Lyon's Gift (32 page)

“
Aye,” Duncan agreed. “But you
dinna understand, my laird.”

“
I understand quite well,” Lyon
said. “You think he will greet me with his blade simply because my
blood is English?”

Duncan shook his head. “’Tis not usually his way,
no, but his son was stolen by King David and given to the English
as ward. MacKinnon has only just now returned from retrieving the
boy. He cannot be pleased, and I dinna wish to face him if he is
angry.”

“
So David told me,” Lyon
countered, angered, “and yet MacKinnon has already faced David
squarely. I cannot see that he would accord me any less courtesy
when I come in the name of peace.”

Baldwin frowned. “Lyon... are you certain you wish
to?”

Lyon was unused to having his authority
questioned.

“
I am quite certain I wish to,” he
said, his tone clipped. “Christ, if any of you are man enough to
follow, then do so. If not, then take your bloody arses back to the
manor, pack your belongings, and get the hell out of my sight, as I
do not want or need craven men in my company!” He spurred his mount
toward the hillock, leaving them to follow or not at their own
discretion.

If they chose not to, however, they had damned well
better not be waiting for him upon his return!

As well as Lyon knew David, he was surprised to find
that his friend had returned to see Iain MacKinnon. He was not so
surprised when he learned why.

It seemed the MacKinnon was getting married—wedding
his English love.

Lyon nearly interrupted the ceremony and was glad he
had calmed himself before riding in. As it was, Iain MacKinnon was
well aware of his presence, but he seemed to realize at once that
Lyon’s visit was not one of ill bodings. MacKinnon eyed him, nodded
to acknowledge him, but dismissed him as he returned his attention
to his bride and exchanged with her his vows. Spotting David within
the crowd, Lyon joined him and watched the couple.

“
I did not realize,’ Lyon said,
“that I would be intruding.”

David turned to him, looking surprised. “Lyon!
Neither did I, until the messenger came to invite the Brodies.
They, of course, did not come, but I thought it prudent to pay my
respects.”

Lyon smiled. “Quite beneficent of you,” he said.
“And did he receive you well?”

“
Cordially,” was David’s response.
“Cordially, but the wily bastard does not show his appreciation so
well. If he found my presence an honor, he has yet to reveal it.”
Despite his words, he chuckled. “You have to admire a man who will
not be cowed. Damn the rotten bastard!”

Lyon chuckled softly.

“
That is also what I like about
you, Lyon.” David smiled at him. “From that day so long ago when we
were both naught more than whelps.”

Lyon shook his head at the memory, then turned his
attention to the wedding couple. The ceremony was over and they
were locked within an embrace.

“
You were never a man to act
against himself,” David added.

Lyon looked at his friend and liege in surprise.
David couldn’t know him that well if he thought so, but Lyon said
nothing.

“
I am honored, Piers, to have you
at my back.”

Lyon nodded his thanks. “It is my pleasure to do
so,” he told David.

“
And more,” David added, “as my
friend. I count myself a fortunate man.”

Lyon didn’t know what to say. Instead he gazed at
the MacKinnon and his bride. “Thank you,” he said finally,
uncomfortably.

David seemed to understand for he changed the
subject at once. “She’s a lovely thing, is she not?”

“
That she is,” Lyon agreed. “Who
is she?”

“
Page FitzSimon,” David said. “Her
father is the man to whom I entrusted Iain’s son as ward until
Henry could take him, as he was both mine and Henry’s vassal.” He
too watched the couple; they were both smiling and basking in the
adoration of their people. “It seems there is no reason to regret
my actions, is there? All is well that ends well. Have you ever
seen two people more in love?”

Lyon considered that question, and had to ask
himself, What is love?

What did he feel for Meghan?

Certainly he thought of her every moment of every
day—wanted to be with her every instant he could. The very image of
her made his heart beat a little faster, and the thought of
spending the rest of his life with her made him smile.

And she was bright. The simple fact that she could
read had amazed him. She’d read his papers with an open mind,
without condemning him for his thoughts—not once had she thrown his
words back into his face. Nay, she’d read them with an open heart
as well.

And then she had given him everything.

He wanted to take care of her for the rest of her
life. He wanted to wake up with her upon a morn and look into her
beautiful eyes. He wanted to make love with her, and to laugh with
her, and to show her things, to see her suckling his babe at her
breast, to see her hold him to her and look down upon him with
loving eyes. And he wanted to suckle those breasts, as well, for
the rest of his days. He wanted to wake up and lazily draw her into
his arms, set his mouth against her bosom and nuzzle gently.

When he thought of her, he felt both a flutter in
his heart, as though it sprouted wings to fly, and a glorious
warmth that cocooned him unlike anything else he’d known in his
life.

For the first time ever, he felt a communion of
spirit with another living soul.

So then, was that love?

If so, then he damned well loved Meghan Brodie!

And he wanted to have with her what he saw in the
couple making their way through the celebrating crowd. Shouts and
laughter surrounded them.

Now MacKinnon and his bride were coming toward him.
MacKinnon grabbed his wife by the arm, dragging her after him, and,
laughing, she followed.

“
If you return in peace, then
welcome!” Iain MacKinnon said to David, eyeing Lyon
cautiously.

“
That I do!” David assured him. “I
came to see with my own eyes that Page Fit2Simon is content.” He
nodded at Page, and she smiled and blushed prettily.

“
I am,” she told David, and her
smile deepened as she tilted a loving glance to her new
husband.

Lyon felt a pang of envy at the sight of them
together.

So happy.

“
Your father will not trouble you
here, lass,” David swore. “Be well, and be happy!”

“
I shall be very well,” she
answered shyly, and once again smiled up at her husband.

The two of them shared a secret look together—one
that was warm and unmistakably hungry, and Lyon’s body tensed at
the thought of Meghan looking at him in such a way.

A grin spread across Iain MacKinnon’s face. He
turned to David abruptly, tearing his gaze away from his bride,
though clearly with reluctance. “And so I have your blessing in
this?” he asked David. “If FitzSimon returns I can be sure to know
where you stand?”

David nodded. “You may at that, MacKinnon. And I can
see very well that your bride is happy.”

Page blushed even more fiercely, then looked at
Lyon, meeting his gaze.

Lyon smiled down at her, thinking her blush as sweet
as her smile. He added his own felicitations, and then said, “And
you may count upon me as well, as David’s position is mine,
too.”

Iain thrust out a hand in welcome. “Iain MacKinnon,
as you know.”

“
Piers Montgomerie,” Lyon said,
grasping the other’s hand.

“
Aye, then!” MacKinnon declared,
grinning. “I knew that! Make yourselves welcome!” He turned to
Page. “Gentlemen, today my wife has made me a verra happy mon!” And
then he turned to David and thrust out his hand once more. David
grasped it, and MacKinnon said, “We begin anew. While I cannot be
happy for the matter of my son, I have gained so much
more.”

“’
Tis good to know,” David said,
nodding.

MacKinnon turned to Lyon and smacked him
companionably upon the shoulder. “Eat! Drink! Make merry with me
and my bride!”

“
Da! Da!” came a little voice
below. Lyon peered down in time to see a child scurry between his
legs.

“
Get yourself up from your knees,
Malcom!” Iain demanded of the boy.

“
Aye, but Merry is swillin’ the
ale from the vats as fast as Glenna pours them an’ she is gettin’
mad, mad, mad!”

Lyon chuckled.

His father did as well. “Is she now? Well then, you
go and tell her I am on my way, and find Brock and tell him to
fetch his bluidy dog!”

“
I will go!” Page offered, and
made to leave. He dragged her back against him, embracing
her.

“
Nay,” he replied, “you are comin’
with me!” He lifted her up into his arms, unconcerned by the
presence of their guests.

“
All right, Da!” the boy said to
his oblivious father, and bolted away.

Page was squealing and laughing. “Jesu, but you are
a savage Scot!” she declared, and Iain MacKinnon merely chuckled at
her accusation.

“
So you have said, wife!” he told
her and kissed her swiftly upon the lips. He started to carry her
away, stopping only to turn toward Lyon and David once more.
“Stay,” he invited them, “and we shall share a toast together for
my bride once I’ve salvaged the ale from that damned greedy
dog!”

David laughed, and so too did Lyon.

“
We shall,” said David. “And we
thank you for your hospitality, Iain MacKinnon.”

“
Aye, well,” Iain responded,
grinning almost stupidly with his joy, “you caught me on a good
day, I suppose.” And he winked at them and turned away, bearing his
giggling wife with him.

Their laughter trailed after them as they
disappeared into the crowd.

Meghan had fallen asleep waiting.

She awoke to a dark room: no torchlight, no taper,
only the light from the hole in the roof to orient her.

“
Meghan!” came a whisper, and she
lifted her head from her arm to peer groggily through the shadows,
wondering if she were dreaming still, so confused was she from the
drogue still coursing within her body.

“
Meghan!”

Her eyes focused upon the door, where it seemed the
sound emanated.

The door was closed, and she could make out the
figure of someone standing before it, arms outstretched as though
to bar it.

“
Where are you, Meghan?” the voice
said a bit in panic.

She recognized the voice suddenly and bounded up
from the chair. “Alison!” she exclaimed. “Here!” Stumbling over
herself in her sleepy state, Meghan made her way around the bed.
Alison spied her at last and came rushing to her.

“
How is your arm?” Alison asked at
once. “And how do you feel? Did Cameron give you my
message?”

“
Well enough,” Meghan assured her.
“And I am tired, but well. Aye, Alison, he did!”

“
I had to set the arm, but you
would have been proud of me, Meghan!” she rushed on to say. “I
didna even wince when the bone snapped into place!”

“
I am proud of you!” Meghan said,
and she was. She had been from the instant Cameron had revealed to
her what Alison had done. Her dear friend had been brave even to
show her face here in Lyon’s home. “How did you get in tonight?”
she asked. “And where is Lyon?”

“
He’s yet to return,” Alison
replied hurriedly. “But we must hurry, as I’ve little notion how
much time we have before he does. Cameron’s wife,” she revealed to
Meghan. “She let me in. Cameron was supposed to sneak me in, though
he’s not returned as yet either. Iona led me in, instead. She
awaits you in the corridor, even now, and will take you to her
brother Angus who will see you home.”

“
And what of you?” Meghan asked,
suddenly disinclined to go.

“
Dinna worry about me!” Alison
assured her, and reached out to remove the wimple and veil from
Meghan’s head.

“
Ouch!” Meghan cried. “I will
remove that! You take the sling from my arm, instead!”

Together they worked under cover of darkness,
removing veils and exchanging clothing, dressing quickly.

“
Oh! and I have a bruise upon my
cheek,” Meghan told her. “Dinna forget to blacken it
well!”

“
Never you mind!” Alison said as
she slipped the sling about her arm. “I will! But what shall you do
about your arm,” she fretted, “if I am to wear this?”

“
Dinna fash yourself over it,”
Meghan said. “My arm will be fine in the short time whilst I find
my way home. Oh! The pouch you sent me is under the bed,” she
added.

“
I came with my face already
painted,” Alison disclosed. “But aye, I will find it as soon as you
go, and color a bruise upon my cheek at once!”

“
Och, Alison!” Meghan said, and
peered at her friend through the darkness. “Are you certain you
wish to do this?” And she held her breath, part of her hoping the
answer would be nay.

“
I am sure and certain!” Alison
replied. “And now you’ll do me the favor of hurrying home!” She led
Meghan to the door, and opened it without ceremony. “Iona?” she
called out.

“
I am here!” the woman answered
from the corridor. “Hurry now!”

“
Go,” Alison directed
Meghan.

Meghan’s feet would not move.

She forced herself to walk into the corridor.
“Alison,” she began, “I don’t know...”