Page 7 of Highlander’s Wrath

At this, Laird Hamish cocked an eyebrow. “Ye teach the children yerself, madam?”

Grace nodded. “Aye. That is to say, Coira has the teaching of the youngsters, and I tutor the boys in preparation for Eton. There are two girls still in the nursery and one bairn in swaddling. Having Coira instruct the boys in their letters and numbers leaves me with the time to run the household. Me husband hires their dance masters and swordmasters; we dinnae lack for those.” She turned to her eldest son. “Ye were five when Coira and I began yer education, Lucan. ‘Til then, I deemed ye too youthful for lessons. A mother’s—and sister’s—love is the best teacher for a boy less than five summers, do you no’ agree, Laird?”

Hamish slowly nodded his head. Mistress Grace McDonald’s words were making a deep impression on him.

Lucan chirped, “Coira should go back with the laird to Scotland and look after his poor wee son, shouldn’t she, Mama? Since half of us are too old for the nursery now, all she does every day is sit around reading. I think Coira misses instructing the little ones—and she’s the best teacher we ever had. Full o’ fun and merriment!”

Mistress McDonald gave her eldest son a stern look. “I’m sure that would be a goodly solution to his lairdship’s problem, Lucan, were it no’ for the fact that yer sister is a lady and does nae have to leave the comfort of her family home to earn her bread!”

Coira was sitting very straight in her chair. “Why, ‘tis more than a goodly suggestion, Mama, and should be given full credence. It is our Christian duty to help others, after all, and Laird Barclay’s motherless son must be given all our compassion.”

Laird Hamish was jolted out of his reverie at Coira’s words. If the girl would be willing to travel back to Scotland with him, it would solve his dilemma in one swoop. He looked at Mistress McDonald to see how the news had struck her and then back at Coira herself; the maiden was uncommonly young. Maybe he should not encourage this crusade of hers.

Coira noticed the hopeful expression on Laird Hamish’s face and redoubled her efforts to persuade her parents.

“You told me I couldn’t go to Lady Markham because I needed a maid and groom and must take my own horses with me wherever I go. Here is Laird Hamish, and I will ask him straight. If I were to come and help you with your son, my laird, would you object to my bringing a small retinue with me?”

Hamish shook his head; his eyes fixed on Coira’s impassioned face.

“By all means, feel free to bring with ye any number of servants, but that’s all besides the point if yer parents forbid it,” he told the girl.

Feeling outnumbered, Grace looked down the table at her husband for his help.

“Mister McDonald! Are ye no’ going to say something to all this? Here’s yer eldest daughter talking about traveling north with his lairdship to go help his son!”

James gave the table’s occupants a long, considered gaze and then replied calmly, “I believe it would serve us all best if we refrained from this discussion until tomorrow, do ye no’ agree?”

At these words, the McDonalds fell silent and went about finishing their pottage.

Laird Hamish could only sit in quiet admiration at his host’s command over such a boisterous family.