Jamie studied him with an appraising gaze, as if something that had bothered him finally made sense. “You really do care for her. That is why you do not want to involve her in whatever you are doing at court.” He held up his hand, cutting off Alex’s denial. “Don’t bother. I don’t know what you are up to, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with finding work as a mercenary. I did a little investigating of my own. Made a few inquiries. Seems no one can recall an Alex MacLeod fighting as a mercenary with the O’Neill over the past few years.”
Alex hid his reaction. He wasn’t surprised that his ruse had been discovered, just that Jamie had managed it so quickly. He could take consolation that at this point all Jamie had was suspicion. He didn’t know anything specific. Alex knew that if he tried to deny it, it would only make Jamie more certain. So he said nothing, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “Think what you like. My business is my own.”
“Not when you involve Meg. Then it becomes mine.” Jamie took a deep breath. “It will not be necessary for you to marry her.”
“Of course it is.”
“I will tell no one about what I saw tonight.” Jamie stood a little straighter. “I intend to ask Meg to marry me.”
Alex’s fist clenched, ready to swing at Jamie’s squared jaw. He took a step forward. “I believe the lass is already engaged.”
Jamie met his gaze defiantly. “Let her have a choice.”
Alex fought to control the rage that swarmed his senses at Jamie’s words. Meg was his. Every muscle in his body rejected the proposal, even as his mind realized that Jamie was right.
Jamie observed Alex’s reaction but stood his ground. “Meg doesn’t deserve to be put in danger,” he continued. “If you are up to anything untoward, you will not involve her. You have to know that such a marriage would be the worst possible situation for her clan, and therefore for her. Unless you are willing to give up whatever you have planned?”
Alex didn’t like hearing his own concerns bandied back at him by Jamie. He was honor bound to do two contradictory things: marry Meg and fight the king’s injustice on the Isle of Lewis. His eyes narrowed as he studied his foe with part suspicion and part dread. Intuitively, it seemed, Jamie understood his conflict and was using Alex’s conscience against him. Jamie knew that Alex would not endanger Meg unnecessarily, not when she could still come away unscathed. He pictured her face as she’d left his room. Well, relatively unscathed.
He clenched his jaw, biting back the refusal he desperately wanted to shout. But he couldn’t, because Jamie was right.Damn him straight to hell.“After what you just saw, you know I am honor bound to marry her,” Alex said. “I will not withdraw my proposal. It is her decision.”
She thought herself in love with him. Alex knew Meg. If he confided his plans to her, she would make him into a damn hero and ignore the danger to herself. Part of him wanted to do just that, tell her the truth, placing the weight of the decision on her. She could have the facts and decide for herself, giving her a choice that he was fairly certain would result in his favor.
Could he marry her knowing that he would put her in danger when there was another alternative? Asafealternative?
Selfishly, he wanted to hold on to her now that he had her. But he knew he wasn’t the best man for her.
Damn Jamie Campbell and his blasted proposal.
Alex would have to drive her away and give her no choice but to break the engagement. But it would have to look bad, giving her no choice but to turn to Jamie.
If there was a way to keep her from danger and stop her from making a mistake by marrying him, he would find one. No matter what the cost to himself.
Chapter 17
Alex need not have worried how he was going to convince Meg to break their engagement. The means to do so came to him.
And not a minute too soon. In a matter of hours, Alex’s men would meet just outside the city gates to begin their journey to the Isle of Lewis. But he couldn’t leave without resolving things with Meg—one way or another. He’d just finished breaking his fast and was considering seeking advice from his brother when the Marquess of Huntly approached him.
“Have you given any consideration to my offer?” Huntly asked.
Distracted, Alex had to think a moment before he realized what Huntly was talking about. Ah yes, Huntly had thought to hire him as a mercenary. As the need for Alex’s pretense would be over when he left, the words were in his mouth to politely turn down Huntly’s offer. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Meg standing near the door. She must have paused just outside the door to the dining room when she saw whom Alex was speaking to. Alex pretended not to see her.
His mind worked quickly. This was it. This was his opportunity. He felt a sharp pang of regret for what he was about to do. Thanks to Huntly, Alex was effectively taking the decision away from Meg. Huntly had unwittingly given him the golden opportunity to strike her where she was most vulnerable—her brother.
“A bit,” Alex answered. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“I’m not sure whether it would appeal to you. I am not at liberty to discuss the details, but I can say this: It might require fighting against other Highlanders.”
Alex shrugged indifferently. But he was even more certain that Huntly was talking about fightingforthe Fife Adventurers. The irony wasn’t lost on him.
“Perhaps even against your brother,” Huntly warned.
Was she close enough? Not taking any chances, Alex raised his voice. “No doubt you’ve heard that my brother and I do not see eye to eye on a lot of things. For the proper consideration, I might be amenable.” He lingered on the wordconsideration.He dared not look at Meg to see if she was listening.
“You will be well paid,” Huntly said. “A sword arm like yours would be highly valued for what we have in mind.”
“Of course. But that is not the only consideration I was referring to.” He paused at what he was about to do.Forgive me.“It seems I’ve recently come into some lands. Some considerable lands.”
