Chapter 3 #2
It was too late to lie, now. Aileen shook her head once more, still kneeling on the ground out of respect.
Or perhaps her body had finally given up, too weak to rise on its own anymore.
“We … our maither wasn’t the proper lady of the castle.
But Marcus let us stay within the clan until …
recently.” She felt the Laird’s eyes run across her, seemingly fixated on her scarlet dress.
She hadn’t the time to change from it, but was regretting not doing so.
At least in a plainer frock, she had a better chance of portraying herself as a simple stranger.
Though she had a suspicion Laird MacLiddel would have gotten the truth out of her, regardless of how she looked or what fibs she told.
Marcus had siblings. No, more than that. Marcus had a pair of sisters he’d told nobody about. Gerald shouldn’t have felt as surprised as he had, nor felt the sting of betrayal any more powerfully than learning his ally had been a traitor for the entirety of their friendship.
And yet, as he stared down at the disheveled state of the pair, of Leelee still bowing across the ground, something inside him snapped. He turned toward Mollie, her dirtied face still somehow holding fast to childish hope, and posed a question. “Mollie, would ye like to come with me?”
Immediately, Leelee’s head rose, her expression wrought with panic. Mollie seemed to pick up on her sister’s worry, as her own brow knitted with a level of concern no six-year-old should ever display. “Can … can Leelee and Bannock come, too?”
Gerald nodded. “Aye. They’re welcome as well.”
A delighted squeal escaped the girl’s throat as she turned to her sister, her hands excitedly pushing against Leelee’s shoulder. “Leelee, Leelee! We’re goin’ to have a home again! Come on, let’s go!”
Bannock immediately joined Mollie’s side, nuzzling underneath the girl’s chin before giving a warning growl at Gerald’s way. Even so, Leelee continued to stare at the floor, her face pale and her gaze distant.
“I think yer sister’s a wee bit surprised,” Gerald said.
“Aye. I think she is, too,” Mollie agreed.
Well. Nothing to be done about it, then. Gerald suddenly stepped toward the pair, Leelee visibly flinching with each thud of his boots. She recoiled as he slipped his arms around her waist, only to turn her to his right side and position her in a more bridal-style hold. “I—”
“Ye’re nae goin’ to leave yer sister, are ye, Leelee?” Gerald asked.
Her pallid face turned beet red, her hands hiding her eyes as she managed to mumble out, “It’s … it’s Aileen, me Laird.”
Aileen. He was committed to burning the name into his memory.
God, but she really weighed nothing at all.
He was easily able to keep her steady with one hand as the other went to retrieve his sword.
Then, with everything accounted for, Gerald left the study and headed back outside, Mollie trailing close behind as Bannock chased after her.
“Ah, Laird MacLiddel!” Rory’s sentence froze as he stared at the new company.
The rest of the warriors remained stone-faced, though the rioting kinsfolk all let out a collective gasp.
Murmuring whispers built through them like the fires to their clan’s banner, and as Gerald reached his horse proper, the guard from earlier dared to approach.
“Me Laird,” he managed to stammer out. “Ye found the Hughes sisters?”
Immediately, Gerald felt Aileen shift farther into his grasp, felt Mollie grasp his leg and cower behind him.
“This … this is perfect!” The guard exclaimed. “Now these bastards can finally do right by their clan and take the mantle of leadership.”
“What’s a bastard, Leelee?” Mollie asked, her eyes watery and her grasp tightening around Gerald’s leg.
“Here. We’ll be happy to take them off yer hand, me Laird.” The guard approached, arms outstretched toward Aileen. Instead, he found himself staring down at the point of Gerald’s sword, as well as the glimmering, sharp teeth of Bannock.
“Ye’ll nae speak such harsh words around the child,” Gerald stated, his tone frigid and sharp. “Nor will ye be takin’ them off me hands.”
The guard looked clearly taken aback. “Me Laird, we hardly expect ye to find her a betrothed. It’s as ye said. Our council should handle matters, and they’ll find a proper laird for her to stand beside.”
“Ye insult me, lad.”
The keep went deathly silent. Everyone’s eyes were on Gerald as they waited to see what would happen next.
Uncertain if the guard would be struck down before them for speaking seemingly out of turn.
Gerald gestured for Rory to draw close, kneeling as if to speak to Mollie face-to-face.
“Ye’ll ride with me man-at-arms, wee one. I’ll have yer sister ride with me.”
Mollie nodded, though she looked up toward Rory with uncertainty.
“Daenae worry, wee one,” Gerald reassured, speaking loud enough for all to hear. “Yer sister is me betrothed now. I willnae let anything happen to her, or ye.”