right to fight, but she wanted it all the same.
Camdyn beamed up at her, delight and admiration in his eyes.
“’Twould be an honor to fight beside ye, Camdyn,” she said. “Ye’re an excellent soldier, but for now, I need ye to remain behind to protect the castle and the women. I know that might be disappointing to ye, but trust me when I say that it is the most important job to keep our people and our home safe.”
Though disappointment flickered in the lad’s eyes, he nodded all the same. “I will honor your order, Mistress.”
“Ye’re more a leader than Hamish ever was,” her mother murmured, making Jenny’s heart swell at the same time a great sadness filled her. Her heart was like a well that was overflowing.
Her brother had no idea what he had left behind when he’d sided with the enemy. Or perhaps he did. But it was hard to believe that he would have chosen treachery over honor.
A calmness poured over her. Over the next two days, they set about preparing for war. There was only one thing still to do before they rode out, and that was to claim what was hers. After calling for the clan to gather in the great hall, she faced her people and accepted their pledges of loyalty. Toran was the last in the line of those who wished to pledge themselves.
He sauntered forward and without hesitation dropped to his knees before her. “For all the days of my life, to thee I pledge,” he said. “I will honor thee, follow thee, fight for thee. I pledge my fealty to ye and to the Stuart crown.”
Coming from him, it was a declaration that made her heart skip a beat. She swallowed hard, finding it difficult to make her mouth work. She held out her hand, and he took it, kissing her knuckles. For just the briefest of moments, she closed her eyes and reveled in it before muttering her acceptance and asking him to rise.
Toran took his place with the men, but even with him offering her that small reprieve, she found it hard to breathe.
“My father and his father before him were men of honor, men of integrity. They fought for our Scottish king in the first uprising. If either of them were alive today, they would fight again. They believe in the Stuart line as I do, as do ye. We are their living legacy, and we will honor them in death just as we honored them in life.”
A resounding cheer filled the room, shaking the rafters. The clansmen tapped their fists to their hearts and then raised them in the air.
“To that end,” Jenny continued, “it is with my father and grandfather in my heart that I must humbly ask that ye support my claim to my place as laird of Clan Mackintosh. My brother has dishonored us by siding with the English. He has allowed our enemies to infiltrate our lands and home. He dishonored the legacy left by our ancestors, who sacrificed themselves for us to be free from the oppression of the English. He robs us of weapons and provisions that are used to fight against us. Hamish is no longer worthy of the title.”
Jenny’s hands were clammy, but that was the only sign she’d been nervous about claiming what should have been hers all along. Ripples of excitement and pleasure wound down her spine, and the exhilaration of the people in the great hall warmed her heart and made her want to sing and dance. How long this had been coming, and now it was here. It was hard to stand still, hard to keep her face serious when all she wanted to do was shout with joy.
“I submit to all of ye that Jenny Mackintosh, daughter of Jon Mackintosh, should be named laird,” Dirk shouted, followed by her mother bellowing, “I second the motion.”
What had been bellows of pleasure turned to “ayes” for a changing future.
Jenny gripped her mother’s hand, pulling her up to stand beside her, and hugged her tightly. Dirk came around the table a moment later and effortlessly lifted Jenny up to sit on his shoulder as he paraded her around the room, ending with her right in front of Toran. She slid down from her perch to face the man she’d fallen hopelessly in love with.
“What say ye, Toran MacGillivray Fraser,” she said, “of a woman as laird?”
“I couldna be prouder of ye, Laird of Mackintosh,” he said with