Page 27 of The Highlander’s Auctioned Bride

CHAPTER 27

“I need to speak to ye.”

James looked up from his study desk and smiled as he saw Maisie enter the room. He had missed her through the night and was glad to see her looking less pale than she had.

“Ye are awake,” he said happily, going to her automatically, the same possessive urge to touch her skin finally sated as he took hold of her hand.

“I need to speak with ye,” she said again, more urgently.

“What is it?” James asked, noticing that the fingers of her hand seemed to be curled around something.

“I went to see Lillian.”

“Alone?” James asked—horrified.

“Dinnae blame Harris, James! I told him I would go with Jean, and I did. I simply wished to speak with Lillian—there is little threat from her alone.”

If only I believed that was true.

James looked at Maisie, unable to hide the fear in his gaze as he thought of what she might have exposed herself to.

Maisie’s eyes hardened. “I kent ye suspected her, why did ye nae tell me?”

He shook his head. “I didnae want it to be true. I didnae wish for ye to be burdened by it.”

“Why must ye be so secretive, this is me life .”

“Ye were barely awake, and ye nearly died, Maisie, what was I meant to dae, list all of me suspicions while ye were barely coherent?”

Maisie crossed her arms over her chest and James felt the same skitter of desire he always felt at her defiance. He tried his best to focus, holding out his hand and waiting for her to take it before continuing.

“Did she tell ye somethin’?”

Maisie opened her palm, showing him a small angular bottle of some kind of viscous black liquid.

“What is that?”

“The poison,” she replied. “Lillian found it by Marcus’s bed.” James straightened, drawing his sword as he opened his mouth to call the guards. “James!”

He looked back at her and lowered the sword at her stern glare.

“ Think about this,” she said, putting the vial down beside her. “Would any man be stupid enough to try to poison the lady of a castle and then leave the poison on his bedside table for anyone to find?”

James paused, then shook his head. “Nae,” James conceded. “Marcus wouldnae be so foolish.”

“ Exactly ,” Maisie said. “I dinnae think this is Marcus’s doin’.”

“What? Why?”

“I dinnae ken, but Lillian wasnae herself. It’s almost as though she is fulfilling tasks someone else has given her. I think she might be bein’ used by another in order to get to me.”

James snatched up the bottle, his mind working a mile a minute. Even if Marcus wasn’t the threat, he could still make an example of him.

“This is evidence enough. He’ll be under lock and key before the sun sets.”

“But I dinnae think it is Marcus at all!” she insisted. “I think someone else is behind this.”

“Ye should rest,” he said automatically, his mind blocked by his need to get to Marcus and send a message to Lillian in the process. If he locked Marcus up in the dungeons whoever had tried to hurt Maisie might believe they had got away with their actions and do something rash.

Maisie glowered at him furiously.

“Ye arenae listenin’ to me, and I have done quite enough restin’ for a lifetime. I want to help ye.”

James shook his head, his stomach clenching at the idea of putting her in yet more danger.

“I shall station Harris outside yer room and ye are nae to go anywhere else alone.”

“James! I am nae a child, stop treatin’ me as though ye must wrap me in blankets and send me off to bed. I can help ye.”

“I dinnae need yer help,” he snapped, desperate for her to see that all he wanted was her safety. “I must protect me people, that is me duty nae yers.”

I would kill them all. Burn down the world, just so that ye were safe, can ye nae see that?

But he did not say anything of the kind to Maisie. He had other plans for her.

“Even after everythin’ I have been through, ye are still puttin’ yer clan before me?”

His gaze snapped to hers, desperate to tell her that was the opposite of what he was doing. Indeed, for the last two days, he had done nothing for his clan, his mind solely focused on making sure she was safe.

“I am the laird,” he said darkly. “That is all ye need to remember here.”

She backed away from him, her mouth pursed in fury. James closed his eyes, not wishing to give his next instruction. He knew it would only anger her further, but he could not think of another way to keep her safe.

“I think ye should return to yer faither’s for the time being,” he said softly.

For a long time, all he could hear was the crackle of the fire and Maisie’s quiet breathing as there was a long, ominous silence.

“What did ye just say to me?” she said, her voice low and threatening.

“I cannae find who is doin’ this to us if ye are here. I cannae protect ye without bein’ with ye at all times I cannae dae that?—”

“Of course nae, that would mean leavin’ yer precious people!”

“Ye will listen to me, Maisie, so help me, I will be obeyed.” He stood up and took a menacing step toward her. She recoiled from him, and he was glad of it. The more fury he could induce in her the more likely she would be to leave.

I willnae lose ye, nae after I have finally found ye.

“You would send me away? After everythin’—”

“Ye are in danger, and I want ye somewhere ye are protected. If ye arenae in the castle I will root out whoever has threatened ye and defeat him.”

Maisie’s eyes were wide and cold. Her hand came up to her throat, squeezing the flesh as her mouth worked. She clearly wanted to say more but could not find the words.

He was looming above her now, his face inches from hers and they glared at each other. He lowered his head, wanting to kiss her and hold her in his arms, preventing her from ever leaving him again.

His lips lowered to hers, but just before they connected, she pulled away, her eyes flashing.

“If I go to me faither’s, I might just nae come back.”

Now it was James’s turn to recoil.

The idea that he might drive her away for good was a terrible thought. As she stepped back, however, she limped heavily on her injured leg. He watched her wince, and his resolve instantly returned.

Perhaps bein’ away from me is the only thing that can ever save her.

A lance of pain almost shattered him, but he kept the stoic mask in place.

“Ye havenae been happy,” he bit out. “I cannae give ye what ye want.” Bile rose in his throat. “I understand and I am sorry.”

With one last look of derision and unhappiness, she walked out of the room. He watched her close the door, possibly for the last time.