Page 22 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
“Aye. Lachlan was engaged once. A cousin from a smaller clan, meant to unite two borders. Lovely lass, from what I understand. Smart, too. Brave.” His eyes connected with hers. “Made the mistake of questionin’ him once in public.”
He paused, his jaw tight.
“He killed her the night before their wedding. Her body was never buried. Nay one dares say her name, even now.”
The breath fled her lungs. “That’s a tale. Rumors.”
“Is it? I heard it fromhercousin. He came to me two years after, beggin’ for help. O’Gunn never denied it. Said she was disobedient.”
Eileen stared at him, her heart thudding like a drum. “Ye met him, then?”
“I’ve met Lachlan Baird exactly four times.”
“He’sjustaman.”
“Nay, lass. He’s nae.”
She shook her head slowly, the room spinning just a little. “But… if people ken that he killed her, why has nothin’ been done?”
“O’Gunn isnae a man ye just do somethin’ about, nae with the power he wields. Ye’d have to plot in the dark and hope that enough people join ye. But if yer whispers are heard, a war starts. The relationships between the clans arenae simple, lass.”
“Then I must go to him,” Eileen begged.
“Even after hearin’ what I’ve just told ye, ye’re willin’ to walk into his arms and face death? Nay one kens what his betrothed did to deserve death, but I spent a day with ye and already saw ye gettin’ yerself into all sorts of trouble.”
Eileen paused for a moment. She didn’t know whether to laugh with him or scream at him.
“He has Reid,” she scolded firmly. “He wants to start a war by killin’ ye. If I can help anyone, even one person, I have to try.”
“Ye dinnae even ken that yer braither is there!” Archer boomed, shaking her resolve and sending a bolt of lightning through her body. “Ye think O’Gunn will bargain with ye fairly all because yethinkhe has yer braither? Dinnae be so daft. It’s beneath ye. If he has him, he’ll demand a steep price, and if he doesnae, he’ll still use his disappearance to get somethin’ out of the situation.”
Thunder crashed outside, and Archer stepped away from her, returning to the fire. The flickering glow caught the side of his face, casting his high cheekbones in gold.
“If ye disappear into that place, we might never see ye again.”
We? What do ye care if ye see me again? Ye can find another lass to play betrothed with ye. I’m nae special in that regard.
“Then what would ye have me do?” she demanded, tossing the blankets to the side and standing up.
He watched her, unmoving.
The silence stretched between them. There was no hiding now.
“Ye ken what ye must do, lass,” he said, nearing exasperation.
Eileen looked out at the storm again, then met Archer’s dark stare.
But at what cost?
“Accept me proposal. Stay here. We will work together to find yer braither,” he repeated slowly.
“Ye talk about O’Gunn gettin’ something out of the situation, but what doyeget out of this charade, huh?”
He stood straighter. “I already told ye. I get me council off me back. I get peace in me home. And mayhap I keep a foolish woman from walkin’ into her death.”
Eileen bit her lip hard. She wanted to slap him. She also wanted to trust him.
“Whatever ye decide, make it quick,” Archer said, his tone clipped as he turned and walked to the door before she could say anything else. “I’ve called a council meeting,” he added over his shoulder. “I’ll speak to ye after.”
