Chapter 10
Theodore had glared at the same line of ink for nearly an hour but not a single figure on his parchment made any sense anymore. The numbers tangled and blurred into a twisted mess that somehow resembled her mouth.
Theodore pinched the bridge of his nose trying to keep Madison's face from invading his mind, but it was too late, she had infiltrated every aspect of his being.
The memory of her lips on his head burned itself into him like a hot poker.
Dragging his fingers through his hair he leaned back into his leather seat. The chair protested as he stretched.
He dragged his hand down his face and forced himself to look at the ledger once more. After all, duty came first, always. At least, that was what his father had ingrained into him.
Yet even duty couldn't hold his focus. Madison's face kept slipping into his thoughts—the way her eyes had widened when he'd kissed her, the softness of her lips, the small gasp she'd made. The memory haunted him like a ghost he couldn't banish.
A soft knock came out the door. Theodore stiffened, and his heart went into a furious flutter. Theodore held his breath as he felt hope spring like a weed within him. His eyes narrowed as the click of the doorknob sounded like a clap thunder shattering the silence of the study.
"Me laird, if I may have but a moment of yer time."
Aaron slipped into the study, his nervous twitch more pronounced than usual. Theodore bit back a sigh. The councilman always reminded him of a rodent—small, skittish, forever looking for an escape route.
"Yer intrusion better be important," Theodore said, setting the ledger aside. No matter what he did, there were always distractions. Even now, when he should be focused on his finances, all he could think about was Madison's lips.
Aaron shuffled closer, wringing his hands. "Me laird, I ken ye're a very busy man—"
"If ye ken I'm busy, then why are ye botherin' me?"
The councilman's mouth opened and closed. He took a step back, clearly uncertain whether Theodore expected an answer.
Theodore leaned forward, elbows on his desk. "Well?"
"Me laird, I do humbly beg yer forgiveness." Aaron's words tumbled out in a rush. "But I felt the need to bring this to your attention as soon as I heard the news."
"Me laird, I do humbly beg yer forgiveness, but I felt the need to bring this to your attention as soon as I heard the news."
"And what, pray tell, is that the dreadful news?"
Theodore's gaze was as cold and sharp as the blade that rested above the mantle. Aaron fiddled with his fingertips as if he were clearing the dirt out from under the nail beds. He cleared his throat as he dared to steal an inch closer to Theodore's desk.
"I daenae ken if ye're aware of what is bein' said about the castle.
" Aaron's words came out in a rush, as if speed might somehow soften the blow.
"Rumors are bein' whispered, even in the council chambers, me laird.
And I... well, I felt ye should ken what they're sayin'.
" He swallowed hard. "Is there any truth to the rumors of ye takin' the lass from the hunt as yer wife? "
"Aye, and what is it to ye?" Theodore leaned back in his chair.
"From where I sit, I've followed all the laws of this clan.
Me birthday is still months away, and here I am with a bride already chosen.
The council demanded I marry—well, I'm marryin'.
So it would seem the council is gettin' exactly what it wished for. "
Aaron blinked as his mouth parted. It was clear Theodore's answer was not the one he was expecting. As much as Theodore wanted to smile he restrained himself from showing any pleasure in Aaron's discomfort.
"I understand this comes as a shock, but I have made me decision," Theodore answered as he rose from his seat.
"But me laird, is this nae the same lass ye rescued from the hunt? We daenae ken who she is, let alone her family. What if she comes from a rival clan? What if ye’re very weddin’ brings destruction on our lands?"
Theodore folded his arms over his chest and glared daggers at the councilman. Aaron stiffened yet he pressed on with a shaky boldness as he fumbled over his words once more.
"Me laird," Aaron mumbled as he bowed low. "I only mean to say that she's nae a good fit for ye or this clan."
Theodore's eyes narrowed. "I'd be careful, Aaron. Yer words will get ye into trouble." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to something dangerous. "If I dinnae ken any better, I'd think ye were there at the hunt yerself."
"Forgive me, but please listen. The council will nae stand for this. The men are already uneasy with the crops being as low as they are this year. We daenae have the means to sustain a war with a neighborin' clan over a lass. Please see reason with this."
"And what sort of laird do you take me for? Have I nae done well all these years to sustain this clan?" Theodore barked as anger burned like hot coals under his skin.
"It is nae what ye have done for us, but what ye might do bringin' a stranger into the clan.
She doesnae ken our customs or our ways.
Surely ye would be better suited with someone who could at least bear children.
She looks as if childbirth would kill her.
There must be a better match—one that would unite and strengthen our clan instead of weakenin' it. "
"Enough."
The single word cut through the air like a blade. Theodore didn't raise his voice, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Aaron's face went pale.
"Ye forget yerself, councilman." Theodore's tone was quiet, controlled—and all the more dangerous for it.
"I am Laird of this clan. I dinnae answer to ye.
Ye answer to me." He held Aaron's gaze until the man looked away.
"The lass is under my protection, and she will be my wife.
If ye—or anyone else on the council—has a problem with that, ye're welcome to challenge me for the title. "
Aaron's throat worked as he swallowed. "Nay, me laird. I... I meant nay disrespect."
"Ye would have me choose a woman for her name alone?
" Theodore's voice dropped dangerously low as he dropped his arms to his side and rolled his shoulders back. "Or perhaps it would be for the coin her kin can offer? Is that what yer notion of strength really is? By the size of the wallet or the backin’ of a name? Ye’re but a fool and I'll nae have ye whisperin’ nonsense in me ear any longer. Get out."
"Laird MacLeon, be reasonable. What will they think when they see ye wed to a woman who was found half dead in the woods? We need a proper lady. A woman born of a good name and a strong bloodline. A McPherson, or a Campbell. We ken nothin’ of this Madison, she isnae someone of importance, and the people will question ye.
They will question us. Ye must remember a leader does what he must for the security of the whole, nae the one and we cannae afford any sentiment cloudin’ yer decisions. "
Aaron's voice quivered as he spoke, and there was no hiding the gleam of sweat that shimmered across his forehead. It was clear that the councilman would rather stand on vain principles than decent morals.
Theodore rose from his chair and closed the distance between them. His gaze never left Aaron's face—the look a wolf gives a rabbit before the kill.
"Sentiment?" Theodore echoed as he bobbed his head slowly and circled around Aaron. "Ye think this is sentiment?"
Every fiber in Theodore's body burned with an ache that he didn't want to subdue.
It took every ounce of his strength not to curl his fingers around the councilman's neck and strangle the life from him.
Pulling in a long deep breath to steady his nerves, Theodore thought long and hard about his next move.
It was clear no matter what he said he was not going to persuade the councilman to have compassion and pity.
"Tell me," Theodore started as he made one final loop around the councilman before stopping inches from his face.
"What tragedy exactly have ye endured? What trials and tribulations have ye faced where there wasnae someone there to have a helpin’ hand out for ye?
For I ken yer tale of woe. And I have seen what that lass has endured.
I've seen her fight and have experienced the inferno that burns deep within her bones. There is more strength and courage in that woman's little finger than in half of the men sittin’ on me counsel, includin’ ye. "
Theodore watched as Aaron's mouth worked and chewed on his next words silently before scraping them off his tongue. “Even if what ye say is true, the people will nae understand.”
“And that is where ye’re wrong. The people may nae understand at the start, but I’ll see that they come around.”
“The lass is cloudin’ yer judgment. I’ve seen it before,” Aaron said as he weaseled out of Theodore’s grip.
Theodore’s eyes narrowed as he watched Aaron recoil from him.
“That lass will be yer undoin’, mark me words.
Ye continue this path,” Aaron paused, and Theodore watched the man’s fear replace his confidence.
Terror swept in, stealing the council member’s bravery.
He wagged a judgmental finger at Theodore as he made a beeline for the door.
Theodore’s patience was but a whisper. One more snide comment and he would have Aaron experience true terror.
“That lass will cost ye more than yer pride, she’ll cost ye the clan,” Aaron said at the door.
Theodore's voice came out cold as winter steel. "Get. Out."
Aaron turned, but Theodore's next words stopped him dead.
"And Aaron? If I hear ye've spread one word against me bride—if I hear ye've so much as whispered her name in anything but respect—ye'll find yerself stripped of yer position and escorted beyond our borders.
" He paused, letting the threat sink in.
"Without yer lands. Without yer title. With nothin' but the clothes on yer back. Do we have an understanding?"
Aaron's face went ashen. "Aye, me laird."
"Then go. Before I decide exile is too kind."
“Did I miss all the excitement?” Boyd asked as he pulled the door back, causing Aaron to spill out of the study. Boyd filled the doorway as if he were a wall of stone barring anyone from escaping.
“Let me pass,” Aaron grumbled as he pushed against Boyd to no avail. Boyd glanced at Theodore with an expected glare. As much as Theodore wanted to beat the man for what he said about Madison, it would only enrage the other council members.
“Ye’ll remember what we discussed here,” Theodore said to Aaron. Aaron sneered at Boyd for blocking his way.
“Are ye showin’ disrespect to the laird? That should give ye a day at least in the stocks. Do ye want me to have him thrown in the cellar for a day? Surely time in the muck will get him to show more appreciation,” Boyd suggested causing Theodore’s smirk to stretch.
“Let him pass. He has things to do and a message to spread,” Theodore said as Boyd moved just enough to give Aaron room to squeeze by. “And ye take heed of what was said here. I’ll nae hesitate again to have ye thrown out with the rubbish.”
Aaron disappeared as Boyd stepped into the room with a quizzical expression.
He shrugged and settled before Theodore as if nothing had transpired and all was well.
It was one of the traits Theodore loved about Boyd.
Boyd had a knack for letting things go. It was a trait Theodore wished he could harness.
“What are ye grinnin’ about?” Theodore asked as he turned for his desk.
“Ye ken word of this altercation will spread faster than a fire through dry heather. Ye’re goin’ to have people thinkin’ ye throw councilmen in the stocks now.”
“Let them all think what they want. If it serves me better to have them fear me, then so be it. But nay matter which way they spin it, Madison will be Lady MacLeon.”
“Is that what the altercation was about? Wasted time,” Boyd said under his breath as if the matter was trivial to him.
“Aye, that it was.”
“But why her? Or are ye doin’ it just to irritate the council?”
Theodore gave a shrug as he settled behind his desk. The leather seat moaned as he shifted trying to find the right spot.
“The charter has it that I must be betrothed for me birthday or the council chooses for me. That means I have until the end of the week to present her as me bride. Our betrothal will be made official in two-days’ time, at the feast we are holdin’ in her honor.
Once that happens, she is free to go her own way. ”
“I kent ye had somethin’ up yer sleeve and there was a reason ye kept her around,” Boyd said with a pleasantly proud grin stretching across his face that only made Theodore feel like a fool.
The truth was, Theodore did have feelings for the lass.
Even if they were merely wishing her to get better, the feeling of keeping her protected and safe was a constant nagging in the center of his being that he couldn’t ignore.
His lips ached as a reminder of what he couldn’t have.
She would never be his, not even if he managed to steal her heart.
She’d eventually go home and her world would come rushing for her. And where would that leave him?
“Do ye hear that?” Boyd asked as his head snapped up. “Is that the dinner bell? I heard the cook has made stuffed hens.”
“Aye,” Theodore answered. “I thought it would be a nice change.”
“Is that right?” Boyd teased as Theodore rose. “Well, I’m sure she’ll enjoy every bite.”
“Have ye seen her today?” Theodore asked as he pushed open the doors of the study.
“Nay,” Boyd answered as they turned the corner. “But I’m sure she’ll smell the food and come down. And if nae the stuffed hens, the pastries are certain to bring her down.”
Theodore nodded as he paused at the door of the great hall. “Ye go on in and enjoy yerself. I’ll be in momentarily.”