but something else.” He kissed her cheek and strode away, pausing at the door. “Stay here, Kenzie. I’ll be back soon to let ye know what is happening.”
Kenzie watched him until he was out of sight and then went and stood before one of the two fires, which burned in the room. Clan Grant was here? This wasn’t good, and if they were the clan behind Ben’s demise, it was even worse than she thought. Had her arrival at Castle Ross brought forward his death in some way? Had she already changed history by doing something as miniscule as sleeping with him? She chewed her bottom lip, her mind awash with what their arrival could mean, not just for Ben but the people who relied on him.
Not to mention the little boy who lay upstairs, more than ever needing his father to remain alive to keep him safe from those who ruled by tyranny and fear.
Ben went up to the gatehouse and looked over the wall toward the forest beyond. The arriving party had long disappeared under the green foliage on their way to Castle Ross, and Ben wondered why they were back. What do they want from me?
Clipped footsteps sounded, and he looked to his side and noted his good friend and clansman, Bruce.
“It’s Clan Grant that’s coming, and they have a woman with them. I believe it may be Aline’s only sister, Athol. A lot of luggage accompanies her. She travels with her brother, Evan. The Laird of Grant is not present.”
What does this mean? Ben rubbed his jaw, hearing the rattle of the carriage on the dirt road before he saw it. “Keep the gate closed, but we’ll go and greet them with six of our best swordsmen. I do not trust them that this isn’t just a ruse to allow them inside before they attack. The Grants have never been known as peacemakers.”
They were, in fact, known for their backstabbing of their fellow clansmen, if it meant they gained more power, money, or land. Oh ay, they had been civil at Laird Macleod’s, but that was when the Laird of Grant had thought an alliance was assured. A marriage between two clans.
But when Ben had run away with Aline, Clan Grant had shown its true colors and had demanded Macleod have Ben hunted down and hanged, drawn and quartered.
The carriage came into view, and Ben went outside the castle walls to greet the Grants. Evan arrived first; his stoic gaze, all hard angles, reminded Ben of why this clan couldn’t be trusted. Not toward him, at least.
Evan Grant bowed a little atop the horse. “Laird Ross, Ben, ’tis good to see ye again. It’s been too long.”
Ben ground his teeth. Not long enough. “I wasn’t expecting ye. What brings ye to my castle doors?” And what do ye bastards want? They had not bothered to come to farewell Aline, and so, to show themselves now made the dormant anger Ben had for them simmer.
“I’ve come here, along with my sister, to offer our apologies and ask for forgiveness for the trouble that’s always been between us since ye married Aline. We were wrong in treating ye with so little respect, and so we’ve come to stay for a time, if ye agree. Father would like Athol to be of help to ye and little Alasdair.” Evan dismounted the horse just as the carriage rocked to a halt.
The clansmen about Ben shifted and clasped their swords. Evan raised his hands in submission. “We dinna come here to start a clan war. Father wished for us to work together, strengthen our alliances just as we should. We’re family, after all.”
Ben narrowed his eyes. “Family, ye say. Well, that is to be seen, but I will welcome ye to my home, offer ye food and a bed, but do not cross me, Evan. Ye sister may have been my wife, and the grandchild of ye father may lie asleep within the walls. But that doesn’t mean I will not slit ye throat should ye be here on any other ruse than friendship.”
Evan shook his head. “No ruse, I assure ye.” He walked back toward the carriage and opened the door, helping his sister, who Ben had never met before, from the vehicle.
As the woman stepped down, the blood drained from his face and left him ill at ease. His clansmen Bruce swore, and Ben could well understand why. Athol was the spitting image of her deceased sister. He took