Page 61 of Bride of the Merciless Laird
He grinned at her and brushed her hand lightly with his. “I thank ye fer yer help, Lady Mackenzie. Yet I dae believe ye’ve a long way tae go before ye’ll make a suitably bloodthirsty warrior.”
She laughed, her heart warming at his touch.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ewan was in his study poring over the final clause in therèiteachhe was preparing for Edmund. He was working on the finer points of the trade agreement he was hoping to promote. It was important to ensure the exact details of when and where his birlinns would have access to the northern route around the Isle of Skye.
He ground his teeth at the tentative knock on the door and the voice of young Aonghas requesting admission.
“Enter,” he growled.
Hamish and Aonghas filed in, looking a trifle sheepish.
As well they might.
“I trust ye enjoyed the festivities yesterday?” He said, pleasantly enough. “I believe I saw ye both partaking of me best French wine so I assumed it was all well received.”
Hamish shifted uncomfortably.
“Indeed, it was a wonderful celebration, Laird Ewan.” Aonghas said, apparently unaware of his laird’s firm disapproval.
Ewan leaned back in his seat, not inviting his visitors to sit.
“If ye’ll excuse me, I have just arrived at a most delicate clause tae be negotiated in therèiteachwith Laird Edmund.” He turned and bent his head again to the parchment on the desk in front of him, leaving Hamish and Aonghas fidgeting where they stood.
He quickly lost himself in the complexity of the document he was drafting. He was well aware of the existing agreements between the MacNeils of Barra and the pirates on the Isle of Canna. It was essential that he be able to negotiate the extensive web of marriage and kinship connections between the MacNeils, the pirates and the MacNeacails, including the MacKinnons of Mull, all of which would enable his birlinns free passage. All that had to be included within therèiteachso that later there could be no objection or obstruction to his trading vessels.
He worried over it for some time, ignoring the two men’s discomfort.
Finally, when he was satisfied that he’d covered every point he needed to make, he turned to them, keeping his voice and demeanor cold.
“There’s yer sheet.” He pointed to a chair by the door where he’d placed the folded sheet. “Take it tae the Council and be sure tae convey me greatest displeasure that they are unable tae take the good word of their laird.”
“Very good, Laird Ewan.” Hamish sounded suitably chastened.
The two men shuffled to the door, collected the folded linen sheet from the chair and departed.
As the door closed behind them, Ewan smiled to himself. The Council had been quite right to doubt his word. Nevertheless, they’d insisted on a lie and a lie was what he’d provided them with.
Not many minutes passed before there came another knock at Ewan’s study door. It was his new brother-in-law, Laird Edmund MacNeacail.
He guided Edmund to the table where he’d spread out the sheets of parchment comprising therèiteach. As Edmund read through the complex document Ewan poured them each a few fingers of whisky from his decanter.
Edmund looked up. “What ye’re asking seems reasonable tae me. I will have nay trouble in agreeing tae every clause.” He sipped the whisky. “Ye’re aware of course that me sister Tyra was betrothed tae Laird MacDonald of Sleat.”
Ewan nodded. For some reason, however, today it seemed to cut him in a way he’d not anticipated. Jealousy? Surely not.
“What ye ask fer the dowry is nae as onerous as what was demanded by Harris MacDonald, so I believe I can speak fer the Council when I say there will be nay concerns tae me signing it.”
Ewan breathed a sigh of relief. His Council, too, would be pleased with the arrangement.
“Once I have spoken wi’ both me advisor Lionel MacLaren and me Council Chief, Tormod, I shall make a time fer the formal signing of the document.”
“Good.” Ewan clapped a hand on Edmund’s shoulder.
“Now, I invite ye tae spend some time wi’ me, traversing the castle. There is a splendid view of the three lochs and the mountains from the tower, if ye care tae accompany me.”
It was a clear day and from the tower it was possible to see the three sea lochs that came together at Eilean Donan. It was an impressive sight and Ewan wished to impress the Laird MacNeacail with the extent of Clan Mackenzie’s lands and the beauty of the lochs.
