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“Aye, milord, there is much that my father needs to be told,” Aileen declared. Her words were dripping with sweetness, but there was venom in her eyes.
Not wanting the entire courtyard to be privy to the very private conversation that was sure to follow, Gavin led Laird Sinclair and his daughter into the private solar on the third floor of the keep, where their voices wouldn’t be heard—no matter how loud the shouting got.
Fiona made a move to pull away, but Gavin held her arm tightly and pulled her up the staircase beside him. He didn’t care that Sinclair raised his brow when he glimpsed the gesture, nor did Gavin hesitate to ignore Duncan’s sign of warning to tread lightly. They could all sod off. He was not about to be separated from Fiona after having so recently experienced the anguish of losing her, and woe to any man who dared to question his action.
The tension in the chamber was thick as a bowl of porridge on a cold winter’s morn. Sinclair had his stern gaze pinned on Gavin’s chest, Aileen had her arms crossed and a mulish expression on her face, and Fiona looked as though she’d rather be mucking out the stables instead of standing among them.
He caught her gaze, mouthing silently not to worry. Her answering smile went straight to his heart.
“We are reasonable men,” Gavin said calmly, tamping down his own ire. “The truth of the matter is that Aileen has returned unharmed.”
“That may be, but I’ve yet to hear the reason why she was in danger in the first place. Have ye been telling tales about the strength of yer defenses? Did the scoundrel breach yer walls and steal my Aileen from under yer very nose?”
“Nay! The walls of my castle have never been breached, nor has my keep fallen in a siege,” Gavin said. “Lady Aileen left the castle of her own accord, without a proper escort and without telling anyone.”
Laird Sinclair’s face blanched. “Is that true, daughter?”
Aileen gulped. “’Tis.”
“Damn ye!” The laird bellowed, slamming his fist on the table. “What did ye do to my daughter that caused her to run from ye?”
“Me? I did nothing,” Gavin countered, outraged that Sinclair would assume he was responsible.
The laird blinked, but the fury still burned in his eyes. “Aileen?”
“The earl speaks the truth, Father,” Aileen said in a bitter tone. “He didnothing.”
The laird peered suspiciously at Gavin, then stole a look at his daughter, clearly trying to make sense of their words. “I need a drink,” he finally announced.
Gavin scowled. The dull throb in his temple pounded a tad harder.Christ, the last thing I want is to have to reason with an angry, drunkenSinclair, he thought, but there was no help for it. He walked across the solar and yanked open the door.
Duncan, Aidan, and Connor practically fell into the room. Obviously the trio had been listening at the door. Gavin scowled with condemnation at his cousins. “Make yerselves useful and tell Hamish to bring us ale, wine,andwhiskey.”
Orders delivered, he forcefully shut the door. The tension in the chamber escalated as they waited. Gavin risked a glance at Fiona. Both Sinclair and Aileen were staring at her. Sinclair looked suspicious while Aileen was visibly distressed.
Fiona’s lips were pressed into a thin, tight line and she appeared unnerved by their scrutiny. It was obvious that her careful attempt not to call attention to herself had failed.
Bloody hell, where was that damn whiskey!
In a noisy blur of shuffling feet, Hamish entered with a tray of tankards, goblets, a pitcher of ale, another of wine, and a jug of whiskey. Without being offered by his host, Sinclair helped himself. He downed a tankard of ale, then filled the vessel with whiskey. He took three swallows before slamming it down on the table, then dragged the back of his hand across his mouth.
“Tell me again, daughter, what happened to ye today?”
Aileen showed her teeth in a humorless smile before answering the laird. “I awoke very early this morning and was unable to get back to sleep, so I walked the battlements in anticipation of the sunrise.
“It was from there that I saw Lady Fiona in the bailey riding behind the grain cart. I was curious about this most unusual occurrence, so I followed her. Due to the early hour, there was no time to gather any men to accompany me and no one to tell of my plans. I grant that I acted in haste, but I know of the dangers and never intended to ride very far. I assumed the men guarding the grain cart would also provide me with protection.”
Sinclair gave Fiona an appraising look. “What exactly were ye doing traveling with a grain cart, Lady Fiona?”
Fiona’s head jerked up. “I was making a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin Mother. The cart, with its escort, was going near, so I rode with them. Father Niall kindly made the arrangements for me.”
“Why did the earl refuse to provide ye with a proper escort for such a holy journey?” Sinclair questioned.
“I didn’t ask him,” Fiona stammered. “He has far more important matters to consider.”
“The moment I was alerted that the women were missing, I followed them both,” Gavin added.
“I thought ye were a man of honor, milord,” Aileen challenged, her eyes narrowed and shrewd. “I’m wondering if ye would have bothered to chase after me, if Lady Fiona was not also missing.”
