A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,146

the steel rang throughout the chamber as they gathered an audience.

“Perhaps a wager to see who speaks the truth,” King Robert suggested.

“That wouldn’t be wise,” Brodie warned.

“So you admit you know you won’t win,” Liam gloated.

“You’d already run away to tattle, Oliphant.” Brodie grimaced, remembering that he discovered Liam evaded the battle to travel to Sterling and convince King Robert that Brodie was the aggressor. “But MacFarlane will tell you what happened to the last two men to place a wager on my wife.”

“Liam, Campbell took Nelson’s head from his shoulders a moment before Montgomery skewered Matthew.” Andrew opened his mouth to proclaim Laurel was the mastermind behind their victorious battle plan, but he swallowed his thought, lest he endanger her again.

“No coin will exchange hands,” King Robert declared. “The winner will have the satisfaction of kenning he was right.”

Brodie glared mutinously at the king. The Bruce shrugged before looking at Liam and Andrew. Liam practically bobbed on his toes like a child at Epiphany, while Andrew appeared to fight the urge to vomit. Brodie knew no matter what the king proposed, it would end with either Laurel or himself humiliated. He didn’t understand why his friend would do this. As he watched Robert, he knew any friendship they’d once shared no longer existed. They’d gone in separate directions, and they had nothing in common now that they no longer fought a common enemy. He didn’t mourn the loss of a friend, but he regretted he lost respect for a man he’d admired.

“Oliphant, you claim Lady Campbell will never be an obedient and obliging woman. Would you say Lady Margaret is such a woman?”

Liam’s brow furrowed, confusion on his face. “That’s why I believe she’d make a fitting wife.”

“And MacFarlane, now that the deal is off with the Gunn, you shall need to find another groom for your cousin. Do you believe she shall be a modest wife to her husband?”

“Lady Catherine is demure by nature, Your Majesty,” Andrew replied.

“Then we shall see which mon kens the woman in his life best.” King Robert signaled his scribe to bring three sheets of parchment and three quills. “Jot a missive and request the women in question join you here. Give no reason for their attendance, merely say you require her presence. We shall see who comes first, and who comes most willingly.”

Brodie scrawled his note to Laurel and sealed it. When all three missives were ready, the men handed them to a page, who ran off to deliver their messages. Brodie crossed his arms once more. He was confident Laurel would come, regardless of whether the other two did. He was eager to see her because he despised wasting time with the king that he could spend with his wife, but he was nervous about the reception she would receive. If anyone humiliated Laurel, Brodie would take her and leave without a glance over their shoulder. When the smile fell from the Bruce’s face, Brodie was certain the man understood his silent warning.

Laurel hurried along the passageways until she reached the corridor that held the Privy Council chamber. She smoothed out her skirts and ran her hand over her hair. Taking a calming breath, she gracefully approached the door, making her way past petitioners who stared at her. She hadn’t seen Brodie since that morning, when he’d kissed her goodbye before he left for the lists at sunrise. She hoped he appreciated her surprise. She’d donned the gown she wore to their wedding, made from the fabric Brodie gave her as a betrothal gift.

The doors opened to her, and she dipped her head in thanks to the royal guards. She spotted Brodie immediately. His posture made her apprehensive as she passed her gaze over the chamber’s other occupants. She struggled to hide her loathing when she noticed Liam standing near the king and Brodie. She supposed the pugnacious man was the reason for Brodie’s scowl. She approached but missed a step when the king howled with laughter.

“Enough,” Brodie snapped. “You’ve seen what you wanted. I’m taking my wife to our chamber.”

“No,” King Robert stated, suddenly serious. “I shall speak to your wife. Approach, Lady Campbell.”

Laurel drew closer, her eyes locked with Brodie’s but unable to interpret his expression. He looked furious, but she couldn’t understand why this was so if the king appeared jovial. Liam and Andrew looked annoyed, but nothing appeared out of sorts enough to warrant Brodie’s ire. When she was within arm’s reach, Brodie held out his hand.