“It would seemeach of ye have forgotten yer place,” Theodore said. His voice was soft, but deadly. There wasn’t a person in the room though, that couldn’t hear every word that he scraped off his tongue. “Ye have but one purpose and that is to serve at the laird’s behalf. And last time I checked, I was Laird MacLeon.”
“We are nae questionin’yer place, me Laird,” Aaron dared to interject. “But hers.”
“Aye, and in turn, yer questionin’me reasonin’ and wits. Ye think I’m nae fit to rule this clan, is that it? Ye think ye could do better with the villagers and the farmers in the east and south?” Theodore’s voice dropped lower. If Aaron was determined to be made an example out of, Theodore wouldn’t stop him.
“Nay, me laird,”Aaron answered as he dropped his head humbly. “The clan merely needs a Lady of nobility, honor, strength.”
“And Madisonhere is worth ten of any women ye’ve paraded before me. She’s smarter than the lot of ye, with wits and class that surpass the common lady’s. And I’m tellin’ ye she’s got more heart and courage than the lot of ye,” Theodore snapped, hisvoice was a thick as steel and just as sharp. He shook his head as he turned for Madison. Although he had expected the council to be petty and maybe a little indifferent, Theodore wasn’t expecting the insults to sting as they did.
“Enough of this. We’re done.”
“Wait, what?”Madison chimed in, her voice breaking with shock. Theodore grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“We’ve betterthings to do than entertain the buffoons in here,” he stated as his gaze fell directly on Aaron.
“Me laird,ye cannae just walk out,” Aaron interjected as he jumped before Theodore’s path, blocking Theodore from leaving. Theodore’s jaw set as his expression turned to stone. The color drained from Aaron’s face.
“We’re leavin’?”Madison asked as Theodore held the door open for her. His gaze remained locked on Aaron as if daring him to say another word.
“Aye,that we are. I’ll nae stand here and listen to another insult. They’ll learn to respect ye lass, one way or another,” Theodore growled as he slammed the door closed behind him.
They walkeddown the hallway as Theodore grumbled under his breath. He chewed on the words he wanted to release. It was Madison’s worried expression that caught him by surprised.
“What?”he asked calmly, after all, it wasn’t her he was frustrated with.
“Willthe council stop ye from lookin’ for me family?” she asked.
Theodore stoppedin the hallway and forced her eyes to meet his. “Force me? Ye think those men in there have any say over what I can or cannae do? Nay lass. I’d search as far as it took to find yer family and they would never have a say over the matter.”
She bobbedher head as her expression solidified. He grabbed her by the hand and hurried her further down the corridor.
“Where are we goin'?”
“To the shore,”Theodore answered. “I cannae stay in the castle with those fools right now.”
He pushed through the doors.The night air caught the loose strands of Madison’s hair causing them to whip about her face. It was as if something had shifted in that single moment. The council didn’t matter, the clan didn’t matter. Only she mattered.
“I hopeI dinnae frighten ye with the council,” he said as the steady slap of waves along the shore was like a balm to his ire.
“Ye dinnae,”she lied. Theodore could hear the crack in her voice as she answered. He gave her a side glance.
“Aye, I did.”
“Can I ask ye a question?”Madison looked at him with wonder mingled with confusion.
“Aye,may nae like the answer though.”
“Why doye care so much? What does it matter what those men have to say about me? Our relationship is only a ruse. So, why are ye lettin’ it bother ye so? I’ll be gone soon and then it’ll nae matter. Ye’re just gettin’ yerself all worked up for nothin’.”
Theodore droppedhis shoulders as her words crashed against him like a rogue wave, threatening to take him down. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He tried again to scrape and force the words off his tongue, but they wouldn’t fall off.
She placedher hand on his arm. Her touch was as if a hot poker had been placed on him. But it didn’t burn the way it should have. It was more of an energy flowing out of her and into him. Her fingers trailed up his forearm, causing little bumps to rise up over his skin.
“I carebecause I cannae seem to do anythin’ else,” he confessed in a low hushed voice he could barely hear. Madison’s breath hitched as she lifted a hand to cup his face. He studied her as he dared to brush his thumb over her cheek to test if she was actually there. “Ye daenae ken how many nights I’ve had this very dream.”
“This isnae a dream.”
“I’ve heard that before,”he said as he leaned closer. “And it’s about this time ye usually disappear.”
