Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Jennie came down to the great hall for the evening meal with butterflies in her belly, scared to death to meet the two men who had been brought here for her perusal. How did one go about seeing if a stranger would suit as a spouse? Was she supposed to quiz them both? One at a time or together?
She controlled her wish to chortle. Mayhap she should ask Alex if she should kiss each of them and decide which was better?
What exactly was his plan for this foolish venture?
She had almost made it to the steps of the great hall when Alex strode up behind her and ushered her into his solar.
All cleaned up in his red dress plaid and his hair tied back, her brother was still an imposing figure.
Many a lass still gazed at him, even though everyone in the clan knew he would never stray from Maddie’s side.
She gave him a questioning look as soon as she noticed they were alone in the chamber. “What is it, Alex?” she asked after he closed the door behind them.
Alex paced the room twice before he stopped. “Maddie told me she has made you aware of the two men I invited to our keep.” He settled his hands on her shoulders.
“Aye, but why did you make plans about suitors without asking me?” She adored her brother, always had, but his commandeering ways tested her patience.
“‘Tis my job, lass, to see you married. I made a pledge to our parents. While I have not wanted to admit ‘tis time for you to consider marrying, Maddie reminded me that you are of age.”
“But Alex…”
“Let me have my say, Jennie, then you may chastise me as I know you are wont to do.”
She nodded and he ushered her to a chair in front of the hearth while he leaned on the mantle.
“I know ‘twas not easy for you to lose Ma and Da so early in your life, but I have tried my best to raise you well. I was not so good at it early on, but with Maddie’s assistance, I have improved. Brenna was also a great help, and I admit I felt lost when she left us. I am grateful she has invited you to their castle so many times.”
Jennie stared at her brother. Laird Alexander Grant, renowned for fighting off the worst enemies, a grand swordsman, was struggling to find words.
He crossed his arms. “I have not told you this, because I did not feel there was a need, but there have been several who have sought your hand in marriage before now. I have rejected them all.”
“But why?” She wanted to know why he had kept this from her, why he had ignored her needs so completely.
“Why did I reject them, or why did I not tell you?” He tugged on his ear and started pacing in front of her.
“Both.”
“Because you were not of age yet. You were not ready.”
“Aye, I am.” Well, she was of age to marry, but her heart had already chosen another.
Alex stopped in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back.
“All right, you will force me to admit it. I am not ready yet. I became quite fond of the wee lass who sat on my lap for all those years, and now that you are old enough to leave, I find I am not ready to lose you.” He turned his gaze away from hers, an expression on his face Jennie had never seen before. Embarrassed? Sad?
“And who asked for my hand?” She hated to push him, but she needed to know the answers. She thought it only fair.
He hung his head, his arms now crossed in front of him. The way he moved told her he was uncomfortable with this conversation. But she was even more uncomfortable, and this was her life.
Alex took up most of the front of the hearth, his arm muscles bulging from the continuous practicing he did with his mighty sword.
He finally let his breath out in frustration.
“Lass, do you not see? None of them were good enough for you. You are like my first born. You had such a difficult time after we lost our parents. You were still sucking your thumb on rare occasion at almost nine summers.”
“I was not! You are creating tales to make yourself feel better, Alex.” She crossed her arms in a huff, unable to believe what he had just said to her. True, she had taken advantage of her older brother by using her age to get what she wanted, but suck her thumb? Never.
He quirked his brow at her. “You never did it for more than a few moments, but, aye, you did. We lost both our parents within a short time. ‘Twas tragic for you, at the verra least.”
She ran a hand down her face as memories of that difficult time flooded her thoughts. Aye, it had been hard—almost unbearable—but she refused to believe she had sucked her thumb.
“Alex, ‘twas a trying time for all of us, yourself included.”
“But I was old enough to become laird, and you were still a wean. When I look at my bairns, I cannot imagine how they would fare if they lost either of us at such a tender age. The twins would be lost without their mother, and you know I pride myself on how fierce they are.”
Dead silence settled over them. Alex rubbed his chin, then whispered. “The point is this…I have come to accept this truth. Maddie has forced me to accept that I must let you go, much as I wish to keep you here.”
Jennie was surprised to feel her eyes mist at Alex’s declaration.
“So my apologies if I have waited too long, but I have arranged for two of the lads who expressed an interest in you earlier to come to our keep to meet you. There is to be no pressure on you. Do not let them insist on any time frame. If you are interested in either, so be it. If not, so be it. This matter is entirely up to you. I have looked into their backgrounds, and unless I see entirely different men here at the keep, I expect they will be acceptable to me. But they must be acceptable to you. I promised our mother.”
Jennie could see how difficult this was for him. She strode over to her brother and wrapped her arms around him, though they didn’t begin to go around his large frame. “My thanks, Alex, for loving me so. But I don’t know if I am ready either.”
He kissed her brow and said, “You let me know after you meet the two lads. They will be here for less than a sennight, but please keep me advised.”
“I will. My thanks. Shall we go now?”
Alex wrapped his arm around her and escorted her toward the door. Before he opened it, he stopped and turned toward her. “Aedan Cameron. Did I detect something between the two of you? Or did I imagine it?”
Jennie coughed. “Aye, well…I am interested in him. He said he would come after the skirmishes were ended, but I am not sure it has progressed to thoughts of marriage. I don’t know if he would offer for me, but…”
“Say no more. Your expression tells me all I need to know. But there is naught wrong with checking to see if you are interested in others. I fear I have been lacking in this duty to you. Please be tolerant, for me?”
Two suitors arrive, but one is sent away quickly by Alex and Jennie both…
The fool made the mistake of disliking Alex’s bairns…
Alex sat between her and Maddie at the table, while Coll sat to her left, and Donnal Boyd sat across from her. The others were spread out around them, except for Celestina, who did not feel well and was not at the meal. Brodie had left to check on her.
Loki sat a distance away with the other weans at a small table. The young group was a bit boisterous, but Jennie loved to listen to their chatter. She smiled at them, wishing she could join their table and escape her duty.
Donnal dominated the conversation. “Lady Jennie, I hear you have great skills as a healer.”
“Aye, I have worked…”
“Do not fret, lass. You will not be required to do work of any kind at my keep. We have two wonderful healers. You can just direct the servants, relax, and of course, tend to my needs.” He flashed a wicked grin at her.
Jennie glanced out of the corner of her eye to see if Alex had heard his comment.
Judging from the scowl on Alex’s face, he had heard.
Coll spoke up. “We would be very grateful for your skills, though we also have two healers on our lands. I hear you have a fresh outlook on healing that differs from the ways of the old wizened healers. Is that true, my lady?”
Jennie was pleased to answer this question. “Aye, my mother taught me…”
Donnal interrupted. “If it pleases you, Laird Grant, I would like to insist on a wedding before the next moon, as we are in need of some organization at our castle. Seems our staff have become quite slovenly and lazy. We need someone who can crack the whip, shall I say?” His smug expression did not speak well for him.
A small commotion took place over in the bairn’s area, so Maddie promptly got up to tend to them.
“Truly, Laird,” Donnal said, glancing over his shoulder at the unruly group. “Is there a reason you have the weans nearby? Are they not too young to act appropriately around guests?”
“Aye, there is a reason,” Alex said gruffly. “They’re my weans and I want them here. They’ll learn to act appropriately in time.”
Jennie stifled a giggle, wishing she could hug her brother over his declaration. He was a good sire and a good leader.
“Mama!” Braden screamed. Maddie whispered something soft in his ear, then sent Loki away with him.
“You see. They are too young.” He nodded his head, apparently in affirmation of his previous statement, but no one volunteered to agree with him.
“That wean is my brother’s first born lad, and I prefer to have him here. Please do not concern yourself, Boyd.”
Donnal let out a loud belch and excused himself. “Must find the garderobe.”
Coll reached for her hand under the table. “My apologies for his rudeness. ‘Tis unforgiveable. I love weans and hope to have many.”
Jennie turned to look into his kind eyes—he was such a better lad than the other suitor—but she still pulled her hand back.
She noticed Donnal was headed in the same direction as Loki.
Her intuition told her to follow them so she excused herself and did just that, trailing him toward the passageway that led to the tower rooms where Brodie and Celestina lived.