Duty of the Chieftain - a Highland 'Lord's Right of the First Night' novella (Clan MacKrannan's Secret Traditions #3) Read Online Free

All now had instructions to shadow her personal guards as well as herself, for a woman capable of such trickery would employ her men well.
    His mother's ladymaid scuttled in with a basket of wood.  Ranald stared, arms folded, as Ginny kindled the fire and hung the kettle to heat water for his shaving and ablutions.  Her dip of a curtsy was her usual, but her manner with him was not.  And tending fires was far beneath her status.  Ginny had something to tell, and he made it easy for her to get on with it.
    " Ginny, come here to me."
    His mother’s ladymaid slunk across the chamber like a dog expecting a thrashing.
    " What news of your cousin Meredith?"
    Ginny appeared to find her reply somewhere on the floor, "She is well, milord.  Gone to Archie's cottage."
    " When did she take leave of the castle yestreen?"
    The tremor in her was visible now.  Ranald was the worst of the MacKrannans to be crossed, and both knew so.  "Before supper, milord."
    Ginny's sleekit streak came of use whiles, but she knew better than to couch the whole truth in such vagueness to him of all people.  He waited to hear what she'd next come out with.  Always he had been decent and fair to her.  She was flustered by his tetchy manner and her resultant prattling might tell more than she intended.
    " Milord, the Lady Elinor passed on to Meredith the marriage gift of silver from yer own good hand.  My cousin thanks ye most kindly, for in other parts it is the bride-price must be paid to the Chief… if the bride's family chooses that way, as ye know… instead of the Lord's Right, if they get the choice, that is... and Meredith thanks ye most kindly, as I said…"
    It was simply done, then.  The woman had even paid for his services in bed, which should have amused him but did not.
    He watched Ginny's face carefully as he barraged her with questions, one following fast on the other so that he’d espy any hesitant move from the truth.
    " Where did the Lady Elinor go then?"
    " To her own chamber, milord.  She dismissed her guard to Hall, for the castle was barred and safe with your own men.  I did not see milady after that."
    " What of the maid she brought with her?"
    " She kept to milady's room."
    " Who changed my bedsheets while I was at Hall?"
    " Milord, I did it myself, for one of yer wounds must be seeping blood and the like, and ye know how the chambermaids can be squeamish that way."
    Ginny's diplomatic skills were fair amazing , but Ranald espied her hands twisting this way and that as if doing unseen knitting, and her eyes struggling to meet his.
    She knew.
    "...And Archie the Swordmaker did wonder if the Lord's Right is now changed, milord, or if... if ye had some other reason that ye did not breach Meredith.  He seeks audience with ye, and awaits in the Estate Room."  Ginny's face turned puce as she added, "And I am to tell ye he did not lie with his bride last eve, in case ye have want of her yet."
    The meddlesome Lady Elinor had no idea of the consequences of her deed.  Ranald had some covering up to do here.  It would involve telling a fat lie to a man he had the utmost respect for.  The other way was a truth that could never be told.
    Cornered.  He did no' like that.
    "Go now to Archie.  Be not overheard! Tell him that Meredith's virgin's blood is to honor all of Clan MacKrannan in battle.  Tell him I have decided it fitting that the Swordmaker himself must mingle his seed with her blood to keep power in our forge."
    Ginny gasped at the privilege. "Archie will be..."
    " Hush ye and listen!  I have immediate need of a ladymaid, by way of a chaperone.  Ye'll be away from the castle till luncheon at the least."
    " Oh thank ye, milord!  Thank ye!" she cried, all excited.
    " See Archie at once, then take a warm set of clothing from my sister's old trunks, something fit for a sea trip.  Go then to my boat and await me, with yer ears open and yer mouth firm shut, mind."
    " Archie, clothes, boat, listen, dinna tell… I