Page 20 of To Wed a Witch (Reluctant Brides #3)

T he next morning dawned grey and cold, with a light mist descending upon the land. Bhaltair stood at their chamber window, fully dressed for travel, but his saddlebags remained unpacked on the chair beside the bed.

"Ye're not going?" Sìne asked quietly.

"No." Bhaltair's voice was firm. "I'll not leave ye to face Sutherland's poison alone. Whatever the MacNeils wanted to discuss can wait."

"But the alliance—"

"Will survive one cancelled meeting." He turned from the window and walked toward her, his expression resolute. "My wife is under attack by a man who would see us both destroyed for his own gain. Do ye truly think I'd ride away and leave ye and Aidyn unprotected?"

The fierce protectiveness in his voice made Sìne's heart clench with love and gratitude. "The MacNeils will think it strange, ye not appearing as arranged."

"Let them." Bhaltair enveloped her in his arms, a sign he'd made his decision final. "I've already sent word that urgent clan matters require my presence. 'Tis no lie, and the men ken that I will remain here until 'tis safer to travel."

Sìne could not help but feel relieved. She needed her husband to remain close more than ever and was so grateful he had made the decision for them.

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

Bhaltair deepened the kiss until they were gasping for breath.

When they broke apart, he simply smiled at her with such warmth and affection it made her heart flutter.

A knock at the door interrupted them. "Enter," Bhaltair called.

Dugald stepped into the chamber. "Begging yer pardon, laird, but I've been talking with the men. About this matter with the supposed healer and all."

"And?"

"Most of them have requested to be added to the mistress's guard duty. They believe she should have more support at this time."

Sìne smiled with genuine appreciation. It was a reminder that there were more good and kind clansfolk than not.

"But there's a few..." Dugald continued and shook his head grimly. "Fear makes fools of even good men sometimes."

"How many?" Bhaltair's voice was sharp.

"Perhaps a half-dozen who're unsettled by the talk." Dugald glanced at Sìne with obvious sympathy. "They've forgotten that our lady has done naught but good since she arrived."

"Fear has a way of making people forget kindnesses," Sìne replied softly.

Dugald's expression grew serious again. "Which brings me to my point. One of the servants says there's a gathering planned for tonight in the village. Some of the more superstitious folk want to... talk."

Sìne felt her blood chill. "What kind of talk?"

Dugald replied grimly. "Some wish for the laird to cast ye aside."

"Over my dead body!" Bhaltair growled. "The only people to be cast aside are those who spread vile rumors. I'll protect what's mine, within these walls forever if needs be."

"But walls can't protect against the poison Sutherland's spreading," Sìne replied as she clung to him a little tighter.

"Dinnae fear, love. I've sent men to track him down, and we will be able to prove he is behind all of this. In the meantime, we remain strong, vigilant, and united." Bhaltair's jaw clenched with determination. Soon Sìne calmed and nodded her head. She gazed at him with utter trust.

Bhaltair turned to Dugald and said, "I want eyes and ears at that meeting in the village. Make sure nothing comes of it. Let it be known anyone who acts against me or my wife will be banished from the clan from this day forward. I'll have no more of it!"

"Consider it done, laird."

After Dugald left, an awkward silence settled over the chamber. Sìne busied herself checking on Aidyn, who was still asleep, but she could feel Bhaltair's eyes on her.

"Ye're troubled by more than just Sutherland's scheming," he said finally. "Tell me."

Sìne realized she couldn't hide anything from him. Bhaltair was so in tune with her needs it was strangely disturbing yet comforting at the same time. She sighed. "Ada mentioned something yesterday. About the MacNeils, about why ye were supposed to meet with them."

"What about the MacNeils?"

"She said..." Sìne took a breath, feeling foolish even as she spoke. "She said ye and Lady MacNeil have become friends. That she's been helping ye plan improvements to the Keep, offering advice on the design."

Understanding dawned in Bhaltair's dark eyes. "Ye mean Lileas MacNeil?"

"Aye, the woman ye tried to kidnap before we were wed," Sìne replied quietly, finally voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her heart.

"Ah." Bhaltair moved to sit on the edge of the bed, his expression thoughtful. "I wondered when that would come up."

"Ada says she's very clever. That she has a good head for inventing things. That the two of ye have exchanged many letters about the Keep's restoration and crops in the field." Each word felt like swallowing glass, but Sìne forced herself to continue. "I can't help but wonder..."

"Wonder what, Sìne?"

"If ye regret not being able to marry her instead of me." The words came out in a rush, and Sìne immediately felt heat flood her cheeks. "I ken 'tis foolish, but—"

"Sìne." Bhaltair's voice was gentle but firm. "Look at me."

Reluctantly, she raised her eyes to meet his.

"Lileas MacNeil is a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

" He reached out to cup her cheek tenderly.

"Aye, she's very sharp, and she's been generous with advice about the Keep.

But I dinnae feel anything for her other than friendship.

I dinnae feel the way I do about ye. Besides, she's also happily wed to a man who'd gut me like a fish if I so much as looked at her sideways. "

Despite her worries, Sìne couldn't help but smile at that. "Is he so fearsome?"

"Ewan MacNeil once fought off six men to protect her. He treats her like gold and worships the ground she walks on." Bhaltair's thumb brushed over her cheekbone. "The way I worship ye."

"But she helped ye when things were at their worst. She was there when ye needed support—"

"She offered practical advice and friendship when I was desperate enough to accept help from anyone," Bhaltair interrupted. "But she was never what I needed, Sìne. She was never ye."

The simple words calmed her. "Bhaltair—"

He cut her off. "When I first laid eyes on ye in yer father's hall, covered in mud and fury, defending yerself against a mob with nothing but courage.

.. that's when I knew what I'd been missing all my life.

" He leaned down to press his forehead against hers.

"I fell in love with ye at that moment, Sìne.

Because I saw strength, fire, purpose. A woman who'd fight the world to protect what is right, to protect those she loves. "

Tears pricked Sìne's eyes. "I love ye too, Bhaltair. So much it frightens me sometimes."

"Good," he replied fiercely. "Because I love ye the exact same way. And nothing Sutherland does, nothing my clan believes, nothing in this world will change that."

"Perhaps, husband, ye could show me just how much ye love me, once we get ye out of these travel clothes..." Sìne gave him a sultry smile.

Bhaltair returned a wicked grin. "Aye, wife. Perhaps I'll remove my travel clothes after I've stripped ye bare and had my way with ye!" He lunged for her then and made good on his word... repeatedly.

***

O NE WEEK LATER.

Urgent voices in the courtyard drew Sìne's attention to the window. A party of riders was approaching the Keep's gates, their banners snapping in the cold wind.

"The MacNeils," Bhaltair observed with surprise. "What are they doing here?"

Sìne felt her stomach lurch. "Perhaps they think ye've been bewitched and are here to free ye."

"'Tis more than likely Lady Lileas's curiosity has gotten the better of her." Bhaltair's expression grew thoughtful. "Well, this should be interesting."

***

L ADY LILEAS MACNEIL was not what Sìne had expected.

Instead of the refined beauty she'd imagined, the woman who swept into their Great Hall was practical-looking, with intelligent eyes and unruly hair that escaped its pins in cheerful disarray.

She was pretty rather than beautiful, with slight laugh lines around her eyes and ink stains on her fingers that spoke of a woman more concerned with substance than appearance.

Her husband, Laird Ewan MacNeil, was another surprise. Tall and broad-shouldered like Bhaltair, he had the bearing of a warrior but gentle eyes that never strayed far from his wife.

"Ferguson!" Ewan called out as they entered the hall. "When ye didn't appear for our meeting, Lil practically nagged me to death until I agreed to see what urgent matters kept ye from us."

Sìne heard Lileas snort and mutter, "I didn't nag ye. Ye were just as curious, husband."

"MacNeil!" Bhaltair moved forward to clasp his friend's arm. "I had hoped to attend. But there have been complications."

"So we've heard." Lileas stepped forward, her bright eyes taking in everything with obvious curiosity. "The whole countryside is buzzing with tales of the happily wedded Ferguson laird. We simply had to meet this wife of yers for ourselves."

"Then allow me to present my wife," Bhaltair said formally, his hand finding Sìne's waist in a gesture of support. "Sìne, these are my friends Ewan and Lileas MacNeil."

"So ye're the Mad MacKay Witch!" Lileas exclaimed with delight, clapping her hands together.

"I kenned ye were real. Ewan doubted it.

.. my sister-in-law Fiona... well, she is not going to believe this!

But ye look rather well for a mythical creature.

" Her tone was so cheerfully irreverent that Sìne found herself fighting back a smile despite her nerves.

"Lileas! Mind yer manners," Ewan replied in exasperation.

"Oh, I am sorry. I... my mouth just says what it thinks with little thought for the consequences," Lileas said with a rueful smile as they greeted one another.

Sìne grinned, not taking any offense at all. In fact, she found them quite funny together. For the first time she understood why Bhaltair liked them, and instantly her jealousy left her. There was something so genuine about the woman that it was impossible not to warm to her immediately.

At that moment, Aidyn's babbling could be heard from the upper levels, followed by Paisley's gentle voice as she brought the child down to meet the visitors.

"Oh, who is this precious babe?" Lileas asked as Paisley appeared with Aidyn in her arms.

"Our daughter," Bhaltair replied, taking Aidyn and settling her comfortably in the crook of his arm.

Ewan grinned. "Well, she is a bonnie wee lass, that's for certain," he said without missing a beat, his easy acceptance clear in his voice.

"She's beautiful," Lileas added warmly, reaching out to let Aidyn grasp her finger. "And she has yer eyes. So alert and intelligent."

It wasn't long before Dugald appeared. He seemed to hover wherever Paisley was lately. When he saw Lileas MacNeil, he quickly tried to sidestep and make himself scarce.

Lileas caught him trying to retreat and shouted, "Dugald! Ye old goat."

Dugald cringed, then gave her his most reverent bow. "Lady MacNeil."

"Dinnae Lady MacNeil me. What are ye about? Did ye kidnap this one as well? Is that how Bhaltair came to be married to a MacKay?"

Chuckling could be heard from Ewan and Bhaltair as Dugald squirmed. He'd apologized several times in the past, especially after Bhaltair had punished him for his efforts. But Lileas MacNeil still took great pleasure in reminding him about his misguided kidnapping attempts.

Sìne and Paisley seemed confused until Laird Ewan explained that Dugald had kidnapped Lileas for the Ferguson clan, and it had not gone so well for him.

"How can ye laugh about this?" Paisley asked, somewhat perturbed.

Dugald replied, "Because I've done my penance, and I regret the day I ever tried to kidnap Lady MacNeil. She was the most troublesome woman I ever met, and I'm so grateful she's not our mistress."

That had the men laughing, and even Lileas was grinning at him.

***

L ATER, OVER PRIVATE refreshments in the family solar, Bhaltair shared with the MacNeils why he missed their meeting. They were curious because he had not missed a single one since they first began their alliance.

"Sutherland," Bhaltair replied grimly. "We believe he's behind the whole thing."

Lileas and Ewan exchanged a look.

"Sutherland," Ewan repeated thoughtfully. "That explains a great deal. We've had our own dealings with that family, and subtlety was never their strong suit."

"But this plan shows a certain... creativity," Lileas mused. "Using people's superstitions against them instead of brute force. It's almost clever."

"Clever enough to work," Sìne said quietly. "Some of the clan are already turning against me."

As they settled around the table with cups of mulled wine, Sìne found herself relaxing despite her earlier fears. The MacNeils were genuinely interested in helping. And to think their alliance had developed from a kidnapping was a surprise to her. There was certainly no animosity between them.

"So," Ewan said after they'd recounted the events of the past few days, "Sutherland disguised himself as a traveling healer, declared a sick child incurable, then fled when ye cured the boy anyway. Now he's trying to undermine yer position and cause discord in the clan."

"That's our theory," Bhaltair confirmed.

"'Tis a good theory. Fits with everything we ken about Sutherland tactics," Ewan replied.

Lileas drummed her fingers on the table, her expression thoughtful. "But proving it will be difficult. We need to catch him in the act." She fell silent, her eyes growing distant as she worked through some internal calculation.

"The question is how to draw him out," Ewan mused. "He's been careful to work from the shadows so far."

"We need something that would force his hand," Lileas replied. "Something he couldn't resist."

The chamber fell silent as they all considered the problem. Outside, the wind rattled the windows and a strange mist seemed to press closer to the glass.

***