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John bowed his head. “Whatever ye wish, M’Laird, ye ken I’ll see it done.” He paused to scratch his chin. “This wouldnae have anythin’ to do with Kenney Young bein’ seen outside Kinloch last night, would it?”
“What?” Felix’s heart seized.
“When ye dinnae return, I sent Quint after ye—just as ye asked, though a little before I was supposed to,” John explained. “Quint said he’d seen ye enter the Golden Dragon, and that they saw someone creepin’ around outside. Quint went after him, but the bastard managed to get onto his horse and charge away. Still, he swears blind that it was Kenney that he saw.”
Felix huffed out a breath. “We’ll discuss what to do with the idiot as I dress. I daenae ken what he thinks he’s doin’, but he’s nae at Beckingdale Manor now and he willnae ruin this day for me or for Edwina. Nor will he ruin any day afterward for us.”
“Aye, M’Laird.” John bowed his head and turned to follow Felix up to his chamber.
As they walked, Felix’s ire bubbled to the surface. Clearly, Kenney had followed Edwina and Felix in a foolish attempt to cover his tracks, for he must have known, the minute they entered the Golden Dragon, that the innocent truth would be revealed. Then again, there was a good chance that Kenney had not known about the keen eyes of Fergus’ wife, nor her knowledge of poisons.
What else will the wretch do, to try and exonerate himself?That was the part that made Felix feel sick, and he intended to rid Castle Moore of Kenney before the miscreant had the chance to try anything else.
* * *
Stretching out his arms to relieve some of the nervous tension that gathered there, Felix made his way up the wide stone staircase to the floor that harbored Edwina’s chamber. His shirt felt too tight, and the pin of his stag’s head brooch kept jabbing him in the chest, while the heavy wool of his ceremonial great kilt felt much too cumbersome, but John had assured him that he was just feeling what every man felt on the morning of his wedding.
He'll be with Kenney now,Felix hoped, though there was no nearby clock to check the hour.Soon enough, we willnae have to contend with that greedy weasel anymore.
That thought alone was enough to ease a few of his nerves as he made his way down the cavernous hallway to his bride’s door. With every step, his anxiety began to shift into excitement. Maybe, there were many men who felt sick to their stomach on their wedding day, but he was not one of them. After last night, he could not wait to begin the rest of their lives together.
Reaching the door of Edwina’s chamber, he turned the iron ring without thinking, and was about to walk in when a violent force slammed into the wood on the other side.
“Who’s there?” Melissa’s voice barked.
“The groom,” Felix replied.
Her sharp scream splintered the air. “What are ye doin’ at yer bride’s door, ye oaf? It’s bad enough that ye spent last night in each other’s company, but I’ll pluck out my own eyes before I letyesee yer bride before the weddin’! Honest to goodness, Felix, I sometimes wonder if ye’ve any sense at all!”
“I thought I was supposed to escort her?” Felix took a step back, eager to see Edwina again.
The door opened slightly, and Meredith’s much calmer face appeared in the gap. “Ye ken very well that ye daenae escort yer own bride to her weddin’,” she scolded lightly. “Now, go away. Amuse yerself while we finish here, and we’ll see ye in the Kirk.”
“Have ye forgotten that this isnae yer Castle again?” Felix smiled, but Meredith did not seem amused.
“She’s the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, and I wouldnae care if this was a royal palace and ye were the King—ye’re nae gettin’ a peek of her before she walks into the Kirk in an hour, so go away!”
Felix put up his hands in surrender. “Very well, I’ll leave.” He took a quick step forward, feeling suddenly mischievous. “Are ye sure I cannae just have one peek?”
“So help me, I will start launchin’ things out of this door if ye daenae go away,” Meredith warned. “And I willnae hesitate to slam it in yer face, either, so daenae think ye can get past me. I havenae forgotten how to keep my annoyin’ wee brother out of a chamber where he’s nae welcome.”
Felix had to laugh. “Fine, fine, I’m leavin’.”
“I’ll see ye soon!” Edwina’s sweet voice called out, making his heart swell. That was all he had wanted to hear, though he was a little disappointed that he would be seeing her in her bridal gown at the same time as everyone else.
Aye, but I suppose I’m the only one who gets to see her without it.Keeping that privilege in his mind, he waved to Meredith and walked away from his bride’s chamber door.
In truth, he realized it was probably for the best that he had been kept out of Edwina’s room. John was a strong and capable man, one of the finest soldiers a Laird could ask for, but Kenney was not going submit easily. And it would calm Felix’s mind if he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Kenney would not cause any further trouble.
There’s time,Felix told himself, though he would have to be very careful not to get any incriminating marks upon his clothes.
CHAPTER22
The Kirk might have beenthe prettiest that Edwina had ever beheld. A small structure of pale stone with shingles of the most unusual slate—not quite green, not quite gray. The wooden doors were crafted from a warm pine that looked almost golden, while a curved, stained-glass window glittered in the ebb and flow of sunlight as clouds passed by. The Kirk seemed to welcome her inside, which was not always the case with such places.
Yet, there was one person who did not appear at all charmed by the day’s festivities.
“Ye seem awfully quiet this mornin’,” Edwina said drily, her arm looped stiffly through Kenney’s. “I thought ye’d be dancin’ a jig and singin’ grand songs of yer freedom.”
