Page 13 of Bound to a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A fter Emmeline left, the hall was silent. Nobody spoke for the rest of the meal and when he was finished, Macfie got up and left without another word. Maddox frowned. Cecilia sat in her chair staring down at the table, the upset on her face more than clear. The servants had come and cleared the table, leaving Maddox and Cecilia sitting alone. Neither of them looked at one another, the air in the chamber growing thick and awkward. He didn’t think it wasn’t the sort of feeling two people who would be man and wife should have.

“Are ye all right?” Maddox asked gently.

“Aye. I’m fine,” she replied. “I just wish he didnae treat Emmeline so poorly.”

Maddox nodded in agreement. He didn’t like seeing her treated so poorly either. But Macfie had been right about it not being his place to say anything. She was not his wife, nor were these his lands. What Macfie chose to do with his lands and his wife was his business, not Maddox’s. However, even knowing that didn’t ease the anger flowing through him. Watching Macfie belittle Emmeline had set a dark fire of fury burning within him. Maddox didn’t like seeing any woman mistreated, but he liked seeing Emmeline mistreated even less.

“She’s a good woman. She’s always treated me well. She’s loved me like we’re kin,” Cecilia said. “I fear what her life will be like once I leave the castle.”

“What dae ye mean? Are ye afraid yer faither will dae somethin’ tae her?”

She shook her head. “Nay. Naethin’ like that. Me faither is a cruel man, but he’s nae a murderer,” she replied. “But takin’ care of me has given her a bit of purpose. A bit of somethin’ tae look forward tae and a reason fer gettin’ up each day. Without me here… I dinnae ken what she’s goin’ tae dae or what reason she’ll have tae get up in the mornin’.”

Maddox could see the emotion in Cecilia’s eyes and knew she was genuinely worried for her stepmother. But there was a tone in her voice that made him think her concern ran much deeper than that. A tone that told Maddox the girl was just as fearful about what would become of her once she married him as about what would happen to Emmeline. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for being scared.

“I should go and check on Emmy,” Cecilia said. “Make sure she’s all right.”

“I’d like tae, if ye dinnae mind.”

Cecilia shot him a strange, almost accusatory look as he got to his feet. Maddox cleared his throat and offered her a small smile.

“I feel like this is me fault. I’d just like tae make sure she’s all right,” he said quickly.

“All right. That’d be fine, I suppose,” she replied.

Maddox nodded. “Good night, Cecilia.”

“Good night, me laird.”

He started to turn away then paused and turned back to her. “Ye should start gettin’ used tae callin’ me Maddox, lass.”

Her gaze fell to the table, and she looked uncomfortable with the idea of addressing him with such familiarity. If they were to marry though, she would to have to get used to it, Maddox would insist on it. He would not have a wife who addressed him so formally.

“I’ll try, me lai—Maddox.”

He offered her a smile. “It’ll get easier the more ye dae it.”

She laughed. “If ye say so.”

“Good night, Cecilia.”

“Good night, Maddox.”

He gave her a nod and walked out of the dining hall. But rather than head straight for Emmeline’s bedchamber, he walked instead to the kitchens. He heard the women who worked there chatting as he stepped through the doorway. All eyes turned to him and the room fell silent, the air instantly filling with tension. Clearly, these women knew fear when confronted by somebody of station.

“Me laird, what can we dae fer ye?” asked a stout, older woman.

“The Lady Macfie didnae have a chance tae eat,” he replied. “I’d like tae bring her a plate. Is there still food available?”

“Of course,” she replied then turned to the others. “Get a plate fer Lady Macfie taegether.”

“Right away.”

And all at once, the kitchen was abuzz with activity as a pair of women scurried to warm food while another set up a tray.

“We’ll bring it tae her bedchamber right away,” the stout woman said.

“Actually, I’d like tae bring it tae her meself,” Maddox replied.

“’Tis nae necessary, me laird. We can take it up tae her.”

“I’d rather dae it meself, if ye dinnae mind.”

She exchanged a strange look with one of the other women and Maddox groaned inwardly, knowing he had just given their tongues reason to wag. He knew from his own experience there was nothing castle employees loved more than indulging in gossip.

“I’d hoped tae talk tae her about the plans fer me weddin’ tae Cecilia,” he said, hoping to stem the tide of gossip.

“In her bedchamber?” the woman asked.

“She’s workin’ on Cecilia’s veil,” he replied. “’Tis why she didnae eat.”

“Oh, of course.” The sly smile on her face told Maddox she didn’t believe him.

He knew it was improper to visit Emmeline in her bedchamber, but it seemed the only place he could speak with her privately, since she seemed to still be taking pains to avoid him, or at least avoid being alone with him.

“What is yer name?” Maddox asked.

“Gilda,” she replied.

“Gilda, listen,” he said. “I’d appreciate it if ye’d all keep this tae yerselves. Believe me, I ken how this might look, but ‘tis nae anythin’ untoward about this. I’d just hate fer words tae get twisted and turned intae somethin’ they’re nae, then make it back tae Laird Macfie.”

“I understand, Laird MacLachlan,” she said with a knowing smile. “And the Lady Macfie has never been anythin’ but good tae us. We love her dearly and wouldnae want tae stir up any undue trouble fer her. I give ye me word, this will go nay further than the kitchens.”

“Thank ye, Gilda. I appreciate that. And I ken the Lady Macfie will as well.”

“Of course,” she replied.

“The tray is ready, me laird,” called one of the other women.

“Thank ye,” Maddox said.

He picked up the tray and headed out of the kitchen, the sound of the quiet giggling following him down the corridor, but he ignored it. As long as Gilda was true to her word and kept it within the kitchen staff, let them snicker and exchange rumors between themselves. Taking care to avoid being seen, Maddox made his way through the corridors, creeping along as stealthily as he could. He knew there were eyes everywhere, and where there were eyes, there would surely be loose tongues.

He made it to Emmeline’s bedchamber without incident and knocked on the door. A moment later, it opened, and Emmeline’s eyes widened when she saw him standing there. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes rimmed red, making it clear to Maddox that she’d been crying. Knowing that sent a stitch through his heart.

“Wh—what are ye daein’ here?” she asked.

He raised the tray in his hands. “I thought ye might be hungry.”

She leaned out and looked up and down the corridor. “Hurry up, get in here.”

Maddox stepped through the door and as Emmeline closed the door behind him, he walked to the table on the other side of the room, setting the tray of food down on the table.

“Did anybody see ye come here?” she asked, genuine fear in her voice.

“Nay, I was careful.”

“’Twas reckless fer yet tae come here at all.”

“Perhaps. But I wanted tae make sure ye were all right,” he said.

“I’m fine.”

“Ye dinnae look fine.”

She sniffed loudly and smoothed out her hair, then her dress, doing everything she could to keep from meeting Maddox’s eyes. He sat down at the table and poured her a cup of wine.

“Ye should eat,” he said.

Emmeline looked as if she was going to reject the offer, but her hunger seemed to override her impulse as she sat down on the other side of the small table and tucked into the meal. Maddox poured himself a cup of wine and sat back. He watched her eat for a moment. The way she devoured the food made it obvious she was starving. As if sensing him watching her, Emmeline took another bite of the meat then wiped her mouth and hands with the cloth napkin on the tray.

“Thank ye fer bringin’ me food,” she said quietly. “I suppose I was hungry.”

“Ye’re welcome.”

“I’m grateful, but ye should go before somebody finds ye in me chambers. It would be bad fer the both of us. Very bad.”

“I understand. Before I go though, I wanted tae ask ye a question.”

She pursed her lips then took a sip of her wine. Maddox could see how much the prospect of somebody finding him in her chambers scared her. He understood. Getting to know Macfie as he had, Maddox knew what a petty, vengeful, and spiteful man he was. Despite not seeming to have a single care for his wife, if he found Maddox in her bedchamber, late at night, he would take it as a slight that demanded retribution.

Emmeline raised her gaze to him. “What is yer question?”

“I wanted tae ken why ye let Burchard treat ye so poorly?” he asked. “I ken ye tae have some fire in ye. But around Burchard, ye seem meek. Mild. ‘Tis nae ye.”

“With all due respect, ye dinnae ken me well enough tae say that.”

“Perhaps. But it daesnae mean I’m wrong.”

Emmeline tore a piece of bread off the small loaf, sopped up some of the gravy and popped it into her mouth. She chewed, the look on her face thoughtful, then chased it with a swallow of wine. She seemed to be thinking. Not denying what he’d said, which Maddox found telling, but thinking about how to respond, perhaps debating with herself about how much to tell him. She took another sip of wine then set her cup down gently.

“I used tae stand up fer meself more, but Burchard would punish me fer it. Badly,” she said softly. “He’s nae stranger tae laying hands on a woman. Eventually though, he saw that nothing he did tae me was havin’ an effect. In fact, it only made me angrier, and in his words, mouthier.”

Knowing Burchard put his hands on her stoked the flames of fury already burning hot in his gut. The idea of her being hurt made Maddox want to tear Macfie apart with his bare hands.

“Eventually, Burchard realized that punishin’ me wasnae doin’ what he wanted it tae dae,” she went on. “So, he started tae punish Cecilia whenever I stepped out of line.”

“Monstrous,” Maddox gasped.

“He kent it would hurt me more tae see her suffer than whatever he did tae me.”

“I didnae ken. I’m sorry,” Maddox said.

“He’s careful about it. Nobody ever kens.”

“If I’d kent, I wouldnae have spoken up?—”

“’Tis nae yer fault. Like ye said, ye didnae ken,” she said and glanced down at the floor for a moment, getting her emotions under control once more. “’Twas nae always this way. There was a time when Burchard was kind. When he genuinely seemed tae care about me.”

“What happened tae change that?”

She shook her head. “I dinnae ken. He just started tae change. He grew harder. Cruel. It started when he developed an insatiable thirst fer power. He’s grown an appetite fer control that daesnae seem like it can ever be sated. And then… I couldnae give him an heir…”

Heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway and Maddox saw Emmeline visibly tense as she held her breath. When they passed by, she relaxed, but only slightly. She turned to him, her lips a tight line across her face, her eyes filled with worry.

“I thank ye fer checkin’ up on me and fer the food, but ye should really go,” she said. “If he finds out ye were here, in me bedchamber…”

Her words trailed off, but Maddox didn’t need her to finish the statement. If he found out he was with his wife, Burchard would take it out on Cecilia, not on Emmeline. The cruel games the man played with his wife and daughter made Maddox sick. It infuriated him. It showed Maddox what sort of man Macfie was. If not for the needs and desperation of his people, Maddox would have walked away from any potential alliance with Macfie altogether. The way he treated Cecilia and Emmeline was certainly making him think about.

As the thought bounced around in his mind though, Maddox was once again forced to remind himself that this was not about him, it was bigger than him. His people were hungry. Restless. And if he did nothing to help them secure a future for themselves, he very well could lose everything. Ultimately, his feelings about Macfie and the way he treated Emmeline were irrelevant. If nothing else, he could find solace in the fact that by taking Cecilia away from her father, he could provide her with a better, more peaceful life and take her away from his cruelty.

He just wished there was something more he could do for Emmeline.

“Maddox—”

“Aye, aye,” he said as he got to his feet. “I’ll go.”

She walked him to her bedchamber door and motioned for him to stop. She carefully opened the door then looked down both sides of the corridor. She turned back to him with a pensive expression on her face.

“’Tis clear,” she said.

Maddox stepped toward the door then turned back and reached back to take hold of it. As he did though, he accidentally grabbed her hand and felt a white-hot surge of energy course through his veins. Emmeline’s eyes grew wide, and her full lips parted with a soft sigh. She didn’t immediately pull her hand away though and instead, met his gaze. Maddox recognized a glimmer of longing in her eyes he knew was reflected in his.

After a long, almost agonizing moment, she pulled hand away and cleared her throat. Maddox’s skin burned where she’d touched him and as waves of yearning washed through him, he had to fight the urge to lean forward and kiss her. He knew it would not be received well.

“Good night, Emmeline,” he said.

She swallowed hard, seeming to be battling her own emotions. But she took a step back and gave him a polite nod, taking just a moment to gather herself.

“Good night, Maddox.”