"Close the door," Aaron said, waiting until they were engulfed in the privacy of the meeting room before continuing. "Apparently, after our meetin' yesterday, the Laird's wife decided to introduce herself to the council members."
"And?" he said, a twist of sick acknowledgment stabbing at his stomach.
"Well, it seems the sassenach has charmed them," Aaron said. He crossed his arms over his chest, frowning as his jaw worked. "We're goin' to have to drop our arguments against her."
"Ye cannae be serious," he said, beginning to pace the room. "Do they nae understand that allowin' him to pick his own wife is settin' a dangerous precedent? It's tellin' him that he can break the rules and ignore the council. Do ye ken how many more problems that'll cause?"
Aaron laughed, completely without humor. His eyes tracked the circles that he was pacing on the stone flooring. Aaron's entire body was stiff. He seemed to chew over the statement for a few moments before speaking.
"Ye're talkin' to the wrong person with these concerns," Aaron finally said. "It's the rest of the council that ye're goin' to have to appeal to. They werenae receptive when I spoke with them last night."
He groaned and stopped in his tracks. The edge he'd had—the single piece of information that had felt like the only gift Hugh had given him upon his return—might be gone. There had to be another way.
"Perhaps ye could speak with yer faither," he suggested. "The man is reasonable, Aaron. If ye explain where we're comin' from, he could undo whatever it is Anna's done to the council."
"Nay," Aaron said, waving his hand to dismiss the thought entirely. "Me faither likes her far too much, and I willnae vote against him. If he believes the Laird is fit, I have nay choice but to agree with him."
"But ye daenae," he said cooly. "If ye did, ye wouldnae be havin' this conversation."
Aaron scoffed and turned his head toward the wall. "Ye're right. I agree with ye. Ye would be better suited for leadin' the clan, but ye ken I cannae go against me faither."
He threw his hands in the air, taking a few steps forward with a bitter scowl on his face. "Ye mean to tell me that we're so close to gettin' rid of Hugh, and now ye willnae try to sway yer faither's opinion? Do ye ken how difficult it will be to get rid of Hugh if we daenae take this opportunity?"
"Why are ye speakin' to me as if I'm a dobber?" Aaron said, not even sparing him a glance. "Ye must ken that everyone has their own agenda. Mine includes family loyalty. If ye want this plan to work, ye're goin' to have to talk to me faither and the othermembers of the council. I've done what I can for ye. Ye want to be the Laird? Ye're goin' to have to figure out the next steps on yer own."
"I'll remember this," he said as he stomped toward the door. "If ye willnae help me now, I willnae be fast to help ye when I have the title. Ye can do the right thing, or ye can continue to worry about yer family loyalty."
"Nae all of us will go against the people who gave everythin' to raise us," Aaron said without hesitation. "I suggest keepin' a level head about this. Ye're gettin' too arrogant. I daenae ken what ye've been doin', but such boldness will be noted by more than just me. Nay one else is goin' to give ye this kind of warnin'. I hope ye ken that."
"I ken exactly what I need to ken," he snarled before throwing the door wide open. He knew that his behavior was reckless, but it felt as if he'd been backed into a corner. "Aaron, if ye're nae goin' to help me, then I must ask that ye stay out of me way. I willnae tolerate ye stoppin' me plans."
He didn't give Aaron a chance to respond, storming out of the room and into the corridor. A maid was walking by, the one who had been assigned to Anna. She averted her eyes, but he made a note of her presence. When he was in his rightful place, he'd interrogate her. He'd decide whether or not she'd been feeding the unrightful Lady McDonald lies to poison her opinion.
"Where are ye slinkin' off to?" he demanded, stepping toward her. His voice was sharp, his demeanor as threatening aspossible. "I daenae think ye have a reason to be in this part of the castle."
"Ach, I was just helpin' yer personal servant, sir," she said, lowering her head in a show of either fear or respect. He didn't care which it was; the rush of power felt good either way. "Now I'm goin' to check on our Lady. Unless ye have another task for me to perform."
He let the moment stretch out before them. The sight of the maid's head bowed in submission sent a thrill through him. Whatever he told her to do at this moment, she would likely do it.
And soon, God willin', everyone will defer to me as such.
"Nay, I daenae have anythin' else for ye at the moment," he said finally when he was through with watching her squirm. "Make sure ye keep the Lady comfortable. Ye daenae ken when her comfort will be the last thing she's concerned about."
Confusion flashed over the maid's concealed features. She schooled it quickly, putting back on the mask of servitude. Even he had to acknowledge that she seemed fairly smart.
"Aye, sir," she said quietly, giving him one final nod of her head before she continued on her way.
He watched her go. She held herself tall, her posture keeping any suspicion or hesitancy or disdain hidden. If left to her owndevices, the woman may prove to be dangerous. He'd have to keep an eye on her and ensure that she didn't do or say anything that would implicate him.
Ach, the castle staff may prove to be just as difficult. I daenae ken where their heads are nor where their loyalties lie.
Huffing to himself, he took off down the corridor. His heavy footsteps echoed off the stone walls, and he liked to think they sounded like a warning to anyone who might have been coming his way. While he reformulated his plan, he'd continue to behave with this air of importance. Hewasimportant. It was just a matter of proving to the rest of the castle that he was.
So, as he walked, his back straight, his mouth pulled taut with the seriousness of his conviction, he reminded himself that this was nothing more than a temporary setback. He'd find Aaron's father and speak with him himself if Aaron was unwilling. And, if he was unable to change the elder's mind, then he'd come up with another plan. It was only a matter of time before another opportunity presented itself.
And next time, I willnae let it pass me by.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
