The gate at the top of the path was open and Talorc rode through, his bearing proud and imposing. A contingent of warriors, every bit as ferocious looking as the ones that had accompanied them north, waited in the courtyard. They stood in front of a single circular stone tower centered on the flattened top of the hill. The tower soared well over thirty feet into the air, competing with the fierce soldiers for Abigails curious attention.
Talorc dismounted and greeted the warrior that looked to be Nialls twin with a fist to his heart. The other man copied his lairds movement, adding a nod toward Talorc that was almost a bow but not quite.
Abigail smiled at Niall. That is your brother, Barr, is it not?
Aye.
Hes almost as handsome as you, but he lacks the mark of strength you carry on your face.
Tipping his head back, Niall laughed out loud, making Abigail grin. She liked to see joy on her new friends face.
The warriors around them stopped greeting their laird and stared. So did the clanspeople, looking at Niall as if hed sprouted Medusa snakes on his head.
Nialls mirth transformed to a fierce glare, causing all but a red-haired man standing near Talorc to affect immediate interest in something else. The red-haired man was smiling and staring at Niall with what could only be described as a love-struck expression. Not that Niall seemed to notice, he was too busy trying to intimidate his friends.
Abigail shook her head, giving up on trying to keep track of the conversations around her. She could only see a few peoples lips, and she didnt have enough experience watching them speak yet to accurately read more than every other word. She could not see her husbands mouth at all. However, when everyone, including the clanspeople that had followed them from the lower bailey fixed their attention on Abigail, she surmised hed said something in regard to her.
Panicked, she looked at Niall. What did he say? I was not paying attention.
Niall gave her a strange look but didnt hesitate to
reply. Our laird introduced you as his wife. The soldiers and clan are now at liberty to speak to you.
You mean they werent before?
You dinna notice none of the soldiers spoke to you on our trip north?
I thought they might be shy. Or that they hadnt liked her because she was English. You spoke to me.
I had my lairds leave to do so.
Wow, Sybil would throw a fit worthy of a yowling, scalded cat if my father presumed to dictate who could and could not speak to her.
Does that mean you intend to throw such a fit? Talorc asked, having approached without her noticing.
She shook her head with a smile. Not at all. If he but knew it, he had just made her life all the easier. The fewer people that spoke directly to her, the less chance her secret would be revealed.
Good. He put his arms up, indicating he would help her from the horse. Come.
She didnt hesitate, sliding from the white mares back right into her husbands strong arms. He set her from him immediately but put one hand on her shoulder. I have already introduced my wife, I now tell you that Abigail of the Sinclair is your new lady.
Surprise rippled through the crowd, but it was no stronger than her own sense of astonishment. Even Abigail recognized a seal of approval when she heard it. Talorc was telling his people he expected them to accept her.
Amazing.
She knew he had not done the same for Emily. Her sister had felt hated by the Sinclairs.
An old man approached, a scowl on his wrinkled features. You ask us to pledge our loyalty to this Sassenach ?
Nay.
Abigail felt her heart plummet. Had she misunderstood?
I do not ask. I demand it. As is their right, any who wish to challenge me may do so. Be assured, however, that I will consider the least slight to my mate a challenge for my position as laird.
The old man stepped back, clearly reeling from his leaders words.
Abigail felt a bit faint herself. Talorc had just announced to all who cared to listen that he considered her his friend. Warmth suffused her along with guilt she had kept buried deep inside since she began hiding her deafness from those around her.
She did not want to deceive her husband, but terror at his reaction to the truth prevented her from admitting it. Even now. Her plan had been to reveal her affliction upon reaching the Highlands so that Talorc would send her to live with her sister, Emily, among the Balmorals. With that goal in mind, telling the truth of her lack of hearing would have been easy.
Or so she supposed, but now it felt impossible. Once again hope was blooming inside that there might be a place for her among the Sinclairs. A true place. A position of belonging. And she did not want to give that up.
Chapter 11
Talorc nodded. He turned to Abigail. Wife, this is Guaire, seneschal to the Sinclair holding.
Seneschal? I dont know this word.
It is similar to a steward, Guaire replied in English, earning himself a glare from the other warriors around him.
Except for a slight tightening of his shoulders, he ignored the reaction, showing he was used to such from the others. For some reason that bothered Abigail. She knew she was going to like this soldier. He had been happy when Niall laughed and that pleased Abigail.