Chapter Nine
It wasn’t often that Maddie became involved in the activities of her husband’s guards, but she would not be deterred when it came to a three-year-old.
“Please, Alex,” Maddie said, quietly so as not to awaken their son. “This cannot wait.”
Alex took her hand and led her out of the healing chamber. They passed through the great hall on their way back to the chamber they’d been using since their arrival. Logan tried to stop them, but Alex shook his head. “After I speak with my wife.”
Logan nodded and stepped back, indicating his issue could indeed wait.
Once they were inside their chamber, Alex turned on his heel to look at her.
Maddie’s belly churned inside, so much that she was powerless to ignore it. Everything told her she needed to take action, so she would. “Alex, you must take me to Berwick and bring that bairn to me.”
Alex just quirked his brow at her, considering what she’d said.
She wasn’t sure how she would convince him, but she knew she must, because if he didn’t escort her back to steal that child away, she’d have to go on her own.
Sela wasn’t well enough to make the journey, and Maddie wouldn’t be able to relax until she knew that bairn was out of the clutches of those awful men.
She would get her way on this.
Apparently, her face had moved a wee bit, betraying her thoughts.
“Maddie, I know that look. You wish to save that child, and we will, but the lass is surrounded by over a hundred English warriors. We cannot just walk in and demand they turn her over to us.”
“Alex, we must protect the children.”
“I understand your noble cause, but there are larger forces at work.”
“The bastards subjected a bairn of three summers to torture. Those are the kind of memories that will stay with a child for decades. And who’s caring for her while her mother is here healing? Is she being tortured even now?”
“You’re not wrong, Maddie, but I must consider the operation as a whole. This is our chance to stop these men once and for all. We must do this for Scotland.”
“I may operate on a much smaller scale than you,” she said, meeting his gaze, “but it does not make my endeavor less important.”
“What is this endeavor?”
“I must protect the bairns of our country. You consider everyone else, but I have purpose, too, and ’tis no less important.”
“You would risk all to save this one child?”
“Aye, I would. The others will not be there for two to three days. We can save this child before that.”
He stared at her, then ran his finger down her jawline. “This is important to you?”
“Every day she goes without safety and comfort is another day of torture for her. I cannot bear to think of her in such a situation. I was subjected to a similar situation, and I was much older. I cannot think how a lass of three summers would endure it.”
He kissed her lips. She pressed herself closer to him but did not fall under his usual spell. This was too important to her. “Alex, I would prefer for you to help me, but if you cannot, I’ll find another way.”
Still cupping her face, he said, “All of Scotland places demands on me, but you have asked so little of me over the years.”
Her voice cracked when she said, “Because I trust you, Alex.”
“Then trust me when I say I will save both Claray and Sela when we go to battle with the English.”
Her voice came out in the barest of whispers. “Nay. Claray must be saved on the morrow. Your men will be here by then to assist you. Those bastards don’t need a wee bairn around to finish their deeds. Get her out. We’ll fight them later.”
“If I take three hundred of the warriors I’ve readied for this mission, I’ll be telling the fools that we’ll be attacking with that many in the future. I don’t wish to reveal our strategy.”
Maddie considered his point for a moment. Her husband was keen at coming up with the best tactics for battle, but she could not relent. “Perhaps you’ll not need three hundred. A smaller number could handle the task. I see no reason to take all your warriors.”
He reached back and massaged her neck. “You hide why you want this, but I know. ’Tis because our youngest son is asking you. You sense it, too. There’s something between him and Sela. There is a possibility this wee bairn could become our granddaughter. Is that not part of your reasoning?”
Her heart could take no more, and so she fell against him sobbing. “Alex, we must stop those evil men.”
“For you, anything,” Alex said. He gave her a tender kiss, then mopped her tears away.
“This might work. They’ll not want to risk fighting us just yet. They cannot afford to lose men. I’ll discuss the matter with Logan and our sons, but I think we can agree on a plan. If we decide to move forward, you will come with me on the morrow.
Wee Claray will need more consoling than I can give.”
She smiled at her dear husband, then leaned in for a kiss, though it was one of those times when he may not notice her. Sometimes her husband was so busy strategizing against a villain that he became engulfed in his own world.
Her lips met his, and he kissed her briefly, as absentminded as she’d expected.
This time, she’d allow it.