Page 82 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin

"Dismissin' loyal men like Councilman Boyd. Bringin' in foreign soldiers." His voice grew bolder. "Laird Leo would never have?—"

"Laird Leo is dead," Erica cut him off sharply. "I am the rightful lady of this clan, by birth and by law. Do ye dispute that?"

Tam's silence was answer enough.

"I see." Erica exchanged a look with Lachlan. "Tam MacLeod, ye have a choice..."

"Ye have a choice," Erica told Tam, her voice carrying the full authority of her position. "Exile, or public punishment and a chance to prove yer loyalty anew."

Tam spat blood onto the stone floor. "I'll take exile. I willnae serve under a woman who abandons her people for a foreign laird."

"So be it." Erica's voice never wavered. "Ye have until noon to gather yer belongings and leave McLaren lands. If ye're found here after sunset, ye'll be treated as a hostile."

Two guards who had been brought in for questioning, seeing Tam's fate, quickly chose differently.

"We'll prove our loyalty, m'lady," the older one said, dropping to one knee. "Give us the chance."

"Ye'll be reassigned to the furthest outposts," Lachlan interjected. "Under the direct supervision of me men. One sign of disloyalty, and ye'll follow Tam into exile."

By the time they finished breaking their fast, the hall had been cleared of threats, but Lachlan could see the reluctance in Erica's eyes about leaving her people again so soon.

"We'll need to return to Kinnaird today," he said gently.

"Aye, I ken." Her voice was resigned but accepting. "Duty calls."

"I'll leave the men behind as promised," he assured her, taking her hand across the table. "Ewan will handle recruitment and trainin’ personally. Frederick will be on ground to give him whatever assistance he requires —ye'll have proper defenses within a month. And I'll take ye to every trade meeting, make sure ye're given yer rightful place at the table.

She squeezed his fingers gratefully. "And the farmin’ issues?"

"I'll send our most seasoned farmers to train a few of yer leaders, who can then train the people. It's how knowledge spreads best." He met her eyes directly. "All will be well with McLaren in a few years, Erica. Ye have me word on that."

Ewan stepped forward from where he'd been standing near the hall's entrance. "M'lady, what are yer orders regarding this situation? Should we investigate others who might share his sentiments?"

Erica looked to her most trusted guard captain, grateful for his steady presence. "Aye, but carefully. We cannae afford to create more unrest by seemin' too suspicious of everyone."

"What will ye need from me while ye're back at Kinnaird?" Ewan asked, his weathered face serious.

"Continue the recruitment as planned, but be extra careful about the men ye choose. We need loyalty above all else." She paused, then added, "And Ewan? Send regular reports to me and laird Lachlan. If there are more problems like this, I need to ken immediately."

"Aye, m'lady. And the new men Laird Kinnaird brought?"

"Work closely with Frederick's people. Learn from them, but make sure our recruits understand they serve McLaren first."

Lachlan nodded approvingly as Ewan bowed slightly and walked away. "Ewan kens what he's about. The men I left will help, but ye're right to keep McLaren interests paramount."

Erica's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank ye. For everythin'. For understandin', for helpin', for..." She gestured helplessly. "For seein' me as a partner instead of just a wife."

"Always," he said simply.

She turned toward the door. "Before we leave, I want to show ye somethin'. Will ye come with me?"

"Where?"

"Ye'll see."

He followed her through corridors he was still learning, down stone steps worn smooth by centuries of feet, until they reached a small chapel tucked away in the oldest part of the castle. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, painting jeweled patterns on the ancient stones.

"It's so serene here," he said softly, his voice automatically dropping in the sacred space.