“Get dressed. Put what ye need in a satchel. Depending on what Wallace says, we may sail tonight. We may nae wait to see if aught happens from announcing our intentions.” Dominic kissed Emelie before stepping away to pleat and wrap his plaid. Emelie marveled at the process and hoped one day she would be proficient and could help fold the even pleats. “Ye make it mighty hard to leave.”
“I ken I make it mighty hard,” Emelie jested. Dominic caught her in his arms and gave her bottom a playful tap.
“Be ready to go once the sun sets, Em. I dinna like the idea of leaving, but I’ve finally accepted that it might be necessary. I love ye, sparrow.”
“I love you, wolf. I’ll be ready.”
Dominic gave Emelie a peck on her nose, then joined Brodie in the passageway. “Ye should ken Emelie’s agreed to marry me. When we’re through with Wallace, I will speak to Father Lonergan aboot posting the banns.” Dominic stopped and pressed his hand against Brodie’s chest to make him halt as well. “Tell me now what Wallace is likely to tell me. Dinna let it be a surprise. Depending on what he’s said, I may take Emelie to the hunting cabin.”
Brodie nodded as he studied his younger brother. He’d witnessed the changes in his brother since Emelie arrived, and he believed his brother was better for it. No longer was he a lovesick pup following around a woman he was infatuated with. The man who stood before Brodie was the same fierce warrior he’d known since the first time Dominic rode into battle beside him. But now he also saw the levelheaded, shrewd man he’d prayed Dominic would become. His devotion to Emelie only made him wiser and more mature, and Brodie was proud of him.
“Wallace doesnae ken who is behind all of this. The mon we have has been feeding Wallace information aboot Emelie, but from what I can tell none of it is true. This invisible enemy’s made Wallace believe Emelie is a threat to the clan and needs chasing away or killing. The mon is more gullible than any I have ever met. I believe he’s a wee dimwitted.”
“It’s only aboot Emelie then,” Dominic surmised. Brodie nodded before they made their way down to the dungeon. Dominic peeked through the metal bars at the man they captured, but he continued to the next cell, where he found Wallace chained to the wall. His arms were stretched above him, and his head lolled from side to side. He was in a worse condition than the prisoner next door. Brodie had beaten Wallace within an inch of his life. Dominic glanced at his brother.
“He let me think Laurie was the target for too long,” Brodie shrugged.
Dominic spotted a bucket of stale water. He tossed it at Wallace, reviving him enough for the chained man to lift his head. Dominic grabbed a fistful of Wallace’s hair and pulled his head up, but he kept his hold light. He slapped Wallace’s cheeks until the man’s vision cleared, and Dominic believed he would get true, understandable answers to his questions.
“I’m certain the laird has asked ye many questions already, but I would hear it maself.” Dominic also wanted to be certain that Wallace’s answers matched whatever he told Brodie. “Who’s the mon next door?”
“Maxwell,” Wallace grunted.
“He’s a Maxwell, or that’s his Christian name?”
“Christian name,” Wallace choked, then spat a wad of blood between Dominic and Brodie. “I didna ask his surname, and he doesnae wear a plaid.”
“How much did he pay ye?” Dominic asked.
“Nae nearly enough for all this,” Wallace grumbled.
“Ye had to ken this would be yer fate,” Dominic pointed out.
“I’m doing the clan a favor. Ye brought a whore into our midst. Again.”
“I dinna need to talk to ye. I can just go by what ma brother tells me. If ye wish to die with some honor left, then dinna speak aboot ma wife like that.”
“She is a whore. She was tupping some mon at court. Do ye even ken if that bairn is yers?”
Dominic’s gut clenched as his chest swelled with rage. Wallace was far too close to the truth. “Who have ye been blathering such nonsense to?”
“Ye dinna claim they’re nae lies.”
“They’re too ridiculous to believe,” Dominic countered. “Who have ye been talking to?”
“Walter, ma parents.”
“Anyone outside yer family?”
“Nay. The mon swore he’d kill me if I told anyone. He doesnae trust me that much.”
“Rightfully so if ye told yer family. I suppose ye dinna care if he kills them, too,” Brodie mused.
“He doesnae ken who ma family is, Laird.”
“Ye daft bugger. If he kenned ye’re more gullible than a blind sheep, then he kens plenty aboot ye,” Dominic snarled. “What did he tell ye to do?”
“I was to chase Lady Emelie away, so he could get her while she traveled. I cut down the hive. She nearly saw me.”
