Bridgette scowled. “Ye can release me. Ye behave as if I may run off.”
“Ye verra well may when ye hear what’s amiss,” Alex replied in a grave tone that made apprehension claw at Bridgette.
“What is amiss?” she hissed, pulling away from him and refusing to take one more step up the seagate stairs until her brother gave her a proper answer.
He paused above her, twisted around, and snarled, “Colin Campbell.”
“I dunnae ken,” she whispered, the apprehension now roiling like waves in a violent storm.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Alex moved toward the castle, not breaking his stride. “The man is wily as a fox. He saved the king’s life on the road, and the king means to reward him.”
“Why does that vex ye?” she asked as they entered the castle.
Iain stood outside of the great hall, an urgent look upon his face, and when he spotted them, he motioned to Alex. As they walked toward Iain, Bridgette’s concern grew.
Iain’s gaze fell on her, and the gravity she saw there made her shiver. “The king wishes to discuss this now,” he said, focusing on Alex. His low voice had an ominous quality to it.
Alex muttered a curse under his breath. “I suspected he would.”
Iain’s attention came to her once more. “Have ye told her?”
“Told me what?” Bridgette demanded, trying to yank her arm free, but her brother’s grip increased.
“It’s simple,” Alex said, his strained expression belying his declaration. “The reward Colin wants for saving the king’s life? Colin has picked ye.”
Bridgette could not order her thoughts. They seemed to stumble over one another in her head. “I dunnae ken what ye mean.”
Alex gave her a sympathetic look. “Colin asked the king to order ye to marry him, and the king agreed to grant his wish.”
Bridgette jerked out of Alex’s grip and stumbled backward. Alex reached for her, but she flinched away. “You gave a death vow to our mother to let me pick my husband,” she accused, her heart hammering in her chest.
Alex glared at her. “Do ye believe I forgot it?” Alex thundered, making her flinch. He jerked his hand through his hair. “I told the king about the vow, and he’s reluctantly agreed to hear my plea today, as well as hear Colin’s argument, but the king is nae one to give a pledge and then rescind it, and he courts the Campbell’s support.”
“He’ll hear Graham’s plea, as well,” Iain added, eyeing her warily.
Bridgette bit down on her lip to stifle a moan. She had not had a chance to talk to Graham yet, and now he was apparently going to argue in front of the king for the right to marry her. “I must speak with Graham.”
Iain shook his head. “I’m afraid it will have to be after. The king is in a mood I’ve nae seen the likes of since we were young. He’s just been released from imprisonment. His pride was sorely wounded. And now his command is being challenged. I requested this wait until tomorrow, and he insisted it be now. I fear if any of us argue, he will simply rule in Colin’s favor because he does nae want to appear weak, as if he is a king with a changeable mind.”
“Colin does nae even truly want me! He wants ye to be bound to his clan,” Bridgette cried out to her brother.
“Aye,” Alex said. “I ken it, and so does the king.”
She shook her head in dismay, not understanding why the king would consent to this. What reason did he have?
“I’m doomed!” she whispered, her voice shaking. All her thoughts went at once to Lachlan. She loved him, and she had not even had the chance to tell him.
“Dunnae fash yerself,” Alex whispered in her ear.
God’s teeth! How could he expect her not to worry? Her fear almost overcame her control, but she gritted her teeth and walked beside Alex into the great hall.
