“I was about to, before ye showed up.”
“Ye kissed her.”
“Why were ye lurking in the shadows?” His question came hard and quick.
“I dinna want to disturb ye.”
“Well, ye did.” Alex said, gazing at Keely’s motionless form. “The she-devil ran out of strength finally.”
“Keely isna what ye claim her to be, Cousin.”
“If I require yer opinion on the matter, I’ll ask for it.”
“I’ll speak freely with ye, Alex, or not at all. Is it worth all the trouble? Torturing the lass, yerself?”
“I dinna start this,” Alex spat. “She did. John did.”
“And Laird John paid dearly for his part. He’s dead and buried. Will ye sacrifice the woman ye love to satisfy yer sick need for revenge?”
Alex burned to settle the argument with fists not words. But Keely… he couldna put her down. “Enough!” He dinna love Keely. That much he knew. But he did feel something for her…
Jamie held his hands up in mock surrender. “As ye command,milord.” His cousin’s words were thick with sarcasm.
“Tread carefully in the future, Jamie. Now why are ye here?”
“The council is waiting for ye.”
Another opportunity for Mathe to preach to him about his lack of morals, or for Father Michael to advise him on how to save his soul? Alex had done his penance by accepting the lairdship. The council existed at his pleasure. A tradition generations of MacKay lairds had honored. The people deserved representation, and if anyone had a concern, they could reach out to a council member who, in turn, would present the issue to Alex. But if they continued to abuse their power, Alex would dissolve the council.
“Ye should take her inside,” Jamie said.
Alex nodded and tapped her cheek. “Keely? Can ye hear me, lass?” She dinna move. “Keely?”
“Let me take her,” Jamie offered.
“Wait.” Alex gave her a gentle shake, but there was no response. “When did she have her last meal?”
“I doona know exactly.”
In truth, Alex never meant for this to happen, to shock her into submission aye, but never to physically harm her. For a brief moment, he felt unbelievably close to her, as if the last five years of bitterness had melted away and the old Keely he loved and trusted was there. “She’s exhausted and hungry. Take her abovestairs and stay there. I’ll send Leah with food and some water. She’s had an emotional shock.”
Jamie collected her, cradling her in his arms. “She’s yer wife, Alex. When will ye treat her as such?”
“There will be no mistaking what she is to me once we consummate this marriage. I canna change the law, Jamie. But I willna pretend to love the woman who betrayed me and dishonored the clan by abandoning John on their wedding night.” How many times did he need to repeat himself? Everything he did was justified. Keely would learn the hard way. She would pay for her misdeeds.
“Did ye ever think Keely felt something in her heart, that deep inside she knew it wouldna be right to bed yer brother?”
“How could she? I dinna know anything about the law until Petro told me.”
“Not direct knowledge, ye dolt.”
“Would it change anything?”
“If I were in yer position, aye. The lass did what her sire commanded, what yer father made her do. She’s innocent. A political pawn in a long history of alliances made through arranged marriage.”
Alex rejected his explanation. “I recognize my father’s role, Jamie. But her guilt is of a different nature. We were promised to each other. And instead of trusting me, she sent me away. Do ye know how many years I’ve suffered wondering about what happened? Why the lass rejected me?”
“So ye finally admit that ye love her.”
