gave her a satisfied smile. “Ye must be tired and hungry. Go, I will see a tray is brought to ye in Nessa’s room.”
She met his eyes. “I would stay by Duncan’s side to watch for sign of fever, or in case he needs something, Laird.”
Kenneth gazed at her for a moment before answering. “Aye. I will have the tray brought to Duncan’s room. Get some rest.”
“Thank you, Laird.”
As she rose to leave, he said, “We have come a long way, ye and I.”
Her gaze met his. “Aye.”
She found Nessa curled in one of the chairs near Duncan’s bed. Mairi rose from the other to greet her, grasping both of Anna’s hands and giving them a gentle squeeze before releasing her.
“Welcome home, my soon-to-be daughter. I had a bath drawn for ye. We have seen to Duncan, and now ’tis yer turn. Come. Nessa can keep watch for a few moments whilst ye wash away the grime from battle and yer travels. Ye need clean clothes.”
Glancing down, Anna realized her clothes were stained with blood and other things she was too tired to contemplate. Without the strength to argue, she followed Mairi to Nessa’s room, where Isla readied her bath. Trean rose from his bed and slipped to her side. Anna bent and scratched his ears.
Isla looked at him in surprise. “I dinnae see him when I came in the room. What a quiet puppy!”
“’Tis a wolf and bonded to me. He is very young and likely watched you carefully.” Anna gave Isla an apologetic smile. “He is not a pet.”
The girl eyed the pup doubtfully as Anna stripped her stained clothing away and stepped into the tub. The hot water immediately relaxed her muscles and she sighed deeply.
Mairi sat next to her. “Duncan explained more about what happened.”
Responsibility for his plight flooded back, and she fought off tears. “He would be uninjured if not for me,” she managed. Though she remembered the laird’s words, a terrible sense of responsibility remained.
Mairi didn’t argue, allowing silence to pass while Isla washed Anna’s hair. “Has Duncan told ye about Callum?”
Anna glanced at her, remembering the name from that night at camp. She shook her head.
“Duncan had a twin brother. ’Twas difficult even for me to tell them apart. They were inseparable, so close I often wondered if they shared the same soul. Whilst good lads, they were very active, always into mischief. One day, when they were two and ten summers, they were sparring with wooden swords, as they did every day. Their play brought them close to the burn. ’Twas early spring, and the waters ran high, swollen from melted snows. Callum lost his footing, fell in and drowned.” Mairi’s voice trembled and tears fell.
Anna grasped her hand, feeling her own heart lurch at the woman’s words.
Mairi smiled feebly, breathed deeply to regain her composure, and continued. “After that day, the lighthearted boy I knew, who delighted in the world around him, became serious and withdrawn. He no longer engaged in the playful antics of his age, but instead assumed more responsibilities around the keep, especially at the stables. Tending the horses seemed to bring him solace.
“His father and I were encouraged as he threw himself into useful tasks. Whilst we grieved the loss of one son, we grieved the loss of innocence in the other. He became quiet, thoughtful, always considering his words and actions. He has been highly responsible and protective, though distant, since. I havenae seen anyone engage his affections or emotions until ye arrived.”
In spite of the tragedy of the story, Anna’s heart warmed at Mairi’s words.
“Ye havenae been here long enough to know how much ye sparked a change in my son. He is resolved to marry ye. Part of being married means bearing each other’s burdens. If not for us, Alain wouldnae have notified the earl of yer presence here, nor attacked you. So the argument of who is to blame cuts both ways.” Mairi smiled wryly. “Believe me, ye will carry yer fair share of the load as the wife of the MacGregor laird. Running the castle can drive one mad.”
Anna felt an easing in her chest. Along with the laird’s words, the truth of Mairi’s argument did much to lessen her guilt. Perhaps it wasn’t her fault. Mairi’s comment about assuming the role of chatelaine reminded Anna of her discussion with Duncan on the same topic.
“Aunt Mairi, fear not, for you will not be out of a job anytime soon. Who will watch