Page 74 of Under the Laird’s Promise

Kathleen pushed through the growing crowd, her face pale. "Maighread! Saints above, are ye hurt?"

"Nay, I'm fine. Tavish kept me safe." Her cousin's eyes darted between them, noting how closely they stood, how Tavish's arm remained firmly around Maighread's shoulders. "I can see that. Come, ye need tae sit down. Both of ye."

"The Council needs tae be informed," Maighread protested.

"They're being summoned now." Kathleen gripped her arm, gentle but insistent. "But first, ye need tae breathe. And clean that blood off before ye frighten the servants half tae death."

Maighread glanced down at her dress. Dark stains marred the fabric, some hers from handling Tavish's wounds, most from the battle itself. "Me faither," she said suddenly. "I need tae see him. He should hear this from me before the Council descends."

Tavish's arm tightened fractionally. "Is he well enough tae receive visitors?"

"I dinnae ken. But he deserves tae ken what happened." She pulled away from his embrace reluctantly. "I'll go tae him now."

"Maighread—"

"I need tae dae this." She met his eyes, silently asking him to understand. "Alone."

He searched her face for a long moment, then nodded. "I'll handle the Council. Buy ye some time."

"Thank ye." She left him standing in the courtyard, surrounded by guards and servants, and made her way through the familiar corridors. Her legs felt unsteady, her hands still trembling with residual fear. But she forced herself to move with purpose, to appear stronger than she felt. The guards outside her father's chamber straightened at her approach. One of them took in her bloodied appearance and blanched.

"I'm fine," she said before he could ask. "Is Faither awake?"

"Aye, m'lady. He's been asking fer ye."

She pushed open the door quietly, slipping inside. The chamber was dim, curtains drawn against the afternoon light. Her father lay propped against pillows, his face gaunt and grey. But his eyes opened at the sound of her entry, and they remained sharp despite his failing body.

"Maighread." His voice came thin and reedy. "What's happened? Ye're covered in blood."

She crossed to his bedside, sinking into the chair placed there. "We were attacked on the road back from the border village. Sinclair mercenaries."

His hand found hers, the grip weak but insistent. "Are ye hurt?"

"Nay, Faither. Tavish protected me. He..." Her voice caught. "He saved me life."

"Tell me."

So she did. She recounted the ambush, the coordinated attack, the orders to take her alive. She described how Tavish had fought, how he'd placed himself between her and every threat. How close they'd come to failing. Angus listened without interruption, his fingers tightening on hers whenever the tale turned particularly grim. When she finished, silence settled over the chamber.

"Keir has escalated beyond what I anticipated," her father said finally. "This was nay political maneuvering. This was attempted kidnapping."

"Aye. He means tae force a marriage before Tavish and I can legitimize our betrothal."

"Then ye must marry quickly. Before he can strike again."

Maighread's breath caught. "Faither⁠—"

"Dinnae argue with me, daughter. I may be dying, but I'm nae blind." He squeezed her hand with what little strength he had. "Tavish MacBain is good fer ye. Ye chose well."

Heat flooded her cheeks. "I didnae choose him. Nae really. It was a lie tae escape Keir."

His eyes held hers, knowing. "Is it still?"

Maighread found she couldn't answer. Couldn't voice what she'd realized on that ride home. "He makes ye laugh," Angus continued when she remained silent. "I've heard it from the servants. And he challenges ye tae be sharper, fiercer. Ye've grown into the leader I always kenned ye could be, and part of that is because he refuses tae let ye hide."

"He thinks leadership terrifies him," Maighread said softly. "He carries guilt from something that happened years ago. Something ye protected him from."

"Aye, I did. And I'd dae it again." Her father's expression turned distant. "Tavish was little more than a lad when that border incident happened. He made a mistake, one born of youth and inexperience. But he's learned from it. Grown. The man who saved yer life today is nae the same frightened boy who came tae me begging fer mercy."