Forty-Two
Brodie gritted his teeth as he glared at Liam Oliphant and noticed Andrew MacFarlane shifting nervously in his peripheral vision. He struggled not to reach out and wrap his hands around Liam’s neck and squeeze until there was no air left in the man’s body. It had displeased him to find Liam in the Privy Council chamber, but he thought the man would have the sense to keep his distance. To Brodie’s annoyance, Liam approached him while Brodie waited for King Robert to acknowledge him.
“Seeking refuge after sennights with the shrew?” Liam grinned. “At least she didn’t talk while she was with me.”
Brodie fisted his hands at his side, keeping a fine leash on his temper lest he murder the man before the king’s eyes. Andrew shifted to stand between him and Liam, his discomfort obvious. Brodie felt no sympathy for Andrew. He had shown his prowess on the battlefield and had fought valiantly, but that didn’t mean Brodie had to enjoy his company.
“How is your bonnie bride, Campbell?” Robert the Bruce sauntered over, looking between Brodie and Liam.
“Not with me,” Brodie grumbled before he bowed to the monarch. “She is well, Your Majesty. Despite what she endured at his hand,” Brodie glared at Liam.
Robert the Bruce grimaced as he turned his own glare toward Liam. Brodie wished to resolve the matter that brought Laurel and him to court and then be on their way. He recognized Liam Oliphant was an unfortunate part of the events, but that didn’t mean he intended to suffer the man’s company.
“Is Lady Campbell with the queen?” King Robert asked Brodie.
“Aye, Your Majesty.”
“I suppose she is happy to see familiar faces,” King Robert offered. Brodie knew it for the test that it was.
“There are certain to be many familiar faces,” Brodie responded.
“Right, then,” King Robert turned to Liam, abandoning his attempt to goad Brodie. “Oliphant, I understand you originated the wager that Lady Campbell would remain unwed.”
“Not exactly, Your Majesty,” Liam clarified before grinning at Brodie. “I wagered that no mon could tame the harridan.”
Brodie was certain his teeth would crack from how he clenched his jaw. He fought the urge to turn around and walk out, leaving the king and his advisors to stare at his back. He would not take Liam’s bait.
“Is the Shrew of Stirling tamed?” King Robert asked Brodie. Brodie’s nostrils flared as he turned his gaze to a man he’d considered a friend for many years. Their positions put distance between them, but Brodie never imagined the man he’d fought beside, slept beside, ate beside, and nearly died beside would insult his wife to his face. “What say you, Campbell?”
“There is naught to say that won’t put me in your dungeon.” Brodie crossed his arms, uncaring if he appeared surly. It kept him from lashing out.
“Come now, Campbell, it can’t be that bad,” King Robert smiled. “She’ll come around. There are plenty of years ahead of you to bring her to heel.”
Andrew coughed, but it sounded like a croak. He glanced at Brodie before shooting King Robert a warning stare with a minor shake of his head. Only Andrew knew the dangerous ground the other two men trod; he didn’t doubt for a moment that Brodie would defend Laurel’s honor against anyone, including the Bruce. When he feared King Robert would say more, he turned the attention to the king.
“Your Majesty, I’ve seen Lady Campbell and Laird Campbell together. They are a couple clearly in love,” Andrew declared.
“That doesn’t mean she’s obedient,” Liam snarked.
“She doesn’t have to be. She’s my wife, not my dog,” Brodie stated.
“You’re being evasive because she has you by the bollocks, Campbell.”
“Laird Campbell, Oliphant.” Brodie’s tone was calm, but the steel rang throughout the chamber as they gathered an audience.
“Perhaps a wager to see who speaks the truth,” King Robert suggested.
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Brodie warned.
“So you admit you know you won’t win,” Liam gloated.
“You’d already run away to tattle, Oliphant.” Brodie grimaced, remembering that he discovered Liam evaded the battle to travel to Sterling and convince King Robert that Brodie was the aggressor. “But MacFarlane will tell you what happened to the last two men to place a wager on my wife.”
“Liam, Campbell took Nelson’s head from his shoulders a moment before Montgomery skewered Matthew.” Andrew opened his mouth to proclaim Laurel was the mastermind behind their victorious battle plan, but he swallowed his thought, lest he endanger her again.
“No coin will exchange hands,” King Robert declared. “The winner will have the satisfaction of kenning he was right.”
Brodie glared mutinously at the king. The Bruce shrugged before looking at Liam and Andrew. Liam practically bobbed on his toes like a child at Epiphany, while Andrew appeared to fight the urge to vomit. Brodie knew no matter what the king proposed, it would end with either Laurel or himself humiliated. He didn’t understand why his friend would do this. As he watched Robert, he knew any friendship they’d once shared no longer existed. They’d gone in separate directions, and they had nothing in common now that they no longer fought a common enemy. He didn’t mourn the loss of a friend, but he regretted he lost respect for a man he’d admired.
