“My laird, ‘tis true. There was no plot against ye. Only that I cannae marry ye, and I made Aidam bring me here so that I could escape back to my home.”
Sinclair jumped down from his horse and walked over to where Ellie and Aidam stood. He made a motion, and Duncan too jumped from his horse and came over to restrain Aidam.
“No!” Ellie cried as Duncan tied Aidam’s hands with a rope. To his credit, Aidam did not resist. But Ellie knew it was her fault this was happening. “My Laird, please, Aidam was only doing as ye bid and keeping me safe.”
He took a hand a ran it gently down Ellie’s face as she tried her best not to cringe. “Dae nae fash, lass, Aidam will be fine.”
“Ellie, don’t worry about me,” Aidam said as he followed Duncan. “Just be safe, lass.”
“Och, nephew dae nae be so dramatic, I’ll nay hurt the lass.” Sinclair turned to Ellie. “Ye truly dae nae wish to marry me?”
“Ye ken I dae nae, my laird. I’ve told you many a time. Ye’ve been forceful that I had no choice, so I decided to run away. But it isn’t Aidam’s doing.”
“Aye, I see. Runaway, ye say. Back home?”
“Yes, my laird.” Ellie was unsure, but it seemed that Sinclair was calming down. Could it be that he was finally listening to her? She could be released from her betrothal, and she and Aidam would not need to run to France?
“Well, if ye want to leave Sinclair lands, and ye wish to return to yer home, I see no reason to keep ye here,” he said, his hand behind his back as he paced back and forth.
“My laird, truly? I can go home?” She dared not hope.
“Aye, in fact, we’ll leave now. Duncan—"
“Yes, my laird?” Duncan replied.
“On yer way back to the keep to toss my traitorous nephew into the dungeon, let the guard ken to get ready for battle.”
“Aye, my Laird,” Duncan replied.
The cottage yard began to spin. Ellie could scarcely believe what she was hearing. “Battle, my laird?”
“Aye, lass. Ye see if ye dae nae marry me, well, ye’ve broken the agreement I had with yer mam. That agreement says the MacAskill lands are forfeit to me. I expect yer little bairn of a brother to try and put up a fight, but my men will surely win.”
“No, ye can’t mean to…”
“Aye, I can, and ye’ll ride with me, lass.”
