Page 40 of In Bed with a Scot

Madden is right. I cannae remain with Bain. If I stay, he will kill me someday. It may be slower than the death he would bring if he caught me running away, but it is a death, nevertheless.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

For three days Cara and Isabelle did not leave Arran’s side. Bain could not retaliate for Isabelle hitting him if she were never alone with him.

Once Arran was recovered enough to walk, he joined the clan in the great hall to break the fast. His appearance resulted in a chorus of cheers from all of those assembled with the obvious exception of Bain and his men.

Bain had not seemed to care that he and his wife had not shared a bed for days as he believed that her care of her brother would change Arran’s mind about the amount of money that Bain had requested. He had had the hubris to believe it was Isabelle’s way of making up for her rebellious behavior towards him.

When Isabelle entered the hall with her brother, she scanned the room and found her husband already sitting upon the dais, shoveling parritch into his mouth. Madden and Lorcan were standing guard at the base of the stairs, but followed Arran as he entered the hall and walked across the room to his chair on the dais. The cheers of his people brought a smile to his face. He raised his hand in a gesture of acceptance and gratitude, then sat down in his chair.

“We are all happy tae see ye back on yer feet, me laird,” Lorcan greeted with a grin as he took his seat beside Arran.

“As am I, me friend. As am I. Another day of lying about in bed and I might have gone mad,” Arran admitted.

“Now that ye have returned tae yer duties, braither, I would like tae speak with ye alone,” Bain requested, though his tone sounded more like a demand than a request. The emphasis that he placed on the word braither was not lost on anyone.

“After we have broken the fast,” Arran answered, grabbing a bannock from the platter in front of him. “It has been tae long since I have left the confines of me room and I dinnae intend tae rush the delight of it.”

Bain’s eyes flashed in anger, but he said nothing. He gave Isabelle a look that caused a chill to pass along her spine. Cara, seeing it, stepped forward. “The cook has requested Isabelle’s help in the kitchen.”

Arran nodded his permission. “Aye, of course, if Isabelle is willing.”

Isabelle nodded. “Aye, I would be happy tae be of help,” she quickly and gladly agreed. Standing, she followed Cara to the kitchen. “I thank ye,” she murmured softly so that no one would hear her.

“The only thing that ye should thank me fer is nae stabbing the beast with my sgain dubh,” Cara retorted, as they left the threatening gaze of Bain Sutherland behind them.

Madden watched as Isabelle walked away with Cara. He had not seen her since the day that they had made love in the rose garden. His heart and body had ached for her, but he had managed to piece together what had happened from what Cara had told Keelin. It had been safer for her to stay away.

Once Arran finished eating, he stood and nodded at Bain. “Let us go and speak now.”

Bain stood and followed Arran to the library, Lorcan and Athol joining them. Madden and Keelin exchanged a glance. Then, without having to speak a word, they stood as one and followed them. They had been closely watching Bain and his men in the days since the attack, but they had not been able to ascertain anything specific. They needed hard proof to bring their suspicions to Arran and Lorcan, but they did not have enough information to do that.

Once the men had entered the library and shut the door, Madden and Keelin moved forward, pressing their ears to the rough wooden surface of the door.

“It has been made clear tae me that ye are in need of assistance. The men who attacked the castle nearly killed ye. They nearly took the castle and all within. I would be happy tae write tae me council and have more of me men brought here tae aid in yer protection and that of the clan… fer a reasonable fee,” Bain’s voice filtered through the wood. “After all, we are family and the protection of me wife and her people are a priority fer me.”

Madden and Keelin met each other’s eyes in understanding. “That is his game. If he cannae get money from Arran one way, he will dae so by creating a need fer soldiers.”

“I appreciate yer concern fer me and me people,” Arran replied. “Clearly, I misjudged the situation. I believed that me people were at peace with our neighbors. Apparently, I was wrong. I would appreciate…”

Before Arran could agree to the arrangement, Madden motioned for Keelin to run. She nodded, and obeyed, running back down the hall as he barged into the library. “Arran, I need tae speak with ye. It is of the utmost importance.” Madden turned his gaze to Bain and Athol. “In private.”

“I am a laird! How dare ye dismiss me!” Bain growled angrily.

“I will speak with ye further, Bain, but for the moment, would ye give us the room,” Arran requested with a firm voice.

“Someone should teach this giant whelp some manners.” Bain shot Madden a murderous look but left the room with Athol on his heels. Lorcan looked at him questioningly as to whether he should stay. Madden nodded in assent.

Once the door had closed behind them, Arran turned his attention to Madden. “What has happened?”

“I believe that Bain, Athol, and their men are responsible fer the attack,” Madden informed him.

Arran’s brows raised in surprise. “How dae ye come tae believe this?”

Madden explained what he had seen on the battlefield after the battle, near the bodies, and everything that he had been able to piece together since then. He had not planned to speak with Arran on the matter yet, but Bain had pushed his timeline forward. Madden admitted to eavesdropping. “I apologize fer the invasion intae yer affairs, but the breach of etiquette was necessary.”

“Dae ye have proof?” Arran asked, his brow furrowed in thought.