Page 56 of The Eagle

“I did not know ye were here,” Stuart said meeting his half brother’s gaze. “Why did ye come?”

Caelan looked to the women and they left the room as well. “I came because someone has to speak to ye and find out what is truly happening.”

“What do ye mean?” Stuart blew out a harsh breath. “I asked the woman I love to marry me. I came here to prepare a beautiful home. She repays me by breaking our betrothal. Ye should be asking her not me.” He stalked out of the room to the adjoining one to search for the whisky.

Once again, he was of no use to anyone. A man with no purpose.

He poured whiskey into a cup, not bothering to offer Caelan any.

“Stuart,” Caelan began. “Ye have been gone for months. Ye could have returned to spend time with the lass. She barely knows ye.”

He gulped down the whisky, choking on the fiery contents. After coughing until he lost his breath, Stuart swung in a circle, arms extended. “Everything. The house. The lands. Even the village needed my attention. I had no time—”

“Ye could have sent word and asked for help. If ye would have returned to the keep to Cait and returned with twenty or more men, the work would have been completed sooner.”

Fury filled him. “This is my home, my land,” he yelled. “It was up to me to work and complete what needed to be done.”

Caelan was silent. Waiting for him to calm.

Stuart could not. He wanted to hit something, to run out the door and keep going until his body gave out.

“Return with me and fix things,” Caelan said in a firm tone. “Ye should not have stayed away so long.”

Had his brother not heard anything he’d just explained. Even then, the villagers were to gather for him to speak to them the following day. He let out a grunt. “I cannot until after meeting with the villagers tomorrow.”

“We will leave right after,” Caelan snapped. “Why are ye reluctant? If ye do not care to marry her, then ye must tell her in person. It is the right thing to do.” His brother stepped closer. “If not honorable, at least be a man.”

His hands curled into fists, but he would not hit his brother. “I have planned to marry her and still will. Obviously, all I did to prepare for her arrival is not enough.”

“How was she to know? There is no excuse, Stuart.” Caelan’s head tilted a bit to the left, a sign he was serious. “No excuse.”

There was no use arguing. If someone had been there day to day, they would understand all he did. It seemed that unless actions were done by either Darach, Ewan, or Duncan, it was of little importance.

“No one cares what I do,” he finally said falling into a chair. “I give up.” He bent putting his head into his hands. “What does it matter?”

“I do not know what this place looked like before, but I can tell ye that it is beautiful now. We are aware that ye have worked tirelessly Stuart. However, ye also had an obligation to yer betrothed. Ye should be committed equally to her.”

A long silence stretched between them as Stuart considered his brother’s words. Caelan was correct. He’d been gone much too long. Winter was settling in and with it the rainy weather, which would make traveling difficult. Despite the fact he wanted to see Cait, he could not ignore the fact that he was needed at the village.

“We shall travel to the keep, tomorrow. I must see about the villagers. If I do not appear, they will see it as another slight by the Ross family.”

His brother nodded in understanding. “I will go with ye.”

They ate a robust meal of wild boar that Stuart had recently killed. They’d not eaten any of the livestock yet, as they waited to give the animals time to breed. Once offspring came, then they could slaughter some for meals. For the time being, they ate what either he or the others killed for meat, along with goat’s milk and eggs from the chickens. Wheat was acquired from the miller in the village, and the cooks made very good butter.

Stuart watched as Caelan ate. “How is Cait getting along with the family?”

“Yer mother and Isobel have taken her under their wing and have taught her many things. She is being tutored and learning to read and write.”

It was hard to imagine the sweet lass being any different. He loved her purity and the delight she took in simple things. “What about her role in the household?”

“As ye are aware, I do not live at the keep,” Caelan replied. “But from what I see when I visit, she seems to be doing well. She looks quite different. I suppose it is the new clothing and hairstyle. She seems a bit shy, but that is not surprising.”

He could not imagine her being changed at all. Clothes and hair did not totally change a person’s appearance, but perhaps the perception from others. “I am glad to hear she is well.”

After Caelan went to his bedchamber, Stuart remained awake and went outside to look up at the sky. There was a smell in the air as if it were going to rain. It rained frequently. He prayed for a pair of dry days for the trip back to Ross keep.

But before he left, he would speak to any villagers who gathered tomorrow and ensure they understood that whoever he appointed as constable, would not take advantage of them. Looking toward the guard’s houses, he considered if perhaps it would be a good job for Artair or Dougal.