“That’s enough,” he growled. His eyes bit into her, his handsome face stark. “I think you’ve said enough.”
She gasped, unable to breathe through the pain burning in her chest.
She’d done it. She’d finally managed to hurt him. But it gave her precious little satisfaction as she stood there frozen, feeling as if she were breaking apart, and watched him walk away.
Eighteen
Dunstaffnage Castle, November, 1308
“You’re sure you won’t reconsider?” Bruce eyed Lachlan over the edge of his goblet. They were alone in the laird’s solar of Dunstaffnage Castle. It was four weeks since Lachlan had been here last, and yet he could still hear the scorn in Bella’s voice as she’d given him the set down he so richly deserved.
She was right: She did deserve better. He’d been trying to tell her that all along.
Marriage? What in Hades had possessed him to say that? Of course she’d hesitated. It wasn’t her fault that for one moment he’d allowed himself to think…
He was a fool. The heroine didn’t end up with the pirate. She needed a hero, not a villain. No wonder she’d laughed. He’d laugh, too.
Lachlan picked up his own glass and drained it. But the whisky did little to dull the burning ache in his chest.
He met the king’s gaze from across the table. Though idly spoken, Lachlan knew the question was anything but an idle one. Robert the Bruce would keep his promise, but if there was a way he could honorably avoid doing so, he would.
Lachlan smiled just as idly. “Nay,” he said with far more certainty than he felt. “I will not reconsider.”
He’d left, needing to get away before he did something stupid. The exchange with Bella had left him angry, raw, his emotions frayed, unable to escape the gnawing feeling that he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.
The time away was supposed to clear his mind. It hadn’t. But as soon as Bruce paid him the rest of the money and signed the charters, he’d be on his way. It was why he’d returned. The king was holding his first council meeting at Ardchattan after the Feast of St. Andrew.
Hell, who was he kidding? That wasn’t why he’d returned. He didn’t need to be here for another week. He’d come back because he couldn’t force himself to stay away a day longer.
He needed to make sure that she was all right.
He needed to know whether he’d made as big a mistake as he feared.
Not that it would make any difference. She would probably just tell him to go to hell the way he deserved. Now that she was safe, she’d undoubtedly realized that she didn’t need him anymore. If she ever had.
Bruce’s dark brows drew together in a scowl. “You are costing me a king’s ransom. I hope you are putting it to good use.”
Lachlan shrugged, having no intention of easing the king’s curiosity. Nor would he feel guilt. He knew the king’s coffers were depleted, but they would be filled up soon enough. “I thought your brother just returned from the south.”
Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, Boyd, and Seton had led a party of warriors to collect the rents.
“Aye, but once again there is unrest in Galloway. I thought the resistance was put down last year, but the MacDowells and their allies are like weeds that refuse to die. I’m sending Edward back with reinforcements.” The king watched him carefully. “The MacSweens are making trouble again, too. I have Chief and Hawk preparing the men to go on a moment’s notice if they stir from Ireland. I’ve decided to put Hawk in charge of getting the team in and out—”
“Hawk? He’s about as subtle as a battering ram. He’ll get them all killed.”
“It’s only until we find a replacement for you. I was thinking perhaps my nephew—”
“Randolph?” Lachlan was incredulous. Sir Thomas Randolph, one of the most elite warriors in Scotland? “You can’t be serious! He knows nothing about subterfuge. Half the time he has that sword stuck so firmly up his backside—”
He stopped himself.Damn it. His jaw clenched, knowing exactly what Bruce was trying to do. But Lachlan wouldn’t bite. It wasn’t his problem, and he wasn’t going to get dragged into it. He had everything he wanted right at his fingertips.
“But I’m sure he’ll figure it out,” he added calmly.
Bruce lifted a corner of his mouth, but he didn’t press. “I’d have thought you’d look more rested.”
Lachlan quirked a brow.
Bruce tapped his fingers together. “After your time in the Isles attending to those personal matters you spoke of. Although I must say I’m surprised to see you. I wasn’t expecting you for another week.”
