Page 79 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“Looking at you two gives me hope. Getting married on the morrow?”
Eva said, “Nay, I think I need to tell my mother first.”
Dermot waggled his brow and said, “Och, sweet Rut.” Then he left.
Sloan and Eva just stared at each other, slack-jawed.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Eva
Later that night, Eva hurried into the keep, rushing over to her mother and giving her a giant hug and giggling, Sloan directly behind her. Then she leaned down to pick up Goldie, who was barking at her feet. “Oh, I’ll hug you too, sweet thing.”
Her mother assessed her daughter carefully. “Lass, is that blood on your tunic? Where the hell have you been?”
Lennox and Taskill strolled in behind her. Lennox said, “Entertaining me and everyone else. Shall I tell her or you, Sloan?”
Sloan said, “Go ahead. I’m exhausted, but before anyone else says a word, I respectfully request your daughter’s hand in marriage, Lady MacVey. I love her with all my heart, and I vow to protect her with my life.”
Eva chuckled and looked at her mother. “I’m in love, Mama!” Then she hugged her mother again, twirling her around. “Say aye! I’m marrying him!”
“Aye!” Her mother finally laughed but then pushed her away. “What the hell do you have all over you? You’re ruining my gown.”
“Then get another!”
“Lennox, would you please explain a wee bit? After the poisoning?”
“Nay! Me!” Eva paused to take a deep breath, then began, “I snuck away, and Sloan followed me. We were both kidnapped near Ulva and then locked in a dungeon where we found the bairns. They took us on two boats headed for Coll, but I jumped in the water with Tora and Sandor and got them to shore while Sloan got Maeve and Grant to safety. Garvie’s man Odart was one, and he’s dead, along with his friend. The bastard who dared touch me will never touch another lass, and …” She paused togather her breath. “We came back, and Rinaldo tried to kill Sloan because he wanted to be chieftain so he could marry Alycia and their son could be heir to Dun Ara! And they poisoned everyone at Duart and let the men kidnap the bairns. Dermot killed Rinaldo and Alycia’s been banned from Mull and …” She spun around. “Did I miss anything?”
Meg came in and joined Lennox, who stood with the largest smile she’d ever seen on her brother’s face.
Sloan tucked her next to him and said, “You covered it well.”
Her mother asked, “Alycia? She wished to marry Rinaldo? Our Alycia? She helped him poison everyone?”
“Aye, Mama. I thought she was a true friend, but she said she hated me. She was as evil as Rinaldo. But I know where I’m meant to be. I love Sloan and we belong together.”
Her mother began to cry, then said to Lennox and the others, “May I speak with Sloan and Eva alone?”
Eva looked at her mother, confused. There was no need to send the others out.
Lennox came and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek, then his mother, and escorted the others out.
Sloan asked, “Should I take my leave?”
Her mother said, “That is entirely up to your betrothed.” Then she strode over to a chest and pulled out a box, unlocked it, took out a folded piece of parchment, and brought it over to Eva.
“Mama, what is this?”
“Please sit down and read it. It’s time.”
Her mother smoothed her skirt and took a chair in front of the hearth, pointing to a seat for Eva to take.
“Mayhap I should leave,” Sloan said.
“Nay, stay, Sloan. I have no secrets from you. I’ll read it.”
Rut explained, “It’s from your father. He asked me to help him pen it for you the day before he passed.”
