Page 54 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

Gordon turned his gaze toward him. “I ken, but it is a risk to see if he is truly behind this. If I invite him, and he is indeed the one responsible, he will gladly come for the bindin’, and then I shall watch his every move.”

“And if he doesnae?” Malcolm asked. “Kerr thinks we are in his debt, Me Laird. He will come believin’ ye intend to pay, and he isnae rumored to be peaceful.”

“It will be unwise to trust Kerr at this point,” one of the councilmen spoke up. “But it isnae futile to try for peace. War benefits no one… nae Kerr nor us.”

“Thank ye,” Gordon said to the man who nodded in return.

The rest of the deliberations continued more amicably between the men, and when it was finally over, Gordon strode out of the hall first, barely sparing her a glance before the other dispersed.

Ailis walked beside Marion as they left the grand hall, too, and finally asked. “Who is Kerr?”

Marion did not answer immediately.

That alone made Ailis more curious.

“And why,” Ailis continued, “does he think Gordon owes him a debt?”

Marion’s mouth tightened. Her usually warm expression had gone grim, her eyes fixed ahead as they crossed the corridor. “That is somethin’ ye should ask Gordon.”

Ailis frowned. “I am askin’ ye.”

“And I am tellin’ ye that ye should hear it from him.”

“Ye ken, then, what the debt is about?”

“I ken enough,” Marion said again, still not giving any answers. “Kerr is nae a man to be taken lightly. There are things between him and Gordon that began long before ye came here. He was a friend of me late husband, Gordon’s uncle…”

Ailis studied her now, realizing this was a much more serious matter.

“Is Gordon in danger?”

Marion hesitated. That frightened her more than an answer would have.

“Speak with him,” Marion said again. “Let him tell ye what happened.”

Ailis glanced toward the path leading to Gordon’s study. “I shall.”

Then Marion turned down another passage, leaving Ailis alone. Ailis watched her go then turned toward the corridor leading to his study.

She had taken only a few steps when hurried footsteps sounded behind her.

“Ma’am!”

She turned and saw Lileas rushing around the corner, skirts gathered in one hand. Behind her came Jane. The little girl raced along the corridor with Brochan tucked beneath one arm, her dark curls bouncing wildly as she tried to outrun the maid.

“Lileas,” Jane called. “Stop runnin’!”

The child’s eyes found Ailis and her entire face brightened.

“Miss Ailis!” she called again.

Ailis dropped into a squat at once, and Lileas ran straight into her arms.

Ailis caught her around the middle and laughed as the little girl buried her face against her shoulder. “There ye are, wee troublemaker.”

“I wasnae doing anythin’.”

“Of course, ye were nae.”