Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,156
lands,” Aeschene quickly added. She still wasn’t certain if he believed her tale or not.
“All of it, just to have him hanged in his own courtyard?”
Aeschene nodded. “Aye, laird. I want naught else but to have him hanged and safe passage for us to MacRay lands.”
“Why do we nae just hang him here and now?”
“Ye would deny me my vengeance?” she asked with a raised brow. “I want his people to see it, laird. I want to see him hang in his own courtyard, on his own lands.”
Rory finally found the strength to speak. “I knew we couldn’t trust a MacRay,” he muttered loud enough for the men nearest him to hear.
Richard opened his eyes to search for his wife. He didn’t know what she was up to, but he knew, in his heart, she wasn’t betraying him. He couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of pride, even if he was bloody angry with her. She had come into the lion’s den, so to speak, and had faced the most evil of men. While he could appreciate her tenacity, he couldn’t appreciate the risk she took.
What are ye about, wife?
The meeting with Aeschene MacRay had been nothing at all as Randall had envisioned all these months. He had heard the stories and rumors that the MacCullough was very much in love with his wee wife. And who could blame him? She was a beautiful young woman.
“Forgive me if I am a wee bit skeptical, lass,” he told her pointedly. “But I have heard that the MacCullough is very much in love with ye.”
“Bah!” Aeschene exclaimed.
He watched as her maid openly scoffed at the notion. The other pretty young woman shook her head and rolled her eyes. The tall warrior behind them said naught. Randall saw the tic in the man’s jaw, a telling sign indeed.
“The only thing Black Richard MacCullough loves is his clan and seeking retribution for his father’s and brothers’ deaths. The man cannae even sleep most nights, for plotting his revenge.”
If what she was telling him was indeed true, then this turn of events would end up being even better than what he’d conjured in his mind. He had seen the way Black Richard had stared at his wife through his blackened eyes. Aye, there was something there, something dark and angry.
“Do ye want to ken why he hates me so, laird?” Aeschene asked.
“Please, do tell.”
“Betrayal, laird. He refused to show me any kindness all these many months because he was afraid I would betray him like my father did.”
Aye, her father had come to his years ago, groveling for gold. Randall’s father being the kind of man he was, took complete advantage of the situation. Back then, Randall didn’t understand his father’s reasons for giving the MacRay a box full of gold. Fealty, it seemed, could be bought.
“My condolences to ye on yer father’s passing.”
Her eyes filled at once with tears. “He was a good man, laird. And he will be sorely missed.”
Any previous doubts he possessed as they pertained to her truthfulness began to wane. No one could fake grief as well as what the lass was displaying.
“I ken my father still owes ye a good deal of coin,” she said, wiping away her tears with her fingertips. “That is why I give ye all the gold in our coffers.”
“So ye wish to pay yer father’s debt?”
She nodded before answering. “Aye, laird, I do. My father always spoke highly of ye. He often remarked at what a smart and good man ye are.”
He watched closely as the maid handed her a bit of linen with which to dry her tears. Nay, no one can fake this kind of grief.
“’Twas often my father said he was glad for his alliance with ye. Ye are a much bigger, stronger clan than the MacCulloughs.”
That was nothing short of the truth. His clan outnumbered the MacCulloughs four to one at the moment. It would require very little effort to just take what he wanted.
But it wasn’t just the MacCullough lands and holdings he wanted. How delightful it would be to see Black Richard hanging from his own courtyard, with his beautiful wife watching on? Or hearing on, as the case might be.
The deviousness of it made his heart feel light. Finally, he would not only have what his father wanted, but he would be able to exact his own revenge. He would be able to avenge his father’s death in a glorious way!