Pride of the Clan Read Online Free PDF Page A

name.
    Glenna eyed the visitors with suspicion, still scowling.
    Rheade soldiered on. “Glenna is my sister-by-marriage, wife of our chieftain.”
    Margaret curtseyed prettily. “I’m honored, Lady Glenna. I’ve never met a chieftain’s wife before.”
    Rheade came close to laughing out loud. Glenna looked gobsmacked. He doubted anyone had ever curtseyed to her—certainly no one in Dunalastair for many a year—and she obviously didn’t know what to make of Margaret’s courtly manners. He had to hand it to the girl from Oban. She had averted an awkward situation seemingly without effort.  
    After a minute or two Glenna closed her gaping mouth and softened her glare. “Aye, well. Welcome. To ye all,” she stammered. “Sitheedoon,” she insisted, gesturing to the chair she’d been protective of. “What are ye doing this far from Oban?”
    Rheade opened his mouth to explain, intending not to reveal the details, but Lady Edythe beat him to it. “She’s come to meet her betrothed,” the obese woman explained sarcastically, “who turns out to be the traitor, Robert Stewart.”
    Glenna’s mouth fell open again, then a grin split her face. “Does my husband ken this?” she asked.
    “Not yet,” Rheade replied through gritted teeth.
    Glenna cackled like a gleeful witch who’s unearthed an ancient recipe for turning men into toads. The cackle turned to a belly laugh, and by the time she staggered out of the Hall her laughter echoed off the stone pillars.

NO HARM OR FOUL

    Glenna’s strange departure left an awkward silence in its wake. The indignant expression on Edythe’s face indicated she planned to say something else they’d all regret. The woman never did have any common sense. It was clear Rheade and Logan were ashamed and perplexed by Glenna’s behavior. No point making things worse.
    “I apologize,” Rheade said, his jaw clenched. “Our sister-by-marriage is—”
    Saddened at the distress on his face, Margaret smiled sweetly. “I expect the lot of a chieftain’s wife isn’t easy. Glenna must have many responsibilities. Unexpected guests are an added burden.”
    She thought wistfully of Ogilvie House and the warm welcome her family always afforded visitors.
    Rheade’s eyes widened as his jaw slackened. Apparently her conciliatory attitude had taken him by surprise. “Aye. That’s true. Tannoch is—” He glanced at Logan who cleared his throat loudly.
    “Who knows when our chieftain will return from the Grampians,” he said in an abrupt change of subject. “Logan had a good idea. I’ll instruct Fion to prepare our mother’s dressing room for ye, Lady Margaret, and have another chamber prepared for yer uncle and aunt.”
    “Excellent,” Uncle Davey exclaimed. “After a week on the road ’twill be good to sleep indoors in a comfortable bed.”
    He rambled on about the appalling conditions in the shepherds’ bothys in which they’d sheltered, making no mention of the tireless efforts of Shaon and Joss to alleviate the discomforts.   Aunty Edythe made silly cooing noises of agreement, loosening her grip on the blankets.
    Logan’s frown worried Margaret. “Are ye sure?” she whispered to Rheade. “I dinna wish to upset yer brother. Will he approve?”
    He hesitated only a moment before replying. “Aye,” he said. “I’m sure it’s what my mother woulda wished.”

    ~~~
    Perhaps it was Glenna’s unspeakably rude behavior, or the obvious discomfort of these good people from Oban, but Rheade was suddenly sick and tired of worrying about Tannoch’s opinion.
    Dunalastair was his home as much as it was Tannoch’s. The Robertson clan had a stalwart reputation of nobility and good breeding. His older brother hadn’t inherited those traits from their father, but it didn’t mean the entire family had to behave like ignorant peasants. It pained him Margaret might be in danger in his home. “I will make sure no harm or foul comes to ye in this castle,” he assured her.  
    “Why