Page 18 of Bound to a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ W here did ye go last night?” Adair asked.

“Just out fer a walk. Needed tae clear me head.”

Adair had been asleep when Maddox had returned to their chambers from the hot spring last night. Thankfully, the man could sleep through a thunderstorm and hadn’t heard him come in. The last thing he wanted to do was tell Adair what had transpired between him and Emmeline. Being able to sleep on it and give himself a bit of distance from it had taken away a little of the raw emotion of the event. Adair was famous for being able to see through Maddox and having that distance made it a bit easier to keep it off his face.

“So, what dae ye think this is about? Why dae ye think the laird has summoned us so bleedin’ early?” Adair asked.

“I dinnae ken. I’m hopin’ we can wrap up these negotiations though,” Maddox replied as his heart quivered with concern. “I’m ready tae go home.”

He and Adair had been woken early by one of the household servants telling them Laird Macfie had requested their presence in his salon. Not wanting to keep the laird waiting, they had quickly washed and dressed, then headed out of their bedchamber. The first thought that had passed through his mind was that Macfie had somehow learned about the hot spring last night. That maybe Emmeline had mentioned it for some reason—although he found that very unlikely—or that one of his men had followed Maddox and had seen them together.

He didn’t recall getting the idea he was being followed, but then again he hadn’t exactly been looking for anybody either. Even though nothing had happened between them, Maddox thought that if Macfie knew he’d seen her unclothed, he would not take it kindly. He was a petty, jealous man and Maddox knew it would likely enrage him. Perhaps enough to summon a headsman. The thought they were walking into a trap and possible execution sent a cold chill sweeping through him.

“Are ye all right?” Adair asked.

“I’m fine,” he grunted.

“What’s goin on with ye?”

“Naethin’,” Maddox replied. “Just ready fer this whole thing tae be done.”

“Aye. Me too.”

As they strode through the hallways of the castle together, Maddox couldn’t get the night before out of his mind. He couldn’t stop seeing Emmeline’s naked body in his mind, as hard as he tried. He recalled the way the beads of water had glimmered upon soft, supple skin that seemed to glow beneath the silvery light of the moon. The memory of it still sent a shudder through him and stirred his arousal once more. Maddox bit the inside of his cheek to keep from hardening again and tried to focus on the task that had been set before them.

As they approached the door to Macfie’s salon, a servant opened it for them. Maddox gave the man a short nod as they walked through the door to find Macfie and his advisor, Laith, sitting on before the fire. They held cups of warm honeyed mead and laughed together as if he and Adair had walked in after the man had told a joke. Macfie’s eyes, cold and reptilian, slid over to Maddox and regarded him quietly for a moment.

“Thank ye fer comin’ so early,” he finally said.

“Of course, Laird Macfie.”

The man gestured to the table against the far wall. “Please, eat.”

The table had been laid with platters of food for the morning meal, filling the room with pleasing aromas that made Maddox’s stomach rumble. He nodded to Adair who walked over and began filling a plate. Maddox stood where he was a moment longer and eyed Macfie closely, trying to get a sense of the man’s mood. His face was blank though, giving nothing away.

Laith sat in the chair beside Macfie, eying Maddox over the rim of his cup as he took a long drink. Tall and thin, with shoulder-length hair that was iron gray and a long beard to match, the man had reminded Maddox of a wizard from the old stories he’d loved as a child. But there was something dark and sinister about him that hadn’t sat right with Maddox from the start. There was just something off about the man. He couldn’t have said what it was, but Maddox just had a bad feeling about him from their first meeting. That opinion hadn’t changed.

“Thank ye, me Laird,” Maddox finally said as they returned with their filled plates to the chairs that sat across from Macfie and Laith, balancing them on their laps as they tucked into their meals.

“I apologize fer nae havin’ a proper table this mornin’,” Macfie said. “I just thought speakin’ somewhere more casual and private was in order.”

“’Tis fine, me laird,” Maddox said. “We’re comfortable enough.”

“’Tis good.”

As he ate, Maddox surreptitiously studied the man, trying to figure out if he knew about him and Emmeline at the hot spring and was trying to lull him into a sense of security. Maddox had a pretty keen sense of people and was well-known for his ability to smell a trap long before it was sprung. But he didn’t get the sense that he and Adair had walked into one. He was certain this was something else and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

They made pleasant conversation while he and Adair ate their fill. Once they had finished, a pair of serving girls took their plates and cleared away the table while another refilled their cups. Macfie waited until they were done with their tasks and had left the room before turning to Maddox.

“I think ‘tis time tae bring our negotiations tae their end,” Macfie finally said.

Maddox nodded. “Aye. I agree. And I’m glad tae hear ye say that.”

“As am I,” he said. “Are we agreed on the bride price?’

“We are agreed on that,” Maddox said. “I just want tae ask ye one more time tae reconsider havin’ tae seal our pact through marriage.”

He shook his head. “I willnae reconsider it. Ye takin’ me Cecilia as yer own is necessary. ‘Tis a tradition in me clan as I’m sure in yer own.”

What he said was true. Arranged marriages to solidify alliances were a tradition but not one his clan had held to so strictly through the years. It was why he’d hoped Macfie would yield to his request. Apparently, that was not to be.

Laith pursed his lips. “I understand yer concern is Cecilia’s age. Is that right?”

“Aye,” Maddox said. “She’s so young.”

“She’s seen fifteen years,” Macfie said. “She’s practically a woman.”

“Practically,” Maddox countered. “But nae yet a woman. Nae really.”

“She’s of prime child bearin’ years, Laird MacLachlan,” Laith said. “The money ye’ll receive as the bride’s price will secure the future of yer people, but havin’ Cecilia bear ye an heir will secure yer lairdship’s line since, as I understand it, yer first wife dinnae produce an heir for ye?”

The mention of his first wife filled Maddox’s heart with darkness and he frowned. The anger and resentment—two things he had yet to be able to banish whenever he thought of her— were all too familiar. Even had she lived, the child was not his, so he wouldn’t have had a legitimate heir anyway. As things stood now, his line was set to die with him. If he wanted to keep the MacLachlan line going, he was going to need to produce an heir. And although she was young, Maddox could not deny that Cecilia was entering her prime child rearing years.

“Dae I have it right, Laird MacLachlan? Ye dinnae have an heir?” Laith pressed.

“Nay. I dinnae have an heir at the moment.”

“Then Cecilia would be ideal tae serve ye in that capacity.”

Maddox knew Laith was correct. He spoke true when he said the bride price would bring security for his people while marriage to Cecilia would secure his line. And Maddox hated that the man was right.

Macfie sat forward, locking eyes with Maddox. “Cecilia is obedient. She will dae as ye say and nae make a fuss about it,” he said. “She’ll make a fine wife.”

“She’s a sweet lass and she’s smart. I dinnae doubt she would.”

“Aye. Sometimes too smart fer her own good. But once she leaves me castle, ‘tis nae me concern any longer. I wouldnae blame ye if ye tossed her intae a gulley eventually,” Macfie said and exchanged a laugh with Laith.

Maddox didn’t understand what the man found so humorous and glanced at Adair, who gave him a subtle half-shrug. Macfie’s laughter tapered off when he noticed Maddox not laughing along with him. He cleared his throat and grew serious.

“All I mean is that she sometimes asks questions she shouldnae be askin’. Ye’ve seen it yerself in this very keep,” he said. “A woman needs tae ken her place. That’ll be fer ye tae teach her. She’s still young enough that she can learn.”

“Well, as ye’ve said a number of times already, ye’ll run yer household the way ye see fit and I’ll run mine the way I dae.”

A wry smile curled Macfie’s lips. “Aye. Just so.”

Dread filled his heart and some small part of him still wanted to reject the match, but when he glanced at Adair, his advisor gave him a nod. In Adair’s face, he saw relief. Their people would be cared for and their future secured. Maddox knew he couldn’t reject it. Never in his life had he wished he was not the laird of the clan more than he did in that moment.

“All right,” he said, trying to keep the sound of doom out of his voice. “We agree then. Let us seal our pact and set a date fer the weddin’.”

Macfie clapped his hands together. “Excellent. I assume the sooner ye can wed the better?”

“Aye. Nay sense in puttin’ it off any longer than we already have.”

“Indeed,” he said. “But I’d like tae make a proposal.”

“And what is that?”

“It just seems tae me that we’ve been so caught up in negotiatin’ this alliance that ye’ve nae had time tae really get tae ken Cecilia. Perhaps that’s why you’re so reticent.”

“I suppose that could be true.”

“Then after our evenin’ meal, why dinnae we gather in here,” Macfie offered. “Ye can talk tae her. She likes tae play games, so maybe ye can dae that. Just take a little time tae get tae ken her. Perhaps when ye see what she’s about, it’ll ease yer mind some.”

“Perhaps,” Maddox said slowly.

“Dinnae be afraid tae get tae ken her in any way ye wish, Laird MacLachlan. She’s like a spirited horse that needs tae be broken in. Feel free tae start that process tonight. ‘Tis fine with me,” Macfie said and tipped a wink at Maddox that made his skin crawl.

“We’ll see yet at the evenin’ meal,” Maddox said.

“Aye. See ye then.”

He and Adair got up and walked out of the salon, retracing their path back to their bedchambers. Maddox had to get out of the castle for a little while. He desperately needed to get away from Macfie. He was shocked that Cecilia’s own father had suggested Maddox bed his daughter before they’d been wed if he desired it. It was disturbing. His attitude toward his daughter’s virtue was monstrous.

“I need some air,” Maddox said as he turned toward the main door.

“Aye,” Adair agreed. “Me too.”