Chapter 8
S andy had managed to get a little bit of sleep, although he’d stayed up late with Mary and Tam, discussing what they should do. As he faced Tam over the breakfast table the next morning, he could tell that his friend was as tired as he was. Mary hadn’t even woken up and come downstairs yet. Brigid was the only one who seemed bright and wide awake. She looked very pretty in another of Mary’s gowns - a periwinkle blue one this time.
Sandy was just about to tell her so when the door to the breakfast room flew open and a group of men burst in. Sandy recognised them - law enforcement!
A panicked servant rushed in behind them.
“I tried to keep them out, my lord,” he gasped. “But they just pushed past me!”
“It’s a pleasure indeed to see the Laird,” the leader said, grinning at Sandy.
But Sandy did not return the smile.
“You have no business being in this house,” he said coolly. “I could have you severely punished for this impudence.”
The leader sniffed. “You won’t be so arrogant when you hang for highway robbery, my lord .”
“Your accusations are nonsense,” Sandy retorted. “I am sure that you have not a scrap of evidence.”
“True enough,” the man admitted. “At least for now. But I am not here for you, Laird of Gillies Tower.”
He turned and pointed directly at Brigid. “I’m here for her .”
“Nonsense,” Mary said, even as Brigid swayed a little in her seat.
The leader looked her up and down. “She’s the one, I’m sure of it. Her father, Edmondson, has been looking all over for her. He’s entitled to have her brought back to him, whether she wants to or no. After all, the law says a daughter must obey her father.”
For a second, Sandy felt pure shock. Brigid had lied to him. Then he saw her jaw drop open, and realised the truth. Edmondson was not her father, but it was an intelligent lie. Daughters had no rights at all against their fathers.
“That’s an outrageous claim!” Mary said furiously. “You can’t even prove that this is Edmondson’s daughter. Scotland has no shortage of blonde young women.”
“I’m sure we can quickly enough bring Edmondson to confirm her identity,” the man said with a cocky sneer. “And then we’ll have all the authority we need to take her away.”
Sandy had heard enough.
“No, you will not,” he growled, rising to his feet and fisting his hands on the table. “By the time you return with Edmondson, you will no longer have the right to take this woman anywhere.”
“And why’s that, my lord?” the man asked, his cocky expression still firmly in place.
“Because she will be my wife tomorrow,” Sandy said.
And that was that. A husband’s authority superseded that of a father.
The officer fumbled for words. He glared at Sandy.
“This better not be a lie, MacLeod, or you will all regret it. Perhaps I’ll come back tomorrow to check. Men!”
With nothing else to say, he stormed out of the room, his men following behind him.
Brigid stared at Sandy.
“What on earth are you doing?” she gasped. “I can’t marry you. I’m engaged to Finn! He’s the man I have to marry.”
“And I would never force you to marry me,” Sandy said. “But, at the moment, it looks like your choice is me or Edmondson. If I’m not your husband, I can’t legally keep you here.”
Brigid shook her head. “I can’t do it,” she said. “I won’t.”
“Do you have a better plan?” Sandy asked. “If you’re ready to face Edmondson again, then so be it. And if you can produce your real father, so much the better.”
Brigid bit her lip. Indecision was plain to see in her eyes.
“I suppose you’re right,” she said, surprising him. “If we get married, I will be safer. Especially if Edmondson keeps claiming to be my father.”
Sandy smiled at her, relieved. And then the terror set it.
He’d only met this woman two days earlier. Could he really be thinking about marrying her? Perhaps it would be a marriage in name only - but still, any marriage had the potential to change his life.
Fear or no fear, he was determined to see this through. It was the best way to protect Brigid from Edmondson. He would make her his wife.