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Unlike his father.

“Of course,” he said, watching Lina leave the hall with the lady’s maid Angus had found for her. “I would speak to you as well.”

Moving to an alcove just outside the hall for privacy, Niall did not hesitate. “Tell me all.”

Angus shook his head. “I was surprised, of course. Had heard of the incident with the cattle and assumed you had gone to MacKinlay about the matter. Why else would you have been in the presence of the chief’s sister?”

“Why indeed,” he agreed.

“A wife. And a MacKinlay wife,” the old man mused. “Your father did not take the news well?”

Before coming to Glenhaven, Angus had served with Niall’s father for many years and knew him well.

“Nay, he did not. Refuses to accept his daughter-in-law.”

Angus did not seem surprised.

“So you are here.”

“Aye,” Niall said. “Though we’d planned to reside here, I did not think ‘twould be necessary to give up my position as the chief’s second.”

That did seem to surprise Angus. “Did he say as much?”

“If he will not accept her. . .” There was naught else to say on the matter.

“I see why you fell in love with the woman, despite her clan’s affiliation.”

“I am not—”

Angus laughed. “You may not know love, son, but this old man knows the affliction well.”

Angus had been married for many years. When his wife fell ill and died, he remarried. But when he lost his second wife, Angus vowed never to do so again. And had not.

“I care deeply for her and married Lina so not to be parted from her.”

“It is no weakness to admit to love.”

Niall wished to steer the path in another direction. “How was your tour?”

“We got along, if that’s what you wish to know. I will admit my initial thoughts had not been kind. ‘Tis been many years since I’ve been in the presence of a MacKinlay. But Lady Avelina. . .”

“Did you tell her you fought in the Battle of The Black Friars?”

“I did,” he said. “Told the lady most sincerely I was sorry for the loss she bore because of it. But also stated I knew her father to be an honorable man, even as he was considered an enemy.”

“Men can be both, I suppose.”

“And women too.”

“What did Lina reply?”

“That together we would learn to bury the past and forge a new future.”

The corners of Niall’s lips raised. “Do you believe such a thing is possible?”

“Mmm. I would not have believed I’d spend the afternoon giving a tour to the new lady of Glenhaven, the chief of MacKinlay’s sister.”

Angus liked her, and Niall was pleased by the fact.