Page 27 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ M e laird! Me laird! Laird Campbell,” a voice bellowed through the thick wood of the door.

“What is going on?” Evelyn cried, her words slightly slurry as she was pulled from her sleep.

Edward was now out of the bed, his heart thumping in his chest from the abrupt awakening. Pulling on his trousers, he said, “I dinnae ken, but whatever it is, it sounds urgent.”

Hurrying to the bedchamber door, he yanked it open. There stood a young lad, his face white and looking worried.

“What’s happened?” Edward demanded.

“Me laird,” the lad replied, his words tumbling out. “Clan Wallace is here. They are here tae battle, me laird. There is a huge army outside the gate. There are hundreds o’ them. I dinnae ken?—”

“Calm down, lad,” Edward said, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Calm down. It will be all right. Now, is there anything else ye need tae tell me?”

With his eyes wide, he nodded. “Aye, me laird. Gilroy and Thomas are with them.”

That news took Edward by surprise, even though he had suspected the councilmen of foul play for some time. They were guilty of something, he knew that. But to arrive with Laird Wallace and a fighting army? What the devil was going on?

Edward sent the boy on, and closed the door.

“What it is?” Evelyn cried.

As Edward quickly dressed, he relayed what the boy had said.

“Och, me god,” Evelyn gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. “But it daesnae mak’ any sense.”

She had hurriedly scrambled out of the bed, and walked toward him.

“Please, Evelyn. Ye are nae yet in any state tae be getting yersel’ so upset.” Placing his hands on her shoulders, he looked her in the eyes. “I will get tae the bottom o’ this. I promise. But please, stay in bed. Ye’re still nae fully recovered.”

“How can I stay in bed when there is an army at the gate?” she cried, throwing her hand to the window. “If we are tae go intae battle, I have tae protect the women and children.”

“We dinnae ken if we’re going intae battle yet. Get back intae bed. Let me go and find out what this is all about, and then I will come back and speak tae ye. I promise.”

She looked neither happy nor convinced and yet, reluctantly, she did as she was told. Only when she was safely back under the coverlets, did Edward round the bed toward her.

Leaning down, he kissed her softly, before standing again.

“I will be back soon. Please, stay in bed.”

With that, he moved determinedly across the room and left.

Questions flew through his mind as he took long strides down the corridor. What the devil was Laird Wallace doing camped outside the castle? And why was he ready fer battle?

We have done naething tae warrant such an action. Evelyn is right. None o’ this mak’s any sense.

As he continued on, he remembered the letter he had received from the laird just a few days prior. Clearly, the man had wrong information, but Edward had sent him back a letter explaining the circumstances and the validity of his and Evelyn’s marriage.

Clearly, it wasnae enough.

Having descended the stairs, Edward was suddenly greeted by Craig and James, as well as two councilmen, Michael and John.

“Me laird, this is most unusual,” John began. “We have tae tak’ action.”

“I’m doing naething until I ken what Laird Wallace’s intentions are.”

“Surely, they are clear enough,” John retorted. “The man has an army camped nae a mile away.”

“He’s right, Edward,” Craig said, as the group hurried towards the meeting room.

“Has the rest o’ the council been called?” Edward asked.

“Aye,” Craig replied. “Everyone has been alerted. I’m sure they’ll arrive as quickly as they can.”

Once inside the meeting room, the men continued to discuss the situation. Standing together, the councilmen offered suggestions.

“I think it wise tae have the army ready, me laird,” Michael said. “I ken ye want tae discover Laird Wallace’s intentions, but the men need some warning.”

Edward nodded. “I agree. Craig, go and deal with that, will ye? Send someone with a message tae the soldier’s quarters, though I’m certain they have already been alerted. I need ye back here as soon as possible.”

“O’ course,” Craig said, nodding as he turned and left the room.

Shortly after his departure, the other council members arrived one by one. Some were still half asleep, other’s looked bedraggled but worried. When they were all seated around the table, Edward addressed them.

“All we ken at this point is that Laird Wallace and his army are camped less than a mile away.”

“But why?” one of the men said.

“I dinnae ken. But I think it has something tae dae with the fact that Thomas and Gilroy are with them.”

“What?” another blurted.

Astonishment danced on the men’s faces as they murmured surprised exclamations and confusion.

Edward was tempted to making a biting remark, reminding them of how they had assured him that the traitors were trustworthy. But he swallowed it back. This was not the time. Besides, what would it accomplish now?

“It is what I have been told, and I have nay reason nae tae believe the scouts who likely discovered it. I have sent word tae our own army, telling the men tae ready themselves fer battle.”

“Dae ye think that is necessary?” one of the men asked.

“Would ye prefer we sit on our hands and dae naething?” Edward retorted. “Clearly, Laird Wallace has come tae fight. If I cannae convince him against the idea, we need tae be ready.”

At that moment, Craig hurried back into the room.

“It is done, me laird,” he said, closing the door behind him.

“Good. Now, does anyone have any ideas as tae what we ought tae dae next?”

Michael cleared his throat. “Perhaps the first action ought tae be discovering why Laird Wallace is here. I would suggest a letter asking the same.”

The other men nodded, adding murmurs of agreement.

“Thank ye, Michael,” Edward responded. “That is a great place tae get started.”

“In preparation, the women and children ought tae be taken tae safety, too,” James added.

The older men nodded again. “An excellent idea,” John said.

“Until we ken the laird’s intentions, there is little more that ye can dae that hasnae already been done or been suggested, me laird,” Michael said. “I would advise that the letter is penned as quickly as possible. We can then only await Laird Wallace’s response.”

When all were agreed, Edward declared that he would head to his study and pen the letter immediately. The councilmen concluded that they would stay in the meeting room and continue to discuss a strategy for what might lie ahead.

Craig and James joined Edward in his study, and while the other two discussed possible outcomes, the size of the army, the tactics that might go in their favor, Edward swiftly settled himself at his desk, grabbed parchment and pen, and began writing an inquiry to Laird Wallace.

A messenger was sought, and the boy rushed away with the sealed parchment. Once the men were alone again, Edward said, “And now, all we can dae is wait.”

The waiting involved Craig and James continuing to discuss the battle, while Edward, lost in his own thoughts, paced back and forth before the fire, wondering what the outcome of this conflict might be.

Thomas and Gilroy clearly had something to do with it, but for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what. Going through what he had already discovered, he tried to piece together how their handling the clan’s finances so poorly, and then the attack, and then the poisoning all tied together.

No gain could be sought from their actions. Ruining the finances of their own clan would affect them too. And then, there were the two attempts on Evelyn’s life. What good could come from her death? None that he could see. No matter how many ways he looked at it, there seemed to be no conclusion that made any sense. Something was missing. Their actions just didn’t add up.

Half an hour passed before the messenger boy returned.

He was breathless when he entered the study.

“What news?” Edward demanded. “Did he give ye a message in return?”

The lad nodded his head. “Aye, me laird. His message was that ye are tae meet him at the castle gates.”

Craig and James followed Edward through the corridors, their determined steps echoing around the castle walls. Panic had already ensued, for maids and servants hurried past them, their faces full of fear and dread.

Outside in the courtyard the soldiers were already standing by. Some of the infantry were mounted on their horses, and archers and foot soldiers were readying themselves and their weapons.

“He might still yet be reasoned with,” James said as they approached the gate.

“That depends on the reason fer him being here,” Edward replied.

The gate remained closed when they approached, but Edward ordered that one side of the large wooden structures be opened. Laird Wallace had with him three others, and thus, posed no threat, at least for now. The gate yawned open, and Edward, with Craig and James still at his side, stepped a few feet outside the castle walls.

Laird Wallace was mounted on his horse. At the sight of Edward, he dismounted, as did those who were with him. He was a tall man with dark brown hair, tied back off his face. At least ten years older than Edward, he had a commanding presence, something he attempted to use when he came face to face with Edward. But Edward was not so easily intimated, and lifting his chin, he looked the laird directly in the eye.

“What is the meaning o’ this, me laird? We have done naething tae provoke such action from ye or yer clan.”

Laird Wallace scowled. “On the contrary, Laird Campbell. I have been informed that ye and yer clan forced the marriage tae Lady Evelyn. Having been close allies fer many years, I simply cannae tolerate such actions. If Lady Evelyn refused the marriage in church, then she isnae married tae ye at all.”

Edward’s eyes widened at the ridiculousness of his statement. Still, he swallowed a disrespectful rebuke, and took a breath before replying.

“I think ye will discover that ye have been misinformed, me laird. Lady Evelyn was in agreement tae the wedding. Everything went as planned in accordance with the peace treaty signed by me own faither. I did write and tell ye this after receiving yer letter.”

“I received nae such correspondence from ye,” Laird Wallace replied. “But it mak’s little difference. Ye tell me what I want tae hear, but I’m nae a fool, me laird. Me information comes from a trusted source. In fact, two o’ yer own councilmen have told me the truth o’ what occurred.”

“They are lying, me laird. In fact, I highly suspect it was those men who?—”

“I will listen tae ye nae longer,” Laird Wallace spat, cutting him short. “I am here in honor o’ our years o’ alliance tae Clan Campbell. Ye have two choices, Laird Campbell. Either ye renounce yer lairdship, or we will battle against ye until ye dae. What’s it tae be?”

“I will repeat again, Laird Wallace, that I am the rightful laird o’ this clan. That nay force was made, and that I am legally married tae me wife. Indeed, I willnae relinquish me lairdship. If needs be, I will fight fer me clan tae the death.”

Laird Wallace stood for a long moment, his eyes boring into Edward’s. It was as though the man was sizing him up. Seeing if he would really stand his ground. When Edward remained steadfast, Laird Wallace gave a final nod.

“As ye wish,” the older man said. Turning on his heels, he headed back to his horse. Once mounted upon it, he looked down at Edward. “On yer own head, be it.”

The laird and his soldiers thundered away, leaving Edward standing there in astonishment.

“Ye tried, Edward,” James said, trying to offer some consolation.

“He wouldnae listen,” Craig blurted. “Ye told the man the truth, and he wouldnae listen.”

Edward turned and looked at them both. “Get the women and children tae safety, and prepare the men for battle. We’re nae getting out o’ this without a fight.”