Page 26 of The Laird’s Sinful Secret

Around the table, heads nodded in agreement. Even Niall looked troubled but resigned, as if he could see no better option.

Euan turned to the window, staring out at courtyard stones where he’d first carried Moyra through the gates. She’d been so light in his arms, so fragile after months of imprisonment. And she’d trusted him—or at least wanted to trust him—when he’d promised she’d be treated with honor.

How did he break that trust by forcing her into a marriage neither of them wanted?

“I need time tae think,” he said finally. “Ye’ve given me much tae consider, but I’ll nae make this decision rashly.”

“Time is a luxury we may nae have.” Malcolm’s voice carried warning. “Every day she remains here unmarried, Keith can use that against us. And if word spreads of his letter, of how he’s abandoned her⁠—”

“Then let it spread.” Euan turned from the window, his decision crystallizing even as he spoke. “Let every clan in the Highlands ken what kind of faither Keith MacKenzie is. How he sent his daughter tae an English dungeon and then refused tae negotiate fer her return. That daesnae make us look weak—it makes him look monstrous.”

“And when he uses that tae paint himself as a victim?” Fergus challenged. “When he claims we’re spreading lies tae justify holding his daughter hostage?”

“Then we produce proof. The letter itself. The testimony of those who saw Moyra’s condition when we found her.” Euan’s jaw set. “I’ll nae make decisions based on fear of what Keith might say. He’s already proven himself a liar and a coward. Let him add ‘terrible faither’ tae that list.”

The councilors exchanged glances, clearly uncertain about his resolve. Finally, Malcolm spoke.

“We’ll support whatever decision ye make, my laird. But consider this—sometimes the kindest thing we can do fer someone is make the hard choice they cannae make fer themselves. Lady Moyra has no future with her father. No prospects fer a decent marriage now that she’s been imprisoned and cast off. But as yer wife, she’d have security. Protection. Status. It might nae be the romantic match she dreamed of, but it would be better than anything else her life currently offers.”

The words settled over Euan like weights. Because Malcolm was right—what future did Moyra have now? Her father had made it clear she meant nothing to him. No other clan would want her after months in an English dungeon, tainted by captivity and scandal.

But marriage to him? At least that offered safety. A position of honor instead of shame.

Even if she hated him for it.

“I’ll consider everything ye’ve said,” Euan repeated, his voice carrying the finality that meant the discussion was over. “But I’ll make nay promises. Dismissed.”

The councilors filed out, some looking satisfied, others troubled. Only Niall remained, lingering by the door with an expression Euan knew well—his friend wanted to say something but was weighing whether it would help or hinder.

“Say it,” Euan growled.

“The marriage could work,” Niall said carefully. “Nae just politically—thought that’s reason enough. But fer her too. She has nay prospects now. As yer wife, she’d have protection, status, a real life instead of⁠—”

“Instead of what? Another cage?” Euan cut him off sharply. “Ye think I dinnae see that? Ye think I havenae thought about every angle of this?”

Niall raised his hands. “I’m only saying⁠—”

“I ken what ye’re saying.” Euan moved to the window, staring out at the darkening courtyard. “And the Council’s not wrong about the advantages. But I’ll nae force her intae it. Nae like that.”

“Then what will ye dae?”

“I’ll find another way.” His jaw set with determination. “There has tae be something between sending her back tae Keith and forcing her tae marry me. Some path that daesnae require her tae choose between two different prisons.”

“And if there isnae?” Niall’s voice was gentle. “If Keith refuses and war comes anyway?”

“Then I’ll deal with that when it happens.” Euan turned from the window. “But I won’t make decisions about her future without giving her voice in it. That’s where her father failed—treating her like a pawn instead of a person. I’ll nae repeat his mistakes.”

“All right.” Niall moved toward the door. “But Euan? Sometimes the kindest thing we can dae is make hard choices before circumstances make them fer us.”

He left before Euan could respond, the heavy door closing with a soft thud that echoed through the empty chamber.

Euan returned to the window, Keith’s letter still clutched in one hand. Outside, servants went about their tasks, guards patrolled the walls, and somewhere in the east tower, Moyra MacKenzie probably sat by her own window, watching the sea and wondering what would become of her.

He would not send her back to that monster. And he would not force her into marriage.

He would protect her somehow, even if he hadn’t yet figured out how.