Chapter Seven #3
Rose smiled warmly at Isabella. “I ken what ye’re thinking, but ye’re wrong.
They are all good and decent men. Quinn, who is six and twenty, is just two years younger than Jack.
He’s the best of us, to be sure. He has a head for learning.
The monks have taught him how to read and write.
He can do his numbers, and he speaks Latin and French.
His patience seldom runs out. I’ve told him time and again to take his vows and join the monastery, but like the rest of my brothers, he has a great appreciation for the fairer sex. ”
Isabella arched a brow at her. “I cannot imagine any of them as men of the cloth, least of all Rory.”
Rose chuckled. “At two and twenty, he is the second youngest. And I swear to ye, he’s been seducing women since the cradle.
The attention he received as a baby was more than ye can imagine.
Never could a woman walk by him and not ooh and ahhh.
He didn’t learn to walk until he was near two.
He never had to. He spent most of his time in his favorite place—asleep with a bosom for a pillow. He’s too pretty for his own good.”
Isabella chuckled. “His lashes would be the envy of every lady at court.”
Rose threw her head back, and her laughter rang out, easing Isabella’s spirit. “What about Ian?” she asked.
“He’s the baby,” Rose replied.
Isabella’s eyes flashed wide. “Baby? You can imagine my terror when I first saw Ian, the giant, with his horrible black mask. But can ye imagine my even greater surprise when he took it off, and the lion was no more than a lamb?”
“A lamb, to be sure; well, if a lamb also had a deadly aim and a fierce side, the likes of which ye would not believe.”
“I cannot imagine his countenance in any other way than happy.”
“He is that, most of the time. But push him to anger and his temper flares. ‘Tis the red hair.” She winked, lifting a lock of her own strawberry curls. “Oh, and what a voice he has. I tell ye, he sings like an angel. He’s just ten and nine. His good heart is a blessing from our mother, but his coloring and size is all Da.”
“It would seem your father was a large and handsome man,” Isabella observed.
“Aye, that he was.”
“Forgive me, Rose, but you missed one brother? The one most eager to throw me into the hole.”
“Och, for pity’s sake! That would be Alec.”
“What is he like?” Isabella asked, her curiosity overtaking her fear.
“Alec is four and twenty. And do not be mistaken, my lady. I highly doubt Alec would have been eager to throw you in the hole.”
“He’s a true saint,” Isabella said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. “Sorry,” she muttered.
“I ken Jack is keeping ye here against yer will. Ye’re entitled to yer displeasure.
But, in truth, Alec is neither a saint nor a sinner.
He’s hard to understand.” Rose paused, then with a sigh, she said, “I’m sorry, lass.
I know it must sound like I’m making excuses for him.
‘Tis just that I have a special place in my heart for Alec. He was always an odd sort of lad. He has the sight, ye ken, and knows all manner of things before they happen. In fact, the day before King Edward attacked Berwick, my husband and daughters had taken ill. I had no bayberry to bring down their fevers, so I enlisted the aid of my youngest brothers. On the next day, Alec was supposed to join us in the woods near the city to forage for herbs, but when the time came to leave, he refused. He said that during the night he had dreamt the world was on fire, then went to the kirk to pray. When Edward attacked, Ian, Rory, and I were safe in the woods, but Alec remained in the city and witnessed it all. ‘Tis a miracle he’s alive.”
Knowing that Alec had the sight did little to ease her fear of him, despite piquing her curiosity. Still, she decided to forgo asking questions about the middle MacVie brother and instead asked, “What about Jack and Quinn? Where were they when the king attacked?”
“Once upon a time, Jack and Quinn were fishermen. They were at sea when Berwick’s defenses fell.
” A shadow of pain flitted across Rose’s face, but then she cleared her throat and brightened her sad eyes.
“Right. Enough of such talk, and I’ll spare ye my account of Jack.
I figure ye’ve learned enough about him already. ”
Isabella’s thoughts wandered straight back to Jack’s kiss. Did Rose know how acquainted they had become? Isabella hid her blush by busying herself with stacking the dirty bowls. She felt a nervous jump in her belly.
Rose stood, dusting off her hands. “Now that ye ken a little more about my younger brothers, are ye ready to rejoin their company?”
Hearing Rose’s account of the MacVie brothers had eased some of her discomfort, although she was just as confused as ever. “Will ye steal me away again if my nerves get the better of me?”
Rose smiled. “They’re not the only thieves in the family.”
Bella knew Rose was only jesting. Still, the reminder set her heart to race once more, as she followed her back to sit by the fire with her handsome captors.