Page 26 of Highlander’s Unspoken Attraction

“I’m to deliver her to Laird Cormac,” Phillip decreed, lifting his chin and peering down at Liam. The motion was small, but it raised Liam’s hackles, and he narrowed his eyes as he noted Phillip’s words.

“Under whose order?”

“Lady Alison’s.”

That was a surprise, and Liam couldn’t keep the shock from his face. Had Alison decided to handle things on her own? It seemed like such a strange deviation from how she said she wanted to handle it before.

“For what reason?” Liam needed more information to try to understand what was happening here. “Must you hold her so strongly? She’s pregnant. I doubt she’ll be trying to run anytime soon.”

Liam had tried to defuse the situation, but nothing seemed to be working. Phillip didn’t loosen his hold, and Emily hadn’t said a word. There was something here that Liam was missing. He could feel it. He reached out a hand.

“I am going to talk to my uncle as is, so I will deliver her,” Liam said. It wasn’t even close to the truth, but Phillip didn’t need to know that. “Come, lass. We have much to discuss.”

Before Liam could reach her, Phillip lifted his hand and blocked Liam’s way. “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Phillip said as he stepped back, pulling Emily with him. “I am under strict orders from Lady Alison and Bain. This maid has created issues, and she will face imprisonment for her indiscretions. You have no need to trouble yourself with these matters.”

Now Liam knew something was wrong. Even at her angriest, he knew Alison wouldn’t have requested that. She felt strongly about fairness. She would never have asked to have the maid punished in this way.

“It is no trouble at all,” Liam insisted. “I have matters to discuss with this maid as well, so⁠—”

“No,” Phillip reiterated firmly. His voice pulled Liam up short, and it took everything in Liam not to show his suspicion on his face. He knew he couldn’t push any harder without revealing his hand. “I will take her to Laird Cormac.”

Liam slowly lowered his hand and nodded. “As you wish. Where is Lady Alison, by the way? I have need to speak with her before tonight’s meal.”

Phillip narrowed his eyes but, after a moment, spoke up. “I saw her heading toward the garden. She has been spending much time out there in the early evenings.”

Liam would have believed him if not for the nearly imperceptible shake of Emily’s head. Her eyes were wide, and Liam could easily see the fear in them. Something dangerous was going on and she was caught in the web of it. “The garden? How long ago did she head out there? I don’t want to run the risk of missing her.”

“She only just left,” Phillip insisted. “If you hurry, you can catch her.”

When Emily shook her head again, Liam smiled and nodded at Phillip. He knew the man was lying. Nothing he had said so far had rung true, and Emily’s reaction confirmed it. Yet, it still didn’t solve the problem of where Alison was.

“Perfect,” Liam said with a wide smile. “Well, carry on. If you see Bain, let him know I’ll be present at the council meeting tomorrow morning.”

Phillip nodded sharply only once before gesturing for Liam to go before him. Turning his back on Phillip might not have been the smartest move, but Liam needed the other man to be none the wiser. Still, the hairs on Liam’s arms rose at having Phillip at his back as he moved towards the garden. He could only hope that wherever Alison was, she was all right as he tried to come up with a plan.