Page 32 of It Began With A Kiss
He took her elbow and ushered her across the room where she at last took a seat. He went to pour her a cup of wine and held the offering out to her. Reluctantly, she took the chalice and a drink before handing it back to him. Folding her hand in her lap she waited for him to continue.
He returned to his desk to retrieve the missive and handed her the parchment. A gasp filled the room once she had finished reading Broden’s demands.
“The bastard!” she bellowed, whilst tears rushed unchecked down her cheeks. “I swear I could gut that fiend and not lose a moment’s slumber.”
Aiden sat next to her. “My thoughts exactly, my dear.”
“I should change into something more suitable for travel,” she said, wiping the wetness from her face.
“You, my sweet, are going nowhere near Broden,” Aiden warned.
“But?”
“There is nobutin this situation, Iona. On this matter I must stand firm,” Aiden scowled, before standing to pace back and forth. “I will not lose you both. I have failed you now twice and must rectify the matter posthaste.”
A frown marred her otherwise flawless brow. “Failed me? How?” she asked innocently.
He turned to gaze down upon her and then knelt before his lady, taking her hands in his. “Forgive me for not doing all in my power to find your brother-in-law when he first escaped. The responsibility was mine and I left the task to others.”
“Of course, I forgive ye, Aiden. ’Tis not yer fault Gregor has been taken.”
“Aye! ’Twas all my fault. If I had spent more time finding that cur instead of trying to mend my reputation with the clan and you, your son would even now be safe within the walls of our keep!”
“Ye regret how our relationship has progressed thus far?” she questioned with another frown.
“Nay. That is not what I meant. If I had done all in my power to find Broden in the first place mayhap Gregor would now be safe.”
Iona squeezed his hands as if she understood how he felt and wanted to comfort him. Her words proved that assessment. “Ye could not have known Broden would stoop so low as tae take my child in order tae gain the wealth in our coffers.”
“Scum like Broden who would kill his own brother would do anything to gain his desires. He has no honor within him. Your son most likely provided as good as an excuse as any to ensure Broden’s demands are met for the monies he thinks will gain him his riches.”
“Ye think he killed Ewan?” she asked, with wide eyes.
“Think about it, Iona. You have told me there was no love lost between the brothers. It stands to reason that Broden would take advantage of the situation when I invaded the keep in the middle of the night. Chaos had erupted. My men and the castle knights were everywhere trying to take control. It would have been easy enough for Broden to kill your husband when his back was turned, and Ewan’s attention was focused on saving his home and family.”
“I canna fathom even Broden going so far…” her words trailed off as if she was lost deep in thought. “I must confess that I knew he wanted me for his own and would go tae any length tae have me. But only a fool would think I would immediately become the wife of my husband’s brother after his death.”
“I am not entirely certain Broden is of a right mind, my love, to think of anything other than what he wants,” Aiden replied, then returned to his chair. “His missive at least did not demand your attendance and I will be grateful for that.”
“I loathed the man before Ewan’s death. Tae think he killed Ewan makes me wish tae see his demise at the end of yer sword.”
“I want you nowhere near the battle between Broden and myself, Iona. Suffice to say, I will see his head on a pike outside our gates if this is your wish.”
Iona shuddered. “Nothing so drastic, Aiden. I only wish tae know that the man who killed my husband and stole my son does not live tae see another day.”
Aiden returned to her side and pulled her from her chair to envelope her in his arms. “I make my vow to you that I shall return your son safely to your side.”
“And see that Broden is dead,” she continued.
“Aye. Once I am done with him, hell will gladly take his soul to rot in its fiery pit.”
She raised her head, and he bent down to touch his forehead to hers. “I vow this to you, Iona, and seal my promise with a kiss,” Aiden whispered, moving his mouth to hover over her lips.
Without hesitation, she kissed him with all the passion that had blossomed between them since he first came to this land. Aye… he had made a solemn vow to her this day, and he would move heaven and earth to see that his words to her came true.
CHAPTER25
Broden came up to his nephew with a strip of linen in his hands. The boy clearly knew what was about to happen since he firmly pressed his lips together and threw Broden a defiant look of sheer hatred. But he would not allow a mere child to get his way. Nay! The boy would be gagged and Broden would see the matter done.
