Page 51 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
Struan looked around the table and saw that some of men who’d been fighting Mackintosh for longer than even he had were nodding. They knew Ewan spoke the truth.
“What of the Mackintosh lass?” a man asked. “What dae ye plan tae dae with her?”
Struan licked his lips and cut a glance at Ewan. He could tell the man still didn’t like his idea, but Struan was sure of his plan. He cleared his throat and sat taller in his seat.
“I’m goin’ tae marry her,” he announced.
A strained silence settled over the table as every man seated around it stared at him in stunned disbelief. But that lasted only a moment before the dam broke, and shouts of outrage and protest echoed around the chamber.
“Why would ye dae somethin’ so bleedin’ foolish?” somebody called.
“’Tis the only way tae keep her from havin’ tae go back tae her faither,” he said.
“’Tis folly!”
“She risked her life tae escape from him. Then she risked it again tae help me,” Struan argued. “And let’s nae forget, if nae for her, we’d never ken where Finlay is bein’ held.”
“’Tis reckless,” Owen called. “Laird Mackintosh willnae stand fer it. He’ll turn his wrath from his daughter ontae us. Ye’ll bring ruin down upon our clan.”
Men banged on the table, nodding in agreement with Owen’s assessment, making Struan’s stomach churn. He felt his control slipping away and needed to reassert his grip. Struan slammed his open palm down on the table hard enough to shake everybody’s cup, even tipping a couple of them over. But it had the desired effect. The chamber fell silent, and all eyes turned to him.
“Mackintosh plans tae marry Isolde tae MacPherson,” he said, his tone hard. “Allowin’ those two clans tae unite would dae more harm tae our people than marryin’ Isolde meself.”
The chamber remained silent for a long moment. Struan could see the men around the table pondering his words. He could also see not all of them were convinced. Still, some seemed to be leaning his way. It wasn’t the unanimous support he wanted, but it was a start.
“I dinnae ken if we can risk everythin’ fer this lass,” said one of older members of the Council. “I dinnae ken if we should. The risk tae our people is great if ye pursue this. Too great.”
“I think the lass should stay until she tells us everythin’ she kens—about her faither and about MacPherson and then leave,” said another.
“Let us convene again soon tae hear from the lass herself,” Owen said.
The last thing he wanted was to force Isolde to stand up in front of the Council and speak. To be subjected to their doubts and their blind hatred for her father. Could they separate Isolde from Murdoch and see through to what she really had to say? He was not sure they could make the turn so easily.
But Struan also knew that letting Isolde show them who she really was and how she really helped him, might be the only way to get through to them. Surely, these men would be able to hearall of that when she spoke. If anybody could get through to these men, he thought it would be Isolde herself.
“Aye. Let us convene again soon,” he finally relented.
Struan sighed. There was nothing more that could be done tonight now that the Council had made up their mind. They wanted to talk. He clenched his jaw so tight he could have cracked stone. But he had no choice, so he nodded.
The members of the Council stood and shuffled out of the chamber, leaving Struan slumped back in his chair stewing. When the door finally closed with a resounding thud, Ewan turned to him.
“Under the circumstances, I suppose it could have gone worse,” he said. “At least none of them wanted tae jump on Mackintosh’s offer.”
“Thanks tae ye,” Struan grumbled. “What the hell dae they think we can accomplish by sittin’ around talkin’ like Finlay mayhap is counting his days alive?”
“They’re cautious. ‘Tis all. Ye ken that,” he replied. “And ye cannae blame them for that. They’re right, there’s much at risk.”
Struan ran a hand across his face. “Aye. I ken.”
Ewan studied him closely and Struan could see the question bubbling behind his eyes. He didn’t know what was on the man’smind, but it was obvious that it was serious and was weighing heavily upon him.
“What is it? Ask yer question,” Struan said.
“This girl… yer insistence on marryin’ her?—”
“What about it?”
“Is it really about protectin’ her? Keepin’ her safe?”
