Page 24 of Bound to a Scot
No. His anger had nothing to do with the veil.
This was about Burchard being upset about something else and having no other outlet than her. This was about him flexing his power and dominance in front of Maddox. He wanted to make sure there was no misunderstanding that he was the master of this keep. Emmeline had been married to the man long enough to know not just his moods, but how important appearances were to him. Not that it upset and frustrated her any less.
“Emmeline, I want ye to leave this hall and go finish Cecilia’s wedding veil,” he said, his voice colder than a Highland winter.
“Laird Macfie, surely that can wait until she’s had a proper meal,” Maddox interjected.
Burchard’s jaw clenched as he turned his frosty gaze to Maddox. “It’d be best fer all involved if ye stayed out of this, Laird MacLachlan.”
“Faither, I can help Emmeline once we’ve eaten,” Cecilia offered.
“Ye should stay out of this too, Cecilia. I didnae ask fer yer opinion.”
Before either of them could say anything else and dig the hole for them all even deeper, Emmeline got to her feet and walkedbriskly from the dining hall. Removing herself from the situation seemed to be in the best interest of everybody. Emmeline made her way through the castle and into her bedchamber, slamming the door behind her.
She threw herself down on the bed and pressed her face into a pillow then let out a howl of rage. Emmeline felt completely powerless, and it seemed the only thing she was able to do.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After Emmeline left, the hall was silent. Nobody spoke for the rest of the meal and when he was finished, Macfie got up and left without another word. Maddox frowned. Cecilia sat in her chair staring down at the table, the upset on her face more than clear. The servants had come and cleared the table, leaving Maddox and Cecilia sitting alone. Neither of them looked at one another, the air in the chamber growing thick and awkward. He didn’t think it wasn’t the sort of feeling two people who would be man and wife should have.
“Are ye all right?” Maddox asked gently.
“Aye. I’m fine,” she replied. “I just wish he didnae treat Emmeline so poorly.”
Maddox nodded in agreement. He didn’t like seeing her treated so poorly either. But Macfie had been right about it not being his place to say anything. She was not his wife, nor were these his lands. What Macfie chose to do with his lands and his wife was his business, not Maddox’s. However, even knowing thatdidn’t ease the anger flowing through him. Watching Macfie belittle Emmeline had set a dark fire of fury burning within him. Maddox didn’t like seeing any woman mistreated, but he liked seeing Emmeline mistreated even less.
“She’s a good woman. She’s always treated me well. She’s loved me like we’re kin,” Cecilia said. “I fear what her life will be like once I leave the castle.”
“What dae ye mean? Are ye afraid yer faither will dae somethin’ tae her?”
She shook her head. “Nay. Naethin’ like that. Me faither is a cruel man, but he’s nae a murderer,” she replied. “But takin’ care of me has given her a bit of purpose. A bit of somethin’ tae look forward tae and a reason fer gettin’ up each day. Without me here… I dinnae ken what she’s goin’ tae dae or what reason she’ll have tae get up in the mornin’.”
Maddox could see the emotion in Cecilia’s eyes and knew she was genuinely worried for her stepmother. But there was a tone in her voice that made him think her concern ran much deeper than that. A tone that told Maddox the girl was just as fearful about what would become of her once she married him as about what would happen to Emmeline. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for being scared.
“I should go and check on Emmy,” Cecilia said. “Make sure she’s all right.”
“I’d like tae, if ye dinnae mind.”
Cecilia shot him a strange, almost accusatory look as he got to his feet. Maddox cleared his throat and offered her a small smile.
“I feel like this is me fault. I’d just like tae make sure she’s all right,” he said quickly.
“All right. That’d be fine, I suppose,” she replied.
Maddox nodded. “Good night, Cecilia.”
“Good night, me laird.”
He started to turn away then paused and turned back to her. “Ye should start gettin’ used tae callin’ me Maddox, lass.”
Her gaze fell to the table, and she looked uncomfortable with the idea of addressing him with such familiarity. If they were to marry though, she would to have to get used to it, Maddox would insist on it. He would not have a wife who addressed him so formally.
“I’ll try, me lai—Maddox.”
He offered her a smile. “It’ll get easier the more ye dae it.”
She laughed. “If ye say so.”
