Theo began pacing the stables. “I dinnae think so. She claims her uncle is tryin’ to marry off Maisie.”
“Seems to me Laird McBride has gotten himself into some hot water,” Stephen chuckled, confusing Theo.
“And why do ye say that?” Theo asked as his chest swelled with an anger he didn’t want to quell.
“Why else do lairds go to such measures to get a lass back? I’ll bet ye he’s got debts to pay and is usin’ that poor girl to pay them off for him,” Stephen said with disgust.
“Find that information for me,” Theo said. “I want to ken how much he owes and to whom.”
“Ye goin’ to pay off his debts to buy Maisie?”
“If that’s what it takes,” Theo said. “Maisie means the world to Lavina. Lavina is me wife, and I’ll nae see her hurt, nae when there’s somethin’ I can do about it.”
“I’ll leave first thin’ and report in the mornin’.”
“Ye’ll need more time. Report by the end of the week,” Theo said with a nod, as he wished he could settle the matter once and for all. “And Stephen, Lavina cannae ken. I have to figure out how to handle this. It’s nae like I can just charge into his territory—it would be war. And I doubt the council would agree to that.”
“But if he decides to come here, our people arenae ready for such a conflict,” Stephen countered.
“True. The council willnae like this, but it’ll be hard for them to understand goin’ to war for a lass. Unless the threat comes to us,” Theo said, rubbing the stubble on his chin.
“Then, the council will beg ye to defend the clan,” Stephen said encouragingly.
“Perhaps what we need to do is use the girls to lure Laird Lewis here,” Theo said.
He hated suggesting it, but it made sense. Laird Lewis had been on a rampage, looking for his nieces, and now Theo was willing to dangle them like carrots to lure the man right into his hands.
“If Lavina finds out ye’re riskin’ her sister’s?—”
“I willnae be, and she need nae ken. Ye and I will make sure that they are protected. Nay harm will come to either of them,” Theo asserted, placing his hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “And we always have Plan B.”
“Ye really trust the cave system? How long has it been since someone used those tunnels? For all we ken, they’ve caved long ago.”
“Then I suggest ye get a man on that and have him map it out so we can have a clear view of what’s under us. I want all options on the table. Lavina’s life and her sister’s hang in the balance. They are both mine to protect, and I willnae let them come to harm.”
His jaw clenched. “Dinnae ye see? This is the only way we’ll be able to get rid of this problem. Laird Lewis must die. Lavina and Maisie deserve their vengeance. I only ask that I be the hand God uses for such a task.”
“Surely there must be a mistake,” Lavina said as she spun around, the hem of her skirt brushing her ankles. She peered down the corridor and counted the doors, shaking her head.
“Something I can help you with here, Me Lady?” a maid asked the second she came out of the gallery filled with portraits of her husband’s ancestors.
Lavina hesitated a moment before dropping her shoulders in defeat.
“I’m afraid I’m lost. I’m lookin’ for the library.”
The maid blinked, as if processing her words was complicated. Slowly, she stood straighter and lowered her eyes to the floor. “I’m sorry, Me Lady, but there is nay library in the keep.”
“Well, that cannae be right,” Lavina scoffed, shocked by the confession. “Where does the Laird keep all the books?”
“Books? Well, those ye can find in the large study, but I doubt ye’ll find the sort ye’re lookin’ for. There’s nothing but old ledgers and family journals in that room. Then again, I’ve only been here for a season. I could be wrong. Yer best bet is to take it up with the Laird himself.”
“Oh, I intend to,” Lavina grumbled as she turned for the study.
It appalled her that there was no library in the keep. What did her husband do for a pastime? But more importantly, how educated was a man who only had a handful of tomes?
Surely there was a mistake, and she was going to figure it out.
She made for the study, the words already like arrows twitching to be released from her tongue. She paused at the door, wringing her hands. The tension in her shoulders betrayed her nerves, but she lifted a hand to the oak door and knocked nonetheless.
