Page 60 of Seduction in a Kilt

Yet Evander presented a problem in himself. There was something about the man that made him feel uneasy. He seemed to have an answer for everything, and it all sounded reasonable. Nevertheless, Liam still felt there was something fishy about him. Ivy might trust him, but he had no intention of dropping his guard. Moreover, he was certain that Knox and Magnus would feel the same way.

However, if he was proved wrong, and Evander really could help bring down Carson and Gael, then it would bring Knox the outcome he wished for, without any bloodshed. If that happened, he would apologize to Evander and shake his hand.

What was really nagging away at him since the fight at the chapel was his feeling that he could not protect Ivy. He castigated himself for letting her go to the chapel at all. It did not matter to him that she had made her own decision.

In his mind, the failure was his, and it all bore out the mantra that ruled his life: the moment you started caring about someone, they would be cruelly snatched away from you. Effie confiding to him that Ivy loved him had made it easier to admit to himself that he was in love with her. But that just makes it worse if I cannae keep her safe. She’ll be better off without me, he concluded grimly as they rode into the castle.

He arranged for Evander to be escorted to see Knox, sending the message that he would be there as soon as he had taken Ivy to see Effie. Then, he picked her up and carried her up to the infirmary. Effie was horrified to see the state of Ivy but also happy and relieved that she was safe. Nevertheless, he sensed some tension in Effie that he guessed stemmed from her guilt at telling him about the meeting.

He waited while Effie examined the wound to Ivy’s arm and checked her for any other injuries. “I think she’ll be fine after I’ve cleaned and dressed the wound and she’s had a nice rest. She’s very strong. I’ll look after her and take her back tae her chamber if ye have things tae see to,” she told him.

“Erm, I am actually here in the room, ye ken,” Ivy chimed. “I’m nae incapable of speakin’ up fer mesel’. I have a cut on me arm, nae a mortal wound.”

“I’m sorry, Ivy. Ye have nae idea of how worried we were about ye,” Effie told her.

“Well, that’s nice tae ken, but please dinnae treat me like an invalid when I’m nae.”

“I havetae go and see Knox now,” Liam told Ivy. “I’ll see ye later.”

“Aye, all right.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Thank ye fer interferin’, Liam. I’m very glad ye stuck yer nose in me business and followed me.” Her beautiful smile almost broke his heart.

He tried to smile back as best he could. “We’ll talk later on,” he said and left the infirmary. As he strode down the tower steps and headed for Knox’s study, he reflected that if he had to choose between dealing with affairs of the heart or a clan war, then war would win hands down.