Page 100 of Love with a Scottish Outlaw
“But now I have to deal with Laird Carlyle,” Aberfoyle continued, his voice growing cold. “Aye, he tried to help children—”
“Owen, ye make it sound like he sent some men or called in some favors,” Cat said. “Put aside what was done to me—”
“I cannot.”
“Not forever. Just . . . hear me. Duncan tried to stop the theft of children, and to cover their crimes, the sheriff and his men threw him in gaol. The scars on his back, Owen . . .” She trailed off, her voice hoarse.
“And ye’ve seen his back?” Aberfoyle demanded.
Duncan stiffened, praying she’d come up with something that would not damage her standing with her brother. He ran both hands through his hair, briefly cupping his head. He’d caused all this. He turned to enter the hall, but the two men stopped him.
“We lived in close quarters in a large cave,” Cat said carefully. “People bathed outdoors, or in a pool within the caves. I saw many men’s backs.”
She was cleverly using the truth, Duncan thought with admiration.
“Ye lived in a cave with lots of men?” Lady Aberfoyle asked with curiosity.
“And women,” Cat hastily added. “Duncan gave me his private chamber as my own.”
“Chamber? Ye mean cave.” Aberfoyle’s voice was flat.
“I had a bed and table and chest. There was furniture.”
To Duncan’s surprise, she seemed to be defending him.
“Why were they all in a cave?” the countess asked.
“Because Duncan is an outlaw. He had to stay hidden to help the children—otherwise he’d have been imprisoned again. Many of his clansmen stayed with him, because they, too, believed in the importance of the mission. We rescued nearly a dozen children while I was there, returning them to their families or finding the orphans new families. Our father was part of a terrible crime, Owen. Duncan’s only crime was trying to make things right. And for that he was outlawed and banished, his people shunned. The village I saw was so poor, and that was only one of them.”
“You forget his crime of kidnapping ye,” Aberfoyle said angrily.
“I’m not forgetting it. But I don’t want his people to suffer anymore. Duncan’s father was a weak chief, easily swayed by others. But Duncan has been an honorable leader. Those people trust him; they need him.”
“What are ye saying?” Aberfoyle demanded.
“Help him be free of the bounty on his head,” Cat said.
Duncan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. After all he’d done to Cat, now she was helping him. Apparently her brother couldn’t believe it either.
“Cat, I cannot forget what he’s done to ye!” His voice rose.
“I’m not asking ye to forget. I won’t. But his people need him. He’s done a brave, noble thing sacrificing his own freedom for them. He defended me when his own life was at risk from the sheriff and his men. I need ye to see that the sheriff is vilified, his crimes exposed and ended, Duncan freed. Ye can do that, Owen, I know ye can.” Her voice grew softer, yet more urgent.
Duncan didn’t deserve such selfless kindness. He felt like the worst sort of monster, that the generous woman he’d betrayed could defend him after he’d taken her innocence.
Aberfoyle raised his voice. “Send for the Carlyle.”
The guards prodded him around the corner and into the great hall. At the dais, only three people were seated: Aberfoyle, his wife, and Cat.
Aberfoyle’s eyebrows rose. “How are ye already here?”
“I thought he needed to be available,” Lady Aberfoyle said smugly.
Duncan’s gaze met and held Cat’s. She flushed red as she realized he’d overheard everything. He expected her to look away, but she didn’t. Those amber eyes glittered by torchlight, and her expression was a little haughty with discomfort. He almost wanted to smile. Instead, he bowed to her. She looked away.
Aberfoyle rose slowly to his feet, as if gathering his thoughts. “Carlyle, there’s been much wrong ye’ve experienced, and ye’ve done well protecting your people and stopping a vicious crime. For that, I’ll see that the bounty on your head is dismissed, and that ye’ll be free to return to a normal life. But for what ye’ve done to my sister, I want ye gone. I never want to see ye in this castle or on any property I own. Ye can spend the night, but at dawn, take your horse and your weapons and leave.”
Duncan took a deep breath and nodded. “Thank ye, Lord Aberfoyle.”
