She walked with Kaden hand in hand to the kitchens. The fire was still burning low in the oven despite the hour, likely toensure that everything was kept warm in here. It wasn’t as much lighting as she might have otherwise liked, but it would do.
“What was in the letter, Kaden?” Emily pressed. “May I read it?”
Kaden checked that the door leading to the grounds was secure and the lock bolted in place from the outside. Then, he turned to the first footman he saw and whispered something in his ear. The young footman’s face paled, but then he ran off to carry out whatever order Kaden had just given him.
Now Emily was nervous about what the note said.
“Kaden? The note?”
He sighed and handed it to her.
She set Maggie down on the floor, thankful that this time the puppy stayed put and sat right beside her left ankle. She unfolded the note and had to read it at least three times before she really understood what it said.
If ye marry her, then ye’re both dead.
Well, that made sense as to why Kaden was so angry. Not only had someone seen them, but they were also threatening both of them as a result.
Emily knew that there were people not very fond of her because of the various rumors that surrounded her, but she didn’t see any reason why they would want her dead. It wasn’t like she was walking around with true enemies.
If either of them were, it would have to be the man pacing the room beside her like a caged lion.
Emily laughed bitterly, the sound dry as she couldn’t seem to conceal her worry. “It’s a good thing that this willnae be a real marriage for the first year at least.”
She turned to Kaden, but he didn’t care for the joke she was trying to make. She just wanted to ease the tension.
“Ye cannae stand there and have me believe that ye have never received a death threat before,” she tried to tease.
“Oh, aye, I’ve received quite a few. But none for the woman who is going to become me wife,” he answered.
He was vibrating with anxious energy, and Emily had no idea how to help. This wasn’t how she wanted to spend the evening after having had her first real sexual experience. She could think of a fair few things, but this wasn’t anywhere close.
“Who would have done this?”
It wasn’t really a question, so she didn’t answer it.
“I have a great many enemies, but this feels far more aimed at ye than me,” Kaden said plainly.
Emily’s jaw went slack.
Was that true? She wouldn’t have thought so. Then again, the threat was only if Kaden married her, not if either of them got married. So, maybe he had a point.
Kaden stopped short and turned toward her as he spoke, but he didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I met that bastard from the cèilidh at the pub tonight. Perhaps it was him?”
Emily shook her head. “Then there’s nay problem. He cannae hurt ye or yer clan.”
Kaden didn’t look convinced, but he was also clearly done talking to her about it.
He nodded toward the door that would lead her back into the castle. “Ye should go to bed. Get cleaned up. I’ll handle it all.”
Emily hesitated for a moment. She didn’t want to leave things like this. It didn’t feel right to just walk away from him when he was as worried as he was.
“Unless there is something else that ye need?” Kaden asked.
Emily shook her head slowly. “I suppose nae. Ye arenae going to confine me to me rooms, are ye?”
Kaden’s eyes widened in surprise and what almost looked like horror. “I would never hold a person against their will.”
She felt a pang of regret in her chest. She had misspoken.