Free Highland Promise by Amanda Anderson Page B

wasn’t his child.  She wasn’t even a lady.  She had no idea who she was.
     

 
    TWO
     
     
    “Nay.  Nay, this lass cannot stay here.”  Malcom MacGregor shook his head and looked down at his mother as if she had lost her mind.
    “She must and she will.  You may be the Laird, but I’m still your mother and I’ll be daft if I let ye tell me what to do about this.  She stays and enjoys the comfort and safety of your protection.  I insist upon it.” 
    His mother would not be swayed.  He could tell by the look on his mother’s face that he would not change her mind, but he was unwilling to give up so easily.
    “You’ll do what is best for the clan and yer family.  She is English!  Nay, not just English, but a real lady.  What did you say her father was?”
    “The father she has known all her life is a count and that makes little difference in this.” 
    “She is in more danger here than she would be there.  What possessed you to bring her here woman?  Ye think I do not have enough to worry over that you give me this too?  She has got to leave.  Send her anywhere but here!”
    “She isn’t what you think Malcom you daft man.  They will kill the lass there.  Here she will at least be under my protection which is better than naught.  Would you have her living on the street?  She has nowhere else to go.  We are her only hope of surviving.”
    “If our own people learn of her they will call for her head.  What will you have me do?”
    “I’d have ye trust me.”  She said in a voice that mirrored the hurt he saw in her eyes.
    Malcom threw his hands up in surrender and walked away from his mother.  She was crazy.  How could she expect to keep an English woman safe in the highlands when every man, woman, and child would seek to kill her?  Every person here would likely cut the woman’s throat with little cause other than the blood that ran through her veins.  English blood.  She would be hated just for sharing air with them.  This good, clean, Highland air was not meant for the filthy English.
    He turned back.
    “Reconsider.  Send her anywhere else.  Now is not the time to take in strays.  We have too much to do with our own clan.  I’ll not take food from the mouths of our people to feed this English trollip.”
    “Nay.  She stays Malcom.  I will not be swayed on this matter.  I suggest you get to know the lass.  She is far more than and English trollip.  Mind what you say or you’ll be regrettin’ it.  She is a lady and I’ll not have you mistreating her just because you don’t agree with me.”
    “Send her to another clan.  Clan MacDonald.  They would not be so harsh, their dealings with the English have not been so brutal.”
    “And they would be less vigilant in watching after her. Nay, she stays with me and only me until she is sent for.  You need to listen to me and get to know the lass.  There is much you might learn.”
    “What do I want to know about a stuffy English rose?  All I know is that she will sit on her arse and expect to be treated like she is better than all of us.  I’ll not be havin’ it.  You are no Englishman’s servant or English lass’s.  I’ll not have it.  You are my mother and respected by all in the highlands.  I’ll not have you turned to a maid to this English brat.”
    Moira let out a long sigh.  “Much my son.  There is much you might learn if you allow yourself.  I have never known you to be close minded.  Now is not the time to start.  She will learn her place as we all must do.  Give her the chance to prove herself before you deem her worthless.  Have some compassion for what she has suffered.”
    “What does it matter what I think?  I’m promised remember?”  It was an old argument and he knew that his mother knew it was his way of wiggling out of this conversation.  “Besides, she has suffered nothing compared to what has been done to our people.”
    “Aye.  Yer promised to the MacTaggarts, but