Gracie walkedthrough the castle corridors, her slippers scuffing the flagstones, hands clenched at her sides. She was determined to find April and let off all her frustrations, to speak freely to someone who would listen without judgment. Yet, as she rounded the corner toward the entrance hall, the voices and footsteps froze her in place. There, through the great doors, stood Edmund, finally returned to the castle.
He looked around arrogantlyand sneered, “And who might ye be, lass? I daenae ken ye so why do ye look at me so?”
Gracie’s irritationflared like wildfire.
How dare he stand there,bold as brass, and fail to recognize the girl he left at the altar?
“I am Lady Gracie,”she snapped, “the woman ye left behind, the one ye dishonored.”
Edmund raised a brow,smirking, as if her words amused him. “And what business have ye in this hall?”
Her fingers curledinto fists at her sides, heart pounding. She opened her mouth to retort, but before the words could fly, a deep, commanding voice echoed behind her.
“Gracie is me wife,Edmund. Ye would do well to treat her with respect.”
Jaxon stepped into view,cloak thrown back, eyes like steel. Edmund blinked, astonished, stepping back a pace. “Wife? But… when did ye…?”
Jaxon’s jaw tightened.“Ye dishonored our clan by leavin’ this woman at the altar on yer weddin’ day. I remedied that, keepin’ the peace between her clan, the McDougals, and ours. She is me wife, and she deserves every ounce of respect from ye.”
Edmund laughed lightly,a smirk playing on his lips. “Ah, I am glad ye did. For ye are a far better fit than I would be. Look at her, a rose in bloom, truly. Congratulations are in order, truly.”
Gracie’s stomachturned as Edmund’s words rolled over her like honeyed poison. She knew the tone well, the sweetness hiding nothing but charm meant to disarm and manipulate. Every word dripped with self-interest, and it was plain to see he sought no reconciliation.
“Indeed,”Edmund continued, turning to Jaxon now, bowing slightly with mock humility. “Ye have done well keepin’ the McMillans and McDougals from quarrel. A laird of such wisdom deserves admiration. I hope ye’ll forgive me absence; ’tis clear the clan thrives under yer care. If ye shall have any funds to spare since ye prosper so. Yer brother would be grateful for his share.”
Gracie could feelher fists twitching at her sides, fury mingling with disgust. It was obvious now why he had returned. His fine clothes and confident step masked nothing; he had run out of money, and this performance was merely a calculated return to the castle’s coffers.
Jaxon’s eyes narrowed,piercing Edmund like a blade. “Ye have nay further access to the family funds,” he said, voice low and cutting. “All wealth is under me hand now. The clan’s gold is nae for squanderers and never-do-wells.”
Edmund’s expressionfaltered for the first time, charm slipping like sand through his fingers. “I… I only meant to…”
“Aye, I ken what ye meant,”Jaxon interrupted sharply. “But the clan cannae endure yer folly.”
Gracie felta mixture of relief and satisfaction as she watched Jaxon assert control. Her husband had always carried the weight of the clan on his shoulders, but seeing him handle Edmund with such precision stirred a deep admiration in her chest. This was the man who had stood by her, who had protected her honor, and who now kept his family’s legacy intact.
Edmund’s eyesflicked to Gracie, still attempting his silver-tongued charm. “Ye are lucky, lass, to be wed to such a strong Laird,” he said, voice syrupy.
Gracie’s lips pressed together.She didn’t speak, choosing instead to let her gaze harden, showing him her disdain without words.
Jaxon placeda steady hand on her shoulder, grounding her. “Daenae let him rile ye,” he murmured, voice warm. “He is nothin’ more than a spent shadow, and we have nay need to waste breath on him.”
Gracie nodded,letting herself relax slightly. She had survived Edmund’s honeyed words and Jaxon’s anger had protected her honor. For the first time since he appeared, she felt the tide of control shift, and the castle seemed smaller with Edmund’s presence reduced to irrelevance.
The old hallechoed with tension, but Gracie felt fortified, standing beside Jaxon. She realized then that the man she had married was not only strong in body but wise in judgment, capable of protecting her and their clan from folly. Edmund’s charm could do no more than ripple across the surface; beneathit, Jaxon’s steady hand commanded respect and secured her trust.
Gracie watched Edmund sneer,his eyes glinting with mischief and scorn. He began muttering under his breath, throwing subtle insults at Jaxon and her, each word dripping with arrogance.
“Aye,it seems the Laird is as heavy-handed as ever,” Edmund sneered. “And this… this lass,” he added, gesturing toward Gracie with a mocking bow, “is now somehow the jewel of the clan?”
Gracie’s handscurled at her sides. She could feel her cheeks flush, not with anger alone, but with the need to defend herself. She stepped slightly forward, but Jaxon’s calm, cold voice stopped her.
“Edmund,I’ve had enough of yer games,” he said, each word measured and full of authority.
Edmund’s smirk faltered.“Oh? And what would ye have me do, brother? Ye make much ado over nothin’. Aye, perhaps I returned late, perhaps I spent coin freely, but 'tis hardly the end of the world!”
Jaxon’s eyes narrowed,like steel cutting glass. “No, not the end of the world? Ye are always creatin’ trouble for the clan. Yer recklessness has led to sufferin’, near irreparable harm to our people. The village of Glenmoor trusted ye to send a message tome of their sufferin’, and ye did nay such thing. I will nay stand idly by while ye squander the name and safety of the McMillans.”
Edmund wavedhis hands as if dismissing Jaxon’s words. “Overreactin’, as always. Ye take yerself far too seriously, brother. ’Tis nae as dire as ye claim. Everyone survived, did they nae?”
