Page 88 of The Winter Laird

“I don’t follow. Do you follow?” Colin asked James, who just shook his head and focused on Reilly as he flipped frantically through theIreland Through the Ages: Powerful Clans of the 14th and 15th Centuriesbook.

He found his page, leaned over, and scanned the words. He flipped a few more pages…then froze.

“Here,” he said, and read aloud, “Richard Burke had another son—Aidan MacWilliam, formerly Burke, 1426 to unknown—who allied with Laird MacWilliam. Burke spent much of his gold attempting to locate his second son. However, those efforts proved unsuccessful. Missives found in recent excavations from other local clans—Maguire, Clanricard—wrote of the second son, verifying his existence. His death was never recorded.”

“If he thought Aidan was a threat,” Brianagh said from the doorway, “Burke would use anything he could to lure him back, so he could kill him.”

“Aye,” Reilly agreed. “Anything.”

“Again, I’m not following,” Colin cut in. “Could you two speak English, please?”

Brianagh locked eyes with Colin. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You need to brush up on your Gaelic.”

“Why?” James asked, curious.

“Because,” Reilly said with a reluctant smile, “he’ll be needing it, where we’re going.”

Colin frowned.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I will grab at any hope that Nioclas is alive,” Brianagh stated, appearing at the doorway. “But I’ll also be the first to tell you that Burke would take great pleasure in torturing my husband for as long as he could before killing him.” She fought the tears that threatened. “If Burke believes Nioclas knows where Aidan is, you can bet your life that he’s holding him in a dungeon somewhere—either his castle, or mine.”

“Aren’t we possessive?” Reilly said, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.

“For the first—and possibly last—time, I think you might be right, Reilly.” Brianagh straightened her shoulders. “My destiny is not here. I think it’s about time I take it back.”

“Good lass,” he said approvingly.

“You mean I have to go back there?” Colin groaned.

“Aye,” Bri and Reilly chimed together.

“Let’s take a couple days to prepare,” Reilly said. “Bri, you research everything you can about what happened, or didn’t happen. Colin, you and I need to work on your swordplay more. And James—”

“I can’t go. I’d just get in your way, with my lack of sword skill and poor Gaelic.” He shook his head. “I’m much better suited to staying here, cleaning up any mess you’ve left behind. Especially Bri. I’ll handle Mom and Dad, as well as the press and, if necessary, her death certificate.”

Brianagh swallowed. “Because I won’t be coming back?”

“With any luck,” James agreed, somber.

They were interrupted by a banging at the front door.

Chapter 26

Colin joined Reilly at the door and folded his arms. Brianagh could feel the combined fury of them both, and seeing them stand together, appearing outwardly relaxed…even she was a little frightened of them.

And they were on her side.

Reilly and Colin waited patiently as the silence drew out.

Finally, Matthew de Burgh said, “Just sign the damn papers, O’Rourke. She left it all to me.”

Colin looked down at the papers Matthew shoved under his nose, then glanced back up. “No.”

“All you’re doing is delaying the inevitable,” Matthew sneered. “You don’t want to sign? Fine. All that does is create more paperwork for me. And let me just point something out. Money talks. Reputation talks. And she agreed to be my wife in a very public way. Everyone knew she was crazy about me. It’s not so far-fetched that she’d leave me—a very capable businessman—in charge of her business. You fighting me for it just drags your name through the mud.”

“So this is why you took the trouble to propose?” Colin replied. “Clever.”

“Sign the papers, O’Rourke.”

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