“Nay, I didn’t ken.”
“So, despite protecting me while we traveled, you want me dead.” Laurel’s mind jumped from idea to idea as she tried to piece together what was said and left unsaid.
“Is that true?” Brodie demanded. Graham looked at Brodie, anger simmering beneath the surface.
“I didn’t ken the water was poisoned, but I wasn’t sorry you drank it. He loved my mother. I should have been the one to inherit. Not the son of a woman he despised. A son he thought was weak.”
Brodie inhaled, his chest expanding to its full breadth as his hands fisted beside him. It was only the restraining hand Laurel placed on his arm that kept him from launching himself at his former best friend and older—albeit illegitimate—brother. Laurel stepped in front of him, shaking her head.
“You both assumed the love Brodie and Dominic feel toward Graham, and Dominic’s love for Colina would keep them blind. You didn’t anticipate me. You must have been terribly upset, Colina, when Brodie rode into the bailey with a wife, when you worked so hard to ensure his bride died,” Laurel gloated. “Does no one recall Colina’s clan? She was a MacLean. Brodie told me how Dominic and Colina fell in love at a gathering, and their marriage brokered a truce. But do you ken who else is a MacLean?”
Laurel turned to look at Brodie, hoping that he followed her train of thought. He closed his eyes for a moment as he fought to control his temper. “David Lamont’s wife.” Brodie wracked his memory as he thought about the marriage contract he’d signed allowing Dominic to marry Colina. “Bluidy hell. The woman is Colina’s aunt.”
“Aye. It wasn’t Michael, Brodie. At least it wasn’t Michael acting alone. He fed information to the MacDougalls, but Graham gave it to the Lamonts.”
“It was your idea to take the horses to the farrier, claiming your mount needed his shoes checked. You took me there to distract me while Michael and Wallace took Laurel to the docks.”
“Aye,” Graham admitted. “I thought she’d be as easy to kill as the MacMillan chit. I respect her tenacity.”
“But you don’t respect my life,” Laurel cut in. “You were in on the wager, weren’t you?”
“Lost a bluidy fortune when Brodie married you. I hoped to get it back by ending your marriage.”
“Did you tell the MacDougall brothers and their partners which route we were travelling?” Brodie demanded.
“They asked, I answered.”
Laurel rubbed her forehead, growing confused as she tried to sort through everything she heard. She tried to line up all the events and people in her mind before she moved them into their places.
“You and Colina have been lovers since she arrived, haven’t you?” Neither person denied it, so Laurel assumed she was right. “Colina believed you would become laird one day. She counted on it. She killed Brodie and Dominic’s mother because she was the first woman in her way to being Lady Campbell. She convinced Graham that he should be laird.” Laurel’s brow furrowed as she continued to think out loud. “Colina used Graham to get information to her aunt, who gave it to David. That’s how the Lamonts knew to attack your party and to target Eliza. But no one expected you to find a new bride at court. Graham, you entered the wagers to encourage the others to keep Brodie and me apart. It wasn’t aboot the money, was it?”
“Nay. Though I’m still angry that I lost it all,” Graham muttered.
Brodie followed Laurel’s line of thinking and realized just how nefarious Graham’s perfidy had been. It shocked him to the core. “Once Laurel and I married, you knew our clan gained a powerful ally. One that would guarantee the Lamonts and MacDougalls didn’t win. You made certain the Lamonts knew where to attack us. But how?”
“Liam Oliphant,” Graham stated. “When the MacDougalls gave Laurel to Monty, they assumed she would go to Balnagown. She’d be out of the way long enough for the Lamonts and them to attack with the MacGregors and MacArthurs on their side. MacFarlane and MacBain broke it off with the MacDougalls in truth, and Gunn eventually went home, too. But Oliphant was Nelson’s lackey, even though it seemed like Liam was the leader and Nelson was the follower. Nelson was canny and made it appear that way. Liam went to tell the Lamonts where to wait for us.”
“You counted on a lot of different things playing out just as you needed them.” Laurel shook her head, going back to her list once more. “You needed the MacMillans to end the alliance with the Campbells, thinking the Lamonts and MacDougalls would stand a chance when they attacked in full force. You needed to keep Brodie from marrying again, and when that didn’t work, you needed to be rid of his new wife. You needed Nelson and his friends to take care of that part, and you likely encouraged the wagers to trick them into doing your bidding. Not that it would have been hard since the MacDougalls already wanted to weaken Brodie—personally and politically.”
“When none of that worked, and you returned to an angry mistress, Colina decided she would take back control and kill the current Lady Campbell just as she did the previous one,” Brodie remarked. “Assuming you succeeded and had killed Laurel, when did you plan to kill me and Dominic?”
“We’d hoped you’d have the courtesy to die in battle,” Colina hissed. “But your wife got in the way again. Her bluidy strategy worked. You killed my uncle.”
“All of it—every minute of our marriage—has been a lie,” Dominic whispered. Laurel watched as Dominic retreated into a shell, visibly shaken by what they all learned.
“With no wife, Brodie had no heir. If he and Dominic were dead—the laird and his tánaiste, it was likely the council would elect Graham as the new laird. He was Brodie’s second, and it seems like no secret that Graham is Brodie and Dominic’s brother,” Laurel surmised.
“You really want to be laird that much?” Brodie asked, still unable to believe the depth of Graham’s betrayal.
“Nay, but it still should have been my position,” Graham shook his head.
Laurel had been watching Colina and Graham’s body language throughout the showdown. Graham hadn’t relaxed his protective posture for a moment. But there was also a gentleness to how he held her. Colina, however, had done nothing to show even a moment’s interest in Graham. There was no affection from her. It was almost as though he didn’t stand behind her.
“You did it for her,” Laurel stated matter-of-factly. “You might believe you deserved it, but you wouldn’t have tried to take it if she didn’t want to be Lady Campbell.” Laurel canted her head as she tried to meet Colina’s gaze. When their eyes locked, Colina’s disinterested mien fell away, and the hatred returned. “You want to be Lady Campbell because of what comes with the title. The prestige and power you believe the position holds. That’s why you never took on the duties of chatelaine. You really do think they are below you. You want the glory without any of the work. You believe you are entitled to be Lady Campbell.”
Brodie shook his head, the effects of the poison still lingering as he fought to appear confident and in control as his clan surrounded him, his duplicitous sister-by-marriage, and his best friend—former best friend. But he needed to sit down before he fell down. He needed to speak to Laurel to untangle everything they learned. It was too confusing for his still fuzzy mind.
“Lock them below. Separately,” Brodie commanded.
“Brodie,” Dominic turned to his brother. “She’s still my wife. Put her under house arrest in a chamber.”
“No, Dom. She’s a danger to everyone, especially Laurel and you. I can’t risk her wheedling her way out and coming after either of you. She goes to the dungeon but to a cell separate from Graham.” Brodie’s heart ached for his younger brother. The man’s devastation was clear for everyone to see. He’d been besotted with his wife since the day they met, and she’d manipulated him every moment that they knew one another. “Come to my solar with Laurel and me.”
Laurel walked beside Brodie as the three went to Brodie’s solar. She signaled for Berta to send food. She would have preferred Brodie went straight to their bed, but
he couldn’t. She settled for pouring several drams of whisky, praying they would be fortifying and not soporific. Brodie eased himself into his chair before the fire, tugging Laurel onto his lap after she handed a mug of whisky to Dominic and poured a healthy portion for herself. Dominic sat in the other chair. No one spoke for a quarter of an hour, all lost in thought while sipping their drinks. Finally, Brodie reached out and placed his hand on Dominic’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Dominic whispered. He turned a rueful look at Laurel. “I owe you an apology. I sensed Colina’s dislike of you immediately. I thought she knew you from court or somewhere else. I trusted my wife’s judgment, so when she didn’t offer a warm welcome, neither did I. I’m sorry.”
Laurel nodded. “I don’t think there’s really aught I can say to make this easier for you. But your apology is appreciated and accepted.”
“What would you have me do?” Brodie asked Dominic.
“She doesn’t deserve to retire to a convent. She killed our mother. That alone warrants her death, never mind how she’s plotted against us.”
“But you asked for her to go to a chamber,” Brodie noted.
“She was going to have an accident or take her own life,” Laurel whispered. She shot Brodie a pointed expression.
“Your wife is far too astute. Thank God you married her. We’d be dead by now if she were our enemy,” Dominic mused. “You know what must be done, Brodie.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it if it pains you.”
“I think it would pain me far more knowing she lived. I don’t know what to say aboot Graham. He and I were close, but not as you were.”
Laurel looked between the two brothers, their resemblance undeniable. A smile flickered at the corner of her lips. When Brodie asked what prompted it, she confessed, “I hope one day that we have two sons who look as much alike as you two do. And I hope they love and respect one another as much as you two do. If we’re blessed with sons, they will have two fine men to look up to.”
Brodie kissed Laurel’s cheek warmed by her sentiments. He wondered if they were already on the path to that, but he knew it was too soon to tell. He turned his attention back to Dominic. “The stalks will go up this afternoon. They’ll spend the night there. I would make it longer if Laurel and I didn’t need to leave so soon. Tomorrow, Graham will go to the gallows, and Colina will go to the drowning-pool.”
A shiver ran along Laurel’s spine. She’d assumed that would be their fate, but to hear it aloud—especially Colina’s fate—made her shudder. She understood they often drowned women for such crimes as Colina committed—adultery and treason—but she wasn’t convinced it was a more humane or lenient death, like men argued. She thought the gallows were, assuming the person’s neck snapped.
“We leave the day after tomorrow.” Brodie’s announcement jolted Laurel back to their conversation. They’d decided when to leave during their ride that morning, but they had told no one yet. “Will you be all right here?”
“Aye. It’ll keep me occupied and give me purpose,” Dominic nodded. “Brodie—”
“Aye?” Brodie waited for Dominic to continue.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stay, that I came back here. Colina begged that I return, saying she feared she’d be unwell with worry. Now, I think she wanted to learn if I lived or died, so she could adjust her plans if I survived. I knew it was wrong to leave, but she’d been so adamant. I hadn’t wanted to upset her.”
Brodie nodded. He’d suspected as much, but he hadn’t confronted Dominic. Returning to find Laurel missing had been a higher priority. With a night’s sleep, his anger subsided. He’d opted to overlook it for the time being, intending to address it before they rode out the next time. He thought it would be better to be fresh in Dominic’s mind before the next battle rather than long forgotten.
“It’s forgiven.”
The trio left the solar soon after. Dominic organized the raising of the stalks and the gallows, while Brodie and Laurel went to their chamber, so Brodie could rest.
Forty-One
Laurel grimaced as Teine’s hooves clattered on the stones within Stirling Castle’s bailey. She dreaded returning, even if she was relieved their four days of soggy travel finally ended. With her head bowed against the wind and driving rain, she’d had plenty of time to contemplate how her life changed since the last time she was at court. She’d struggled the first day of the journey to rid her mind of the sight of Colina floundering as Dominic held her head below the water. Brodie offered to carry out her sentence, but Dominic said he’d brought the viper into Eden, so he would be the one to remove it. Brodie forced Graham to watch before he hanged from the gallows for his part in the treasonous plot.
“We will leave the moment the king allows it,” Brodie pledged as he lifted Laurel from the saddle. He held the extra length of plaid over Laurel’s head, but she was already soaked. They hurried inside, and Laurel led Brodie to his former chamber, using servants’ stairs and passageways to avoid being recognized. They slipped into the chamber and shed their sopping wet clothes, huddling together in their spare plaids once Brodie built up the fire. They’d had little chance for intimacy while on the road. Between their guards’ presence and Brodie’s constant vigilance, there hadn’t been a chance to slip away. They traveled with three score of warriors, so Laurel felt well protected, but she was glad for the privacy and the time alone with Brodie.
“Do you recall the last time we sat before this fire?” Brodie whispered against Laurel’s ear before he trailed kisses along her neck and nipped at her bare shoulder.
“As I recall, we were lying, not sitting,” Laurel corrected. She opened her plaid and leaned back, Brodie supporting her head as she laid down. His body hovered over her as she reached for him. Brodie’s hand skimmed over her silky skin, his lips following its lead. His kisses scorched the inside of her thighs as his fingers peeled back the petals before his tongue lapped up her dew. She moaned as her hands clenched the plaid that laid around her. As Brodie’s teeth raked over her sensitive nub, she raised her hips to him. When he slid two fingers into her sheath, she was certain she would float away.
“Thistle,” Brodie murmured as he continued to lavish his attention on her core. She writhed as her belly tightened. “You’re close.”
“Yes,” Laurel whispered. Increased pressure and speed from Brodie’s fingers and a long draw on her nub between his lips pushed her over the edge. She willingly surrendered to the sensations Brodie created. She clawed at his back, silently begging him to shift so she could embrace him. When his length was within reach, she stroked with deliberate slowness. She brushed the tip against her entrance, smiling when Brodie growled. “I didn’t want to wait, but you made me. I shall do the same.”
Brodie nipped at her ear as she guided the head of his cock into her sheath. The moment her hand released him, Brodie surged forward, seating himself to the hilt. As their bodies moved together, they locked eyes and gazed at one another as the passion and need enveloped them. Nothing existed to them beyond their embrace. They rocked together in a rhythm they learned the first time they made love before the very fireplace that crackled beside them.
“Brodie,” Laurel pleaded. She clung to him as their lips fused together, and they both increased the pace and force of their thrusts until they cried out together. Laurel’s entire body tingled as pleasure coursed through her. Brodie’s cock twitched as his seed emptied into Laurel. He rolled them so he rested on his back, his stitches reminding him that he shouldn’t move with such disregard. But he’d gladly accepted the twinges of pain for the powerful release that came from making love to his wife. Laurel sighed, “I ken it’s only been four days, but it feels like forever.”
“Aye. I wish there were a way we could soar like a bird and fly as the crow does. We could be home without days of travel, days of hideous abstinence.”
“To have such magic,” Laurel smiled wistfully. “I don’t want to be in Stirling, and I don’t want to be at court. But I a
m happy to be before this fire with you. It reminds me of the first time. I’d never imagined a body could feel the way you make mine feel. I didn’t know then the happiness you bring me now.”
“I loved you then, Laurie. But I feared you didn’t feel the same. I wanted to tell you, but I was too cowardly to face the possible rejection.”
“I felt the same. I desperately wanted to tell you, but I feared making a fool of myself. But I knew even then what I know now: I love you and marrying you was the richest blessing I’ve ever received.”
The couple laid before the fire, talking about everything and nothing as they held one another until they drifted off to sleep. The world outside their chamber door long forgotten.
Laurel gritted her teeth as Margaret Hay glared at her. Her courtship ended when Nelson died on the battlefield. But the woman whose eyes shot daggers at Laurel seemed to have forgotten that Liam Oliphant now courted her. Unimpressed with Margaret’s attempt to intimidate her, Laurel rolled her eyes so everyone could see and turned her back on Margaret. But she came face to face with Catherine MacFarlane. The lady-in-waiting before her wore the same angry expression as Margaret. Her uncle, Andrew Mòr, refused to sign the betrothal agreement with Edgar Gunn once Andrew Óg explained Edgar’s role in Laurel’s abduction. From what Andrew Óg admitted when Laurel and Brodie found him at the evening meal the night following their arrival, his father had nearly torn him to shreds for suggesting the betrothal move forward. The irate laird asked how his son could be so daft as to think he’d create an alliance with a man who tried to harm the clan they’d just fought a battle alongside.
Sarah Anne came to stand beside Catherine and folded her arms, as though her posturing would intimidate Laurel. Rather than cower at the matching glares, Laurel laughed. Loudly. She folded her own arms and used her height to tilt her head forward and look down at the two women.
A Hellion at the Highland Court: A Rags to Riches Highlander Romance (The Highland Ladies Book 9) Page 34