past. I kent he helped her ladyship, but I swear on my mother’s grave there was no impropriety between them. Honestly, it surprised me when he came to visit with the missive from the Pope. He’d always been a bit stand-offish, good at training the guard, mind you, but he never sat with the men at Mingary and drank ale—you ken, he kept to himself.” Mr. Keith looked to Aleck, still gasping in Eoin’s stranglehold. “Ah, if the lordship will also allow me, I must bear witness to the fact that Sir Aleck was openly affectionate with the widow, Mary.”
“Openly?” Duncan asked.
“Aye, there was no question what went on above stairs, if you know what I mean.” Mr. Keith pointed to the door. “In fact, before we came in, one of the MacIain lads told me news had arrived that Mary birthed a lass—Sir Aleck’s illegitimate daughter.”
Duncan crossed the floor. “Is this true?”
MacIain spat. “Call off your dog.”
It took but a flash for Duncan to pull dirk and place the point a hair’s breadth from Aleck’s eye. “I’ll ask one more time. Is it true?”
“Aye,” Aleck growled. “A man needs to take a leman when he has a fickle wife.”
“That’s a lie.” Helen stamped her foot. “I pleaded with you to come to my bed after Maggie’s birth so that I could give you a son, but since the day she was born, you have shunned us both.”
Gyllis stepped forward. “And Helen told me in confidence that Sir Aleck had been unfaithful throughout the duration of their marriage.”
John steepled his fingers in front of the cross on his chasuble. “I’m afraid, brother, a higher order has made a decision on this matter. His Holiness the Pope has annulled this marriage and Aleck MacIain is no longer our brother-in-law.”
Duncan drew his dirk away from Aleck’s eye and sheathed it. “You heard the words straight from His Worship, MacIain. Take your men back to Mingary now and leave my sister in peace. If I hear you have ever again acted against a decree from His Holiness the Pope, I will personally preside over your hanging.”
“Not if I get there first.” Eoin released his grip and stood back.
Aleck sat up, coughing and rubbing his throat. “You’re taking her word?”
“Aye.” Gathering the bairn from Gyllis, Helen hugged Maggie to her breast. “I’ll not be seeing my daughter traded for lands when she’s still but a babe. She will mature into a fully grown woman before she weds.” Helen glared directly at Duncan. “And when she does marry, it will be to someone of her choosing.”
After Aleck and his retinue rode away, Duncan rapped Eoin on the shoulder. “Come, take a walk with me.”
Eoin knew what was coming. He looked like a goddamned fool hiding out in the cottage with Helen. If Mr. Keith and John had not arrived, who knew what the outcome of that altercation would have been. Most likely, Duncan would have killed Eoin and discovered the truth later.
Stepping outside, the autumn air was cold and a thick mist hung above the clearing, but Eoin’s blood was still running too hot to feel it.
Duncan wasn’t smiling. In fact he was red in the face and looked like he wanted to hit something. Perhaps my nose. Every muscle in Eoin’s body tensed. He followed as the Lord of Glenorchy marched along the path like an ogre. They’d gone about a quarter mile when Duncan stopped and grasped Eoin by the shoulders. “I thought better of you, MacGregor.”
Eoin clenched his fists and shrugged away. Must Duncan always jump to conclusions? “I—”
“You ken you have ruined my sister and her daughter.”
Bowing obsequiously, Eoin spread his arms. “Only if you declare it to be so.”
“Have you gone completely mad? How many people know your whereabouts? I’d wager half of Argyllshire is aware of your indiscretion by now.”
“Perhaps, but you can make it right.” Eoin licked his lips. “I offer for Lady Helen’s hand. I love her. Always have.”
“Love?” Duncan threw up his hands. “How that notion has a way of putting men in a world of strife.”
“I seem to recall you had a similar situation with Lady Meg’s brother when he marched his army to Kilchurn and nearly blasted her walls down with his shiny new cannons.”
Duncan raked his fingers through his black hair. “Christ, don’t remind me how foolish I was.”
Had Eoin found a slight fissure in Glenorchy’s anger? Regardless, he wasn’t about to let it pass. “I remember that day well—I even cautioned you,