Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
A s ordered by their father earlier, Kieran and Devon arrived in the meeting room in the afternoon where all the councilmen were already gathered. The laird sat at the top of the table, and upon seeing his sons entering, he called the meeting to order.
“As ye all ken, Lady Cameron arrived this morning. We had a rather pleasant conversation, though I sense reservations in the lass.”
Kieran, who was seated beside Devon at the far end of the table, tried not to react to that. His father was not a stupid man by any stretch of the imagination, still, his words were an understatement to say the least. Devon cast him a quick and knowing glance, before looking back to their father, who was about to continue .
He was not given a chance, however, for John Grant, one of the more opinionated councilmen, and a person who loved the sound of his own voice, jumped in.
Looking directly at Kieran with a stern expression, he said, “This has tae work, Kieran. With the threat o’ Laird Campbell knocking on our door, we need this alliance desperately.”
“I am well aware,” Kieran replied, trying and failing to keep the caustic tone from his voice.
John narrowed his eyes. “Aye, well, that didnae stop ye from ruining the last alliance, did it?”
At his words, murmurs of agreement came from some of the others.
“John,” Fergus MacDonald said. “We all ken the last alliance didnae work out. Still, I’m nae certain yer tone nor yer attitude are needed.”
Fergus was one of the older councilmen, and he had served the laird for many years. He was levelheaded and always remained calm when all around him panicked. He had also watched the twins grow up over the years .
“If my attitude appears abrupt,” John came back, not willing to be berated in front of everyone, “it is only because I understand the seriousness o’ our circumstances. Lady McDonald was a perfectly good match, and yet, Kieran failed tae secure her hand. What if that happens again? How many lasses dae we have tae bring tae the castle tae get the man married?”
John and Fergus then continued to argue, but Kieran’s thoughts wandered back to the circumstances to which John referred. Lady McDonald had been a quiet lass, and would have made a very fine wife. However, she was deeply in love with another man. When she finally confessed it to him, Kieran had promised to keep her secret.
Between them, they decided that it would not be wise or fair on either of them for their marriage to go ahead. Rather than reveal her secret, Kieran had put it to the council that she had broken the alliance after meeting him, and that she could not tolerate such a match. Since then, the council had blamed him, concluding that it was his lack of interest in her that had caused the breakdown.
“Nay other alliance we have ever made is as important as this one,” John was saying.
“A fact o’ which we are all well aware,” Fergus countered, his tone calm .
Edward Keir, one of John’s close companions, now weighed in. “If it was Devon who had tae woo the lass, we would nae be as worried. We ken he wouldnae fail tae charm his betrothed.”
“Aye,” another of the men said. “But with Kieran, we just cannae be sure.”
Fergus, as calm as the man was, expressed frustration at his fellow councilmen.
“And o’ course, attacking the man and comparing him tae his braither is bound tae build his confidence so he can get the job done, isnae it?” he said, his tone laden with sarcasm.
His words seemed to temper those who had spoken out, for their heads bowed a little at Fergus’ reprimand.
He then looked down the table and caught Kieran’s attention.
“We trust yer good judgement, Kieran.” His tone was now calmer, and the man even had a small smile on his lips. “It is imperative, however, that ye secure this alliance. Nae that I need tae tell ye that. I am certain ye will prove yersel’ at the feast tonight, where we will all get tae meet Lady Cameron.”
“O’ course, I will,” Kieran replied determinedly .
He then stared at the rest of the councilmen, daring them to challenge him again. His dark gaze seemed to do the trick, for none of them said another word about him.
The council meeting continued for another half an hour. There was some discussion of those who were attending the feast that evening, as well as some business regarding the clan.
When the meeting was finally over, Kieran remained seated, his arms crossed over his broad chest, still angry and frustrated at the earlier comments. He eyed the men from beneath a hooded brow as each councilmen left, one by one. A few could not hold his gaze, but John gave him a searing glance as he passed. Eventually, only Kieran, Devon and his father remained.
The brothers left their seats while their father walked down the table towards them. His father then gave Kieran a sympathetic look.
“They mean well,” he said. “I ken John can be too much at times, but I think his outspokenness only masks his fear for the clan’s future.”
“Nay, Father,” Kieran spat angrily. “The man’s just a condescending bastard. ”
“Kieran!” his father exclaimed.
“Well, he is.” He nodded towards the table. “All that was completely unnecessary. I’m nae a fool, I ken what needs tae be done. Besides, we all ken John likes the sound o’ his own voice. Perhaps I should take him tae the training area tae see if his hands can move as fast as his mouth.”
This remark elicited a smirk and nod from Devon.
Their father only nodded, and wisely chose not to argue. Looking at Kieran, he placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Just mak’ certain yer betrothed arrives at the feast this night on time so we can present her tae the councilmen and their families, son.”
“Aye. I will,” Kieran replied.
With a final nod, the laird left the room, leaving Devon and Kieran alone.
The smirk had left Devon’s lips, and he now looked contrite .
“I’m sorry, braither. What they said was out o’ hand. There wasnae any need for them tae compare ye tae me. There are days I want tae put John Grant on his back.”
“The man is an arse,” Kieran replied. “He doesnae ken the circumstances o’ Lady McDonald, and he never will.”
“Ye made the right choice.”
“I ken I did. And I would mak’ it again in a heartbeat,” Kieran replied confidently. He then smirked at Devon. “At any rate, ye havenae any reason tae apologize. Ye might well be better with the lasses, but I can still kick yer arse.”
“Aye, right,” Devon countered with a grin. “Says who?”
“Och, come on, braither,” Kieran teased back. “Ye dinnae have tae be ashamed. Ye cannae be great at everything.”
“I beat ye last time,” Devon defended, as the two walked out into the corridor.
Smirking at his brother’s sudden need to defend himself, Kieran said, “I let ye win. Ye were looking tired and pitiful.”
“Yer arse, ye did. ”
Kieran then burst into laughter and slapped a hand across his brother’s back. “Maybe we should have made a counter bet. I get the lass, and ye learn how tae fight.”
Devon laughed then as they continued down the corridor.
“From what I’ve seen o’ yer betrothed, I’d have the better deal. Ye certainly have yer work cut out for ye, braither.”
“Aye. I dae indeed.”
Kieran waited another hour before he made his way to Lady Alina’s bedchamber. She and her sister had retired to rest after their long journey earlier, and he did not want to disturb them too soon.
Knocking on the door, he waited for a reply. After some murmurings from inside the room, the door finally opened. He was greeted with the inquiring face of a woman he didn’t know, but realized immediately that this was one of their maids. She looked a few years older than her mistress, with a plain round face and dark hair pulled back beneath her bonnet.
“I would like tae speak tae Lady Alina, please,” Kieran said .
“Who is it, Isla?” Alina said, the voice floating across the room to meet him.
The maid lifted her eyebrows inquiringly, for of course, they had not been properly introduced, and she likely had no idea who he was.
“Tell her it is Kieran,” he said, answering her unasked question.
Isla turned to look back inside the room. “It is Kieran, me lady,” Isla relayed.
“Och,” came the unenthusiastic reply. There was a long pause before he heard anything more. And then, she said, “Well, I suppose ye may let him in.”
The maid then bowed at him before opening the door wider and bidding him entrance. The bedchamber was occupied with large trunks that were half unpacked, and Lady Cameron, who sat at the writing desk in front of the window.
Without lifting her head, she continued to write, making him wait as though he were a servant. At first, it annoyed him. But then, he took a long, slow and deep breath in .
Ye cannae let her get tae ye. There’s a bag o’ gold waiting at the end o’ all this.
With that thought, Kieran planted a smile upon his face and continued to wait. Another minute passed, and then, finally, she placed her quill in the inkpot and turned to look at him.
“Yes?” she said, not even trying to hide her annoyance. “What can I dae fer ye?”
It was only then that Kieran realized that Moira was not in the room.
“Ye’re alone?” he asked.
She tilted her head, looking at him like he might be an idiot, then flung a hand in the general direction of the room. “Evidently,” she said. “Is that why ye are here? Tae see if I am alone?”
“Nay.” Kieran shook his head. “I actually came tae speak tae ye about the feast this evening.”
She continued to look at him, her face expressionless, as though he had not spoken at all. When he didn’t continue, she widened her eyes .
“And?” she pressed impatiently.
Maybe I should get Devon tae up the bet tae two bags o’ gold.
And then the councilmen’s words returned to him.
If nothing else, he had a point to prove. He then pinned a smile on his face and sweetened his tone. “I just wanted tae let ye ken that the feast will begin at seven this evening. There, ye will be introduced tae the councilmen and their families as me betrothed. Me family and I look forward tae ye and yer sister joining us.”
Something like surprise flashed across her face, but she did not respond in kind. In fact, she replied in the same barbed manner in which she had spoken to him thus far.
“I am sure we will find our way tae the great hall. Yer faither’s castle is impressive and spacious indeed, but we willnae lose ourselves.”
“Very good,” Kieran said, replying in the same calm tone. “I look forward tae seeing ye both then.”
Without waiting for another reply, he turned on his heels and left the room, wondering how the devil he was actually going to pull this off.