Guard and inquired lightly, “Do ye imagine that this lass and I are a threat to this castle?”
The giant man had taken a step toward them, brows lowered, when a deep voice spoke from the arched doorway to the keep.
“Hugh, ye and your men must be at ease. I recognize the grandson of my old comrade, Alasdair Crotach.” The older man who spoke was tall and dignified in his tunic and belted plaid, his long auburn hair partially covered by a tartan cap. Turning toward Lennox and Nora, he flashed a sudden smile. “I am Hector Mór, the MacLean. I remember your visit some years ago, young MacLeod.” As more sheets of rain lashed them, Hector hastened to add, “Ye are welcome here, ye and your…” He paused, sweeping an appreciative look over Nora. “Ah…lady?”
Lennox felt a twinge of jealousy, and he instantly corrected, “Mistress Brodie is my wife.” He sensed Nora’s surprised glance, but kept his own eyes on Hector Mór.
“Ah then, is she indeed? Then ye and your lovely bride must come inside, young MacLeod, out of the weather!”
As they followed the older man back into the dark, forbidding keep, Lennox knew he should be grateful for this welcome, but suspicion tightened in his chest.
* * *
“I didn’t realize we would be staying here,” Nora whispered as she and Lennox were seated alone at the high table in the exceedingly damp and chilly great hall. Near her feet, a huge wolfhound gnawed at a smelly bone. “The housekeeper has taken my things to one of the bedchambers.”
“I know I hoped we might speak to the MacLean and sail back to Oban by sunset, but ’twould be rude to refuse his invitation.” Lennox, who had washed with real soap and combed his wild golden locks back from his face, gave her the briefest of glances. The MacLean was standing across the hall, near the doorway, speaking to a younger man, but he seemed to watch them with one eye. “Besides, it is storming outside,” Lennox continued. “Chaucer will be just fine in the Oban stable, and we will have a hot meal and enjoy sleeping on clean, dry sheets.” After taking a long drink from a goblet of wine, he added in a kinder tone, “Be grateful you brought your satchel, lass.”
“I couldn’t leave it at that stable. Everything that is precious to me is in it.” She paused, willing her voice to be steady. “Every worldly thing, that is.”
Lennox was watching her, and she knew he was trying to discern the secrets she held so closely. Not for the first time, Nora wished she had the freedom of a man and could have ridden away alone from Stirling, to make her own way in the world. But that was not an option for her, especially given her condition. It might not be obvious yet that she was with child, but certainly her belly would begin to swell soon enough.
“Are ye worried for your safety here?” He spoke in a low voice, all the while holding her captive with his intense green eyes. “I will not let ye come to any harm, Nora Brodie.”
Before she could reply, Hector Mór strode to the table and took his seat across from them. A servant quickly appeared and poured ale into his cup while an old woman carried in a heavy, steaming pot and set it in the center of the boards.
Hector nodded to Lennox, but his attention was clearly on Nora, and soon enough he spoke to her. “Ye are not from the Highlands.” It was a statement, not a question.
She nodded. “It is true, laird. I was born in Flanders. My father is a master tapestry weaver, and when I was ten, he brought me with him to the Tudor court in London. We lived there until this year, when King James V bade Father come to Stirling.”
The MacLean’s eyes widened in his weathered face. “And ye are educated?”
“My mother insisted upon it. She taught me to read and instilled a love of books and knowledge in me.” Nora could feel Lennox’s warm, strong body touching hers on the bench as he leaned closer, listening.
“Aye,” Hector pronounced. “I could see it in your face and bearing. Ye are that rare beauty blessed also with a fine mind.”
Nora bit back an urge to protest that beauty and intelligence were by no means mutually exclusive, but remembered that this was their host. Instead, she put on a smile. “You are kind to