“I did. He said there is a village a wee bit west of here where many worked for the MacDougalls. Said he was sure some would love to join the guards. I asked about a housekeeper. And a cook. He said there were probably a few who might be interested. He said he would pass the word that we were looking when he stopped at the village. With all these new arrivals, we definitely need someone to help serve, cook, clean. All of it. We have the coin.” Dyna got up and grabbed the bottle of wine, pouring them both a bit more. “I’m so glad we found this in the cellar. It’s lovely. What about the lass, Tamsin? Do you think she will stay?”
Eli’s face fell because she’d taken a liking to the lass, but she didn’t have much confidence that she would be with them much longer. Anyone who had to worry about being beaten like that needed to change their life, but that was a task not easily accomplished. “She’s improving, but I’m quite sure that once she heals, she’ll return to her husband because they have a daughter together. Her name is Alana, and she’s not yet two. He took the child away from Tamsin. Said she couldn’t see her again until she gave him a son.”
Dyna bolted out of her seat and paced in a circle around the chairs. “Where did you say that bastard lives? I’d like to take aim at him. This is the part I don’t like about starting a new clan. We always had hundreds of guards to call to our aid if necessary. Now we have few to help us. If we were on the mainland, I’d talk to my father about putting an end to that mean beast on the morrow.”
“We just grew from five to nearly a score in a sennight. Be patient. Now that we have more than ten, I’m more comfortable leaving the castle in search of others—merchants, guards, anyone we can hire to help us grow and build our fortress. And Alaric has gone to town. Found out about some traveling merchants who will bring goods to us.”
Dyna stopped and stared at Eli, planting her hands on her hips. “But I am quite serious.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Where does Garvie live?”
“On the Isle of Ulva. Not far, but we’ll need ships and oarsmen if we plan to attack him.”
Eli looked at Dyna as a small smile crossed her face. She’d seen that look before. Raghnall was not going to be pleased when Dyna finished with him.
Dyna said, “I have something to discuss with my co-laird on the morrow. You’ll see.”
Raghnall Garvie was in trouble.
Eli would get all the information she could from Tamsin.
***
Tamsin stepped back from the door where she’d been listening. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but she believed it was imperative to learn exactly how trustworthy these people were.
She loved what Dyna had said about Raghnall, but she didn’t have the time to wait for Clan Grantham to find the oarsmen. Her daughter could be sold by then.
Her husband’s mother tried to hide that part of her business, but Tamsin had heard enough talk about it. If they had wee ones who’d been orphaned, she preferred to sell them outright. There were ships from faraway lands who would stop and purchase any goods they had to sell.
Including bairns.
Would Dagga be that coldhearted? Would she sell her own granddaughter?
Tamsin would be gone on the morrow. She had no other option.
Chapter Fifteen
Thane
Thane stepped outside his gates to greet the visitor he’d been summoned to meet, but he froze as soon as he saw who it was. He did his best to hide his shock, but he surely failed.
Tamsin stood in front of him, her hands kneading in her skirts, but she appeared completely different from the last time he saw her. She was one of the most beautiful lasses he’d ever met. Now that the bruises had nearly disappeared, her skin was flawless, her hair the color of his favorite red sky at night, and her eyes were different. One blue and one green, as he’d seen before, but now they reflected the sun, golden flecks in each eye.
He had trouble tearing his gaze from the lass.
Her words brought him out of his stupor. “My lord, I would ask your assistance to help me return to my home. I must make certain that my daughter is hale.”
Artan had found her outside their gates, surprised to see her alone, but there she stood, looking as lovely as anyone he’d ever met. Dressed in a new gown, she didn’t look anything like the poor lass he pulled out of the sea. “How did you get here, Tamsin? Clan Grantham is a day’s ride, at best.”
“I hired someone from the next village to give me a ride. It was not the fastest horse, but I made it in a day. I did some cooking for Lady Grant, and she paid me in coin.” Tamsin brushed the loose hairs back, her plait having been loosened by the winds of the isle.
“Come inside, Tamsin. Rest your legs. You may have healed, but you look fatigued. Have a bite to eat and we’ll discuss it.”
Tamsin nodded, allowing Thane to usher her in front of him as he followed her inside. Many of his men stared along the way, so he let out a whistle to remind them of their manners.
Brian came up behind him and whispered, “They do not see many, and surely not many who look like her.”
“Doesn’t excuse rudeness,” Thane said between his teeth. Tamsin was far enough ahead at this point that he hoped she couldn’t hear their conversation. Then he motioned for Brian to stay back and allow him inside the keep alone with Tamsin.
He knew his brother well enough to know he would interject himself eventually, but he wished a few moments alone with her.
