Chapter Sixteen
Brodie woke with a start.
He lay on the pallet in the cave. The sun shone through the entrance, telling him it was long past dawn. The bowls and food from supper were gone from the table, though his strongbox was there. Open.
Arabella was gone.
They’d spoken at length. She’d read the proof he’d gathered over the last several months. And then...
He’d fallen asleep.
Pushing his hair out of his face, he stood and walked outside. The camp was awake and people carried out their tasks. Since no guard stood there, he knew Arabella had gone back to Bradana’s. Before seeking Rob, he went back inside and secured the valuable papers in the box and placed it back under his trunk.
As he turned to leave, he noticed the cushion there, against the wall.
He’d fallen asleep next to her. Then he remembered feeling her gentle touch outlining his brow and forehead. Had she tended to him while he slept? Singing silly words to chase away his bad dreams? He smiled, thinking of the sound of her voice and the touch of her hand. Brodie left the cave and sought out Rob, who—from the expression on his face—was not happy to see him.
‘You’re awake, are you?’ Rob said, walking through the camp and not stopping for him. He grabbed his shoulder and brought him to a halt.
‘Is there a problem?’ Rob stared at him and glanced around before speaking.
‘Aye, there’s a problem.’ Brodie raised a brow at him. ‘Her name is Arabella Cameron.’
‘What has she done?’ he asked, looking for the lady and not seeing her.
‘Not “what has she done,” Brodie. ’Tis more about what you have done.’
‘Have a care, Rob,’ he warned.
‘Brodie, ’tis too late for that. I see how you look at her. I saw the two of you last night.’
‘Last night?’
‘You were sleeping on her lap. Holding hands.’
‘Something changed between us, Rob. I cannot explain it. Almost as though...’
‘Nay. It cannot be so. You know it, Brodie. You know it.’ Rob paced back and forth before him, agitated by what he’d seen and what it meant.
Brodie knew the truth of the matter and there was no way to change it. So he saw no reason to argue over it. He reached out and grabbed Rob’s arm.
‘The plan is still the same. Nothing has changed.’
Rob glared at him, clearly disbelieving the words he uttered.
‘You will walk away from her? You will leave her to marry the next tanist?’
If they succeeded, Brodie expected Grigor to take the chieftain’s seat. One of the elders, he was the obvious choice, a blood relative to the last chief, and would be acceptable to all those with a stake in this. Then a new tanist would be chosen from among those men eligible from the other clans in the Confederation. No matter, it would not be him. The Camerons would never agree to terms if he took that position.
‘She understands her duty, Rob. As do I.’
Rob stared at him, arms across his chest, considering his words. He shook his head and kicked at the dirt.
‘Have you decided who should be our emissary?’
‘Aye, my mother’s brother, The MacPherson. He will listen to me and consider what we’ve discovered.’
‘Will he support you in this?’ Rob asked.
