“Fair enough,” his cousin confirmed. “Is Lady Helen Sutherland worth killing a man over? A laird’s heir?”
“I dinna say I’d kill him.”
“Nay?”
“Maybe I threatened him.”
“Doona believe it.” Duncan threw himself against the bars of his cell, clinging to the thick columns of metal. “He intended to kill me, Laird MacKay. He’s a madman, even admitted he was crazed with lust.”
Laird Alex turned to his prisoner. “Enough,” he commanded. “Ye have borne false witness against Lady Helen, a high crime, at least beneath my roof and according to God’s law.”
“Who accuses me?”
“Ye’re own words condemn ye, Duncan Munroe. My secretary has confirmed that Lady Helen’s signature on that marriage contract is a forgery. Twas not her hand that put ink on that paper.”
“Then ye’d better accuse every laird with daughters in Alba of the same crime.”
“I am not concerned with what every other laird does with his daughters, only what affects Lady Helen. She has sought my protection, and now that ye have been proven a liar, I am even more determined to keep her safe.”
“That, too, is a violation of the law.”
“Is it?” Alex crossed his arms over his chest. “Shall I summon a magistrate and provide the evidence against ye? Surely yer uncle would not appreciate his honor being questioned in such a public way.”
Duncan’s lips curled into an ugly snarl as he huffed out a frustrated breath. “What will ye do with me?”
“In order to set an example for my own people, in the morn, ye will be taken to the bailey and publicly whipped.”
Duncan’s eyes widened. “Whipped? Like a criminal?”
“Are ye not one?”
“I warn ye of the ramifications ye may face once this news reaches my uncle’s ears.”
Jamie picked up his weapon belt and buckled it around his waist.
“It is my belief and sincerest hope that Laird Munroe might agree that his spoiled nephew is in need of a sound whipping.” With that, Alex turned, grabbed Jamie by the arm, and steered him out of the dungeon.
Once they were in the great hall, Jamie and Alex sat at the high table alone. A maid brought them ale, bread, and cheese. “Who will deliver the blows to Duncan’s back?”
“Is that all ye can think about, Jamie? What about yer own transgressions? Defying me? Striking Duncan without cause.”
Jamie sucked down the ale. “He called her a whore.”
“I would have dealt with him in time. Now I must release him after he’s received his punishment.”
Jamie slammed his palm on the table, still enraged by Duncan Munroe’s words. “Why?”
“To be fair. His punishment has been decided. I have no reason to hold him afterward.”
“But…”
“Ye took justice into yer own hands. Beat him. I could have delayed my decision, kept him in reasonable comfort, and eliminated the threat of him stirring up trouble for a while.”
“Fook!” Jamie refilled his cup and drank it down.
“Now, as for ye.” Alex blocked him from helping himself to a third serving of ale. “Go home for a few days. Clear yer head.”
“Nay. I wish to see the entertainment tomorrow.”
