Kennan (McClains Book 4) Page 4

  “Aye,” Fiona responded immediately. She said nothing else about her new laird’s sleep habits as she got the porridge ready and gave it to Gillian in a small bowl.

  When Gillian had finished eating, she found herself at a loss. She did not know what she was supposed to do next, and she so wanted to please not only her new husband but her new clan as well.

  Just as she was carrying her bowl into the kitchen, Lady McClain came down the stairs. “There you are, Gilly. We are just finishing up cleaning the big bedchamber at the top of the stairs. You should get some servants to help you move your things to the new room.”

  Gilly stared at her mother-in-law for a moment. “I just realized none of me things are even here yet! I used Kennan’s hairbrush this morning, thinking that I would find mine later. Well, I canna find mine because I have not brought it here yet!”

  “You should ride home and pack up your things while you are waiting for Kennan to wake. He was up half the night listening to congratulations on becoming the new laird, and advice, and then complaints. I worry he will sleep ’til midday!”

  “I would think he will. I will take your advice. Is it a problem if I use a horse?”

  Lady McClain put her hand over Gilly’s. “You are the new mistress here, Gilly. You can do what you like.”

  Gilly stared at the older woman for a moment before nodding. She was right. She could just ask for a horse and ride home. “I will do that then. Would you let Kennan know where I am when he wakes?”

  “Why do you not leave him a note? I will be setting up me new cottage.” The excitement in the older woman’s eyes surprised Gilly for a moment.

  “You are happy to go, are you not?”

  “Aye, I am. I have spent me entire married life fulfilling me duties to me husband and family. Now I can go live in me small cottage and grow flowers all around it and live me life the way I see fit. Never in me life have I had this much freedom!”

  Gillian frowned. It was sad to think that the woman she had admired so much had never felt free to live. She promised herself she would never let her duties come before her need for happiness. Never.

  Chapter Four

  Gillian refused to let the stablemaster put a saddle on the gelding he chose for her, and she rode much faster than she should have through the meadows filled with bluebell toward her ancestral home. When she stopped the horse in front of the keep where she had grown up, she quickly tied the reins to a nearby tree before rushing into the keep, calling as she hurried. “It is just me! I am here to retrieve me things and take them to me new home!”

  As she rushed up the stairs, she passed one of the servants who had grown up with her. She hugged her friend, Ava. “It is so good to see you! Will you help me pack up me things?”

  Ava shook her head for a moment, not in answer to the question, but to still her brain after the whirlwind that was Gillian rushed through. “Aye, I will help you. Your mother said the two of you could not wait another minute before you married. You never have been patient.”

  Gillian laughed softly. “Nay, I have not. It has served me well this time. I have married me love, and I will now live happily ever after!” She spread her arms to both sides and spun in a small circle. How could life be anything but perfect now that she had married her Kennan?

  As they packed together, Gillian told Ava about the quick wedding and how happy she was. “I would love to have the chance to steal you away from me parents, but I think you would feel lost away from Campbell land. I love the McClains, and it already feels like a second home, but I have a feeling it would not be the same for you.”

  Ava smiled. “Nay, Gilly. It would not be the same for me. I still plan to marry Brodie, and we shall live happily here as Campbells.”

  “At least our clans will be allies, and we will be able to see one another at fairs and feasts.” Gillian gazed at a small rock that she had kept for years because Kennan had once given it to her as a token of his great affection for her. Well, he had not put it that way, but she understood what he had meant. She added the stone to her bag of things she was taking with her, a smile on her face.

  “I take it you are pleased with married life so far,” Ava said softly, eyeing her friend’s smile.

  “I am. Kennan will make a wonderful laird and husband. I am pleased to be able to spend me life with him.” Gilly hoped the other girl would not ask about the wedding night because she was slightly ashamed that there had not been one. Surely if she had been a better wife, there would have been. They would see to it that night. Clan business would not always keep Kennan from her.

  An hour later, all of her belongings had been stuffed into four bags, which had all been tied across the horse’s back. Her father helped her fasten the bags securely. “Gilly, you should have used a saddle. What is your new clan going to think of having a mistress who does not use a saddle? It is not ladylike!”

  Gilly laughed, hugging her father and kissing his whiskered cheek. “Oh, Papa, me clan will accept me for who I am. They dinna feel the need to raise me to be a lady, so they will not notice when I dinna live up to their standards like you and Mama do.” She swung up onto the horse’s back without waiting for help. “I will see you soon!” With those words, she rode off toward her new home, once again at breakneck speed.

  How could someone live in the highlands and not feel the need to ride like the wind? She assured herself as she rode that Kennan would not have a problem with her riding as fast as she did. She knew he would want to be beside her, not scolding her.

  She rode a bit out of the way so she could jump a small stream that divided Campbell land from McClain land. After she landed with a laugh, she pulled the horse to a stop, looking out over the land in every direction. By marrying the laird of Clan McClain, she had cemented their families’ ties to one another even more than her sister Kirsty had done by marrying one of Kennan’s brothers. She was helping to bring peace to the highlands by helping to keep the alliance going.

  She felt as strong as a warrior goddess of the old religion as she thought about it. She ignored the fact that her parents and Kennan’s parents had been close friends for many years. Instead she thought about how she had helped keep peace. She sighed contentedly. Soon she would be home with her husband with all of her belongings, and they would move down the hall to the big bedchamber his parents had shared at the top of the stairs. Soon, they would be the people all of the clan looked to whenever they needed something. Why soon, it might happen that the Campbells and McClains might decide to just be one clan.

  And it would all be because of her connections to each clan and her efforts to become mistress of the McClains. Aye, all of the highlands would be singing her praises when they realized that she had singlehandedly united all the clans of Scotland.

  She grinned as she rode toward the McClain keep, ready to begin her life as lady of the clan. Ready to take her rightful place as the queen of the highlands. She laughed aloud, the sound full of joy as she rode past the keep to the stables, unaware of all the faces turning toward her.

  When she stopped in front of the stable, she took the bags from the horse’s back and flung two over each shoulder, nodding at the stablemaster to thank him for taking care of the horse for her.

  She had not taken more than two steps when one of the McClain warriors stopped her. “Let me carry your bags for you, Lady McClain.”

  Gillian had worked hard to become self-sufficient. When she had been a small child, she had been certain that Kennan would save her from anything, yet after he had saved her, she no longer wanted to have to rely on anyone to save her. She wanted to save herself. “I thank you, but I can manage.” She kept walking toward the keep, unaware of the man frowning behind her.

  When she reached the keep and went through the front door, she found Kennan sitting at the huge table in the great hall, obviously having his first meal of the day. “Good morning!” she called, a smile on her face.

  Kennan could not help but smile back at the grin he saw on his new wife’s face. “Good morning to you. Where have you been?”

  Gilly frowned for a moment. “I meant to leave you a note. I apologize!” She dropped the bags, hurried to Kennan’s side, and leaned down to kiss his cheek. “I went home to fetch me belongings. I thought I would be back before you woke.”

  “You have freedom to come and go as you want, Gilly. I am surprised me men let you carry those bags yourself though.” He had heard a loud thunk as the bags had landed on the floor. Usually his men would help a lady who had a heavy burden to carry.

  “One of your men offered, but I knew I could handle it on me own. I am no longer the little girl who screamed when she saw a wolf.” She had a need for him to see just how strong she had become through the years.

  Kennan caught her around the waist and pulled her down onto one of his knees, one arm going around her waist while he continued eating with the other. “So you would no longer scream if you saw a wolf?”

  “Nay. I would pull me dagger and put it through the wolf’s heart.” Her words were soft but very determined. There was no doubt in his mind that she believed every word she said.

  “I think you should be able to defend yourself if you are alone and a wolf attacks. But when there is a man there who can help you, will you not allow him to do it?” Kennan could not understand her reasoning. Aye, she should be strong when necessary, but it would be good for her to lean on him when she could.

  Gillian thought of the question for a moment, but she knew the answer. “Nay.” It was that single word answer that drove home her feelings. “I felt helpless, and it seemed to take forever for you to arrive and save me. Never again do I want to have to feel that way.”

  Kennan nodded. “I do wish you would allow me men to help you when they are a
round you, but I understand your need to keep yourself safe. I pray that you never have a need to use that ability, but if you do, I am thrilled you have it.”

  She frowned for a moment. “You would have me pretend that I dinna have the ability to carry a few bags so a man could do it for me?”

  He laughed softly. “I know you better than that. You do what you want to do, and I will take care of me men.”

  She turned to him, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I will go and put me things in the bedchamber atop the stairs. Your parents cleaned it out early this morning so they could move into one of the small cottages. I felt bad about them leaving, but then I decided I could not change their feelings.” She grinned. “Besides, I like the idea of having the whole keep to meself with the man I love sharing it with me.”

  “Oh? And when will he arrive?”

  She looked at him in confusion. “Who?”

  “This man you love.”

  Gillian laughed softly. “I think you know exactly who I mean when I say that.” She jumped up from his lap and ran over to pick up her bags. “Will you be off training your men today?”

  He smiled, thinking of their game from years past. “I will be off training me men. I will see you for the evening meal.” He stood and walked to her, his lips against her ear. “And tonight, I plan to retire to bed before you are too tired to participate in me lovemaking.”

  “That would be very nice,” she said, hurrying away from him. She all but ran up the stairs, finding young Morvan there, sweeping out the chamber. “Well, hello.”

  Morvan smiled at him. “Lady McClain . . . er . . . the former Lady McClain asked me to come and clean out this chamber for you. I hope you dinna mind.”

  “Of course not. I was planning to ask if you would come and work here in the keep anyway. I could use someone who came at the same time I did, and so would understand exactly how I want to do things and not constantly question me.” Gillian sat on the edge of the bed, her bags of treasures around her. “Would you like that?”

  Morvan nodded, visibly relieved. “And then me parents will be cared for.”

  “Of course they will. You will eat all your meals here, but they will receive whatever they need as payment for your services.” Gillian was not yet sure what those services would be, but to have a companion beside her who was loyal to her would be good starting out in a new household. She worried all the other servants would be comparing her to the former Lady McClain.

  Morvan grinned. “That will be wonderful. It will mean everything to me family.” She rushed around the chamber, opening a trunk at the foot of the bed. “Would you like me to put your things away?”

  For a moment, Gillian thought about refusing, but if Morvan was to be her confidante and help, then she should be the one to do it. “Aye.”

  Once that was finished, the two of them went down the stairs together for their midday meal. As they walked, Gillian talked about what she wanted to accomplish that afternoon. “We will need to move all of Kennan’s things from his old bedchamber into the new one.”

  “It seems odd to hear you call the new laird by his first name, but as his wife, I guess you have the right.”

  “You will not still use his first name?” Gilly asked, slightly confused.

  “Nay. He is not only the laird, he is now me boss. I must call him Laird McClain.”

  Gilly had a feeling that others in the clan would not be quite as respectful of such a young new laird. She hoped she was wrong.

  Kennan spent the day dealing with one complaint after another. The clansmen all felt more comfortable with him than they had with his father. Many of them had been children when his father had become laird, but they remembered his birth, so it felt natural to be able to talk to him about anything that bothered them.

  Many of the complaints were petty and downright silly, but as his father had taught him, Kennan dealt with each one as if it was the most important thing he had to do. It was late evening when he finally had a chance to go back to the keep to see his beautiful bride. She was eating supper with just Morvan at her side.

  “I am sorry I took so long. The men had many issues they brought to me today. While me brother Abel trained the men, I was dealing with all of the complaints of the clan.” He shook his head, collapsing into a chair beside Gillian. “I am not sure how me father has dealt with so much nonsense for so long.”

  Gillian smiled, filling his plate with the choicest meat from the platter in the middle of the table. “It sounds like you had a rough day.”

  Kennan shrugged, one shoulder lifting. “It was not what I expected me first full day as laird to be like, but it could not have lived up to what I expected. I have been dreaming of today since I was a small boy playing laird and lady of the keep with a young girl in the forest.”

  “Oh, is that so? Is the lady of the keep to your taste then?”

  He laughed. “Are you searching for a compliment, Gillian?”

  “Always, Laird.” She watched as he quickly ate his supper, drinking the water in the goblet in front of him. She knew his family did not drink much alcohol, which set them apart in this land.

  As soon as the meal was over, Morvan jumped to her feet to clear the table. Gillian did not stop her because she had no clear idea of what the girl would do except be her friend, and it seemed odd to pay her for that. Of course, if it would help Morvan’s family, she would certainly be willing.

  While Morvan was in the kitchen, Gillian grasped Kennan’s hand with her own. “I will send Morvan home after supper dishes are done, and we can have the evening alone together.”

  “That sounds nice to me. I have been waiting for some privacy with me bride.” He reached out and stroked her cheek, obviously thinking about the night ahead of them. “I was mortified to be kept downstairs, listening to all the men toast me over and over. I was not interested in what they had to say, only me bride.”

  She smiled at that. “I was disappointed, but I understood. You could not leave them to make love to your wife when you were the reason for the party. It would have been rude.”

  He leaned toward her for a kiss as the door of the keep slammed open. “Kennan!”

  Kennan sighed, pulling away from Gilly. “I canna believe the incredible timing the men in this clan have.” He turned his attention to the visitor, whom she recognized as one of his father’s closest confidantes. “Gilly, this is Bhreac. He is been me father’s advisor for many years.”

  Gilly nodded to the older man. “It is good to meet you, Bhreac.”

  Bhreac bowed his head slightly. “Lady McClain.” He turned his attention to Kennan. “There is a fight brewing between two of the men, Kennan. They both have their eyes on the same lass, and it seems she has promised to walk with both of them on different nights this week.”

  Kennan shook his head. “This is something that should be easily dealt with. Why did not you simply take care of it?” He could not imagine why the laird would need to be involved.

  “The two men have their swords drawn, and they are not listening to anyone.”

  Kennan sighed. He needed to deal with his hard-headed men, and all he wanted to do was make love with his Gilly. “I will be back as soon as I can.” He squeezed her hand as he stood to leave.

  Gilly nodded, completely understanding. She had watched her father called out of their keep over and over for smaller things. It was the laird’s job to handle disputes among his clansmen. “I understand.” She wished things were different, but she knew this would be their lives until their seventh son married and took over for her husband. If they could ever start conceiving their first . . .

  She went to bed alone again, staring up at the ceiling. She and Kennan had been in such a hurry to make love that they could not wait another day to marry, and now here they were. It was their second night of marriage, and he had kissed her more before becoming her husband than he had since they had stood before the priest. Surely there was something she could do to be sure she had his full attention just for one night.

  Kennan solved the silly dispute between his men by bringing the girl out and making her choose in front of them both who she wanted to be courted by. He refused to let her say both men. It took much longer than it should have, and it was full dark by the time he got back to the keep.