Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,7
his brother said. “What have ye learned?”
In spite of everything, Lennox was heartened to see the emotion in Ciaran’s dark face. “Very little, as ye predicted, but I may have one clue. Do ye remember that old Isbeil had a brother? Da says it was he who took them away in a galley, when ye were but a babe.”
“Her brother?” Ciaran looked past Lennox to lock eyes with his da. “Were ye speaking of Duncan?”
“Oh, aye,” Magnus nodded. “I remember now. Duncan.”
“He labors for me in our shipyard,” said Ciaran. “His cottage is nearby.”
Lennox’s heart leaped. “We must find him. If Duncan was with them, he may have the answers I seek.”
* * *
Twilight was gathering as Violette came into the hall of Spirit Tower, followed by Old David who carried a tray of glasses and an open jug of wine.
“This is my favorite time of day on Skye,” Violette said in her charming French accent. “The light is sublime, don’t you agree? Pink and gold.”
“Aye,” agreed Ciaran, sending a conspiratorial smile to Lucien. “’Tis the faeries’ doing.”
As Lennox watched them, his thoughts drifted. As soon as he could tear Ciaran away from his little family, they would go together to visit Isbeil’s brother, Duncan. What would the old man tell them? Lennox couldn’t help imagining the stories he might hear, of his mother arriving at a grand castle, of the scene when she had met his father. The notion that Duncan might point at the man in the miniature and say his name aloud made Lennox feel oddly dizzy.
Across the room, Fiona began to show Lucien how to roll a ball for the new family puppy, a brown-and-white ball of fur called Gaston. Once she could see that her little son was feeling confident, she returned to the group at the table. Old David had just entered the hall with a platter of venison pie, roast carrots, and spring peas.
“I thought we were going to see Duncan,” Lennox said as he watched Ciaran help himself to a wedge of pie. He knew he sounded edgy, but what did they expect? His whole life seemed to hang in the balance this evening.
“Aye, and we will,” Ciaran replied evenly. “But first we must eat.”
The thought of food made Lennox’s stomach clench. “For years ye have kept the truth from me, and now that I have stumbled across it, ye still delay helping me to find more answers.”
Ciaran sent him a stormy glance. “If I go without food, my temper will be as foul as yours.” He pushed the pie across the table.
“And where the devil is Da, I would like to know?” Lennox complained as he grudgingly cut himself a wedge of venison pie. “He is more to blame than anyone, for he has known the longest, and yet he could not be bothered to come with us tonight.”
Fiona patted Lennox’s shoulder, looking worried. “I have never seen you like this before.”
Before he could reply, there was a loud bang at the tower house door, and it swung open with a loud groan. Lennox looked up and was surprised to see Magnus entering the hall. Close behind him walked a wiry man with a grizzled beard, an old tartan bonnet pulled down over his ears.
“Da!” Ciaran rose and went forward to greet the two men. “Who’s this with ye?”
“I’ve brought Duncan, Isbeil’s brother,” said Magnus, leading the older man forward. His eyes held a naked plea as he looked at Lennox.
The others rose to greet the visitors and call for additional refreshment, while Lennox struggled to quell the emotions that rose up inside him. It was so much easier to feel resentful and angry toward Da, to silently compile a list of grievances, but this simple demonstration of love from the only father he had ever known brought stinging tears to his eyes.
Magnus came to sit down on the bench beside Lennox. “Here then, Duncan, take a seat.” He patted the place on his other side and turned back to Lennox, speaking to him in a low voice. “This is what ye wanted, isn’t it?”
“Aye, Da.”
“ I know ye feel I’ve failed you, lad. All I can think of now is to try and make it right, going forward.”
Fiona leaned over to make eye contact with Lennox. He knew she wanted him to embrace Da and tell him all was forgiven, but Lennox’s heart, usually quick to warm and forgive, resisted. Instead he nodded at Magnus, mumbling thanks, and turned to