Page 30 of The Eagle

He could not stop now. “Ewan… well should we even discuss what Father did to him? He too was gone for years because of the evil one that gave us life. And ye,” he said to Darach. “Father killed yer mother. And ye were charged with taking over the lairdship from a man who was hated by the people.”

“What does this have to do with anything?” Darach replied. “None of us can help our lot in life.”

“That is just it. I have no lot. I have been afforded a good life. Because of the sufferings of my brothers, I gained richness and stability. Why did ye risk so much to come for me?”

His brothers were silent. It must have been because what he said was true.

“Ye are our brother, we would give our lives for ye, just as we know ye would do for us.” Duncan glared at him. “Stop being an idiot.”

Stuart suddenly felt hollow, the sensation so horrifying he wanted to scream. Instead, he met Darach’s gaze. “I must go. I cannot remain at the keep. Allow me to go.”

“Where?” his brothers asked in unison.

“Ye should consider this more,” Darach said. “Aye, ye have benefitted, but ye have also fought side by side when it was needed. Ye are not without some of the sufferings we endured at the hands of our father.”

“Ye must allow me to go,” Stuart repeated too exhausted to argue further.

Chapter Eight

Despite her bandaged hand, Cait did what she could to help care for the injured men who’d been attacked in the forest. All four guardsmen had been knocked unconscious and a couple of them had nasty cuts to their heads. Artair Ross had received a deep wound to his side, but still managed to ride back and alert them of the attack. He was recovering in one of the bedchambers.

Cots were being set up in the great hall for any injured men returning from Benbecula.

Lady Isobel came to stand next to Cait, who was awkwardly washing an injured man’s face with her left hand. She looked up expecting the woman to say something.

“I’m sure they’ll be returning soon.” She looked to the doorway; worry etched on her pretty face. “I am glad Darach took a large contingency.”

“Everyone will return safely,” Cait said praying Stuart was unharmed.

“Ye should rest,” Isobel said. “We may be up all night once the men return.”

“I am not tired,” Cait replied. “Surprisingly, my hand does not hurt much.”

“Come sit with me for a moment.” Isobel took her by the arm. “There is something we must discuss.”

Curious, Cait followed her to a bench at the long dining tables nearby. “Is something wrong?”

“No, not necessarily.” Isobel seemed to struggle to formulate what she wanted to say. “It is just that we find it awkward for ye to remain in the servant’s quarters, given the situation.”

“What situation?” Cait asked genuinely confused.

Isobel gave her a wan smile. “Ye should know this. I may be wrong in sharing, but my husband told me that Stuart plans to court ye.”

Her eyes widened and she let out a long breath. “Me? I am a servant.”

“Aye. I suppose love and attraction do not take note of such things. Ewan’s wife, Catriona, was a servant. Darach’s cousin, Malcolm Ross—who is also a laird—married Elsbeth, a humble healer who lived at a nearby village.”

Mind racing over what to say, Cait swallowed. “I am not sure what to think. I do not think my laird heard him correctly.”

Isobel smiled. “When he returns and asks to speak to ye, at least now ye know what to expect.”

Thankfully, someone called Lady Isobel away before there could be any further discussion about her moving from the servant’s quarters.

Cait remained sitting, her mind awhirl. Yes, she’d shared a kiss with Stuart; but surely it had not been enough for him to go to such lengths as declaring to his family that he wished to court her. It was probably to do with her having declared that she would not be a mistress. Perhaps he felt forced to make a declaration after someone spotted them kissing.

Could it be that her half brother had something to do with it? She would get to the bottom of it. And hopefully avoid Stuart until she was able to figure out why Lady Isobel and the laird expected Stuart to court her.

“They return,” Cora called out racing past her toward the kitchen entrance. “I pray Torac was not harmed.”