Page 116 of Promised to the Forbidden Laird

“The truth is kent now,” he replied.

Nothing more was required. Donaldina’s hand moved beneath the table. Her fingers found his. Roy’s breath caught, though no one beyond them could have seen the small joining of their hands beneath the linen. She did not look at him. She merely held on while the council publicly acknowledged what grief and suspicion had refused to accept.

Roy closed his fingers around hers and felt that for once, truth had arrived before it was too late.

The dinner continued well into the night, when the council finally dispersed, and Roy found himself in the narrow chamber beside the western stair. The room held little beyond a table, two chairs and a single lamp whose flame bent whenever the wind found a crack in the stone.

“The report strengthens us,” Hamish informed him. “But it willnae end Cormac’s argument.”

Roy stood over a map of Dun Ard and the surrounding roads.

“Nae. He will claim the Crown protects its own.”

“And the marriage?”

“Proceed as planned.”

Hamish rested both hands upon the table. “Unity in that hall was fragile. One more challenge tae the accord may divide them again.”

Roy knew it. The elders had accepted his innocence because denial was no longer possible. That did not mean every resentment had vanished. Cormac required only a single fracture wide enough to force apart.

“Double the patrols,” Roy ordered. “Northern track, cliff road and the inland pass. Nae rider enters or leaves without being recorded.”

“Within the castle?”

“Every servant, guest and guard is accounted for.”

Hamish hesitated. “Lady Donaldina?”

Roy lifted his gaze. “She is tae remain protected.”

“I meant whether her movements should be limited until the wedding.”

“Nae.” The answer came too sharply.

Roy lowered his voice, though not his certainty.

“She is mistress of Dun Ard. Men will guard her without making her a prisoner within her own walls. She moves where she chooses.”

Hamish studied him, then inclined his head. “As ye command.”

Roy looked back at the map. Beyond the shutters, the sea struck the cliffs with slow, gathering force. The Crown’s testimony had destroyed one lie, but Cormac was already building others from older fears: lost land, weakened names and the threat of two clans becoming stronger than their neighbors wished them to be.

The wedding would either prove the Highlands capable of peace or give every enemy of the accord a reason to draw steel.

“The next few days will decide it,” Roy said quietly.

“Decide what?”

Roy watched the lamp flame tremble above the map.

“Whether the Highlands hold together or begin bleeding again.”

Donaldina’s chamber had been overtaken by wool, ribbons and the opinions of women. Lengths of cloth covered the bed, while silver clasps lay arranged upon the table beside sprigs of winter heather, linen thread and three different veils Mairi declared unsuitable for entirely different reasons.

Donaldina found herself standing before the looking glass while Mairi held a dark green gown against her.

“This one,” Mairi decided.