Page 5 of Stolen by the Rival Scot (Tartan Trails of Love #2)

CHAPTER FIVE

T he ceremony had been efficient. A formality that had legally bound them as man and wife. There would be a proper celebration afterwards, but even so, Edward was as surprised as Evelyn when the councilmen had directed them straight to the chapel.

Nor did Evelyn’s lack of conviction go unnoticed as she spoke her wedding vows. It was true, both of them were being forced into the circumstance, yet, while Edward was trying to make the best of it, it was clear Evelyn was still in complete denial that it was happening.

When they had returned to the castle, he hadn’t been surprised at the excuses she had made to retire. Once again, she was avoiding him. On their journey, it had been closed curtains. Now, she was retreating to her bedchamber.

But they could not avoid each other forever, and thus, he had decided that he would join her. After all, if it were not for him, her clan would be in tatters now. Ruined and vulnerable, open to attacks and a takeover.

She had been saved by Craig’s interruption. And though Edward had never been fond of meetings, there was no way to avoid this one. It was now one of his responsibilities.

Ye are laird now, ye must get used tae them. There will be plenty more ahead.

By the time Edward had turned to speak to Evelyn again, she had already hurried off in the opposite direction. Seeing the opportunity to escape, she had taken it without hesitation. With a long glance down the now empty corridor, Edward turned his attention back to Craig, allowing the councilman to lead him to wherever this meeting was taking place.

“Ye must be ready, me laird,” Craig said as they walked side by side. “I ken ye already have met some of them during the negotiations. However, I still feel I must warn ye that nae everyone in the Council will be as welcoming as Michael and mesel’. The politics and hypocrisy in these meetings sometimes drives me quite mad.”

“Ye are telling me tae tread carefully,” Edward offered, reading between the lines.

Craig glanced behind him, making certain their conversation was not being over heard. “Put it this way. There are going tae be some who resent yer arrival. On the other hand, though nae exclusively connected tae yer newly appointed lairdship, some o’ the others are quietly pleased about Alistair’s death.”

Swiftly, Edward’s brow hitched. “They’re happy their laird is dead?”

As they reached the door to a room, Craig stopped and gave Edward a look. “Like ye said, me laird. Tread carefully.”

The meeting room was already full of men of all different ages. Edward immediately recognized the ones that had been present in his father’s study when the decision had been made for Evelyn and him to marry.

At his entrance, the murmuring voices lowered. The men moved towards the long table situated in the middle of the large room. A heavy wooden dresser holding decanters and glasses sat on one side, while a fire blazed in the fireplace on the other. Two tall windows looked out onto the rear gardens of the castle, draped with a heavy maroon material that hung to the floor.

Edward made his way across the stone floor, walking down the length of the table, until he reached, what he assumed was his chair positioned at the head of it. It was wide, with intricate carvings and had a throne-like look about it.

“Gentleman,” Edward said, before seating himself.

Craig then introduced Edward to those he had not yet met. The men nodded towards him, acknowledging both his presence and his new position.

“We welcome ye, me laird,” Michael said amicably. “While this has all happened so quickly, we understand the necessity fer haste.”

“It wouldnae have been necessary if the laird had listened tae us in the first place,” John snarled, his eyes on Michael. He looked up the table at Edward. “A few o’ us opposed the plan tae go intae battle with yer clan. O’ course, our warnings were ignored.” A few of the other councilmen were nodding in agreement. “The laird was determined tae fight. A decision which has cost us dearly.”

Thomas, a man sitting to the right of John with his usual stern expression, narrowed his eyes. “As far as I am concerned, me laird, the MacGregor’s should never have been allowed tae dictate who marries intae the Campbell family.”

Edward did not react at the man’s obvious animosity. He may not have been next in line to be laird at home, but Edward had learned a lot from his father’s demeanor. Whether things were going well, or he was dealing with a crisis, Laird MacGregor always remained calm. He had taught both his sons to do the same.

“Losing one’s head when everything is falling around yer ears is the worst reaction ye can have. As fearful or distressed as ye might be under any circumstance, remain detached from the emotion. Dinnae dae what everyone else is daeing. Dinnae allow yersel’ tae get caught up in the storm o’ fear.”

Edward had never yet been in a situation where he had had to apply his father’s knowledge. Given what he had yet to face, it was clear he was going to fall back on the laird’s wise words often.

“The MacGregor’s have dishonored our clan,” Thomas continued, his top lip curled back so far, it revealed his teeth. “Yer position as our laird is a disgrace. We have more trustworthy allies in Clan Wallace. Unlike the MacGregors, they have been consistent in providing food fer our people and engaging in trade agreements.”

Craig had been looking from Thomas to Edward and back again, his face a picture of embarrassment and anger. Unable to hold his tongue a moment longer, the words blurted from his mouth.

“Thomas, I think ye’re going too far.”

“It’s all right, Craig,” Edward said calmly, lifting a hand to quieten him. “Let the man speak.”

Thomas growled at Craig for a second, before snarling back at Edward. “If it hadnae been fer yer faither’s interference, Evelyn could have?—”

“Lady Campbell,” Edward corrected sternly.

His words stopped Thomas in his tracks. Floundering slightly, he took a second to rectify himself.

“Aye, Lady Campbell. While she was still free and able, we could have married her intae the Wallace clan, which would have been a far more valuable ally.”

When Thomas had finished his rant, he sat back in his chair. Edward looked at him for a long moment. Clearly that man was going to be a problem, and if Edward did not nip it in the bud, Thomas would have the other’s thinking the same, if they did not already.

“Actually, I think ye’ll find that me family did yer clan a favor, Thomas. After the unprovoked attack on our lands, yer laird lost the battle and his life. Me faither could have, if he had been so inclined, seized yer lands outright. Instead, he offered ye a way tae avoid annihilation as a clan. Laird MacGregor didnae relish the thought o’ wiping out the years o’ heritage that the Campbell Clan has, along with the people who live here.”

Edward paused, letting his words hang in the air, for they were not just spoken for the benefit of Thomas. All the councilmen around the table, those who might have already been swayed by Thomas’s argument, had to understand how fortunate they truly were.

“And besides,” Edward continued, “Clan Wallace doesnae have a male heir. Who exactly would ye have offered Evelyn tae? Their laird? A man close tae his middle age? Surely, ye wouldnae have preferred tae force a lass o’ such a young age, fer she isnae yet twenty, tae marry a man old enough tae be her faither.”

Again, he allowed those words to infiltrate the room and all those in it. It did not surprise him that a silence ensued. His remarks had been clear, precise and to the point. All of which left little room for argument.

“Laird Campbell is right,” Craig declared. “This peace treaty was the best, if nae the only viable option fer our clan. Instead o’ criticism, we ought tae be showing gratitude fer Laird MacGregor’s mercy.”

A few of the councilmen, including Michael, nodded their heads and murmured agreement. Not Thomas though, nor a few of the others. Clearly, they were going to take a lot more convincing. It mattered little, however. Edward was now laird, and he was there to stay.

“Besides, Thomas,” Craig continued, looking directly at the man. “It is well fer ye that ye can judge from the comfort o’ yer chair, hiding behind these walls.” Craig’s arm gestured widely. “I cannae recall seeing ye on the battlefield, supporting the laird o’ yer own clan. Ye speak against him only now that he isnae here tae defend himsel’.”

“He made the decision against our warnings,” Thomas argued.

“Be that as it may, we support our laird, nae matter what. In war, decisions are swift.”

“Perhaps that is where the problem was,” Thomas retorted. “Instead o’ thinking through the consequences o’ his actions, he hurried forth. It is us, however, who remain. It is we who have tae suffer the consequences.”

But Craig did not back down.

“And yet, ye are here, alive and well. Laird Alistair Campbell is the one who paid the highest price.”

Eventually, Michael stepped in, his voice soft and calm.

“Gentlemen, there is little we can dae about what has happened. What is done is done, and cannae be undone. What is important fer us all now, as a Council and a collective clan, is how we move forward.”

Edward nodded. “Thank ye, Michael. I couldnae agree more. The marriage has occurred between mesel’ and Evelyn, and whether it is acceptable tae some o’ ye or nae, I am now the Laird o’ Clan Campbell. I will expect yer support and advice going forward.”

Again, only half of those present nodded in agreement. Thomas was clearly against him, as was his companion, Gilroy Ferguson. A man close in age to Thomas, in his early fifties, he seemed to hang onto his every word. He was heavy set with a ruddy complexion, his demeanor seemingly uneasy.

Edward had already concluded that the man was a follower, not a leader. But not a follower of him. Thomas clearly had some influence over him, and with that acknowledgement, Edward made a mental note to keep an eye on the two of them. He didn’t want a revolt on his hands before he had even been given a chance to settle into his position.

A short time after, the meeting came to a close. For the most part, the air had been cleared. Edward would just have to do his best to get the others on his side, while at the same time maintaining his authority and not sacrificing his integrity. No easy task.

While Edward and Craig remained seated, the councilmen left the room, one by one. Michael was the last to leave. At the door, he turned and smiled.

“Ye have much tae contend with, me laird. But rest assured; the others will come around eventually.”

“Thank ye, Michael,” Edward replied.

When they were finally alone, Edward heaved a sigh.

“Well, that went well,” he quipped, throwing a smirk in Craig’s direction.

Craig chuckled.

“Ye’re naething if nae an optimist, me laird.”

Edward lifted a hand. “Can we dispense with all this ‘me laird’ stuff? I understand when we are with the other councilmen, it might be the right way. But truly, after what we’ve gone through, I’d prefer we address each other by our names.”

Craig nodded. “As ye wish.”

“I wish.”

Craig grinned. “Very well.”

For another minute, the two sat in silence. Edward could only imagine what might be going through Craig’s mind. For himself, however, he pondered on the meeting, and what the future now held for him as laird. There had never been an assumption that it might be an easy task. Still, it was not until now that he faced the fact of just how difficult it was going to be.

“We have the support o’ at least half,” Craig said out of the blue. Clearly, that was what he had been considering in those silent moments. “But I dinnae think it will be too long ‘afore we get the others on board.”

Edward inclined his head. “I cannae say I’m as certain as ye, Craig. Thomas has a lot o’ anger towards me and me faither’s clan, nae tae mention the previous laird’s decisions. And his companion…”

“Gilroy,” Craig replied knowingly.

“Aye. Him. A weak man from what I have first deduced o’ him.”

“Yer perception is correct. He follows Thomas around like a puppy. I dinnae think the man has had a single original thought in any o’ the council meetings.”

“We’ll need tae keep an eye on those two.”

“Noted.” Craig nodded. “But I wouldnae worry about them too much. They are old men who are out o’ touch with the reality that action, nae hesitation, shapes the world.”

“Be that as it may, older men can be persuasive, and I dinnae want a rebellion on me hands.”