The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (20 page)

“He accepted, but on the condition that I not share our plan with you. Our strategy was sound, but we needed you to stay away. Alex was afraid for your safety. I tried to tell him you were a bit stubborn and would follow anyway, but he was determined to keep you on Grant property even though he and Brodie planned to come to my aid. Everything changed when the messenger arrived in the middle of the night advising me of my mother’s injury and the change in the timing of the attack. We met in his solar in the middle of the night. I wanted to bring you along on everything, but your brother refused. He loves you, Jennie. Telling you he refused my request was all part of your brother’s attempt to keep you back at the Grant castle. I left a message with Alex to give you. He didn’t tell you?”

“Only that you had to leave and you would return when you could.”

“Your brother loves you, Jennie. He did what he thought was best, and he didn’t allow me any choice. If I wanted his guards, I had to agree to his plan.”

“But faking your death was planned?”

“Aye, Logan and Alex came up with the idea in order to flush out the true traitor. It worked, but they hadn’t planned on you following. We didn’t know how to change it without ruining everything. ‘Twas Gwyneth who suggested this cave.”

Jennie leaned her cheek against his chest. “I guess I will not be concerned about it. You are alive, and that is what I choose to celebrate now.”

“Alex will send someone for us when they have taken the castle back.”

“I guess that is good enough for now. And Alex still approves of us marrying when this is over?”

“Aye. We will marry proper, whether Alex wants it or not. And we will not wait for a year and a day.”

Jennie sat up. “I need to tend your arm.”

He glanced at it. “I think ‘tis fine. It has started to heal.”

She frowned. “Nay, ‘tis filled with dirt. I must clean it.” She dressed quickly and led him to the stream so she could carefully wash the grime and grit away. The birds chirped and she lifted her face to the sun, saying a quick prayer of thanks to have her husband by her side again. For once, Jennie was quite content. In fact, she wished they could stay in the cave forever.

But reality interrupted soon enough. Logan came on his horse with instructions. Aedan mounted and held his hand out to his wife. “Come, Jennie. This time together.”

This time, she agreed.

Chapter Twenty

Aedan rode back to the Cameron castle with Jennie settled in front of him, leaning back into his embrace. He tugged her tight against him, loving the sensation of having her close. Soon they would be able to live together as husband and wife without intrusion. It was near dusk, and it had been a long but trying day. As they neared the castle, his clan members emerged from their huts, applauding and cheering for the Chieftain of the Camerons. The Grant guards lined the pathway as they neared the curtain wall, probably Alex’s way of ensuring there would be no more attacks. Logan led them under the portcullis, past the stables, and through the bailey. All the while, their ears were filled with cheers and Clan Cameron war whoops.

Aedan squeezed Jennie’s waist, pleased to have her riding with him as they approached his keep. He could see from a distance that his mother stood on the steps awaiting them. Alex Grant and Brodie Grant were on either side of her. Another man he did not recognize stood next to his mother.

He leaned down to whisper in his wife’s ear. “Do you know who stands on the steps with my mother?”

She turned to him with a sheer look of happiness. “I do. ‘Tis Gwyneth’s brother, Father Rab. He is a priest who travels Lothian and Glasgow mostly, but she must have brought him along to marry us. My guess is Alex is insisting we marry.”

Cameron kissed her cheek. “Aye, I do recall her mentioning that her brother was near. She spoke to Alex and Logan. ‘Tis what they were discussing when I was playing dead. I thought they were just making conversation. Wonderful. Then marry you I will. This day, in front of my family and my clan.”

His brother, Ruari, stood on the steps, too, a wide smile on his face. Alex came to the side of the horse to help Jennie dismount.

“My apologies, sister, for what you had to endure.” He kissed her cheek.

“All forgiven, Alex, if you forgive me for not trusting you about the handfasting.”

He gave her a sly grin. “Fair enough, as long as you marry now.”

Startled, she peered up at him. “Now?”

“Aye, Father Rab has come to assist us in this matter. He was not far and agreed.” Alex glanced at Aedan, perhaps to see if he would argue.

“I agree, wife. Do you? Naught would make me happier than to be legally wed in the eyes of God today.”

Aedan could see all the thoughts churning through her busy mind, but she finally nodded. “Aye, agreed.”

Aedan led her to the top of the stairs and motioned for the clan to gather round. Gwyneth had joined Logan, and Neil had a huge grin on his face. Perhaps he was proud of Aedan for finally learning to say the right words.

He held Jennie’s hand up to the crowd. “I introduce to you my betrothed, Lady Jennie Grant, who will do me the great honor of becoming my wife in a few moments.” The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, but Aedan silenced them after a few moments.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Laird Alexander Grant, his brother, Brodie Grant, and Logan Ramsay for their assistance in ensuring Cameron land stays Cameron land.” The crowd cheered again, and Aedan grasped first Alex’s hand, then Brodie’s, then Logan’s.

“Many, many thanks to all of you. I can never repay you your kindness,” he whispered to Alex and Brodie.

“Aye, you can,” Brodie responded. “Take good care of our sister.”

Aedan squeezed Jennie’s hand. “I plan to.”

Ruari made his way over to Jennie’s side and assisted her with the Clan Cameron plaid, arranging her pleats as she wrapped it around her.

Father Rab raised his arms to silence the crowd, and Aedan led his wife to stand in front of the priest. He started with prayer. Once they were ready to say their vows, Alex walked behind his sister and draped the Grant plaid over their hands to mingle with the Cameron plaid, signifying his support of the union of their clans. Jennie’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she managed to keep control. Aedan was pleased to see her smile through the tears.

When the short ceremony concluded, Aedan turned Jennie to face his clan, raised her arm next to his and said, “My wife, Mistress Jennie.”

Once they were ushered inside, Jennie stood transfixed inside the great hall, shocked at how the inside had been transformed into something beautiful. She turned to her husband, “Aedan, look at how beautiful this is. How could anyone have done this so quickly after Fletcher was here?” She stared at the tablecloths and the candles, flowers strewn about amidst the candles.

Aedan turned to his mother. “My mother is used to performing miracles. All is well, thankfully.”

“Aye, the Grants hid us, though Ruari was not too happy. Alex took him along on the final battle, insisting that he represent the Clan Cameron in your absence.”

Aedan’s mother came up and hugged them both. “Today is meant for celebration: for my son’s health, for the Lord delivering you to us, Jennie Grant, and for your clan’s assistance in helping us to oust the marauders from our land.”

Ruari came over and hugged them both. “Aedan, you should have seen the fight. Mama and I were hidden away, but I rode with Logan toward the rear. It was so exciting to see Irvine finally ousted. And…”

Aedan stopped him. “We’ll save the rest for another day. Today we celebrate, Ruari. Come to the dais.” He escorted his wife and his mother to the table as the servants brought out food and ale for all.

Once everyone was settled inside, Aedan raised his goblet. “Here’s to the Cameron clan, my wife, my mother, and my brother, Ruari.”

The thunderous roars of applause and shouts of joy continued well into the night. Clan Cameron had survived and thrived.

***

He had to be patient. This was the most difficult part. Fletcher, the fool, had been too impulsive. He had told him repeatedly that they needed to wait, but strategy had not been the man’s strong suit. The idea of running Clan Cameron had made him greedy. His father still ran the Fletcher clan, so Irvine had wanted something for himself.

He had told Fletcher over and over again that they needed to wait until Alex Grant and most of his men left. But Fletcher didn’t wish to believe the stories about Alex Grant and his mail-clad horse defeating the Norse. He ignored the tales of Captain Robbie Grant and his warriors and how hard they’d fought to send the Norse back.

Or about Brodie Grant and how he had chased a daft Norseman over half the land of the Scots and killed him in cold blood because the man lusted after his wife.

Irvine had always learned the hard way.

And now was no different. Except for one thing—learning the hard way had cost the fool his life. Now the quest they’d shared was his alone.

The land meant naught to him. He wanted the coin, the wealth, and the treasure he had heard about, though it was a mystery to all. Fletcher hadn’t wanted the treasure, but when word had spread that it was real and would be arriving soon, he had decided he deserved that as well.

He would be right here waiting when it arrived, and he would have the perfect bargaining card to ensure the treasure would be delivered to his hands instead of the Cameron’s. Everything was moving smoothly as planned.

Even Irvine’s death. He wouldn’t have split with Fletcher anyway; he had been no more than another one of his minions.

***

Two days later, Alex came down the stairs and marched straight over to Jennie. He lifted her off her chair and clutched her tight. Her husband just looked on with a smile. “Good morn to you, wee sister,” Alex said. “Brodie and I are heading off to court with Logan. We have much to discuss with our king, and we are closer here than we would be at home. We will stop on our return, then I must hasten home before Maddie’s time draws near. Mayhap you would be willing to visit with me to ensure Maddie comes through the birth without any problems?”

Jennie could see how much he wanted her to agree. “Alex, I am not sure. How long will you be at court?” She had no desire to leave her new husband’s side, but she knew Maddie’s situation could be special and she loved her family.

Besides, she wasn’t sure she could return to healing. Much depended on her nightmares and the wailing. It had all returned back on the Grant soil, but she hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss that with her family.

Since they had their own healers and the monks, Aedan didn’t expect her to be their primary healer. That suited her fine, because she didn’t know if she could heal again. Even the short time she had been around any of the skirmishes had sickened her stomach.

“I do not plan to stay for long. We’ll meet with King Alexander and return the next day. Think about it, please?”

“Of course, I will help, Alex.” She followed him out of the hall, waving as he mounted Midnight and left with his contingency of protectors. Alex rarely traveled alone.

It finally dawned on her that her true dream had finally happened. She was married and had a husband now, and one that she adored. She turned to Aedan and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, husband.”

***

The savior watched and waited. Only he knew what would happen next, only he was aware of the workings of twisted minds. They all relaxed, which was exactly what he’d expected.

And that was their big mistake.

***

Aedan expected his delivery to arrive any day now. He smiled to himself as he made his way out to the lists to join Neil and Drew. Drew arrived from his land at about the same time. Jennie would be completely surprised by his gift. He had decided quite a while ago what he wished to get for her, but at the time, he had not known it would be a wedding gift.

The idea had come to him after their night on the hill. He still had not known he would take her as his wife, but he had recognized her as a kindred spirit. So he had arranged for the purchase quite a while ago, knowing it would take time for it to arrive.

He could not wait to see her reaction when she opened her gift.

Of course, he hadn’t expected that reports of the treasure soon to be delivered would cause problems for the people around him. At first, he had been afraid that Fletcher’s madness had been because of the treasure, but he had not been concerned about it at all. Aedan had sighed in relief, happy that all of this fighting hadn’t been caused by something he had done. Now everything was over, and the small treasure would arrive as a wedding gift, just as he would have wanted.

Except for one small problem. For some reason, his gut had still not settled. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, it told him something else was wrong. This intuition niggled at the back of his mind.

Something was wrong, but he knew not what. He let it settle in his mind, knowing that eventually his brain would uncover the source of his concern. It always did, it just took time.

He only wished it would hurry.

***

Several days had passed since Alex and Brodie had left for court. Jennie was settling into a routine at her new home. She was getting to know the servants, becoming more familiar with the Cameron clan and the abilities of its people. Aedan’s mother was a sweet woman who oft reminded Jennie of her own mother. She hadn’t had any more nightmares and was pleased, yet saddened because she would fear returning to her own home.

She rode over to the abbey to visit with the nuns, bringing some fresh bread to them as a gift. The abbess accepted the gift graciously, and quickly sent her on her way. She rode with one guard—at her husband’s insistence—but she was more convinced than ever that the worst was behind them and the clan would continue to live in peace.

On their way back to the castle, Sorley, her guard, moved his horse in front of her. Jennie peeked around him to see what had drawn his attention. Two horses without riders were up ahead near a group of trees. As soon as they drew near, Jennie noticed a man on the ground writhing in pain. Another man knelt at his side.

Recognize the man on the ground, Jennie jumped down from her horse. “Dermid? What is it?”

The friend who knelt by Dermid’s side looked up at her. “I know not what happened. He fell from his horse, clutching his belly. Seems he’s bleeding from under his cloth. He needs stitches. Can you go to the abbey and retrieve one of the monks?”

Jennie noticed Dermid’s blood soaked tunic. “Sorley, return to the abbey and fetch the healer’s sack. I’ll take care of him here. No reason to move him.”

“Aye, mistress. I’ll return quickly.”

As soon as Sorley departed, Jennie’s world turned black.