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“It was her duty to wed,” Cavan said. “Lachlan at least loves her and obviously she loves him.”
“That doesn’t seem to be in doubt,” Artair agreed. “But I think Alyce would have preferred to make the choice herself, just as each of our own wives did.”
Cavan bristled. “Honora didn’t have a choice.”
Lachlan laughed along with Artair.
“You two were perfect for each other from the start,” Lachlan said. “We were just waiting for you both to realize it.”
“Enough,” Cavan ordered, annoyed by his brothers’ teasing. “We need to focus on the mercenaries tonight and find out if they know anything about Ronan.”
“Alyce says they don’t,” Lachlan reminded.
“That just means she hadn’t seen or heard anything,” Cavan said. “But what of before the mercenaries arrived in the area? Could they have seen our brother somewhere? Be alert and ask questions.”
“There’s one other thing I’d like to know,” Lachlan said. “And that is who sent Septimus here to rescue Alyce?”
No one had a chance to respond. Their wives’ jovial voices reached the men in the great hall before they entered, and Lachlan couldn’t help but be struck senseless when he saw his wife.
She wore a deep green velvet gown gathered beneath her full breasts and falling in a swirl at her slipper-covered feet. Long sleeves fell at the wrists to gold-trimmed points, which also weaved through the velvet under her breasts. Her blond hair was piled high on her head with stray strands falling along her neck and a few short strands curling at the sides. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her full lips rosy. She was stunning.
He told her just that, though she objected.
“This is all,” she said with a graceful swirl, “thanks to Zia and Honora. They worked magic.”
Lachlan leaned close, whispering in her ear. “They had to have magic to work with from the start and you, my lovely wife, are a magical beauty.”
Horns trumpeted the arrival of their guests, and Alyce gave her husband a quick kiss.
“Be good,” she whispered.
“I thought I was,” he teased with a nibble at her ear.
“I think perhaps,” she said with a smile, “your charm will be tested tonight.”
“Ye of little faith,” he murmured.
“Ye, who knows her husband,” Alyce laughed softly and took hold of his hand to tug him along to stand beside his brothers and greet the guests.
Lachlan bristled as soon as he caught sight of Septimus. He was ready to argue that the man wasn’t as handsome as he, but damned if the mercenary hadn’t caught the eye of every female servant who glanced at him. At one time their eyes would have held steady on Lachlan, but now their eyes were stuck on Septimus.
Cavan greeted the man with a firm handshake and welcomed him to the home of the clan Sinclare.
They soon were all seated at the table in front of the hearth, a few of Septimus’s men occupying the other tables along with Cavan’s warriors. Lachlan knew his brother had planned for any possibility and part of it was due to his wife’s strategy skills.
Lachlan noticed his mother kept busy seeing to all her guests, though one rather large mercenary seemed to draw her attention the most, and he wondered if he was being a problem.
His wife’s hand settled on his as they got comfortable at the table.
“That is Hagen and he a good man,” she said with a nod in his direction.
He wasn’t surprised that she noticed what he did, since she was always alert to everything going on around her.
Conversation was general at first with everyone being polite to a fault. Lachlan knew it wouldn’t remain that way. Both sides sought answers and would eventually demand them.
A couple of hours later, with niceties and food done, Cavan said, “It is time to be truthful.”
“I agree,” Septimus said and looked directly at Lachlan. “I have come to rescue your wife.”
“I’ve heard,” Lachlan acknowledged, “though you’ve wasted your time. Alyce needs no rescuing.”
“Isn’t that for her to decide?” Septimus asked, though to Lachlan it sounded more like a challenge.
Lachlan ignored him and countered with another question. “Who sent you here?”
“What difference does it make?” Septimus said.
Before Lachlan could challenge him, Alyce spoke up.
“I’m curious myself, since it wouldn’t have been anyone at Everagis; that would leave me to believe…” She stared at him.
Septimus nodded with a smile. “You knew since my arrival.”
“I suspected,” Alyce asked. “But why?”
“Explain,” Cavan ordered curtly.
Septimus lost the smile. “My leader sent me here to see if Alyce remained of her own accord.”
“Who is your leader?” Cavan asked.
“I cannot tell you that,” Septimus said and offered no reason.
“Why?” Artair asked before anyone could.
“A command,” Septimus said.
“It makes it seem as though you’re hiding something,” Lachlan accused.
“I expected your questions to center more on your brother Ronan,” Septimus said. “And don’t you search for a woman; your enemy’s daughter who slipped away from you?”
