The Gift by Ceci Giltenan

Author:Ceci Giltenan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Time travel
Published: 2018-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Claire’s admission had shocked Coll. From everything Laird Ranald had said, he believed his sister was happy here and seemed to have a growing fondness for Tavish.

This had only been reinforced when she arrived in the great hall. She had seemed nervous and unsure of what to do. Coll could only imagine how upset, even angry, she must be with him. According to what the Mother Abbess had told Sir Gordon, Claire hadn’t wanted to leave. The day they arrived at the abbey with his missive, she had apparently not taken it well and begged the Reverend Mother to allow her to stay. However, by the next morning, it seemed Claire had accepted his directive and had decided to try to make the most it.

Seoc and Tavish Ranald had also been surprised by Claire’s request to return to the abbey. When Lady Ranald joined them only moments later, and learned the news, Coll thought she looked ready to burst into tears.

As he watched Claire that evening, he didn’t know what to think. She was quiet and reserved, but based on remarks made by the Ranalds this was unusual. He supposed both his arrival and unwillingness to discuss her return to the abbey was the reason.

Perhaps he should just let her go back. After all, what did he know about anything? Particularly, how was he supposed to know what was best for his eighteen-year-old sister who was a stranger to him? Coll was only twenty-three himself and had never imagined that he’d become Laird of his clan. But fate has a way of changing things. With his father’s and older brother’s deaths, the mantle of leadership fell to him, whether he was ready for it or not. And along with it came the responsibility for his younger siblings.

He could only follow his best instincts. And the more he thought about it, the more firmly he believed Claire didn’t belong in an abbey. Therefore, he certainly would not agree to send her back until he had more to go on. He simply wasn’t willing to let her make that choice yet.

When the evening meal was over, Claire rose and said, “Please excuse me. It’s been a long day.”

“Don’t leave us so soon, Claire,” said Lady Ranald. “Won’t ye join me for a game of backgammon?”

Claire smiled at her, but Coll saw pain in her eyes. “I should attend to my prayers.”

Lady Ranald looked exceedingly disappointed. “Oh, my dear lass, ye’ve spent the whole day in prayer. Surely the good Lord won’t begrudge ye a few moments of leisure?”

Claire opened her mouth, clearly ready to refuse again, but Coll interrupted her before she could. “Lady Ranald, I beg yer indulgence, and yers too Claire, but I must ask a boon from ye both. It has been too many years since I’ve had a quiet chat with my sister and I think it’s long overdue. Lady Ranald, would ye mind terribly if Claire and I had some time to ourselves?”

Lady Ranald shook her head, appearing a bit puzzled.

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