Amanda Scott by Lord of the Isles Read Free Book Online

flawless skin, and magnificent figure (despite being the mother of three small children), not only was Mairi of the Isles a beautiful woman but also a strong and worthy wife for the future chief of Clan Gillean.
    His own taste had always strayed to a different sort of woman, more submissive, and one that—to his way of thinking—was more feminine, although no one would ever accuse Mairi of being unfeminine. He just preferred women who admired his strength rather than those who attempted to compete against it. He hoped Mairi would not take long putting the bairn to bed. He wanted to share his news, but he knew better than to do so before she was there to hear it.
    Lachlan said, “So tell me briefly what you learned and how many boats I may count on. What of MacDougall of Dunstaffnage?”
    “Some forty boats,” Hector said. “And MacDougall will come, of course, if only to try to find a husband for his younger daughter, Sarah, and perhaps one who will suit Fiona as well. I did not see her, but he says that although she is once again living at home and has emerged from her mourning, she is firm in saying she does not want to marry again yet. Sarah is no match for her, of course, but MacDougall should be able to find someone suitable for the lass.”
    “MacDougall does not support the Steward,” Lachlan said.
    “Nay, but he’ll be respectful and won’t risk offending MacDonald. He’ll send two longboats, too, because I made it clear that MacDonald would take it ill if he made an issue of his distaste. ’Twas likewise with Macleod of Glenelg.”
    Lachlan frowned. “So you met him, too. I suppose that means you had to tell him about the reception for the Steward. MacDonald wanted to ask him personally.”
    “I’ll explain all that, but—” He glanced toward the archway.
    “Don’t fear her temper. Mairi won’t fly into the boughs over political details that she can guess for herself. ’Tis the more personal ones she’ll want to hear. She kens, for example, that you visited Macleod of Lewis and her sister Marjory. She will want to hear all their news. MacDougall she kens well enough, and Fiona visits us. I’ve seen him, too, but I wanted to hear what you think of him.”
    Hector was not so certain that Mairi would be so discriminating. She had, after all, said not to say a word until she returned. Nevertheless, since Lachlan would one day be chief of their clan, he was as much Hector’s liege as the Lord of the Isles was. He was all but acting chief already, because their father, Ian Dubh Maclean, was more interested in scholarly pursuits than in political ones. That the Macleans were one of the ancient learned clans was a fact that he took seriously.
    “How is our father?” Hector asked, more to turn the subject than because he expected any news in particular. Ian Dubh was usually involved in his studies at Bellachuan, their home on the Isle of Seil.
    To his surprise, Lachlan said, “You can see for yourself. He’s here.”
    “Here?”
    “Aye, he said he wanted to visit his grandchildren. I was a bit worried about him, since such an interest seemed out of character, but it appears that he merely wants to discern if any of the three has the wit to follow in his path.”
    “Do you think one can tell such a thing at their tender ages? Young Finguala is not quite two years old yet, and Hector Og and Ian are but four and three.”
    “Father said he knew when we were still creeping on all fours that I’d be the scholar and you the warrior. He said you were protective of me from the moment I emerged from the womb, nearly twenty minutes after you did.”
    “I wonder how he could have thought such a thing.”
    “He said you squalled until the nurse picked you up and let you see me. Then you fell silent.”
    “And your supposed intellect?”
    “I looked at you, he said, and seemed contented, as if I knew the two of us could manage anything we desired in life. You looked odd a moment ago, by the way, when I