Page 43 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lennox
A few hours later, Lennox was standing not far from the stables on MacVey land, giving instructions to one of his most trusted guards, Jasper. “I’ll be gone for about two days. Taskill will remain here, but I’ll take five guards with me.”
“Where are you headed, Chief?” The older man stood strong, his chin lifted because he prided himself in his hard work, having been a guard for both Douglas and Lennox.
“Eventually to Coll. I’m taking a short jaunt myself across the sound, then I will return to gather the men and go to Tobermory to cross there on the ferry. I want horses with us. You know my favorites.” Giving Jasper this task would keep him from noticing that Lennox was headed out alone. This was something he needed to handle by himself.
“Aye, I’ll see it done, Chief.”
Lennox had spent his time in the stables while his mother quickly ushered Meg inside, though he had no idea why they were in such a hurry. Sometimes he recognized that getting involved in female matters was not the best idea, so he’d gone about his business. Undoubtedly, Rut probably took Meg straight to Doiron to discuss her wound. It would take days for the poor lass to recover completely.
“Where the hell is Taskill, Jasper?” He stepped outside the stables, surveying the area for his brother.
“Your mother requested his presence a short time ago, Chief,” Jasper said, heading to a group of guards in their lists practicing their sword skills.
His mother had called for Taskill? What the hell was she up to now?
His sister came out the door, so he called to her. “Eva, is Taskill inside?”
“Aye, he’s going over the maps with Meg. She’s looking for Loch Aline. Mayhap you should join them, brother dearest? Your mother is at her finest.” Then she gave him that warning grin the siblings shared when it came to their mother’s antics.
“Hellfire,” he grumbled. “My thanks, Eva.” He strode into the keep, his boot falls echoing across the stone floor since the great hall was now empty. He loved the MacVey hall, beautiful tapestries of the castle and Mull decorating the walls, a hearth at each end to keep the area warm. He stopped, as he did whenever he found himself alone, just to admire the beauty of the dark carved wooden chairs on the dais, the carefully sewn cushioned chairs arranged in a semi-circle around each fireplace. Sometimes he was amazed that it belonged to him now that his sire was gone.
He had a sudden image of a hall full of bairns running around the tables, a beautiful lass with long legs staring up at him with a smile that affected him more than any other. How had meeting one lass altered his view of life so much? He shook the vision from his mind and headed toward the voices, not surprised to find the trio in his solar, studying maps.
“That’s it,” Taskill said. “It truly is nearly straight across from our dock area. We have a couple small boats and one ship we use. We keep them in a boathouse on the sound, though Lennox does not want one of them used. But there’s no wind today. We could cross easily. Would you like me to take you?”
It was as if a small explosion erupted in his mind. What had he just heard? Taskill was taking who where? What the hell was happening?
Lennox flew around the corner into his solar, standing in the doorway. “Nay, you’ll not be taking her anywhere.” He knew he’d been a bit loud, but how had this turned into a trip across the sound in less than an hour? “Taskill, Jasper needs you outside.Go help him. We are going on a journey later, and I need your assistance.”
Taskill did his usual, shrugging with a smile. “Sure, Chief. No reason to get upset. I was just trying to help. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Aye, go.” He gave his brother’s shoulder a shove when he reached the door, sending him out. If he were to guess, this was all part of his mother’s careful planning, not Taskill’s, so there was no reason to be upset with his brother.
He stepped back to get out of his way, but then Taskill leaned over to whisper in his ear, “If you don’t claim her, I will. She’s a beauty.”
He grabbed his brother’s tunic and said, “Nay, you willnae. Get out now.”
Taskill chuckled and left, winking.
Lennox stepped inside, where his mother sat behind the desk wearing a smug look he’d wonder about later. He didn’t have time for that now.
Meg glanced at him. “Lennox, Loch Aline is right across the sound. Taskill showed me on the map here.”
“You can read a map?” His anger and annoyance vanished as soon as he locked eyes with Meg, her beauty stunning him. She was no longer disheveled and feverish. No wonder Taskill was interested in her. He couldn’t stop himself from running a quick look down to her toes, surprised to see her wearing those tight trews the Grantham women wore. The kind that clung to every womanly curve she had. A soft groan left his lips, something he’d been powerless to stop. Those long legs called to him again.
His mother got up and strolled over to the doorway, looking into the hall.
“What?” Meg gave him a quizzical look just before she licked her lips. “Did you say something or are you upset with me?”
“I just asked if you could read a map. Most women cannot.”
“I am not most women, Lennox. I understand that most are far more worldly than I am, but I am able to read a map.”
The woman was going to embarrass him. His erection forced him to step behind his desk, turning slightly to hide it. “How?” That was the only word he could get out, anything to distract her.
