Highland Courage(55)
Tadhg grinned broadly at him. “Enjoying yourself, Rowan?”
“Oh, aye, Laird, the food and drink are the finest.” Rowan laughed and saluted his host with the tankard in his hand.
“I don’t think it is the food and drink which has ye so merry,” scolded Mairead good-naturedly. “Don’t forget ye are to be married soon.”
“But I’m not married yet, little sister. Do ye begrudge me the company of these fine Matheson lassies for a wee dance or two?”
Mairead laughed. “Not I, but your betrothed might not look so lightly on it.”
“Ah, Mairead, he will have many years to dance with Eara Fraser, let him have his fun tonight.”
“Just don’t break any hearts, brother, these are my clanswomen now.”
“Aye, Lady Matheson, I promise ye I will take care.”
~ * ~
Clan Matheson, like most Highland clans, celebrated several holy days between Christmas and the Epiphany twelve days later, during which time Mairead and Flan enjoyed Rowan’s visit immensely. Rowan regaled them with new stories about the goings on at Carraigile and the antics of their young nieces and nephews. It wasn’t until the day before Epiphany that Mairead finally asked why Rowan was going to Duncurra.
“I know ye trained there under Laird MacIan’s father, but ye have been home now for two years.”
“When he was here for your wedding, Niall MacIan asked me if I would be interested in returning to Duncurra as one of his guardsmen. I said I would consider it, but now King David has summoned Niall and Fingal to court. They must leave immediately after the holidays. With the MacLennan’s in such disarray, Niall is worried about leaving Duncurra shorthanded and asked if I would come, at least temporarily. I agreed to. Da also sent twenty of his men-at-arms to bolster MacIan’s ranks.”
“When Rowan leaves, thirty Matheson men-at-arms will go with him, as well,” Tadhg explained.
“Are the MacLennan’s that much of a threat?” Mairead asked.
Tadhg shook his head. “Probably not, but a show of strength never hurts. After the events last winter, they lost a lot of men and they are weak. Also, they don’t have a strong leader. A distant cousin of Malcolm’s, named Meara, was recognized as the chief, but she died suddenly a few weeks ago. The leadership fell to Meara’s niece, a lass named Gillian. A weak clan with an unproven leader can make for a desperate situation. It pays to be cautious because desperate men are dangerous and unpredictable.”
“How long will ye stay?”
“At least until I wed Eara Fraser in the spring. Perhaps longer if things have not settled down by then.”
“What does Da think about ye staying at Duncurra?”
Rowan laughed. “Ye would think Da only had one child instead of ten when it comes time for one to leave. Look how long he avoided a wedding for ye. But he understands Laird MacIan’s need and is happy to support him—for now,” he added with a grin.
“What about ye, do ye want to leave Carraigile?”
Rowan smiled and chided, “When did ye become so full of questions, little sister?” Mairead blushed but Rowan answered his own question. “I’ll tell ye, it was when ye left Carraigile. Make no mistake, Mairead, I love our family as much as ye do, but there were ten of us. With spouses and children, it was easy to get pushed along with the tide. Ye certainly did.”
Mairead started to object, but Rowan silenced her. “Nay, Mairead, ye know it’s true. I know ye were happy and comfortable being one in the crowd, staying in the background. Clearly ye can’t stay in the background here. I’m sure it has been a challenge, but it was one ye were well prepared to meet whether ye believe it or not, and ye are better for it.”
Mairead said nothing but looking from Rowan to Tadhg, she was moved by the warmth and pride that seemed to radiate from them both.
Rowan continued, “So ye see, sometimes ye have to leave what is comfortable to find where ye are truly meant to be. Ye know Annag, Peadar, and I have always considered Cathal our da, we were just wee ones when Mother married him.”
“But Da thinks of ye as his own, too.”
“I know he does. Believe me, I know. Ye should have heard the earful I got when I mentioned perhaps staying at Duncurra. Still, sometimes ye want to make your own mark on the world. I envy ye and Annag in that regard.”
Mairead laughed. “I am not making a mark on the world. I’m just MacKenzie’s Mouse.”
“Ye are not a mouse, Mairead, and ye never were. Look around ye, pet. Ye are the wife of a powerful laird, ye will be the mother of his children, and ye could run this household with your eyes closed. Do ye think Lily or Rose could have handled this?”