The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (10 page)

“Aye, they have,” Caralyn answered. “And they both have the Grant stubbornness, too.”

Maddie held her arms out to Braden. “Come to Aunt Maddie? I’ll take you to the kitchens and find something else for you to eat.” He reached for her and smiled as soon as she lifted him out of his mama’s lap.

Roddy whimpered right away, so Maddie said, “I’ll bring a treat for you, as well, Roddy. We shall return quickly.”

“Were you not lonely at the abbey, Jennie?” Caralyn asked. “I was at a priory before and I was quite lonely there. ‘Tis naught but women. Did you not miss the lads?”

Jennie’s eyes widened before she recovered. “Uhhh, aye, I missed the lads, I guess.”

Celestina clapped her hands together, then bent her head down and whispered. “You met someone. I know that look. Who is it? Do tell us.” She whispered. “We promise not to share your secrets with your brothers.”

Caralyn sat up in her chair, hanging on to Roddy, who was growing impatient waiting for his treat from his Aunt Maddie. “Aye. Tell us. ‘Tis about time. Alex protects you too much.”

Just then, Maddie came back into the room with a swish of her skirts. “Alex does what?”

Caralyn spoke first. “Alex protects Jennie too much. She needs to find someone. ‘Tis time for her to marry. Jennie—” she patted her hand, “—if you were married, you would not mind being the healer. Your husband would keep your mind on other things.”

Jennie rolled her eyes and listened to her brothers’ wives discuss her situation. She hoped they would find another topic, but Maddie was not to be swayed.

“You met someone, Jennie?” Maddie peered at her over Braden’s head.

“Aye, Aedan, Chieftain of the Camerons. I do not know if we suit, but we did meet.” She stared at her hands in her lap.

“Nay.” Caralyn glanced from Celestina to Maddie. “Please do not tell us that you like him, but he does not reciprocate.” She pursed her lips into a thin line. “I do hate men sometimes.”

“Hush, Caralyn,” Celestina said. “Anyone would love Jennie. Look how beautiful she is.”

Jennie stared at Celestina, who was reputed to be the most beautiful lass in all of Ayrshire. Lads spoke of her beauty from one corner of Scotland to the other. How could Celestina possibly think her beautiful?

“Jennie?” Caralyn asked.

Jennie blushed from her head to her toes. “I don’t know if he reciprocates, and I don’t know how I feel for sure. But he is…nice.”

“Did you kiss him?” Caralyn’s face lit up.

Thankfully, Maddie’s hand came up to stop the conversation. Jennie felt so embarrassed she wanted to crawl under the table and hide.

“That is her business. But I do want you to know I have been speaking to Alex about arranging a marriage for you…”

Jennie almost jumped out of her seat. “
What
?”

“Jennie, relax,” Maddie said, her tone calm. “I agree with our sisters. ‘Tis time for you to find someone.”

“But there is no one who will suit Alex.” She settled herself in her seat, though she wished to run away, all the way back to Lochluin Abbey.

Maddie nodded her head. “I understand, Jennie. You are much like a daughter to Alex.” She pointed to Caralyn and Celestina. “We shall all make sure your brothers do what is right by you.”

“If it were up to them, I would be alone my entire life. No one will measure up to their expectations.” Her vision misted with tears. Now they had finally reached the heart of the problem.

Celestina wrapped her arm around Jennie. “We will make sure they find someone for you.”

“Aye, ‘tis true. And two of your potential suitors will be here on the morrow.”

This time Jennie jumped up from her seat and knocked over the stool. “What suitors?”

“I insisted Alex find someone for you, and he has agreed to take your feelings into consideration. Alex has turned away many men who have requested your hand in the past, but there are two men he considers strong candidates for you, and he has invited them here.”

Jennie sat down and placed her head in her hands. “Nay,” she whispered.

Maddie gave her a puzzled look. “I thought this would please you. You said you were not sure about the Cameron? Were you being honest?”

“Aye, I am telling the truth. We only just met.”

Three pairs of eyes watched her carefully.

“Jennie?” Maddie asked.

She could not hide the truth from Maddie. “Aye, I am interested in Aedan. He has promised to come for me when the skirmishes are over. He hasn’t promised to ask for my hand, but he said he would come.” She peeked at the three most important women in her daily life. How would they react to her confession?

All three faces lit up. “Jennie, I’m so happy for you.” Celestina grasped her hand.

Maddie added, “Aye, we all are. You deserve happiness in your life. I’m sure you have chosen well. Tell us more about the fighting. Is it related to the battles that took place here before you left?”

“Aye, they suspect they are all planned by the same group, yet they know not who. Once it is over, you will meet him.”

“Tell us about him, please?” Caralyn’s excitement drew the young lasses over.

Gracie asked, “Who?”

Ashlyn’s face lit up just like her mother’s. “You have a boyfriend, Jennie?”

Jennie scowled. “There is not much to tell. And I’m not sure if I would say he was my boyfriend or not.” This entire conversation was making her uncomfortable.

Maddie patted the table. “Let’s leave Jennie alone. She has just returned, and she must be tired from her traveling.”

The three lassies scampered back to the corner near the hearth.

“Maddie, what about the suitors you spoke of? I don’t think I wish to meet them. Would it be rude to turn them away?”

“Aye, at this point it would. But you have met so few, I would suggest you allow them to come. ‘Twould only help you to feel better about your choice if you have met others.”

“I suppose,” Jennie responded. “But neither you nor Celestina met others, and you are married.”

Celestina glanced from Maddie to Jennie. “Aye, we both did, Jennie. And it does help to know what you don’t want. I appreciate my husband much more from my experience with other men.”

She thought for a moment, then nodded, “I guess it couldn’t hurt. They don’t have to stay long, do they?”

“Nay. As soon as you know for sure you will not suit, then speak to Alex.”

Jennie peered at the three of them, unable to confess her true feelings. She was in love with Aedan Cameron and was not interested in meeting any other lads. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how long it would be until she saw him again. Would he forget about her over time?

Unfortunately for her, the longer she was away from him, the more she missed him, the more she thought of him. Meeting others would prove difficult. There had to be a way out.

“There is one more important reason for not turning them away,” Maddie said.

Jennie was puzzled by this declaration. “What could that be? I could easily turn them away.”

“You would have to admit your feelings for Aedan to your brothers.”

Jennie grimaced. She was doomed.

Chapter Ten

Aedan sat inside his solar, sipping an ale, waiting for his men to arrive. Another rout had taken place. They had been successful in sending the enemy away, but it had been another small, confusing attack—not the larger scale offensive they were expecting. It was as if the enemy was playing with them, trying to make them believe something that was not true.

But why? He paced his chamber, rubbing his forehead. No answers came to him, but his head was flooded with visions of brown eyes and freckles. Hell, but he missed Jennie Grant. How he wished she could have stayed. Even so, he understood why the Grant had insisted on taking her with him. Multiple tales of the coming attack had reached his ears, and he had acted accordingly, just as Aedan would have done in his position.

Neil came inside followed by Ruari and two guards from the Grant contingent. Once settled, he moved back to his chair behind his desk. “Neil? Your thoughts?”

“I put pressure on one of the injured before he died, and he claimed not to know who is in charge of the offensive. Only one thing motivated him.”

“What?”

“Coin,” Neil said, his legs spread wide as if waiting for the enemy to arrive at any moment.

“Coin? Who fights for coin?” Cameron had never heard of such a thing. Scots fought for revenge, for food, for control of their neighbors’ lands, but for naught else. “Coin? ‘Tis the only reason they fight? Are you sure?”

“Aedan, I need…” Ruari spoke up, but Aedan dismissed him with a wave of his hand. He could see his brother’s pouting expression out of the corner of his eye. Guilt stabbed at him for a moment, but he told himself Ruari was just a laddie. He would have to wait until the others were finished.

One of Grant’s warriors, Tomas, stepped forward. “The English fight for wealth, Chief. I managed to get a few words from another dying Englishman. A crier had gone from town to town promising big coin for joining their cause.”

“Against me? Against the abbey? Why would they gain support?”

“They are promising large amounts of coin and lying about the Highlanders planning a large-scale attack on the English. They mostly go through the poor areas to recruit men.”

“Aedan, may I…”

Aedan waved his brother off again. Didn’t he realize he needed to keep his information to himself and wait to share it with Aedan? Mayhap he shouldn’t have allowed him into a meeting of such import, but if he died in one of the coming battles, his brother would need to take over, laddie or not.

“Who picks up their dead? Have you discovered any clues?” Aedan scratched his head, still unable to make sense of the situation.

“Other English,” Tomas added. “We have little information yet, but I have sent scouts to the border lands and Alex has asked Logan Ramsay for his assistance. He is well known for uncovering the most difficult information in all of England.”

Aedan scowled. “Logan Ramsay. I have heard the name.” His face lit up. “Is that not the lad with the wife who is known as the best archer in the land?”

“Aye, ‘tis the same. He’ll ferret out the information we need.”

“But Aedan…” Ruari pleaded.

“What is it, Ruari?” Aedan glanced at his brother, finally giving him the opportunity to speak. Whatever information he had must be important. He decided he could trust Neil and the Grant guards. He had to if he hoped to beat his enemies. “Go ahead. Tell us what you have uncovered.”

“I know the problem. You have a traitor.” His chest puffed out now that he had finally been allowed to address the gathering.

That one word had the power to command his immediate attention. “A traitor? How can you know this?”

“I overheard them.” Ruari crossed his arms and jutted his lower lip out, waiting for Aedan’s response.

“Who?”

“I could not identify them. I was about to climb down the hill of the glen when I heard the hushed voices whispering behind a group of trees. I came close enough to hear some words, but not all. There were two Scots talking, both in Gaelic.”

“And the topic of their discussion?”

“They are after the riches of the abbey, but they wish to bring you down first.”

Aedan was stunned. What in hell would he do now? If he was the target of his fellow countrymen, he would need more help than he had. He hoped Logan Ramsay would arrive soon.

***

Jennie came down to the great hall for the evening meal with butterflies in her belly, scared to death to meet the two men who had been brought here for her perusal. How did one go about seeing if a stranger would suit as a spouse? Was she supposed to quiz them both? One at a time or together?

She controlled her wish to chortle. Mayhap she should ask Alex if she should kiss each of them and decide which was better? What exactly was his plan for this foolish venture? She had almost made it to the steps of the great hall when Alex strode up behind her and ushered her into his solar. All cleaned up in his red dress plaid and his hair tied back, her brother was still an imposing figure. Many a lass still gazed at him, even though everyone in the clan knew he would never stray from Maddie’s side.

She gave him a questioning look as soon as she noticed they were alone in the chamber. “What is it, Alex?” she asked after he closed the door behind them.

Alex paced the room twice before he stopped. “Maddie told me she has made you aware of the two men I invited to our keep.” He settled his hands on her shoulders.

“Aye, but why did you make plans about suitors without asking me?” She adored her brother, always had, but his commandeering ways tested her patience.

“‘Tis my job, lass, to see you married. I made a pledge to our parents. While I have not wanted to admit ‘tis time for you to consider marrying, Maddie reminded me that you are of age.”

“But Alex…”

“Let me have my say, Jennie, then you may chastise me as I know you are wont to do.”

She nodded and he ushered her to a chair in front of the hearth while he leaned on the mantle. “I know ‘twas not easy for you to lose Ma and Da so early in your life, but I have tried my best to raise you well. I was not so good at it early on, but with Maddie’s assistance, I have improved. Brenna was also a great help, and I admit I felt lost when she left us. I am grateful she has invited you to their castle so many times.”

Jennie stared at her brother. Laird Alexander Grant, renowned for fighting off the worst enemies, a grand swordsman, was struggling to find words.

He crossed his arms. “I have not told you this, because I did not feel there was a need, but there have been several who have sought your hand in marriage before now. I have rejected them all.”

“But why?” She wanted to know why he had kept this from her, why he had ignored her needs so completely.

“Why did I reject them, or why did I not tell you?” He tugged on his ear and started pacing in front of her.

“Both.”

“Because you were not of age yet. You were not ready.”

“Aye, I am.” Well, she was of age to marry, but her heart had already chosen another.

Alex stopped in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back. “All right, you will force me to admit it. I am not ready yet. I became quite fond of the wee lass who sat on my lap for all those years, and now that you are old enough to leave, I find I am not ready to lose you.” He turned his gaze away from hers, an expression on his face Jennie had never seen before. Embarrassed? Sad?

“And who asked for my hand?” She hated to push him, but she needed to know the answers. She thought it only fair.

He hung his head, his arms now crossed in front of him. The way he moved told her he was uncomfortable with this conversation. But she was even more uncomfortable, and this was her life.

Alex took up most of the front of the hearth, his arm muscles bulging from the continuous practicing he did with his mighty sword. He finally let his breath out in frustration. “Lass, do you not see? None of them were good enough for you. You are like my first born. You had such a difficult time after we lost our parents. You were still sucking your thumb on rare occasion at almost nine summers.”

“I was not! You are creating tales to make yourself feel better, Alex.” She crossed her arms in a huff, unable to believe what he had just said to her. True, she had taken advantage of her older brother by using her age to get what she wanted, but suck her thumb? Never.

He quirked his brow at her. “You never did it for more than a few moments, but, aye, you did. We lost both our parents within a short time. ‘Twas tragic for you, at the verra least.”

She ran a hand down her face as memories of that difficult time flooded her thoughts. Aye, it had been hard—almost unbearable—but she refused to believe she had sucked her thumb.

“Alex, ‘twas a trying time for all of us, yourself included.”

“But I was old enough to become laird, and you were still a wean. When I look at my bairns, I cannot imagine how they would fare if they lost either of us at such a tender age. The twins would be lost without their mother, and you know I pride myself on how fierce they are.”

Dead silence settled over them. Alex rubbed his chin, then whispered. “The point is this…I have come to accept this truth. Maddie has forced me to accept that I must let you go, much as I wish to keep you here.”

Jennie was surprised to feel her eyes mist at Alex’s declaration.

“So my apologies if I have waited too long, but I have arranged for two of the lads who expressed an interest in you earlier to come to our keep to meet you. There is to be no pressure on you. Do not let them insist on any time frame. If you are interested in either, so be it. If not, so be it. This matter is entirely up to you. I have looked into their backgrounds, and unless I see entirely different men here at the keep, I expect they will be acceptable to me. But they must be acceptable to you. I promised our mother.”

Jennie could see how difficult this was for him. She strode over to her brother and wrapped her arms around him, though they didn’t begin to go around his large frame. “My thanks, Alex, for loving me so. But I don’t know if I am ready either.”

He kissed her brow and said, “You let me know after you meet the two lads. They will be here for less than a sennight, but please keep me advised.”

“I will. My thanks. Shall we go now?”

Alex wrapped his arm around her and escorted her toward the door. Before he opened it, he stopped and turned toward her. “Aedan Cameron. Did I detect something between the two of you? Or did I imagine it?”

Jennie coughed. “Aye, well…I am interested in him. He said he would come after the skirmishes were ended, but I am not sure it has progressed to thoughts of marriage. I don’t know if he would offer for me, but…”

“Say no more. Your expression tells me all I need to know. But there is naught wrong with checking to see if you are interested in others. I fear I have been lacking in this duty to you. Please be tolerant, for me?”

She nodded and moved into the great hall. Two men stood over by the hearth with Brodie and Robbie. Alex kept his hand on her shoulder as the group made their way toward them.

Robbie introduced them first to Coll MacNab, a tall red-haired lad with a pleasant smile. He took her hand in his as he bowed and she curtsied to him. Next, she met Donnal Boyd, a fair-haired lad with dark eyes that smiled at her. She noticed his teeth were crooked on the bottom, though he did his best to cover them.

Jennie headed toward the dais with Alex, followed by her other brothers and the two men. Somehow, she felt both on display and as if the walls were closing in around her. Every face in the great hall stared at her, as if gauging her interest in the two men.

Well, she would have to give them a chance. They seemed both pleasant and handsome. She would have to listen to them at the meal, chat when required, and hope that her heart didn’t give her true feelings away.

Every day she fell more in love with Aedan Cameron. Would she ever see him again?

Alex sat between her and Maddie at the table, while Coll sat to her left, and Donnal Boyd sat across from her. The others were spread out around them, except for Celestina, who did not feel well and was not at the meal. Brodie had left to check on her.

Loki sat a distance away with the other weans at a small table. The young group was a bit boisterous, but Jennie loved to listen to their chatter. She smiled at them, wishing she could join their table and escape her duty.

Donnal dominated the conversation. “Lady Jennie, I hear you have great skills as a healer.”

“Aye, I have worked…”

“Do not fret, lass. You will not be required to do work of any kind at my keep. We have two wonderful healers. You can just direct the servants, relax, and of course, tend to my needs.” He flashed a wicked grin at her. Jennie glanced out of the corner of her eye to see if Alex had heard his comment.

Judging from the scowl on Alex’s face, he
had
heard.

Coll spoke up. “We would be very grateful for your skills, though we also have two healers on our lands. I hear you have a fresh outlook on healing that differs from the ways of the old wizened healers. Is that true, my lady?”

Jennie was pleased to answer this question. “Aye, my mother taught me…”