Page 46 of Highland Guard
“I heard your stubborn arse might be getting married today,” Dalziel said.
Kieran grinned. “I should have kenned that you were behind this,” he replied.
“Well, someone has to make sure you dinnae run away and make me hunt you down.”
Kieran roared with laughter. “Hardly. I ken I’d lose and wind up with a dagger in my gut. Mayhap I could challenge you to a drinking bout instead?”
It was Dalziel’s turn to chuckle. “Not a chance. There is not a man alive who can drink you under a table.”
Dalziel walked in and closed the door behind him. He took a seat, and they shared updates on the MacGregors and the Hendersons before getting down to business.
“Macbeth has agreed to put off his decision until he has spoken to everyone involved. His request is for you to meet the lass first and see if you have any liking for her. To help the king decide, it’s best to be honest and truthful.”
“I dinnae want to meet the lass at all. I ken she will never be what I want in a wife, but we can only wait to see what fate decides.”
“I canna believe all these years we’ve kenned each other; you never told me you were the MacKenzie heir?”
“Well, I wasn’t supposed to be, but life has a way of surprising you.”
Dalziel nodded, then said, “My sources tell me you arrived with a bonnie, wee lass. How did that come about?”
Kieran smiled at the thought of Naomi and replied, “She is a friend of one of the Henderson clanswomen. She has an important package to deliver to the king. I was heading this way, so Bram suggested I escort her.”
Dalziel paused for a moment and asked, “She’s from an abbey, you say? With a package for the king?”
“Aye. She has been entrusted with delivering a precious relic. We met with trouble along the way when monks tried to steal it. But she’s a feisty wee thing. She can battle with the best of them.”
“Sounds like you admire the lass. That’s unusual.”
“Aye, I do. She’s bonnie, smart, she can cook, she can fight. She doesn’t blather on like most women and she does not put up with my grumbling either. We get on well.”
Dalziel sat up straighter. “Wait, do you mean to tell me you escorted Naomi Graham to the castle?”
“Aye. How do you ken her?”
“I don’t, but Macbeth is very interesting in the relic she has. There’s also the matter of her betrothal to a Norman baron.”
Kieran whipped his head about. “Her betrothal? What do you mean? She never told me.”
“Well, that’s the thing. I dinnae think she kens. Which means it’ll be a rude shock because her betrothed is on his way here seeking an audience.”
Kieran was up and pacing straight away and scowled. “Who is this baron? Have you met him? Is he a good man? Will he treat her well? Macbeth canna just force her to wed a stranger!” Kieran practically shouted.
“Kieran, calm down. What has you so agitated?” Dalziel asked.
Kieran sat and ran his hands through his hair. “Nothing, tis just that she has been through so much and she willna see this coming. You need to warn her. Better yet, I should tell her.” He stood up, and Dalziel grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down into the seat.
“Leave well enough alone, Kieran. You have your own problems to deal with. I trust Macbeth will make a fair decision about her.”
Kieran nodded. They lapsed into silence for a time while Dalziel quietly contemplated matters. He had never seen Kieran react to any woman as he did this one. But he decided a change in subject was needed.
“By the way, I thought I should warn you. I sent word to Beiste and Brodie about your predicament. They find this whole thing highly amusing.”
“I’m glad someone does those smug pricks,” Kieran replied with a snort.
“They’ve offered any help should you need it.”
Kieran just frowned.
