"As I explained, I have many pressing duties."
Frustrated, she cried out, "Can you not give me a simple answer?"
Iain shouted Brodick's name.
"Come along, Gillian. Iain will want to meet you. He's had enough time to get over his surprise."
"And his wife?"
"It's going to take her a good week to get past her shock. I doubt she'll let Alec out of her sight for all that while."
Gillian brushed the dust from her gown. "I look a fright."
"Aye, you do."
She picked up her skirt to go down the stairs, but Brodick stopped her by taking hold of her arm. In a low voice he said, "You asked me if I would give you a straight answer. Now I'm wondering why you can't ask me a straight question."
"What in heaven's name is that supposed to mean? What is it you think I should ask you?"
"What you want to ask," he said.
"You're an exasperating man."
"So I've been told," he said. "I'm impatient too," he added. "But in this instance, I'm willing to wait."
"There she is, Mama. That's Gillian." Alec's shout echoed throughout the hall.
Gillian pulled away from Brodick, smiling as she watched the little boy run toward her. He grabbed her hand and started pulling. "Don't be afraid of Papa. Most ladies are, but maybe you won't be because you're not like most," he said.
She wasn't as confident as Alec assumed she was, for Iain Maitland was an imposing figure. He was a tall, muscular man with penetrating gray eyes. His dark hair was given to curl and seemed to soften the blistering scowl on his face. Had he not been so imposing, she would have thought he was almost as handsome as Brodick.
Judith Maitland's smile helped assuage her husband's frightening manner. She was a beautiful woman, but it was the color of her eyes that captivated. They were the color of violets. She was a little bit of a thing, yet had such a regal bearing about her Gillian felt as though she were in the presence of a queen.
Desperately in need of a bath and clean clothes, Gillian thought she must look like a lowly peasant.
As soon as Brodick made the introductions, Judith rushed forward to clasp Gillian's hand. Her voice trembled when she said, "You found our son and brought him home to us. I don't know how we will ever repay you."
Gillian darted a quick look at Brodick. The Maitlands obviously believed that Alec had been lost, and Lord help her, how was she ever going to explain what really happened?
"Come and sit at the table," Judith urged. "You must be thirsty and hungry from your long journey. Alec told us you came here all the way from England," she remarked as she led Gillian to a chair near the end of the table.
"Yes, I came here from England."
"I, too, am English," Judith told her.
"No, Judith," her husband corrected. "You used to be English."
His wife smiled. "The men here change history when it's convenient."
"You're a Maitland," Iain countered. "And that is all anyone need know. Brodick, pour yourself some wine and sit down. I want to hear every detail of what transpired before I open the doors to family and friends. Alec, come and sit with your father." He added the command with a good deal of affection in his voice.
The little boy ran around the table and pulled a stool close to his father's chair. Gillian noticed Iain's hand shook when he touched his son's shoulder. Alec smiled up at him and sat down, but was promptly lifted back to his feet and reminded to wait until the ladies had taken their seats.
The Maitland commander, Winslow, came striding into the hall then, bowed to his laird and lady, and then announced, "Ramsey Sinclair has just crossed our border and should be here within the hour."
"Has he already heard of our good fortune?" Iain asked.
"I sent Dylan to him," Brodick explained before turning to his brother.
"Gillian, I would like you to meet my brother. Winslow, this is Lady Gillian."
Winslow bowed. "Lady Gillian, you are from England?" he asked, frowning.
"Yes, I am from England. 'Tis the truth I cannot and would not change that fact, sir. Does it displease you?"
Winslow surprised her with a quick smile. "It would depend, milady."
"Depend on what?"
"My brother." Without further explanation he dismissed the topic altogether and turned to Brodick. "You'll see my wife and my boys before you leave? They will be disappointed if you don't."
"Of course I'll see them."
"Bring them here, Winslow," Iain ordered. "We must celebrate tonight. The children will stay up late."
"Winslow, do you happen to know if Ramsey's brother, Michael, rides with the laird?" Gillian asked.
If the soldier thought the inquiry was peculiar, he didn't comment on it. "I don't know, milady, but we will soon find out." He bowed once again and left the hall.
Judith personally saw to the task of fetching a pitcher of water for her guests.
"Papa, where's Graham?" Alec asked.
"Your brother's with your Uncle Patrick, but he'll be home soon. He's going to be very happy to see you."
"'Cause he missed me?" he asked eagerly.
Iain smiled. "We all missed you, Alec."
"Mama missed me the most. She's still shaking something fierce 'cause I surprised her. Look, Papa. She can't even pour the water. Is she gonna cry again?"
Iain laughed. "Probably," he answered. "It's going to take your mother… and me," he added, "time to get over this joyous surprise."
Alec hadn't exaggerated Judith's condition. She had already spilled a good deal of water on the tabletop and thus far hadn't managed to get a single drop into the cup. Her hands were shaking violently and every time she looked at her son, her eyes brimmed with fresh tears.
Iain put his hand on top of his wife's. "Sit down, love," he quietly suggested.
She moved her chair close to her husband, collapsed in the seat, and leaned into his side. Iain poured the water for Gillian, but as she reached for the goblet, she noticed how dirty her hands were and quickly hid them in her lap.
Iain put his arm around his wife and hugged her. His attention, however, was centered on Gillian. "Start at the beginning and tell me how and when you found my son. I want to hear every detail," he ordered. He paused to pat Alec before adding, "It's a miracle a five-year-old could survive the falls."
"Alec's only five years old?" Gillian asked.
"But I'm gonna be seven."
"Your brother's seven," Iain reminded him.
"But I'm gonna be seven too."
Alec scooted off the stool and ran around the table to Gillian. Without asking permission, he climbed onto her lap, pulled her arms around him, and grinned at her.
"You and Alec have become close friends," Judith remarked, smiling.
"Iain, perhaps you could wait until Alec has gone to bed to hear the details," Brodick suggested.
"But I get to stay up late 'cause Papa said we have to celebrate," Alec blurted. "Didn't you say so, Papa?"
"Yes," his father agreed.
"You know what, Gillian?" Alec whispered loudly.
She leaned down. "No, what?"
"When I go to bed, Mama's gonna sit with me until I fall asleep, and my brother sleeps in the same room with me, so maybe I won't have bad dreams and I won't get scared."
"Perhaps you won't dream at all tonight."
"But you got to have someone to sleep with too, so you won't get scared 'cause I won't be there."
"I'll be just fine," she assured him.
Alec wasn't convinced. "But what if you do get scared? You got to have someone to wake you up. Maybe you could ask Brodick to sleep with you again like he did before."
She clapped her hand over his mouth to get him to hush and felt her face burn with mortification. She knew Brodick was watching her, but she didn't dare look at him.
Judith laughed. "Alec, sweetheart, you're embarrassing Gillian."
"Mama, you know what Gillian calls me?"