A sly grin came to the king’s mouth, which twisted quickly into a vicious one. “I am only feigning to allow it, just as I feigned he saved my life.”
“Ye did what?” Lachlan and Iain asked in unison.
The king chuckled a merciless laugh. “The truth is, the man moved too slow and I saved myself. But I wished to judge his honesty.” He shrugged. “So I declared he had saved me to see what he would say. One of the men in the party called out that I should offer him a reward. I expected him to say land or a title. I never expected him to ask for a woman.”
David shook his head. “It was a miscalculation on my part, and one I was scrambling to try to release myself from when yer brother spoke and declared his intent for the MacLean’s sister. It gave me the opportunity I needed to say I would hear both their pleas when we reached Dunvegan. Then the MacLean joined up with us, and when I sought his counsel on how to go about the matter, he told me of his vow to allow his sister to marry a man of her choosing, and I knew I could use that to prevent the marriage without looking as if I really cared to.”
Lachlan’s eyes grew wider, surprised by the king’s deceit, though perchance he should not have been.
The king went on. “But the MacLean and I agreed that Bridgette, nor anyone else, could know so that it would be believable. It was a stroke of luck that yer brother and Colin exchanged harsh words and that Colin proposed the fight to first blood. Now Colin will nae suspect me of nae wishing to grant the woman to him.”
Lachlan’s anger pulsed through him at the king referring to Bridgette asthe woman, and that David was so cavalier about it all. “What if my brother loses the battle?” he snarled, unable to contain his rage. “He is injured.”
The king frowned. “Injured or nae, I saw him practice with the men several times on the road. He is the better fighter, and he has honor and rightness on his side. He will nae lose.”
“And if he does?” Lachlan blurted, forgetting himself in his fear and anger. “Ye risk Bridgette’s future!”
“I risk nothing. If yer brother loses,” the king said flatly, “Alex will oppose the marriage. We have already agreed upon the course of action. I will naturally relent after the lady makes known her objections, and I’ll speak of the death vow that was made to allow her the choice. That will be the key, I believe,” he mused.
Lachlan ground his teeth at the realization that David had not even worked it all out in his mind. A knowing glint came to the king’s eyes as his eyes bore into Lachlan. “Why are ye so vexed?”
The time had come for truth. Lachlan took a breath. “I want her,” he said simply. “I want Bridgette MacLean for my own.”
The king blinked in surprise but then chuckled. “I imagine Graham dunnae ken this?”
“Nae yet,” Lachlan said, feeling the heat of shame and guilt. “I intend to tell him after time has passed, and he sees she is nae for him.”
The king waved a hand. “That will be for the two of ye to settle. I’ll nae be involved with that. I’m off to see Katherine now to be properly soothed before supper. Keep me apprised,” David commanded before quitting the room.
Lachlan started to leave, but Iain bade him to wait. Once Iain had shut the doors to the great hall, he turned to Lachlan. “Dunnae tell Graham what we just learned. He has to fight. Better for him to fight thinking he could lose Bridgette. It may save his life.”
“Agreed.”
“Dunnae tell her the particulars, either. I’ll nae bother asking ye to nae say a word of this. I ken I would if it were Marion.”
Lachlan nodded. “I will only tell her that she need nae worry she will be married to Colin. That all will be well.” With that, he left and went in search of Bridgette.
