Page 41 of Bound to a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #2)

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

“ I ’m tired of waitin’,” Maddox growled. “Why have we nae heard from Adair yet?”

Emmeline gave him a patient smile. “Getting a response from the king takes time.”

“Time we may nae have,” he countered.

“But time we’re goin’ tae have tae wait anyway, so it’s best if we settle down,” Lorn said.

Maddox huffed. “I think I should confront Macfie?—”

Emmeline shook her head. “We’ve talked about this. We cannae. Ye cannae take this intae yer own hands, Maddox.”

“She’s right. Ye cannae. Nae if we hope tae get out from under him with the king’s blessin’. Only King James can grant us the authority tae act,” Lorn said. “If ye act before we’ve got royal sanction, ye’re nae just riskin’ yer own life, but the lives of Emmeline and Cecilia as well. Or did ye think Burchard wouldnae take his anger out on them?”

Emmeline looked to Lorn and gave him a nod, silently thanking him for being the voice of reason. After returning from the port town, they had gathered in Burchard’s salon to talk although keeping Maddox calm seemed to be taking up most of their time. He was in a state, and she understood. Half of her wanted to bury a dagger in Burchard’s heart herself. But she also knew acting rashly would have consequences. She wasn’t as fearful about what might happen to her as she was about what would happen to Cecilia if they went about things the wrong way.

While in the port town, they had learned that Burchard was indeed assembling a group of assassins to do away with Maddox after the wedding and a band of mercenaries to subdue his lands after the deed was done. Lorn’s contacts within the port town had told them they had overheard the plans being made in taverns with men who were known to kill for money.

Maddox took a swallow of the mead in his cup, his face twisted with anger. “It seems tae me that if they’re goin’ tae kill me, they’ll likely kill Cecilia too,” he said. “If we dinnae have an heir, me lands then revert tae Burchard.”

“Aye. The thought crossed me mind as well. And as much as I’d like tae believe he’d never hurt his own daughter, I ken him too well tae believe otherwise,” Lorn said.

Lorn’s words sent a cold chill washing through Emmeline and a lump rose in her throat. She swallowed hard and tried to force away her emotions, knowing they needed cold logic to get through this with everybody safe and intact.

“We need tae dae somethin’,” Maddox said.

“Aye. We dae,” Lorn said. “But we need tae dae it the right way. We cannae afford tae go off halfcocked and bollocks it all up. If we act without royal sanction, we’re goin’ tae meet the headsman’s axe and Burchard wins anyway.”

Maddox stared down into his cup and muttered darkly. He didn’t understand the man’s pettiness or his vindictiveness. Nor did he know the man’s viciousness. He’d gotten glimpses of it now and then in his time at Castle Macfie, but he didn’t truly understand it like she did. Burchard could be a truly terrifying man. Yes, they had to act, but Lorn was right. They had to do things the right way for everybody’s protection.

“Ye need tae calm yerself,” Lorn said. “We’ve got the proof on our side.”

“What proof?” Maddox asked.

“We’ve got the correspondence between Burchard and his mercenaries. We’ve got people willin’ tae testify that he is hirin’ assassins—that he already tried tae have Emmeline murdered by those assassins,” he said. “All that will make a very compellin’ case tae put before the king.”

“’Twas once a day when the only compellin’ case tae be made was with me blade.”

“Well, those days are long behind us,” Emmeline said.

Before Maddox could say anything more, the door to the salon was thrown open. It crashed into the wall behind it with a loud bang that nearly made her jump out of her skin. Burchard strode into the room, his gaze cold and imperious, the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown as he took them all in. Emmeline’s heart jumped into her throat and a numbing cold formed in her belly. She let out a quiet breath and tried to steady herself.

“And what is this?” he asked.

Emmeline sat forward, her back straight. “We’ve been discussin’ the weddin’ ceremony.”

Burchard’s eyes cut to Maddox. “Is that so?”

Maddox frowned but nodded. “Aye. We’ve just been goin’ over the details of the weddin’.”

Emmeline was half-certain Maddox was going to launch himself at Burchard and cut his neck but when he didn’t and repeated the story they’d all agreed on, she wanted to throw her arms around his neck and squeeze him. Burchard’s face was stony, and he studied them like they were insects he was considering squashing. But then his face lightened and he smiled, the switch in his demeanor so sudden, it left Emmeline feeling dizzy and disoriented.

“Well, I’ve got good news fer ye then,” Burchard said.

“What is that, me aird?” Emmeline asked.

“We’re holdin’ a feast makin’ the announcement of yer pendin’ nuptials as well as tae publicly formalize our alliance tomorrow. ‘Tis about time we gave the people somethin’ tae look forward tae,” he said. “I’ve got the servants cleanin’ and settin’ up the great hall, the invitations have already been given out, and we’ll have a full house of well-wishers fer ye and Cecilia tomorrow.”

Maddox took a quick swallow of his mead, likely trying to wash the foul taste from his mouth. “’Tis good news, Laird Macfie. I’m… I’m grateful.”

“Of course. After all, I’ve only got the one daughter and I want tae make sure her weddin’ day is somethin’ she’ll always remember,” Burchard said magnanimously.

“Is that why ye’ve been gone so much lately?” Emmeline asked.

He laughed. “Of course, it is. I’ve been meetin’ with vendors and people who are goin’ tae make her day special. It’ll be a wonderful affair. Unforgettable I dare say.”

“’Tis good news, me laird,” Lorn said. “I’m sure it will be somethin’.”

“Indeed, it will,” he replied. “Now, if ye’ll excuse me, I’ve got some things that need tae be attended tae. Nae even a weddin’ excuses a laird from his duties.”

Burchard turned and blew out of the room as suddenly as he’d entered. The man had a lightness in his step and a cheery disposition that made Emmeline nervous. And when she glanced at Lorn and Maddox, she could see clearly that they shared her unease.

“What is he up tae?” she asked her companions.