Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,36

the waist and whispered in his brother’s ear. “Ye may be, but Andrew is nae.”

Understanding burned in Colyne’s eyes. Giving a curt nod, he ushered the other children out of the study.

Once the door was shut, Richard looked to the men who remained. “The Farquars, as we all know, never act unless they are paid. The question is, who paid them?”

“The Chisolms?” Lachlan offered up. “They certainly have the coin.”

Richard thought on that for a long moment yet remained uncertain. “The Chisolms or the MacRays. Each of them have the coin and each of them have an axe to grind.”

“But we have a peace accord with the MacRays now,” Lachlan reminded everyone.

Richard scoffed. “We can trust the MacRays as much as we can trust the Chisolms or Farquars. Even with a peace accord.”

“But ye married his daughter,” Abel spoke up. “Certainly he would not do anything to put his daughter in harm’s way.”

Richard could not disagree more. He was still bothered by the manner in which Garrin ignored his only daughter the day Richard married her and took her away. There was something off about all of it, including this attack by the Farquars. “I am not certain that is the case,” he admitted aloud. “But no matter who was behind it, we must remain diligent. Lachlan,” he said turning his attention to his cousin. “Increase the border patrols.”

“To the north?” he asked with a raised brow.

“On all sides,” Richard replied. “Find whatever extra help ye can to finish the wall as well. I fear we have not heard the last of the Farquars or the Chisolms.” And if his instinct was correct, he hadn’t heard the last of the MacRays either.

Chapter Eight

Although it had been a long, exhausting, and taxing day, Black Richard was quietly looking forward to seeing his wife. However, the troubles at Abel’s farm had kept him away until nightfall. He had sent word to his wife letting her know he would be missing the evening meal. No apologies or words of promise to make it up to her.

’Twas long after midnight when he finally climbed into his bed, but sleep did not come easy. His mind was beset with worry. Worry over why the Farquars had attacked Abel’s farm, worry over how he would get his clan through another winter, and worry over his wife.

He had been tempted to go to her chamber across the hall, just to see if she had settled in well enough. But the hour was so late he was certain she’d been fast asleep. ‘Twould do neither of them any amount of good to wake her, no matter how badly he ached with a fervent need to have her in his bed.

By the time dawn arrived, he had slept only a few short hours. He woke feeling just as exhausted as he had the night before. Bleary eyed, he rubbed his eyes with his palms before climbing out of his bed.

The room was frigid, the fire having burned out long ago. He padded barefoot to the table that held his basin and pitcher. Using his fingertips, he broke through the thin layer of ice that had formed in the pitcher. He shivered as he splashed cold water onto his face.

All the while he tended to his morning ministrations, his thoughts were of Aeschene. Had she slept well? Had she eaten? Was she warm enough?

That was the old Black Richard sneaking through. The man he’d been before. He glanced into the looking glass that hung over the table. He hated what he saw in his eyes when he thought of her. He saw hope.

“That man is gone,” he told his reflection. “Ye cannae trust her for she is a MacRay.”

Two days.

Two entire days of being locked away in her room. Two days of not seeing her husband.

He had promised, Aeschene fumed quietly. He promised never to lock me away and he has done just that.

Locked away. Forgotten. Just as her family had done.

This kind of behavior she had come to expect from her father and family. But from Black Richard? After his most sincere and heartfelt promise? Nay, this was unacceptable.

Not once had she been called to sup with the family. A family which was now hers and she had yet to meet. Not once had he come to check on her, to make any inquiry as to her comfort or mood.

On the day of their wedding, she had been filled with so much hope. Hope for a future with her