Margaret Mallory - The Sinner

Duncan looked into his cup and didn’t argue, but he would be as obstinate as Alex in this.

“Ye will marry sooner or later, as all men do,” Connor said, as he refilled Alex’s and Duncan’s cups with more whiskey. “I’m merely suggesting ye do it sooner.”

“I won’t do it,” Alex said in a hard voice. “Not now. Not ever.”

“We need allies,” Connor repeated.

“Then I’ll look for a wife for you,” Alex said.

If anyone needed a woman to stir his blood, it was Connor. He hadn’t touched one since he’d become chieftain.

“I’m even willing to take the chieftains’ daughters to bed,” Alex said, “just so I can tell ye which one is dull enough for ye.”

“If I take a wife, it would be interpreted as choosing sides in the rebellion,” Connor said, “and I’m no ready to do that.”

Damn, but Connor was hard to ruffle these days.

“I see,” Alex said. “Ye are the prize to be dangled before them all until the last possible moment.”

Connor sighed. “All I’m asking is that ye meet the daughters of these chieftains and see if there is one to your liking.”

“We’ve made up a list of women for ye to consider,” Ian said, pulling out a sheet of parchment and spreading it on the table.

“What?”Alex said.

“As ye can see, we’ve given ye plenty to choose from,” Ian said. “I’ve divided them into those for and against the rebellion.”

“We left out the Campbells because an earl’s daughter seemed beyond our reach,” Connor said, his eyes twinkling. “But if ye can enchant one, I’ll no complain.”

Alex refilled his cup, wondering when this would be over.

“I want both of ye to go to the rebel gathering at Duart Castle on Mull,” Connor said. “From there, one of ye can go on to Edinburgh to see the regent.”

“Should be a pleasant time at Duart Castle, consorting with rebels and a host who tried to murder us,” Alex said, and they all laughed.

Connor tapped his finger on the parchment. “While ye are at the rebel gathering, ye can meet some of the prospective brides on my list.”

Connor shoved the list across the table toward Duncan and Alex. Neither of them would take it, but the names were plain enough to see.

“Ahh, McNeil’s eldest daughter is at the top of the list,” Duncan said.

“Alex, I understand ye showed considerable interest in the lass,” Connor said. “Kissing her in front of her father and clansmen.”

Alex glared at Duncan. “Traitor.”

“Shall I send a message to her father?” Connor asked with a wicked glint in his eye.

“The kiss meant nothing,” Alex protested. “Ye know I have a weakness for pretty lasses. I forgot myself for a moment, that’s all it was.”

Duncan took a slow drink and set down his cup “’Twas a rather long moment, Alex.”

Alex couldn’t help joining in the laughter. But he was thinking that the kiss had not been nearly long enough.

“I almost forgot, Alex,” Connor said, reaching inside his shirt. “Father Brian was here, and he brought a letter for ye.”

CHAPTER 5

Who would write me a letter?” Alex asked. Anyone who wished to speak to him could just get in his boat and come find him.

“Looks like it’s been through many hands to get here,” Connor said, holding out the battered parchment. “Do ye recognize the seal?”

As he studied the rose seal, vague recollections of France, perfumed messages, and assignations flitted through Alex’s head. He sniffed the letter. The faintest hint of lavender remained.

Alex broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The loopy French script tugged at his memory. This time, the image of perfect, full breasts came into his mind.

“How long are ye going to keep us waiting?” Connor asked.

“Just savoring the moment,” Alex said. “Do ye remember Sabine de Savoisy, that countess who took me to her bed soon after we arrived in France?”

“Ye cannot expect me to remember all your women,” Connor said. “I can’t count that high, let alone recall their names.”

“There was only one countess. Ye must remember Sabine—she had the enormous house outside Paris.”

Connor nodded. “And lovely breasts.”

It was unlike Connor to speak crudely in front of a woman, but he didn’t appear to notice that Ilysa was standing nearby.

“So ye do remember Sabine.” Alex looked at the date at the top of the letter. The 10th of May in the year of our Lord 1515. “It took a long time to get here.”

The four of them had almost no secrets, so Alex began reading aloud.

I am in Edinburgh visiting the French Ambassador’s wife. Such miserable, damp weather you have here and so little entertainment. I am bored beyond reason and would welcome a visit from you.

“The woman must have a vivid memory,” Ian said, “to ask ye to make such a long journey for a tumble.”

“Good as I am,” Alex said, tapping the edge of the letter against the table, “I suspect Sabine could find a man in Edinburgh if that were her only purpose. No, she has some other reason for wanting me there.”

I shall languish in this dreadful city through the month of July. Have mercy on me and come quickly. Your friend D’Arcy is here, adding to the tedium.

They had fought with D’Arcy in France.

“D’Arcy has close ties to Albany,” Connor said.

So did Sabine, but Alex kept that to himself. He took a sip of his whiskey and then read the rest of the missive.

I have a special gift for you. I know how you like surprises so do come. I promise you will regret it if you do not.

S

Alex set his cup down and read the letter through twice more to himself. The message was veiled, the signature indeterminate, and the seal not her official one. But then, the countess was always careful.

“Do ye have any notion what this ‘special gift’ might be?” Connor asked, reading over his shoulder. “Other than the obvious.”

Alex shook his head. “No, but I’ll go to Edinburgh for ye and find out.”

“Ye should take the letter to Teàrlag,” Ilysa said.

Connor started at the sound of her voice. “Forgive me, Ilysa, I didn’t see ye there,” he said. “What do ye say, Alex? It can’t hurt to show the letter to the old seer.”

* * *

The wind whipped Connor’s hair as he adjusted the sail. “It feels good to be out on the water.”

“Ye should get out sailing more often.” Alex was concerned about his cousin. The weight of his responsibilities showed in the lines of weariness on his face.

It was a short sail to the seer’s cottage, which sat on a ledge between the mountains and the sea. The four of them had done it countless times as lads, but today, it was just Alex, Connor, and Ilysa in the boat. Duncan had gone with Ian to visit Sìleas and the babes—despite Alex’s warning that the twins were biters. Brave man.

“How is it that you have Shaggy’s boat and not me?” Connor asked.

“Because I love her best,” Alex said, patting the rail.

Connor laughed, a welcome sound. Ilysa, who fretted about Connor more than anyone, gave Alex a grateful look.

A short time later, they pulled the boat into the cove below Teàrlag’s house and climbed the slippery steps cut into the stone cliff. Teàrlag was waiting for them outside her cottage. Despite the mildness of the early summer day, she was hunched over with two shawls wrapped around her, as if facing a bracing wind.

“I saw ye coming,” she said, by way of greeting.

With her one good eye, Teàrlag couldn’t see much in the usual sense, but she was a seer of great repute. Most folk avoided her, for she had an unnerving proclivity for predicting death.