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.Flora was to go with her, and they were taken to the gates of the Caisteal in Donald’s cart.He assisted them to alight at the entrance to the castle.Mairi looked up the hill in amazement.She’d never seen anything like it.The large, square, stone-built structure was set into the hillside overlooking Boat of Garten.There was only one road up to it, so it was easily defended.They walked up to the large doors and pulled on the bell.A plump, smiling woman opened the door and to them.“Can we please see Braemuir?” Mairi asked.“May I know your name?” the woman asked.“Mairi NicMhàrtainn, and my friend is Flora NicDhuidh.”“And my I know what you wish to discuss with Braemuir?”“I wish to talk to him about Hamish Munroe,” Mairi said in a firm voice.“Very well, please wait here in the hall, and I will go and ask if he will see you,” the woman said.Mairi and Flora stood in the hall and waited.Mairi looked about her.The entrance hall was large and furnished with richly polished, old furniture.Straight opposite the front door was a wide, ornately carved staircase leading to the upper floor.In a short space of time a tall man returned and held out his hand in greeting.“I’m Braemuir.Which of you is Mairi?” he asked in a pleasant, deep voice.He had the air of command, which was not surprising as his ancestors had owned this part of the Highlands for generations.He wore the plaid wound around him and the end thrown over his shoulder in the time-honoured tradition.A huge brooch with a cabochon emerald and a golden dragon held it in place.He was six feet four inches tall.His muscular frame was broad at the shoulders and narrow at the waist and hips.He had long, lean, and powerful legs.His hair was long, and although tinged with gray at the temples, it was still mostly blue-black, and glossy.He wore it pulled back from his face and tied at the nape of his neck with a leather thong.He carried a huge broadsword at his hip.The cabochon emerald in the hilt matched the one at his shoulder.“I’m Mairi,” she said.And put up her chin as his eyes raked her person.“You mentioned Hamish Munroe?” he asked.“Yes, my lord.I have a matter to discuss with you in private.”“Very well, Mairi, come this way.” Braemuir led her to a door on the left.The room they entered was furnished with comfortable chairs, a huge sofa, low tables, and a couple of footstools.A log fire burned in the large, stone, inglenook fireplace, giving light and warmth.Shelves of books stretched from floor to ceiling.Many of them were very old, with tooled-leather spines.The rugs on the polished floorboards were dyed sheepskins.Braemuir walked over to the fireplace and pulled on an ornate rope hanging by its side, and within a few minutes, a pleasant, motherly woman appeared.“Something hot to drink for myself and my guests please, Sinead,” he said.“Certainly, sir.”When the hot drink had been brought, the two women settled in comfortable chairs by the fire.“Now, Mairi, tell me what you want of me,” Braemuir said.“I am bearing Hamish’s child.Hamish was lost at sea in a boat accident.I couldn’t remain on Skye, where every place reminded me of my lost love, so I came to the mainland.Hamish often spoke of your son, my lord.I need a safe place to live and rear his child.I was hoping that you might be so kind as to aid me,” Mairi said.As she began to explain, her confidence ebbed away.All this sounds strange to me.He’s not going to believe me.I haven’t mentioned marriage.He will know that Hamish was too young for the dragon-mating.He’ll have me thrown out.I ought never to have come here.I’d better leave now.As she was rising to her feet, Braemuir put out a hand to restrain her.“Please be seated, Mairi.Hamish was a good friend to my son, who will soon be Braemuir.I would like to help you.Do you wish to live in the middle of the settlement or in a more secluded spot?” As she’d already discussed the matter with Flora, she had an answer ready.“To begin with, until I learn the ways of this community, it would be best to live in a secluded spot.There I can bear my child and raise him until he is ready to take his place amongst the others of his age,” Mairi said.“A very wise decision.I have a small cottage which will be suitable for you for a few years.When you are ready to move to a more central position, you have only to ask.I have a few cottages that are empty as we have seasonal workers sometimes.Now finish your drinks and I will have my steward take you and your belongings to your new home.If there is anything you lack, you need only ask him.” Braemuir stood and pulled on the rope once again.This time there appeared a stocky man, with the brown skin of one used to working outdoors for most of the year.He removed his bonnet and bowed to his Clan Chieftain.“MacTavish, these two ladies will need to be conveyed to the cottage in the east wood.They have some belongings to be transported, and if they find they lack anything on their arrival at the cottage, you will oblige me by procuring it for them,” Braemuir said.“Aye, my lord,” MacTavish answered.Braemuir took his leave of them, and MacTavish escorted them out to the side of the house where a cart awaited them.They collected all they had left with Jeannie for safekeeping, and then MacTavish took them to the cottage, deep in the wood.An area of trees had been cleared around the cottage, and a small, neglected vegetable-patch had been made to one side.MacTavish and his helper unloaded the cart and disposed of the bundles as directed by Flora.There were several that didn’t belong to them.“Those aren’t our belongings,” Mairi said when she saw them being carried into the house.“Braemuir directed Sinead to supply household linen and a supply of food,” MacTavish informed her.“Please tell Braemuir that we are so very grateful to him,” Mairi managed to get out.Tears were clouding her eyes.This was more kindness by far then she’d expected to be shown [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]