Highland Lady by Colleen French

Author:Colleen French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2016-06-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The next gift arrived two days after the headache had come and gone. It was still hazy in Elen's mind as to whether or not Munro had actually come to her chamber that night, but she was fairly certain he had.

The realization hit her with a mixture of anger and concern. She was angry that he would dare to presume she needed him, dare to enter her household uninvited. She was concerned he was able to penetrate the walls of Dunblane, to slip into her chamber and out again without being detected.

Elen, Finley, and Donald stood side by side outside the castle wall watching their clansmen practice shooting their bows and arrows. Targets had been set at various distances from a long line of men. The frozen ground was dusted with snow, and the air was sharp with the sting of more snow to come, but the men had thrown aside their woolen and fur mantles. The men laughed and bantered back and forth, yet still took their task seriously.

It was true that the Bruce and his armies had run the English off Scottish soil once again, but no one in the Highlands who had fought or had loved ones fight thought for a moment the English were gone for good. Word was King Edward was merely regrouping, changing strategies. Word was he and his soldiers would return, and it was Elen's responsibility as the laird of this castle to keep her men sharp. If Scottish freedom called, Dunblane would respond.

A bareback rider approached, but her clansmen and vassals gave him only passing notice. It was the messenger everyone now recognized from Rancoff. The two men beside her exchanged knowing glances, and Elen scowled. The rider, the red-haired laddie called Robert, carried a bundle in front of him on his shaggy pony.

"For m'lady of Dunblane," the boy called, grinning.

Elen eyed the large, soft bundle the steward's son balanced before him. It was nearly as big as she and wrapped in burgundy and green wool, but the wool was not the gift. "Me thinks your master wastes his time," she said. She pretended to be disinterested in the parcel, but in truth, she was intrigued.

Robert lowered his gaze in respect, then lifted it to meet hers. "I beg ye to forgive my forwardness, but I think nae."

It was not the words he spoke, but his tone. Obviously, he regarded her highly, though she didn't know why. He barely knew her.

Elen realized many of her men were studying her curiously, waiting to see what their mistress would do. There was speculation among her clansmen, vassals, and tenants as to whether or not she would accept Rancoff's proposal of marriage. Everyone clearly knew by now he was courting her, or at least attempting to do so. But no one save Finley said anything to her about Munro, and she simply made no mention of him. Let their tongues wag.

"Take it back," Finley ordered, striding toward Robert. "Take it back and tell Munro Forrest neither he nor his are welcome here.

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