That was young to wed, though it was legal age of consent.
“Ach, the poor thing must be miserable,” Glynis said.
“’Tis true that the pair was wed for the most practical of reasons,” Alex said, giving her a pointed look across the campfire. “That was five years ago, and by all accounts, they are a remarkably happy couple.”
Glynis did not mistake Alex’s meaning. Holding his gaze, she said, “
“Aye, despite the fact that the Campbells killed all of Muriel’s uncles after the marriage,” Alex said, then he shifted his gaze to the men around the fire. “The lesson, lads, is to avoid getting yourself between the Campbells and what they want.”
“I could listen to that man’s stories every night and never tire of them,” Bessie said with a long sigh.
Glynis could, as well—if she did not have to wonder who the storyteller was taking to bed afterward.
CHAPTER 28
Inveraray Castle, Argyll
Glynis forced herself to drag her gaze from the young red-haired woman’s little finger—which was missing the last joint—to her face. From the way Lady Muriel gazed up at her husband, it was obvious that she adored the man. What was a pleasant surprise was the way John Campbell’s hard expression softened when he looked at Muriel. Happiness radiated from them.
Glynis swallowed back the well of emotion choking her at the sight. Long ago, she had believed that she would find love like that when she wed. She had decided never to marry again, rather than accept something less a second time.
Against her will, her gaze traveled down the head table past Muriel and John to Archibald Campbell, who had become earl and chieftain when his father was killed at the Battle of Flodden. The Campbell chieftain was black- haired and broad-chested, and he had the piercing eyes of a hawk. It was not the chieftain, however, who drew her attention, but his sister.
Catherine Campbell sat on the other side of the chieftain sharing a plate of food with Alex. With her lush curves, creamy skin, and dark, luminous eyes, Catherine was the sort of woman every man lusted after. And anyone could see that she wanted Alex. Catherine was not a subtle woman.
Catherine’s deep, sensuous laugh seemed to flow below the noise in the hall straight into Glynis’s ears. Glynis stabbed her knife into a slab of pork and cut it into tiny bites for Sorcha, who sat beside her. She chewed her own food with such resolve that her jaw ached.
Glynis was so intent on keeping her gaze on the food before her that she was unaware of the hush in the hall until Sorcha poked her in the side. When she looked up, the only sound in the room was a furious whispering between the Campbell chieftain and his brother and sister, who sat on either side of him. The seat next to Catherine was empty.
“Glynis.”
Glynis jumped at the sound of Alex’s voice behind her.
He rested his hand on her shoulder and said close to her ear, “We are leaving the hall.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Shaggy MacLean has just come through the gate,” he said. “’Tis best we not get caught in the middle of this play.”
Alex did not wait for her to agree. He picked up Sorcha, pulled Glynis to her feet, and whisked them through a side door near the end of the head table. The door led into a narrow passageway between the castle’s stone wall and the decorative wood paneling of the interior wall of the hall.
“What is Shaggy doing here?” Glynis whispered.
“I believe he’s come to share the infinitely sad news of the
“Nay, he would not!” Glynis said.
“Come,” Alex said with a broad smile. “There’s a peephole behind the head table through which we can watch the fun.”
Peepholes in a castle were family secrets. Either Catherine Campbell had an appalling lack of discretion—or she was anticipating bringing Alex into the family.
“Who was that sitting next to ye?” Alex asked. “Ye seemed friendly.”
Glynis forgot she had even spoken to the man, and it took her a moment to recall his name. “Malcolm Campbell. He seemed a quiet, steady man.”
“Ye mean dull and tedious,” Alex said.
“I’m sure he’s a good man,” she said. “Still waters run deep.”
“Stagnant, more likely.” Alex turned to Sorcha and held his finger to his lips. “I’ll explain to ye later, sweet one.”
Alex came to a halt and pointed out two peepholes, close together. He put his arm around Glynys’s shoulders as they leaned down to look. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying his touch, before she remembered what she was supposed to be doing.
“I see him,” she whispered.
Shaggy was walking down the length of the great hall with head down, as if he could hardly bear the weight of his grief. Midway down the room, he staggered. And then he commenced to weeping and wailing, making the most wretched sound Glynis had ever heard.
“Ach, the man is playing the part for all he’s worth,” Alex said beside her.
