Chapter 26
“Ye really expect me to stand down while ye attempt to fight this underhanded war Gibson is raging?” Connor snarled. “I will nae!”
“Then ye will risk fracturing the alliance. ‘Tis one thing for me to protect my land. ‘Tis quite another for ye to come racing to my side to beat back a clan that has the King’s blessing!” Creighton argued.
“He doesnae have the King’s blessing yet, does he? I say we take him before it becomes political.”
Liam was inclined to agree, but he wisely stayed out of it. Instead, he watched the door tensely. Moira had made it clear that Jean was out waiting for him, no doubt to tell him that she planned to marry Alistair, but he couldn’t see her. Not yet. Maybe not ever. He’d never felt a betrayal so deep.
He also couldn’t let her marry Alistair. He would hurt her every day just to get back at Liam and for reasons that Liam couldn’t fathom. He needed to speak to Connor privately, and he needed to make certain Alistair didn’t make any declarations before that happened.
If he appeared tonight, Liam would have to challenge him. Creighton would be furious, but there was simply no other way. Even with everything going on, Liam would protect Jean.
Moments later the doors did open, and Liam inhaled sharply, but it wasn’t Alistair who raced in.
It was Jean.
Her eyes met his and widened. “Liam! There ye are. I have been looking all over for ye.”
“Jean…”
“Ye have to listen, this is important. I don’t even know how to tell ye. Oh, Liam, I am so sorry.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Jean….”
“Maybe I can show ye, although that might not make it any easier.”
“Daughter,” Connor cut in. “I am always happy to see ye, but it seems ye dinnae realize that we are in a meeting.”
Her eyes darted to her father’s and widened. “Father. Laird Armstrong. My apologies, I didnae see ye there, but ‘tis good ye are here. This concerns the two of ye as well.”
“Nay,” Liam said sharply. He was not about to let her confess her love to Alistair in front of them. “Forgive me. I will calm her. We will be back shortly.”
“Calm me? I dinnae need calming!” Jean shot him an outraged look, but he simply picked her up. If either of their fathers protested the move, no one said anything, so he carried her out and closed the door behind them. “What is wrong with ye?”
“I could ask ye the same,” he said coldly as he put her down. “But I find that all I want to know is what ye were thinking last night.”
“What are ye talking about?”
“The only thing I can come up with is that ye feared Alistair would die at the hands of yer attackers last night and ye were worried ye might be carrying his babe. Ye hoped to seduce me and claim that it was mine.”
Her face paled, and her jaw dropped open.
Anguish twisted inside his belly. “How could I have been so wrong about ye?” He whispered.
“Ye were not,” she said coldly. “But perhaps I am wrong about ye. How have ye come to yer conclusions?”
“Alistair said?—”
“Let me stop ye right there. Whatever Alistair told ye was a lie, but that is not the most important thing we need to discuss right now.” Pulling herself up to her full height, she opened the doors and walked back in.
“Jean,” Liam bellowed, but she didn’t stop.
“Jean,” Connor said softly as he studied his daughter. “Are ye all right? Is that blood on yer dress? And why are ye so wet?”
It seemed has not scrubbed hard enough.
Jean glanced down at herself and swore softly.
“There was an incident outside, and I needed to clean myself up. I did so in Donal’s room knowing that he was not home.
I know it seems rude for me to interrupt, but my questions are important.
Laird Armstrong, how long did Donal stay here after Liam left to see to the territory? ”
Creighton and Connor exchanged a puzzled look. “I cannae say for sure, but ‘tis not verra long. When we discovered that ye were gone, I asked him to retrieve ye. Alistair hadnae returned yet, and I thought Liam would be more at ease if someone he trusted escorted ye back.”
Liam stepped forward. “Donal told me that ye hadnae sent him after her.”
“I dinnae believe that anyone, from here to the far reaches of the clan, didnae hear Connor’s bellow that she be returned. He nearly went after her himself except Moira held him back,” Creighton said softly. “Lady Jean, what do ye have for me?”
“While I was in Donal’s room, I saw a large cage. It has wolf hair on it.”
“Nay,” Liam whispered, but it all made sense. Donal was there when Amelia was killed. He was familiar enough with the territory to move in and out with ease, and if he was caught, no one would be suspicious. Everyone assumed he was traveling with Liam and courting Mara.
And he’d traveled all over the Highlands during the past year. Needing some space to clear his head as he’d called it. Liam knew that he was unhappy, but he assumed the man was feeling lonely. He had no family left.
“I left him there,” Liam repeated. “He could have razed it to the ground by now.”
“We should leave at dawn,” Jean announced. “Bring reinforcements should Donal have made another move.”
“We need a confession.” The pain was still there, but Liam pushed it aside to think clearly. “We need evidence that it is Gibson. If we get Donal to confess, we can make a move against him before any of this goes any further. I’ll go alone.”
“We will go together,” Jean said sharply. “He willnae trust ye, but I am certain that kidnapping me is still part of the plan. I can be the bait. Get his confession. We should have a group of warriors camped out at the ready should we need them.”
Liam fully expected Connor to deny letting her go, but he just looked at Liam. “I dinnae like this plan, but ‘tis a smart one. If anyone can get him to confess, ‘tis my Jean. She can take care of herself, but ye will watch out for her, will ye not?”
“I will.”
“Creighton?”
Liam’s father nodded. “Ye will both need yer sleep. We will speak again before ye leave.”
“I agree, but Laird Armstrong, there is something else I need to discuss with ye in private, please.”
Connor frowned. “Lass?”
“It has nothing to do with Gibson. At least, I dinnae think, but it is important, and it needs to be said tonight.”
Her voice was soft, and Connor nodded. Liam still didn’t want to leave, but Jean didn’t even turn around and look at him. Doubt shadowed him. Was it more likely that Alistair had lied than that she had betrayed him?
It was, and he’d just given her all that she needed to hate him.