"Oh." Saidh waved her concern away. "I'll be fine."
Murine looked as if she wanted to say more, but paused and glanced past her as Montrose stood up at the far end of the table. A sigh slipped from her lips, but she forced a smile for Saidh. "It looks as if we are leaving."
"Oh." Saidh stood when Murine did and accompanied her along the tables in the hall. They were halfway to the keep doors when Saidh blurted, "Murine, if ye're e'er in trouble or in need o' aid, do no' hesitate to write me at Buchanan or e'en to come there. Ye'll always be welcome."
"Thank ye," Murine said and paused to hug her. "Ye're a good friend, Saidh, and the same goes fer you. If ye're e'er in trouble or in need, me door will always be open to ye."
Saidh hugged her briefly, then stepped back with a smile to walk her outside. She was surprised to step out of the great hall and find the bailey swimming with horses. The stable master had obviously been busy since she'd entered the castle. It made Saidh feel bad that she'd left him to tend to her mount rather than do it herself.
"Mount up, Murine. We do not have all day," Montrose snapped as he slung himself into his own saddle.
Murine smiled tightly, but moved to do as instructed.
Saidh watched her mount and then moved up beside the horse and rubbed the mare's muzzle as she commented, "Joan's tincture must be working, Murine. It seems to me ye've no' fainted once since the babe was born."
"Aye." Murine gave her a real smile. "I'll ha'e to write Joan and thank her."
Saidh nodded and stepped back. "Safe journey."
"Safe stay," Murine said solemnly, and then turned her horse to follow her brother out of the bailey, followed by the soldiers.
"Ye're worried about her."
Saidh tore her gaze away from Murine's stiff back and glanced at Greer as he paused beside her. The man was huge, something she hadn't really taken note of until now. He made her feel small and dainty in comparison, something even her brothers, who were all large men, had never accomplished.
She turned to peer after the last of the soldiers riding out of the bailey and nodded solemnly. "Her father made no provisions fer Murine in his will. No' even a dower. She's dependent on her brother now and I fear he's no' the most caring o' brothers."
"Was her father no' Laird Beathan Carmichael?" Greer asked.
"Aye," she said and noted the frown that pulled at his face.
Greer shook his head. "He did no' seem the type o' man to leave his daughter penniless and dependent on a half brother like Montrose Danvries."
"Ye knew him?" she asked with surprise.
"I worked fer him a time or two," he admitted.
Saidh's eyebrows rose at this news. "Worked fer him at what?"
"I was a sword for hire ere Allen died and I inherited the title," Greer admitted without shame. "Laird Carmichael hired me on a time or two. I liked him," he added. "And I suspect someone is no' dealing honestly with Murine if she thinks she was left without resources."
Saidh frowned at the suggestion and peered back to the now empty drawbridge, thinking that perhaps she should write Murine and tell her what Greer had said. She wouldn't put it past Montrose to claim there was no dower and gamble it away instead. From what Murine had said, he'd gambled away most of his inheritance from his own father already. The only thing left was Danvries castle and the lands he rented out to farmers as far as she knew.
Aye, she'd write to her, Saidh decided and turned to start back up the stairs. She still hadn't broken her fast, and then she'd have to check on Fenella before she returned to the loch to cross swords with Greer.
Chapter 4
Saidh dismounted in the clearing and took a deep breath of fresh air before letting it out on a pleased little sigh. She'd arrived first, which she hadn't expected as she'd mounted the stairs to check on Fenella. She'd felt sure her cousin would keep her for hours as she cried and moaned about losing Allen . . . and Saidh would have stayed for all of it, doing her best to console the inconsolable woman.
Fortunately, she'd come across Fenella's maid on the upstairs landing and on hearing that the other woman was bathing, had told the maid she wouldn't trouble her just then. She'd asked the maid to tell Fenella that she'd come to check on her, and that she would return later, when she was out of her bath. Then she'd hurried to her room to change her gown before almost skipping back downstairs and out to the stables to gather her horse and head to the loch.
Sliding her sword out, Saidh swung it a couple of times to loosen her muscles. She didn't think she'd have long to wait for Greer. He'd been in the practice area with his men when she'd passed on the way to the stables and she knew he'd seen her. She was quite sure he'd follow when he had the chance. He was the one who had suggested they battle after breaking their fast after all.
Saidh swung her sword again, enjoying the whistle of sound it made as it sliced the air, and then glanced at the water and found herself moving toward it. It was such a pretty spot, it was hard to believe anyone had died here, let alone Fenella's husband. Thinking about that made her wonder what he had looked like. Had he favored Greer in looks? Had he been tall, and strong and so well put together? She wondered as she recalled Greer rising out of the water as beautiful as some ancient god, water droplets racing down his tanned skin.
Nay, not a god, she thought now. His skin had not been perfect and unblemished. Scars had marred his chest and arms. Probably his back too, she thought. It was not hard to believe he'd earned his living by his sword ere inheriting the title. But he was still beautiful. The scars had added rather than taken away from his looks, to her mind.
"If ye wish a swim instead o' a fight, I can wait."
Saidh whirled around with surprise at that comment, startled to find Greer not only there, but off his horse and crossing the clearing toward her. How had he arrived and dismounted without her hearing? The question blazed through her thoughts, but she already knew the answer. She hadn't really been present in that clearing in that moment, she'd been off in her head in another moment in that clearing and ogling the man's naked chest in her mind. He was obviously a distracting devil.
"I can swim another time," she said raising her chin as he drew close enough that she had to do so to meet his gaze, or speak to his chest.
"A shame. I would ha'e enjoyed watching ye strip away yer braies and gown and slip into the water," he said with a grin.
Saidh blinked at the words, her nipples tightening in response to the thought of removing her clothes under the hot gaze of this man and then letting the cool water soothe the heat his eyes caused. Scowling with irritation at her body's response, Saidh shook her head. "In yer dreams, me laird."
"Aye. Ye've done that and much more in me dreams," he admitted and then grinned at the blush that rose up into her cheeks.
Saidh didn't know quite how to respond to that, so was relieved when he took on a more serious expression and backed away to withdraw his own sword from his sheath. He didn't raise it though, but arched an eyebrow instead and asked, "Are ye going to fight like that?"
Saidh glanced down at her dress and then raised an eyebrow of her own. "Ye expected me to strip to battle with ye?"
"Jest yer dress. Ye've braies under it," he pointed out.
"Aye," she agreed, "But braies do no' cover me duckies."
"Duckies?" he asked uncertainly.
" 'Tis what me youngest brother calls me teats," she explained with amusement and was interested to see the flush that suddenly rose on his cheeks as his gaze dropped to the items in question.
"I do no' mind if yer duckies are no' covered," he said, his voice almost a growl.
Saidh snorted at the claim. "I'm sure ye do no'," she said dryly and slid her sword back into her sheath, then bent forward and reached between her legs for the back of her gown. Straightening, she pulled the cloth with her and tucked it into the belt that held the sheath at her waist. It probably wasn't attractive, she acknowledged, but it would keep her skirts out of the way while they fought, yet her legs were decently covered by the braies still.