In Scot Water - Caroline Lee Page 0,44
“What makes him think I’d help him?”
“Kiergan is ever the optimist,” Alistair muttered. “If he ever settled down, he could do some real good for the clan.”
When he dropped his hand, Malcolm saw the bitter curve of Alistair’s lips.
“Have ye no’ had any luck talking him into wooing ye a wife?”
“Nay,” Alistair said blandly, then shrugged as if it were not important. “Between Fiona, Skye, and Merewyn, and now ye, I’m unlikely to win our father’s ultimatum.”
Awkward again, Malcolm shrugged. “Are ye sure ‘tis something ye want? To be laird?”
Folding his arms, Alistair stared at the approaching figure. “My whole life, I’ve served this clan, Mal,” he said quietly. “I cannae imagine doing aught else.”
“How about marrying for love? Marrying and being happy with yer choice of wife, and raising yer children, no’ because Da says he’ll make ye laird, but because ye choose to? How about focusing on yer own happiness because ye deserve it, instead of slaving over those ledgers?”
“I’m good at those ledgers,” Alistair murmured. “Och, I was mistaken. ‘Tis Da, no’ Rocque.”
Malcolm’s eyes cut toward the loch. Aye, of all the brothers, Rocque was built most like their father. But as the man approached, he could see the shoulders were a bit more stooped, the hair grayer.
“Ye are good at the ledgers, Alistair. But ye deserve happiness too, and ye might find that by no’ being laird.”
Abruptly, his brother dropped his hands to his hips and wheeled on him. “Ye’re one to talk! Ye had this grand scheme, Mal, and claimed love was for fools. Remember?”
Aye. He remembered.
“Mayhap I was wrong,” he admitted quietly.
“Ho there, lads! What’s amiss? Ye look as if ye’ve pissed on each other’s boots!”
Their father’s greeting pulled a reluctant grin from Malcolm’s lips. “Hello, Da. Just discussing marriage.”
“With Alistair? Did ye tell him ye were already taken?” With a booming laugh at his own joke, Da’s large hand slammed against Malcolm’s shoulder, forcing him to shift his weight. “Ye’re likely crowing about that bonnie wife of yers, eh? And those two fine sons!”
Malcolm exchanged glances with Alistair. “They’re good lads. Well, Liam is, at least. With Tomas ‘tis hard to tell, but he’s cute enough to forgive him for trying to ruin my clothes every chance he gets.”
“Da, Malcolm was just lecturing me on finding love in marriage.” Alistair raised a brow. “Seems his scheme has backfired.”
The older man grinned. “Is it true then, lad? Ye’ve gone and fallen in love with yer wife?”
Sighing, Malcolm scrubbed his hand across his face again. “Aye, Da. ‘Tis true. I love Evie more than I thought possible to love a woman I’ve only just met.”
Nudging him, his father boomed, “And the fact she’s beautiful has naught to do with it, eh?”
It didn’t. Well, the spark they shared—and Malcolm had felt it the moment he’d laid eyes on her in the marketplace—was obvious. But he loved her for her goodness and kindness and her mind, and the way she wanted to take care of those around her.
He loved Evie for being Evie.
“So what’s wrong?” Alistair’s sharp question cut through Malcolm’s reflections. “Ye’ve married a beautiful woman with two healthy sons, thus completing yer objective. And ye’d fallen in love with her, meaning ye’re destined for a life of happiness.” And a better chance at the lairdship, were the unspoken words in Alistair’s bitter tone. “So why are ye no’ crowing with happiness?”
“Because I’ve angered her. Apparently, I neglected to mention exactly who I was while—while wooing her.” Although he’d laughed at Kiergan’s comments about wooing a woman, all those weeks ago, Malcolm had to admit that’s what he’d been doing at Evelinde’s croft. “ ’Twasnae until we arrived here yesterday that she discovered I’m the laird’s son.”
Da hummed. “I wondered if she was being frosty with ye last night during the feast, or if she was always like that.”
“Nay, she’s never frosty. She’s welcoming and sweet and…” Malcolm sighed, remembering the way she’d turned away from him in bed last night. “I wanted our homecoming to be special, but she’s still angered. I told Liam I’d bring him with me to the training session this morning, but obviously she didnae allow him to come. She’s up in Aunt Agatha’s solar with Nessa and Lara right now, and likely has both lads with her.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Does this mean she doesnae trust me anymore?”
It was his biggest fear, at that moment. And judging from the way his brother winced and looked away,