Page 58

“That we agree on, brother. I never suggested we do nothing. Just that we not—” he finished his ale and stood to fetch another, “—start a war.”

“If not war, then what?”

Graeme sat back down and looked at the face so similar to his own. “If not war, then peace.”

The elders would not like it, but if Aidan could be convinced, anything was possible.

“I’ll start with the most likely adversary, the one whose daughter is now my wife.”

“What exactly do you propose?”

He didn’t like the idea but could see no other way. “To speak to Lyndwood.”

“Speak to—” His brother stood, slammed his mug down, and began to pace. “Talk. That is your proposition? Talk to one of the men responsible for Blackburn walking free?”

Graeme smiled against the rim of his mug. “Aye. Talk.”

“They will never agree. The men are mad for revenge. They—”

“Are not the chief. Come, sit back down.”

Aidan, of course, did not.

“Do not speak to me as if we were still children, Graeme. Will the others see this as an acceptable path forward?”

“If you’d sit,” he said, “I’d gladly explain myself.”

Aidan finally heaved a sigh and returned to his chair.

“We cannot go against this ruling. To do so would court criticism from both sides of the border and put our allies in the untenable position of choosing between loyalty to us and loyalty to their commitment to peace. But we can ensure men like Blackburn are unable to wreak the havoc they so desire. I must understand how this happened so I can prevent it from happening again. To us or our allies. On both sides of the border.”

From the white-fisted way Aidan clenched his mug, Graeme could tell he was unsatisfied. He understood, for he himself was still as angry as if the ruling had just occurred. But Graeme had vowed to protect Clan Scott against any outside threat. And right now, the biggest threat was the very real possibility the hard-fought peace that had kept them safe for decades would unravel around them.

Still, March Law needed to change, to be modified to fit the times in which they lived. Jurors from both England and Scotland must be included in trials. Sanctuary should be offered to those who confessed. He had said as much to the Lord Warden before returning home, and Douglas had agreed with him. Facts must be gathered first; then they would act.

He could have simply told Aidan that Douglas was on board with the plan to alter the law. But that would have been too easy. He’d wanted him to accept the outcome from his chief first.

“Very well.”

And now, to convince the others.

“Come, we’ve much work to do.”

Graeme lingered over the table to refill his mug. Perhaps just what he needed to forget the impending crisis. And his wife’s question earlier that day.

So we are stuck with each other?

* * *

She’d never seen her husband quite like this. When Fiona had informed Gillian her husband and his brother would be taking their evening meal in the solar, and they’d requested her company, she hadn’t quite known what to think. She’d changed hastily and now stood at the door watching the two men as they turned toward her. Though Graeme wasn’t smiling exactly; he had a strange, flushed look about him. He rather seemed like he was in his cups.

“Come in, my lady,” Aidan said.

A long table, quite like a trestle table but not as long, was set for dinner. Both Graeme and Aidan moved from their seats, presumably to sit for the meal. When she didn’t move, Graeme made his way toward her.

She’d wondered if this feeling—the insistent fluttering at her very core—would cease after what had transpired between them. If anything, though, it had intensified instead. Despite her worry for Allie and concern over her father’s recent actions, all other thoughts fled when Graeme reached for her.

She looked down inadvertently, trying to imagine how his manhood, so long and thick earlier, could be so inconspicuous now. Her cheeks reddened when she looked back up and realized what she had done.