Page 85 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

After an hour of blowing new chunks out of the wooden dummies, he felt like he was being observed. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he turned to find Ashton Winchester in the yard, dressed from head to toe in furs and warm coats.

“Don’t stop on account of me,” he said, his signature sardonic grin flashing through his layers of covers. “I can see now that man yesterday was lucky to walk out on his own two legs.”

Aleck shrugged, shifting his sword from one hand to another. “I dinnae suffer liars.”

“And malicious ones at that,” Ashton nodded. “But I suppose there was some truth to what he said.”

Aleck froze. “What do ye mean?”

“Only that Evanna loved another. And I’m willing to bet you’re the lucky man.”

Aleck stiffened. “Evanna is an honorable woman. She did naught wrong.”

“I know she didn’t.” Ashton held his hands up in peaceful surrender. “I know this because I know why my brother pursued her so relentlessly. I also saw her lack of love for him. Evanna found him charming, yes. No woman with a pulse could resist John’s charms. But she never loved him. John knew that too.”

Aleck put his sword down. “That’s why he used the Laird’s ill health to manipulate an urgent engagement.”

“Yes. I’m not proud of what he did, but he was forced to.”

“I ken,” Aleck nodded. “He confessed everything to me before…” he swallowed. “He asked me to deliver a message to ye.”

Ashton held out a hand.

“He didnae have the strength to write. He asked that ye provide for his wife and bairns. It need nae be much, just enough for them to get by.”

Ashton pursed his lips. If he accepted his late brother’s wishes, he did not say so. Aleck didn’t mind. It was none of his business how Ashton chose to conduct his family affairs. As long as they kept Evanna out of it.

“You know,” he finally said. “My respect for Evanna has risen tenfold. She took all those accusations on her character stoically and never once gave away how my brother was the one who betrayed her.”

Aleck rubbed the back of his neck. “I didnae tell her any of that.”

“What?” Ashton was surprised. “Why not?”

“Didnae think it mattered any what his motivations were. To reveal it now felt like talking ill of the dead.”

Ashton’s face went through a series of quick changes, but the light in his eyes was light and delighted. “You’re quite the gentleman, Mr. Bryce; more than us Winchester men can claim to be. But you suffer needlessly. The truth is meant to be revealed, not concealed. It lets the lies bandy about as facts. Although I believe you’re right, it shouldn’t come from you. One of the reasons I came here was to confess to Evanna. I had warned her against accepting John’s proposal, you know?”

“Nae,” Aleck admitted. “I didnae ken.”

“It’s true. I attempted at being worthy of my title of gentleman, but as you can see, I failed miserably. Oh well, shall we rectify my mistake right now?”

Aleck nodded. He put on his own coat and followed Ashton to the castle where they walked in on a heated argument between two lords.

“My son is dead because of the actions of your manservant!”

“He’s nae a manservant, he’s my man at arms, and he’ll sooner jump off the parapets than let anyone die on his watch.”

“Then why is he still here and John lying cold in the church? I see no point in going round and round the same argument. I must be compensated for my loss.”

“Aye? And how much would ye seek in compensation?”

“Seeing as your daughter will not marry Ashton, it is only fair I receive the dowry she was supposed to bring with her when marrying John.”

“Well done, father!” Ashton slow-clapped and walked fully into the room. “You managed to keep your mercenary agenda subtle enough for more than a day. I congratulate you.”

“You stay out of this. They have killed your brother. They need to pay!” Lord Winchester fumed.

“They did not kill John; a vagrant gypsy did. And your son was only here on your orders. Or were you not going to tell them about Malti?”