Rose In Scotland Read Free Page B

never again to do such a foolish thing. He was the laird, and what risks there were would be taken by him.
    “What will you do, Hugh?” Lucien was regarding him curiously. “Will you go to London to petition the courts for redress?”
    “I had thought to do so,” Hugh replied. “I’ve the king’s pardon to show them, and enough groats to grease as many fat English hands as it may take. Although I pray God ‘twill not be many.” He added this last part with a wry grin, and was rewarded when they broke out into raucous laughter.
    “Nae much chance of that, lad,” one of the wizened Highlanders chortled, slapping his knee in amusement. “ ’Tis greedy as ever the English be, and they’ll take yer gold, yer boots, and yer buttons if ye dinna keep yer wits about ye.”
    “Then I shall have to make certain to do just that,” Hugh said, pretending to relax even as he was careful to keep his guard firmly in place. “I haven’t survived this long to be buggered by some fat pig of a magistrate.”
    The crude remark won another burst of laughter from the others, and when he was certain his actions would not be misinterpreted, Hugh bought a round of ale. There was still a distancebetween himself and the others, but for the first time since arriving in his old village, he cautiously began to hope he would be able to put right what had gone so terribly wrong.
    “Will ye be stopping in Edinburgh to see yer sister, lad?” One of the men broke his hostile silence to send Hugh an inquiring look.
    Hugh felt his heart race at the thought of seeing his sister again. “Of course,” he answered at once. “And had I known Mairi was there, I should have stopped there first. But as it was, I was in a hurry to be home, and in no mind to be read a scold by my aunt, may Saint Giles bless her sweet soul.”
    More laughter followed, for Egidia Sinclair’s sour disposition was known to all. A rich widow, she could have remarried a dozen times over, but her sharp tongue and hectoring ways had driven off any suitor foolish enough to approach her.
    The men soon settled back with their ale to reminisce and gossip in the manner of men everywhere, and as he always did, Hugh was content merely to sit and listen in watchful silence.
    “When do you leave for London?” Lucien had picked up his tankard and moved to join Hugh at the end of the bar.
    Hugh thought of all that would have to be done before taking his leave. “The day after tomorrow,” he decided, unwilling to wait any longer before seeing Mairi. “If there is anything left to be done I will leave it to you. Do you mind?”
    Lucien gave an expansive shrug. “Not so much,” he said, raising his tankard to his lips.“I’ve been doing the little I can until now, but it will help if the others know I’m acting on the orders of the laird.”
    His words had a sobering effect on Hugh. “But am I the laird?” he asked, his glance going to the group of men deep in conversation. “I may have been temporarily forgiven, but that is a long way from being accepted—especially as laird.”
    Lucien’s gray-blue eyes flicked in the men’s direction. “Dinna let those old rashers of wind gype you,” he said quietly. “I dinna say you will be met with open arms, but there are more here who understand the wisdom of what you did than those who would condemn you for it. Be patient, Hugh. It will come with time, I promise you.”
    Hugh’s plans to leave in two days’ time proved optimistic, and it was almost four days after riding into Loch Haven that he was able to ride out again. He attended his duties as laird, riding from house to house to meet with his chieftains and tenants. He was relieved to see Lucien was right, and that most of the men he spoke with, while wary and defensive, seemed inclined to accept him as head of the clan. He listened to their complaints and observations calmly, taking what action he could before moving on to the next house.
    He also took the time to lay