Fletcher had returned to his chamber from the sickroom a day ago, and since Jamie hadn’t seen him at the evening meal, he expected to find him there. Perhaps he’d been confined by the MacGregor just as his daughter had been.
There were no guards stationed outside Fletcher’s door. Jamie knocked then waited, listening. He heard movement in the room, but none near the door. Jamie tried the latch. It gave way easily and the door swung open.
Fletcher stood, pen poised over a document. Writing? Or signing?
Jamie’s hair lifted at the nape of his neck.
“What do ye think ye’re doing here?” Fletcher frowned. “I didna give ye leave to enter.”
“Is that the betrothal contract?” Jamie demanded, ignoring Fletcher’s question. “Surely ye dinna intend to marry yer daughter to a man who beats her and locks her up.”
Fletcher waved him off with a sigh. “I’ll marry her off to any man I please. ’Tis my right as her father and her laird.”
He seemed subdued, distracted, but Jamie had no patience for him if the paper before him gave Caitrin to MacGregor. “’Tis yer responsibility to see she’s safe and well cared for,” Jamie responded. He kept his voice even though anger tensed every muscle in his body. He reached the desk in two strides, and snatched the paper from under Fletcher’s hand.
Not the contract.
Jamie could have passed out from the relief that flooded him. The tension eased from his muscles as he scanned the document. “Merely a letter. Who is this?”
“No’ that it’s any of yer business, Lathan, but Rabbie is a cousin who lives nearby. I think he can be trusted, and I’m asking for his assistance, should we need it, to keep Caitrin from MacGregor until all this unpleasantness can be put behind us.”
Finally! So Caitrin’s confinement had accomplished what her bruises had not. “Is that where ye sent Uilleam after we arrived here? Or did ye send him back to Fletcher?”
“He’s on Fletcher business. Ye needna concern yerself with him.”
Jamie nodded. He’d concede that to Fletcher in order to gain what he’d come for.
“I’m pleased to hear ye making contingency plans,” Jamie told him, handing the document back. Jamie’s spirits rose when Fletcher set it aside and gestured him to take a seat.
“Ye seem to think I’m some heartless bastard who’ll sell his daughter to the highest bidder.” Fletcher cocked an eyebrow, as though daring Jamie to refute that.
Jamie inclined his head, conceding that point as well. “Ye have given me cause for concern…a time or two,” he continued as Fletcher started to interrupt. “But I believe ye love yer daughter and want to see her well placed, for her sake as well as Fletcher’s.”
Fletcher cleared his throat. “I imagine ’tis no’ great stretch to think ye Lathans have also been making plans.”
Jamie nodded. “Of course. After ye were injured, it seemed the wisest course was to be ready for anything. Has it occurred to ye that upon Caitrin’s marriage, MacGregor would consider ye a liability?”
Fletcher grimaced and nodded.
Jamie continued, “I thought it prudent to be prepared to get Caitrin away, especially if anything happened to ye. As ye seemed to believe might be the case when ye made her my responsibility.”
“Uilleam is due back tonight. In fact, when ye burst in, I thought ye might be him.” Fletcher paused for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. “Will ye ride with him on the morrow to my cousin? That way both of ye will ken how to find an ally, and a safe place to put Caitrin until ye can get her back to Fletcher.”
Jamie hesitated then decided if Fletcher had started planning escape routes, he’d best take advantage. This might be the best opportunity he’d have to lay his cards on the table and have Fletcher agree, or at least not disagree. “If the worst happens, she’ll no’ be safe at Fletcher,” he began. When Fletcher didn’t object, he plunged ahead. “I’ve a mind to take her to the Aerie.”
“Under what conditions?”
“I’ll pay MacGregor the bride price and marry her myself.” Jamie hoped Fletcher would respond better to that sort of offer than to a declaration of love.
“Now just a minute—” He leaned forward.
“She’ll never be safe with him. I think ye are beginning to see that. We care for each other. Marriage into Lathan will strengthen the bond between our clans and help protect ye from MacGregor reprisal.”
“And make ye consort to the laird after I am dead. Is that what ye are really after? Should I be as concerned about yer ambition as MacGregor’s?”
“What? Nay.” Truthfully, the idea had never occurred to Jamie. “I…” Oh, the hell with being circumspect. “I love Caitrin. I wish to marry her, and no’ because she’s yer heir. If that worries ye, name Uilleam, or someone else, to succeed ye. I dinna wish ye dead. I saved yer life. Have ye forgotten that?”
Fletcher grimaced. “If word of this gets back to MacGregor…”
