Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (115 page)

“Nay, then I’d just be mimicking her. This needs to be something from the heart.”

“Well, I wish ye luck, then, because I’m all out of ideas.”

“Perhaps something in the square will catch my eye.”

“Give it a go. Ye be right, today be a good day. As soon as I get that shipment, we’re going to be breaking our backs over the forge.”

Connell nodded and grabbed his tunic. “Thank ye, Ian. I will see ye tomorrow.”

“Good luck.”

He darted out of the shop, praying he could find something nice.

HHH

After two hours in the market square, Connell was fit to be tied. Everything he had looked at just didn’t measure up, and he was willing to spend more money than was probably prudent. But he didn’t care about the money. This was to be their first Christmas together. He sighed heavily and stepped toward a booth that had small jars of pressed oils that the lassies liked. Some could be staggeringly expensive, but perhaps he could find something Mairi would enjoy.

“Greetings, Connell,” Murray said. “Be there anything in particular ye were looking for?”

“I need tae get something for Mairi.”

“Christmas?”

“Aye.”

“I have just the thing.” He handed Connell a small glass vial. “It came in from France last week. The lasses have been fair swooning over it. Go ahead, smell it.”

Connell removed the small cork and sniffed. And nearly gagged. He coughed, and his eyes started to water. “Damnation, Murray, I should have yer hide for that.” He quickly handed the vial back.

“Sorry, I said the lasses be swooning over it, not us men.”

“Are ye sure they’re swooning, or is the stuff knocking them unconscious?”

“Well met, I deserved that. The damned thing cost me a fortune and I canna sell a drop.” He looked over his samples before him. “Ah, here, try this one.”

Connell arched an eyebrow.

“I vow this one isna as strong as the first.”

Grumbling, Connell removed the cork and smelled it. Thank God Murray spoke truly; it wasn’t nearly as strong as the first. But he still didn’t care for it. “The problem be that the only one I’m going tae like is heather. But I’d be a fool to give her a gift of something so common.”

“Heather isna as common in the Lowlands as it be in the Highlands. Is that why ye like it?”

“Because it reminds me of the Highlands? Probably so.”

“Well, I do have some here. My last vial. And this be a fine make. Many times the plant isna pressed properly, so the oil doesna have a true scent.”

“Aye. Let me think about it. If I canna find anything, I’ll come back and get that.”

“As ye will, Connell. Good luck.”

“Thank ye.” He stepped away from the booth, trying to decide where he was going to go next. Several people stepped past him, and one accidentally bumped into him, but no one apologized. Instinct prompted Connell to quickly reach for his belt pouch and make sure it was still there.

His hand encountered nothing.

“Bloody hell,” he snarled, his gaze landing on the man who had run into him. He wore a dark cloak, the cowl pulled low. Connell strode after him. “Hey now,” he snapped. He didn’t want to get the guard involved but would if had to.

The man turned his head and surprisingly made eye contact.

Connell jerked to a stop and stared at him, his jaw slack. It couldn’t be. “Gordy?”

It certainly was. Gordy shot him a bright grin, deftly showed Connell his purse that he had cut, then turned and continued walking, his stride unhurried.

Connell chuckled and followed, but he too kept his stride relaxed. Aidan had taught him some basics, although he’d never be able to follow Gordy if the man didn’t wish it. Gordy was Aidan’s right-hand man and the reason Aidan was able to manage his nests of birds—his spies—so efficiently.

Gordy darted into Seamus’s tavern. It was still early, so there would probably be only a few patrons. Connell entered and paused at the door, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light. He spotted Gordy sitting at a table, his back to the corner, where he could readily observe the entire room but not easily be seen by someone walking through the door. Just like Connell, they would have to wait an instant for their eyes to adjust, and an instant was all Gordy needed. Already he had two small glasses of whiskey in front of him.

Connell approached, grinning broadly. “Ye ken, Gordy, if ye wanted tae buy me a drink, all ye had tae do was say so.”

Gordy rose and surprised him with a manly embrace and a solid thump on the back. “This was more fun. Besides, Aidan will be pleased tae hear ye haven’t lost yer edge.” He gestured to the chair, which Connell accepted, then returned to his own. He pushed a glass to Connell and lifted his in salute. Connell did likewise, and they drank at the same time.

Connell was stunned to realize he was drinking MacGrigor whiskey. “Damnation, Gordy, this be wonderful.”

Gordy reached to the floor and put an unopened bottle on the table. “Happy Christmas from Aidan.”

“Now this be a mighty fine gift. Thank ye.”

“Aidan be worried sick about ye, so he sent me tae inquire. Honestly, I pilfered yer purse because I didna wish tae draw undue attention tae ye if this werena going well.” He tossed the pouch to Connell.

“I appreciate that, but we be doing fine.”

“I’ve actually been in Edinburgh a few days, keeping an eye on ye tae make sure it was safe tae approach. But considering the risk . . . one canna be too careful.”

“Aye, and I thank ye.” Sometimes Gordy was cautious to a fault, but that instinct had kept him alive. Spycraft could be delicate and dangerous work.

“Ye returned tae smithing.”

“Aye, Ian is a master swordsmith with a fine reputation.”

“Good,” Gordy said. He pulled out his flask and poured more whiskey. “And how be Mairi and the wee lad?”

Connell grinned. This time he lifted his cup in salute first and winked at Gordy before he downed his drink. He thought about telling him about his wedding plans, but Connell couldn’t risk it. He trusted Gordy with his life, but if someone happened to overhear him . . .

Gordy also drank but then studied him a moment. “I saw Mairi shopping in the market the other day.” He paused and shook his head. “Connell, I mean no offense, but she’s a completely different lass, and a fair sight tae behold.”

His smile grew, but he also felt his face heat just a little and wondered if Gordy could see right through him. “Everything has changed,” he said softly. “And it be for the better, for both of us and for wee Adam.”

“Ye dinna ken how glad I am tae hear ye say that, tae see ye smiling and laughing again. Watching the past couple of days, even though it was from afar, I was verra pleased tae see the Connell we once kenned.”

“There be more tae it than that.”

“I understand because I be referring tae the Connell whose wit could confound two hellion brothers more often than no’.”

Connell nodded. “I lost the man I used tae be long before I lost Ina and William. Thanks tae Mairi, he be returning, and ye ken something? I’m glad he’s back.”

“So am I. Aidan and Ronan will be pleased as well.”

“How are they? Is everyone well?”

Gordy’s smile grew. “Everyone’s fine. Aidan’s fit tae be tied with the construction of their home and him settling into the duties of laird.”

“Has it been as painful as he feared?”

Gordy snorted softly. “Ye ken he knows how tae be laird, and he be a damned good one. The only one who be telling him he canna do the job is himself. But Kenna sets him straight when the lad goes daft.”

Connell laughed. “It’s the responsibility that has him shaking in his boots. Everything else he can handle, but he canna admit that tae himself.”

“Aye,” Gordy said jabbing a finger at him. “Ye have it aright. But there’s more tae it now. Kenna is with child.”

“Now there be good news, but I ken Aidan’s probably beside himself.”

“Aye, when he sent me tae look for ye, he was leaving tae take Kenna tae Glen Gyle, and ye could barely tell the lassie carried a bairn. But he be determined Lia’s going tae oversee the birth of his bairn come hell or high water.”

“Canna fault him for that. But Kenna will probably have him by the ear by the time she has the bairn.”

“I last saw Ronan and Lia three months ago; they are also well, and Maeve . . . well she be growing fast. She’s got her da’s hair and eyes and her mum’s smile. When that child comes of age, no doubt the lads will be trailing after her like lost pups.”

“And how goes it with Aidan’s birds with him being so far away? He isna running ye ragged, is he?”

Gordy rolled his eyes. “Nay, I no’ be running, but just as soon as I had everything changed over and adapted tae run nice and smooth, Aidan hied his arse back tae Glen Gyle with Kenna. Now I have tae go back tae the way it was originally.”

“Well, at least they’ll be there awhile if he took her so early. And ye ken the bairn will no’ be ready tae travel right away.” Connell arched an eyebrow at Gordy. “I’m surprised Aidan sent ye all the way tae Edinburgh. Should I be worried, or does Kenna’s state have him overly vexed?”

“Neither, he’s just concerned about his friend, and so was I since we hadna heard from ye.”

Connell ducked his head; his question had been a bit rude. “I would have sent word but I didna—”

“Nay. This be the smart path tae take. I’m glad I traveled here. Seeing ye and Mairi happy and hale does my heart good. But I did hear some interesting news.”

“What’s that?”

“King Edward is rumored to be headed north again, but no’ with an army, and no one kens exactly where he be.”

Connell frowned. “How hard can it be tae find a royal entourage?”

“That be the thing, he isna traveling as he normally does.” Gordy paused and shook his head. “But all I kenned was rumors and whispers; ye ken we canna place much weight in that.”

“Aye, still, I heard the Bruce be reclaiming castles Longshanks took, and the Bruce himself be the one destroying them.”

“He is,” Gordy said, nodding. “The English do too well at siege. He doesna want them making any use of those castles again.”

“Is he still . . .?”

Gordy nodded again and lowered his voice. “He still wants wee Adam, but apparently ye sent quite a message with the last ruffians he sent after ye.”

“Message? I didna do anything but defend us.”

“Word got back tae the Bruce that all were dead. He kenned ye were traveling only with Mairi and the bairn. He couldna believe ye alone slew every last one of them. They were the best headhunters he could find but the worst knaves tae crawl out from under a rock.” He paused and again saluted Connell with his cup. “Impressive that was, Connell, verra impressive.”

Connell shook his head. “Thank ye, but I didna do anything special.”

Gordy snorted but didn’t argue. “The Bruce is thinking twice about tangling with ye. He doesna want tae pay the amount of gold yer head now demands tae hire another group, and he doesna want tae see his own men slain.”

Connell tried not to think of that day because he only remembered allowing the English knight to escape.
Ye daft fool, quit obsessing.
The one had nothing tae do with the other. The English bastard’s long gone.

“I am reasonably certain the Bruce will be focused on recovering castles instead of harassing ye,” Gordy said, confirming Connell’s thoughts.

“Now that I can drink tae,” he said and saluted Gordy with his cup.

They chatted a bit more, and Connell found himself laughing more and more with Gordy. But all too quickly, Gordy sighed. “I fear it be time for me tae go.”

“I wish ye could stay a few days.”

“I do too, but that wouldna be prudent. Ye seem tae be free of unwanted attention, and I mean tae keep it that way. If things continue tae go well, I’m sure it will be safe for me tae visit openly in a few months.” He stood and slung his pack over his shoulder.

Connell also rose, carrying the bottle Gordy had given him. “I dinna ken when or even if we’ll be able tae visit Glen Gyle, but I’d like tae send word to Aidan and Ronan now and then. Do ye have any birds here in Edinburgh?”

“I do now,” Gordy said and winked at him.

Connell shook his head. “Ye ken spying isna one of my strengths.”

“I remember,” Gordy said laughing. “But ye be a blacksmith and talk tae all sorts of people. Just keep yer eyes and ears open like ye always do. I’ll be dropping by from time tae time tae check on ye and learn what rumors abound.” He offered his hand.

Connell gripped his forearm and hauled him into a manly embrace. “Thank ye, and thank Aidan for me. Please tell everyone we’re doing well.”

“I will, Connell, be well.”

“Godspeed.”

Gordy started to leave but abruptly stopped. “I almost forgot. If ye dinna mind, I can offer ye a suggestion of what tae get Mairi for Christmas.”

He knew? He not only knew Connell struggled to decide on a gift but he knew what she wanted?
Of course he kens, ye dolt, this is Gordy we’re talking about. The only man better than he at spying be Aidan
.

“I’d be grateful,” Connell said.

“Gardening.”

“Gardening?”

“The lass canna wait for springtime tae get here and start working in her garden. She be at Titus’s booth every time she comes tae market even when she doesna have anything tae purchase from him. Ye get her something for spring planting, and she’ll be a happy little lass.”

Connell rubbed his jaw. He suddenly remembered how Mairi was constantly mentioning what items they had to purchase now that she could grow in the garden next year, and that they would taste even better. Holy hell, Ian had been right. She had mentioned a variety of things, but Connell hadn’t thought of anything like that for a gift because spring was so far away. But Gordy was right, it would be perfect. He grinned at his friend.

“Thank ye, laddie, ye just saved me.”

“Och, no worries, but get her that heather oil too. She kens ye like it and tries every day tae haggle the merchant down in price, but he willna budge.”

“He willna?” Connell said, arching an eyebrow. “Well, we shall see about that.”

“I will definitely stop by in spring just tae share a meal with ye. Mairi must be a fine cook.”