Page 9 of Bound to a Scot (Sins in a Kilt #2)

CHAPTER NINE

H ands clasped behind his back, Maddox paced back and forth across his bedchamber, his face clouded over with the dark anger that flowed through his body like a raging river. Adair sat on the chair, one leg crossed over the other, watching him with a smirk of amusement upon his lips. Maddox tried to ignore him.

“Why are ye so worked up about this?” Adair asked.

“I didnae like the way the man was lookin’ at her. It was too… familiar. ‘Twas the sort of look one might give tae a lover.”

“And why should that bother ye? She’s nae yer lover. And she’s also another man’s wife,” Adair pointed out.

Maddox waved him off and grumbled to himself as he continued to pace. Lorn MacMillan was a large man, as tall as he was wide. He also looked to be a capable warrior. He looked like a man who was comfortable with a sword in his hand and moved the easy grace of most every skilled swordsman he knew.

Emmeline had told him Lorn was Clan Macfie’s war leader, which instantly put Maddox on edge, believing him to be one of Burchard’s loyalists. She’d been relieved to find the man outside the door. But the fact that Burchard’s war leader had just caught them in the middle of the night coming out of the privy together had alarmed him. Maddox had thought he and Adair were going to have to fight their way of out Castle Macfie or enjoy a trip to the headsman.

She had sought to reassure him though, telling him that Lorn was a friend and somebody who could be trusted. But Maddox didn’t trust many people. Trust was something that did not come easily to him and never with somebody he didn’t know. Lorn was an unknown quantity to him, therefore he didn’t see him as a friend or somebody who could be trusted. Despite her protestations, he saw the man was a threat.

“Honestly, what has ye in such a state?” Adair asked. “Emmeline trusts the man. Said he wouldnae give the two of ye away tae Macfie. What’s the problem?”

“I dinnae ken the man. How can I trust a man I dinnae ken?”

“Dae ye trust Emmeline?”

Maddox stopped his pacing and turned to Adair. He ran a hand through his hair as he pondered the question. He didn’t know Emmeline. Not really. He had no reason to trust her, and yet, for some strange reason, he did. It was crazy and made no sense to him, but he believed her. He believed he could trust her.

“I dinnae understand it, but aye. I dae,” Maddox said.

“So, if ye trust her and she tells ye that Lorn can be trusted, then what’s the problem?” Adair pressed. “Besides, I’d think if she or the man couldnae be trusted, we’d already have men at the door escortin’ us down tae see the headsman. Right?”

Maddox frowned. “Aye. I suppose so.”

“Right. Then what’s the real problem here, eh?”

“What dae ye mean?”

“What has yer bleedin’ knickers in such a bunch? I mean really.”

Maddox turned and walked to the window, staring at the green lands beyond the castle walls. The moon was high in the sky, bathing the world in its silvery luminescence, and sparkled dazzlingly off the ocean. It all seemed beautiful out there. Serene. Maddox wished that he felt the same kind of tranquility that reigned over the world beyond his window.

As for Adair’s question, he had no idea why he was so upset. He knew he shouldn’t be. He had no claim on Emmeline. She could be carrying on a torrid affair with Lorn and he couldn’t say a thing about it. More than that, he shouldn’t care. But the thought of her coupling with the man angered him beyond all reason. He didn’t understand it.

Maddox shrugged. “I dinnae ken.”

“Dae ye want me opinion?”

“I have a feelin’ ye’re goin’ tae give it whether I want it or nae.”

“Ye’re probably right,” Adair said with a chuckle.

Maddox sighed. “Let’s hear it then. Let’s get it over with.”

Adair took a swallow of wine and nodded. “It sounds tae me like ye’re jealous.”

“Jealous? That’s a bunch of bollocks,” Maddox scoffed.

“Is it though?”

“Aye. It is.”

“Then what is it about Emmeline bein’ friends with the man that has ye in such a huff?”

“I’m nae in a huff.”

Adair arched an eyebrow, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth upward. “Ye ferget who ye’re talkin’ tae. I’ve seen ye in plenty of huffs and, me friend, right now ye’re in the maither of all huffs. Look at ye. Ye’re bleedin’ face is red.”

Maddox uttered a curse and turned away, taking several long, deep breaths as he tried to calm himself. He knew Adair was speaking the truth. His face was hot. He was reluctant to admit it, but he was indeed jealous, although he had no call to be. Emmeline was not his, and would never be. Despite knowing that, he couldn’t stop himself from recalling their kiss. Even just thinking about it now stirred something deep within him and he realized he longed for more.

“Let’s just ferget about it,” Maddox said.

“I’d like tae. But until ye get yer head right about this lass, I fear we’ll keep havin’ this conversation,” he replied. “Worse, if ye cannae get yer head right, I fear ye’re goin’ tae muck up makin’ this alliance with Laird Macfie. We need this, Maddox. Desperately.”

“Aye. I ken.”

“I hope so because if Macfie finds out ye stole a kiss from his wife, he’s nae likely tae look too favorably on it.”

Maddox grunted, his mood darkening. “The way he treats her ye’d think he’d welcome somebody takin’ her off his hands.”

“Well, that person isnae goin’ tae be ye. Ye need tae get yer mind right about this. We cannae afford fer ye tae bungle this alliance.”

Maddox sighed and ran his hands over his face. “I ken, I ken. I’ll be fine. I’m nae goin’ tae.”

“Ye sure?”

“I will say I dinnae like the way Macfie is goin’ about this. I dinnae like the idea of bein’ forced tae marry a bleedin’ child,” he said, his voice tight.

“Ye dinnae need tae like it. Ye just need tae dae it,” Adair said. “We’re nae in a position tae be barterin’ fer a better deal.”

Maddox leaned against the wall beside the window and folded his arms over his chest. As usual, Adair was speaking wisdom and the truth. Although his pride prevented him from admitting it, Maddox had come to Castle Macfie as little more than a beggar searching for help. And because of that, Macfie held all the leverage. He truly had nothing to barter with since, as Macfie likely knew, if Maddox could not provide for his clan, his soldiers would more than likely disperse, many of them finding their way to Macfie’s employ anyway.

If that happened, Maddox would be left with nothing. He would still have his lands, but he would not have people to work them, nor an army to defend them. By offering the money to provide for his people, Macfie could ensure Maddox’s army would stand intact and that when—and if—the time came and they were called upon, he would have a formidable fighting force at his back rather than the scattered remnants of Maddox’s army.

“Ye need tae get this lass out of yer head, cousin. I mean it,” Adair said. “Emmeline is nae yers. She will never be yers. So, it doesnae matter if she’s havin’ an affair with the war chief or nae. ‘Tis nae yer business. Dae ye understand?”

“Aye. I understand.”

“So, get her out of yer bleedin’ head.”

He sighed. “Aye.”

He turned back to the window and stared out at the night beyond. Everything Adair had just said was true. The trouble was, he couldn’t stop thinking about Emmeline. He feared that getting her out of his head would be a case of easier said than done.