Page 69 of Seduction in a Kilt

“All right, give me a minute, and I’ll follow ye in.” Magnus nodded and left. Liam lingered for a few minutes. He had a nasty feeling he knew what Knox wanted to talk about. It was the inevitable outcome of the stalemate that had developed between Knox and Carson MacAlister.

His suspicions were quickly proved right shortly after he settled into a chair around Knox’s hearth with the laird himself and Magnus seated nearby.

“I want tae tell ye about a decision the council has reached concernin’ our next move with MacAlister and Hamilton,” Knox began, leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked Liam in the eye.

“Aye, I guessed that much. ’Tis overdue. It’s been almost a fortnight since ye made him the offer tae exchange Ivy fer a peace treaty. I take it there’s still been nae response tae that.”

“Nay, nae a word. The only thing ye could call a response was Gael’s attack on Cragiemuir village last week, and what happened yesterday eve at the chapel,” Knox told him. “So, based on that, the council thinks there’s only one road left tae go down, and I agree.”

“Aye, and what’s that?” Liam asked, though he thought he knew the answer already.

“Well, ’tis radical, and it could dae one of two things. It could kick off a real

war, or it could force a peace. But one thing it will dae fer sure is save Ivy from havin’ tae marry Gael Hamilton.”

Liam’s heart plummeted to his boots, for he knew then he had correctly guessed what his friend was about to tell him. He nodded, trying to maintain a casual façade.

“’Tis obvious now that Ivy was tellin’ the truth. The only reason Carson is concerned about gettin’ her back is because he needs her tae wed Hamilton. And the reason fer it is that when she does, Hamilton’s army and resources will be at his disposal. He would have attacked us long ago if Ivy hadnae spoiled his plans by runnin’ away on her weddin’ day.”

“Aye, but we thought as much anyway,” Liam replied. ’Tis why he’s been playin’ on Gael’s lust fer power, eggin’ him on tae attack yer villages and try and force ye tae give her up. Gael must be getting’ pretty desperate too if he’s prepared tae send his men on tae Stewart land and try tae abduct Ivy as he did yesterday.”

“Exactly, me friend. But there’s one way tae ensure Carson never gets his hands on Gael’s forces, which would reduce the chances of him bein’ able tae raise enough troops tae launch a full-scale attack on the castle.”

With his heart clenched, Liam waited for him to say the words.

“Someone else has tae marry Ivy.”

Time passed slowly, accompanied by the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Eventually, he heard himself say coolly, “That makes sense.”

“The question is,” Magnus interjected, looking him square in the eyes, “who?”

“I’ll marry her if I have tae,” Knox said, his blue eyes piercing as he kept them fixed on Liam’s face. “If she’ll agree tae it, of course.”

Liam felt like he had been punched in the belly, but through an act of sheer willpower, he hid it. Or at least, he thought he did. “It would certainly protect her and might even save her life,” he heard himself say, his voice surprisingly even, considering the storm now raging inside him.

He became aware that his friends were both watching him expectantly, their eyes silently urging him to say what they all knew: that he should be the one to wed Ivy.

He knew he had given himself away in a thousand little ways. They had teased him about his feelings for Ivy over and over. And every time he had denied there was anything between them. Since last night, that was more of a lie than ever, which only added to his confusion.

The air of tense expectancy in the room made it obvious they had imagined he would leap at the chance of marrying Ivy and, as the moments ticked by, were growing increasingly puzzled by his silence. But neither Knox nor Magnus had any idea about his longstanding vow never to marry. He saw no point in trying to explain it to them. They would not understand. But neither did they understand why he had not seized this opportunity to ask beautiful, clever, funny, brave Ivy MacAlister to be his wife.

He felt an urgent need to settle the matter and leave the room as quickly as possible. “Aye, that’s that natural conclusion. I’m sure if ye ask her, Knox, she’ll see the sense in it and agree tae wed ye,” he said, rising to his feet. “Now, if ye dinnae need me fer anythin’ else, I have me duties tae attend tae.”

He felt their eyes on him as they stared in obvious disbelief. Finally, Knox nodded and said, “If ye have nay more tae say on the subject, then I’ll nae keep ye any longer. Maybe we’ll see ye at noon fer a bite tae eat, eh?”

“Aye, maybe.” It took all he had to saunter casually from the room.

Out in the hallway, he strode off, hardly knowing where he was heading. Even though he had seen it coming, the thought of Ivy marrying Knox, marrying anyone one else, was like a knife twisting in his heart.

But the same old fear held strong. I can never offer Ivy marriage, he told himself, nae if I want her tae be protected. Marrying Knox will keep her safe. ’Tis fer the best, and I just havetae get used tae it.

Ivy was taking a walk in the castle gardens when she heard someone coming up behind her. On edge since the events at the chapel, she whirled around to see who was following her. When she saw it was Knox, a wave of relief washed over her, and she smiled at him in greeting.

“Hello, there, Ivy. Takin’ in some fresh air, I see,” he said, returning her smile as he went up to her.

“Aye, I got bored just lyin’ in bed,” she admitted, resuming her walk. The laird fell in beside her, his hands clasped behind his back.

“We havenae spoken since ye got attacked. How’s yer arm?” he asked.