Bride For A Knight Page 0,105

there's a wee lever inside that hole in the window arch," he said, the color in his cheeks deepening. "I discovered it by accident a few years ago and quickly found out that it triggers the door to a secret passage Da and everyone else must've overlooked."

Munro half rose from his laird's chair. "And you ne'er told me?" He narrowed his eyes on his son as he sank back into his seat. "Dinna tell me the passage opens into my bedchamber?"

Kendrick shook his head. "Nay, it opens into the little anteroom between your bedchamber and mine." He looked down, running a finger around the rim of his wine cup rather than meet his father's eye. "The other end exits next to Mother's tomb, right inside St. Maelrubha's."

He glanced up, his flush an even brighter red. "I would've mentioned it as soon as we learned of the bogle goings-on, but" - he touched his bandaged head - "I haven't been conscious all the while since ... since the Garbh Uisge. Once the pains in my head started lessening, I remembered the passage."

Munro arched a brow, looking anything but an auld done man. "And why did you not tell me before the Garbh Uisge?"

Kendrick squirmed on the trestle bench. "I kept it secret for my own purposes."

Neill laughed and clapped him on the back. "Soft, warm, and accommodating purposes," he said, wriggling his brows as he glanced round the table. "The sort Kendrick didn't want attracting Morag's attention when they passed through the hall on their way to his bedchamber!"

"That's enough, you." Kendrick tossed his older brother a warning look, but Neill only laughed all the more and slapped the table.

"Och, aye, Kendrick used the secret passage to entertain the ladies," he went on, his eyes dancing with mirth. "Accommodating ladies. Including one fair damsel twice his age!"

Kendrick flushed scarlet. "She was five summers older than me," he blurted, his eyes shooting daggers at Neill. "Not a day more."

"Ah, well, whate'er you say." Neill let it go.

Kendrick pressed his lips together. "My business is my own," he finally said, looking relieved when Morag appeared with a platter of fresh honey cakes. Grabbing the largest one, he plunked it onto Neill's trencher. "Eat and quit telling tales no one wishes to hear."

"But it's a tale that explains how Sorcha managed her way in and out of here,"

Neill couldn't resist adding as he reached for a honey cake. "She must've seen you sneak in one of your lady loves. Some might say you showed her the way."

"And I'll show you the edge of my blade once we're fully mended," Kendrick shot back at him. "Mayhap my fist in your nose as well."

"Pigs will fly that day," Neill returned, and bit into a honey cake.

"I'm wondering how we could have e'er missed such bickering," Morag declared suddenly, though the twinkle in her eyes and the wobble in her voice took quite a bit of the sting out of her words.

"And I'm wondering about your lady love," Munro announced, cocking a brow at Neill. "An Ulster lass if we caught the rights of it?"

This time Neill looked discomfited. "I meant to tell you," he said. "The day the footbridge ... ach, you know what happened. She is Oonagh, daughter of O'Cahan of Derry. I met her at Lough Foyle and - "

"You'll be bringing her here, to wed." Munro pushed to his feet, looking around as if to dare anyone present to contradict him. "Like as not as soon as you're fit enough to cross the Irish Sea?" he added, eyeing the great hazel walking stick propped so noticeably against the trestle bench.

Neill nodded. "That is what I've planned, aye. Kendrick agreed to go with me. Though" - he shot a glance at his brother - "I'm no longer sure I desire his company."

Munro hooted. "You'll both go and be glad of the journeying. And your mission,"

he declared, starting to grin. "'Tis time our house is put to rights.'

"Put to rights?" Neill stared at him.

Everyone did.

Something in his tone and the glint in his eye caused breaths to catch and hearts to still.

Aware of the stares, Munro glared around the high table. "Dinna gawp at me like a bunch o' dimwitted muckle sumphs! I've walked an ill path these years and now" - he paused to look at Jamie - "now, by God, I mean to set things aright."

Jamie swallowed.

Ne'er had he expected an apology from his da. He'd only hoped for acceptance. And mayhap someday,