The room fell silent. Eoin glanced at Fiona again. Pale and clearly shaken, she looked back at him, capturing his gaze. For the first time ever, he saw doubt in their clear blue depths. He took her hand again, willing her not to believe her uncle’s accusations. “Well then, we should be able to resolve this easily, because I hired no one to kill Alec. Is the liar being held in the gracious accommodations at Castle MacNicol?”
“Nay, I brought him along. I suspected I might need his witness.”
Eoin glared. “Then send for him.”
Bhaltair glared back before nodding to one of his guardsmen, who left the hall. At a look from Eoin, one of his own guardsmen followed.
Fiona went to Alec’s side. “Alec, ye’re exhausted. Please let me take ye to yer room to rest.”
He cupped her cheek in his hand. “Nay. I’m fine. I’ll rest when this mess has been sorted out.”
“Ye’re a fool, Alec, if ye believe MacKay cares a whit about any MacNicol.”
“I believe he cares about Fiona. I believe he loves her and she him. For that, I am willing to listen.”
For the first time since entering the hall, Bram Sutherland spoke. “Pardon me, Laird MacKay, but ye said something a moment ago that puzzles me.”
Eoin arched his eyebrow at the tall blond warrior. “What’s that?”
“Ye said ye sent men in search of Laird MacNicol because ye wanted to give Fiona something to return her kindness. What were ye talking about? What kindness could a prisoner possibly have offered ye?”
Again silence fell. Damnation! All these years he had tried to protect Finn with silence, and he had let that slip in the heat of the moment. He looked at Fiona. She smiled sadly, “It’s all right. Alec already knows. We may as well tell the rest of them.”
“Are ye sure?”
“Aye.”
Eoin nodded. “Well about eight years ago, I joined several young men in attempting a raid on a MacNicol farm. We were young and foolish and instead of surrendering when we ran afoul of a MacNicol patrol, we fought. The other three were killed. I was injured and taken captive. However, once Bhaltair knew who he held, he threw me in his dungeon and left me to die with no food or water.”
“Uncle, is that true?” asked Alec.
“He deserved it.”
“No one deserves that,” said Bram.
“What honorable young men ye all are. Someday ye will learn the price of honor. Besides, I eventually relented and provided ye sustenance. Ye’re standing before me hale and hearty as proof.”
“I would have died long before ye relented were it not for the compassion of another MacNicol who treated my injuries and supplied me with food and water. A lad named Finn saved my life.”
Recognition and shock crossed Bhaltair’s face but the Sutherlands looked confused. Laird Sutherland asked, “Did Lady Fiona send him to ye?”
“Lady Fiona,” laughed Bhaltair.
Alec shook his head and took his sister’s hand, kissing the back of it. “Fiona was Finn. It is a long story, but suffice to say, she was always a bit rough and tumble and, frankly, was more lad than lass for a while.”
Bram gave Fiona a huge grin, “I have trouble believing that.”
Eoin scowled. “Well it’s true. Eventually Finn drugged a guard and helped me escape.”
“How did ye know who she really was? Lady Fiona is quite beautiful, Laird MacKay. Ye could hardly mistake her for a lad now.”
At that moment Eoin was ready to kill the charming bastard. “Nay, clearly she doesn’t resemble a lad now. I learned who she actually was after she was captured on my land.” Eoin remained silent about Padraig’s involvement. “I owed her my life. The very least I could do was try to find out what had happened to her brother.”
“Frankly, Bhaltair, given the story MacKay tells, I’m inclined to believe him,” said Laird Sutherland.
“We will see. My evidence is clear.”
It didn’t take long before Bhaltair’s guardsman returned with a man in chains. Bhaltair addressed him. “Tell Lairds Sutherland, MacKay and MacNicol what ye know about the attack on Laird MacNicol several weeks ago.”
“Just that we were told young Laird MacNicol would likely be crossing Ross land, heading north. We were paid a substantial sum to see that he didn’t reach his destination.”
“Who paid ye this substantial sum of money?”
“Laird MacKay.”
Eoin grabbed him by the neck of his léine. “That’s a lie. I have never met this man and I certainly did not pay him to attack Alec MacNicol.”
Laird Sutherland pulled Eoin off the man. “Leave him be until we have heard what he has to say MacKay.”
“Are ye Laird MacKay? Well nay, ye didn’t give it to me personally.”
“Either he paid ye to attack MacNicol or he didn’t. Which is it?” asked Laird Sutherland.
“The man who gave me the money said he was Laird MacKay, but it wasn’t this man.”
“Then Laird MacKay didn’t pay ye to attack Alec MacNicol.”
“I suppose it wasn’t him, but it could have been one of his men.” The chained man started scanning the room. “Aye, there he is, there’s the man.” He pointed at Donald.
Fiona screamed as Donald drew his sword and charged across the room, but not toward the chained man. His target was Bhaltair MacNicol. Eoin unsheathed his sword and was between them in the blink of an eye, blocking Donald’s attack. Eoin ordered him to stand down but he was clearly in a rage. Other guardsmen stepped in and eventually they were able to overpower Donald and disarm him.
Eoin was furious. “What in the hell did ye do?”
“What ye didn’t have the cods to do—revenged the death of my brother.”
“God’s teeth, Donald, yer brother died as much from his own foolishness as anything else. We should never have gone on that raid. Besides, I held eight men and Fiona for ransom. Why on earth would ye try to murder Alec in my name?”
“Aye, ye had prisoners that ye treated like guests.”
“The hell I did. They were in my dungeon and Fiona was locked in the tower. Ye didn’t even know yet if the ransom would be paid.”
“That is the problem. Ye were willing to accept coin as revenge for what Bhaltair did to ye. Nothing but another life would ever be adequate revenge for the life of my brother.”
“How did ye know Bhaltair would seek help from Laird Munro to pay the ransom and that Alec would be the one to bring it?”
“I didn’t. The day we captured them, one of the MacNicols told ye that Alec would be returning ‘any day now to take his place as laird.’ I set my plan in place that day.”
“Lock him up.” His men dragged Donald out of the room. Eoin turned to face his stunned visitors. Fiona ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “Fiona, I’m sorry lass, I had no idea.”
“Ye saved my uncle’s life.”
Laird Sutherland asked, “Bhaltair, do ye still believe Laird MacKay was behind the attack on Alec?”
It looked as if it caused him serious pain to admit it. “Nay, clearly he wasn’t. However, the other issue remains. He is holding my niece captive.”
Fiona faced her uncle and stamped a foot. “I am not a captive. I am his wife.”
“Uncle, drop this,” Alec said wearily.
“Laird MacNicol, I understand yer wish to appease yer sister, but the fact remains, legally she is bound to my son. I believe that yer uncle did not intend to relinquish Fiona to MacKay, but rather intended for me to pay the ransom.”
“I don’t care what ye believe. She is my wife and ye will not take her from me. He gave up his authority over her.”
Laird Sutherland looked grim. “Show me the letter.”
Sixteen
Fiona was terrified. Was it possible that she and Eoin weren’t legally married? Could her uncle force her to marry Bram Sutherland, even if her brother was opposed to it? How could she live without Eoin? Did it all truly hinge on what her uncle had said in that letter? “I’ll get it.”
“Nay Fiona, stay here.” Eoin put his arm around her, pulling her close to his side. “Tasgall, the letter is in my solar, in the desk drawer.” Tasgall nodded and left the hall. “Laird Sutherland, I will let ye examine the letter, but I’m warning ye, ye will not leave this hall with my wife.”
“I’m sure I won’t. If she leaves with me, it will be because she isn’t yer wife but rather, my son’s betrothed.”
She buried her head against Eoin’s chest. Dear God, she didn’t want to cry in front of these men.
“Father, please, clearly ye enjoy goading Laird MacKay, but ye’re upsetting Lady Fiona, and that serves no purpose.”
When Tasgall returned with the letter, he handed it to Laird Sutherland who opened it and scanned it. “Bhaltair says right here that the ransom ye asked for Lady Fiona was exorbitantly high. He indicates his willingness to pay for his men but because she is betrothed to my son, he suggests contacting me with yer demands. Clearly, he was granting authority to me.”
Eoin released Fiona and snatched the letter from his hands. “He says, ye have bled me dry, perhaps her betrothed will pay for her return. That doesn’t grant authority to anyone and nothing compelled me to seek a ransom from ye.”
“I suppose it could be interpreted that way. However, the man himself is here. He can tell us what he meant.”
“That I can. I had already sent her to the Sutherlands, and therefore had granted Laird Sutherland authority over her. I paid what ye asked for my men and absolutely intended for ye to request that her betrothed pay the ransom. I was not abandoning her. Ye were wrong to force her to marry ye.”
“I didn’t force her,” Eoin said through gritted teeth. “She married me by her own choice.”
“That doesn’t really matter. Bhaltair maintains that he didn’t abandon her; in fact he essentially transferred authority over her to me before ye captured her. Therefore she was not free to give her consent. We have a contract and the law is on our side.”
Fiona simply stared at him. This couldn’t be happening.
Again, Bram spoke up, “A lot has been said about the law and what is right and wrong. I am, of course, inclined to believe that the betrothal stands. Lady Fiona, ye’re quite as lovely as I remember. After learning more about yer bravery and sense of honor today, I am entirely taken with ye. I am more than happy to take ye as my wife, in spite of all that has transpired.” At the look of rage on Eoin’s face, Bram grinned. “Cool yer anger, MacKay, and this might just end up in yer favor. Lady Fiona, I am yer betrothed until the contract has been set aside, which I am prepared to do, but not until I have had the opportunity to talk with ye privately. I want to be assured that this is truly what ye wish and that no one is forcing yer hand.”
Eoin went rigid. “Over. My. Dead. Body.”
Bram’s voice was deadly calm, “That can be arranged, Laird MacKay.”
Fiona stepped between them. “Stop it. Both of ye!” She turned to Eoin, embracing him. “Let me do this, and it will be over.”
“They have no legal ground to stand on. I won’t lose ye.” His voice had a desperate edge that echoed her own fear and pulled at her heart.
“I know they don’t. But that isn’t the point. I think he is doing exactly what ye would do if the situation were reversed. He is trying to protect me. Let me assure him that he doesn’t need to.”
After holding her close for a moment, Eoin nodded and released her. “Ye can use my solar. Marcas will remain outside the door should ye need him.”
“I’m sure I won’t, but thank ye.” She kissed him before leaving the hall and motioning for Bram to follow.
They entered the solar and Fiona busied herself lighting candles against the gathering gloom. Finally she turned to face him. “Please, sit down.”
“After ye, my lady.” When they were both settled, Bram smiled. “I fear I am about to lose something of great value. Tell me, Fiona, did ye marry him because ye love him or because ye felt it was yer only option? I understand how ye could have thought that. The things I’ve heard about yer uncle today…well, I understand. But if ye only married MacKay because ye had no other choice, I want ye to know ye do. I will marry ye, and I will love ye.”
Bram Sutherland was an exceedingly handsome man. He was every bit as tall and broad-shouldered as Eoin, but the physical similarities ended there. Eoin had dark hair and dark eyes. Bram was blond. He had lines at the corners of his pale blue eyes and around his mouth that suggested he laughed a lot. He exuded a warmth that was both welcoming and desirable. He would have been a fine husband. Would have been. She smiled at him. “Bram, I will be absolutely honest with ye. My heart was broken when Uncle Bhaltair refused to pay my ransom. I thought Alec was dead and that I was absolutely alone in this world with no one to love or care for me. Frankly, I’m not sure I had felt loved for a long time. When Eoin asked me to marry him, I believed with all my heart that he loved me, and I needed that more than anything.”
“But did ye love him?”
“On that day? I wasn’t completely sure. I wanted to love him. I think I had wanted to for years. However since that day, I have grown to love him with every fiber of my being. He is my soul mate. He would protect me with his life, and I him.”
Bram nodded, looking disappointed. “I think I shall regret, to my dying day, not escorting ye from Castle MacNicol myself. As much as I might wish to force the terms of the betrothal contract, ye would never be happy with me, and seeing ye unhappy, my bonny lass, would break my heart. Although I may never forgive him for stealing ye from me, allow me to escort ye back to yer very blessed, if undeserving, husband. Then the Sutherlands will leave ye in peace.”
“Thank ye Bram. I—well thank ye.”
Bram laughed. “I can’t say it is my pleasure, but it is the right thing to do.”
They returned together to the great hall and were met with brooding silence.
“Well?” asked Laird Sutherland.
Bram nodded to Eoin, kissed Fiona’s hand and let her go. “Father, while an alliance with the MacNicols is ideal, we will have to achieve it by other means. Perhaps it isn’t what he intended, but I accept that Bhaltair broke the betrothal contract when he failed to pay the ransom for Lady Fiona. By her own choice and according to the dictates of her heart, she freely entered into marriage with Laird MacKay. I do not wish to challenge that and, frankly, to do so would start a war with the MacKays that we do not need.”
“Then we have no further business here. Laird MacNicol, when ye’re fully recovered, we can discuss this alliance again. Perhaps, as ye suggest, a betrothal between Boyd and yer cousin Kara would be ideal.”
Alec nodded. “Perhaps. She is still very young, only twelve.”
“And Boyd is just ten and six. He is training with Laird MacLeod. There is plenty of time.”
“Alec, I’ll thank ye not to marry off my daughter without my consent.”
“And yet Uncle, ye didn’t seek mine when ye entered the agreement with the Sutherlands.”
“Ye would have given in to Fiona’s whining about staying at Castle MacNicol and refused the betrothal, Alec. I was only thinking of the clan.”
“I know ye were thinking of the clan. I just wish ye had given me the opportunity to discuss it. There is no question that the alliance was in everyone’s best interest. Truth be told, I would have suggested exactly what ye did. I would have given Fiona the opportunity to become acquainted with the Sutherlands. Only, I probably would have managed to avoid MacKay land in taking her there.”
Fiona put her arms around Eoin. “Well then, I’m glad ye weren’t given that opportunity.”
Eoin returned her embrace and kissed the top of her head. “Bhaltair, I expect ye will wish to stay here until Alec is well enough to travel home.”
“I don’t wish to stay here, but I have little choice.”
“Uncle, please. I’m losing my patience,” Alec warned.
Eoin’s patience appeared strained as well. “Laird Sutherland, it is
getting late. Ye’re also welcome to stay tonight, if ye wish.”
“I certainly hadn’t planned to. I expected to be encamped around yer walls laying siege. However, it is getting late and I am getting older. These days I much prefer sleeping in a bed to a pallet on the hard ground. I appreciate yer hospitality. We will stay the night and return home tomorrow. Bram and I will just go let our men know the misunderstanding has been resolved.”
“Very well, I will walk with ye to the gates. When ye return, I will have the evening meal served.” Eoin escorted the Sutherlands from the hall. Fiona turned her attention to Alec. “Ye need to get back to bed. Aiden, please help me.”
It was a mark of how exhausted he was that Alec didn’t argue. When she had him snuggly tucked in she said, “Rest for a while. I will send someone up with some supper for ye shortly. Ye need to keep up yer strength.”
“Before ye go, Fiona, I have a question. Something has bothered me since ye told me the story of how ye rescued him.”
“Ye need to rest Alec.”
“I’ll rest while ye answer.”
She frowned. “What’s yer question?”
“Why did ye risk helping Eoin escape? Why didn’t ye just wait for the ransom to be paid?”
“Because that was never going to happen. Uncle Bhaltair didn’t send a ransom demand. He wanted Eoin to die.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know. But I overheard him. He said Eoin wasn’t dying fast enough and he intended to help him. We knew he hated the MacKays, but I had no idea how much until then.”
“Dear God, Fiona, I’m sorry.”
“It certainly isn’t yer fault.”
“Every indication I had was that he has been a good leader in my absence.”
“And he has been. The clan prospers.”
“Still, the way he treated ye, the thing he said about ye being wild and needing to bring ye to heel.”
She grinned, “Alec, I was wild.”
Highland Revenge (Fated Hearts Book 1) Page 10
