The councilman'smouth opened and closed. He took a step back, clearly uncertain whether Theodore expected an answer.
Theodore leaned forward,elbows on his desk. "Well?"
"Me laird,I do humbly beg yer forgiveness." Aaron's words tumbled out in a rush. "But I felt the need to bring this to your attention as soon as I heard the news."
"Me laird,I do humbly beg yer forgiveness, but I felt the need to bring this to your attention as soon as I heard the news."
"And what,pray tell, is that the dreadful news?"
Theodore's gazewas as cold and sharp as the blade that rested above the mantle. Aaron fiddled with his fingertips as if he were clearing the dirt out from under the nail beds. He cleared his throat as he dared to steal an inch closer to Theodore's desk.
"I daenae kenif ye're aware of what is bein' said about the castle." Aaron's words came out in a rush, as if speed might somehow soften the blow. "Rumors are bein' whispered, even in the council chambers, me laird. And I... well, I felt ye should ken what they're sayin'." He swallowed hard. "Is there any truth to the rumors of ye takin' the lass from the hunt as yer wife?"
"Aye,and what is it to ye?" Theodore leaned back in his chair. "From where I sit, I've followed all the laws of this clan. Me birthday is still months away, and here I am with a bride already chosen. The council demanded I marry—well, I'm marryin'. So it would seem the council is gettin' exactly what it wished for."
Aaron blinkedas his mouth parted. It was clear Theodore's answer was not the one he was expecting. As much as Theodore wanted to smile he restrained himself from showing any pleasure in Aaron's discomfort.
"I understandthis comes as a shock, but I have made me decision," Theodore answered as he rose from his seat.
"But me laird,is this nae the same lass ye rescued from the hunt? We daenae ken who she is, let alone her family. What if she comes from a rival clan? What if ye’re very weddin’ brings destruction on our lands?"
Theodore foldedhis arms over his chest and glared daggers at the councilman. Aaron stiffened yet he pressed on with a shaky boldness as he fumbled over his words once more.
"Me laird,"Aaron mumbled as he bowed low. "I only mean to say that she's nae a good fit for ye or this clan."
Theodore's eyes narrowed."I'd be careful, Aaron. Yer words will get ye into trouble." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to something dangerous. "If I dinnae ken any better, I'd think ye were there at the hunt yerself."
"Forgive me,but please listen. The council will nae stand for this. The men are already uneasy with the crops being as low as they are this year. We daenae have the means to sustain a war with a neighborin' clan over a lass. Please see reason with this."
"And what sortof laird do you take me for? Have I nae done well all these years to sustain this clan?" Theodore barked as anger burned like hot coals under his skin.
"It isnae what ye have done for us, but what ye might do bringin' a stranger into the clan. She doesnae ken our customs or our ways. Surely ye would be better suited with someone who could at least bear children. She looks as if childbirth would kill her. There must be a better match—one that would unite and strengthen our clan instead of weakenin' it."
"Enough."
The single wordcut through the air like a blade. Theodore didn't raise his voice, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Aaron's face went pale.
"Ye forget yerself, councilman."Theodore's tone was quiet, controlled—and all the more dangerous for it. "I am Laird of this clan. I dinnae answer to ye. Ye answer to me." He held Aaron's gaze until the man looked away. "The lass is under my protection, and she will be my wife. If ye—or anyone else on the council—has a problem with that, ye're welcome to challenge me for the title."
Aaron's throatworked as he swallowed. "Nay, me laird. I... I meant nay disrespect."
"Ye would haveme choose a woman for her name alone?" Theodore's voice dropped dangerously low as he dropped his arms to his side and rolled his shoulders back. "Or perhaps it would be for the coin her kin can offer? Is that what yer notion of strength really is? By the size of the wallet or the backin’ of a name? Ye’re but a fool and I'll nae have ye whisperin’ nonsense in me ear any longer. Get out."
"Laird MacLeon,be reasonable. What will they think when they see ye wed to a woman who was found half dead in the woods? We need a proper lady. A woman born of a good name and a strong bloodline. A McPherson, or a Campbell. We ken nothin’ of this Madison, she isnae someone of importance, and the people will question ye. They will question us. Ye must remember a leader does what he must for the security of the whole, nae the one and we cannae afford any sentiment cloudin’ yer decisions."
Aaron's voicequivered as he spoke, and there was no hiding the gleam of sweat that shimmered across his forehead. It was clear that the councilman would rather stand on vain principles than decent morals.
Theodore rosefrom his chair and closed the distance between them. His gaze never left Aaron's face—the look a wolf gives a rabbit before the kill.
"Sentiment?"Theodore echoed as he bobbed his head slowly and circled around Aaron. "Ye think this is sentiment?"
Every fiberin Theodore's body burned with an ache that he didn't want to subdue. It took every ounce of his strength not to curl his fingers around the councilman's neck and strangle the life from him. Pulling in a long deep breath to steady his nerves, Theodore thought long and hard about his next move. It was clear no matter what he said he was not going to persuade the councilman to have compassion and pity.
"Tell me,"Theodore started as he made one final loop around the councilman before stopping inches from his face. "What tragedy exactly have ye endured? What trials and tribulations have ye faced where there wasnae someone there to have a helpin’ hand out for ye? For I ken yer tale of woe. And I have seen what that lass has endured. I've seen her fight and have experienced the inferno that burns deep within her bones. There is more strength and courage in that woman's little finger than in half of the men sittin’ on me counsel, includin’ ye."
Theodore watchedas Aaron's mouth worked and chewed on his next words silently before scraping them off his tongue. “Even if what ye say is true, the people will nae understand.”
“And that iswhere ye’re wrong. The people may nae understand at the start, but I’ll see that they come around.”
