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CLARE’S EYES WERE WIDE, her mouth agape and all she could do was stare at him. She did not run to him as a woman in love would have but at length, she did stand up a little straighter not needing Tristan’s physical support quite so much. “They said you were dead.”
Alcott went to her and took her limp hand. “I know, but as you can see, I am not dead. I have come to take you home finally.”
Greer suddenly realized. “Do you mean you truly were in mourning? Oh sister, I am so sorry. I thought...”
But Clare ignored her and spoke to Alcott, “Your father has...”
“Passed,” he answered. Alcott looked down to show the proper amount of respect for his departed father.
But when he raised his head he looked as though he was going to kiss her forehead. The thought of it made her stiffen. He looked so unimpressive compared to the Highlanders, and he was not nearly as handsome as she remembered. His hair was dark and so were his eyes, but this time his eyes were not soft. Instead, there was a hint of fury in them, a fury she did not want to see.
He wanted to get Clare away from these people in all possible haste, but Alcott had to know and was looking at Tristan when he asked, “Clare, has he spoiled you?”
“What?” She no longer leaned hard against him, but could still feel Tristan’s muscles tighten. “You dare ask me that in front of others?”
“If you are to be my wife, I must know the truth. Besides, these are simple people who do not even speak our language.”
“I see.” Suddenly bold, Clare glanced at Neil and then turned around to look at her sister. “Alcott, how is your dearest friend?”
“You have not yet answered my question.”
“True, but mine is far more interesting to these simple minded people who do not speak our language. Your dear friend is George of Leics, is he not?”
“George was quite well when last I saw him and I do not understand why you would bring up such a thing. Now answer my question? Has he spoiled you? I cannot have a wife who is not...”
“Chaste?” asked Neil in English.
A stunned Alcott quickly turned around.
But from behind Clare, Tristan tapped Alcott on the shoulder. “We could use a good lad like you to clean up after the horses. They tend to make a considerable mess and cleaning up their droppings quickly teaches a lad to mind his manners...even in the company of simple minded people.”
Alcott began to back away from Clare, but Neil quickly came to him. “You are the bravest of lads entering Scotland with only four. I am quite enthralled. Come, share my wine and tell me all about your friend. He is the new king, is he not?”
Still shocked that Neil spoke English, he hesitantly nodded, let the giant take his arm and guide him to the table. Glenna took all the women, including Greer and Clare upstairs and soon the seats at the table were filled with Englishmen on one side and Scotsmen on the other, none of whom were certain what Laird MacGreagor was up to. Tristan and Brendan stayed back, but were determined to wait for Greer and Clare.
Neil filled a goblet with wine and handed it to his guest. “We hear good things about this new king. Tell me, what do you like about him?”
Alcott cautiously looked at the Highlander faces across the table from him. “Like about him? Ah...well...he is fair minded on most occasions.”
Neil was tempted to make the man struggle to find flattering things to say about his king a while longer for sport, but he wasn’t sure he could abide the man’s company for long. “How long have you known him?”
Alcott relaxed a little, on this subject he could speak easily. “We were raised in the same county, Cumberland naturally. We played together as...”
*
SEATED ACROSS FROM him, Walrick finally caught Stuart’s eye and asked, “None of them speak Gaelic?”
“Not a word. What would you like to know?”
“How do you intend to rid yourself of him?”
Stuart was shocked. “You know? But how...?”
“It is what I would do. The world is better off without lads like him.”
“He promised to give over a nice section of property when his father died, but he has broken his promise. Now I am bound to him forever, unless I can do him in somehow.”
Walrick drank some of his wine. “We will not do it for you unless he draws his sword, but we will not protect him either.”
“Thank you.” Stuart glanced at Alcott, who was still being grilled by Neil. “He only wants Clare to boast of her beauty to the king. They constantly try to out-do each other.” Stuart was quiet for a moment. “You will not kill him unless he draws his sword?”
“Aye, unless he draws and aims to kill one of us.”
“I am small yet in a fair fight, I might be able to do it myself. But the other two are loyal.”
“I see. Then what you need is for us to provide you with a fair fight.”
“Aye, and in return I will be a friend of the MacGreagors for life.”
*
SO FAR, NEIL WAS NOT pleased with any of Alcott’s answers. However he thought he had the man plied with enough wine to be forthright when he asked a more pertinent question. “Why is the king looking for Charlet?”
Alcott smiled, “I nearly forgot. I meant to ask you about her. Word has her being raised by the MacGreagors. Is it true?”
“Aye there was a lass named Charlet in our clan, but it was years ago. She is probably dead by now, if that was the one. Charlet is a fairly common name in the Highlands.”
“Dead? Are you certain?”
“I am certain of nothing.” The man’s inability to hold his wine was becoming extremely irritating, so Neil decided to ask just one more time. “Why is the king of England looking for Charlet?”
“I do not know who is looking for her. They are talking about her all over England. Some say she is the rightful heir, but George will never relent. It is not in his blood to lose any sort of battle and especially not to a lass.”
It was not the answer Neil wanted, but he believed it was the truth. He sent Brendan upstairs to get Clare and then waited, giving only short answers to all of Alcott’s questions. As soon as she entered, all the men stood up. “Clare, do you wish to marry this lad?”
Alcott finally made it to his feet, “See here, MacGreagor, I...”
“Nay,” Clare interrupted. “May I go now?”
“Aye.” Neil smiled and watched her go, followed by Greer, Brendan and Tristan.
That was an end to it. Clare was a MacGreagor and it was time to send this English back to the hole he crawled out of. He noticed Alcott was not steady on his feet and nodded to Walrick. “See they are off our land and sent back to England.”
Walrick helped Stuart take Alcott out the door and put him on his horse. He nodded as soon as Stuart mounted and then whispered instructions to the four men he was sending to escort them off the property.
*
SHE WAS CALM ALL THE way back and never said a word, but when they got to Greer’s cottage, Clare could no longer maintain her composure. She was exhausted and did not hesitate to sit down on the tree stump near the cottage door and rest her face in her hands. “What a horrible little man and to think I put all my hopes and dreams in him.”
Greer put a hand on her sister’s shoulder, “Do you forgive me for not taking you seriously?”
“Only if you forgive me for not telling you.”
“Only if you will tell me all about it later.”
Clare couldn’t help but giggle. “Everyone will soon know what a baboon I have been for ever loving a man like that.”
Brendan wrinkled he brow. “What is a baboon?”
“It is a...”
But Tristan interrupted, “That is what I forgot to tell Neil. Clare can read and write.”
Brendan was thrilled, “That is it! We have been looking for something the women cannot refute and we have found it. Someone who can read and write English is very useful to the clan.”
“Then I will stay, but I do not yet want a husband. I want to learn freedom first, and learn to weave, and learn to laugh, and even to cry.”
Greer wrinkled her brow. “Aye, but what are we going to tell all the lads? Telling them you do not want a husband will not likely keep them away for more than a day.”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “I suppose I could take her for a walk now and then and let the lads think she prefers me still.”
Clare had just a hint of a twinkle in her eye when she grinned at him. “You are very kind.”
Tristan’s smile was not as wide on the outside as it was on the inside. The moment Alcott said he was taking Clare back to England, Tristan made up his mind—when she was ready to think about taking a husband, he planned to be right there waiting.
*
IN A FAIR FIGHT, ALCOTT of Cumberland, who recently became Lord of Wickerly Castle, proved to be a coward. The king granted Stuart the land he was promised—which meant the MacGreagors had a true friend in England.
Someday they might need one.
-End-
