“Aye!” Duncan said, and they all raised their cups.

They had secured their base here on the Isle of Skye, with Connor holding Dunscaith Castle on one side of the Sleat Peninsula and Ian holding Knock Castle on the other. It pained them all, however, that the MacLeods had stolen the Trotternish Peninsula while the four of them were still in France. And now, Hugh and his pirates were ravaging their lands on the island of North Uist.

“We don’t yet have the strength to fight the MacLeods for the rest of our lands here on Skye,” Ian said. “That will be a bloody battle when it comes.”

“Our first task should be to protect our kin on North Uist,” Alex said. “Our clansmen there live at the mercy of these pirates.” Seeing how his kinsmen were preyed upon had eaten a hole in his stomach.

“I agree,” Connor said. “Before the fall harvest, I want one of ye to rebuild our castle on North Uist and remain there to protect our clansmen.”

“It’s high time we took on your marauding uncles.” Alex had a burning desire to strangle Hugh with his bare hands for taking food out of the mouths of his own kinsmen. “Give me a few warriors, and I’ll set sail in the morning.”

“If it weren’t for this damned rebellion, I’d send ye now,” Connor said, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, we have other business that can’t wait.”

“What’s happened?” Duncan asked.

“The new regent has summoned me to court in Edinburgh,” Connor said.

When the Scottish king was killed at Flodden, he left a babe as his heir, and the court factions had been fighting for control ever since. The king’s widow, who was also the sister of the hated Henry VIII, was regent for a time. But when the queen remarried, the Council had called John Stewart, the Duke of Albany, from France to take her place.

“Albany wants to see the new chieftain of the MacDonalds of Sleat bend his knee and swear allegiance to the Crown,” Ian said.

“Ach, no, ye can’t go,” Duncan said. “Ye know how many times a Highland chieftain has obeyed a summons to court and ended up dead or imprisoned.”

“We can’t risk losing ye,” Ian said.

They were not just speaking out of affection for Connor. By tradition, their chieftain must be a man who had the chieftain’s family blood in his veins. Ian and Alex were related to Connor through their mothers so they couldn’t replace him—praise God. The only men still alive who could be chieftain besides Connor were his half uncles, and their clan would not survive under the leadership of one of them.

“Aye, but if I don’t go, Albany will believe I’ve joined the rebellion.” Connor heaved a deep sigh. “’Tis getting harder and harder to stay out of this fight between the rebel clans and the Crown, though I see no gain for our clan either way.”

“Send one of us in your place,” Ian said. “Whoever goes can concoct an excuse why ye can’t make the long journey to Edinburgh at this time and appease the regent with vague assurances of your goodwill.”

Ian was almost as conniving as Connor.

“The man who goes will risk being held hostage by the Crown,” Alex said, “but it’s a good plan.”

“The rebels are also pressing me to choose sides,” Connor said. “There is a gathering of the rebel clans at the Maclean stronghold. If I’m not there, we could face attack by the neighboring clans who support the rebellion. The MacLeods, for one, would be happy for an excuse to try to take more of our lands.”

“Again, send one of us,” Ian said. “We must straddle the two sides for as long as we can.”

“Which brings me back to our need for alliances,” Connor said, looking directly at Alex. “Marriage alliances.”

“No,” Alex said, meeting his cousin’s gaze. “Ye will not ask that of me.”

Connor rubbed his hand over his face. He looked even more tired than Ian, and considerably less happy.

“What I propose is that Alex wed a lass whose clan is on one side of the rebellion,” Connor said, “and Duncan wed a lass whose clan is on the other side.”

Duncan gave Connor a sideways glance that could freeze a loch.

“Thought ye were safe from his schemes, did ye, Duncan?” Alex said.

“No chieftain will want me for his daughter,” Duncan said to Connor. “I’m just your former nursemaid’s son.”

“You’re the captain of my guard and as close as a brother to me,” Connor said. “You’ll make a good catch for a chieftain with daughters to marry off.”

Duncan looked into his cup and didn’t argue, but he would be as obstinate as Alex in this.

“Ye will marry sooner or later, as all men do,” Connor said, as he refilled Alex’s and Duncan’s cups with more whiskey. “I’m merely suggesting ye do it sooner.”

“I won’t do it,” Alex said in a hard voice. “Not now. Not ever.”

“We need allies,” Connor repeated.

“Then I’ll look for a wife for you,” Alex said.

If anyone needed a woman to stir his blood, it was Connor. He hadn’t touched one since he’d become chieftain.

“I’m even willing to take the chieftains’ daughters to bed,” Alex said, “just so I can tell ye which one is dull enough for ye.”

“If I take a wife, it would be interpreted as choosing sides in the rebellion,” Connor said, “and I’m no ready to do that.”

Damn, but Connor was hard to ruffle these days.

“I see,” Alex said. “Ye are the prize to be dangled before them all until the last possible moment.”

Connor sighed. “All I’m asking is that ye meet the daughters of these chieftains and see if there is one to your liking.”

“We’ve made up a list of women for ye to consider,” Ian said, pulling out a sheet of parchment and spreading it on the table.

“What?”Alex said.

“As ye can see, we’ve given ye plenty to choose from,” Ian said. “I’ve divided them into those for and against the rebellion.”

“We left out the Campbells because an earl’s daughter seemed beyond our reach,” Connor said, his eyes twinkling. “But if ye can enchant one, I’ll no complain.”

Alex refilled his cup, wondering when this would be over.

“I want both of ye to go to the rebel gathering at Duart Castle on Mull,” Connor said. “From there, one of ye can go on to Edinburgh to see the regent.”

“Should be a pleasant time at Duart Castle, consorting with rebels and a host who tried to murder us,” Alex said, and they all laughed.

Connor tapped his finger on the parchment. “While ye are at the rebel gathering, ye can meet some of the prospective brides on my list.”

Connor shoved the list across the table toward Duncan and Alex. Neither of them would take it, but the names were plain enough to see.

“Ahh, McNeil’s eldest daughter is at the top of the list,” Duncan said.

“Alex, I understand ye showed considerable interest in the lass,” Connor said. “Kissing her in front of her father and clansmen.”

Alex glared at Duncan. “Traitor.”

“Shall I send a message to her father?” Connor asked with a wicked glint in his eye.

“The kiss meant nothing,” Alex protested. “Ye know I have a weakness for pretty lasses. I forgot myself for a moment, that’s all it was.”

Duncan took a slow drink and set down his cup “’Twas a rather long moment, Alex.”

Alex couldn’t help joining in the laughter. But he was thinking that the kiss had not been nearly long enough.

“I almost forgot, Alex,” Connor said, reaching inside his shirt. “Father Brian was here, and he brought a letter for ye.”

CHAPTER 5

Who would write me a letter?” Alex asked. Anyone who wished to speak to him could just get in his boat and come find him.

“Looks like it’s been through many hands to get here,” Connor said, holding out the battered parchment. “Do ye recognize the seal?”

As he studied the rose seal, vague recollections of France, perfumed messages, and assignations flitted through Alex’s head. He sniffed the letter. The faintest hint of lavender remained.

Alex broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. The loopy French script tugged at his memory. This time, the image of perfect, full breasts came into his mind.

“How long are ye going to keep us waiting?” Connor asked.

“Just savoring the moment,” Alex said. “Do ye remember Sabine de Savoisy, that countess who took me to her bed soon after we arrived in France?”

“Ye cannot expect me to remember all your women,” Connor said. “I can’t count that high, let alone recall their names.”

“There was only one countess. Ye must remember Sabine—she had the enormous house outside Paris.”

Connor nodded. “And lovely breasts.”

It was unlike Connor to speak crudely in front of a woman, but he didn’t appear to notice that Ilysa was standing nearby.

“So ye do remember Sabine.” Alex looked at the date at the top of the letter. The 10th of May in the year of our Lord 1515. “It took a long time to get here.”

The four of them had almost no secrets, so Alex began reading aloud.

I am in Edinburgh visiting the French Ambassador’s wife. Such miserable, damp weather you have here and so little entertainment. I am bored beyond reason and would welcome a visit from you.

“The woman must have a vivid memory,” Ian said, “to ask ye to make such a long journey for a tumble.”

“Good as I am,” Alex said, tapping the edge of the letter against the table, “I suspect Sabine could find a man in Edinburgh if that were her only purpose. No, she has some other reason for wanting me there.”

I shall languish in this dreadful city through the month of July. Have mercy on me and come quickly. Your friend D’Arcy is here, adding to the tedium.

They had fought with D’Arcy in France.

“D’Arcy has close ties to Albany,” Connor said.

So did Sabine, but Alex kept that to himself. He took a sip of his whiskey and then read the rest of the missive.