Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Alison had just been dreaming about the man sitting on her bed. She felt so sick and hadn't been out of bed since they'd arrived. The little bit of food she'd eaten had come right back up when she retired to the room.

"How long have I been here?" she asked.

"About two days. We received a message from Laird Sinclair only hours after ye were discovered missing."

She folded her hands under her head. "I'm sorry I went for my ride by myself when ye told me no' to."

"About that. I am disappointed that ye put yerself in danger, but it seems it was all planned."

Alison frowned. "What do ye mean?"

"There was a small fire started in one of our outlying villages. We had no idea how bad it was until we got there. ‘Twas verra small, no stealing, no killing, no injuries. As happy as I was no' to see suffering, it seemed odd to me."

"A way to make me go by myself," she said. "Apparently there are those who kenned that I doona do as ye ask."

He nodded. "Aye, I am afraid so."

A small tear drifted down her face. "I won't ever do that again. I ken ye have my safety in mind, and no' just controlling me."

She'd had time to think while lying in bed feeling sick. For a while she'd had a fever, but presently she felt cooler.

As she'd thought about her predicament, she knew in her heart that, even though she'd rode out on her own against Finn's wishes, there was no doubt in her mind that Finn would come for her.

Because she trusted him.

She'd finally accepted that Finn would ne'er hurt her, e'er leave her, or take on a mistress. He'd be there for her.

"I am sorry, lass, that ye still feel as though I am trying to control ye. I've given it some thought, and I realized I only need to insist on ye obeying my orders when it comes to yer safety. I doona want to even think about living without ye, Alison."

And, with a sigh, he continued, "And ye were correct; I need to leave the past behind. I cannot control everything, and I need to stop trying."

"I love ye, Finn Mackay," she said.

"And I love ye, Alison Mackay." He bent and kissed her gently on her lips. She pulled him closer, causing the kiss to go deeper, sealing their love for each other.

Finn held her cheeks in his hands. "Ye are beginning to grow warm again, lass." He turned to the maid who had been sitting there, assuming she was left there to keep Alison from trying to escape.

"Can ye fetch the healer? I'd like to speak with her, plus my wife seems to be developing another fever."

"I'm no' sure I'm supposed to leave her."

Finn smiled. "'Tis fine. Yer laird is right now speaking with The Mackay. All is well."

Still looking doubtful, she stood. "I will leave the door open."

"Archie said his da wanted something from the broken engagement. Is that what they are speaking about?" Alison asked.

"Aye. Yer da wanted me to come by myself to meet with The Sinclair, but I doona ken what he is willing to pay for the broken engagement."

Alison huffed. "Archie broke the betrothal."

"And I thank God every day that he did," Finn said, running his finger down her cheek.

She cupped his face with her hands. "Me as well."

Finn rested his foot on his knee. "I think after we return home after this, I will be taking over many of yer da's responsibilities."

"He is growing weaker, is he no'?"

"Aye. He had a hard time this week remembering two of our maids that have been there for a few years."

Alison shook her head. "I could see this coming for some time now."

"I ken," he said.

The door opened and the maid returned with another woman. Older, plump, and with a smile on her face. Her ruddy cheeks and bright eyes made one like her upon seeing her for the first time.

"Ach, I see our patient is awake." She moved closer to the bed. "How are ye feeling, Lady Mackay?"

She took Finn's hand in hers. "Many times better since my husband is here."

The woman looked at Finn. "And a fine looking mon he is."

He grinned and Alison nudged him with her elbow. The healer looked at Finn. "My name is Camy Sinclair, the clan healer."

"Finn Mackay, Miss Sinclair. "I believe my wife is starting another fever."

Camy began to tsk and felt Alison's head. "Aye."

"They said downstairs that Lady Mackay is suffering with an ague," Finn said to the healer.

"Aye. She arrived no' feeling well and then started with the fevers. She's had two since we put her to bed."

He narrowed his eyes. "Did she arrive with any injuries?"

The woman hesitated and then said, "Aye, when we undressed her, we found a bruise on her back."

Finn nodded and Alison was certain he knew immediately who would have caused the injury.

A soft knock at the door caught their attention. Another maid entered. "Laird Mackay, The Mackay requests yer presence downstairs."

Finn looked at the healer. "I trust ye with my wife. She means e'erything to me."

The woman nodded. "Yer a good mon, Mackay. I am verra pleased Lady Mackay married ye."

He had no idea if the healer knew about the broken betrothal and why it happened, but he thought that was what she was talking about. Staff are great gossipers, and it seems likely she knew all about it.

He gave her a quick nod and, after kissing Alison on her cheek, left the room.

"The lairds await ye in the solar." The maid who had arrived to tell him he was needed waved him toward the staircase.

She walked ahead of him, not speaking.

His thoughts returned to Alison. He'd never been so scared in his life when she went missing and then received the message from The Sinclair that they had her.

His first thoughts were to lead a few hundred warriors to The Sinclair holding and wreak havoc. Then he came to his senses and realized that was probably the easiest way to get Alison killed.

She looked all right for someone with an ague, and the healer seemed to know what she was about. As soon as this meeting was over, he was taking his wife home.

He knocked on the solar door. "Come."

He entered to see The Sinclair, The Mackay, and Archie sitting at a table. The Sinclair waved him over.

Finn sat next to The Mackay and crossed his arms over his chest.

"We dinna receive what we were due in the betrothal agreement," The Sinclair said.

When The Mackay said nothing, Finn leaned forward. "Yer son broke the agreement when he refused to marry my wife ." He nodded in Archie's direction.

"I dinna want to marry yer whore. I had to be sure my son was my son."

Finn forgot all about control and jumped over the table, landing on Archie. He got a few good punches in before The Mackay ordered him to stop.

Both men climbed to their feet, and, glaring at each other, took their seats.

"If any other insults are made or even alluded to about my wife , this meeting will be o'er and ye can expect the Mackay clans to attack within hours." Finn barely got the words out with how tight his jaw was.

The Sinclair turned to his son. "Keep yer mouth shut or I'll toss ye out of the meeting."

Archie gave a quick nod and slumped in his seat like a lad.

"I want the piece of land that was part of the betrothal," Sinclair said.

The Mackay motioned to Finn to move closer. He whispered in his ear, "I'm no' sure what piece of land he speaks of."

Finn closed his eyes and held in a groan. The Mackay was fading fast. "Did ye bring a copy of the agreement with ye?"

"Aye."

Finn let out a sigh of relief and took the parchment from him. He unrolled it and studied it for a minute. He leaned back to The Mackay and said, "It's on the border between ye and the Sinclairs. It appears he wanted it because of the water. A small lake that fills from one of yer lochs."

The Mackay nodded. "Aye. Give him the land."

Finn cleared his throat, but he was certain that the laird heard their exchange. "The land is yers. Laird Mackay will sign it o'er to ye."

"That is no' all."

The Sinclair took out a document and laid it on the table. After waiting for a few moments, most likely to build up tension, he tapped it with his finger. "I just came into possession of this. ‘Tis worth a great amount of coin."

Finn didn't see any reason to respond since it was up to The Sinclair to tell them what he wanted and what was in the document.

"I will take five hundred merks." The laird sat back after making that announcement and crossed arms over his chest.

Finn pushed back his chair and stood. "We shall be leaving now. I will take my wife with me. We can share my horse unless ye care to offer one to us that will be returned."

"Doona ye want to see what is on the document," the Sinclair laird said.

"No'hing is worth five hundred merks," Finn said. He looked over at The Mackay who studied the other laird. He nodded to the parchment. "I will see what it says."

"Are ye prepared to turn over five hundreds merks?" Finn said.

The Sinclair shoved the paper across the table. His father-in-law picked it up. He read it very slowly and then said, I will have the merks delivered to ye and take this with me."

"I have yer word?" The Sinclair said.

"Aye." The Mackay pushed back his chair. "Gather the men, Finn."

Still completely stunned at what just happened, he stared open-mouthed at the two men, then stood. "I am no' leaving without my wife."

He turned to The Sinclair. "I would like to have the use of one of yer horses. I doona ken if my wife is strong enough to ride by herself but we would make better time if we are no' sharing a horse. I want her home in our own bed to recover."

The Mackay walked very slowly from the room, looking broken, tucking the paper in his pouch.

Finn hoped the laird would one day share with him what was on that paper that was worth five hundred merks. ‘Twould probably empty their coffers.

"Smiling gleefully, The Sinclair said, "We can lend ye one of our carts. It will take ye longer to return home, but I believe Lady Mackay would be more comfortable."

"Thank ye. I would like that." Finn headed upstairs to the room where Alison was. She was sleeping again and the maid watching her said, "The healer gave her another draught to help her fever and make her sleepy."

Since it would take some time to prepare the cart for her and for the two lairds to work out whatever exchange they needed to do for the land and money, Finn nodded at the maid and returned downstairs.

‘Twould be a long trip, so he went to the kitchen. The cook was still in there and he asked for food for the trip. It would take a couple of days to travel to Castle Varrich with Alison using a cart, so most likely they would stop for the night at least once, so the men would have to do some hunting.

She was most accommodating and said she would have the packed food ready when they left and she would make up trenchers of food for him, James, Albert, Finn, Alison and The Mackay straightaway.

As was the practice, the warriors who traveled with them would provide their own also by hunting.

He didn't know exactly why but he was itching to leave the place and get Alison settled in their bed in their own bedchamber. The healer here seemed quite nice, but he would feel safer for his wife once they were home.