Illicit Union_Sanctuary by Rhonda Hughes

Author:Rhonda Hughes [Hughes, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-11T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Gillie slowly stood craning to see beyond the McBain, “Gillie!” With a crack of his palm on the table, Allie dropped down, “Margaret is nae coming down for supper. We already ate.”

“Then why are ye stuffing yer mouth?” Growled Gillie giving voice to his frustration.

“I’m starving, but it seemed disrespectful to have a hearty appetite . . . up there and all.” He nodded toward Lyall who now conferred with Alspeth. Raising his volume to reach all, Allie announced, “Lady Alspeth and our laird have come show appreciation to all.”

Lyall called out, “My mother and I wish to thank ye all for the kindness and support shown to our family. I hope ye will excuse my lady wife. She needs a wee retreat before again taking up the burdens of life. I pray ye will employ patience while she heals from this grievous blow. But I speak for her too in thanking all of ye.”

“Me too.” Inserted William. “And Grandma’am.”

Pressing a kiss on William’s forehead, the Laird confirmed, “William too.”

“Yer most welcome Billie Boy.” Called out auld Ian.

Allie’s elbow gouged Gillie’s ribs, “Alfreda will tweak Ian’s nose if she hears her son called Billie.”

MacGillivray nodded agreement deciding to flee the dining room as soon as the laird concluded. Once the praising and teasing of William died down, Alspeth summed up, “As always, Clan McBain rallied to the aide of yer laird. Ye are the finest in the Highlands, and ye did my son proud.”

Lyall stepped up, “And again I thank ye all, especially The MacGillivray.” Silence fell over the crowd and made Gillie’s skin crawl as did the possible nuances of Lyall’s statement: “I dinnae ken how ye did what ye did, but ye have amazed me, Laird MacGillivray.”

Thinking of the very one who invoked Munro’s miraculous behavior, Gillie deflected, “Twas nae me.”

Guffaws broke out, snorts and mumbles erupted. A low voice from behind drawled, “It sure looked like ye.”

The McBain could not have heard, for he, Alspeth, and had exited without a backwards glance.

Allie immediately taunted, “Tsk tsk tsk. Ye best take credit whether ye did or nae, for tomorrow ye will need the McBain’s favor when you explain how it took ye three days to ride from Inverness.”

Too weary to bicker, Gillie recited, “I told ye, we took shelter from weather.”

Allie only blinked and the same sly voice hissed, “Aw, his cock got cold, and Gillie had to warm it up, did he nae?”

“I’m not putting up with this.” Warned Gillie whirling about in an attempt identify his heckler. “And I’ll say nae more on the matter.”

“Good, for we are nae going to believe ye.” Retorted Jamie Nae Lame.

Too angry to keep his resolution, Gillie snapped, “The roads were too dangerous. We called a stop two nights and a day.”

Allie took up the assault, “Did ye now? Two nights, eh?”

“Aye, she’s a woman.”

Allie lectured, “She is indeed a woman. A lady of the court of St James, a sister to our Lady, and a spinster of good repute, or she was before she set off on the road from Inverness.

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