Marion giggled as Iain led her toBridgette’s table and then solicitously waited for her to take her seat beforeexcusing himself and striding back up to the dais. She watched as he strode thefew steps, the muscles of his powerful legs flexing. He settled himself, andthough Lachlan immediately started talking to him, Iain’s heated stare stayedon her. All she could think about was that she loved him. It pounded throughher, at once thrilling and frightening.
“The MacLeod did nae want ye to sitby him, I see,” said someone directly across from Marion. She drew her gazeaway from Iain and met the derisive flashing eyes of Fiona.
“I wanted to sit with all of you toget to know you,” Marion replied.
“There was nae a need for that,”Fiona snapped. “Bridgette here has talked about ye since she sat down.” Fionascowled at Bridgette, who met the woman’s dark look with one of her own. Marionwanted to hug her friend for trying to help her. She offered Bridgette a smileand then took a piece of meat off the almost-empty trencher and one of the lasttwo hunks of bread left on the platter before her.
Marion understood that Fiona wasangry at her because the woman had wanted to be Iain’s wife, but she alsosuspected the woman was afraid of what would become of her now that Marion washere. She had to find a way to assure Fiona that she was still an importantpart of this clan.
“Tell me, Fiona, who took on theposition of mistress of the castle when your sister passed away?” Marion askedas she took a bite of the bread, or attempted to. God’s truth, it was likebiting into a stone. Marion frowned and set the bread back on her plate.Someone needed to teach the women in the kitchen how to properly bake bread.
“I did,” Fiona answered, her tonedefensive. “I suppose ye want to do it now?”
Marion stabbed at the meat with herknife. Her stomach growled, but the blood leaking from the obviouslyundercooked meat deterred her from trying it. She glanced swiftly around andsaw that most of the women at the table had left a good portion of their fooduntouched, and Bridgette appeared to have eaten nothing. Tomorrow, Marion wouldtalk to Iain about what could be done. But tonight, she had to face a largerproblem.
She held Fiona’s gaze as the womenat the table shifted their eyes between the two of them. “I think Dunvegan ispossibly so large that it needs a mistress of the castle and an assistant. Whatdo you think?”
“I think,” Fiona said, her wordswrapped in scorn, “I dunnae need an assistant to run this castle.”
The woman was making it hard tolike her, but then again, Marion had known it would be difficult, though she’dhoped she was wrong. “Ineed an assistant,” she said pointedly.
“Ye think ye’re strong enough to bemistress of the castle?” Fiona demanded, her brows rising in disbelief.
Marion opened her mouth to respond,but her words were cut off by Bridgette’s. “Marion is stronger than she looks,”Bridgette said and gave Marion a sympathetic smile.
“I certainly hope so,” the curlyredheaded woman sitting by Fiona crowed. “Ye look as if a strong highland windwould blow ye away,” the woman said, her hand coming to rest on her roundedbelly.
“Alanna.” Rory Mac growled at hiswife and gave Marion an apologetic look. “She’s with child,” he offered as his way,Marion supposed, of explaining his wife’s sour mood.
Alanna glared at Rory Mac. “Whatdoes being with child matter?”
In answer, Rory Mac dragged hisbread through the sauce in the trencher and stuffed the entire piece in hismouth.
Marion stifled her nervous laughterat Rory Mac’s actions and the dissension of the table in general.
“It’s good to finally meet you,Alanna,” Marion offered.
The woman drew her russet eyebrowsupward. “Is it now?”
Marion clenched her teeth atAlanna’s mocking tone, as most of the women at the table snickered and laughed,save Bridgette and Elspeth. Rory Mac, with a dark look, stood abruptly and leftthe table to take a seat at one occupied by only men, including Angus, whoMarion noticed was turned around watching her. Marion didn’t blame Rory Mac forleaving. She would rather sit elsewhere, as well, but this was a battle, and ifshe fled, she’d be defeated. “Yes, it is good to meet you. Iain tells me youare cousin to Fiona and Elspeth.” When Alanna’s mouth twisted cynically, Marionrealized her error. “And of course, Catriona, when she was alive.”
“Aye,” Alanna clipped, “andCatriona, who was the best ofallof us.”
Marion was more angry than hurt atthe hostility of Catriona’s sister and cousin, but being hostile in return wouldsolve nothing.
Beside her, Bridgette took a deepbreath, drawing Marion’s attention to her. Bridgette looked as if she couldspit fire, and Marion felt her eyes go wide.Oh dear!
“Marion is nae weak,” Bridgette bitout, “and she is just as good as Catriona was, ye bunch of wee petty women!”
Marion touched her friend’s arm.“Bridgette, I can defend myself.”
Bridgette didn’t even flick hergaze to Marion. She simply narrowed her eyes, her cheeks turning an alarmingshade of red. Belatedly, Marion recalled the men teasing Bridgette about hertemper. This must be to what they had been referring. Bridgette slapped herpalms on the table, the noise so loud and unexpected that all conversationquieted at their table and those surrounding them. Bridgette started to rise,but Marion grasped her arm, desperately pulling her back into her seat.
“Bridgette, please,” Marion hissed.
Bridgette waved a hand at Marion.“Allow me to handle these witches.”
“Witches!” Fiona screeched. Marioncringed. “Are ye calling me a witch?” the woman demanded, staring at Marion.
