CHAPTER 37
Sybil took a deep breath and knocked on the door to the guest chamber. The servants had told her that Flora Grant had not left the chamber since her dramatic arrival yesterday. So long as she remained here as the chieftain’s wife and lady of the castle, she would not shirk her duties. As painful as the situation was for her, she ought to ease her guest’s discomfort if she could.
“I told ye before,” Flora called out in response to Sybil’s repeated knock, “I don’t need anything.”
When Sybil opened the door, Flora jumped to her feet. Her hair and clothes were as disheveled as when she arrived, but now her high color was gone and her eyes were red and puffy.
“I’m sorry,” Flora said, looking flustered. “I thought ye were a maidservant.”
“I’m sorry to disturb ye, but I want to speak with ye,” Sybil said. When the lass looked wildly about her as if searching for an escape, Sybil added, “If it’s any comfort, I’m uneasy about this as well, but we must talk for young Kenneth’s sake.”
Flora nodded and sat on the edge of the lone bench with her back straight as a board. Sybil sat beside her and smoothed her skirts.
“Ye do understand,” Sybil said, “that as the MacKenzie chieftain’s only son and heir, Kenneth must be raised here with his father and clan?”
Flora’s bottom lip trembled. “Aye. My father is set on it.”
“I imagine you’ve been like a mother to Kenneth since your sister died. The bond ye have with him will always be special.” Sybil laid her hand over Flora’s. “I want ye to know that you’re welcome to visit him as often as ye like.”
Flora burst into tears and wept so hard her shoulders shook. Sybil patted her back and gave Flora her handkerchief.
“Do ye mean it?” Flora asked in a voice muffled by her hands covering her face.
“I do,” Sybil said. “I want what’s best for the lad, just as you do.”
Flora startled Sybil by throwing her arms around her. The lass’s hair was such a wild mess that Sybil had to lift her chin to breathe.
“I was afraid I’d lose him forever,” Flora blubbered.
Sybil was exhausted by all the emotions of the last day, but she had one more thing she needed to say. Gently she eased Flora to sit up on her own.
“I understand that you expected to become Rory’s wife—and ye would be if not for me.” Sybil swallowed and forced herself to go on. “I am sorry for the pain and embarrassment I’ve caused ye.”
“Ye can rest easy on that account,” Flora said, waving the damp handkerchief. “While Rory MacKenzie is a verra fine looking man, I never had my heart set on him. In truth, I’m furious with him for refusing to claim Kenneth and even angrier with my father for forcing my nephew on a man who doesn’t want him.”
“Ye did appear to be a wee bit upset when ye arrived.”
“A wee bit?” Flora said. “Ach, I must have been a sight!”
“I’m afraid ye were,” Sybil said, fighting a smile.
When Flora threw her head back and laughed, Sybil joined her. It felt good to share a laugh with another woman after so many days of tension and misery.
“I’m in no hurry at all to wed anyone,” Flora said. “I would have married the MacKenzie so that I could be here to protect my nephew, but I can see now that you’ll do that for me.”
“Rory would never harm Kenneth, nor any child.”
“Hmmph.” Flora gave her a skeptical sideways glance.
“For as long as I’m here, I’ll look out for him,” Sybil said.
“I know ye will,” Flora said, gripping Sybil’s arm. “Ye may look and act like a princess, but underneath, you’re a fighter like me.”
“I’m sure your family is worried about ye,” Sybil said. “’Tis time ye came down to the hall.”
“I’m too embarrassed after the scene I made.”
“Sometimes a lass has to make a scene,” Sybil said. “In my family, I’m rather famous for them.”
“But I’m such a mess,” Flora said, looking down at herself. “My father will chastise me for weeks for coming to the table looking like this.”
“I’ve already sent for a bath and a clean gown.” Sybil stood to leave. “I’ll return to help fix your hair, and then we’ll go downstairs together.”
When Flora embraced her once more, Sybil squeezed her eyes shut against a sudden wave of longing for her sisters. Though no one could replace them, she was glad to have made a friend.
The warm glow she felt was but a brief respite from despair, and it drained out of her like water through a sieve the moment she closed the door behind her.
***
Rory’s hall was crowded with Grants, which soured his mood. Why were they still here? He despised being pushed and had no intention of giving them what they wanted.
Ignoring the glares directed his way, he poured himself a whisky and kept watch on the arched entrance to the stairwell that led to the upper floors. He had not seen Sybil since they returned to the castle and she slammed the bedchamber door in his face.
At least she had not left him, but he’d lost her heart. And he had no idea how to win her back.
He swallowed hard when Sybil swept into the hall leading Grant’s daughter by the hand. What was Sybil up to now? Their guest had undergone a remarkable transformation from a raging demon to a respectable lass, but Rory kept his eyes on Sybil.
When Grant charged toward them, apparently intent on ranting at his daughter for her earlier behavior, Sybil took his arm and drew him aside. Rory started across the hall to protect his wife, but she caught his eye and shook her head. She and Grant proceeded to have what appeared to be an intense conversation. What in the hell did she have to say to him?
As soon as Grant left her side to speak with his sons, Rory joined her.
“How did ye get that madwoman to calm down?” he whispered, glancing at the Grant lass.
“She’s not mad,” Sybil said. “She was upset, and understandably so.”
“That lass was screaming like a banshee yesterday,” he said. “How did ye manage to calm her down?”
“I assured her that ye would not harm the lad.”
“Ach! As if that needed to be said.”
“It did,” she said. “And I can’t say she was persuaded.”
Rory was offended. He was also very grateful he didn’t have to marry the Grant lass. Now if he could only get rid of his guests, he could try to make amends to his wife.
“I don’t suppose that stubborn old man told ye he’s giving up and going home?” Rory said, nodding toward the Grant chieftain.
“He’ll not leave until this matter with his grandson is settled,” she said. “Unless ye want these Grants as permanent guests, I suggest ye come to an agreement with him about the lad.”
“I’ll not let him force my hand.” This was not a conversation he wanted to have with her, but at least she was speaking to him.
She turned and fixed angry violet eyes on him. “Can ye afford to make the Grants your enemies now?”
“Ye know I can’t.”
“Then meet the man halfway,” she said. “Grant told me that if ye let Kenneth remain here, that would show you’re considering claiming him and would satisfy him for now.”
“But I’m not considering it. I don’t believe the lad is mine,” Rory said for what felt like the hundredth time. He took her hand. “Our son should be my heir and the next chieftain of Clan MacKenzie. Don’t ye want that too?”
“Nay, I don’t.” She jerked her hand away. “I wouldn’t have my son be a thief and take it from the rightful heir. He’d be no better than Hector.”
Rory tried to hold on to his temper and failed. “Do not compare any son of mine to Hector.”
“You’ve let your pride blind ye to the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
“Your blood runs through that lad’s veins. As I see it, ye have a duty to him, and ’tis high time ye accepted it.”
“I’ll do anything else ye asked,” he said.
“Then let the lad stay here.”
A short time later, they were saying their farewells to the Grants. Rory’s jaw hurt from gritting his teeth. Though he did not like it, he could not think of a better compromise. And what harm could it do to let the lad stay for a time?
“If I am any judge of women, your bride is none too pleased with ye,” Grant said, and elbowed Rory in the ribs. “Mind your step, MacKenzie, or I’ll steal her away.”
By the saints, Sybil had even won over crusty old Grant. The man tried Rory’s patience to the breaking point when he took his leave of Sybil.
“An older man has the wisdom to recognize a woman of value when he sees one,” Grant said, and kissed her hand. “And he knows how to treat a wife.”