Page 5 of When A Laird Loves A Lady
Iain nodded his understanding. RoryMac’s wife, Alanna, had not wanted him to come to England because she’d had afeeling that something terrible would happen. She’d thought that bad fortunewould befall her husband, but with the predicament Iain now found himself in,he wondered if the bad fortune she’d feared was not his.
“I wish to be home, as well,” Iainsaid. “I miss Dunvegan.”
Rory Mac stood up and dusted thestray hay from his braies. “What do ye miss most?”
Iain thought about it. He missedbathing in the cold seawater, even if it did make his bollocks curl painfullytight. He’d not say that, of course. “I miss grievances of the clan,” he said,knowing it would surprise Rory Mac, given how irritated Iain always got when hehad to spend hours on end listening to complaints.
Rory Mac cocked his eyebrow as theywalked to the horses to ready them to depart. “I dunnae believe ye.”
Iain laughed, understanding why,yet it was an awareness of their clan’s ways that he appreciated even more now,having been here among the English for so long. “It’s true. We air ourgrievances unlike the English. It’s tiresome but honest. The English dunnae dothat, and I dunnae trust King Edward does, either.”
“Nor does David, which is why he summonedye, I think.”
Iain nodded and made a derisivenoise from his throat. “Of course David does nae trust Edward, but David knowshe can trust me.” Iain stared at his friend. “Dunnae mistake Edward to be weak.David would have never been able to summon me if it did nae suit Edward’spurposes.”
Rory Mac nodded. “I’ll nae forget.Tell me of the talks today. I suppose an agreement was made for David’srelease?”
Iain motioned to the stable door toimply that he’d speak when they were alone. Once they were outside, had mountedtheir horses, and were a respectable distance from the castle, Iain answeredRory Mac’s question. “A date was set to come back to the table to discuss andset the official terms of David’s release, but it’s still a long way off.”
Rory Mac grimaced. “Why must yecome back? Why could they nae set the terms of David’s release while ye’rehere?”
He slowed his destrier and lookedat his friend. “King Edward has a provision that must be met before he will consentto talk officially of releasing David.” The muscles in Iain’s neck tensed atthe thought of marrying again.
“What is it?” Rory Mac demanded,his eyes narrowing with obvious wariness.
Iain wondered if that’s how he hadlooked when David had told him what King Edward wanted. It was likely. He tooka deep breath. “I have to marry some Englishwoman—the daughter of Baron deLacy,” he muttered, trying to keep the ire out of his voice, but he knewimmediately that he’d failed when he saw the look of pity on Rory Mac’s face.
“Marry a Sassenach?” his friendcried out in surprise. “Ye?”
“Aye,” Iain said on a long,irritated sigh. An image of his late wife, Catriona, filled his mind, makinghis chest ache. He clamped his emotions down as quickly as they had arisen. “Theking of England suspects Baron de Lacy and William Froste of plotting to takethe throne.”
Rory Mac pressed his lips into athin line, his nostrils flaring. “Are ye speaking of the knight who cut offNeil’s ear? The tourney knight?”
Iain’s jaw clenched thinking ofFroste. The man was as renowned for his skills in battle and on the tourneyfield as his cruelty. Iain didn’t normally pay any heed to rumors but Frostehad proven himself hard-hearted when he’d cut the ear off one of Iain’sclansman for a crime Froste knew damn well the man had not committed. Iain hada score to settle with Froste, and he welcomed the opportunity.
“Well?” Rory Mac demanded, bringingIain’s attention back to him.
“Aye, the one and the same,” Iaingrowled. The men locked gazes and spit toward the ground at once to signifywhat they thought of a man with no honor. “It seems the king got word thatFroste is to marry de Lacy’s daughter, and it’s a match the king intends tostop. Froste wanted land from the king and the title of baron, which King Edwardrefused, and de Lacy…” Iain shrugged. “The king believes de Lacy wants thethrone, and if he and Froste join forces, the two would have enough knights,money, and allies that the king is nervous.” Iain rolled his shoulders, whichnow throbbed with pressure, as Rory Mac stared intently at him.
Taking a deep breath, Iaincontinued. “The king is savvy. He is using the fact that he has Davidimprisoned to weaken de Lacy and Froste’s scheme. He intends to strip de Lacyof the land that is currently in his control, which the king knows Frostewants, and give it to me upon my marriage to de Lacy’s daughter. In return, Ihad to pledge that if de Lacy and Froste should rise against the king, our clanwould fight beside King Edward.”
“Butof coursethey’ll rise against him!” Rory Mac cried out, his lip curled back.
“Aye,” Iain agreed, holding hisfriend’s outragedgaze. “The king kens it,too. And he understands that David and I ken it, but King Edward would nae sayas much out loud. I’m the perfect solution. He can quell the rebellion withoutsacrificing any English blood, except of course de Lacy’s and Froste’s.”
“Why did David nae ask Gowan’s sonto marry the lass to gain his freedom instead of ye? Gowan is laird of theMacDonald clan and the lassishis niece, so surely they should make thesacrifice and nae ye?”
Iain had asked David that samequestion. “Because he does nae trust Gowan to become a possible ally with theKing of England. David only trusts me.”
Rory Mac shook his head. “I kenhe’s your friend, but ye could say nay. He asks too much of ye.”
The thought of marrying again madeIain clench his teeth, but he forced himself to relax his jaw. “He is my friendand my king, and he needs my help so I’ll give it. I’d have done the same ifI’d been imprisoned in England without word of when I’d be released. Davidknows I’d never turn against him and join forces with Edward, but he does naeken that of Gowan. The laird is cunning, much like the King of Englandhimself.” Iain stared at the dusty road ahead, hoping the conversation wasover. While his own reaction to his upcoming alliance was negative, he did notwant to instill dislike of the Sassenach in his clan.
But Rory Mac pressed on. “Do yethink Gowan knew of King Edward’s demand?”
“I imagine David told him. Gowan isLord of the Isles, and as ye said before, the lass is his niece, though Idunnae think he’s ever met her.”
Rory Mac scratched at his chin, acontemplative look coming to his face. “Ye ken, Gowan likely didn’t argueDavid’s plot to ask ye to sacrifice yerself ’cause Gowan thinks binding ye inmarriage with his niece will make ye feel a certain fealty to him.”
