Page 6 of In Bed with a Highland Liar

Ruadh’s patience was wearing thin. He wished he didn’t have to spell everything out for his men, but if they refused to think for themselves, then he had to do it for them.

“Once I have the gold from both arrangements, I will have Aaden and Lilith killed, an’ then Evander can take the lairdship with Freya by his side.”

Ruadh spoke casually, the murder of his nephew and of his young bride leaving no impression on him. He had been planning this for a long time. In fact, this wasn’t the first time he would attempt to kill Aaden. While his brother lived, Ruadh had kept his promise to let Aaden live, but since his death, he had seen no reason to hold up his end of the bargain. Ivor was dead. He could do nothing to save his precious son.

It was only bad luck that Ruadh hadn’t managed to. With Aaden under the protection of Clan MacDowell, any attack on his life was easily thwarted, as any direct assault would be too dangerous. The MacDowell Clan was too powerful and the last thing Ruadh wanted was to risk going to war with them because of their protégé. But once he was in Castle Stewart, perhaps Ruadh would finally manage to get rid of him. There was no one there who would strive to keep him safe and alive.

“Ye’ll kill them both?” Bram asked, raising a curious eyebrow. “Isnae that…”

Bram didn’t finish his sentence, but Athol did it for him. “Cruel?”

“Aye, I suppose it is,” Ruadh said, unbothered by the accusation. It was true, after all. His plan was cruel but also necessary. “But what other choice dae we have? Aaden cannot be allowed tae take control of the Stewart Clan. Evander must become the laird an’ the only way fer him tae dae that is if Aaden an’ Lilith are dead. Her faither willnae suspect a thing. He doesnae ken about me braither’s betrayal. All he kens is that Aaden is me nephew an’ naturally, I will be devastated tae lose him, as he will be devastated tae lose his daughter. Then, Evander will wed Freya as a way fer both our clans tae move forward. It will be a joyous occasion after all the grief.”

The five men in his council looked at him with doubt clearly etched in their features, Bram and Athol more so than the other three. Ruadh had made up his mind, though, and he would do anything to convince his council it was the best way forward.

“Well? Why are ye starin’ at me?” Ruadh asked, spreading his arms wide as a smile stretched over his lips. “Dae ye have any better ideas?”

No one spoke for several minutes, but then Bram said, “We will find a better idea. I dinnae think this is a wise plan, me laird. Lilith Stewart… she’s an innocent lass. We cannae simply kill her!”

“I agree,” Athol said, standing from his chair. “Besides, we cannae be certain her faither willnae find out the truth. We cannae risk this. It is better if Aaden weds Freya an’ Evander weds Lilith. This is how it should be.”

Frustrated, Ruadh slammed his fist on his desk, the tray that held his cup of wine and the pitcher rattling with the force of it. “I already told ye that Evander is tae wed Freya. That decision is final. Naething ye can say will change it.”

Athol and Bram exchanged a glance, seemingly not knowing what else to say that could make Ruadh change his mind. Ruadh hoped that was the case.

“Is there anyone else here who disagrees?” he asked his other three men as he raised an eyebrow in a silent challenge.

There was only a moment of hesitation before all three men shook their heads. “He is the son o’ a traitor,” one of them said. “An’ we must dae what we can.”

“But the lass⁠—”

Ruadh held up a hand, stopping Bram before he could say another word. “Tragic things happen every day. Her death is necessary or I wouldnae even consider it. Dae ye think o’ me as so cruel?”

There was no response from Bram or anyone else.

“Besides,” Ruadh continued, “three out o’ five are in favor. We shall proceed with the plan an’ by the end o’ it all, ye will all see this was the only way.”

“Aye, me laird,” the men said in a chorus, much to Ruadh’s pleasure. Now that he had the support of his council as well, there was only one thing left to do—put the plan in motion.

“Evander will be sendin’ us letters often. I have instructed him tae send us updates on Aaden an’ the Stewart lass.” Once again, Ruadh looked out of the window, though Aaden’s and Evander’s figures had long disappeared beyond the horizon. There was nothing but the stretch of the valley below them, the green of the forest that spread towards the north. “Soon, it will all be done soon.”

He would finally have everything he had worked so hard to get; not only gold and power, but also revenge. The bastard spawn of his cheating wife and his traitorous brother would finally meet his end.

CHAPTER THREE

It was an uncharacteristically balmy day, though the sky was a steely grey. Still, it was the perfect opportunity for Lilith to practice her archery and she stood near the edge of the courtyard, away from any wandering guards and servants, throwing arrow after arrow at the three trees she had used as targets ever since she was a child. It was a finicky job—despite the comfortable temperatures of the day, there was a breeze that she had to account for as she fired the arrows, her mind tasked with a series of complex calculations each time.

She liked the challenge, though. This was the only way for her to perfect her shooting.

Behind her, Freya sat with one of their maids, painting. The poor girl, Fiona, was being subjected to a relentless questioning, too, Freya asking her question after question about boys. It sounded like torture, to Lilith at least, so perhaps she was only projecting. Fiona, after all, was answering quite willingly, she and Freya giggling.

“All the lasses here love Cameron,” Fiona said and Lilith couldn’t help but snort in amusement as she readied her next arrow. It didn’t surprise her at all to find out Cameron Baxter, a young yet accomplished warrior of the Stewart Clan, was popular among the maids. He was handsome, kind, and most importantly, hopelessly oblivious. A girl could kiss him on the lips and he still wouldn’t know she was interested in him or even how to speak to her.

Then again, he wasn’t interested in them. He only seemed interested in the one woman who saw him as nothing but a friend—Freya. Ever since Lilith could remember, he had stared at her with such longing that she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her sister’s lack of interest.

“Cameron?” Freya asked, sounding surprised. “But he’s so…”

Meek? Timid?