Page 33 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

Art nodded and smiled, and relief spread through her chest. It appeared that he at least didn’t hate her. After her husband’s death, Fletcher kept her inside as much as possible, and she hadn’t been able to reach out to anyone who might still consider her a friend.

It was one of the reasons she was worried about returning. She hated the idea that everyone might have turned against her.

If the announcement was humiliating, the dinner was torture. Jillian was pleased to have Alexina by her side. Between her glares at Tearloch and Graeme’s scowls at everyone else, Jillian was torn between ducking under the table in embarrassment and laughing at the insanity of it all.

A few of the villagers brought up things that had been piling up since Graeme left, and he handled them well. A few of the men mentioned someone named Kylie, a young woman in the village who had still refused to marry, and Graeme promised to speak to her about the matter. Finally, Alan stood, and Jillian’s throat nearly closed.

She knew Alan well. At first, he’d seemed thrilled with Fulton’s marriage and came over often, but after the first few months, Alan started coming over by himself and mentioning how he and Fulton had shared everything. She knew exactly what he was trying to say, and when she’d mentioned it to Fulton, he’d been furious but not at him. No, he was mad at her, thinking that she was trying to divide him from his people.

It terrified her. When he became so jealous that men couldn’t even look at her, he still extended an open invitation to Alan for him to visit whenever he wanted. It grew to the point that Jillian had started arming herself beneath her dress, and when she refused to be seduced, the whispers started.

She harbored no illusions as to who started it.

Next to Alan was his wife, a woman Jillian did not know well because Alan would not allow it. But now things were different. Now, Annella was her sister-in-law, and Jillian wanted to get to know Graeme’s family.

Unfortunately, the woman was also glaring daggers at her, so it might be a while before she got a warm welcoming.

“I have a concern,” Alan said with a vicious smile. “I am wondering if yer marriage is valid since it was not previously sanctioned by the council.”

Graeme tensed. “Since the council has no say in the validity of what I do, yer point is moot, but let us consider it anyway. The last marriage that the council sanctioned was between Fletcher MacSeaver and the woman who was responsible for the death of one laird, tried to murder two others, and nearly set a war between the clans after they had just signed a peace treaty.”

There was a ripple in the crowd, and Alan frowned. “A woman that was yer wife’s best friend.”

“I am not done,” Graeme hissed. “Secondly, the council also didnae sanction Fulton’s marriage to Jillian since he arrived with her as his bride and no one said a word.”

“Look at how that turned out for him.”

The whole room went silent, and Annella leaned forward. “Graeme, he is not accusing Jillian of anything...”

“Quiet, woman,” Alan hissed.

At that, Graeme stood. “Are ye challenging my authority, Alan? Or are ye publically disrespecting my wife and my sister in my presence?”

Alan’s face grew nearly purple with rage. “I am merely airing my concerns at a time when we are allowed to do so.”

“Then allow me to alleviate yer concern. I have investigated Jillian’s connection to Beth at length, and I have seen no evidence that she was involved in Beth’s scheme. If anyone else would like to say a word against my wife, then do so now because, after this dinner, it will be considered an act of treachery.”

Damnation! Jillian almost put her forehead on the table and groaned. The last thing she expected was for Graeme to act like a fool at dinner. Now she would earn no one’s respect.

Instead, she rose slowly to stand next to her husband and brushed her pinkie along his hand in hopes that it would keep him quiet. “What Graeme means to say is that I am happy to answer any questions that ye may have. I understand better than anyone that our marriage has come as a shock, and many of ye still harbor suspicions and doubts of me. Graeme will be a good laird. We all know this, and I dinnae wish for my presence to take away from that. Yer opinions may still be yer own.”

“Jillian,” Graeme growled, but Baldie saw the opportunity for what it was and stood. She’d just allowed for the council to question her, and they knew it.

“So ye dinnae deny that ye and Beth were friends,” Baldie asked.

“Aye, I do deny it. When Fletcher married Beth, he thought the two of us would be like sisters, and in the beginning, I did as well. I realized that she was unstable and tried to warn Fletcher, but I was dismissed. I tried to warn Graeme as well, but my word carried no weight. She must have realized that I was not wooed by her for she forced me by her side at any given turn, but still, I didnae learn of her true treachery until the damage had been done.”

Baldie spread out his hands. “Ye expect us to believe that?”

“What would I have had to gain? Beth wanted her husband to be the most powerful laird, and she wanted to carry his heir. None of those things bore any consequences to me.”

It was the truth, and Baldie had nothing to argue against it. “And the charge that ye poisoned yer husband?”

“Enough.” Ludo stood and glared at Baldie. “That is enough. The council has already decided to accept Graeme’s decision to marry, and our support now should carry the same weight as if we’d sanctioned it before. Furthermore, we have absolved Jillian of the death of her husband since we have no proof, and of Beth’s treachery. We will not continue to question her.”

Graeme nodded. “There ye have it. The word of the council, the word of yer mistress, and the word of yer laird. Is there anyone else who would like to continue speaking on the matter?”

Alan slowly sunk back into his seat, and no one said anything. “Excellent. Then enjoy the food. I will continue to hear matters.”