Page 101 of Highland Renegade
“I remember seeing Broderick in the hallway when I was going to the solar yesterday,” Emily said.
“What?” Ian groaned. Yesterday, he’d announced he was going to Taynuilt. Broderick could have written the note and he would have had time to move the boards in the bog, since it was too wet to work very far. Emily would have trusted the ground was safe because the damn note had said it was.
“I did not think anything of it,” she said. “There is a back door to the gardens so I assumed he’d come from there.”
Fiona looked at her brothers. “What are we going to do?”
Ian looked grim. “We will set a trap.”
Devon nodded. “Rory, Carr, and I will help.”
“What kind of trap?” Fiona asked.
Ian shook his head. “I am nae sure yet. Let me think on it a wee bit.”
“I have an idea,” Emily said.
…
“No.”
Emily sighed over the emphatic answer from Ian. She should have known that was coming. They were all still in Fiona’s bedchamber, and his sister and Devon were both staring at her as well. If she was going to marry the man, he needed to know she didn’t back down.
“It is the most practical—and easiest—solution.”
Ian’s jaw set. “I willna have ye using yourself as bait to lure Broderick into attempting to kill ye. Again.”
“But you will be there to catch him,” Emily replied. “It is not like you will really be called away from the castle.”
“’Tis too much of a risk.”
“It would be a calculated risk.” Emily folded her arms across her chest. “At least we would know when to expect him to attack.”
“She does have a point,” Devon said.
Ian gave his brother a black look. “Did I ask for yer opinion?”
“He is right.” Fiona scowled at Ian. “Better we ken when—and how—our uncle will attack than to have Emily caught by surprise.” She pointed a finger at her brother. “At a time and place where ye may nae be able to come to her rescue.”
Ian frowned. “I still doona like it.”
Emily raised a brow. “If I am going to be a MacGregor, then I do my part.”
Ian opened his mouth, snapped it shut, and then grinned. “Is that ayesthen? Ye dinna actually say it earlier.”
“It might be.”
Devon looked at them both, then changed the subject. “We can ask Carr and Rory what they think of the plan.”
Ian grimaced. “I suppose they will need to be told about Isobel, at any rate.”
“And I think my sisters as well,” Emily said. “I do not want them worrying or, God forbid, getting in the way.”
He looked at each of them, his mouth a grim line. Finally he nodded. “Have everyone meet in the solar in ten minutes…and take care neither of our uncles are about.”
“Thank you.” Emily smiled at him. “For listening to me.”
He grunted. “Something tells me this will nae be the only time I do.”
