On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens Read Free Book Online Page B

drums and whistles, and the lute from the Continent. Which meant the dancing would soon begin. She would dance, she was sure, but for now she sat with her parents and Nell and Rignor, listening to Lachlan’s news of the world.
    “There’s trouble in Ireland,” Lachlan said. “Problems on the Antrim coast. I dinna pay much attention to it, but I’ll discover what it is when I go back.”
    “There’s been trouble there for a while,” her father said. “They canna decide who to follow, the old Celtic families, or the Norman lords with the lands and titles.”
    “Caithness is in an uproar,” Lachlan said.
    “Those Norsemen canna ever keep peace amongst themselves, can they?” Mother said, and all agreed.
    “Which is why ye found one of their heads on the beach,” Father said to Margaret. “They’re always fighting amongst themselves.”
    “The most important news,” Lachlan said, “is what’s happening in England.”
    “The struggle between King Henry and Simon de Montfort?” Margaret asked.
    “The war ye mean,” Lachlan said. “It’s come to that.”
    “De Montfort and King Henry are brothers-in-law,” Margaret said, looking at Rignor. “Imagine waging war on yer own kin.”
    Rignor made a face at her. “Aye,” he said. “There are times…”
    He and Margaret laughed together.
    Lachlan smiled and went on. “And, of course, everyone’s worried that France will jump into the fray and back de Montfort to try to wrest the throne from Henry.”
    Mother shook her head. “The French,” she said. “Always causing trouble.”
    “We thank ye for the news, Lachlan,” Father said, “but none of this touches us, does it? We’ve got peace here in the west and we’re determined to keep it.”
    “God willing,” Lachlan said, then drained his cup and turned to Margaret. “Dance with me, lass? One more time before our wedding day.”
    She linked her arm in his, laughing as he whirled her across the floor, and again when he pulled her against him.
    “Mine,” he said, his eyes gleaming, pressing her to him. “Tell me that ye’re mine, Margaret.”
    “I’m yers, Lachlan,” she said breathlessly.
    He kissed her then, bending her against his arm, continuing the kiss even when the music stopped and the applause began. At last he lifted his head and grinned at those watching before bringing her upright.
    “That should hold ye,” he said, releasing her. “I’m off to play dice with Rignor. Go dance with yer wee brothers.”
    She sent him off in Rignor’s direction with a smile and did as he’d bid, dancing with Fergus and Davey until she could not dance another step. She came to stand with her mother and Nell then, smiling as she heard Rignor’s laughter rising above the other voices.
    “Sounds like Rignor is winning,” she said, looking over at the men gathered around the table. Her father leaned back against the wall, laughing at something his son said. “But where is Lachlan?”
    “He needed some air,” Mother said.
    Nell looked at her mother in surprise. Mother put a hand on Nell’s shoulder.
    “Air?” Margaret asked. “It’s raining outside.”
    “He’ll be back. Och, look at yer brothers. Can they never behave?”
    Margaret turned in surprise. Mother had barely looked at Ewan and Cawley in weeks, and they were doing nothing terribly wrong, simply pummeling each other in time with the music. She glanced at Nell, whose eyes had widened, then back at her mother.
    “D’ye ken where he went?”
    “He’ll return. He went out for a bit.”
    “Out for a bit? What d’ye mean?”
    “He left with Fiona,” Nell blurted out.
    Her mother shook Nell’s shoulder. “Nell!”
    “They left together,” Nell said. “They were holding hands and laughing.”

Three
    M argaret looked from her sister to the men playing dice. Lachlan leaving with Fiona? But why? It made no sense. She touched her mouth, where the memory of his kiss on the dance floor still lingered, then looked around the