“Then read this.” His voice thinned. “There is love for the bairn in this clan. There is pride, and there is fear. And where fear sits, hard choices follow.”
Emma swallowed. “Are ye warnin’ me about something, me Lord?”
“I am giving ye what wasnae given to me Moira,” he said. “Some introspection. I am of the strong belief that a clan can be safe and still hold danger.”
Emma lowered her head. “Thank ye for yer candor.”
He gave a bow in return, quick and formal, and set off down the corridor with his cloak trailing behind him. Soon, he was out of sight, and Emma was once again left to her thoughts.
Was this Arthur’s way of telling her to be careful? Was he telling her that she didn’t know what she was walking into?
Emma remained where she was, staring down at the courtyard. Jack was still sparring with his men, disarming them one after the other.
Arthur was at least right about one thing.
“Quite magnetic,” she muttered under her breath, testing out the words. “Aye, that is true.”
CHAPTER 30
The clashof steel echoed through the yard, bright and sure as Jack and Duncan moved in rhythm, their blades catching the last of the light. The ground was dry, and the air was clear.
A few servants lingered near the gate and spoke in hushed tones as the Laird pushed his brother back with a flurry of quick strikes. Jack turned his wrist and sent Duncan’s sword clattering to the dirt. Duncan swore under his breath, then grinned and reached for it again.
“I thought ye would have trained enough to beat me by now,” Jack teased, mirth lacing his voice.
“Well, maybe next time it’ll be different.”
“And how many next times do ye want me to give ye?” Jack asked, his lips quirking up.
Duncan opened his mouth to respond, but a voice sounded from the wall, cutting him off. “Fine display, lads. Makes an old man jealous.”
They both turned at the same time.
Arthur stood there with his cloak thrown back, arms folded, eyes keen on the scene despite the mild dust they had managed to kick up.
Jack lowered his blade and straightened. “Ye should rest that jealousy, Arthur,” he drawled. “The field is nay place for yer bones.”
It was a joke. Before Moira, Arthur used to tease Jack a lot.
As Arthur moved closer to them, a part of Jack prayed that the older man recognized it for what it was. A joke.
Arthur drew even closer. “Mind if I try anyway?”
“I daenae think that is wise.”
Arthur gave a sharp grin. “Why? Ye think I will kill ye the way ye killed me daughter?”
Duncan went still, and a stable boy dropped a bucket and flinched. A few seconds of utter silence passed before Arthur let out a short laugh and shook his head.
“Ye daenae have the monopoly on jokes, Laird MacLeod.”
Jack exhaled.
Oh, another joke.
“Days on the road dull a man’s manners. Surely ye must understand how it feels.”
Jack kept his voice even. “Aye, I am aware of how long the ride was. Ye will have food and a place by the fire. The nurse can bring Stella once she wakes.”
