Page 39 of Bound to a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

E mmeline, with Cecilia in tow, had gathered them all together in the salon on some urgent business. The look on her face the moment he’d seen her told Maddox that whatever was happening, it was serious. Together with Lorn and Adair, they huddled around the papers Cecilia had brought to them. Maddox was immediately suspicious, wondering if this was one of Macfie’s gambits, but the confusion and fear on Cecilia’s face told him this was genuine.

“What were ye doin’ in yer faither’s study in the first place?” Maddox asked.

“I—I was lookin’ through his papers like I always dae,” Cecilia stammered. “

“What is it ye were lookin’ fer, lass?” Emmeline asked.

She shook her head. “I was just curious about me dowry. I wanted tae see what me faither was giving Maddox fer me hand. I always snoop through his papers when he’s away.”

Emmeline laughed softly and shook her head. Maddox respected Cecilia’s desire to be informed about what was happening around her, but he sat across the table from them, his face dark and twisted with rage nonetheless. The sheet of paper in his hand trembled and his lips were curled back over his teeth. Lorn and Adair stood by the door, keeping watch on the corridor. He feared Laith might be lurking about, so they were watching for him.

“When I read what was in the papers, I kent I had tae find ye and bring these tae ye,” Cecilia stammered. “Ye had tae see what me faither is plannin’.”

Maddox finally looked up, turning to Lorn. “Looks like ye were right. He is up tae nay good.”

“What is it?” Lorn asked.

Maddox handed the papers to Lorn, who quickly read through them then passed them to Adair. As the two men read through the pages, their faces darkened with the same anger that twisted Maddox’s insides.

“Those rough men we’ve been seein’ Macfie with are apparently his new allies,” Maddox said. “And accordin’ tae these papers Cecilia found, once I’m married tae Cecilia here, givin’ them proper claim tae me lands, he’s makin’ plans tae murder me and take it all fer himself. This is why he’s so insistent on this marriage.”

Lorn’s face tightened, and a hard, dark anger entered his eyes. He turned to the door and looked around the corridor beyond it again, seeming to be taking a few moments to gather his thoughts. The rage in Adair’s face matched the darkness in Maddox’s. His cousin looked as ready to go to war as he was. The gall of the man to scheme and plan his murder filled Maddox with a fury he’d seldom felt in his life. And the more he thought about Macfie’s scheme, the thicker and hotter that rage burned inside of him. He slammed his fist down on the table so hard, it nearly toppled their cups of wine, startling Emmeline and Cecilia.

“I’ll kill the bleedin’ bastard,” Maddox seethed. “I’m goin’ tae kill him with me bare hands.”

“Maddox, calm yerself,” Emmeline said. “Please.”

“As soon as he returns, I’m goin’ tae bury me sword in his throat.”

Surprisingly, Adair stepped forward and shook his head. “She’s right. Ye need tae be calm. Ye cannae kill Macfie, as much as ye’d like tae and as much as he deserves it.”

“Why in the bleedin’ hell nae?”

“Because it’ll be a laird’s murder. And ye’ll pay a price fer it,” Adair said. “Like it or nae, Macfie is a laird and before ye can dae anythin’ tae him, ye need royal sanction.”

“They’re right,” Lorn said. “Ye need tae write tae the king.”

“Like hell I dae. All I need is me blade?—”

“Maddox, think this through, cousin,” Adair said. “Ye take yer blade tae Macfie, ye’re guilty of murder. Just like him. Let’s tell the king what’s happenin’ here and turn Macfie over tae him. Let him face the king’s justice. Let me take it tae the king and argue yer case.”

“’Tis the smart thing tae dae,” Emmeline said.

Maddox turned to Cecilia and could see the fear in her face. He could see the conflict. She seemed to understand that what her father was doing was wrong and evil. But all the talk of killing him and bringing him in front of the king’s justice had to be terrifying for her. He was, after all, still her father. It couldn’t have been easy to bring them the papers in the first place and she had to be questioning whether she had done the right thing. Seeing her fear sent a dagger of guilt through his heart and he frowned.

Maddox grumbled under his breath, his face dark. “All right. We’ll dae it yer way. We’ll write tae the king.”

His words were met with an expression of relief on Cecilia’s face and a thankful nod from Emmeline. He offered them both a tight smile.

“Good lad,” Adair said and clapped Maddox on the shoulder.

“We need tae be discreet,” Lorn said. “And until we hear back from the king, we need tae act like everythin’s normal.”

“And more than anythin’, we’re goin’ tae need some proof,” Emmy added.

“We have the letters,” Cecilia said.

Emmy shook her head. “Nay. We need tae put these back just like ye found them. We dinnae want tae tip our hand and let yer faither ken we’re ontae him.”

Maddox nodded. “Aye. She’s right. I’m grateful tae ye fer bringin’ these tae us, but ye’ve put yerself in enough danger.”

Lorn nodded in agreement. “We’re goin’ tae need a plan.”

Maddox was silent for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. He took a swallow of wine then set his cup down and raised his gaze to them.

“I think I ken how we’ll get the proof we need. But it’s goin’ tae take all of us.”