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Ramsey filled the men in on the necessary details about Gillian’s sister “With yourin a young girl She would have been around six years old”
“But if the family came to us from the Lowlands with the child, hoould we know the lass wasn’t actually theirs?” Brisbane said
“You’d know You know everything that goes on here You both would have heard the gossip”
“Perhaps we can be of service to the lady,” Otis said “But I’ her, Laird Has the lady come to mean more to you than she should?”
“She has coreat deal to me,” Ramsey said, his voice curt now
“But she’s English” Brisbane pointed out the obvious “And that is why Otis is concerned, Laird”
“I knohat she is,” Ramsey said “Lady Gillian is Brodick’s woman, and Brodick is my friend”
The announcement cheered both men Otis looked vastly relieved “Then you are not—”
“No,” Ras to Brodick”
Brisbane turned to Brodick “Even though she’s Englishyou still claim her?”
“I do”
Annoyed by the turn in the conversation, Gillian said, “I’lish”
Otis gave her a sy English, but it’s courageous of you to pretend Co with me,” he added as he motioned Ramsey out of his way so that he could latch onto her arm, “and ill talk about your sister”
Brisbane wasn’t about to be left out “My er than yours, Otis,” he said as he took hold of Gillian’s other ar Brodick out of his way “Why don’t we take a stroll around the lake and put our heads together I do recall one fae, and they did come to us from the Lowlands”
Because bothperlanced back at Brodick, caught his nod of approval, and then gave her full attention to her escorts as they led her away
Raht?” Brodick asked, though he was alreadyto Robert and Liam to follow
“Of course she’ll be all right,” Rauard”
“Very well,” Brodick agreed, and quickly rescinded his command to his athered to speak to their laird
“Do you think Otis and Brisbane will be able to help Gillian?” he asked
“The question isn’t if they can help, but rather, will they help” Ramsey poured a cup of wine and handed it to his friend and then poured one for hiood idea where Christen is,” he explained “But they’ll talk to her fa If Christen wants to e it If not”
“You’ll command it”
“Yes,” he agreed “But it will be difficult The old men will be stubborn”
“They would seek to protect her because she’s a MacPherson?”
“Yes”
“Why would they think they have to protect her from her own sister?”
“Her English sister,” Ra, Brodick If Christen is here, we’ll find her Ah, there’s Gideon with Dylan Letbusiness, and then we, too, will put our heads together and decide our plans”
An hour passed quickly as Ramsey first listened to the concerns of his clan, then heard Gideon’s report on the proble He wasn’t surprised to hear that the majority of those problems involved the MacPherson soldiers Ramsey held his patience while Gideon recounted incident after incident on the training fields
By the tirievances, his face was bright red “You’ve ordered me to be tolerant,” Gideon reerous to allow such insubordination The leader of this group of ive an order, the ives his nod of approval, then they followwith anger
Ramsey stood calmly in front of the hearth and watched his coainst the table as he, too, listened to the tirade against the MacPhersons Dylan stood beside him
When Rah, he raised his hand for silence “And ould you have me do, Gideon?” he asked softly
The commander whirled to face his laird “Throw the bastard out”
“Does the bastard have a name?” Dylan asked
“Proster,” Gideon replied
“And you want me to banish him?” Ramsey demanded
“I would rather you let me kill him, Laird, but I would be content if he were cast out”
“What about his followers? What would you have me do to them?”
“The truth?”
“Of course”
Gideon sighed “I would have you throw theainst this union of clans, Laird, and I do recall telling you that it wouldn’t work”
“And you believe your prophecy has been fulfilled?”
“I do”
“You knew there were going to be problems, Gideon It is your duty to find a way to solve the the misfits out,” he added curtly “Find Proster and send him to me,” he commanded then “I’ll deal with him and his cohorts”
Gideon seeerly nodded “I welcome your interference, Laird, for I swear the troublemakers have pushed me to the wall I do not have your patience”
No one had Raht to himself Gideon obviously didn’t know his laird well, for if he did, he would have known that under that thin layer of civility and diploe warrior whose temper put Brodick’s to shanite, but once he had reached his limit or had been prodded too far, his reaction was explosive and most impressive He could be far more brutal than Brodick, and perhaps that was one of the reasons they had becoood friends They trusted each other Aye, Brodick trusted and admired Ramsey as much as he trusted and admired the man who had trained them to be leaders, Iain Maitland
Now there was a ruthless leader, Brodick thought Iain rarely showed mercy, and was known for his impatience, which hy in the past he had relied on Ras Whereas Iain would have killed anyone who disagreed with hiet what he wanted, and only if and when that didn’t work, did he, like Iain and Brodick, resort to brute force
Once Gideon had aired his complaints, his disposition improved dramatically “There’s one more rin
Ramsey raised an eyebrow “The matter amuses you?”
“Aye, it does,” Gideon replied
Rauess,” he said “Does the id KirkConnell?”
Gideon laughed “You’re id There has been yet another request for her hand in e”
A resigned look on his face, Ramsey asked, “Who is it this time?”
“The soldier’s name is Matthias,” Gideon said “He’s a MacPherson and I would warn you that if Bridgid agrees todown so many of our worthy and proud Sinclair soldiers, there will be hell to pay”
Now Ra, she’s predictable We both know she isn’t going to agree to have this Matthias, so you needn’t worry about the repercussions Send her in, and I’ll put the question to her I’d like Brodick to mee
t her”
“Why?” Brodick asked
“She’sintriguing,” Ramsey explained
“Begging your indulgence, but her mother requests an audience first, Laird She wishes to speak to you before Bridgid is summoned”
“Is she waiting now?”
“No,” Gideon answered “I’ll send someone to fetch her”
“When we’re finished,” Raather in the courtyard at sunset Every single man must attend,” he added