Mhairi placed a hand on the Mackinnon's arm. Beneath her fingers, his muscles were rock hard. She didn't need this physical confirmation of his rage. He hadn't raised his voice, but disgust edged every word he spoke to the two maids.
"Mackinnon, that's too harsh."
The eyes he fixed on her blazed with righteous anger. Without thinking, her grip on his arm tightened as she tried to reach him with touch, just in case her request for mercy fell on stony ground.
"No, it's fair. I placed these little cats in a position of trust, and they betrayed me. They're lucky I'm no’ giving them a good whipping before they go."
Mhairi forced herself to admit the truth. "If a Mackinnon lassie was imprisoned at Bruard, she'd receive the same treatment."
Worse probably. Bruard was altogether a rougher place than Achnasheen. She was too upset to register how disloyal that thought was to her father and her kin.
Black Callum still looked as relentless as an avenging angel. "That's nae excuse."
"Please, let Brigid go back to her father. At least she'll have somewhere to live. But choose another punishment for Sheena. Banishment is too cruel."
Sheena watched her with cold curiosity and what she recognized as seething jealousy. What of it? She already knew the girl coveted her reluctant role as the Mackinnon's chosen bride.
Well, you're welcome to him, she thought sourly. But somewhere deep inside, her heart protested at the idea of him taking this malevolent slattern to his big bed.
Calculation entered his eyes, and she braced for him to claim some concession in return for giving Sheena another chance. What would she do if he did? Would she wed him to save the girl’s nasty hide?
When he turned away to face the cowering girls – even Sheena had lost her arrogance – Mhairi sucked in a relieved breath.
"Please, Mackinnon, dinnae send me away," Brigid whined. "It's all Sheena's fault. She told me to pinch Mistress Drummond."
"Brigid, ye wee bitch!" Sheena snarled.
Another disapproving mutter from the crowd. Sheena’s outspoken defiance wasn’t earning her any credit with her clan, Mhairi could see.
"Enough," the Mackinnon snapped. "I've spoken, Brigid."
"What about me, Mackinnon?" For once, Sheena didn't sound like she was queen of all she surveyed.
There was a long pause as he frowned at her. Mhairi shifted closer to him. "Please, Mackinnon, have mercy. If ye cast her out, what chance does she have?"
He didn't shift his gaze from Sheena, but under the fine linen shirt, she felt the tension easing in his arm. "I bow to your generous heart, my lady."
Self-assurance crept back into Sheena's pretty face. But his next words chased it away again. "Ye can take your place as a scullery maid. That's all it seems I can trust ye with."
Mhairi hid a wince. The most junior domestic position in the castle was punishment indeed for a girl who had risen to play lady's maid, not to mention a girl with ambitions to become Achnasheen's chatelaine.
"But…" Sheena started to protest but fell silent when the Mackinnon’s hand sliced through the air.
"Enough. Take your choice. The scullery or the hills. What is your pleasure?"
"I'll stay, Mackinnon," she said sullenly.
"Apologize to Mistress Drummond."
Sheena’s lips went tight with resentment. But she performed a perfunctory curtsy to Mhairi and managed to mumble, "I’m sorry I caused ye harm, my lady."
Mhairi hoped Callum wouldn’t force her to repeat the apology with greater sincerity. This was awkward enough already. But he cast the dark-haired girl a dismissive glance.
"Now get ye gone from my sight," he said flatly.
The girl paused to cast her eyes around the silent crowd, as if seeking sympathy or support, but nobody said a word. At her side, Brigid snuffled in misery. Right now, she was probably grateful that her punishment only involved returning to the family croft.
"Go." The Mackinnon's voice was implacable.