Page 91 of The Speed of Lightning
He paused, and for a horrible moment she wondered if he expected her to pose them.
Angus’s hazel eyes were alive, radiating restless intelligence. “How do I live well? And of course, how should we live well together? Just as a soul rules a body, so must law and justice guide the people, that all may live rightly. Virtue, of course, is the answer in both cases—the mean betwixt all extremes. Excellent reading for a chieftain.”
“Aye…virtue betwixt…” At once she realized it had been a mistake to wade into such scholarly depths and trailed off.
Calum looked as if he were physically biting his tongue to keep from laughing, so she quickly shifted the topic. “Are we the first to arrive?”
The maid began edging back. “Aye—Laird MacKay, may I be relieved of duty? I still have a headache.”
Angus blinked, startled, then hurried past her, weaving through stacks of books. “Of course. Take the day. Adam will?—”
He swung the door open and froze. Chief and Lady MacKinnon stood before him. “Léo. You’re early?—”
The maid visibly wilted, clutching the back of a chair. Freya touched her shoulder, unsettled by the fear in her eyes. “Are you all right?”
Léo’s eyes boggled. Aileen pushed past her husband, signing rapidly in front of the maid, tears springing to her eyes.
The maid flushed. “I’m sorry, I dinnae ken what you’re saying. If you’ll excuse me—” She slipped out, toppling a tower of ledgers. Freya stooped to gather them, baffled.
Shamefaced, Angus turned to the steward boy hovering in the doorway. “Adam, wait and bring the others in together, aye?” The lad nodded and hurried off. Angus shut the door, then composing himself, he turned. “How—erm—how was your journey?”
Léo gaped. “Angus, that was Ardis.”
Angus dragged a hand down his face, pressing his forehead as if steadying himself. “Shh. We dinnae call her that here.”
Aileen signed furiously, her face stricken.
“Aye, I know,” Angus admitted, flushing. “But I couldnae leave her. She lives on the fifth floor. The whole floor to herself. I stay here. Nothing unseemly.”
Calum inclined his head. “Still, mate, be cautious. You’re a new chieftain. It might look improper.”
Freya sank into the velvet chair, the ledgers heavy on her lap, watching as if it were one of her tales playing out before her eyes. Clearly Léo, Aileen, Angus, and Calum had all known Ardis two years ago on Skye, likely during the MacKinnon overthrow.
The dispatches had never mentioned a woman. What had happened? Why must Angus be cautious? And why was his face darkening with anger?
Aileen looked affected, gesturing rapidly. Freya couldn’t follow, but her grief was plain.
Angus stomped over, snatching the ledgers from Freya. “You think I havenae thought of it? What safer place is there than here?” He dumped the stack into a basket that promptly toppled into a corner. “She needed quiet. Time to heal. And I needed a housekeeper. It is only me here.”
Léo dropped onto the couch opposite Freya, offering her a wan smile, while his wife signed furiously at Angus.
“More than a year now, everything as it should be,” Angus shot back. “I didnae tell you because of Fingon. The fewer who know, the better.”
Aileen’s hands flew, outrage plain.
“Of course I trust you, Birdy. But she willnae live in Castle Maol. Too near Dun Ringill. Too many memories. With the new king and the restrictions, it is too risky to bring her—” He broke off, glanced at Freya, then switched to signs.
Flustered, Freya looked away to the fire. She felt out of place, weighed down by their secrets and camaraderie. They had fought together, spoke their own language. How could she ever belong?
Léo leaned toward Freya, elbows on his knees, his warm voice a shade too loud. “What are your thoughts on King Dómhnall, Lady MacLean?”
The room froze, all suddenly remembering she was there.
Sweet juniper.He was taking pity on her, drawing her in. And she couldn’t summon a single intelligent thought beyond—he’s a few trolls short of a fjord.Heat rushed to her face. She glanced at Calum, mind blank, desperate for a strong first impression. The Storyteller inside her straightened, swept the room with a look, and shrugged. “I em…” she chuckled nervously. “Maybe we should ask Bob?”
No one laughed.
A knock pounded on the door. David MacKenzie pushed into the room, plowing toward the fire. “It’s as cold as a rat’s tail out there!”
