Highlander's Beautiful Liar A Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Historical Novel - Adamina Young Page 0,38

six months, she was a prisoner right beneath yer very nose, Innes. Ye turned a blind eye to too many things,” Edward said in a hard voice. “Alec rescued her, and they’ve declared their love for each other. Given the horrors that Lady Cora has faced, I will not deny her this.”

“A love match?” Innes scoffed. “And you believe them?”

The room went strangely quiet as everyone understood that Innes had challenged the King. Immediately, he stepped away from Alec and turned to Edward and bowed his head. “Please accept my apologies. I mean no disrespect, Yer Majesty.”

“Ye believe this wedding to be a farce,” Edward mused. “Let me put yer mind at ease. I am leaving on the morrow, but I will leave a man behind. If there is any indication that their love is not true, then I will dissolve the marriage and uphold my original decree. Will that satisfy ye, Innes? I will not have a feud break out over this.”

Innes looked like he was going to explode, but he nodded. “Aye.”

“As a sign of yer support, ye will stay and congratulate the couple.”

Alec crossed the room to his bride. She had a death grip on Edward’s chair and stared at him with the terror of a child coming out of a nightmare. “Cora,” he said softly. When she didn’t immediately release her hold, he pried her hands loose and took them. They were freezing. “Come take yer seat by my side so Innes can offer his congratulations on behalf of the Campbell clan.”

All eyes were on them as they took their seats by Edward, but all Alec could see was the stiffness of her back.

When Innes came forward and took her hand, he brushed his lips across her skin. It was an accepted action, but when his lips lingered a little too long, Alec frowned.

“‘Twill be my greatest regret that I did not learn of the truth sooner,” Innes managed. “I wish ye and Alec great joy in yer marriage.”

Cora jerked her head up and down and snatched her hand away. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Innes turned to Alec, and his eyes blazed with fury. “And to ye, Alec, I congratulate ye on behalf of the Campbell clan and offer ye our alliance. May it be as strong as when McKay blood ruled.”

It was a barb, but Alec let it pass. He nodded.

“Wonderful,” Edward declared. “Then let the festivities continue.” With a wave of his hand, the music started up again, but the atmosphere was hardly the same as Innes and his men took their seats.

For the rest of the celebrations, his wife remained glued to her seat, and although Alec came and went, he kept a close eye on her. Finally, as dusk neared, Innes approached them. “We will take our leave,” he said stiffly. “Thank ye for yer hospitality, and I offer my sincere apologies for arriving armed.”

It was an act for the benefit of the King, and although Alec nodded his head, he knew that he and Innes both had an unspoken understanding. Whatever Innes was planning was far from over.

“I will escort ye out,” he said as he stood. After he took a few steps, he realized that Innes hadn’t fallen in step with him. Turning, he watched as Innes withdrew from Cora’s side. He wore a wicked smile, and Cora just stared straight ahead and hadn’t reacted to whatever he had told her.

Outside and out of Edward’s earshot, Alec turned. “My wife and I will want some privacy. Send a messenger next time ye decide to cross my borders,” he said in a hard tone. “Next week, I will travel to see yer brother.”

“Do ye not wonder why naught but lies has fallen from the lips of yer wife?” Innes asked conversationally as he mounted his horse. “If I were ye, I would wonder what kind of woman I had married and whether I could trust her.”

Despite wondering the same, fury surged through Alec. “Ye would do well to think before ye speak of my wife again,” he hissed.

With a grin, Innes nodded his head. “I will give ye the privacy that ye ask, and I look forward to seeing ye next week.”

He and his men turned and rode off, and when Alec turned, he saw Cora watching from the doorway. “Care to tell me what he said to ye?” Alec asked.

“Just words to share his displeasure,” Cora said quietly, and Alec’s gut tightened. For as often as his wife lied, he would