Highland Love Comes Calling (The House of Clan Sutherland Book 1) by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2024-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Amelia’s gaze darted from Hamish to Roy to Tieran to Dugan before coming back to rest on Hamish. Knowing they couldn’t get away with walking hand in hand through the keep, she accepted his arm when he offered it, letting him wrap hers around his, and they followed Roy. Tieran walked to Amelia’s right, and Dugan brought up the rear. She thought it odd that no one walked beside her father, but she realized the men surrounded her. She wondered if it was a habit for the men to guard the woman or if they thought they had an immediate need to protect her. Hamish patted the hand that rested on his arm. None spoke until Roy let them into the Ross suites. Amelia remembered staying there when she was a child and the first few days after she arrived at court to become a lady-in-waiting.

“What—” Amelia started.

“Shh,” Hamish whispered. She watched as the men moved around the room to various spots along walls. She stared in stunned silence as they each picked up scraps of linen and poked them into peepholes. She had no idea anyone spied on her family. It made her wonder if anyone spied her with Hamish the night before since his chamber was in a suite much like the one in which they all stood now. When her gaze met Hamish’s, he offered her a reassuring smile. She didn’t know if that meant there were no holes in his walls or if he’d already plugged them. It shocked her that all four men knew exactly what to do without a word.

They were one chair short, so Hamish stood behind Amelia’s. His hands rested on the back of the x-shaped seat. His thumb brushed her back three times before he rested it on the crossbar. She waited for someone to explain Hamish’s comment, but when they remained in silence, she twisted to look up at him.

“Lia, we represent four of the most powerful clans in the Highlands and Hebrides.” Hamish looked at Tieran, who led a branch of the MacLeods that was distantly related to the ones on Skye. Both dominated their respective islands. “We might be far from the border when war comes— and it is —but Balliol will insist all of us send warriors.”

In private, few referred to King John by his title. Since none respected him, none wished to think of him as their sovereign. He’d allowed the wolf in the henhouse by encouraging King Edward to influence Scotland’s politics and royal heredity. Hamish hadn’t agreed when the royal advisors sought Longshanks’ help after King Alexander died, leaving only the Princess Margaret of Norway as his heir. The young girl died not long after the former king. It left Scotland bereft of clear succession. Accepting Edward’s advice indebted them, and the English king reminded them at every turn.

Amelia watched Hamish as he spoke, but when he finished, she turned toward her father. “Ye dinna trust the Auld Alliance, do ye?” The treaty

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