Chapter 2

Annella rolled over with a little sigh, opened her eyes, and then sat up abruptly with a small gasp. It was bright daylight,

almost midday by her guess. Dammit. She'd fallen asleep while waiting for Florie to bring her fresh water for the washbasin...

and the woman hadn't woken her.

Muttering impatiently under her breath, she tossed aside the fur that someone—no doubt Florie—had laid across her and slid

off the bed. Her feet immediately took her to the washbasin by the window. It had been empty when she'd come up to her room.

She'd wanted to wash up and change into a clean gown before starting her packing. Florie had arrived then with food and drink

for her to break her fast, spotted the problem and suggested Annella go ahead and eat while she went to fetch fresh water

for her.

Annella had thanked her, but instructed her on preparing rooms and baths for the newly arrived men first. She could wait. She'd consumed the food and drink Florie had brought for her, and then paced around the room briefly, before her sore back had made her first sit, then stretch out on the bed. She'd intended only to rest for a minute to allow her strained muscles to ease. She'd known there was a danger of drifting off to sleep, but had counted on Florie's return to wake her. Obviously, that hadn't happened.

Florie had definitely returned; the water pitcher was now full to the brim with room temperature water. However, her maid

must have slid in silently and crept about to avoid waking her. Annella wasn't terribly surprised. Her maid was actually a

couple of years younger than her, but fussed over her like a mother hen and had done so since she'd been assigned to be her

lady's maid. Something that Lady Eschina had arranged a few days after Annella's wedding to William. She suspected it had

not been meant as a kindness at the time. From the moment she had learned he was gone, Lady Eschina had made it plain that

she held Annella wholly responsible for her precious William's leaving so abruptly on his "pilgrimage" on their wedding night.

Annella obviously hadn't been woman enough to keep her new husband at her side, Lady Eschina had said. Annella had driven

William off with her pathetic ways, flat chest and lack of looks, the woman had claimed. So, it had been quite a surprise

when Lady Eschina had sent Florie up to her room. It had made more sense once she'd learned that Florie had previously been

a scullery maid and had absolutely no idea how to be a lady's maid.

Annella suspected Lady Eschina had wanted her to toss the girl from her room and insist on a proper lady's maid—a request Lady Eschina would then have the pleasure of refusing. It was what most ladies would have done in response to such an insult. But Annella hadn't.

At that point she'd felt a complete failure. She'd been sure Lady Eschina was right and she was utterly useless, so unattractive

and uninteresting to William that he'd fled his own castle. Annella also hadn't had a clue what to do with herself. She knew

no one at Gunn, had no idea how things worked in her new home, and hadn't yet made a place for herself. So when Florie arrived

at her door, stammering that she was to be her new maid, Annella had taken one look at the very young and frightened lass,

had offered a smile and begun to train her in how to be her lady's maid. Six years later, Florie was the best damned lady's

maid Annella could have asked for. She was also her best friend and ally.

But Annella was still going to give the maid hell for letting her sleep. She knew the lass had done it out of love and concern,

but Annella had things to do. She ran this whole damned place by herself, fulfilling the roll of both laird and lady in her

husband's absence. It often kept her working from sunup to sundown. Throw in the healing skills her mother had taught her

over the years and there was rarely a night when she was allowed to sleep in her bed for more than an hour or two. It had

been a hard six years, and Annella could almost weep with joy that it was coming to an end. Her husband was dead, she was

free and she could return to MacKay and her family and...

Well, frankly, she had no idea what would happen after that. Annella was quite sure that her mother would love and coddle her and ease away all the misery and insecurity caused by the last six years. But then what? She was hoping that her father would arrange another marriage for her. It was what she wanted. Despite how miserable an experience her marriage to William had been, Annella wasn't willing to give up her dreams of having her own loving husband and children. She just hoped her next husband and his family were not like the Gunns. But that should be easily avoided since, surely, she'd get to meet any prospective husband and his family first. Wouldn't she?

Annella was pondering that when the sound of her door opening caught her ear. Turning sharply, she saw Florie entering and

scowled. "You should have woken me."

"I did try," Florie said, completely unconcerned by her anger. "Ye did no' e'en stir when I shook ye. Ye were exhausted. As

evidenced by the fact that ye slept through the day, the night and most of this morning... missing Laird Graeme's taking

on the position o' laird, and the whole clan swearin' their fealty."

"What?" Annella squawked with dismay. She didn't really care about missing the ceremonies for Graeme taking over. It wasn't

like she would be here long anyway, and once she left, he would not be her laird. It was the length of her sleep when she

had so much to do that upset her. "Surely, I did no' sleep that long?"

Florie nodded firmly. "Aye. Yer brother and yer husband's brother arrived yester morn, and ye've slept e'er since." She shrugged

as she crossed the room to her. "Ye must ha'e needed it."

Annella let out a slow breath and turned to pour the pitcher of cool water into the basin. It wasn't the first time she'd slept overlong. That seemed to happen every few weeks. She'd be up the better part of most nights for two or three weeks, and then just crash and sleep for an extended period. Not this long though. A day and night, yes. A day, night and then the better part of another morning? No. It seemed she had though, and supposed it was just her body claiming what it needed. Still, it was annoying.

"Would ye no' rather ha'e a nice warm bath than just a standin' wash?" Florie asked suddenly.

It was a tempting thought, but she'd slept so long and—

"I think it may be in yer best interest to bathe."

Annella stilled at those soft words. Turning, she eyed Florie warily. "Why?"

"Because yer hair needs washin', ye smell like a charnel, and I'm thinkin' ye'll want to look yer best when ye next meet yer

husband's brother."

"Graeme?" she asked with surprise.

Florie nodded and then started to work on her laces to get her out of the gown she'd now not only worn for more than two days

but had slept in.

"Why would I want to look me best fer Graeme?" Annella asked with bewilderment.

"Because yer a Gunn, he's Laird Gunn now, and ye need his permission to leave Gunn land," she said succinctly.

Annella sagged back against the table the washbasin and pitcher sat on and then stiffened when cold water sloshed out onto her lower back and the top of her behind through her gown. She didn't straighten at the splash of cold, but stayed slouched against the table, unsure her legs alone would hold her up just then.

Florie's words had shaken her. Mostly, because they were true. She was a Gunn, by marriage, and so was under Gunn rule. She

could not go home to MacKay without permission. If she tried, he, by rights, could hunt her down and drag her back.

But surely, he wouldn't do that... would he? Really, he shouldn't even care. The man didn't know her. She didn't even think

they'd met before the previous morning, although she couldn't be sure. She thought he'd probably attended her wedding to his

brother. Annella seemed to recall someone mentioning at the wedding that both of William's brothers were there, so she may

have been introduced to him. If she had, she didn't recall. That whole day was just a blur in her mind. Still, she couldn't

imagine he'd care if she left or not.

It wouldn't hurt to make herself as presentable as she could in the hopes of earning his favor though, she acknowledged. Especially

since she'd made it so plain that she was glad her husband, his brother, was dead. Annella recalled her conversation with

Payton in front of the other man, and winced at the memory.

"Oh dear," she breathed with dismay as she realized how insulting he must have found that.

"What is it, m'lady?" Florie asked. Tearing her gaze away from Annella's laces, which appeared to be giving her difficulty,

she arched an eyebrow in question.

Annella straightened from the table, sending it rocking again and making more liquid slosh out of the basin, this time onto the floor.

"I need a bath," she announced grimly. "And my prettiest gown."

Florie smiled at her approvingly. "I'll be right back. I've had Cook keeping warm water on fer ye all morning."

Annella watched her go and then moved to the window to look out over the bailey below as she fretted. There was no reason

for her brother-in-law to want her to stay... other than as punishment for her reaction to learning her husband, his brother,

was dead. The problem was, she didn't know the man and had no idea if he could be that petty.

"Damn," she breathed, leaning against the cool stone of the window frame. She was so close to freedom she could smell it.

Only Graeme Gunn stood in her way.

"So?"

Graeme pulled his attention from the men he was watching practice at battle and glanced at Payton MacKay in question.

"Yer laird now," he pointed out, reminding him of the ceremony that had been held that morning once the members of the Gunn

clan had all been gathered in the courtyard. It hadn't been fancy and there had been no feast. In fact, it had been as brief

as could be by his request, but he was now Laird Gunn.

"Will ye let Annella leave with me, or no'?" Payton continued.

Graeme scowled slightly at the question and turned back to watch the men of Gunn wield swords, spears and battle axes as he considered how to answer.

As expected, his father had taken the news of William's death stoically, with just a flash of grief that streaked across his

face and disappeared. His mother, however, had not fallen apart as he'd believed she would. In fact, she hadn't seemed affected

at all. Her only comment had been, "Well then, I guess Dauid is laird now."

"Dauid?" Graeme had repeated the name of his younger brother with surprise, even as his father made a distressed grunt of

protest.

"Well, ye always said ye'd no interest in bein' laird," his mother reminded him coldly. "Ye enjoyed battle too much to stop.

So, o' course, Dauid will take the position."

"Nay." His father had growled the word with effort, and then had said, "Graeme." Or at least Graeme felt sure that was what

his father was trying to say, though his speech was much impeded. That had been another surprise on speaking to his parents.

His father was no longer the strong, hale man he'd last seen six years ago. Apparently, he'd taken a tumble down the keep

stairs some weeks after the wedding. He'd survived the fall, but was no longer the man he used to be. While Gaufrid Gunn appeared

fine from the waist up other than his trouble with speech, his legs were now useless, leaving him confined to his bed.

The biggest surprise though had been that his brother's wee wife had been running the keep, acting as both chatelaine and laird in her husband's absence these last six years. From what he'd seen so far, she'd done a damned fine job of it too. Though he suspected it must have been hard to act as both chatelaine and laird for such an extended length of time. As well as healer, he thought, recalling the scene they'd walked

in on when they'd arrived. He supposed it was no wonder the woman was eager to leave.

Whatever the case, his father had made it apparent he was to become laird now that his brother was dead. Meanwhile, his mother's

expression puckering with displeasure had made it equally apparent she was displeased with this outcome.

It would seem Dauid had become the favored child since William's leaving. Graeme supposed he should have expected as much.

He hadn't been here himself. Although, even if he had been, he didn't think his mother would have favored him. She'd always

found his size and strength somewhat vulgar. Probably because he looked much like his father, a man she had always made it

obvious she hadn't wanted to marry, and wouldn't have, had her father not forced her to uphold the marriage contract he'd

arranged when she was just a bairn.

"Well? Will ye let her leave with me?"

Payton's impatient voice drew him from his thoughts and Graeme hesitated, but then said, "That depends."

"On what?" Payton asked at once.

Graeme shrugged. "While I ha'e been away at battle these last six years, yer sister has been runnin' Gunn and its people.

She kens them and how the keep works and it wid be helpful did she aid me in settlin' into rulin' here."

Payton heaved out a resigned sigh. "Aye. I can see how that would be helpful."

"Aye," Graeme agreed, marveling at his own ability to come up with such a bullocks excuse so quickly. Honestly, he hadn't

known he had it in him. He'd had little need for prevarication as a soldier, but he was definitely showing some skill at it

now, because Graeme had no real need or desire for Annella's help in taking up the position she'd filled these last six years.

He was quite sure that if a woman could do it, he would have no difficulty managing the task.

"How long do ye think ye'll need her here?" Payton asked now.

Graeme glanced around at Payton, his mouth opening to spit out an answer, but paused as he spotted Annella crossing the bailey

toward them.

"What is it?" Payton asked, noting his expression. Then he turned and looked over his shoulder and sighed. "Annella," he murmured

and shook his head. "She'll no' be pleased ye want her to stay."

"She'll settle to it," Graeme said softly and hoped he was right, because the sight of her with rosy cheeks, her hair clean

and flowing, along with the pretty blue gown she wore made Graeme quite sure he wanted to bed the lass, which meant he'd have

to wed her first.

Graeme found the idea of marrying her terribly appealing just then. Aside from being attracted to her, finding an alternate bride would definitely be a pain in his arse. He had no idea how many women were presently available to marry, but suspected the number would be small. It would be made up of lasses whose contracted intendeds had died ere reaching adulthood, or lasses whose parents hadn't bothered with the task of arranging a marriage while they were bairns. Despite the fact that that was exactly what had happened with he and Dauid, Graeme didn't think there would be many lasses in the same position. He found it hard to believe there were a lot of parents out there coldhearted enough to leave their daughters' futures undecided.

Another consideration was that, so far, he actually liked the woman. Contrary to the impression Payton had given them of his

sister during the six months they'd traveled together, Annella was smart, strong, capable and a hard worker. The last of which

was evidenced by how well Gunn was doing. His people were well dressed, well fed and happy. They'd also been sure to tell

him what a fine job Lady Annella had done since his brother's leaving. It was apparent that his people loved the lass. The

clan would definitely be pleased if he married her. More important, he was quite sure that she was someone he could respect,

and even like.

His gaze slid over her again as she approached. Her stride was confident and quick, her expression relaxed and easy. It would

definitely be no trouble for him to fill her belly with bairns and bring about those heirs he would need.

"Well, I best go give her the news," Payton said, dragging Graeme from thoughts of making babies with Annella and back to

the man beside him. Payton MacKay's face was filled with a resignation that made it obvious he wasn't looking forward to the

task ahead of him.

Graeme would have laughed at the man, but suspected Payton was in for an ordeal. Judging by the eagerness that had been in her voice the morning before when she'd said she'd go pack for the journey home, it seemed obvious Annella was eager to leave and that her time at Gunn had not been happy. Graeme wasn't surprised. His mother had a tendency to make those around her miserable. She always had. Certainly, he hadn't been sorry to leave Gunn when he had. It was also the reason he'd only returned once in the decade since leaving, and that had been to support his brother on his wedding day.

From what Graeme had seen, his mother had not changed from the cold, disapproving old bitch she'd been when he was growing

up. Which meant it would no doubt take a lot of convincing to make Annella agree to marry him and live here.

Ah well, he'd always enjoyed a challenge, Graeme thought as he watched Payton rush away to head off his approaching sister.

A crooked smile claimed Annella's lips as her brother hurried toward her. It then quickly turned apologetic before she said,

"I'm sorry, brother, I ken me sleeping so long has delayed our journey. I'll pack as quick as I can, I promise, and then we

can—"

"There's no rush," Payton interrupted to assure her. "Why do we not go find something for you to break yer fast with and we

can discuss the journey home."

Annella didn't fight him when he caught her arm and turned her back toward the keep, but she was frowning. "I already broke me fast. In fact, I'll most like skip the nooning since I ate so late. Besides, what is there to discuss? Other than whether we leave today or tomorrow?"

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously when Payton's expression became pained. "We are leaving today or tomorrow, are we no'?"

Her brother's response was to clasp her arm firmly and urge her to move more quickly. "We really should wait until we are

somewhere more private to speak. Mayhap the gardens."

Annella immediately dug in her heels and forced them both to a halt. Her expression was accusatory as she turned on him. "The

last time you wanted to talk to me in private, it was because you thought ye had bad news to give me."

Payton's mouth tightened with irritation. "You were always a stubborn cuss, sister. Why can you no'—just this once—allow me

to take ye somewhere private to discuss matters?"

Annella snorted at the suggestion. "There is nowhere private at Gunn."

"Ye're wrong." Payton sounded smug. "Graeme says there's a flower garden behind the vegetable gardens that would give us privacy."

Annella gave a derisive laugh at the suggestion, and when he began to urge her along again, said, "Oh aye, if ye do no' mind

the dozen or so couples indulging themselves under the trees, in the tall grasses and hidden in the bushes." When he glanced

at her sharply, she explained, "'Tis a popular spot for young Gunns to get up to houghmagandie."

This time it was Payton who stopped walking. Spinning on her with amazement, he cried, "Nay!"

"Aye," Annella assured him. "Although, sometimes they're actually in the trees rather than under them."

" In the trees?" Payton echoed with disbelief.

"That's right." She turned and started to walk again, forcing him to continue as well. "Although, I only know of one couple

who's done that," she told him and then pursed her lips and corrected, "At least there's only one couple I caught at it."

She shrugged. "And since I spotted the young male of the couple in question at practice in the courtyard just now, I suppose

we'd be safe from that. Mayhap," she added with a little uncertainty, and then pointed out, "I mean, just because I only caught

one couple at it, that does no' mean there are not others I have no' caught."

"In trees," Payton muttered, his expression a cross between amazement and horror. "How the devil did they do it without falling

out o' the tree?"

"They didn't. Or at least they did no' the time I caught them. That's how I caught them. They fell out of the tree, and just missed landing on top o' me."

"Good God," Payton muttered.

Annella nudged his arm with her elbow to draw his attention back to her, and then suggested, "Why do ye no' tell me what has

your tunic in such a tangle that ye think we should talk in private?"

A series of expressions crossed Payton's face as he apparently had an internal debate. Annella watched as first a scowl, then

irritation, then uncertainty, and then a frown slid over his face, one after the other. When it ended in a look of resignation,

she knew he was ready to talk.

"We cannot leave right away," Payton said apologetically.

"What exactly do ye mean by right away?" Annella asked suspiciously. "Are ye saying we must wait till tomorrow? Or perhaps

the day after that?"

Before Payton could respond, she added, "And why exactly can we no' leave today or tomorrow? Are one o' your men ill? Is your

horse lame? What—"

"Because Graeme needs your help takin' over as laird o' Gunn," Payton interrupted.

Annella stopped again and turned to face him. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again and then just gaped

at him.

Taking advantage of her stunned state, Payton immediately burst into speech. "He's been away at battle for the last decade.

He's no idea who does what here or even what all needs doing. He wants ye to help him ease into the position."

"Well, bugger that!" Annella burst out the moment he stopped speaking. " He's their laird now. He'll figure it out. I did. Nobody was here to train me to take over the duties of the laird of the clan

when his brother abandoned me here. His mother and father left me to sink or swim. I had to sort it out on me own," she said

resentfully, and then her chin jutted up and she growled. "He can too. In fact, he'll have to, because I'm going home. With

or without ye."

Annella whirled on her heel and headed for the keep at a swift march. She heard her brother's sigh and his footsteps as he

hustled to catch up to her. This time when he grabbed her arm, it was to slow her down rather than to steer her anywhere.

"Annella," he said firmly, "Graeme is the clan chieftain now. He is laird over the Gunns."

"I am aware, brother," she said shortly.

"Well, then you are aware that as a Gunn yourself ye cannot leave Gunn land without your laird's permission."

Annella came to an abrupt halt and whirled on her brother. "Are ye sayin' he's refusin' to let me leave?" she asked with disbelief.

She had really hoped this would not be the case. In fact, she'd convinced herself of it. After all, Laird and Lady Gunn had

despised her these last six years. Lady Eschina had told her outright that she wished that Annella had never come to Gunn.

Earlier, while she'd bathed, Annella had assured herself that William's brother would feel the same and be happy to see the

back of her.

Payton paused before he responded, obviously choosing his words carefully. "He'd like your aid in takin' up the mantle o'

laird so that the transition is as smooth as possible." When her gaze narrowed, he rushed on, "The people of Gunn have just

learned his brother, their laird, is dead. They're about to lose yourself, who stepped in and took up that position while

he was missing these last six years, and are faced with a man they have seen only once and briefly since he earned his spurs

more than a decade ago. He thinks, and probably rightly so, that this could be a tricky situation and that your presence would

reassure the clan members and aid in making the transition smoother."

Annella stared at her brother, her thoughts racing as she turned the matter over in her mind. In truth, it might not be a terrible thing for her to help Graeme take up the reins of Gunn. She did know the people better than him at this point. She could tell him who was trustworthy, who wasn't, who had issues that needed dealing with and who didn't. The fact of the matter was she would not mind doing that, because while some people—mostly her mother-in-law and the woman's maid, Agnes—had tried to make her life miserable here, it hadn't been all bad. There were many members of the clan who had been good to her, who had appreciated her efforts and had made her feel welcome... if not right away, then after she'd proven herself. Certainly, she hadn't blamed them for being leery of her. At first, she'd been an untried young bride, abandoned by her husband and dropped in the laird's seat. Even she had been positive she would make a muckle mess of it.

However, Annella had spent several years trailing her father and brother around MacKay before her mother had decided it was

time she settled down to lessons in running a keep. While she'd been a dutiful student under her mother's tutelage, she'd

also apparently paid attention during those years accompanying her father on his tasks as laird, so that while she hadn't

been expert at the job, and hadn't known absolutely everything a laird had to do at first, she'd had a basic understanding

of it, which had helped her quickly pick up the rest.

Despite her own fears, and the expectations of the others, Annella hadn't actually been a horrible laird. In fact, by the end of the first year, she had become quite efficient at the job and had started to earn the respect of both her soldiers and her servants. Over time that had turned into affection on both sides, and there were some people here she would be sorry to leave. Which was something she hadn't thought of in her eagerness to get home to her mother's comforting embrace and the possibility of her parents arranging a proper marriage for her.

Annella was thinking of it now. She began to drum her fingers on her outer leg through her skirt as she considered the issues.

Stay and help Graeme take over as laird here in the hopes that he would treat the people well? Or refuse, and leave, which

quite possibly could result in his making some error that ended with their people not having enough food to carry them through

the winter, selling their goods at such a low price the coffers were affected, or even saying the wrong thing and landing

the Gunns in a war with another clan. Annella wouldn't want to leave the people she'd overseen these last six years to such

a fate.

The very thought had the faces of the people of Gunn running through her mind... including Florie. Annella's frown deepened.

Florie was who she'd miss most. The maid had been her greatest supporter and encouragement these last six years. They'd become

dear friends. She couldn't imagine not having her in her life.

Biting her lip, Annella pondered the possibility that Graeme might agree to allow her to take the young maid with her. That

was something she hadn't even considered in the first rush of knowing she would be going home. Now she did.

He might, she considered. But Graeme was more likely to agree to give her such a boon if she helped him. Perhaps that was something she could negotiate with him. She would stay and help him if he allowed her to take Florie with her when she left.

"Fine. I'll help," she said abruptly, and her brother had just begun to relax when she added, "But only if he agrees to a

boon for me."

For some reason, her words brought worry to her brother's face. "What kind of boon?"

Annella merely shrugged. "That would be between Laird Gunn and myself. There's no need to trouble ye with it."

Leaving her brother staring after her in the courtyard, she made her way back to the keep. She had to speak to Florie. She

wanted to take the lass with her, but would only do so if the girl was willing. If the maid would rather stay here at Gunn

with her family, Annella would be disappointed, but would understand. She had to talk to her about it before she made the

request of Graeme. Then she would go check on Raynard and young Liddy to be sure she was recovering well from having her bairn

and no infection had set in. She had a busy day ahead of her despite the fact that Graeme now had the responsibilities of

laird in her place. She still had her other duties to attend to.