“I kept ye prisoner so ye couldnae escape,” the laird said. “Both to protect ye from others who would do ye harm, and in case someone had a claim against ye. It rankled to do so, after ye bravely rescued my daughter, but I saw no other choice. The actions of my men since have been unforgivable. Ye are a guest of honor. I offer ye my protection. Ye lost a father and brother. Become as our daughter, and gain a new family with us. I understand if ye dinnae trust me, or dinnae wish to stay. Allow us a few weeks to prove ye have a place here. If ye decide to go, I would only ask ye wait until healed. I will send an escort with ye where ever you decide.”
Anna sat in stunned silence. Nessa did not exaggerate.
He pressed on. “Ye dinnae know where ye want to go, aye?”
Absorbing his question, she considered an answer but could think of only an honest one.
“No, Laird, I had no real destination in mind. My brother made me swear I would flee to safety. I could not bear seeing my mother’s clan meet the same fate as my home, so I traveled north and west, sticking to the concealment of the forests. I have no place to go.” She had not truly admitted this to herself, much less given voice to the thought, and doing so brought an unbearable sense of loss. Tears burned again, seeking release, but pride would not allow her to let emotion betray her in front of this man.
The laird nodded as though satisfied with her answer. “Then ye will stay with us.”
How can I agree to stay with the man who imprisoned me this past sennight? What choice do I have? I would not make it a day in my present condition. Even if I were ready to ride, where would I go? Where could I find sanctuary? Not sure what she wanted, Anna replied, “It is a generous offer, Laird. Would you allow me time to consider it?”
Pouring wine into his cup, he waved his hand. “Of course, take as much time as ye wish. Ye will stay with Nessa in the meantime.”
Nessa squeezed her hand under the table, beaming her approval.
“And your son? He does not appear too pleased with your offer.” She recalled Duncan’s face when he saw her tonight.
At this, the laird released a short burst of laughter and shook his head. Nessa giggled. Lady MacGregor merely smiled knowingly.
Laird MacGregor’s shrewd eyes met hers. “My son has been verra angry with me. Angry with the way I have treated ye, angry I allowed Shamus to challenge ye, and angry I dinnae let him kill Alain for attacking ye. I cannae say I blame him. Nae, my son wishes ye to stay. He greatly admires ye. I am afraid seeing the damage Alain caused was more than he could bear.”
Uncertain what to think, Anna kept her mouth shut. The laird eyed her trencher.
“Please eat. Duncan tells me ye hardly ate this week. Why not?”
She considered an answer so as to not offend. “The stew is not something I am accustomed to eating. I feared if I did, I would become ill, a condition I could not afford with my…current circumstances.”
His furrowed brow eased with a look of understanding. She could see he wanted to ask more questions but stayed silent.
The table held fresh bread, cheese, some sort of roasted bird in a thick sauce with vegetables, and fruit. A bowl of soup smelling of peas and leeks sat in front of each trencher. Pitchers of wine, ale, and water awaited. Anna took a few grapes, squeezed them into a cup, then filled it with water. Tearing off a small piece of bread, she sliced a pear and slowly ate the soup. It went down easily and tasted quite good. Glancing around the room, she noticed the others eating from full trenchers, making hers appear almost empty.
“Ye must eat more if ye are to get yer strength back,” Lady MacGregor said.
“Thank you, my lady, but I am nauseous from the blow to my head and cannot eat much immediately after fasting a week.”
Lady MacGregor placed her hand on Anna’s arm, patting it to show her understanding. Anna’s response seemed to pique the laird’s interest. His face betrayed the questions he wanted to ask. Anna stopped eating and faced him in invitation.
Chapter 7
“Ye are a baron’s daughter, yet ye’ve been trained to endure imprisonment.