Page 27 of Falling for His Cousin’s Betrothed

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“Alastair!” she called out as she approached them. “I was wondering if I’d find you out in this stretch of the woods.” Laila gave him a gallant smile,

Robert was confused. Perhaps she is simply toying with me, he thought. Otherwise, she would’ve pouted, smirked, or even ignored me as is usually the case.

“Laila, lass. What brings you all the way out here? Aren’t you supposed to be home cooking with Lyall on a morning like this? The autumn festival is this weekend, and I’m sure you have many wares to prepare for peddling.” Alastair sounded so cocky and rude to Robert, but he refrained from interjecting.

“Good morning.” Robert winked at her, then took another sip of water. Bonnie neighed and lifted one hoof, a signal that she was ready to move forward. “We’ve got many miles before we reach the castle.” Robert was eager to get out of the woods. He still wasn’t feeling well from the flashback, and he wanted to get back on familiar ground.

“I just arrived, and I was hoping to have a few words with you.” Laila’s eyes were bright, and Robert, once more, forgot all of his present woes and acquiesced to that pang of fervent desire he held for Laila in his heart.

“Robert is returning to the castle grounds, Laila.” Alastair eyed her with contempt and then tightened the reins on his stallion. The tension, only moments before nonexistent, had filled an entire valley. Robert looked forward, convinced getting home was the only chance he had at returning to a harmonious afternoon. He could tell Alastair was ruffled again, and only from the mere sight of Laila. What good would it do the man to marry her if she only agitated his every breath?

“I should like to speak with him first.” Laila was stubborn, and as much as Robert admired it in a sort of romantic way, he also understood it could come with its own repercussions. Alastair’s face reddened. Both Laila and Robert recognized his irritation and, therefore, briefly quieted themselves, focusing instead on the grassy meadow before them.

“You will not have the chance to do so.” Alastair was adamant in his defense. He wanted to suffocate Laila’s freedom. She was too mouthy, in his opinion, and far too inquisitive for his liking. The women he was accustomed to courting were docile, quiet, essentially weak and easy to dominate. He tensed at her persistent requests and chose to ignore her ensuing interrogation.

“I see you had other plans, Alastair?” Laila confronted him. She knew he had been up to something, riding all the way out past the furthest meadow and beyond the deepest valley with only Robert. Why was he so insistent on taking him far away from where no other castle guards or kin could see him? Having always prided herself on her intuition, she knew he was up to foul play and yearned to catch him in the act. How could she do so without having all the details, though? She wanted to know what his evil plans were, but she knew he kept those details secluded in his tiny reptilian brain.

“I think it would be best for me to take another route, up over Pine Hill,” Robert interjected, not wanting to be part of any row.

Alastair shook his head. “No. You can ride back over the east valley. It’s better on the horse’ hooves, anyway.”

Laila sensed, again, that Alastair was up to no good. Why was he insisting on taking Robert off his planned course of travel, and of even more question: Why did he choose to do so today? It was the busiest weekend of the season with the market fair coming up, so most lairds and nobles had workshop duties or other dealings to manage in preparation. Laila knew that she had to figure out what was happening, but she didn’t know how to do so without arousing suspicion.

“I must be going.” Robert looked pained, and Laila worried for his safety. “I’ve got a bit of a headache.”

“I can ride back with you,” suggested Laila with a hopeful lilt to her voice.

“We must ride together, Cousin. Laila, you need to go back to the castle at once. You have no business on this excursion.”

Alastair’s face was red, and Laila knew that meant trouble. She pulled back on the reins and settled deeper into her saddle. How could she help Robert? He appeared pale, and she wondered if he would be well enough to travel all the way back to Glencoe Valley.

“Go on, Laila. Let Alastair and I handle our business. You surely have work to do for the fair.”

“I am not leaving until I know why you have dragged him all the way out here!” Laila threw back her shoulders and pursed her lips. “And if you don’t tell me what is going on, then I will follow you all the way back to your castle.” Her mare snorted and pawed the earth. Laila patted her neck reassuringly.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, woman. Your tongue will surely get you into trouble, whether it be sooner or later.” Alastair glared at Laila, then yanked on his stallion’s reins. “Get on with yourself and head home.” With a swift kick of his heels, the stallion reared quietly, then cantered off, Alastair coaxing him along the way with grunts and grumbles.

Laila felt as if she might cry. She was tired of the games, the deceit, and the uncertainty. In addition, she was deeply concerned about Robert, who had veered off through the reeds, obviously ignoring Alastair’s requests to ride as his captive.

“I think you are the one who needs to be ashamed. You’ve been plotting and scheming for reasons unbeknownst to either me or Robert. You have caused the man stress, and you have spoken to me out of turn. I was raised to show respect to other kinfolk, and I wonder how you were not. Why is that, Alastair?” Laila demanded answers even though she didn’t bet on receiving them. After all, Alastair was clearly not cooperating with anyone’s wishes. Still, she felt as if an attempt must be made.

“You are heading for trouble, lass.” Alastair didn’t care about her questions. “Robert!” he called, yet Robert had headed deeper into the scrub oak, out of sight. “How did that happen?” he asked under his breath. “Where has he gotten off to?” He squinted and steered his stallion to the east. Laila followed.

Was it a pole? A wedge? An ax handle? Robert racked his brain trying to recall what it was that had hit him on the head and knocked him out of consciousness. He was still pale-faced and weak, the sight of his past reeling inside his brain now sending him into a sort of tailspin. He didn’t want to halt Bonnie because he was still determined to make it safely out of the woods yet he also didn’t want to ride near Alastair. Where is Laila? he wondered. What time is it? He leaned forward and took another sip out of his almost empty canteen. How was he going to make it back to the castle unscathed?

“I know what it is! It’s because you slept with him!” Alastair’s face was contorted, and Laila recoiled. “You defend him at every opportunity,” he blurted. “I know now. You simply cannot be, under any circumstances, trusted as a faithful and loyal wife!” He threw his arm into the air, and Laila watched in shock as he kicked his stallion in the sides, then galloped off toward the outcropping of boulders to the left of the valley. Where was he heading? To find Robert? Laila didn’t know what to do. The man was so unpredictably hotheaded that she feared he might come after her next.

Robert, hearing the arguing between the two, snapped out of his dreamscape. He couldn’t allow Alastair to continue lashing out at Laila. “Enough!” he yelled, suddenly feeling the life force pour into him again. “I don’t want to hear any more of it, Cousin!” He shook his head and steered Bonnie away from the outcropping and back toward the cobblestone path where Laila and Alastair bickered their way forward.

“What?” Alastair was further angered by Robert’s curiosity. “I have this handled, Cousin. The lass needs to understand her place. She’s unfortunately too much for her own britches and needs redirecting.” Alastair didn’t want to give any attention to Robert lest his own wishes go ignored. How would he manage to carry out his plan now? His mind was becoming addled, and his frustration grew deeper.

“Cousin, it has been too much of this already. I am in no position to argue with you but it’s now wearisome to listen to the two of you argue back and forth. The sun is retreating, and before long, it will be time to prepare supper for the fair. I want to leave now but will not do so until I’m convinced Laila is safe under your command.”

“Far be it for you to question my motives, Cousin.” Alastair cackled, then yanked on his horse’s reins again. Laila was irked by his bold, jagged movements. He was uncouth, gnarly, and bold. She craned her neck to see where Robert was, his figure going in and out of the reeds. Why wouldn’t he just let her catch up? She coaxed her mare along, hoping she would soon be able to speak to him, regardless of Alastair’s protests.

“I said no more!” Robert halted in his tracks.