Colin stood by the watering trough in the courtyard, tending to his horse.
“Have ye come to change yer colors?” Arran asked.
“Were I to do so, ye’d be the first laird I’d petition,” Colin said. “I’m afraid I’m the bearer of bad tidings.”
“How so?” Arran asked.
“Blackwell is engaged to marry again.”
There it was. The disruption of their peace. “Come in. Ye’ll need to speak with me wife and mother in law. Fionn, run and fetch them and yer faither too. We’ll meet in the sentry box near the drawbridge.”
They assembled in the small room, and Ava came, too. Arran quickly explained the matter.
“I had heard rumours at the castle… but he cannae marry. He’s still married to me maither,” Skye objected. Her face was etched with confusion, but panic was quickly setting in.
“He says he plans to have the council declare yer maither’s death to the other clans.”
“That’s a good thing, is it nae?” Ava asked.
“Nae for his future wife,” Helena said finally, her voice laced with fear.
“There’s more, me Laird,” Colin added patiently. “The woman, Lilias Conner, has a daughter and a son.”
“An heir.” Skye spoke the words so that Arran wouldn’t have to.
His heart rate quickened, but he controlled his breathing. He had to figure this out quickly to protect and calm his wife and his mother-in-law. This could mean another man to inherit his lands. He wouldn’t be able to get them back anymore.
Magnus said, “This marriage could change everything, Arran. Blackwell has nay reason to hand over the deeds if he has a legitimate heir.”
“Ye’d think the man would give up by now. This is his fifth marriage!” Helena exclaimed. “And it’s all for spite. He doesnae need the lands. He only wants to make others suffer.”
“And his prospective wife doesnae ken how awful he can be,” Skye added.
Arran could almost see the cogs in Helena and Skye’s minds turning.
“It’s simple,” Elsie announced. “The wedding must be stopped.”
Everyone fell silent. They all looked at the frail old lady. No one had noticed when she slipped into the meeting. Then Helena addressed the matter at hand. “I’ll do it. I’ll go there to stop the wedding.”
“Nay, Helena,” Magnus interjected, surprising everyone with his conviction and the emotion in his voice. “I willnae allow ye to go back.”
Helena blushed slightly, but she remained steadfast. “It’s the easiest way. Stop the wedding and save this poor woman, and ensure that Arran gets the lands back.”
“When do they plan to wed, Colin?” Arran asked.
“In two days.”
“That doesnae give me much time. I will go—with some of me men, of course. I will try to dissuade this woman from marrying Blackwell.”
“I will go with ye, Arran. She may listen better to a woman, ye ken?” Skye piped up.
“I’ll go with ye as well, Skye,” Helena added.
“Nay, neither of ye can come.” Arran turned to them both and fixed them with a stern look. “This is unlikely to go down smoothly, and I willnae put ye in harm’s way again. Me men and I can handle it.”
He could protect Skye as his wife, but Grayson still had a claim to Helena. He couldn’t leave her there with him—Skye would never forgive him.
Skye took his arm and turned him slightly to the side. She did not want to argue with him in front of their family, but he could see the resolve in her eyes.
