Gerald glared at him,a tactic of intimidation. It didn’t work, though. A man who’d been bound to a chair didn’t pose a threat, no matter how frightening he tried to make himself look.
“What we daenae understand,”Ryan continued, taking a step forward, “is why ye hired him in the first place. What did ye get from it?”
“He was power hungry,”Gerald said, leaning back. “He didnae care for the advice of his council.”
Ryan chuckled derisively.“I cannae say that I care for the advice of me council either. I let most of ye remain because me father installed ye. I’m realizin’ now that I should have gutted the lot of ye when ye started pressin’ me for an heir.”
“Ye may naecare for yer council’s advice, yet ye listen,” Gerald pointed out. “Yer cousin? He didnae listen at all. The man only did what he desired and stopped us from doing what was in the best interest of Clan McGhee.”
“Ye kenthat it’s the Laird who decides what’s in the best interest of his clan, do ye nae?” Aaron said, his eyes narrowing. His hand flexed at his side as though he were itching to pull his blade on Gerald. “It doesnae matter what the council advises. The Laird is free to disregard it if he believes their advice to be useless.”
“To me,”Ryan added, reaching forward and grabbing Gerald’s chin, forcing him to maintain eye contact as he spoke, “it sounds as if ye were angry that ye couldnae do as ye pleased any longer. Ye thought that if another Laird were installed, ye would be able to do what ye wanted with him. Ye werenae expectin’ me to behave the way I do, aye?”
Gerald didn’t respond.The fire in his eyes burned even hotter. His jaw tightened beneath Ryan’s hold.
“That’swhy ye wanted me to have a bairn so badly, is it nae?” Ryan asked, squeezing so tightly that Gerald flinched. “As soon as me heir arrived, ye were going to have me killed as well. Ye were going to raise him to believe he could follow the council’sadvice blindly. And while he was growin’ up, the council was going to act for him in the interim.”
The accusation hitGerald like a physical blow. His eyes widened, his lips curling downward. Then, improbably, he laughed like a lunatic.
Ryan droppedhis hold on the man, taking a step back as he glared daggers at him. With unconcealed distaste, he asked, “What the hell is so damn funny to ye?”
“Ye’re smarterthan ye look, ye ken?” Gerald said when he got hold of himself. “Surprised ye figured that out so quickly. I thought ye’d have to beat it out of me.”
“Ye’re despicable,”Aaron spat. “It seems everythin’ ye’ve done has been a desperate grab for power.”
“I only wantwhat’s best for Clan McGhee,” he said. “It’s nae me fault that the Lairds we’ve had have been incompetent. I was only doing what was best for the people livin’ here.”
“Ye were only doingwhat was best for yerself,” Ryan said, turning away from him and heading toward the exit. “That much is obvious to me now.”
“Ye’re just goingto leave me here, then?” Gerald asked as the two walked away. “Ye’re going to starve me?”
“Nay,”Ryan replied, stopping to turn around and level him with a savage look. “Ye’ve been charged with treason, Gerald Matheson. Ye, and the man ye paid to commit the murder, are set to be hanged. We daenae tolerate men who’re willin’ to go against their Laird in this way. But ye will be fed until then.”
“Waste of foodif ye ask me,” Aaron said, leaving the dungeon without lookin’ back.
“I feel the same,”Ryan agreed, casting Gerald one last look before following his friend. “But we are nae animals. Even if they daenae deserve it, we willnae let our prisoners spend their last days on Earth sufferin’ from thirst or hunger.”
The great hallwas more lively than normal during dinner that evening as had been the case since Margaret rejoined Ryan after her attempted abduction. It was clear that she’d been welcomed as Lady McGhee with open arms. She appreciated the enthusiasm at mealtimes more than she could put into words though she was certain that the people of Clan McGhee—herpeople—didn’t need her to say it plainly to understand.
“I heardthe two of ye were walkin’ through the gardens earlier,” Aaron said with a grin, looking between Izzy and Margaret. “I should have known ye’d be fast friends.”
“You’re only sayingthat because the two of us are English,” Izzy teased as she brandished her fork at him. “You wouldn’t be friends with every Highlander you met, would you?”
“Nay,but it’s quite obvious ye’re kindred spirits,” he retorted before turning his attention back to the plate in front of him. “Ye’re both wee feisty things. It willnae be long before ye’re givin’ me and Ryan trouble. I’m sure of it.”
“Well,at least we’ll keep things interesting,” Izzy said, grinning. “We wouldn’t want our husbands to be bored.”
Margaret enjoyedthe presence of the two. Their playful teasing had helped her ease back into normalcy on her first day back in the grand hall. Now, she was becoming used to their boisterous presence.
I’ll missthem when they leave.
The thought barreled into her,making her chest tighten. Margaret’s time in Scotland, though it had been short thus far, had led her to some of the best people she’d ever known. It almost pained her to acknowledge that Izzy and Aaron wouldn’t be here forever.
Most of all,it made her miss her family.
With a sigh,Margaret looked out over the tables of people. All of them were talking, eating, and generally enjoying one another’s company. She’d have them even when her new friends left. And she thought as she glanced over at Ryan, the Laird was part of her family now.
“Is everythin’all right?” he asked, leaning in close to Margaret and keeping his voice down so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Ye had a look in yer eye.”