Page 53 of Bewitching her Highland Savior

“A whole chest of coins?” the laird asked. “Who do ye think I am, lad, God?”

“Ye asked me what she’s worth to me,” Liam said with a small shrug. “I gave ye an answer.”

The laird remained silent for a long while, a hand coming up to scratch at his chin as he stared at Liam. Liam kept his expression as neutral as he could, holding the other man’s gaze. He didn’t want to give anything away.

“I’ll give ye three times what I gave ye for the job,” the laird said. “That should be plenty, dinnae ye think?”

“That’s the gold that will ensure I never have to work again?” Liam asked, shaking his head. “Three times willnae do. Seven.”

“Five,” the laird said.

“Fine. Give me five times what ye paid me and I’ll leave her alone,” Liam said.

“We have a deal.” The laird stood and began to leave but before he got far, Liam spoke again.

“And ye let me leave noo,” he said. “I’ve spent more time here than I’d ever want to.”

“Is it nae to yer standards?” the laird asked. “I believe I have been a most gracious host.”

Liam could have killed the laird with his bare hands but he stopped himself, reeling in his rage. He put on his best smile, hiding his curled fists behind his back but did not try to hide the hostility in his tone as he spoke.

“I am a prisoner. We both ken that,” he said. “So, the sooner ye let me leave this place, the sooner I will forget all about this ordeal. Besides, I would think that ye wouldnae want me to be too close to Muriel.”

“And ye’ll return to Argyll?” the laird asked. “Perhaps I should arrange for a boat to take ye to the mainland.”

Liam stopped himself from replying impulsively at the last moment. He thought about it for a while, considering his options and in the end, he said, “Aye, that would be generous of ye, Laird McNeil.”

Just as Liam had thought, the question was meant to test him. His answer seemed to satisfy the laird and he smiled, giving him a small nod.

“Verra weel,” he said. “I’ll arrange for a boat and for yer gold. I hope that ye willnae hold a grudge once ye reach Argyll. It’s all just good business, lad.”

“Of course,” Liam said; bowing as the laird left the room. Once he was finally alone, he fell face-first on the bed, drowning out his groan against the pillow. Dealing with that man was exhausting and frustrating all at once and he wondered how any of the people in the keep had stayed there for years without having the urge to punch him.

Maybe they do. Maybe they all hate him just as much as I do.

At the very least, he'd be let out of the room and wouldn't have to fight an unarmed guard just to get out. In his mind, a plan was already forming, one that was far more likely to succeed than the one he had devised when he thought he had no other options. He had a good chance of getting Muriel out of there whether it was that day or the next if she was still there and her father kept his promise to release him.

He just hadn’t thought what they would do once they escaped. The safest option would be to run to Europe – somewhere where Laird McNeil and Laird Macleod wouldn’t be able to find them. If Liam could keep the money that the laird was going to give him, then they would have enough to travel far away and start their life anew – where no one knew who they were. Besides, Muriel had told him that she wanted to see the world. The two of them could go anywhere together.

He wasn't sure if he could leave his family behind. He wasn't sure he could flee without even saying goodbye. He had no idea if he would ever see Amelia or Ron again.

It would be a risk, passing by Argyll on their way to Europe. But Liam had to go there. He had to see them one last time.