Page 25 of The Mad Highlander
A spark of hope that he had never experienced before suddenly flickered in his chest.
“There ye are; I was beginning to wonder if I should send in a search party,” Margot called to them just as they reached the edge of the forest. She seemed pleased as she hoisted the basket of heather onto her hip and came toward them.
“I was just showing Iris the brook; I warned her never to go there alone, especially nae at night.” His voice grew gruff again as he suddenly felt protective over the moment they had shared. There was something very intimate about the promises he had made to Iris; he wanted to keep them hidden from the rest of the world, at least until they had made more progress.
Margot’s brows lifted as she looked from one to the other. “That sounds very romantic,” she teased gently, shooting her son a questioning look.
Color filled Iris’ cheeks as she bit her lower lip.
“Dinnae start, Maither; now where is Robyn? I have nae spoken to her about the situation with Eilis.” He glanced over his mother’s shoulder, hoping that she would let the matter rest.
Margot jerked her thumb in the direction of the castle. “She’s gone to help Astrid.”
Cayden clenched his jaw and tensed when he realized what his mother was doing.
Can she nae just leave well enough alone?
Iris cleared her throat. “If ye would excuse me, I would like to see a little more of the castle before the sun sets.” She avoided looking at Cayden before setting off toward the walls.
“I ken what ye are doing, Maither. I told Iris that Astrid isnae me mistress; ye can stand down.” He felt his irritation growing as Iris walked away from them.
“Aye, but did ye tell her who she is?” Margot took a step toward him. “Ye are the one who has gone poking around in the past. Dinnae accuse me of meddling when ye are the one who has picked at the scab. Tell yer wife to be who Astrid is an’ why ye only talk to her once in a blue moon. It never helps to leave things that may come back to bite ye as time goes on.”
11
The men all eyed Cayden wearily as a low susurration of whispers broke out as he entered the room. He hadn’t addressed what had happened during the previous meeting, and nobody had had the nerve to approach him either.
The younger man who had been the recipient of his anger clenched his jaw and averted his eyes, avoiding looking directly at Cayden as Duncan stood to call the meeting into order.
“Welcome, Me Laird an’ Laird McLaren.” Duncan nodded to them both, acknowledging Hunter who took up a seat beside Cayden.
The men all seemed to eye Cayden wearily as several of them crossed their arms over their chests and waited to hear what he would say.
Cayden cleared his throat. “I thank ye all for coming. I ken that we didn’t reach a decision after the last meeting, so I am hoping that we can all agree on this one.” His voice held a note of warning as he narrowed his eyes at Duncan and the rest of the members.
Duncan exchanged a warning look with the blonde man who clenched his jaw once again and stared at the wall past Duncan’s ear. It was clear to Cayden that words of warning had been exchanged in his absence.
Good.
It was better for everyone involved if nobody came up against him; it was easier to control his temper with no opposition.
“We have discussed the information ye have provided us with at the last council meeting, Me Laird, an’ if ye dinnae mind, we would like to address some of the concerns that we have on the matter,” Duncan spoke respectfully before taking his seat.
Reaching for the jug of ale in the middle of the table, Cayden nodded and poured himself a frothy mug.
“Firstly, the council would like to congratulate ye on yer impending handfasting ceremony. An alliance of this magnitude with a clan as powerful as the McCabes can only be to our benefit.” Duncan offered his congratulations, yet the tone of disapproval in his voice was just as evident as it had been at the last meeting.
Hunter spoke up now, clapping Cayden on the shoulder just as he was about to take a sip. “Clan McLaren stand by the Laird an’ hope to receive an invitation to the handfasting ceremony.” Hunter sat back smugly, eyeing the rest of the council with a warning glare.
Duncan wrinkled his nose in obvious displeasure. “Yes, be that as it may, there is still a matter of great importance that needs to be discussed before any kind of celebrations can be held.”
One of the other men stood now, looking around the room as he used his arm to sweep over the men’s heads in an inclusive gesture. His dark brown hair had been braided down his back, matching the depths of his brown eyes. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that we cannot allow an attack on the Murdoch clan. They have left us alone for many years; launching an attack will only prove to evoke their anger.”
The room broke into a wave of murmurs again as all the men agreed.
Pushing his chair back with the back of his knees, Cayden stood and glared at the men, forcing the man to take a seat as he stared him down. “I ken very well that launching a full-scale attack on the Murdoch clan isnae a good idea. Do ye think me a simpleton, McReed?”
The man cowered a little under Cayden’s gaze, sinking into his seat.
