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Lachlan turned and pounded Cavan’s desk. “You knew she’d go to him, and you let her.” He shook his head. “If it were your intention all along, why didn’t you just let her go from the beginning?”
“I wished to see what she would do,” Cavan said calmly.
“You mean you wanted to know if she would obey your orders,” Lachlan said.
Cavan nodded. “She impressed me with her many skills, but her one fault is…”
“Obedience to authority,” Lachlan finished.
Cavan nodded. “She is too accustomed to leading and has no patience for anyone’s dictates but her own, though I have seen her acquiesce to you on occasion.”
“Not this time,” Lachlan admitted reluctantly.
“It was to be expected; she looks on Septimus as a friend,” Artair said, having left his post at the door to join his brothers.
“But I am her husband,” Lachlan emphasized.
“You’ll find that while that holds importance, it also gets in the way,” Artair said.
Lachlan shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re thinking like a husband,” Cavan said, “while your wife thought like a warrior.”
“She was wise and courageous in bargaining with the mercenaries,” Artair said.
“She could have told me,” Lachlan said, still feeling the bite of mistrust.
“That would have meant a betrayal to the mercenaries and they would have retaliated, not only against Alyce and her village, but you as well,” Cavan said. “As Artair commented, she made a wise and also necessary choice.”
“She refused to tell you everything concerning the mercenaries when you asked,” Lachlan reminded.
“But she freely told us about Ronan,” Artair said. “And she was blunt that she gave her word so therefore was bound to it.” He snickered. “You’re just angry that she took off to meet a man handsomer than you.”
Fury engulfed Lachlan and he raised a threatening fist to Artair. “You’re damn right I am. And when I see him I’m going to beat the hell out of him.”
“Rescue me from what?” Alyce asked Septimus.
“From an unwanted marriage.”
“I appreciate the offer but it isn’t necessary,” she said, wondering who precisely had sent him. Her sisters had known all too clearly the situation and the repercussions of sending Septimus to Caithness.
“You don’t want to give it some thought?” he asked.
While she missed everyone and her life at Everagis, and it still continued to prove a challenge in adjusting to life at Caithness, lately she had come to the realization that she would find it impossible to live without Lachlan. She loved him more than she thought possible and she looked forward to raising their child, and hopefully more together.
“You’re thinking about it,” Septimus said.
She shook her head and smiled. “No, I’m thinking about why I would never leave him.”
“Tell me, so that I can return with your words and let your friends, who worry about you, know you are happy.”
She thought of what to share with him and the others, but how did she put into words what she truly felt when she was still realizing it herself? Of course, she could say that she loved him, but the women knew she did. Whatever could she say that would convince them and perhaps even make her fully accept why she truly chose to remain with Lachlan?
“I will tell you before you return home,” she said.
“I return now if you are certain about your decision.”
“You cannot leave yet,” she said, grabbing hold of his arm. “You must stay for a few days at least and meet my new family.”
“That’s not a good idea,” he said.
“You must,” she urged. “Cavan, the laird of the clan Sinclare, must know that you did not come here to attack his home.”
“I do not care what the laird of the clan Sinclare thinks.”
“There will be no bloodshed,” she ordered sternly.
“You should be laird. You give orders easily enough.”
“Then obey them and meet with Cavan and his brothers.”
Septimus stood and held his hand out to help her up. Once she was on her feet he said, “We will camp here. If the Sinclare men wish to meet with me and see that I am no threat to them then let them come here to my camp tonight.”
“To expect the laird of the clan Sinclare to come to you would be considered an insult and reason for battle. I will not be part of such nonsense.”
“No faith in your new family?” Septimus asked.
“Respect for my new family,” she confirmed with a quick nod. “You either do what is right or suffer the consequences.”
“You threaten me?”
“I am truthful with you and I expect the same in return,” she said. “You either present yourself at the Sinclare keep tonight or tuck tail and run.”
“Now that’s a challenge that could have serious repercussions.”
“No,” she snapped, “it is the right thing to do and if you can’t see that then turn around and go home without a word from me.”
