Scoundrel’s Redemption (Highlander’s Pact #3)

Chapter Seven

“S he’s furious at me.” Cecille lowered to the bench after Greer left. Her shoulders slumped. “And she has every right to be.”

“Aye, mayhap,” Teagan conceded, joining her. “But only because she doesnae understand everything that happened. She doesnae know ye went to Scotland for treasure to start a new life and waited to come for her because ye had no choice.”

“Did I not, though?” She frowned and shook her head. “I could have found a way here sooner. I could have…”

She trailed off, knowing full well it went the only way it could have. They had needed Edmund’s help, and he hadn’t been available any sooner.

“Ye need to be upfront with Greer as soon as possible,” he counseled. “To give her hope, if nothing else.”

It had taken everything in him not to tell Greer what he knew. To make it clear, she would not, so long as he lived and breathed, remain behind if she took part in getting her friends out of here. He would not have her harmed by Bartholomew and Randolph.

While Randolph was no good, he suspected the man she was about to marry was even worse. Teagan might be damaged from the war, but he was still an excellent judge of character.

Men like Bartholomew found their self-worth from degrading those they felt beneath them, which would, undoubtedly, apply to his wife. More so her than anyone. Worse yet, he highly suspected, having come across monsters like him in the war, the bulk of her punishment would take place in the bedchamber.

“You want Greer gone from here, don’t you?” Cecille said softly, pulling him from his thoughts. “You like her?”

“I do.” Rather than satisfy her romantic notions, he remained practical. “I think we understand each other and would get along well.”

“Understand each other, is it?” Mirth flickered in Cecille’s eyes. “What precisely do you understand about her? That she’s in need of saving? Or perhaps that she’s as haunted as you? Because surely it’s not her beauty, gentle nature, or kind ways.”

Rather than admit to the attraction she hinted at, he kept things where they needed to be. Or specifically, filled her in on the Scottish mother and bairns he intended to save.

“I dinnae know how I’m going to go about it yet, but I will see Greer’s wishes through,” he vowed. “And I willnae leave her behind if she decides to take part in it but insists on staying. I willnae leave her behind to be punished by these men if they learn of her role in it.”

“Nor should you,” Cecille exclaimed. “No matter what she says!” She shook her head. “She always did have an overly kind heart. Especially toward those in my brother’s employ and the unfortunate Scots who ended up under his care.”

“Is that what ye would call it?” Wee Besse had been gaunt. Undernourished. “ Care ?”

“My apologies. That was the wrong word.” Cecille squeezed his hand and ground her jaw. “Randolph has never cared for anyone but himself and his ambitions. I used to help Greer steal food from the kitchens for those in need. It seems she has not changed.”

Thank God. He liked her just the way she was. Not to say he wasn’t curious what had happened to make her talk to herself so often. Mayhap she merely suffered loneliness, but he suspected it was something more.

“Or should I say Greer has not changed entirely,” Cecille said on a sigh, thinking along the same lines as him. But how could she not, being Greer’s mother?

“You may find her,” Cecille struggled to find the right words, “a touch different than most women.”

“Mayhap.” He shrugged. “But then ’tis safe to say the same thing about me, aye?”

“Perhaps.” Cecille gave him the sort of compassionate look his own mother might have given were she still alive. “In my opinion, there is something to be said for those who walk their own paths. Who battle demons most of us can only imagine.”

He knew from what Cecille and Julianna had said that Greer had gone through something difficult. Something he saw clearly when he looked at her. While tempted to ask Cecille what it was, he would rather ask Greer directly if the occasion ever arose. Or better yet, that she told him without being asked. To trust him enough.

“We cannae leave Greer with the likes of Bartholomew.” Talking about his own demons wasn’t going to happen. At least not with Cecille. He could be blunt about what Greer faced if she stayed, though. “He isnae the sort she should be marrying.”

“No,” Cecille agreed. “The issue, however, is how to make her see that. Or, if I know my Greer, how to convince her to go back on her word to him. Even if that word was my brother’s.”

“Ye dinnae think she will want to get away from Bartholomew?” He frowned, troubled. “Despite how he treats her?”

“’Tis impossible to know.” Cecille shook her head. “Greer has always been the sort to honor her word no matter what. Even with one marriage behind her that I suspect was not good, she would not refuse a second if she already committed.”

“I didnae realize she was married before.”

“Nor I.” She sighed again. “Rest assured, I intend to speak with my brother about it. What sort of horror my daughter has faced already.” She stood and held out her elbow to him. “Until then, let us get back to the castle so that I might see to business and ponder a way to get not just my daughter out of here but her newfound friends.”

He wasn’t surprised she’d decided to save them all. Though Cecille would never admit it, Greer came by her soft heart naturally.

After he and Cecille went their separate ways at the castle, he ran into Edmund in the courtyard.

“I wondered where you got off to, friend.” Edmund clasped Teagan’s shoulder and urged him to join him for a ride before supper. As they headed for the stables, he flicked a bit of dust off his sleeve. A signal that they would talk more when they were alone.

Teagan eyed Edmund curiously when he turned away the stable boy’s offer to ready the horses. He realized why when he spied the wee lad who’d been with Greer peek around the corner, then pull back.

“You need not be shy, laddie,” Edmund called out, winking at Teagan. “Why do you think I ready my own horse?”

The boy’s freckled face peeked out again, unsure before he rallied his courage and sidled along the wall, keeping to the shadows. Edmund introduced them when the lad was close enough, then asked him his name.

“It doesnae matter.” The boy took them in warily before he straightened and notched his chin. “I come on a mission of utmost importance.”

Teagan couldn’t help a small grin, suspecting this had to do with Besse. “Do ye then?”

“I do.” The lad peered at them through a heavy shock of dark hair. “’Tis about my lasses.”

“Your lasses?” Edmund’s brows shot up. “And who are they?”

“I think ye know who.” The bairn stood straighter still and narrowed his eyes. “I think ye both do.”

Intrigued, Edmund crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head. “Actually, I do not. ”

“Duncan,” came a sharp voice from the back entrance. A lovely redhead appeared and gestured at the boy to join her. “Come along now.” Her wary gaze flickered from Teagan to Edmund and lingered a moment. “Leave the good men be, aye?”

“But—”

“ Now .”

Before they had a chance to tell her all was well, that she need not worry, she and Duncan were gone, clearly well practiced at moving fast.

“Now there was a bonnie lass if ever I saw one,” Edmund praised as they saddled their horses. “What was that all about? It sounded like—”

“Aye, verra bonnie,” Teagan agreed, cutting his friend off before he said another word.

As soon as they were beyond the castle and alone in the woodland, the conversation continued.

“This has turned into a rescue mission, indeed.” Edmund grinned in anticipation. “So we are to get the wee lassie we just saw and her children to safety?”

“Aye,” Teagan confirmed. “At least I am.” He shook his head. “This is not something ye need do, Edmund. ’Tis awful to burn bridges so close to home, aye?”

Edmund gestured flippantly in the direction of the castle, referring to Randolph and Bartholomew. “If you are referring to the bridges of those two fools back there, then might I single-handedly light the flames.”

“They are intolerable,” he agreed, relieved to know he had his friend’s help. Even so. “Ye ken, if ye’re caught, it could mean yer title? Yer estate? Everything?”

“’Twould not be the first time I was coinless,” Edmund replied, referring to their long years at war. “Worry naught, friend. I would find my way. ”

“Mayhap stay on at MacLauchlin Castle afterward?” he prompted, hedging. “Ye’ve long been like a brother to me. ’Twould do my heart good to have ye as close as my blood brothers.”

“We will have to see where things lead.” As a rule, Edmund was a drifter, preferring to go where the next adventure took him. “Not to say I won’t stay on for a time, depending on how things go.”

“Aye, then.” He tilted his head in question. “So, what did ye wish to speak with me about before we ran into Duncan and his ma?”

“Things I suspect you’ve already surmised but bear talking about considering you are set to marry Greer.” Edmund’s gaze darkened. “Whilst Randolph is certainly not a good man, you realize Bartholomew is something else altogether, yes?”

“Aye.” By Edmund’s tone, trouble was already brewing. “What worries ye, friend?”

“Besides Bartholomew’s general hatred of Scots and his obvious jealousy of you,” Edmund replied, “a great deal.” He shook his head. “Not only his questionable dealings with Randolph but the way he speaks of Greer. What we both know he intends for her.”

“Did he confirm such then?” Teagan exclaimed.

“Without going into detail about what you and I both know he will do to her,” Edmund frowned, “he claims she needs “special help,” as he puts it.”

“ Special help?” he ground out, clenching his hands. “What kind of special help?”

“The kind reserved for lasses not right in the head.” Edmund’s expression soured like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “It seems many here consider Greer daft. They say she talks to phantoms more often than not. So Bartholomew assured Randolph he would see to such. Once they are married, he will set things straight in her mind once and for all.”

“What does he bloody mean to do to her?” Though he already had a good idea. “He’ll set things straight , my arse. He willnae be going anywhere near her!”

If it was within his power, he’d get her out of here right now, so she was no longer subjected to these people and their foul opinions.

“Greer isnae crazed but has lived through a nightmare,” he said through clenched teeth. “She’s coping the only way she knows how. Trying to survive in an unaccepting place, surrounded by men who only want her to serve their purposes.”

Forget merely saving her. If Teagan had his way, he’d gut Bartholomew and shove his entrails straight up his…

“I know,” Edmund concurred, interrupting his dark thoughts.

His friend grasped his shoulder and squeezed until Teagan glanced his way.

“You have my word we will get her out of here, my friend.” He squeezed one more time, much like he’d done during difficult times in the war. “Do you understand, Teagan? We will get her out. The only way to do that, though, is to keep your wits about you and play their game for now.” He shook his head. “If you cannot control your rage, all will be lost.”

“Aye,” he managed.

“Aye?” Edmund switched to his brogue. “If ye keep her needs ahead of yers, which I know ye can, there isnae anything stopping us. They are nae nearly bright enough to stop us if we put our heads together.”

“Nay.” Time to use his God-given mind rather than let his emotions get the better of him. “Which means we best get to plotting, aye?”

“I already have.” A smile crept onto Edmund’s face. “And here’s what I think…”