enough to piss Lennox off and force him into action.
Rut would not stand by and let this lovely lass get away. She needed a grandbairn, and she was about to get one in a year’s time.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Meg
Dawn arrived before she knew it. How was she certain?
Because of all the activity in the hall. Guards stuffed their faces with bread and porridge, their banter light and friendly, but there was something else.
The bairns were back and you could feel the happiness, the excitement, but also the tension. Magni bounced about, hugging people and giggling, but Meg could also tell when something stopped the poor lad in his excitement. Lia was not back yet. Tora didn’t move far from her mother, and Rowan’s parents had arrived, and he refused to leave his uncle’s side.
Meg had awakened early and washed, dressing in a lovely pair of soft trews that Eli had calledleggings. She’d never seen anything like them before for a lass, but Eli promised her that all the women in her clan wore them at some time. She’d also given Meg the finest tunic she’d ever worn, made of a deep blue that she adored, along with an extra tunic in a rich brown.
Eternally grateful for all they’d done for her, Meg thanked Eli many times, especially after changing her bandage and giving her an extra one along with a supply of ointment to put on her wound. Eli waved her away with a smile.
Meg hadn’t spoken to anyone in the hall because the men were busy deciding who was going where, what horses, which ship, which guards. Listening to the strategics of such a big operation fascinated her, but even after she’d heard it all, she was still bothered.
Would they be able to find wee Lia?
She knew there were other issues—Ellis, the kirk, the men who wished to take over the isle—but her mind was on a sweet lass who’d never hurt the tiniest insect.
Meg had the urge to go after Lia on her own because she feared she might be forgotten amid the clan’s worries. If she only knew where that loch was located—but if Lennox didn’t know where it was, how would she?
She sat in a chair by the hearth, finishing her porridge, when Rut joined her. They were the only two by the fire, so she greeted Lennox’s mother warmly. “Good day to you, my lady.”
“Good morn to you. Are you going to return with us to our castle, Meg? You are more than welcome, and with all the Grant guards here, Eli and Dyna have more than they can handle, I fear. It would be much quieter where we are, and we have a lovely view of the sound.”
“I’ll consider it, surely, but I’d like to ask you a question, my lady. I’m not sure how to address your son.”
Rut waved a hand at her. “He’s not your chieftain, so just call him Lennox. He won’t mind. Don’t pay attention to anyone else.”
