Page 43 of Heather and the Highlander
“Lose something, milady?” a housemaid asked.
“I was halfway through a letter before, but now I can’t find it.”
“The window and doors were wide open. Perhaps it blew into a corner. I’ll ask if anyone saw it,” the maid offered.
“Thank you. If it’s found, just have someone put it in my room. It’s not urgent.”
Then Maeve hurried over. “Heather, would you mind joining me upstairs? I believe we ought to talk. The presence of your uncle is going to generate many questions.”
“Yes, indeed,” Heather said. “And we’re going to have to make up answers to satisfy.”
“So we will. You’ve got the MacNair clan behind you,” Maeve vowed. “That feaertie isn’t taking you away.”
Chapter 13
Niall spent some time discussingthe new situation with his brothers and the men of Carregness, and it was decided that Robert and a few others would go into the village and stay there to keep watch on things until Hayes gave up and left…which he hoped would be soon. Ian volunteered to mind the ramparts of Carregness, until Niall pointed out that Hayes wouldn’t be coming with an army, but more likely a solicitor.
“In that case, I’ll start boiling some pitch,” Ian said. “Don’t you worry, Niall. We aren’t going to let anyone take Heather.” He walked off.
Both his brothers had clear opinions on Hayes, and on Heather, Niall realized. She’d certainly found her way into the hearts of everyone in a short time. Including his own. Niall knew he should be more careful with Heather, more distant. But it was getting more difficult every day, and the thought that she’d eventually be leaving Carregness after they revealed the truth made him sadder than he cared to admit.
Niall tried to distract himself from the situation by handling the never-ending tasks that came with being the MacNair in charge of keeping the castle and lands running. Though his father still held the titles and the final authority in anything, Niall had taken over more and more responsibility over the past several months. Looking back, he should have realized that his father giving up control hinted at how ill he’d been feeling, even if Niall himself had been too busy to notice the shift. The MacNair hated allowing anyone but him to make even the tiniest decisions.
With the harvest starting to come in, there was plenty to do. Niall spoke to several tenants who came to report on their progress so far. Crop yields were up, thanks to investments Niall made the previous year. The final shearing looked to be promising as well, and Niall allowed himself a small sigh of relief. It was encouraging. Another year with profits instead of losses, and he might turn the MacNair fortunes around. All was not lost.
Several hours later, Robert came back with an initial report. “Hayes is staying at the Cat & Mouse, just as we thought. He’s gone to the church already, I assume to warn Father Ross that he ought to keep his nose out of any marriage questions that come up. His man Brom has been drinking in the taproom since he arrived. I’ve offered a few small rewards to any workers there who can make our visitors' stay less comfortable, so that may speed things along.”
“Let’s hope. Any sign of the other man he mentioned? Webb?” Niall didn’t want to describe him as Heather’s intended husband—he didn’t deserve that distinction.
“Not yet, but Brodie mentioned that Hayes told him to expect another guest soon. With our luck, he’ll haul along a dozen lawyers as well.”
“He can bring a hundred. I’m not letting Heather anywhere near those men.”
Rob paused. “Do you think they can win? Legally? I mean, a marriage is a marriage, right?”
Niall wished things were that simple. “I don’t know what they can do, or what they’re willing to do. All I know is that Heather ran away from them, and that’s all I need to know.”
Rob nodded once, as if that ended all discussion. “She’s a canny girl, and I trust her judgment. I mean, not aboutyou, of course. Woman had to be daft to throw herself at you.”
“So she’s cannyanddaft at the same time?”
“Aye. That describes our Heather very well.” Rob headed off, no doubt to think of ways to make Cyril Hayes’s stay in Scotland as short as possible.
Our Heather. Oh, things were going to be very awkward when her birthday arrived.
* * * *
For her part, Heather spent the rest of the day with Maeve, overseeing the various chores that Maeve directed in her role as chatelaine. Heather still maintained the fiction that she’d eventually be the lady of the castle and honestly, at some moments, it was exciting to dream of exactly that. After all, not all young ladies got to live in a picturesque castle with a handsome prince…or laird, in this case.
After dinner, Niall walked her up to her room. Heather was charmed by the gesture, especially because she’d been tense ever since her uncle resurfaced. Even though she knew she was safe inside Carregness, she couldn’t avoid the feeling that someone was waiting for her around every corner. But when Niall was with her, that feeling receded.
“Thank you for sending my uncle away earlier,” she said.
“What else did you think I’d do? That man hit you while you were in his care, and he shouldn’t be anywhere near you.”
He stopped at her door, and reached out to run his hand along the tartan wrap she now wore every day. “You might not be a MacNair for long, but while you are, you get all we can give.”
She got that warm feeling in her belly again. “I’m lucky then,” she said.
