Page 32 of Bound to a Scot
“I personally believe Burchard would welcome the opportunity to send me away with another man and be rid of me once and for all,” she said curtly.
“Ye ken better than that. Yer husband is a petty, vindictive man. Even if he would be glad tae be rid of ye, it would never be tae somebody he views as a rival. And it would never be tae a man ye fancied or somebody ye’d choose fer yerself. Ye ken that.”
Emmeline sighed heavily but said nothing. She knew he was right. If Burchard were to ever put her out, it would be to the most foul and horrible man he could find, just to make her life miserable. She often thought he wished she’d save him the trouble and take her own life.
“Whatever ye feel fer the lad, ye’d be smart tae bury it, Emmeline. Ye need tae cut it out of yer heart and throw it away.”
“I—I dinnae feel anythin’ fer him.”
Lorn pursed his lips. “Ye cannae lie tae me, lass. ‘Tis written all over yer face whenever ye see him. And if I can see it, I can promise ye others dae tae.”
She shook her head, trying to deny what she knew on an instinctive level to be true. She’d thought she had been discreet and had done a good job of hiding her feelings whenever she was around Maddox, but Lorn was right. If he could see through her, it was only a matter of time before Burchard was able to see what he did. And if that happened, it would be very, very bad. Nonetheless, even knowing the inherent dangers, Emmeline couldn’t stop the rush of pleasure that continued to flow through her body.
“Dae ye hear me, lass?”
Emmeline nodded. “Aye. I hear ye.”
“Bury those feelings. Bury them deep.”
She nodded but said nothing as she lowered her gaze. She knew he was right and that his counsel was wise. She also knew it was going to be a lot easier said than done.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“What did ye expect tae happen?” Adair gasped, sounding exasperated. “Lorn is nae only the clan’s war leader but, as I understand it, he’s also one of her closest friends and advisors. She’s loyal tae the man, which is admirable, and ye attacked him.”
“I didnae attack him. We had a spar, that’s it.”
“Aye, well, ye shouldnae even be thinkin’ about her, let alone challengin’ her war leader tae a sparrin’ match, ye donkey,” Adair said. “What in the bleedin’ hell were ye thinkin’?”
Maddox grimaced. “I wasnae thinkin’.”
“Aye. That’s the truest thing ye’ve ever said,” he growled. “And the lady is right. Ye acted like a foul tempered little bairn.”
“Aye, I get it, all right? Ye made yer point.”
“Did I? Because I thought I made me point before. And yet, here we are havin’ the same bleedin’ conversation.”
“Enough, Adair.”
“Is it though? Because ye seem tae be havin’ some trouble gettin’ it through yer thick bleedin’ skull,” he snapped. “Ye’ll never have Emmeline. She’s nae yers tae possess. Ye’re goin’ tae be married tae Cecilia, nae Emmeline. And by continuin’ tae act like a donkey, ye’re jeopardizin’ everything.”
Maddox blew out a loud, frustrated breath and turned to Adair, a cross expression on his face. Having the man continuing to pound him with the fact that Emmeline would not be his and chastising him for everything he’d done was annoying. It was annoying though, because Maddox knew the man was right. If Macfie caught wind of him mooning over his wife, the consequences would be severe. And not just for him, but for his people. Maddox just didn’t like having his folly thrown into his face—then ground into it like a sweetcake at a wedding ceremony.
“The only good thing tae come of this mess ye’ve created is that it sounds like yer insecurity and need tae impress her pushed her away,” Adair said. “That should make it easier fer ye tae get the lass out of yer head once and fer all.”
Maddox stared out the window and grumbled quietly under his breath. He had a feeling Adair was going to keep beating this dead horse and he wasn’t in the mood to listen to it. Especially since the man was right and Maddox knew it.
“I’m goin’ out,” he said as he turned and strode toward the door.
“And where in the bleedin’ hell dae ye think ye’re goin’?”
“Tae get some air,” he replied. “And tae get away from yer bleatin’.”
Without waiting for a reply, Maddox walked out of his bedchamber, closing the door behind him harder than was necessary. He wasn’t content to stalk the halls. Knowing how awkward it would be to run into either Lorn or Emmeline plagued him, so he took the first exit out to the grounds. Maddox walked through the garden, then through a small, discreet gate in the stone wall at the rear of the keep, and into the wilderness beyond.
The stars twinkled in the sky overhead like jewels spread out on black velvet and there was a slight touch of warmth in the air. It was a beautiful night. And as Maddox followed the path through the forest, he breathed in the earthy aroma of the forest around him. Being out amongst the trees, listening to the song of the nightbirds and the insects had a calming effect on Maddox. It always had. Back home, when things were getting to him, he always took a walk through the woods and by the end, his spirits had been lifted.
Maddox followed the gentle burbling sound of a nearby stream. He noticed that thick clouds of steam rose from behind a wall of stone and grew curious. But what drew his attention even more was the soft sound of singing that drifted out from behind thestone wall alongside the steam. Moving quietly, Maddox walked around the stone wall and froze.
