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“Ye’ll have to get very close to kill her. Ye haven’t got the stomach, or the stones, fer it, lad.”

“I’ll do it! I swear.”

The brigand wiped his hand over his face and shook his head. He had enough of treachery. And failure. “Have ye ever killed a defenseless woman?”

Liam’s body stiffened. “I’ve killed before and not only with my sword, but with a dirk. Close enough to see their eyes, close enough to smell their fear.”

“A woman?”

“Nay.”

The brigand gave the lad a compassionate look. “’Tis far more difficult than ye think. And it’s not just the deed, it’s living with the deed after it’s done. Go home, Liam, and find some other line of work.”

“I have no home. My da was a traitor to our clan. He was caught and killed. My mother and I were lucky to escape with our lives.”

The brigand felt an unexpected jolt of sympathy for the lad’s plight. “I’ll say again, this path is madness, but I’ve no right to stop ye.”

Liam threw back his shoulders in a defiant gesture. “Well, that’s more coin fer me. How do I collect my payment once the deed is done?”

The brigand’s mouth quirked. “Ye’ll need to leave a signal, then wait until she arrives.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “She?”

“Aye, but dinnae be fooled and let yer guard down. Ye’ll find no mercy or compassion in her,” the brigand warned.

He gave Liam the final details, then swung up on his horse. Liam remained on his feet, challenging him with an unflinching gaze. The brigand tried to ignore it, but as he led his mount away, a sharp prickle of unease prevailed.

The lad had made his choice, but the brigand hoped he would change his mind. The McKenna were not men to trifle with and he had a strong feeling that all would not bode well for young Liam if he challenged them.

Chapter Seventeen

The church bells rang out, letting everyone know a wedding was about to take place. The sound brought on a flutter of butterflies in Davina’s stomach. Taking a deep breath, she somehow managed to sit quietly as Lady Aileen placed a gold circlet studded with gems on her head to hold her blue silk veil in place.

“Stand up so we can make certain the headpiece is secured,” Lady Aileen commanded.

Davina obeyed, walking the entire length of the chamber. When she was done, James’s sister, Katherine, approached and tied a matching gold link girdle around her waist. “Ye look a vision of beauty,” she whispered. “James will be speechless when he sees ye.”

Davina smiled inwardly. She wanted to look beautiful for James, wanted his jaw to drop when he caught his first glimpse of her.

The bells continued ringing. Davina anxiously looked at Lady Aileen. “We need to hurry.”

“In a minute,” Aileen replied, fussing with the hem of Davina’s gown. “The ceremony cannae start without the bride.”

“Wait, milady. I have a length of Armstrong plaid,” Colleen said, holding out the folded tartan. “I thought ye’d like to wear our clan colors one last time.”

Davina gave the widow a watery smile. “It’s perfect. Can ye help me find a brooch to pin it?”

“I’ve just the thing fer ye,” Katherine said. “’Tis a gift from James. He wanted me to surprise ye with it in hopes that ye’d wear it fer the ceremony.”

Katherine handed Davina a delicate gold brooch. The center design was a thistle flower, surrounded by intricate leaves and interlaced vines. Davina immediately saw it was a unique, expensive piece of jewelry, the finest she had ever been gifted. Yet far more important than its value was the fact that James had chosen it for her. Her trembling fingers fumbled with the lovely piece as she tried to secure the tartan over one shoulder.

“Nervous?” Aileen asked sympathetically, as she took the broach and pinned it into place.

“Excited,” Davina clarified. “Though I confess to feeling sad that none of my kin are here to celebrate this joyful occasion with me.”

“Travel always takes much longer in this winter weather. My son couldn’t wait another day to claim ye as his bride. Are ye very disappointed?”

“A bit. Though truthfully, I couldn’t wait either,” Davina admitted with a blush.