Callum smirked. ‘Not that you have ever done that.’
The last thing Bryce needed was Callum’s mockery. ‘Why are you here, Callum? It certainly is not to take my side.’
‘Tara wishes to become better acquainted with Maren, so I am here, once again, to extend an invitation to Raigmoor.’
Bryce sighed and paced before the hearth. How was he to tell his best friend? ‘Well, Tara might wish to withdraw it when I tell you my news.’
‘What news? And where the hell have you been? I have spent the last days rallying the clans to scour the countryside in case our old foe is back, and you are nowhere to be found?’
‘As to our old foe, there is news, my friend, which you will not like at all. But, before I tell you, I must remind you of our long friendship and how much I trust you with my secrets.’
‘Go on.’ Callum’s eyes narrowed.
Callum had a slow temper, but when it was aroused, it tended to be dangerously violent. Bryce took a deep breath and recounted his trip to Durness. When he had finished telling all, Callum’s face was like stone, and a heavy silence hung between them.
‘So you mean to tell me that you intend to wed the daughter of a murderous villain who kidnapped my wife, stole from me and tried to kill me?’
‘Well, I never claimed that Maren was the ideal choice of wife,’ said Bryce with a sheepish smile and shrug.
‘Aargh,’ bellowed Callum. ‘You are impossible. There is no excuse for you, Bryce. And Maren, did she share in her father’s devilish exploits?’
‘Of course not. She is nothing like her father and was cast out of Clan McEwen long ago for disobeying his order to marry some thug or other. Maren hates him with a vengeance and went to Durness to cut ties once and for all.’ Bryce raked his fingers through his hair and looked Callum square in the eye. ‘At least that is what I choose to believe.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘I think that Maren is still hiding something from me. It is just a feeling, and I may be wrong.’
‘Well, if you are right, you had better discover what it is, or we could all be in danger.’
Silence fell between the two friends until Callum broke it.
‘You love her, this Maren lass?’
‘Aye, with all my heart, my friend.’
‘Then you have no choice but to trust that she loves you in return. Are you sure he ails, the Baron?'
‘Aye, so let him suffer his airless death and be done with it.’
Chapter Thirty
Maren was sitting on the grass under a shady tree, munching on an apple when he found her.
‘Don’t eat too many. They are tart and can sour your stomach.’
‘It already sours since my conversation with Clara,’ she said, not looking at him.
‘Why? Did you quarrel?’
‘Not really. In fact, I like Clara much more now she has been frank with me about why she prefers your father to you.’
‘Does she now?’
‘Aye, for she told me she views you as a most unsuitable husband. She painted you as a rascal of the first order and a man with a multitude of vices.’
‘I hope you defended me.’
‘I told her I rather liked your vices and your rascally ways.’ Maren gave him a wan but pretty smile, and Bryce had an overwhelming urge to lift her skirts and widen it.
