Page 102 of Highland Renegade
Her smile widened. “Of course not.”
…
A quarter of an hour later they were all assembled in the solar. The bright sunshine streaming in the window did nothing to elevate Ian’s mood. He still thought Emily’s scheme was harebrained. And dangerous.
“Now let me make sure I understand.” Carr had been pacing while Emily spoke, but now he stood still. “Ian is going to make known that ye are his leman—”
“I do not think you should cheapen yourself,” Juliana interrupted.
“You will be ruined,” Lorelei added.
“I didna think ye couldruina widow,” Rory said.
Juliana narrowed her eyes at him. “That is so typical of what a man would say.”
Emily held up her hand. “Rory is correct, but this will be only temporary.”
“Temporary?”
“Aye,” Ian said. “Yer sister and I plan to marry once all this is over.”
There was a moment of silence over that remark, then everyone started talking at once, only to be shushed by Emily. “Details later.”
Lorelei looked puzzled. “Why not just announce your intention now?”
“Because we do not want to force Broderick’s hand too soon,” Emily answered. “If he thinks we are betrothed, he may try something immediately. If he thinks I am just a mistress, someone who can be discarded, he will feel he has time to plot something.”
“Onlyweare going to plot that something for him,” Fiona said.
“So…” Carr cleared his throat. “Ian and Emily are going to move back into the old chamber she occupied, claiming they want more privacy—”
“The one with the passageway?” Juliana asked.
Carr nodded. “Then Ian is going to receive a missive—that I will pen—asking him to settle a dispute between kin near Oban. That will take him away for the night, since ’tis nearly a day’s journey either way.”
“And we will have Hamish deliver the missive when Broderick is here so he will hear for himself that Ian must leave,” Rory said.
“Only once Ian rides out, he will leave his horse with one of our crofters and double back on foot, using the postern gate to get in and taking the passageway to the chamber to lie in wait. Our uncle will most likely strike at night when all is quiet.”
“But what if he does not wait?” Juliana asked. “Emily will be alone until Ian can get back.”
Which was exactly what he was afraid of. “Aye. I think it too risky—”
“Doona fash,” Fiona said. “I will make sure she is surrounded by people all day.”
“And Devon and I will tell our uncles we want to discuss the distillery after supper,” Carr said. “That will give Rory time to make sure Ian is already back and Emily safe.”
“Broderick is not happy with me having a say regarding the distillery,” Emily said, “so if Carr tells him it is a good idea that will goad him into acting as well.”
Ian snorted his displeasure. “I doona think it wise to goad the man if he is already mad.”
Emily gave him that look that he was already beginning to recognize. The one that said she knew what was best. He harrumphed. They were going to have words about that. A lot of words.
But first, they had a murderer to catch.
…
Several nights later, Emily lay fully clothed under the covers in her old bedchamber. What had sounded like a foolproof plan when they had all discussed it in the solar suddenly seemed not quite so brilliant.
