Page 107 of Intrigued By A Highlander

Whispers surrounded them as they headed to the keep, Dru hearing one word over and over again.

Autumn. Autumn. Autumn.

There was no more hiding. Autumn had to reveal herself.

Knox not only felt but saw a change in his wife. She tilted her chin up, drew her shoulders back, pressed her lips in determination, and her green eyes shined brighter. Autumn was no longer going to hide away.

That Brack even chose to hear what Chieftain Callan had to say troubled Knox, though no bargain could be reached without Lord Torrance’s word. He hoped that Brack was just appeasing the man so that he could learn more about his intentions.

Drink and food were brought to the tables, but none sat.

Callan didn’t take his eyes off Dru, finally saying, “You are the image of your grandmother, my Sophia.”

He said it as if in fond remembrance and Dru wasn’t sure how to respond to him. She kept her voice strong as she said, “Forgive me, but my mother told me nothing about her family, so I know nothing of Sophia.”

“My Sophia was a good and honorable woman?—”

Knox interrupted him. “Autumn possesses the same trait.”

That he acknowledged and defended Autumn with the same tenacity and love as he did Dru touched her heart. And she loved him even more if that was possible.

“That is yet to be seen,” Callan said and glared at Dru. “And unfortunately, your mother chose to runaway rather than do the honorable thing. She fled from duty, abandoning her people to ruin for a selfish love.” His voice darkened with bitterness. “Lord Randall was married, bound by vows she willingly ignored. Her folly brought war, death, and dishonor.”

A murmur rose among the two warriors with Callan, whispered curses laced with decades-old grievances.

One of the two warriors stepped forward, his expression hardened by memories of pain. “Your mother’s betrayal cost me my family,” he spat, eyes blazing with raw accusation. “You carry that legacy now.”

Dru’s chest tightened, sorrow and defiance warring within her.

Knox took a quick step forward. “My wife bears no guilt for her mother’s deeds.”

“Honor demands it,” the young warrior spat.

Dru recalled her mum mentioning how she left a bad situation only to discover she had stepped into a worse one.

“What did you ask of my mother that she would choose dishonor over duty?” she demanded.

“Duty and honor come before anything,” Callan said, and his two warriors nodded.

“Enough of this nonsense,” Brack said. “Dru—Autumn—whoever she is will remain here until Lord Torrance returns and can decide her fate. Now, what do you propose?”

“Lord Torrance wants fealty from two northern clans, I can make sure he gets that in exchange for surrendering my granddaughter to me,” Callan said.

It was Knox who said, “Lord Torrance doesn’t surrender.”

“He’s right about that,” Brack agreed.

“And you both forget that Autumn is my wife, bound to me by law and I have no intentions of releasing her from our marriage.”

Brack rubbed his chin in thought. “Did you wed her as Dru or Autumn?”

Dru’s heart felt as if it stopped.

“That makes no difference,” Knox argued. “She is my wife, and she carries my child.”

Silence reigned for a moment, Dru realizing that though they didn’t know if that was true, it could make a difference in what was decided.

“It matters not to the chieftain who has agreed to wed her. He will accept her anyway and the child will be given to a couple in another clan to raise,” Callan said.

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