Page 27 of Her Highlander’s Dark Desire (Highlanders of Cadney #13)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

H is heart ached and his head was pounding. Darren could barely breathe through the ache of betrayal. All this time… all this time…

He clung to the hope that perhaps Alayne hadn’t known about her brother. Maybe he hadn’t told her he was free of the king’s dungeon. Perhaps she was as startled as he’d been when Ryan showed him who was waiting at the gates of MacLean Keep.

That hope was dashed as she spun to face him. “Why is me braither in yer dungeon?”

There was only outrage in her eyes, not true surprise. She might be startled that her brother was a prisoner, but not that he was here.

Betrayal felt like knives in his gut. It was all he could do to hold his temper enough to answer her without lashing out. “He arrived at me gates a candle-mark ago and asked tae see ye. I can only assume he escaped from the king’s gaol, though he’s a fool if he came here as a fugitive.”

“He’s nae a fugitive!” Alayne stepped toward him. “When I made the bargain with the king tae marry ye, the agreement was that once we were wed, hostilities would cease, and me braither would be set free. The reason he insisted on proof o’ our union was because he wanted tae be sure the bargain was completed on my end.” Her fierce expression faltered. “I… I meant tae tell ye.”

“Nay. Ye didnae. Ye had plenty o’ chances.” She could have told him any time between her arrival at MacLean Keep for the wedding and last night, when they’d been lying together in the bed.

From the way her expression clouded with guilt, she knew it as well as he did. “I… ’tis true I didnae intend tae tell ye at first. I was angry. But then, as I got tae ken what sort o’ man ye were, I wanted tae tell ye. I kept trying tae find the proper time, but…” Tears filled her eyes. “I was going tae tell ye the night ye were kidnapped - I was waiting in yer study fer ye, but ye never arrived. And last night… thought ye deserved a chance tae rest. I was planning tae tell ye this morning.”

“’Tis easy tae say, now that ye ken yer braither’s been caught. But how am I supposed tae believe ye?” He felt heartsick and numb with fury and a gut-wrenching sense of betrayal. “Fer all I ken, yer brother is the one who attacked us both.”

“If I may speak, Laird MacLean.” Donall stepped forward. His face was still calm, no trace of anger.

Darren swallowed his fury. “Ye may.”

“I kent the terms between the king and me sister. She came tae tell me afore she left tae come tae the wedding. I didnae realize ye hadnae been told, or I would have sent ye a letter informing ye o’ the arrangements. As it was, I only came tae ensure me sister was well, and that the new alliance between our two clans was going well. I didnae come tae participate in any hostilities.”

Alayne watched as Darren considered her brother’s words. A part of her wanted to demand her brother’s immediate release. Another wanted to plead for Darren to listen to her. She wasn’t sure which urge was stronger.

Then Ryan stepped forward. “Laird MacLean, may I speak?”

“Aye.” The word was short and clipped, but at least Darren was listening.

“Laird Ranald only had one man with him when he arrived this morning. He also didnae put up any resistance when we placed him under lock and key. His actions dinnae appear tae be aggressive.”

Darren nodded. “And yer recommendation?”

“Release him as a sign o’ good faith. We can keep a guard with him as an escort and wait until yer other advisors return with the results o’ their scouting trips.”

Darren took a deep breath, and she watched him consider Ryan’s words. “Darren…”

The cold look he gave her made the words die in her throat. She swallowed hard.

He looked away and gave Ryan a curt nod. “Let him loose. I dinnae wish tae offer a breach o’ courtesies that might serve as the impetus fer a new feud.”

“I dinnae intend tae take offense. I understand yer caution.” Donall responded.

“Even so. Ryan, release him.”

The MacMillan warrior moved to unlock the cell. Donall stepped free and offered a bow to Darren. “Thank ye, Laird MacLean. I appreciate yer trust.”

“’Tis nae trust. I simply dinnae want any more bloodshed on me lands if it can be avoided. That doesnae mean I believe ye werenae behind kidnapping me two days ago.” Darren’s glare was hot. “After all, the man who took me spoke o’ being in the king’s dungeon, and o’ getting vengeance fer his faither.”

“Understood. I can understand yer suspicion. I’ve nae problem agreeing tae whatever restrictions ye require.”

“For now, go with Ryan.” Darren turned away from Donall and began to walk toward the door to the dungeons.

Alayne moved to stand before him. “Darren…”

“Nay. Dinnae speak tae me.” Darren’s voice, like his expression, was hard as steel. “Ye kent yer braither was free. Ye kent how I felt about honesty and trust. Ye had plenty o’ chances tae tell me about yer bargain with the king. And ye said naething, even after the past two days.”

His eyes were icy, but under the cold, she saw a maelstrom of rage and hurt, so strong it was almost palpable. Alayne felt her stomach churning with guilt. “I’m sorry. Darren, please… I didnae mean…”

“I dinnae care. I cannae even stand tae look at ye. Mayhap I’ll forgive ye in time, but nae right now.” He walked past her.

It felt as if Darren took all the warmth from the room as he left, and Alayne’s heart hurt like it was shattering. She barely even felt it as Donall approached and enfolded her in his arms.

“I’m sorry sister. I should have gone home and sent a letter tae ye and Laird MacLean afore I came tae see ye.” Donall’s voice was apologetic.

“’Tis nae yer fault. I should have told him the truth, especially when he told me why he values honesty so much. He warned me how he felt about secrets, and I didnae listen tae him.”

That was the worst part. She’d known she needed to speak the truth to Darren, and she’d kept hesitating. She’d broken his trust, and she couldn’t even claim that she’d done so unwittingly.

Ryan coughed to get their attention. “If ye like, perhaps we can go tae one of the receiving rooms, and I can have a maid bring us all a morning meal.”

Alayne had no appetite, but she knew that not eating would only upset her brother. She forced herself tae smile tightly and nod.

The three of them made their way to a room. Ryan sent a maid for food, and the three of them made themselves comfortable. As they settled down with cups of hot tea, Alayne turned to her brother. He was still thin and looked a little worn, but there was more color in his face than there had been, and less weariness. “When were ye released?”

“As soon as the courier returned tae the castle, I was released, with me belongings returned tae me.” Donall cradled his tea. “I took a day or two tae recover, then began tae make me way home. I didnae have a horse, and I didnae want tae waste coin tae purchase one, so I walked, or found folk willing tae bring me part o’ the way. I took the first ferry from the main Highlands this morn, and came here.”

“And the journey wasnae too difficult?”

“Nae particularly. If anything, it gave me time tae think, and tae regain the weight and strength I lost while imprisoned.” Donall sipped his tea. “That was when I realized we were bein’ fools, chasing vengeance fer a man like Faither. ‘Tis true we had a debt o’ honor because he was our kin, but ‘twas foolish tae take it so far and tae sink tae his level in pursuing vengeance. That’s why I’m content tae let the matter lie and the peace stand.”

Her brother looked at her a moment. “I was hoping I’d nae need tae convince ye, but now I’m thinking ye’ve reached that decision on yer own.”

Tears stung her eyes. “Aye. Laird MacLean - Darren - he’s been a good husband tae me. A better husband than our faither was a parent. He’s been kind, and courteous.” She swallowed. “He hates deceit, but when he kent I was uncertain about the duties o’ the marriage bed, he didnae force the issue. He helped me deceive the courier.”

“And now?” Donall raised an eyebrow.

“I ken more than I did.” Alayne felt her cheeks heating at her brother’s knowing gaze. “The healer Evina explained a few things, and Darren’s been a good teacher in the practical aspects.”

To her surprise, her brother smiled. “’Tis good tae hear. I was afraid I was sentencing ye tae the best o’ a set o’ bad choices. But it seems ye have the luck o’ the Fair Folk, or the grace o’ God with ye after all.”

“Aye. Save that I’ve managed tae destroy what I had.” Alayne felt her throat aching with regret and grief.

“Och, it may be a bit o’ a mess, but dinnae write Darren off just yet.” Ryan spoke up. “Give him time tae think things over. Once his temper’s cooled and the current issue has been dealt with, then ye’ll have a better chance o’ patching things up.”

“Dae we even want tae ken?” A voice from the doorway made all three of them turn to see Bard and Adrian in the door. Both men looked tired and travel-worn.

Ryan glanced at Alayne. “Me lady?”

“Aye. Tell them.” Alayne gripped her brother’s hand for support.

Ryan nodded. “Bard, Adrian, afore anything else, I’d like tae introduce ye tae Laird Donall Ranald, current laird o’ Ranald Clan and braither tae Lady Alayne.”

Adrian scowled. “I thought he was supposed tae be in the king’s dungeon.”

“He was released, as a condition o’ the bargain that was made between Lady Alayne and the king.” Ryan sighed. “The problem is that Laird MacLean didnae ken that Laird Ranald would be released after the laird and lady were wed.”

“Och, I’ll wager he didnae like that.” Bard grimaced.

“’Tis worse than that.” Ryan grimaced. “He was kidnapped shortly after ye left fer yer scouting missions. He was attacked from behind, never saw the ones who took him. They left him tied in an abandoned barracks with a note demanding an impossible amount o’ gold.”

“When’s it tae be paid?” Bard was the one to speak.

“Never, according tae Laird MacLean, though I’m nae sure that’s the wisest course o’ action.” Ryan sighed. “All I ken is that Laird MacLean is in a right sore temper with all that’s been happenin’ while ye were gone.”

Alayne nodded. “He feels I’ve betrayed him, and he’s angered fer having been attacked, and nae kenning who’s behind it.”

Bard grimaced. “That’s nae good. Dae ye think he’ll be doin’ something rash?”

“I hope nae.” Ryan’s response was sober. “I was thinkin’ o’ writing his braithers and asking fer their assistance.”

“He hasnae told his braithers?” Adrian frowned. “Should they nae be the first tae ken there’s trouble? I ken we said we werenae goin’ tae call fer support just yet, but that was afore all this occurred.”

“Aye.” Bard nodded.

“Perhaps with ye here, we can talk some sense intae Laird MacLean.” Ryan said.

Alayne shared his sentiments, but as she listened to Ryan call for a man-at-arms to be Donall’s escort while the three advisors searched out their laird, she found herself wondering what she could do. After all, she was part of the reason Darren was so angry. The problem was, she had no idea how to go about mending the breach that had appeared like a chasm between them.

Darren didn’t trust easily, she’d known that for some time. She also knew that, whatever they’d been in the process of forging between them, whether it was love or simple respect and fondness, her failure to reveal the truth about her bargain with the king had badly damaged it.

She wanted to repair their relationship. And she wanted to help Darren and Donall find some common ground, because it hurt to think of the two most important men in her life being so estranged.

But trust, as she well knew, was like an earthenware container - easy to break, much more difficult to mend, and all but impossible to be sure that all the cracks were sealed even when it was patched back together.

Winning Darren’s trust once more would be no easy task.

Easy or nae, I’ll find a way tae heal this wound between us. I may have married him fer duty, but now I ken what sort o’ man Darren MacLean truly is, I’ll nae be letting go o’ him so easily, and I’m certainly sure I’ll nae let our marriage be ruined by me foolishness!