Her long-term goal? Until Kelvan Mortimer was gone, she didn’t have time to devote to any man. Even Broc.
The door opened, pulling her from her thoughts. A group of people entered, all chattering as if they were the best of friends.
Broc set his implements down and said, “Mama? Da?” He broke into a wide grin, then looked at her and said, “My apologies, but my parents have arrived from the mainland. Could we work again on the morrow?”
“Of course,” she said, putting everything back into a small crate and setting it on a side table where it had been before. Merryn moved over to the hearth, standing in front to warm herself as she observed the happy group.
A tall woman with hair a shade darker than Broc’s stepped inside first, laughing and setting down the sacks in her arms. “Broc, get over here. I’ve missed you terribly.”
The man behind her had hair mostly gray with shocks of red still visible. He was tall and bubbly, his laughter contagious as everyone behind him laughed along. The three bairns ran over to greet the newcomers while Dyna came flying out of the kitchens.
“You’re here! And you’ve brought food! I can smell the boar meat!”
“Greetings, Auntie Kyla,” Sylvi said as she hugged her aunt. “And Uncle Finlay too. Did you bring any toys?”
Kyla winked at Sylvi and said, “I might just have a new set of blocks all carved out for you. It’s like a puzzle. But you must wait, lassie. It’s packed in a bag somewhere. Will you help me carry our things to our chamber?”
Merryn sat in a chair as Maeve and Maitland came in, carrying Grant.
Broc’s mother reacted instantly, her voice full of joy. “Give me that sweet bairn. I’ve missed him. Look how he has grown!”
To Merryn’s surprise, after Lady MacNicol picked up Grant, Broc came over, took Merryn’s hand, and brought her over to his parents.
“Mama, this is Merryn. She’s from the MacLean holding in Mull. We’ve had some trouble with the bairns of late, as you’ve probably heard, so we brought Merryn and her daughter Shealee here. Merryn, these are my parents.”
“Greetings to you, my lady,” Merryn said with a brief curtsy. “Shealee is playing with Sandor and Tora.”
Kyla stared at Merryn and handed Grant back to his mother without taking her eyes away from Merryn. “Merryn, is your husband here too?”
“I’m not married yet.” She looked at Shealee and blushed. “It’s complicated.” Afraid of what the woman would think of her, she leaned forward and whispered, “She’s actually my niece. We’re hiding her from the girl’s father.”
Kyla took both of Merryn’s hands in hers and said, “My, but you are a beauty with that golden-red hair. You remind me of my husband’s family.”
Merryn blushed and Broc said, “Mama, stop staring at her. You’re making her uncomfortable. She just arrived and doesn’t know anyone here.”
Kyla dropped her hands and stepped back. “Please call me Kyla. No reason for formality here. We aren’t like that. There’stoo many of us. If anyone called out ‘my lady,’ ten people would answer.”
Merryn moved back over to the chair, picked up a toy, and handed it to Shealee, who had grabbed ahold of her skirt, hiding in the fold. “This is Shealee.”
“Merryn,” Kyla said. “She’s lovely. May I ask you an odd question?”
Merryn nodded. What else could she possibly say? Broc was busy speaking with his father and the two were heading up the staircase with the bags behind Dyna.
“What think you of Broc’s scar?”
Merryn was totally confused, not knowing how to answer the odd question, so she answered with complete honesty.
“What scar, my lady?”
Kyla grinned and hugged her.
Chapter Seven
Magni
Lia came down the stairs at Castle MacQuarie and waved at Magni. “Come, brother. I’d like you to listen in on this conversation.”
Magni glanced around the great hall at Tamsin, then at Thane’s parents. Alana was still sound asleep. Early morn by the hearth was his favorite place to be because he could smell the bread baking in the kitchen (his second favorite place to be). He loved a nice line of honey running across the middle of his bread, especially if it dripped over his fingers. And if it was still warm, it was even better.
