“I daenae wantanyone to overhear us,” Colby said with a grin. “Gossip flies in this castle in case ye havenae noticed.”
“Aye,I’m well aware of that,” Ryan sighed, his jaw tightening.
Colby nodded.Then he said, “The guards have a lead on the thieves. They daenae ken for certain just yet, but they’re on the trail.”
“I assumethey have a plan that they want me approval of?” Ryan guessed, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Ye assumed correctly,”Colby said. “They ken ye daenae want to bring anyone in without proof, so they want to hide in the cellar of the inn where the provisions are kept.”
Ryan nodded,rubbing his temple. He murmured, “Catch them in the act, aye?”
Colby nodded back,his fingertips tracing the handle of his blade. His eyes swept from the window in the center of the wall opposite them back to the Laird. A spark of amusement flashed in his eyes.
“Aye,”he replied. “So, do ye approve of their plan, or would ye like me to tell them to rethink it?”
“I approve,”Ryan said, not even needing to think about it. “They’ll ken if their targets are truly the thieves we’re lookin’ for without a shadow of a doubt. Instruct them to bring them back to the castle as soon as they’ve got the thieves. I’ll take care of the punishment.”
“Ye have some ideas, then?”Colby asked, a bit too excited for Ryan’s liking.
“Aye, but I willnae be sharin’,”the Laird replied. “I think ye get off on violence.”
“Ach, ye got it wrong,”Colby said, giving him a crooked smile. “It’s justice that tickles me fancy.”
“Ye’re despicable.But justice will be delivered swiftly,” Ryan scoffed before turning toward the door. “Let me ken as soon as ye get more information, aye?”
“Aye.”
Ryan nodded once morebefore heading out into the corridor once again. This time, he was lucky enough not to encounter anyone else who needed his input. However, he did see the gossiping maids who had Margaret in a tizzy.
Aye, keep talkin’.We’ll be married soon; then you’ll have to pick somethin’ else to chatter about.
13
With the wedding now imminent, Margaret got caught in a whirlwind of planning. The customs here were so different from the customs in England, and it was difficult to keep up with everything. She felt as if she were studying for some sort of test.
Each day,Cali would wake her up earlier than she’d like with apologies. Then, she’d help Margaret wash herself and dress her. And once Margaret was deemed presentable, she’d be ushered to meetings with Ryan and his council to plan the event.
“Ye’re tense this mornin’,”Cali said as she ran a soft flannel over Margaret’s back. “Are ye sleepin’ all right?”
“I am,”Margaret replied, stifling a yawn that betrayed her.
“Are ye sure about that,Me Lady?” Cali murmured, amusement coloring her words.
“It’s all this planning.The guest list, the food, the venue where we’ll be wed, and preparing all of the invitations,” Margaret sighed, leaning her head back against the edge of the tub. “And getting up so early.”
“Aye,I suppose ye’d be strugglin’,” Cali said, rinsing the last of the lavender-scented soap from Margaret’s body. “I think ye’d sleep the whole day long if I let ye.”
“Well,the bed’s just so comfortable,” Margaret observed as she was helped from the tub. “It’s like sleeping on a cloud.”
“Ach,then I’m sure ye’re going to be upset with me when I tell ye that there willnae be any plannin’ this mornin’.”
“No planning?”Margaret asked, stepping into her shift. “Is everything all right?”
“Aye, there was just somethin’that needed to be taken care of,” Cali assured her. She knelt, smoothing the fabric. “Ye have the mornin’ to yerself. Maybe the whole day. I’m nae quite sure.”
Margaret hummed,suddenly at a loss for what she might do with the day. While all the planning was stressful, it gave her something to focus on. Without her mind occupied, she was sure her worries would bubble to the surface.
“Now let’sget yer hair done,” Cali suggested after getting Margaret in her stays, corset, and gown. “Then I’ll take ye to the great hall to break yer fast.”