“But you are not sure.”
He muttered a curse. “Nae, which helps naught. Mistress Cristina’s surprise at seeing me seemed real; she seemed startled when she turned and found no woman sitting before the hearth.”
Nichola laid her son upon her shoulder, rubbed the middle of his back in a slow sweep, but Alexander saw a slight nervous tremble.
“What do you think your grandmother appearing before Mistress Cristina means?”
“It means the lass was where she shouldna be.”
Silence.
“Alexander?”
“Aye?”
“When the malachite appeared before . . . It was your grandmother’s way of letting us know Patrik lived.” Their son burped, and with shaky movements, Nichola tucked him within the swaddling cloth, then laid him against her chest. “Was Patrik’s halved stone still within the bowl?”
“Aye,” he said, irritated he’d mentioned his brother’s name.
She inhaled, released a shaky breath. “Do you think . . .”
“That the lass is the woman meant for Patrik?” He shrugged. “She did not take the stone.”
“But?”
“Blast it. I do not wish to speak of this. ’Tis foolery. The story of the stones is a myth, a fable crafted by my brothers to tease me when I abducted you.”
“Mayhap.” A smile wobbled on her mouth. “But do you not find it odd that every woman who has married a MacGruder brother has taken the halved stone of her mate?”
He scowled. “Patrik’s stone remains.”
“But, you said Mistress Cristina saw your grandmother ?”
“The lass stated that she spoke with an elderly woman, if I am to believe that.” Alexander drew his wife and child within his arms.
She laid her cheek against his shoulder. “What will you tell your brothers?”
“I know not. ’Tis a bloody mess.”
“Alexander?”
He met her gaze. “Aye?”
“You said there was another stone?”
“Aye. Never have I seen it before.”
“What do you think it means?”
“I do not know, but I assure you, I will speak with my brothers at first light. Exactly what I will tell them is another matter.”
Anger sparked in Seathan’s eyes as he stood in Patrik’s chamber by the window. “What was Mistress Cristina doing in our grandmother’s chamber?”
In complete detail, Alexander explained to his brothers and Griffin last night’s events.
“And when you arrived within your grandmother’s chamber, no one else was within the room?” Griffin asked, clearly intrigued by the new twist in the MacGruder family mystery.
“Nay.” Alexander thrummed his fingers upon the hilt of his dagger. “But from the shock on Mistress Cristina’s face as she turned and found no one there, ’tis hard to discount her claim as a lie.”
