"Aye, yer private meetings are nay as private as ye seem to think they are," Hugh said.
He wouldn't directly call out Callum for informing him of the council's actions while he was away. Even if the man was starting to grate on his last nerve, he was providing Hugh with a valuable service. Hugh might not have been privy to everything discussed, but knowing his council was still working without him gave him leverage.
Aaron shifted in his seat, pulling his back straighter as he maintained eye contact with Hugh. Steepling his hands in front of him, he said, "It's nae uncommon for meetings like thatto take place. The Laird doesnae have time to oversee every single meetin' that discusses minor clan arrangements. Ye're to be informed about the findings periodically so ye can make informed decisions."
"And yet I havenae been informed of any findings," Hugh countered, clenching and unclenching his fists. "I'm beginnin' to wonder if ye're really discussin' the clan or if ye center these gatherings around yer distaste for me."
Aaron's jaw worked; the other man clearly struggled to maintain his professionalism. It was a clear sign that, no matter the topic of conversation, Hugh still held the power. He still inspired fear in them, and he'd take that as a victory—even if it was only a small one.
"If ye'd let me speak," Aaron said slowly, a tense edge to his voice, "I'd tell ye what we discussed in our meetings. That's why we called ye here."
A grunt was the only thing Hugh offered to push the conversation along. His patience was wearing thin. The way they seemed to be drawing this out was inefficient. It was nothing more than a pathetic power play.
"We've been discussin' yer recent actions with yer wife," Aaron said, putting on that insufferable diplomatic tone he liked to use when he led these meetings. "Nae only is it nae proper for a laird to choose his own wife, it's nae proper for a laird to abandon his position foranyamount of time. Ye ran off to be wed for nearlya month, and only a few days after, ye went into the village for a social call."
"The visit was more than a social call," Hugh growled through his teeth. "There have been increased bandit sightings around the village. I dispersed a few men immediately upon arrival."
"And are those men prepared?" Callum cut in, ruthless. "They've been runnin' offensive drills since ye returned. Are they able to take a defensive stance against bandits targetin' our villagers?"
Hugh's lip curled with distaste. "That's where ye've gone wrong. Our men daenae take a defensive position against bandits. We go after them before they get the chance to harm one of our own. We must send the message that we are nae targets and we willnae tolerate this kind of attack against our people."
"And what if one of yer soldiers gets injured in a poorly thought-through maneuver? When people are threatenin' ye, ye daenae run in without kennin' who ye're dealin' with," Callum said, cold and calculated. "Ye havenae consulted us at all about yer strategy. If ye had, ye'd ken the way things have been handled."
"There's nae a thing wrong with makin' changes," Hugh spat. "It's nae yer job to agree with everythin' I do. Ye're me advisors, not the ones in charge of this castle."
Aaron cleared his throat pointedly. When he had Hugh's attention again, he continued. "Perhaps if ye took even a bit of our advice, we wouldnae be havin' this discussion. We're beginnin' to think that ye are only actin' for yer own gainwithout regard to the well-bein' of the people ye're meant to be protectin'."
"That's nae true, and ye ken it," Hugh said, narrowing his eyes. "Ye're toein' the line of what's appropriate."
"Nay," Aaron replied calmly, his face devoid of any red coloring. "Ye're the one behavin' inappropriately. If ye're nay fit to lead, it falls in our hands to make the decision. And if yer wife continues to influence ye, we will vote on whether or nae she should be imprisoned."
"Why would ye imprison Anna?" Hugh demanded, his protective instincts flaring so hard he nearly forgot the first part of Aaron's statement. "And ye cannae just make that decision. Do ye forget that I'm yer Laird?" He made himself bigger, each of his muscles rippling with the fury he felt. "It's best that ye watch yerselves. Daenae forget who me soldiers are loyal to."
"Ye can threaten us all ye wish," Aaron said, his knuckles white where they rested on the table in front of him. It was obvious to Hugh that he, and most of his council, were afraid. The threat had weight, no matter how hard the men in front of him tried to pretend it didn't. "But this wouldnae be the first time a council has overturned their laird."
"Ach, this is nonsense," Hugh said, at the end of his patience. He threw a hand up in dismissal as he turned to leave. "Yer threats daenae mean a thing to me. If ye're ready to have a real meetin', come and find me. Despite what ye think of me, I am a busy manand me time could be spent better elsewhere. And, if yeevertry somethin' like this again, I'll kill each and every one of ye."
No one tried to stop him; all of them were stunned at his reaction. Even when he'd gotten onto them, he'd always given them a modicum of respect. His body language, his gestures, and his tone made it clear that he was no longer entertaining their threats.
He was nearly out of the hallway when he heard hurried footsteps approaching him from behind. He didn't bother to turn around, knowing that scuttling gait could belong to only one person. Whatever he had to say, Hugh wasn't hearing it.
"Get back to yer meetin', Callum," Hugh said as soon as the other man got close to him. "I'm sure ye need to figure out a new angle to get me to do what ye want."
"Ye need to take this more seriously, Hugh," Callum said, matching Hugh's long strides. "They're nae kiddin' ye. If they're unhappy with ye, they could move to have ye stripped of yer title."
"They cannae," Hugh said. "They've never done it before. I'm nae afraid of their empty threats."
"Ach, but a councilhasousted a Laird before, Hugh," Callum said, grabbing onto Hugh's bicep and forcing him to stop walking. "It's been nearly seventy-five years, but it can be done."
"And why havenae I heard of this before now?" Hugh demands.
"Because tellin' villagers would frighten them and make them believe their leadership isnae as solid as it looks," Callum said grimly. "Yer image is important, Hugh. All Laird's images are. They daenae need to ken that a council can remove their leader."
"They would have to kill me first," Hugh snarled before jerking his arm out of Callum's hold and continuing on his way.
"That dress looks truly bonnie on ye," Emelia said, taking a careful step back, nearly crushed under the weight of the gowns she was holding on to. "And it looks so much warmer than the others that ye have."
Anna stared at herself in the mirror, smoothing her palms over the deep red fabric. Her green eyes seemed to glow brighter against the wine-colored dress. And it was almost as if she had a permanent healthy flush over her cheeks.
