She heard a commotion from outside, the low hum of a crowd, so turning on her heel, she hurried through the entrance hall and halted abruptly at the top of the short flight of steps that led down into the courtyard.
The mystery of where everyone had got to was solved. The courtyard was full of people—the whole household by the look of it. Everyone was lined up in orderly rows, grouped by occupation. The guards all stood on one side, the household staff on the other, while the stable hands, farriers, and kennel staff all stood at the back.
At the very front, slightly apart from the rest, Anna spotted Laird Douglas, Lady Hildie, Aislinn and Emeric. They all wore the Mackintosh plaid, Laird Douglas and Emeric wearing swords strapped to their sides.
What was going on? Everyone was facing the open gates and was she imagining it, or did everyone look a little apprehensive?
She waved, trying to catch Emeric’s eye, but his attention was fixed ahead and his expression was stern. His hair billowed in the breeze, his brow furrowed, one hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Puzzled, Anna walked down the steps and began making her way through the crowd towards him. As she reached the front, Emeric turned his head and spotted her. The smile that lit his face made Anna’s heart stutter. She raised her hand to wave but Laird Douglas said something and Emeric turned away. A noise came from beyond the gates: the thunder of hooves. Lots of them.
Anna tucked herself into the front row of household staff next to Maisie, the maid who’d taken care of her the night she arrived.
“What’s going on?” she whispered to the young woman.
“The MacDonalds are arriving,” Maisie whispered back.
The MacDonalds? The Mackintosh’s neighbors?
The thunder of hooves grew to a crescendo and a line of mounted people cantered into the courtyard. They rode large, thickset horses and each rider was wearing the same colored plaid—different to the Mackintosh in both color and design. The cloth seemed thicker and richer, and the bridles and tack shone silver.
Most of the riders spread out to either side of the gates, but three rode forward and pulled up in front of Laird Douglas. One was a middle-aged man, clean-shaven with long gray hair and whipcord thin, the second was a regal-looking older woman riding side-saddle with plaited silver hair coiled on top of her head. The third was a man around Anna’s own age, with a mop of white-blond hair, chiseled good-looks and perfect white teeth that he flashed in a broad smile.
Mackintosh serving staff rushed forward to help the three dismount. The middle-aged man was the first to touch the ground, deftly swinging his leg over the horse’s broad back. His boots, polished to a high shine, struck the stones of the courtyard with an authoritative thump. Stable hands brought a set of wooden steps to help the older woman dismount and she did so regally, her skirts rustling softly. Lastly, the young man dismounted with a charismatic grin etched firmly on his handsome face.
Laird Douglas stepped forward, his broad chest rising and falling under his Mackintosh plaid. “Laird Alexander, Lady Maria, Lord Duncan,” he greeted in a voice that echoed throughout the courtyard. “Welcome to Dun Achmore.”
The middle-aged man offered a curt nod in acknowledgement while his gray eyes shifted to take in hissurroundings. “Douglas,” Laird Alexander MacDonald said in a tone as chilly as his gaze. “Yer hospitality is noted.”
The Lady Maria looked around imperiously, whilst the young man, Lord Duncan, gave a playful salute to Emeric. Emeric merely nodded in response, his expression tight.
Hildie and Aislinn stepped forward, lowering into deep curtseys.
“To our esteemed guests,” Hildie said in a loud voice. “We bid ye welcome. May ye find comfort within our walls and warmth from our hearths.”
Lady Maria bestowed a smile upon them and Laird Alexander, his cold exterior melting slightly, gently inclined his head. But Anna noticed that the younger man—Lord Duncan—stared at Aislinn, and the smile was suddenly gone from his face.
“Lady Aislinn,” Duncan said tightly. “My congratulations on yer upcoming nuptials.”
“Thank ye, my lord,” Aislinn murmured, not meeting the man’s eyes.
Anna had no idea what was going on but there were clearly undercurrents here that she was painfully ignorant of. She tried to remember what she’d learned of Clan MacDonald. It wasn’t much. They were the Mackintosh’s neighbors weren’t they? The ones who had rights to a portion of the Mackintosh harvest?
She was about to ask Maisie about it when Laird Douglas began leading his guests towards the great hall, the staff falling in behind. Anna was swept along with the crowd.
Emeric walked with his family, his shoulders rigid and fists clenched at his sides. He barely spoke a word. His unclewas engrossed in a conversation with Laird Alexander. Their faces were severe, their words lost in the buzz of conversation. Emeric’s eyes, however, were focused on Lord Duncan. The young man was gazing at Aislinn with an intensity that sent unease creeping through Anna’s veins.
As they entered the great hall, the serving staff quickly set about their tasks. The clatter of cutlery and murmured voices filled the air as everyone found their seats. It seemed she’d not missed breakfast after all. Good. She was so hungry she could eat a scabby horse and still have room for pudding.
She followed Emeric and Laird Douglas toward the high table, but Maisie gently took her elbow and steered her away. Instead, she was led to a table where Aislinn, Hildie and Lady Maria were already seated, whilst the two lairds, along with Emeric and Duncan went to sit at the high table alone.
Anna had no idea why things were different this morning but it was clearly some form of protocol that she was unaware of. With a slight shrug, she took a seat next to Hildie, with Aislinn and Lady Maria opposite.
The elegant older woman’s gaze fixed on Anna. Despite the lines around her eyes and the white of her hair, she looked hale and strong and Anna found it difficult to put an age to her. Certainly older than Laird MacDonald. His mother, perhaps?
“I dinna believe I’ve had the pleasure,” she said with a smile. “I’m Maria. And ye are?”
“Anna,” Anna said, holding out her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
