Free Across a Dark Highland Shore (Hot Highlands Romance Book 2) by Kelly Jameson Page B

And I wish it now.”
    “Nay.”
    “What?”
    “Nay.”
    “I must remind ye there are people here who harbor unpleasant thoughts about ye, Isobel. People who dunna trust ye. Yer a MacKinnon healer. People fear ye. ‘Tis better for ye to be seen constantly in my presence until they grow used to yers.”
    “I canna sit around waiting for visions! I need to have something to do.”
    He reached out his hand again. “We’ll discuss it at the table.”
    Though she wanted to scream at him, she finally took his hand and he led her to the dais.
    “Errol, move down.”
    “My laird?”
    Leith pointed to another seat. “The Seer sits by my side from now on.”
    Errol’s face flooded red as bog berry but he nodded. “As you wish, my laird.” He removed himself to the other side of Lady Katherine as Leith sat down next to the woman he desired. Isobel remained standing.
    “Sit,” Leith said, pointing to the empty chair next to him.
    “I’ve already eaten.”
    “Yea, but I have no’. Sit.”
    Isobel sat.
    “In times of feuding, ye surround yerself with women?” Errol spat.
    “Yer within arm’s reach, Errol. Certainly I can hear yer booming, irritating voice. Would ye rather we handfasted? If we were betrothed, I fear ye would nag me to death.”
    Lady Katherine laughed, but it was not a nice laugh.
    Errol frowned. “My laird, we have strategic matters to discuss. The Reivers have continued to strike through the winter months, when the nights are longest and the cattle and horses fat from having spent the summer grazing. The raids have been too close for comfort, involving at least a dozen men. I fear for the safety of our cattle and horses. The Reivers ride on hardy nags and ponies that can pick their way over the peat pots. I think the Reivers may be of Clan Ranklin. I dunna think the Campbells would risk attacking us with Lady Katherine here as our guest. And for sure they are no’ English, for the English are far too busy losing their war against France. They ha’e little appetite for tangling with us Scots now.”
    “Aye. Though the truce with England is but a scrap of parchment, I dunna think they would bother with us just yet. Clan Ranklin, despite being part of our own clan, has been a wild thorn in our side. Though they dunna have their own chief, they continue to want to war with us. They may be involved. Rolph and his patrols still plan to return on the morrow?”
    Errol nodded.
    “Then ye and my uncle Rolph have the situation well in hand. Now, I’ve promised Isobel my ear.”
    Errol had already spent a good part of the morning red-faced. Isobel didn’t think it was possible, but his face flamed an even deeper shade of red.
    While the men had been talking, servants brought food: boiled eggs, butter, cream, cheese, a large earthen pot full of honey, ham, cold venison pasties, thin oatmeal cakes and bannocks, and a small wheaten loaf. They also brought whiskey and ale.
    “Ye dunna wish anything else to eat?” Leith asked Isobel.
    “Nay. I wish to talk to ye about….
    “Leith,” Lady Katherine interrupted, placing her hand on his wrist in a rare gesture. “Are ye sure this is wise? Bringing an uncouth peasant, and a Seer, to the table where the laird is at meat with distinguished company, offering her the choicest dishes from yer cook?”
    Leith took the opportunity to grasp Lady Katherine’s hand and she looked uncomfortable. “I do no’ see her as a peasant or a Seer but as an aid. She, unlike many here, has no reason to deceive me.”
    Lady Katherine frowned. “Dunna be naïve. Of course she has reason to deceive ye. She owes ye her life and so her visions will be favorable to ye, no doubt. If she did ha’e a black premonition, why would she risk telling ye? Would she risk yer wrath and being turned from the keep? Where would she go? And on what is yer trust based, my laird? She hasna had a vision yet.”
    “If Isobel needs things to do,” Errol interrupted, “perhaps she can muck out