Curling it in his hand, he took it with him as he made his way below stairs. Even at the early hour, the keep was already stirring with activity. Caelen and Alaric were just finishing eating and looked up when Ewan entered the hall.
“Marriage has turned you into a slugabed,” Caelen drawled. “We’ve both been up for an hour.”
Ignoring his brother’s jibe, Ewan took his seat at the head of the table. One of the serving women hurried out with a trencher of food and set it in front of Ewan.
“What the hell are you holding, Ewan?” Alaric asked.
Ewan glanced down to see he was still carrying Mairin’s dress tightly clenched in his hand. Instead of answering Alaric, he called the serving girl back.
“Is Maddie about yet?”>
“Aye, Laird. Would you like me to fetch her?”
“At once.”
She dipped a curtsy and hurried out to do his bidding. Mere moments later, Maddie hurried in.
“You called for me, Laird?”
Ewan nodded. “Aye.” He thrust the dress toward the woman, and with a surprised look, she took it. “Can you repair it?”
Maddie turned the material over in her hands, examining the place where the material had rent.
“Aye, Laird. ’Twill only take a needle and thread. I could have it done in no time.”
“See that you do. I’d like for your mistress to have it whole again.”
Maddie smiled, and her eyes sparkled with a knowing look that annoyed him. He scowled at her and motioned her away. Still grinning, she tucked the dress under her arm and left the hall.
“You tore her wedding dress?” Caelen smirked.
“You certainly have a way with the wenches,” Alaric said, shaking his head. “You haul her up the stairs for perhaps what was the fastest consummation on record, and you tear her wedding dress in the process.”
Ewan’s nostrils flared. “She’s not a wench. She’s your sister now and you should speak of her with respect as your mistress and wife to your laird.”
Alaric held up his hands in surrender and leaned back in his chair. “No offense was intended.”
“Touchy, isn’t he?” Caelen said.
Ewan’s glare silenced his youngest brother. “We have much to do today. Alaric, I need you to be my emissary to McDonald.”
Both Alaric and Caelen shot forward in their seats, incredulity etched on their faces.
“What? Ewan, the bastard tried to abduct your son,” Alaric growled.
“He denies knowledge of his soldier’s actions and vows that his soldier acted on his own accord. The soldier is dead now,” Ewan said flatly. “He won’t be a threat to my son ever again. McDonald wants an alliance. ’Tis to his advantage to call us friend. I’ve denied him until now. But his lands would join ours to Neamh Alainn. I want you to make it happen, Alaric.”
“So be it,” Alaric said. “I’ll leave within the hour.”
Alaric strode from the hall to prepare for his journey. Ewan quickly finished his meal and then he and Caelen quit the hall and went to where his men were training.
They stood in the courtyard, watching as the other soldiers sparred and went through ttraining exercises.
“ ’Tis imperative that Mairin be under constant guard,” Ewan said in a low voice to Caelen. “Duncan Cameron won’t give up just because I’ve wed her. There is much to be done, and Mairin must remain inside the keep under careful watch.”
Caelen shot Ewan a wary glance. “Don’t think to saddle me with such a chore. She’s your wife.”
“She’s the future of our clan,” Ewan said in a dangerously soft voice. “You would do well to bear that in mind when you tell me what you will and won’t do. I expect your loyalty to me to extend to her.”
“But a nursemaid, Ewan?” Caelen asked in a pained voice.
“All you have to do is keep her safe. How hard can that be?” Ewan asked. He motioned to his senior commanders when they finished the current round of sparring.
He instructed Gannon, Cormac, and Diormid on his expectations that Mairin be watched over at all times.
“As you wish, Laird. She won’t like it much,” Gannon said.
“I’m not concerned with what she won’t like,” Ewan countered. “My concern is keeping her safe and with me.”
The men nodded their agreement.
“There’s no need to alarm her. I don’t want her to feel unsafe on my land. I want her guarded well but I want it to appear that ’tis just the way of things.”
“You can count on us to keep Lady McCabe safe, Laird,” Cormac vowed.
Satisfied that his men understood the importance of keeping close watch on Mairin, Ewan summoned his messenger and penned a missive to the king informing him of his marriage to Mairin and requesting the release of her dowry.
