“He claims guardianship over Alex now that his parents are dead,” Lachlan said.
“That’s an outrage!” Finn slammed his fist against the mantel. “I know for certain Alex’s father named his sister’s husband, the Earl of Athol, in his will to be Alex’s guardian should one ever be needed.”
“Apparently, Athol sold him the wardship.”
“Sold it? That bastard!” Finn could not believe his ears. “Alex’s father should never have trusted someone not of his blood.”
“The Sinclair chieftain said if we refused to hand over his ward, it would be treason.”
“When ye refused, the Sinclairs laid siege to the castle?” When Lachlan did not answer right away, a cold rage filled Finn’s belly. “Don’t tell me the men complied.”
“The Sinclair chieftain threatened to burn down Dunrobin with all of us in it if we did not open the gates,” Lachlan said, fidgeting under Finn’s glare. “That’s when Alex ordered us to let them in.”
“A' phlàigh oirbh Sinclairs!”A plague on the Sinclairs!Finn wanted to have George Sinclair’s thick neck between his hands and squeeze the life out of him. “This cannot stand. I’ll not allow Alex to remain in the clutches of that foul man.”
“If Athol sold it, the King’s Council is bound to approve it, you’ll see,” his mother said, nodding. “My Sinclair cousin is a wise choice for Alex’s guardian.”
“A wise choice?” Finn felt as if his head would explode. “I’d wager my last farthing that George had a hand in the murder of Alex’s parents. And now he has the bollocks to claim to be his guardian?”
He was vaguely aware that Margaret was tugging at his arm, but he could not be diverted with all this anger pulsing through his body.
“There’s more, I’m afraid,” Lachlan said.
Whatever it was, it could not be worse news than this.
“The Sinclair chieftain has forced Alex”—Lachlan paused to clear his throat—“to wed his daughter Barbara.”
Finn staggered on his feet. Nay, it could not be. Not to Barbara. She’d destroy his naïve, sweet-natured cousin.
“’Tis a fine match,” his mother said, folding her arms. “After all, Barbara is an earl’s daughter and a Sinclair.”
“Alex is fifteen!” Finn said. “Barbara is more than twice his age—and a vicious snake.”
His blood froze in his veins as he imagined Barbara’s cold gray eyes taunting him while she strangled his cousin, just as she had killed his dog so many years ago.
###
Margaret found Finn throwing dirks at a wooden stake in the field where the men practiced behind the castle.
“I’ll get Alex back,” Finn said. “I have to.”
“Now that Athol has sold the wardship and George Sinclair has Alex in his custody,” she said, choosing her words carefully, “that will be difficult.”
“I don’t care how difficult it is,” Finn snapped, and threw another dirk, hitting the stake squarely with athunk.
“Come inside where we can talk,” she said, taking his arm.
“Ishould be Alex’s guardian before that damned George,” he said, stabbing his thumb against his chest. “I’ma closer blood relation.”
“I’m afraid that will not carry enough weight with the King’s Council.” She paused, knowing he would not like what she had to tell him. “That is not how these matters are decided.”
“What could be more important than blood?” he demanded, his eyes like blue fire.
“Alex is an earl,” she said. “The council will not grant his wardship to someone without rank.”
“Then my father can be the guardian in name,” Finn said. “He has a rank and title.”
“What I should have said”—she paused to lick her lips—“is that the council will not grant the wardship of an earl to someone oflesserrank. Alex and his properties can only be placed in royal guardianship or with another earl.”