Page 6 of Highland Dove

“I canna live like ye, Tillie, raisin’ yer children by yerself,” she whispered.

“Mari?” Tillie cocked her head and narrowed her eyes. Her gaze flashed down to Mari’s hand on her stomach. “What’s the matter? Is there somethin’ ye are no’ tellin’ me? Are ye bairned?” Her eyes opened wide as she waited for Mari’s answer.

“Nay,” scoffed Mari. “I am still a virgin, if that is what ye are askin’. Although I had a weak moment and would have given in if Duncan hadna been the strong one in the end.”

“Children, go get in the cart and wait for us there.” Tillie sent her girls off and Artair ran after them to join the others. Then Tillie turned back to Mari and crossed her arms over her bosom. “Mari, I dinna ken how to tell ye this, but I overheard some of the women gossipin’ at the well.”

“About me?” Mari’s hand flew to her chest and she started rubbing her locket between her fingers. “What did they say?”

“Well, I heard gossip that ye are bein’ foolish, holdin’ out for Duncan when he’s never goin’ to return. The strumpet of the clan, Laria, said Duncan never really wanted ye in the first place.”

“Laria said that, did she?” Mari waved her hand through the air, dismissing the thought. “She is no’ only jealous, but a liar. Dinna listen to a word she says.”

“But she said ye are goin’ to be marryin’ another by Hogmanay.”

“That’s a lie,” spat Mari. “The only person I’m goin’ to marry is Duncan.”

“But . . . what if he’s dead? Dinna ye think he’d want ye to marry another man? Wouldna he want ye to be happy?”

“I’ll never be happy with anyone but him. Now, I’ll no’ hear another word about this. Duncan and Angus are goin’ to return. I ken they will. And when they do, Duncan and I will marry just as we’ve planned all along.”

“I hope ye are right, Sister.” Tillie flashed her a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. “I hope ye are right.”

When they rode into the courtyard, Mari saw Eideard coming from the keep accompanied by that gossiping Laria. There was a frown on his face.

“Go on inside where it’s warm, children,” Mari called out, getting out of the wagon, followed by her sister.

One of the older boys ran by with ivy clasped tightly in his fist. He was followed by the rest of the children coveting their woodland treasures.

“Wait!” she cried out, causing the older boy to turn around. The rest of the children did the same.

“What is it?” he asked in question.

“Children, let me see what ye found to help decorate the great hall for the festivities.” Mari peeked into the bag that Ava carried. “I see holly and pinecones and some branches from the fir trees. Very nice.”

“I even found some mistletoe so everyone can kiss,” said one of the older girls, holding a sprig above her head and making kissing motions with her mouth. The boys made faces and groaned while the girls giggled.

“No one wants to kiss ye,” said Lucas, the eldest boy, motioning to the other three boys. “Let’s go.”

“Whatever ye do, dinna bring that ivy into the castle,” Mari called after the boy, but he didn’t hear her. Everyone knew that ivy needed to stay outdoors. Bringing it into one’s home only meant a death would occur in the near future. Right now, with all Mari’s worries about Duncan, the last thing she wanted to think about was another death.

Mari and Tillie made their way back to the castle, meeting Eideard and Laria at the bottom of the stairs leading to the entrance of the great hall. Mari never liked Laria since she always had her eye on Duncan. And just seeing Eideard made her stomach turn. She despised him taking control of the clan in Duncan’s absence. He’d always been trouble and never got along with Duncan. Since Mari’s arrival at MacLean Castle, she had tried several times talking to him about Duncan, but he always pushed her away. He’d told her Duncan and his brother were dead, and not to question him about it again.

“Where were ye?” growled Eideard, talking to Mari and Tillie. “Laria tells me she saw ye leavin’ the castle unescorted.”

“Laria should mind her own business,” said Mari, glaring at the petite, blond woman who always dressed like a whore.

“I think I’ll go check on the meal since it is about to start.” Laria tugged at her bodice, exposing more cleavage and turned and swung her hips as she made her way back up the stairs. Every man there watched her with a smile on his face.

“I’m sorry, Eideard. Time got away from us,” apologized Tillie. “We were collectin’ things from nature to decorate the great hall.”

“Ye’ll call me Chieftain now as is proper,” he spat. “And I never said ye two and the children could go off without an escort. It had better no’ happen again.”

“We didna think it mattered since we werena goin’ far,” Mari boldly spoke up, determined to prove to this man that he didn’t scare her the way he did everyone else. In Duncan’s absence, she’d become braver. “It’s Yuletide and there were no decorations for the holiday to be found anywhere in the castle. We were helpin’ Duncan’s mathair since she is too distraught lately to do anythin’ but cry.”

“It’s a silly tradition, and I dinna care about holidays,” spat Eideard.

“Well it means a lot to young ones as well as to the rest of the MacLean Clan,” Mari stated. “If Duncan were here he –”