“There are things ye dinnae ken concernin’ our brother’s death, Niamh. Things that ye dinnae ken because I havenae told ye…”
Her eyes searched his as he thought of the best way to break the news to her.
Killian sucked in a deep breath to steady his insides, and when he finally found his voice, he sounded hoarse. “Our brotherdidnae die while ridin’ out alone in a storm. He was murdered by Laird McLennan. Fletcher confided this to me—he witnessed it.”
“What? How is this possible?”
Fresh tears filled Niamh’s eyes and slid down her cheeks, breaking Killian’s heart again. He hated to see her cry, or see her in pain, so he pulled her closer to him and hugged her tight.
“It is all right,” Killian cooed. “I shall avenge his death. I will make Laird McLennan pay for what he did.”
“How will ye do that? He is laird of a powerful clan, and ye will only start a war with him.”
“I dinnae care if I start a war. I shall make him pay. I traveled to McLennan Castle to take his sister and hit him where it hurts, but I captured that lady instead, by chance. She isnae his sister… She happens to be his wife’s lady’s maid.”
Niamh’s lower lip trembled as she absorbed his words and muffled another sob. “What if he doesnae come for her?” she murmured after some time. “If he killed Peter, who was harmless, kind, and gentle… then it means he is a vile, heartless man, and he mightnae come for her, so ye have to find another way.”
“I am hopin’ he will,” Killian said.
The truth was, his entire plan depended on that right now, so he had to hope.
“I am so sorry she tried to hurt ye. I should have warned ye about her… The lady is strong-willed, and she has put up a fight so far. I didnae expect her to be this—” He paused, briefly letting his mind take a trip down all that had happened during their journey to MacColl Keep. “Feisty.”
Surprisingly, Niamh smiled. “It sounds to me like ye dinnae hate her as much as ye say ye do.”
Killian’s response to her statement was a rough chuckle. “I dinnae hate her. I just… she confuses me.”
“She is strong. I like that she is. She acted like she’d hurt me, aye, but I wish I was as strong as her… That way, I could have defended myself when she came for me. Also, I can tell from the way ye speak about her that ye like her.”
They spoke for a long time about Lily, and then about their late brother. Killian’s only wish was that he had been there when it had happened. Then he would have ended Laird McLennan’s life and put this to rest.
“I miss him every day,” Niamh confided to Killian as they shared another warm hug.
“So do I,” he whispered to her.
It was the truth. His heart ached each time he thought of his brother. When their father had passed, Killian had refused the lairdship because he had always considered himself a free man. He had wanted to help the people by being closer to them and understanding their struggles.
Peter had understood that, and he had wanted Killian to be happy, so he had taken up the lairdship and all its many responsibilities while Killian moved from village to village, helping the people set up successful business ties with Englishmen and other outlanders.
Killian had lived as he pleased, so far, and his brother had loved him enough to let him. He liked to think he had lived a successful life so far, but he still had one regret.
I could have been more involved in my brother’s life. If I had helped him more, then perhaps he might still be alive.
Most times, Killian could not shake off the feeling of guilt that ate him.
“I shall leave ye to work,” Niamh said to him after staying in his study for some time. “Shall I see ye at supper?”
“Nay… I have a lot of work to catch up on because of me absence, but I shall eat here in me study. Ye dinnae need to worry about me starvin’.”
They exchanged smiles before Niamh left his study. Killian spent the rest of his day looking at his tax reports, and by the evening of the next day, he was still lost in his work when a soft knock interrupted him.
His man-at-arms, Fletcher, came in this time, his strides long, a gloomy look on his face. Killian had always appreciated the man’s good nature and advice since he assumed his lairdship. He was a good man.
And wise too.
Killian was thankful someone like Fletcher was on his side.
“A message has arrived from McLennan Castle, m’laird,” Fletcher announced, bowing his head before he handed over the sealed letter to him. “It bears their seal. I believe it is from Laird McLennan.”
