To Scotland and Love by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788675826
Publisher: Barbara Cartland Ebooks ltd
Published: 2022-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Th ship drew into the small Harbour.

Fortunately the tide was high so that they then came alongside the quay and let down the gangplank.

There was a surge forward of the Clansmen and the pipes grew louder.

“Give them time to get the gangplank into position,” Tara said, “then you go first.”

Talbot thought with a smile that she was stage-managing the whole event as if it was a dramatic performance.

At the same time what she was saying was common sense.

He therefore waited until the seamen had secured the gangplank into its rightful position.

There were no other passengers disembarking from the ship at Lochie.

They stood on the deck, keeping to one side and watching what was happening with some curiosity.

Slowly and with dignity Talbot walked out onto the deck.

For a moment there was complete silence.

Then a loud cheer broke out from the back of the crowd and was next taken up by those in front.

The pipes started again and some children managed to push their way to the front where they could wave at their new Chieftain.

Talbot descended the gangplank.

Waiting for him, who he knew before anyone could tell him, were the Elders.

He then shook them all warmly by the hand.

One who was obviously more important than the others present began to speak,

“We be here to welcome you, my Lord, as our Chieftain you and assist you in any way we can as you take your grandfather’s place.”

“And, of course, I shall need you,” Talbot replied. “You must help me to be worthy of the great honour of being the Chieftain of the McCairns.”

His voice rang out and most people could fortunately hear what he was saying above the skirl of the pipes and the continual noise of the crowd.

They were obviously very pleased at what he said to them.

Then Talbot began to shake hands with everybody he could reach.

While he was doing so, Andrew and Tara came down the gangplank and then she was introduced to the Elders, who were clearly most impressed that she was her father’s daughter.

By the time she had met at least a dozen people, Talbot was moving through the crowd.

He was shaking their hands and talking to everyone anywhere near to him.

He then found Andrew at his elbow, who suggested,

“You should move awa’ noo to The Castle. There’ll no doot be more of the Clan there with their women and children to welcome you.”

Talbot nodded.

“How do we get there?”

“It’s no more than aboot half-a-mile awa’ and if you walk on ahead of us, we’ll then all follow you.”

The pipers were on either side of him as Talbot walked to the end of the quay and Tara was escorted by Andrew as they made their way up to The Castle.

After them came everybody who had come to meet their new Chieftain.

Having left the Harbour behind them, there was a road up onto a low cliff.

It had fir trees on either side of it and now, in the distance, Talbot could see The Castle.

It was impossible for him to speak above the noise of the pipers,

Anyway it was obviously expected that he should walk alone.

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