Highland Master by Amanda Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

facing us again.”
    “Before facing Grandame, you mean,” Catriona said, tossing that lady a grin.
    “Aye, laugh,” Lady Annis said with a piercing look from under her thin, gray eyebrows. “But know this, impudent one. Ye’ve taken your temperament from merather than from your gentle mam, so ye’d do well to take a bit o’ my good sense as well. Ye’re impetuous as well as impudent, lassie, and ye can be willful withal.”
    Catriona knew better than to return a saucy reply to that observation, especially since it was true. She said coaxingly instead, “You turned out well, Grandame. And I do have you to show me how to go on.”
    “Ye do, aye, if ye’ll but listen to me. Now, do we go upstairs, or not?”

    Still reluctant to risk declaring himself a member of Clan Cameron, which, truce or none, would likely prejudice his host against him, Fin said, “I will gladly tell you about myself, sir. But I must warn you, I am not at my best and might do better to ascertain first if you have questions about hosting Rothesay’s meeting.”
    “I will stay here until Shaw returns,” the Mackintosh replied. “If Davy Stewart wants his meeting before then, we’ll hold it here. Rothiemurchus was my seat until just a few years ago and is as safe as Moigh would be for such a meeting.”
    “It does seem safe enough,” Fin agreed. “But the lady Catriona did speak of trouble hereabouts… enough to draw you here from the peace and safety of Castle Moigh. Should Rothesay be wary of such trouble?”
    Mackintosh snorted. “Wary of the worthless Comyns? Why should he be? That clan clings to its very existence whilst claiming title to land that has been in Mackintosh hands for a century. They are nobbut a nuisance. One of them has even dared to offer for our Catriona. And some, including my grandson James, do say that we might laythe troubles to rest were her father and I to agree to the match.”
    The notion of the forthright lady Catriona involved in such a marriage seemed preposterous to him, but Fin said only, “Such weddings can sometimes succeed in allying otherwise unfriendly clans.”
    “Aye, sure,” Mackintosh said. “But Rory Comyn is a lackwit too full of himself for his own good or anyone else’s and too quick to seek offense where none is meant. Moreover, the proposed alliance would benefit only Clan Comyn, because they want Castle Raitt added to Catriona’s tocher, which is a thing I will
not
do.”
    “So Raitt sits on the land that the Comyns claim.”
    “It does, but we drift from the main subject, lad, so tell me more about Davy Stewart. I’ll admit that Scotland has seemed more peaceful since he took on the Governorship.” With a chuckle reminiscent of his granddaughter’s, he added dryly, “I doubt that the King’s life is more peaceful, though.”
    “There have been ructions,” Fin admitted. Knowing that it would be unwise to add that the ructions had occurred most often with men whose pretty wives had caught Rothesay’s eye, he said, “Doubtless that is one reason he seeks allies who will at least give an appearance of supporting him against Albany.”
    “Aye, well, I want to think a bit more on the matter,” Mackintosh said. “Sithee, the lad does be one to reck nowt, and he is headstrong. But drink up now, Fin of the Battles. They’ll be serving supper after they ring yon bell for vespers.”
    “Do you keep a chaplain here, sir, or do you lead a service in the hall?”
    “Neither. I leave Kirk matters to parsons, bishops, and the like. But I do want to ken the time of day. They’ll be ringing that bell soon, though, and I warrant ye’ll want to have a wash afore our ladies see ye again.”
    “I would, aye,” Fin said, feeling a rush of relief at the respite.
    “Ye’ll not have time to go upstairs, so just use the ewer and basin in yonder corner,” Mackintosh added, pointing. “The jib door beside the washstand opens on the service stair. If ye want the garderobe, it lies