Then he was gone,running out of the room with the boundless energy of childhood, leaving Maia feeling like she'd been trampled by a very small, very enthusiastic horse.
"Oh God,"Maia breathed, sinking back into her chair. "Oh God, what have I done?"
"Ye've madea wee boy very happy," Aisla observed. "Though I suspect ye've also created a rather complicated situation for yerself."
"I have to tell Ewan."Maia's hands twisted in her lap. "I have to tell him what I said and apologize and…he's goin' to be so angry."
"Possibly,"Aisla agreed. "Or possibly he'll see the humor in it. The laird has a complicated relationship with Lady Laura. She's been pesterin' him for years, tryin' to convince him to marry her."
"She said he wants her."
"She's delusional."Aisla's tone was flat. "The laird has made it abundantly clear he's nae interested. But her father is on the council, so he has to tolerate her presence. Or he did, until now."
Maia looked up sharply."What do ye mean?"
"I meanye've just given him the perfect excuse to make her leave him alone." Aisla's smile was sly. "Hard to pursue a man who's already betrothed, isnae it?"
"But I'm nae really,we're nae actually betrothed."
"I ken that.And the laird kens that. But Laura doesnae need to ken that, does she?" Aisla leaned forward conspiratorially. "Between ye and me, I think this might work out rather well. For the laird, anyway."
Maia wasn't sosure about that. She was fairly certain Ewan would be furious with her for overstepping, for making claimsshe had no right to make, and for complicating an already complicated situation.
"I need to tell him,"she muttered again, standing on shaky legs. "Right now. Before this gets any worse."
"He'll be in his study,"Aisla said. "I'll take ye there."
"So ye actually did it."
Leon's voicewas filled with barely suppressed amusement as he lounged in the chair across from Ewan's desk. "Ye actually stole away MacMahon's niece."
"Aye."Ewan didn't look up from the reports he was reviewing. "I told ye I would."
"I kenyesaidye would. I just dinnae think ye'd go through with it." Leon leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. "She's really that important to him? Important enough to make him come to terms?"
"She'sthe only blood relation who can challenge his claim to the lairdship." Ewan set down one report and picked up another, scanning the contents. "Accordin' to their clan laws, if she marries, her husband becomes the next laird. MacMahon's been tryin' to keep her unmarried for years. The maid that helped me get to her told me."
"By lockin'her in a tower." Leon's voice had gone hard. "Six years, ye said?"
"Aye."
"Christ."Leon was quiet for a moment. "That's nae right. Even for a bastard like MacMahon."
"Nay, it's nae."Ewan's jaw tightened, remembering the bars on Maia's window. The way she'd looked at the world during their ride, like she was seein' it for the first time. The pure joy on her face when she'd touched the lake water.
"So what's yer plan?"Leon asked. "Send him demands? Threaten to keep her until he meets yer terms?"
"Aye."Ewan pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. "I want ye to prepare a missive. Tell him we're willin' to return his niece, unharmed, in exchange for reparations for the raid. Full compensation for the livestock, the cottages, the lives lost. And a sworn oath that he'll never set foot on McGill lands again."
"And if he refuses?"
"Then he can considerhis niece a permanent guest of Castle McGill." Ewan's voice was cold. "And we'll see how long it takes before his clan starts questionin' why their laird is lettin' his blood relation rot in enemy territory."
Leon nodded slowly."I'll draft somethin'. Have it ready for ye to review by tonight."
"Good."Ewan turned his attention back to his reports, trying to focus on grain stores and border patrols and all the mundane details of running a clan.
But his mindkept drifting back to Maia.
