Seduction of a Highland Lass - Maya Banks [37]
Mairin chuckled. “I think we’ve established that Gretchen is one of a kind, dearling. Run back and go play. I must finish showing Keeley around the keep.”
Crispen gave her another quick hug and then bounded back to the noisy pack in the distance.
Keeley shot Mairin an inquisitive look, not knowing where to start with the questions. Mairin shook her head. “Gretchen is a strong-minded young lady who will no doubt rule the world one day. She is the bane of Crispen and the other boys’ existence. When she’s not besting them in mock war play, she insists that she will one day become a warrior.”
Keeley grinned, easily searching out the girl named Gretchen in the group. She was sitting astride one of the boys, holding his arms to the ground while he shouted his protests.
“Crispen is Ewan’s son from his first marriage,” Mairin explained. “His wife passed when Crispen was but a babe.”
“ ’Tis obvious he holds you in high regard.”
Mairin’s face softened. “I am heavy with a child of my own, but Crispen will always be my first. The child of my heart though he didn’t come from my womb. He is the reason I came to Ewan. He brought me here.”
Impulsively Keeley reached over and squeezed Mairin’s hand. “You are a very fortunate woman. ’Tis obvious the laird loves you dearly.”
“You must stop. You’ll have me all weepy.” Mairin sniffed. “I cry over the least little thing these days. It drives Ewan daft. All his men avoid me for fear of doing or saying something to make me cry.”
Keeley chuckled. “You aren’t the only lass who suffers so. Many of the women I’ve attended find themselves overly emotional. Particularly as their time draws near.”
They continued to walk along the hillside farther from the children and as they circled around the keep, Cormac at their heels, the courtyard came into view. At first Keeley paid little attention to the goings on. Men spent their time fighting. ’Twas the life of a warrior. A man had to be prepared to defend his home at all times.
But then a particular warrior caught her eyes. He wasn’t practicing. He didn’t even hold a sword. He stood to the side with the laird watching as the other men sparred.
“That bloody fool,” Keeley muttered.
“What?” Mairin asked in a startled voice.
Ignoring both Mairin and Cormac, Keeley charged down the hill toward the courtyard, fury bubbling with each stomp.
“Ignorant, stubborn, impossible fool!”
She hadn’t realized that the men had paused the moment she came into the courtyard or that her words flew like arrows. Ewan tilted his head heavenward as if praying for patience while Alaric grinned and put his arms out to ward off her impending attack.
“You were saying?” Alaric asked when she came to a stop in front of him.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded. “I told you to stay abed. In your chamber. To rest! You shouldn’t be outside in the cold. You shouldn’t even be on your feet. How can I tend you when you won’t listen to even the most common sense directives?”
Alaric winced while Caelen chuckled. Alaric shot his brother a dark look.
“I believe the lass just suggested you’re lacking in common sense,” Caelen drawled. “Clearly I didn’t give her enough credit. She is an astute lass, indeed.”
Alaric turned, fist raised when Keeley grabbed his wrist and forced him to face her. Then she rounded furiously on the laird and Caelen.
“You two are just as guilty of lacking in common sense. Why didn’t you insist your brother return to his chamber the moment he stepped outside?”
“He isn’t a child to be coddled,” Ewan growled. “You’ll stop with your insults immediately.”
“This has nothing to do with being a child. The man clearly has no judgment. It’s up to you to lay down the law. You are laird, are you not? Would you allow one of your other warriors to endanger his health by rising too soon from his sick bed? Would you then explain a defeat in battle away by saying that the warrior wasn’t a child to be coddled when he wasn’t present to help you defend your keep because he lies in a cold grave?”
“The lass has a solid point,” Caelen pointed