Page 84 of Lady Len and the Mysterious Mac

“Not entirely his fault,” she hurried to explain. “I’ve never been one for talking things through. But I’m learning,” she hastened to add.

As the clansmen murmured amongst themselves, Ellen glanced nervously around the Hall, taking in their faces. Morag nodded her approval, and Mrs. Leask offered a warm smile. Behind Sam MacPherson, Greer sent her a tiny wave. She could do this.

“I understand some of you might have reservations about making your pledge to my husband.” Next to her, his posture stiffened, but he kept his arm around her, grounding her. “Let me tell you a few things you should know about Silas MacKenzie.

“He’ll take care of you all, whether you give him your oath today or not. That’s who he is. He takes care of things. Of people. Even at his own expense.

“He’s honest and loyal and clever. You may find some of his notions unusual, but that likely means they’re brilliant. And he’ll be happy to teach you anything you want to know. That’s how I found my way home tonight. Because he taught me how the stars are worth more than just being pretty.”

Next to her, his breathing changed, like he hadn’t been breathing at all before, and now he might be doing it a little too fast, and Ellen became very aware that she was sweaty under her damp clothes and heavy plaid shawl. She needed to finish this.

“I left the only family I ever knew to become a MacKenzie.” She hadn’t expected her voice to wobble quite so much when she said it, and she bit the inside of her cheek. “That’s no small thing. And though I spent a lifetime being afraid, I’m not afraid now. Because I know that the Mackintoshes will be stronger for this alliance, just like I know that any clan with Si as laird will thrive. I haven’t regretted it for even one minute.

“So if you’re going to give him your oath, please do it quickly,” she said, craning her neck to look up at Si instead of out at the men. “Because my laird is needed urgently in the bedchamber.”

The last made the MacKenzies roar with laughter and slap Si heartily on the back, as she knew they would, but it needed saying, and she chewed her cheek again, fair certain she was only still upright because he was holding her.

His ears were scarlet now, and she couldn’t see his eyes, but he held her even tighter and kissed the top of her head as they were jostled back through the Hall.

The quaich was brought and the men lined up before Si. Angus brought over a chair for Ellen, and she gratefully sank into it.

Bram was first in line. He looked up at his cousin with all the adoration in the world and took a dirk from his belt. “On the graves of my forefathers, the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessed iron that I keep ever at my side, I pledge this day my fealty and my honor, to you and to the Clan MacKenzie—to defend, to thrive, to shine, not burn, until such a time as death may claim me.”

Then Silas nodded and offered his cousin a drink from the quaich to seal the oath, and Angus stepped up for his turn. He repeated the pledge, cementing his position as the new steward, and after him came old Gawyn, and then Sam MacPherson.

One after another they came, and pledged, and drank, and it was amazing to behold. Ellen watched the muscles in Silas’s jaw, almost invisible behind his beard, twitching back his emotion at their loyalty.

Morag came and knelt before Ellen, cleaning the mud and dried blood from her face, and wrapping a poultice around her wrist to reduce the swelling.

After she’d managed to get Fraser and the Kintail on Buttercup’s back, she’d asked Fraser which direction they’d been coming from, and then she’d found the North Star in the handle of the small ladle and guided them towards home.

But when the sky had clouded over again and Fraser could barely stay upright from the pain, she’d begun to despair, trusting only that Buttercup knew the way as she plodded painfully alongside the trusty steed. When the rumble of hoofbeats had preceded Mr. Leask emerging from the fog with the blacksmith close behind him, Ellen had nearly wept.

“I shouldn’t interrupt his ceremony,” she’d confessed to Mr. Leask who laughed, embracing her in his warm arms. “Dinna fash yerself about that, lass. I’m verra sure he’ll be pleased for the interruption.”

Even now, her stomach twisted with uncertainty. There was so much left to say.

A plate of warm food and a cup of wine appeared at her elbow, and Ellen looked up to see Angus nod at her. It seemed she had an additional protector now, and it warmed to her to realize she had real friends, not just one on paper.

As if reading her thoughts, Angus slipped her a letter from his sporran addressed in the mysterious writer’s familiar hand. After everything, though, Ellen wasn’t sure she ought to read it. At the very least, not before confessing it all to Si.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Norval MacKenzie gave Silas his oath near the end of the line, not breaking eye contact even as he drank from the quaich. It was the former steward’s way of admitting defeat along with his intention to remain in Strathpeffer, though he knew well enough Si would never let him anywhere near his family again. Likely he’d liquidate his assets and leave the country soon after. Blair had already fled into the darkness, and good riddance.

When the last man had pledged and attention finally shifted away from Si, he reached down for Len’s hand and led her away. He wanted to take her straight up to the bedchamber and maul her like a dog in heat, but there was too much unsettled between them, so he led her instead to neutral ground: the chapel.

She looked around it, a small smile tugging at her lips, allowing herself pride in the work she’d accomplished, delighted to see it again. He could watch her look that way for the rest of his days.

“This is incredible,” he said, and her smile deepened.

He took both of her hands, being extra gentle with the one that was bandaged.

“Do you still wish to leave?” He tried to keep his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

The smile vanished from her lips, and she looked pained as she focused on the stained glass window. “I didn’t want to leave today,” she said, shaking her head. “But if you still think it’s best—”

“Think it’s best?” Si wrapped his arms around her. “Did you not hear anything I said before? You humble me, Len MacKenzie, and I will live out my days in service to you, if you’ll allow me.”