“Ye need to get rid of the woman. She’s too much of a distraction.”
Niall’s heart clenched. “No. There’s no need for that. I can handle it.”
The icy blue of Sorley’s eyes seemed to darken. “It isnae about what ye can handle, it’s about what’s best for the mission, and she is not. Having her here draws too much attention and ye already have more than enough of that from Boyd MacAllister. If he should discover yer true mission...”
He left the words hanging. Niall knew what he was getting at. It was clear that MacAllister suspected Niall of being more than just a society rake or a country laird, but he didn’t have any proof. If he found that proof, he would be swift to move against him and anyone that got in his way would just be collateral damage. Charlotte, for example.
The thought of her getting hurt was like a knife to the gut. Yet the thought of her leaving was like one too.
He breathed evenly, keeping his expression neutral, refusing to let Sorley see how much this affected him. “It’s already in hand,” he said softly. “She’ll soon be leaving with a merchant caravan bound for the border.”
“When?”
“A week.”
Sorley shook his head. “Too long. Things are coming to a head. She needs to be gone before that. If she’s here when the keg goes up...”
Niall gritted his teeth. He wanted to tell Sorley to mind his own damned business, that he could keep Charlotte safeandcomplete his mission. But he knew Sorley was right.
“Fine,” he growled. “I will see to it that she leaves sooner.” He said the words casually, as if they meant nothing, but they scraped his throat raw as he said them and made his gut ache with pain.
Sorley studied him, his gaze serious. “Good. And for the love of God Almighty, find these rebels before all hell breaks loose. We’ve discovered Lady Murray is going to be hosting another of her balls in Edinburgh in a few days’ time. That might be a place to start.”
“Aye.”
Sorley nodded then put his arm across his chest. “For Alba.”
Niall copied his gesture. “For Alba.”
Sorley turned, his plaid swishing around him as he strode towards the door. He paused at the threshold and looked back at Niall. “And Niall,” he said in a softer voice, “I hope, for yer sake, ye find what ye are looking for once this is all over.” With that, he disappeared into the night.
Niall was left alone in the silence of his study. He sat in his chair, staring at the dancing candle flame.
For Alba. For Scotland.
Why did he have to choose between his vow to his country and Charlotte?
A bitter taste filled his mouth as he thought about the woman he had come to care for more than he’d ever imagined possible. He had known from the start that getting close to her was a dangerous path to tread. He’d known that in his world, there was no place for love and attachments. And yet Charlotte had slipped past all his guards.
He closed his eyes.She will be gone by the end of the week. The thought left him reeling.
What was he supposed to do without her?
