Melody’s face slackened in horror. “But… But I’ve not finished my porridge.”
He snatched up the bowl and hurled it into the fire.
“There,” he answered brusquely. “Done.”
“She’s English?” Lucas queried, frowning.
Callum did not bother to respond to that comment. “Lucas, fetch Angus Matheson. I take it that he’s the one who’s naggin’ ye about me takin’ a wife?”
“Well, aye. As head councilman, he surely…”
“Aye, aye, I ken who he is. Fetch him and bring him to the Council Room along with the others. I’ll have news for them.”
“I’m nae sure where he’ll be at this hour of the mornin’,” Lucas murmured. “I could find Kat, perhaps? She’ll be at the healer’s chambers. She’ll ken where her uncle’s gone. She…”
“If ye go to see Kat at the healer’s chambers, ye will never leave,” Callum interrupted testily. “Just do as I say, lad.”
Lucas bit his lip and made a tight bow, hurrying out of the room. Callum strode after him, pausing in the doorway and glancing back at Melody.
“Well, lass? Get goin’. I’ll nae wait for ye.”
She hesitated, just for a second, then scuttled after him.
What have I gotten myself into?Melody thought worriedly, following the hulking Scotsman along the hallways. The halls were much busier than last night, full of servants and finely dressed men and women. They all stepped aside deferentially as Callum strode past. Then, inevitably, their eyes landed on Melody, and widened in surprise.
It was easier just to ignore their stares and concentrate on following Callum. He led the way to the same place where she’dmet him last night. In clear daylight, she guessed that it was the foot of a tower.
He held open the door for her, forcing her to duck under his arm to step inside. Then he slammed the door closed, shutting off the gawping stares of a couple of servants.
“Now,” Callum stated as soon as the door was closed. “I’ve come up with an idea.”
“Is this a rare thing for you?” Melody ventured. It was meant to be a joke, but judging by his glare, it landed poorly.
“Ye are tryin’ to escape yer weddin’ . I imagine ye wish to delay goin’ back to yer father’s home for as long as possible. Ye are delayin’ yer weddin’, and I am avoidin’ one altogether. Both of us need a wee bit of time, eh?”
“I suppose so.”
“Here’s my suggestion. Ye stay here for one month. To get the councilors off me back, I’ll tell them that ye are mine.”
There was a moment of silence. Melody blinked slowly, frowning. She was missing something here, she was sure of it. Callum stared at her expectantly, broad arms folded over his chest.
“Yours?” she echoed uncertainly.
His thick eyebrows flickered. “Aye, mine. Me betrothed.”
She choked. “Yourbetrothed?”
“I’ll present ye to the council as the woman I mean to marry. That means they’ll stop hasslin’ me. Nay more arrangin’ for me to meet daughters and sisters of other powerful lairds. Nay more deliberately throwin’ their own daughters and sisters in me way, in hopes that their kinswoman will become Lady MacDean.
“I have nay intention of takin’ a wife. Nae now, nae ever. That means nay legitimate heir to follow me, but it willnae be the first time a laird left nay son or daughter behind him. There’ll be a suitable heir when I’m old, I’m sure. In the meantime, me councilors are ignorin’ serious issues, things whichtrulyaffect the people of our clan, because they think the issue of me marriage is more serious.”
“That sounds difficult,” Melody managed. “But I really cannot see how I would suit. I’m English, after all, and people here do not seem to like the English much.”
“Let me worry about that,” he responded coolly. “All I need from ye is a simple agreement. Let’s shake on it.”
He took a step forward, extending a large, square hand.
Melody leaped backward with a yelp, and he eyed her with faint annoyance.
