Page 60 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Ye’re nae tae go anywhere, nae even inside the castle walls, without me or at least two guards tae protect ye, Maddy. I cannae risk him makin’ another attempt tae snatch ye, d’ye hear?”

“Aye,” she said simply, turning around to indicate that he should fasten her stays. “I’ll kill meself before I let that bastard get his hands on me,” she swore vehemently.

“Ye’ll dae nae such thing!” Odhrán cried in horror, turning her by her shoulder. “He’s nae gonnae get ye! But if he does, by some mischance of fate, ye’ll wait it out and ken I’ll be comin’ fer ye. D’ye swear nae tae harm yerself?”

To his surprise in the circumstances, she gave him a small smile and pecked him on the cheek.

“I swear.”

“Good. Now, c’mere so I can dae ye up,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief for the moment.

“But ’tis good we overheard them, is it nae?” she asked when he had done, and she was stepping into her gown. “Now, ye have the proof ye need fer the council. With me tae back ye up, they must give ye yer army now, eh?”

“That’s what we’re gonnae go and find out right now. We need tae get back tae the castle. I havetae call an emergency council meetin’ straightaway, and ye’re comin’ with me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Once they were both dressed, they hurried back to his horse, which was contentedly cropping the long grass at the edge of the wood. It whinnied when it saw them.

“I suppose it was lucky they did nae find ye, eh, lad?” Odhrán told the beast, giving it an affectionate slap on it flank. He swung himself up into the saddle and pulled Maddison up after him. She held on tightly as he kicked the horse into a canter, then into a gallop as they headed back across the fields to the castle.

By the time they got back, Odhrán’s fury had turned to a steely resolve to destroy his cousin once and for all, armed with this new information.

For once, I have the upper hand. Rollo has nae idea I ken the truth of his plans, and I intend tae use that against him when I finally bring the bastard down. I’m gonnae make sure he dies a long and painful death fer threatenin’ tae take me Maddy!

The councilmen rose from their seats and greeted her respectfully when Odhrán led Maddison by the hand into the chamber. But she read their eyes, which said, “What’s a woman doin’ in here?” Instinctively, she straightened to her full height and lifted her chin, determined to show them she belonged there and was proud to stand before them next to their Laird.

During the next tense half hour, after she had spoken her testimony to back him up, she had a taste of what Odhrán had been having to put up with from his advisors.

“We believe ye, me laird,” Angus Bowman said at last after Odhrán put up an impassioned argument to be granted his men for an attack on Rollo.

“Finally, ye see sense! Give me the men I need now. If we move quickly, we can catch him on his way back tae his stronghold. He’s only got a few men with him. I can take a small war party tae intercept him, while Liam and Tadgh can lead a stronger force tae his castle. I can join them once I have the dog in chains,” he told them, his eyes blazing. Maddison watched him with admiration, expecting as he did that that they could not refuse him this time. And yet, frustratingly, they dallied, arguing amongst themselves, while Liam, always on Odhrán’s side, argued vociferously for an attack. Tadgh was absent, still recovering from his injury.

“Well, come on then, what are ye waitin’ fer?” Odhrán barked at last, impatiently banging a fist on the table. “Time’s a wastin’!”

Bowman cleared his throat and said, “Despite what ye say, we still agree that ’tis nae wise tae attack Rollo, me laird. We cannae give ye the men ye want.”

“Jesus!” Odhrán shouted running his hand distractedly through his hair. “I dinnae believe this. Have ye all turned intae cowards?”

“’Tis nae a question of that, me laird,” put in Renley Cooper. “We ken Liam here supports ye, but the rest of us still think it would look bad tae be seen tae attack a member of yer own family. We suggest it would be better tae write the King and ask him tae act on our behalf tae curb Rollo’s actions.”

“’Tis the rational way tae deal with the matter,” Bowman said. “The King has the authority tae have Rollo imprisoned and punished, whereas an attack might lead tae worse consequences. It would save a lot of unnecessary bloodshed.”

Upset for Odhrán, Maddison put a comforting hand on his shoulder as he sank into his seat in obvious frustration.

“What d’ye think on this plan, Liam?” he asked his captain.

Liam shrugged. “Much as I’d like tae attack, this could be a better way tae go about things in the circumstances. Our neighbors are still lookin’ at us with suspicion because of yer faither’s violent way of dealin’ with things. Now ye’ve started tae build bridges with the other clans and improve yer reputation, this seems like it could be a sensible alternative tae fightin’. After all, there’s nae guarantee we can beat Rollo. Angus is right, I reckon. At the least, it’ll save lives tae ask the King for help.”

Odhrán let out deep groan of disappointment. “Ye as well, Liam?” he muttered thickly. Maddison squeezed his shoulder, feeling the blow to his hopes keenly. She wanted to argue on his behalf, but she knew it was useless. With the support of Liam, it appeared the council had made its decision.

“I’m glad, Odhrán,” she admired a short while later after the meeting disbanded and they were back in the privacy of their chambers.

“Glad! How can ye be glad?!” he exclaimed, looking at her aghast.

“Because if the King deals with Rollo, then there’ll be justice with nae risk of ye getting’ hurt, or even killed, God forbid. I could nae live if anythin’ happened tae ye. Besides, Liam was right. It’ll be better fer yer reputation as the young Laird Lennox, showin’ ye’re nae a violent maniac like yer faither. It makes sense.”

Odhrán let out a vicious oath, then seemed to collect himself. He threw himself into a chair by the hearth and said with a heavy sigh of resignation, “will ye bring me a dram, Maddy? I need a stiff drink or three tae drown me frustrations.” He flexed his hands and added in a savage tone, “Ye cannae guess how much I want tae fillet my swine of a cousin like a kipper. However, it seems I have nae choice but tae go the diplomatic route.”