Page 73 of Captured By the Cruel Highlander
But when he walked past the outer door, he saw the rain had returned in earnest, and large drops were pattering all over the cobblestones.
Adam sighed and headed toward his study, but as he approached the door, he heard the rumbling of many voices coming from thecouncil chambers. He bared his teeth, shoving the doors open in one violent movement.
His suspicions were confirmed when he found Barclay and his mother standing in the room, with every member of the council seated around the table—even Lucas.
“We were just goin’ to send for ye, M’Laird,” Barclay said quickly. Adam was taken aback, as the man appeared cheerful for a change. “This has been quite a stroke of genius.”
Adam frowned. “What is?” he asked stupidly.
“I admit, I was skeptical at first, but Lucas has outlined the deal that was struck with the Young family. They had been a problem since we absorbed their lands, but moving them to the Linton cottages is a neat and extremely well-considered solution. However, did ye persuade Mrs. Young?”
Adam blinked and looked at Lucas. His expression was carefully polite, but it was clear he had lied to the council and told them that the deal had been Adam’s idea. For some reason, that angered Adam more than anything else.
Ye are the one who said she had nay right to speak with them, and here ye are, annoyed that she hasnae been given credit.
“Why is it such a good solution? The cottages are unoccupied,” he said blithely.
“Indeed, M’Laird, but the farmland around those parts is in need of tending. None of our tenants wished to take it up. Not only does it solve the problem of the cottages remaining empty, but sheep farmers will be an excellent new addition to the town. The people have struggled with their crops, and having meat on hand, and so close by, will be a relief to many.”
His mother was smiling. Adam was completely baffled.
“Lady Emily did it,” he blurted out as he made his way to the table.
Barclay frowned and then looked at Lucas.
“Lucas likely told ye it was me, but it was Lady Emily who traveled to see them. The agreement rests solely on her and Lucas. As I understand it, she complimented Mrs. Young on her cake, which went down rather well.”
That even earned him a chuckle from Barclay. “Well then, M’Laird, ye are most fortunate in yer choice of bride.”
“The Youngs are notoriously difficult to please,” Moira said. “It is part of the reason why I didnae wish ye to be bothered with it. We have briefly discussed solutions with them before, but every offer was rejected. This is a good thing for our people and will resolve a great deal of problems.”
Adam nodded, feeling numb.
Emily did all this. Even me maither is impressed.
He listened as the meeting progressed. Everyone seemed in a jovial mood after the events of the day. He noted that his mother stood at the side and barely spoke unless to defer to him.
He had a strange sensation in his gut that he couldn’t shake. The more he thought of Emily, the more the sensation grew, and by the end of the meeting, he had barely said a word, his mind consumed with thoughts of his future wife.
Doughall was right. She had already sacrificed much and even tried to embrace his people before they were her own. Adam had repaid her by imprisoning her and berating her for all the work she had done.
He felt like the worst kind of man. As the council members began to file out of the room, his mother hovered behind, waiting to speak with him.
Adam looked up at her, waiting for her to tell him that he hadn’t spoken up enough or that she needed to take back control of some of the matters that had been handed over to him.
Instead, she approached his chair and took his hand in hers.
“Ye once told me that everythin’ ye do has a method to it. I never realized until now that ye have a plan for it all. I can see that ye chose Lady Emily for a reason, that she could be the makin’ of this clan. There arenae many women who would makethat journey alone. She nae only spoke to them as an equal but defused a difficult situation in the process. I was wrong. I admit it freely. I believe ye have finally found a woman worthy of taking the mantle from me as Lady of this castle.”
Adam looked at his mother’s long fingers intertwine with his own and felt faintly sick.
I have trapped Emily into a marriage she didnae ask for. Maybe I am nay better than Stewart.
He let go of his mother’s hand, resting his palm briefly on her shoulder before striding out of the room.
He finally had a name for the sensation that had been building within him. It was gnawing at his insides and could not be dismissed.
It was guilt.
