Chapter Two
On horseback, Cyrus and two of his brothers—Dermott and Fraser—approached the imposing Castle Rebbinglen late in the evening. Dirk rode beside them. Isobel, along with the female servants and the bairn, traveled in a coach. The chiefs' bodyguards rode nearby, while the rest of the MacKenzie and MacKay clansmen and guards followed behind the coach.
Cyrus could not believe how wide the roads were here, just inside the edge of the Highlands, but Dirk had told him that Kilverntay had hired men to make road improvements through his and Rebbie's extensive holdings over the years. This made it easier to have supplies carted in from the coast.
Glancing up at the steely clouds hanging low in the sky, he was glad the rain had held off all day.
He could not keep his mind from wandering back to Lady Lily and all the questions he had about her. Had she already arrived at the castle? Would he find her attractive? He hoped she would see their match as advantageous.
Once their large party passed through the massive portcullis, a group of over a dozen people met them in the bailey. Robert MacInnis, the Earl of Rebbinglen—Rebbie to his friends—stood at the forefront of the many guards and servants. Dark-haired and wearing a belted plaid, Rebbie looked much as he had the last time Cyrus had seen him two years prior.
Cyrus dismounted to greet him first.
"Welcome. And congratulations on your new title, Stornmor." Grinning, Rebbie clasped Cyrus's forearm, giving him a warrior handshake.
"I thank you, but you well ken to call me Cyrus. Unless you wish me to call you Rebbinglen."
Rebbie laughed. "Nay, indeed. I'm glad you've all finally arrived. I expected you days ago."
"Aye, 'twas our intent to arrive yesterday, but we ran into storms midday and had to take shelter with Chief Calhoun overnight. Several days ago, a gale forced us to row the galleys into a port north of Inverness, then continue sailing south after it was over."
With a slight frown, Rebbie sobered. "Thank God you're all safe."
When Dirk and Isobel approached, Rebbie turned and gave him a warrior handshake and a back-slapping embrace. "Good to see you, my friend. And you too, Isobel." He kissed her cheek. Grinning, he gently patted their sleeping son's wee head. "Congratulations on this new addition to your family. He's the image of you, Dirk."
"Aye." Dirk gave a proud grin. "He's a wee scamp. Always into something."
Rebbie then greeted the rest of the MacKenzie brothers, exchanging handshakes. "Where is Shamus?"
"Happily married," Cyrus said dryly, still unable to believe his younger brother had married almost two years ago. "And watching over Teasairg Castle while I'm away."
Rebbie chuckled. "Good for him. Come in. I wish all of you to meet my wife and children."
They climbed the stone steps to the great hall and a petite blond lady approached, carrying a tiny babe.
After introducing Cyrus, Rebbie wrapped his arm around the lovely woman's shoulders. "This is my wife, Calla." Rebbie's beaming smile said they were blissfully in love just as Dirk and Isobel were.
Cyrus bowed. "I'm most pleased to meet you, Lady Rebbinglen."
She grinned and bobbed a curtsy. "Please call me Calla."
Rebbie introduced each of the newcomers, and Cyrus had no idea how she could remember so many names.
Rebbie pulled back the blanket from the newborn's face. "And this wee lad is my heir, William, named after my father."
Isobel pushed forward to get a closer look. "Ooh, he's adorable."
"I'm certain he'll be a strong warrior like you one day," Cyrus said.
Rebbie motioned to the small fair-haired lass of about one that a nursemaid held in her arms nearby. "This is our daughter, Katherine." He then placed his hands on the shoulders of a lad of around eight summers who stood in front of him. "And this is our son, Jamie."
Even though Dirk had already told Cyrus in secret that Jamie was, in truth, Rebbie and Calla's firstborn son, only close friends were allowed to ken the truth of it. To everyone else, Jamie was Rebbie's stepson. Cyrus was amazed at how much the lad resembled Rebbie.
Jamie bowed respectfully, and then Cyrus shook his hand, impressed that he already possessed a strong grip. The lad had been an earl longer than Cyrus.
Dirk shook his head, bemused. "You were a confirmed bachelor the last time I saw you, and now you have a lovely wife and three children. You have been busy, my friend."
Rebbie chuckled. "Indeed."
