Highland Grace Read Free Page A

moons before he visits.”
    Daniel turned the focus back onto their
original topic. “I must begin my search for a suitable husband for
Jesslyn forthwith.” He looked at his wife and said, “I expect your
full support this time.”
    “Aye, you shall have it. But I insist on
helping you to find the man. Steward Ranald and Derek, your
lieutenant, must not be considered again, agreed?”
    Daniel nodded. “We’ll begin the search on the
morrow. Noticing that his very pregnant wife had begun to knead her
lower back, Daniel assisted her to her feet, saying, “For now, let
us retire to our bedchambers and get some rest.” He turned then to
his grandmother and helped her to rise as well. “We must also speak
to the clan elders on the morrow. I’ve arranged for them to gather
in the great hall at noon.”
    “With our support behind her, Jesslyn will
not be banished,” Maryn said.
    He placed his arm around his wife’s back to
give her support as they moved toward the door. “Nay, she’ll not.
But the sooner she’s wed, the better.”
    “Aye,” Lady Maclean agreed.
    * * *
    The meeting with the clan elders went much as
Daniel had expected, he told Jesslyn afterward. At first, they’d
insisted that she be sent back to the MacLaurins, which, of course,
would have suited Jesslyn, but Daniel and his grandmother managed
to dissuade them of that notion. And, as Daniel had suspected it
would, the fact that she and her son would be residing at the keep
under his and Lady Maclean’s protection had aided the elders in
changing their opinion.
    * * *
    The next sennight was filled with activity as
Jesslyn was admonished to begin sewing swaddling clothes for her
babe. She now sat with Maryn, Branwenn, and Lady Maclean in the
solar working on the second of her feeble attempts and listening as
the ladies made plans for the Hogmanay feast in a bit over a
moon’s time.
    “Callum and his new wife will be attending,
so we must make sure to have his chamber furnished with more hooks
for his wife to hang her clothing upon while she is here,” Lady
Maclean said.
    “‘Twill be good to see Callum again. I do
hope he’s happy in his union, he deserves to be,” Jesslyn said.
    “Daniel assures me that Callum was pleased
enough with the match, even tho’ ‘twas contrived to keep peace
between the clans. He said the lass is quite pretty—and Callum does
love a pretty face,” Maryn replied. “I remember how unsure I felt
when I arrived at the MacLaurin holding and knew no one, so I shall
give the lady a special welcome. Some cut flowers and herbs placed
in their chamber will do nicely, I think.”
    “She will appreciate the gesture, I’m sure,”
Jesslyn said.
    “My father will also be attending. I’m
looking so forward to seeing him again,” Maryn said, her smile
broadening.
    “And I as well. We’ll serve swan again, I
think,” Lady Maclean replied. She looked up from her sewing and
asked Maryn, “It is Laird Donald’s favorite, is it not?”
    Maryn nodded, her smile shifting, becoming
wry. “Aye, tho’ I’ve yet to see him turn away anything he’s been
offered. Ouch!” Her hand flew to her stomach. “The babe’s a bit
restless, it seems.”
    Lady Maclean studied her. “‘Twill not be many
more sennights until your babe makes his appearance. Mayhap, even
while our guests are here.”
    “Aye, ‘tis what Daniel keeps saying, tho’ I
hope ‘tis after the festival. For everyone’s sake.”
    Jesslyn smiled. There was much to celebrate,
it seemed.
    “I only wish Bao would be here,” Branwenn
lamented.
    Jesslyn’s shoulders stiffened at the sound of
her babe’s father’s name, but she quickly let go of the tension.
‘Twould not do for anyone to suspect her secret. And, thank heaven,
she’d managed to defer Daniel’s decision to find her a suitable
husband until after the new year. That would, at least, give her
some time to accustom herself to the prospect once again.
    “Aye, that would truly make my old heart