Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 4 by Marti Talbott

Author:Marti Talbott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Scotland, Young Adult, family saga, medieval, series, laird
Publisher: MT Creations
Published: 2011-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER II

HEAVY WITH CHILD, JESSUP looped her arm through Greer’s arm and walked her into the great hall where Neil and Glenna sat at the table waiting.

Neil quickly stood up. “Welcome,” he said in English. He motioned for both to take a seat near his at the head of the long table. “I have not practiced my English for a while and if I am to journey there, I best sharpen my skill. Jessup, if you would be so kind as to interpret for my wife.” He waited for her nod, poured wine in each of the four goblets and handed them out. “I am sure you have heard I intend to take some of the men and Kadick into England to find matches. Therefore, I need sound advice. How do we entice lasses to come to the Highlands?”

Greer grinned and her soft blue eyes glistened as she tossed her long, slightly tousled, blonde hair back over her shoulder. “Take the most handsome lads with you and tell them to take off their shirts.”

Neil rolled his eyes and watched the expression on his wife’s face. As soon as Jessup finished interpreting for Glenna, both women laughed, which made him raise an eyebrow. “I had no idea lasses were that easily persuaded.”

Greer giggled. “I suggest we do not tell the rest of the lads.”

“I agree. I have a hard enough time getting them to keep their minds on their work.” He waited for the women to stop laughing at him and tried to look serious. “Other than that, what have we to offer? Some call our way of life fierce and many in England believe impossible things about us.”

“I heard these things too, but I gladly left my home to come here, and so will other women. Life in England for most is not half as good as the way Highlanders live. The poor live in country cottages the same as you and most work on the farms. They have few clothes, only one window if they are fortunate, and sleep on straw on the floors.”

“Then what differences are there?”

“The differences are in the way they are treated. Lasses are considered the property of lads in England. If a lass has no husband or family, then she is considered the property of her lord.”

Neil waited while Jessup whispered to Glenna and watched her eyes widen. Then he turned back to Greer. “And this lord may not let the lass go?”

“Not willingly.”

“He will need to be persuaded?”

Greer reached for her goblet of wine, took a drink and then set it down. “Or you might need to take her away in the night, ‘tis not so easily done as it may sound. The English have guards too and if you kill them...”

“Nay, we will not be starting a war with England even for the sake of wives.”

Greer reached over and touched Jessup’s hand to get her attention. “If they were to approach the ladies of the manor, though.”

Jessup smiled. “Especially for the pretty ones?”

“Aye.

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