Page 33 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
He sighed. “I dinnae ken what I have to say to convince his Lairdship that both me and Agnes would be much happier if he’d just leave her be,” Nathair grunted, “and leave me be, an’ a’.”
William shrugged. “I mean, ye could always just wed her.”
“William!”
“Och, dinnae get so righteous wi’ me,” William replied, holding his hands up. “I havenae suggested fallin’ in love or even beddin’ the lass. Ye neednae even get her wi’ a bairn. Just arrange a weddin’, treat her kind, and her Da will open up our supply route again. Ye cannae say Catrina would be averse tothat.”
Nathair ground his forehead with the heels of his hands. William was right. Strategically, it would be the best move. He would just have to marry Agnes on paper only, and her father would be satisfied. And then he could be sure that his people would be fed for another winter.
Simple.
In theory.
But…
“Och, I dinnae ken, William. It feels…wrong,” he said with a deep sigh. “I cannae explain it. I ken it’s a simple solution. But I just dinnae think it’s the right one for me, and for the clan.”
William tilted his head, examining him. There was no judgment in his friend’s eyes. When William looked at him like that, Nathair felt like the other man could see into his very soul.
“Ye cannae explain it, aye?” William asked. There was no teasing to it this time. “Are ye certain o’ that?”
“I’m certain,” Nathair said firmly. “It isnae about—there isnae—”
William raised his right hand. “Whatever ye say, Nathair. The point is, we still need to keep these people fed, regardless. What dae ye have to suggest instead, yer Lairdship?”
Nathair straightened in his seat, grateful that William hadn’t pressed any further. He gathered himself together, putting himself back into the mindset that was required of him as Laird MacFoihl. “What about our funds? Can we split them between the townsfolk? It worked last year, an’—”
But William was already shaking his head. “Yer coffers are near empty, Me Laird,” he said respectfully.
He’d slipped back into commander rather than friend, as he always did when discussing important matters of strategy. It was one of the things Nathair appreciated most about him.
“Empty?” Nathair repeated as if hoping he’d misheard.
“Enough for standard village maintenance, keepin’ the castle and yer staff and keepin’ the soldiers fed and watered. There isnae much else left. Certainly isnae enough for the whole village. The thing about givin’ away all yer money, Nathair, is that when it’s gone, it’s gone for good.”
Nathair groaned but gave an affirmative gesture to show he’d understood. “What about the soldiers? Can we get them to work in the fields? I ken most o’ the drafted are either under the ground or already back wi’ their families, but your professionals…”
“Aye, they’re already doin’ what they can. It still isnae enough,” William replied. “There still isnae really anybody left but the old, the children, and the womenfolk. The lassies are tryin’ as hard as they can. Ye ken Greta Reid, she’s runnin’ Rabbie’s farm all by herself now, God rest his soul.”
“And God rest her back, too,” Nathair added. He could feel despair settling into his bones at the thought. “Their bairn’s still awfie wee. What would he be now, six? Seven? Too wee to be much use in the fields.”
“Aye, and the rest o’ the clan’s bairns, as well. There’s just no enough o’ them to go around, even wi’ all the women breakin’ their backs to help out and the ol’ grandfathers tillin’ the fields.” William ran a hand through his hair. “If ye willnae marry Agnes, and I dinnae blame ye if ye willnae, then we need to think o’ somethin’ else, and fast. Summer has a way of ending when ye least expect it.”
“Aye,” Nathair agreed. “That’s what worries me.”
* * *
Magnolia had a book in her hand as she headed back to her bedroom. She couldn’t stop thinking about Nathair’s comment about the library, and what message he had been trying to send. He’d been true to his word; she’d been there for close to two hours, and he’d never shown.
And nobody needs to know of the slight disappointment you feel at that fact, Magnolia.
Still, she felt like taking the book with her was safer than staying much longer as the night hours dwindled. Between this one and the forest tome, she’d have enough to draft up a solid plan of the area. She should send it along with her letter when the month ended–a time which seemed to be approaching more and more rapidly.
What else did she have to show for it? Nothing. The clansmen loved their Laird. The servants were pleasant and seemed unaware of any plots. Nathair was an enigma, and Elaine was just a child.
Have I wasted my time? Have I failed?
So caught up in her thoughts was she that she didn’t notice the man in front of her until he spoke, causing her to jump near out of her skin.
