Page 86 of Desiring the Highland Laird
Dougal gave him a grin, humor and a knowing glint in his eyes. “Ah, sorry to interrupt, my lord. But there is news ye needed to hear. Best to come from me than yer brother.”
He stiffened, his hand tightening on the door. “What has Jamie done this time?”
“It was no Jamie.” Dougal shifted from one foot to the other as discomfort flickered through him. “’Twas Malcolm.”
Alarm sounded through Callum as he stood there staring in disbelief at his steward. “Malcolm?”
Dougal, looking ashen, continued. “Aye. The village under MacDonald’s care was set ablaze.”
Hot, wild anger shot through him.
“By God’s blood, how do ye ken this?” he demanded, unable to stifle the fury in his voice.
“He went during the night since he thought ye were gone with the lass to see the chieftain. We had word early this morning about what happened. When I questioned the stable hand, he admitted he saw Malcolm riding out under the cover of darkness.”
“And Jamie?” For Callum knew he looked up to his other brother and was often an accomplice to his misdeeds.
“As far as I can tell, the lad is innocent.”
“Hell’s bells.” He pressed his lips together in a thin line as the anger pounded his temples. “Where is Malcolm now?”
“Confined to his room,” he said.
“Bring him to the great hall. And Dougal…” He paused, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Bring my claymore.”
The steward’s face paled but he nodded. “Aye, my lord.”
Callum closed the door and turned to face Evie who sat up in the bed clutching the blankets to her chest, showing off her pale, slim shoulders. Fear sparkled in her eyes.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“Malcolm took it upon himself to attack one of the MacDonald villages. He burned it.”
She swallowed hard. “Were there…people killed?”
“I dinnae ken, but I intend to find out.” He gathered his clothes and started to dress. “Dougal is bringing him to the great hall.”
“Why would Malcolm do such a thing?”
Callum paused in his frantic dressing to look at her. For the first time, he saw her for who she was—a woman who didn’t understand their ways.
“Retribution for killing Da,” he said.
Evie slid to the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Callum.”
“Aye, so am I. For now, as laird, I have to punish him.”
When he finished dressing, he turned to her. She still sat in the bed, holding the blankets to her chest.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“What I have to.” He leaned in for a kiss. “Stay here, lass. I’ll be back when I can.”
He didn’t want to leave her, nor did he want for her to stay behind, but he knew it was the right thing to do. He didn’t want her to see him punish his brother—nor did he want to do that—but if he didn’t, then it would send the wrong message that Callum condoned his actions, which he didn’t.
As the door closed, he heaved a sigh and headed for the great hall.
*
