Page 2 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“I’m glad tae be of some help tae ye,” he said, wishing he could do far more.

“I dinnae wish tae get ye intae trouble by askin’ this, but can ye tell me if there’s been any sign of me braithers searchin’ fer me?” she suddenly asked, her face creased with anxiety. “’Tis been almost a year now since I’ve been locked up here, and I’ve had nae word of them.”

Odhrán’s heart dropped. Of course, he well knew that her brothers, Diarmaid and Ciarán, both formidable warriors, had been scouring the land far and wide for any sign of her for the last year. He guessed they had already worked out where she might be, and who had murdered their parents and brother before kidnapping her. But he was also sure his father was right: without proof they would not dare act.

Even if somehow they found proof, they would need help to attack the Lennox castle, for it held the largest clan army in the West Highlands. But he could not tell Maddison any of that, however much he wanted to comfort her. His father would kill the both of them if he did and he got wind of it.

“I dinnae ken, I’m sorry. I’m just a servant around here,” he lied, hating himself for doing it.

“I ken. I shouldnae have asked ye,” she apologized. Then, he saw a spark in her eyes, and she clenched her small fists at her sides. “Ach, there’s nae one I hate more than Murphy and his son, fer what they’ve done tae me and me family. Every day, I pray me braithers will find me and put an end to those two monsters,” she murmured.

“Aye, that’s understandable,” Odhrán replied, feeling like his poor heart was breaking for her, and for himself. He was unused to feeling so much emotion for anybody. There had never really been anyone for him to care about that much. His mother had died shortly after giving birth to him, and the only affection he remembered receiving was from his old nursemaid, now long dead.

Nevertheless, it physically hurt him to know Maddison was suffering. He so wanted her to know how much he cared about her, but the whole situation was impossible, thus he had no choice but to keep it all secret from her. And from everyone, except perhaps Liam and his brother Tadhg.

But that did not mean he did not think about it, and about how much better his life would be without his father and Rollo in it.

But even if I was Laird Lennox, it would nae change a thing. If Maddison ever learns who I really am, she’ll nae forgive me. She’ll never be me wife, however much I want her.

CHAPTER ONE

1586, Lennox Castle

Odhrán took his place as Laird Lennox at the head of the council table feeling deeply uneasy. He was well aware that only five months after the death of his father and the lairdship passing to him, he was still on thin ice. His position as laird was by no means certain. And as always, he had his father to thank for it.

“Well, let’s get down tae business, gentlemen,” he said, making sure to sound strong and determined as his eyes swept around the table, where his councilmen were taking their seats. “There’s nae time tae waste.”

“Aye, me laird,” intoned Angus Bowman, who had been his father’s chief advisor for many years, shuffling the papers in front of him. “The most important matter is that of yer faither’s will.”

“Aye, I ken it,” Odhrán said with a sharp nod, exchanging a look with Liam and Tadhg that expressed his impatience and their sympathy. “Get on with it then.”

Angus cleared his throat and spoke up clearly. “As ye ken, the old laird left a will saying that if ye dinnae have a wife and a bairn on the way a year after taking the lairdship, the council should gather and decide if ’tis better fer yerself tae continue as laird or fer Rollo tae take over.” The old advisor paused to look at Odhrán before he went on, “’Tis already five months since ye became laird, and there’s nae sight of a wife, let alone a bairn.”

Angus’s words drew a collective muttering from the councilmen, though Odhrán found it impossible to tell whether they were happy or not about the terms of the will. He’d been fuming ever since he’d first heard of them. Even in death, it seemed his father continued to torment him.

“So, what d’ye all think on this?” Odhrán asked through gritted teeth. Once more there were hushed murmurings around the table.

“Frankly, me laird, there’s nae many of us are happy about it,” piped up Renly Cooper, who dealt with the clan’s finances. “But the will is a legally binding document, and ye can be sure Rollo kens about it. Yer faither kept his counsel, so even if we destroy it, he’ll challenge yer right tae inherit.”

“Aye, none of us can see a way tae prevent him legally takin’ over the lairdship except by ye marryin’ and trying tae get a bairn started in the next six months,” Angus added, sounding surprisingly downcast.

“Wheesht!” Liam put in with some impatience. “He’ll nae be able tae inherit if he’s dead. If we dinnae want him as our laird, why nae just kill him?”

“I’d be happy tae dae the job,” Tadhg said, nodding vigorously. “The man’s a snake. He’s nae even a good master tae his own folks. All the headway we’ve made as a clan in improving relations with our neighbors over the last few months with Odhrán here at our head will be lost if he takes over.”

“Aye, even his wife doesnae much like him, the poor lass, so I hear,” Renley said, eliciting nods and words of agreement from his fellows.

“Ach, I wish it was that easy, me friends,” Angus told them , shaking his head morosely. “But ’tis a legal matter. If we just go and kill him, I reckon everyone will ken who’s responsible at once. He has many allies. It could mean war.”

“I’m touched by yer support,” Odhrán said, meaning it. He had not really expected to learn so much about how they all felt about the matter. It was encouraging that they liked his style of lairdship, which was so different to that of his father.

However, there was more than one important thing the council was so far unaware of, bar Liam and Tadhg. He did not want to marry. Or, more specifically, he did not want to marry just anyone. In fact, the only woman he wanted to marry hated his guts. The only solace for his broken heart in the whole mess was knowing that Maddison was back home safe with her family again, following a violent attack on Lennox Castle by her brothers and their allies that had ended in his father’s death.

And there was more than just the will. When going through his father’s desk, which now belonged to him, he had found a letter from his father addressed to Rollo. Furious, he had torn it open and read it.

If ye become Laird Lennox, ye must finish what I started and kill all the surviving Kincaids. Me spirit willnae rest until ye have wiped out the whole family and clan tae the last man.

Odhrán had almost choked on his hatred for his father as well as his fear for Maddison on reading those words. He knew Rollo would enjoy carrying out his father’s wishes should he ever become Laird Lennox. But Maddison’s life and her clan had to be protected at all costs against this new threat. Immediately, he had thought the best way to do that would be to have her close, ideally as his wife. But he had known with a sinking heart that it was out of the question. She, her family, and the whole Kincaid clan despised him. They would never countenance such a union.