Keith shook his head. 'I doubt you'll remember,' he said. 'You've forgotten what day this is,' he added. 'You're wearing the wrong plaid again.'
'I'm beginning to wonder if she's doing it on purpose,' Calum remarked. There was a hint of amusement in his voice. As soon as the MacBain soldier spoke, Leila deliberately turned so that her back was to Calum. She kept her gaze directed on the ground. Johanna noticed the action and was intrigued by it.
'Glynis, Megan told me you had a good hand at cutting hair,' Johanna said.
''Tis the truth I do have a talent for the task.'
'Clare MacKay could use your assistance,' Johanna said. 'The MacInnes men made a mess out of her hair.'
'I know they did,' Glynis said. 'They meant to make a mess so anyone seeing her would know her shame.'
Johanna didn't want to get into a long discussion about Clare now. 'Yes,' she agreed. 'But Clare's father is coming here today, and I was wondering if you could…'
'Say no more, m'lady. I'll be happy to fetch my scissors and try to make the lass look a little more presentable.'
'Thank you,' Johanna said. 'Leila, please don't leave just yet,' she added when the Maclaurin woman turned to walk with Glynis across the yard.
'Since Lady Johanna's wearing the MacBain colors, I assume she's your responsibility today,' Keith told Calum.
'I can take care of myself, gentlemen,' Johanna said. 'You both waste your time following me around.'
The two men ignored her protest. 'Aye, she is my responsibility,' Calum said.
Johanna decided she would have to talk to Gabriel about the foolishness in his command. The men would continue to trail after her until they were released from the duty by their laird.
Keith bowed to his mistress and left to see his duties completed. Calum was about to go back inside, but Johanna stayed him with her hand on his arm.
'Calum, may I have a minute of your time? I would like to introduce you to Leila.'
He gave her a look that suggested she'd lost her senses. 'I've known Leila for some time, m'lady.'
He didn't spare the Maclaurin woman a glance when he said her name. Johanna turned to Leila. She was diligently staring at the ground. 'Leila, have you met Calum?'
'You know I have,' Leila whispered. 'Then tell me please, both of you, why you act as though you've never met before? I'm very curious and probably interfering, but I assure you I have the best of intentions. I thought, from the looks you try not to give each other, well, that you might actually care about each other a great deal.'
'He's a MacBain.'
'She's a Maclaurin.'
'Please excuse me, m'lady,' Calum said, his voice clipped and hard. 'I have duties that need my attention. I don't have time for such foolish talk.'
He didn't even nod in Leila's direction when he left. She kept her gaze turned away. Johanna reached out to touch her arm. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make either one of you upset. You do care about Calum, don't you?'
She gave an abrupt nod. 'I have tried not to have these feelings, m'lady,' she whispered. 'I cannot seem to help myself.'
'I believe Calum has feelings for you, Leila.'
'Nay,' she argued. 'He would never allow himself to become attracted to a Maclaurin.'
'I didn't realize the separation between the clans ran this deep,' Johanna remarked.
'How could you not know? The way the men carry on whenever you wear the wrong plaid should be proof enough of the importance they attach to the issue. We're all trying to get along with each other yet stay separate at the same time.'
'But why must everyone stay separate?'
Leila confessed she didn't know. 'We're all most appreciative of our laird's patience with us,' she said. 'I heard what you said at the supper table about the land belonging to the MacBains now. Everyone was talking about it, m'lady. What you said made sense to some of us. The Maclaurin soldiers didn't like hearing the truth, however.'
'Do you know what I think? We have one too many plaids.'
'Aye, we do,' Leila agreed. 'But neither clan is going to give up its colors, no matter how much you plead.'
'I'm not going to plead with anyone,' Johanna said. 'Will you answer a question please? If Calum was a Maclaurin, would he court you?'
'I would hope he would,' she answered. 'But he isn't a Maclaurin, and he doesn't have any feelings for me anyway.'
Johanna turned the topic then. 'Would you like to come back to the hall and help with the tasks every now and again?'
'Oh, yes, m'lady, I would. I could see…' She stopped before she gave herself away.
Johanna wasn't fooled. 'Yes, you would be able to see Calum more often.'
Leila blushed. 'Our laird doesn't want me to…'
'But of course he does,' Johanna said. 'Come for dinner tonight, Leila. You'll sit next to me. We'll discuss your duties after we've eaten.'
'I would be honored to sit at your table,' Leila whispered. Her voice shook with emotion.
'I must go inside now and take my turn sitting with Clare. I'll see you tonight, Leila.'
Johanna hurried upstairs and went directly to Clare's chamber. She dismissed Megan from her task of watching over the woman and sat down to talk to her.
'Did you climb the stairs without assistance, m'lady?' Megan demanded to know.
'Of course,' Johanna answered, surprised by the censure in Megan's tone.
'You could fall,' Megan countered. 'You shouldn't be taking such chances.'
'Megan, I have enough people fretting over me. 'Tis the truth I'll go daft if I'm followed around day and night. I held onto the railing,' she added when Megan looked ready to protest.
'Are you ill, Lady Johanna?' Clare asked.
'She's carrying, like you,' Megan blurted out. She nodded, then closed the door behind her.
'Congratulations, m'lady. I hope you give your husband a sound boy.'
Clare struggled to sit up in bed. Johanna tucked the covers around the woman before taking her seat again.
'A girl will be just as pleasing,' she remarked.
Clare shook her head. 'I wouldn't want a girl. Boys have far more advantages, but girls are only used for barter. Isn't that so?'
'Yes,' Johanna agreed. She folded her hands in her lap and smiled at the MacKay woman.
Clare was frowning at her. 'Then why would you want one? You'll have the worry your husband will give her in marriage to some evil man, and she'll spend the rest of her life…'
'Being afraid?'
Clare nodded. 'And hurt,' she whispered.
'My husband would not deliberately give his daughter to a monster,' she said. 'Did your father know MacInnes was cruel-hearted?'
Clare shrugged. 'He only cared about uniting the two clans.'
Johanna was disheartened to hear that news. 'Does your father love you?'
'As much as any father would love a daughter,' she replied.
'Girls are more clever,' Johanna said. 'Even Father MacKechnie believes this to be true.'
'They can still be beaten and humiliated. You don't realize how fortunate you are, Lady Johanna. Your husband treats you well.'
Johanna leaned back in her chair. 'I wouldn't stay here if he didn't treat me well.'
Clare didn't look like she believed Johanna. 'How could you leave?' she asked.
'I would find a way,' Johanna explained. 'Clare, when I was married before, to an Englishman, I would pray
