“I have no idea what—”
“That being the case”—Danielle folded her hands on the table in front of her, focusing her attention there as she spoke—“I fear I’m not at liberty to give you any of the coin we’ve brought from the people of the MacGahan.”
“What?”
Somewhere along the line, his plans for this meal had been completely dashed. These women had taken charge.
“Since you say it’s impossible for me to see my husband, I need some proof that Malcolm lives. I don’t even know for sure that he was ever here.”
“I can assure you that I do indeed hold your husband as my . . . guest.”
“Oh, you assure us of that, do you?” The mother-in-law, at last concerned with something other than her palate.
“I’m afraid that’s simply not good enough.” Danielle looked up, her enormous green eyes boring into him as if she were attempting to search his very soul. “I’m not turning over the entire fortune of the MacGahan clan merely on your say-so. No offense intended. I’m sure you understand this is purely business.”
“The word of your own husband’s brother is not good enough for you?”
“No.” The mother-in-law pushed back her chair and rose to her feet.
“Elesyria is correct,” Danielle confirmed, rising to her feet as well. “Not when that brother claims to be holding my husband prisoner. Or ‘guest,’ as you seem to prefer to call it.”
This was beyond absurd. Did these women not realize he could merely take that which they had brought and toss their broken bodies into the sea? And yet, he felt compelled to continue what had become an entertaining game for him. Toying with prey so full of surprises provided a fascination to see what their next move might be.
Though once he tired of the game, the annoying one called Elesyria would be its first victim.
“Christiana. Tell them you’ve spoken to your brother.”
“I have spoken to my brother.”
Even he would have doubts based on the girl’s demeanor and he knew for a fact that Malcolm languished in the oubliette below.
“Nope.” Danielle pushed her chair to the table and began to gather her bags. “Not good enough. At this point, I need proof.”
The next move was his, in the form of a new hurdle for his toys to overcome. He stood and walked around the table to place a restraining hand on the woman’s wrist.
“If that’s the treasure you think to deliver, then it would seem we already have a problem. I canna believe that holds the amount I required of you.”
Danielle pulled at his grip but he refused to release his hold. Time she began to understand the power she sought to battle.
“Well, sir, it’s all you’re getting.” Brazenly, she fixed that brilliant gaze upon him again. “And there’s nothing we can do about that because it’s everything we have. All the coin, all the silver, right down to the only two candlesticks I could find that were worth anything. We’ve even collected every piece of jewelry we could lay hands on. So, you want the wealth of the MacGahan in return for my husband’s release? There it is. But you don’t get one single piece of it until I have proof that he’s here and that he’s alive.”
She tugged her hand again and he glanced down to where he held her, an idea springing to life as he noted the jewel upon her finger.
“As you say.” He released his grip and stepped back. “This is business, not family, so I have a business proposal for you. In exchange for one trinket from your treasure, I will deliver to you proof that Malcolm is indeed here. A good-faith gesture on both our parts.”
He could well imagine her mind ticking off the possibilities as she continued to stare at him. By the gods, but Malcolm did not deserve one such as this. Beauty, wit, and a quick mind combined in a single package.
Though hardly quick enough to successfully engage him in an intellectual battle.
“And once we’ve completed this good-faith act of yours, then you agree to negotiate Malcolm’s release to me in return for the treasure I carry?”
“The treasure and the MacGahan’s pledge of fealty, of course.” The one piece he was certain he would never receive from Malcolm.
“Then we have a deal.” She extended her hand to grasp his, pumping it up and down as a merchant at the fair might. Stepping back she swept her arm over the stack of bags. “Feel free to go through them. Choose whatever item you like.”
“No need, my lady. I’ve already chosen. I’d have the trinket you wear upon your hand. You did say you were including all the jewelry you could find at Castle MacGahan as part of the payment.”
Surprise registered on her lovely features even as she covered the ring with her other hand. Her reaction, however, was short-lived. She recovered quickly, all emotion wiped from her expression as she twisted the ring from her finger and handed it over to him.
