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And if anyone tried anything, anything at all, they would have him to deal with.
Alexander couldn’t explain the strange bond he felt with this girl, but it was too new, too fresh, and already too strong for him to be willing to give it up. She was strong, that was undeniable, but that didn’t mean that she didn’t need help.
And as her Laird, and as a man, and as someone who could help, it was his duty to do so. Any threat to Cicilia would be treated as a threat to him—and he did not tolerate threats to himself.
Dinnae ye worry, Cicilia. We’ll get to the bottom o’ this. An’ I’ll keep ye safe, nae matter what.
Chapter 15
Intra Muros
Within the Walls
Cicilia’s family was well-off, and their house—before the flames, at least—large, but next to the castle, she thought it looked like a shack. It wasn’t that Castle Gallagher was particularly grand as castles went. In fact, compared to some of those she’d seen while traveling between clans, it was relatively mundane.
Still, though, there was something about the severe stone building towering over her that drew her eye and made the twins each cling to one of her hands as they approached their new temporary home.
“Are we princesses now?” Annys asked her in a whisper as they followed Alexander through the doors, a few feet behind him.
Cicilia chuckled. “Nay, nae body would have me as a princess, me button. This is nae a prince’s keep, it’s the castle o’ the laird. Ye ken what that means?”
“It means Alexander is very important,” Jamie said, staring at one of the wall tapestries adorning the entrance hall in wonder. “An’ we’re very fortunate.”
Cicilia affectionately ruffled his hair, her eyes on Alexander’s muscular back, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Aye, that we are,” she agreed.
An inner door opened as the main doors closed behind them, and a slender, tidy man walked through, perhaps around the age that Cicilia’s father had been or a little younger. Then, with a start, she recognized him.
“Mr. Cunningham,” she said, a faint blush in her cheeks. The last time she had seen the man, he was covered in mud and yelling that her siblings were demons. “I dinnae expect to see ye here.”
“Much the same to ye,” Thomeas replied stiffly, his eyes darting between the children on either side of her. “What brings ye to the castle?”
“I do,” Alexander told him. “There was a horrible accident on the farm, Thomeas. A fire. Cicilia an’ her siblings will be stayin’ here wi’ us until such time as repairs to their home are complete.”
Cicilia watched as the accomptant’s brow tightened ever so slightly. “Aye? An’ Miss O’Donnel an’ the bairns couldn’ae secure lodgin’ elsewhere?”
There was a stiffness to Alexander’s shoulders as he replied. “Probably they could. They are well-liked in the village. But I am their Laird an’ I’ve sworn them into me protection. Ye wouldnae have me go back on that, would ye?”
Cicilia felt a rush of affection for this awkward, kind man, and took an unconscious step closer to him.
Thomeas bowed his head. “Nay, Laird. Forgive me, I was just surprised. We dinnae exactly part on the best o’ terms, me an’ Miss O’Donnel.” He looked at Cicilia directly then. “Forgive me rudeness. Shall we start afresh?”
“Please,” Cicilia agreed. “For what it is worth, I apologize for the troubles ye had durin’ yer time stayin’ wi’ us.”
I may as well make all o’ our lives as easy as I can if we’re all gonnae stay here for a while.
“Oh, it’s the Angry Man!” Jamie said suddenly. “I dinnae realize! Good day, Angry Man!”
“Jamie,” Cicilia hissed.
“Nay, dinnae worry,” Thomeas replied. “Good to see ye again, James. Annys.”
Jamie scowled. “Nae body calls me James,” he said. “It’s Jamie.”
“Quite,” Thomeas replied. “Well, ye both look passin’ well since I last saw the two o’ ye on the back o’ that monstrous pig. How fares the beast?”
Jamie’s expression shut down, and his lip quivered as he moved closer to Cicilia. She wrapped a protective arm around him. “Actually, sir, Bacon is nae with us any longer,” she said. “Somebody attacked our farm. That’s one o’ the reasons Ale—one o’ the reasons that Gallagher was kind enough to get involved.”
She saw his gray eyes narrow just a fraction at the near-slip of Alexander’s first name. Still, perhaps she had imagined it, for the next moment, he was giving her a pitying smile. “I’m right sorry to hear such a thing, Miss,” he replied. “Perhaps the Laird can spare some coin an’ purchase yer faither some new animals.”
