“Aye, that’s nae a place for a lass to be on her own, unless she kens her way around.” Violet raised a finger in the air as if giving a lecture. “And she has a weapon on her.”
Beatrice let out a faint laugh and nodded in agreement. “I’m glad to be back here, Violet.”
“Aye, we’re glad to have ye back.” Violet jerked her head towards Leo. “Some poor lad scared into delivering a message by this one came screaming up to the castle and said Laird MacSween needed all available riders to head to the woodlands. I am nae ashamed to say that I was worried ye would turn up dead.”
“Have some faith in me,” Beatrice laughed.
She and Violet embraced, and there was a familiarity between them that she had only started to understand before everything had gotten messy.
She was there when I was poisoned. She kept watch while I battled through it. She loves me like a sister, and I am about to be part of her family.
It was still odd for her to think that soon she was going to take the name of this clan, to become Lady MacSween.
Effie beamed up at her, Violet kept a hand on her shoulder, and Beatrice felt truly and honestly at home.
Leo was addressing the crowd, thanking them for their concern and their help. The men on horseback glowed with purpose, with wild energy born out of the mission and their achievement. There were mentions of traitors, betrayal and evil doings.
Beatrice's breath caught in her throat when she saw her parents huddled together at the edge of the crowd. Her mother could barely lift her face to meet her eyes, and her father stared through her as if she weren’t even there.
They daenae look happy to see me safe.Like they couldnae care less that I might be dead in the woods.
But then she saw what her father held.
In his hand was a piece of crumpled parchment, her fate written in black and white on its coarse surface.
If her father had gotten what he wanted, then she and Leo had come too late.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Idaenae need to question anyone else’s loyalty,Leo told himself as he faced the gathered people in front of him and Beatrice.
Their expressions ranged from concern to relief, every emotion available radiating from them like the sun on the surface of a loch.
The sting of Allistair’s betrayal was still fresh, but Leo had no time to wallow or nurse his wound.
I am the leader of this clan, and the loyal look to me to be that leader.
A few whispers rippled through the group in front of him. News traveled quicker than he had expected, but most of them only had the bits and pieces of it: his betrothed being poisoned, disappearing into the woodlands. Now was the time to speak to all of them and let them know the truth of a man they knew well.
“I have news to tell ye, me loyal friends,” he started, pressing his hand to Beatrice's back. “Some of it is sad, but there is plenty to rejoice over.”
“Go on then, me Laird!” Shona called from the front of the crowd.
Shouted agreements ensued.
Leo looked at Beatrice, who returned his gaze was a sage glow about her. “A traitor walked among us,” he revealed. “A man who was part of me council as well as me family.” Hushed murmurs rose from the crowd. “Me cousin Allistair spent his time plottin’ against me. He poisoned me betrothed and attempted to murder her in the forest.”
The men who had ridden alongside him into the woodlands lowered their heads in unison.
Leo clenched his jaw, an unfamiliar feeling welling up inside of him.
Oh God, am I about to cry like a wee babe?
He took a deep breath and stared at the crowd, but the feeling did not abate.
Have I been unhappy for so long that I have forgotten what it even felt like?
Effie was watching him thoughtfully, her wide eyes following the story playing out on his face that he wouldn’t dare let escape his lips. Everything that was happening, everything that had just happened, was too much for a child to take in, but he could see her thinking, puzzling over every word.
