Page 75 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
“Ye dinnae need to thank me. I’d have gone after him whether ye?—”
“Nay, nae for savin’ Reid. I mean, I’m thankful for that, of course. I want to thank ye for makin’ me feel like everythin’ is going to be all right. With so much goin’ on since I arrived here, ye make me feel safe, grounded.”
“Ye’re welcome,” Archer murmured. “Ye make me feel things, too, Lady Eileen.”
“Och, I do?” Eileen teased with a smile. “I think I can feel one of the things ye’re feelin’.” She shifted on his lap, rubbing herself against him.
Before she could tease him some more, the door opened with a quiet creak. Calum entered the room, looking first at Reid’s sleeping form and then at them.
“Me Laird,” he greeted. “Mack’s in the dungeons.”
Archer nodded.
“And there’s somethin’ else that needs yer attention. We just received a message from Laird O’Gunn.”
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“When did the messenger arrive?” Archer asked.
“Only moments ago,” Calum replied.
The two men walked swiftly through the castle after Archer had left Eileen to watch over her brother.
“He came with a letter for ye,” Calum continued. “I had one of me men take him to the kitchens for some food after the long ride, but we willnae let him loose until we ken what’s goin’ on. I dinnae want to arouse any suspicion until we ken what the message is about, and I dinnae want anyone to see us holdin’ an O’Gunn messenger hostage.”
“Aye, Mack wasnae workin’ alone. He had men smugglin’ with him. Until we find out their names, we keep our cards close to our chest. Ye’ve made the right decision as always, Calum. Still, ye dinnae ken what the message says?”
“Nay,” Calum replied. “The message is addressed to ye, and I didnae want ye thinkin’ I’m a spy if I opened it and read it afore ye.”
Archer stopped dead, and Calum did the same a moment later.
“I could never think that of ye,” Archer assured him. “Ye’re as honest and loyal as they come.”
“Thank ye, Archer,” Calum said, offering a hesitant smile. “Right now, we dinnae ken who is workin’ with Mack. O’Gunn infiltrated our council. Who kens who else he got to?”
“Then I’m glad to have ye by me side.” Archer clapped him on the shoulder. “Together, we’ll root out this evil afore anyone else dies.”
Calum nodded firmly. “Aye, afore any more loyal men die.”
The two men resumed walking until they reached Calum’s private chambers. Once there, he retrieved a small chest from under the desk and a key from his cloak. He unlocked the chest and took out the letter, handing it to the Laird.
Archer quickly broke the wax seal, unfolded the letter, and read it.
“It’s about the betrothal,” he relayed. “O’Gunn heard about me engagement to Lady Eileen, and he’s nae pleased with it. He saysthat he asked her first and that she belongs to him. He sounds like a petulant child.”
“Do ye think he sent it after Reid escaped?” Calum asked.
“I dinnae ken,” Archer sighed. “He’ll figure out some way to spin the Reid Kilmartin situation when he finds out that the lad is here—if he hasnae already. He’s tryin’ to save face. A union between his clan and the McFairs makes sense from a strategic standpoint, and he willnae like that I took her from him.”
“Ye think Mack sent word?”
“Maybe. Maybe someone else. Word was sent quickly.”
“So, what do we do?” Calum asked. “O’Gunn’s been spoilin’ for war for as long as I can remember. He might use this as an excuse.”
“Nay, I dinnae think so. He wanted Eileen’s hand to strengthen his position. He would have gone to war after. He willnae want to go to war now, but he’s also a man who doesnae back down.”
“Neither are ye,” Calum pointed out.
