Page 68 of Bride of the Sinful Laird
Edmund shook his head, his stomach tied in knots. “I dinnae wish her tae leave. I wish tae be wi’ the lass.”
Lionel groaned. “D’ye love her?”
“Aye, I dae.”
“Are ye thinking tae wed her?”
Edmund sighed deeply. “We can neither handfast nor wed while she’s betrothed tae another.”
Lionel took a big gulp of his whisky and frowned. “Och. Sure, that’s a riddle tae be resolved. But there’s something else I need tae mention tae ye.”
Edmund looked up, the knots in his belly tightening.
“One of our men reported tae me late this night that two of them had sighted a man wearing the Munro plaid near the village.”
Edmund sucked in a shocked breath. “Did they speak tae the man? Find out what he was daeing there?
“Nay. He was talking with another and rode off before they could accost him. They followed but found nay trace of him.”
“That makes me case even more urgent than before. If Munro is nae far from here there is nay time tae waste.”
“First things first. Before any of this can be dealt with, ye must tell Tormod the truth.”
Edmund nodded. To reveal the masquerade of his marriage to Annora would sorely test the trust of Tormod and the Elders. Once they became aware of his lies would they be prepared to make him their laird? He licked his suddenly dry lips.
“Tonight, after the feast, I’ll ask Tormod tae set up a meeting between me and the Elders. I’ll lay it before them and whatever they decide, I’ll accept.”
“Ye must tell him about our findings in MacDonald’s chamber after all. Fer if the Elders’ and Council’s acceptance of ye hangs in the balance, they must be aware of what Laird MacDonald has planned fer Clan MacNeacail.”
“Aye.” Edmund dipped his head and took a deep breath. It all sounded so straightforward, so why was his heart pounding like a war-hammer?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Light was streaming into the chamber when Annora awoke. She wiggled her toes to make certain she was not dreaming. Washed with happiness, she reassured herself that Edmund had made her his last night. She rolled over expecting to see him sleeping peacefully beside her.
Her heart plummeted when she saw his side of the bed was empty. She put out a hand and found the bedclothes were cold. He’d been gone for a while.
She washed and tidied her tangled hair into a long braid, donned her red kirtle, and made her way downstairs. She popped her head into the solar to see if Tyra was there, but the room was empty. Continuing on to the refectory with a heavy heart, she found only Tormod and Tyra seated there.
After bidding them good morning she looked around, hoping to see Edmund, but not wishing to ask after him.
Tormod must have guessed what was on her mind.
“Yer lad broke his fast early. He and Lionel were tae speak with the armorer and then heading with the squires tae the sparring ground.”
Both Tyra and Annora looked up, Tyra’s face puckered with concern.
Tormod nodded. “Dinnae fash lasses, they have neglected their duties these past days, but we need tae make sure our fighting force is kept in the best condition, fer we never ken when there may be an incursion from our enemies.”
Annora took some comfort from his words. No doubt, following the ominous incident of the gate being tampered with and the letters they’d discovered in MacDonald’s chamber, both Edmund and Lionel were making sure the castle was prepared. She shivered, thinking of her father’s men invading Scorrybreac.
Still, she wished Edmund had thought to wake her with a kiss before he left their bedchamber.
The refectory was buzzing with servants going about the preparations for the night’s feast. Some were laying fresh rushes across the floor while others were scrubbing tables, brushing down cobwebs from the high ceilings and placing floral decorations on each of the tabletops. The room smelled of sweet herbs and roses.
After they’d broken their fast with porridge, boiled eggs and bannocks, Tormod rose to his feet. “Please excuse me ladies, there is much I have tae see tae.”
Tyra turned to Annora with a smile. “It is such a pleasant morning, would ye care tae join me in the garden?”
