Page 43 of Bound to a Scot
Laith inclined his head in a small bow. “As ye wish, me laird. But let’s refill our cups and sit before the fire. This may take a moment.”
—
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Having been once again summoned by laird Macfie early that morning, Maddox and Adair strode down the corridor to the castle’s main receiving hall. Adair turned to him, his expression light and a small smile curling the corners of his mouth.
“What dae ye think this is about then?” he asked.
Maddox shook his head. “I dinnae ken.”
“Why dae ye look so tense?”
“Why dinnae ye?”
Adair smirked. “Maybe because I am nae the gloomy doomsayer who sees enemies and threats in every shadow that ye are?”
“I suppose ‘tis fair tae say,” Maddox replied with a wry chuckle.
“Be at ease,” Adair said. “Ye ken Macfie loves tae hear himself talk and play the magnanimous Laird while makin’ grand declarations. ‘Tis probably another of those.”
Despite his uneasy feeling, he knew Adair was probably right about that. Maddox had never met a man so happy to talk about himself or as self-aggrandizing as Macfie. There was no achievement, no matter how small, that he would not only take credit for, but blow out of proportion to make himself out to be as kind and holy as a saint. It was yet another reason he was anxious to get this marriage done and get back to his own lands. The sooner he could be away from Macfie and all of his bluster, the better.
The guard opened the door to the hall for them and Maddox was surprised when they stepped into a bustling hive of activity. Servants rushed around, getting the hall cleaned and decorated. There was a tension in the frenzy of activity, as if they were preparing for the arrival of somebody important. Maddox turned to Adair, a questioning look on his face.
“What in the bleedin’ hell is this?” he asked.
Adair gave him a half-shrug. “Yer guess is as good as mine.”
“Is the bleedin’ king comin’ tae Castle Macfie?”
“Kind of seems that way, eh?”
“Nay. the king is nae comin’ to me lands. Nae yet anyway.”
Macfie’s voice came from behind them, giving Maddox a bit of a start. He had been so consumed by what was happening in front of him, he hadn’t even noticed the laird creeping up from behind. On the battlefield, that lack of awareness of his surroundings would have gotten him killed. Given what was happening and the pervasive feeling that he was behind enemy lines, Maddox thought he should be as alert as if he was.
“Nae yet, eh?” Maddox said, trying to sound lighthearted. “Rubbin’ elbows with royalty now? Ye must be movin’ up in the world, Laird Macfie.”
“I’m doin’ me best. Fortunes change with the wind,” he said. “But I dinnae like waitin’ fer the winds. I believe in makin’ me own luck.”
