The door opened, and Sorcha entered, glancing between them nervously. “Ye called for me, me Laird?”
“Aye,” Alasdair said, his voice a low growl. “Where is Nathan?”
Sorcha frowned. “I thought ye asked him to go after Her Ladyship.”
Alasdair’s stomach dropped.
Finn blinked. “What?”
“I…” Sorcha trailed off, her eyes darting quickly between the men.
Alasdair stepped forward, rage coiling inside him. “Sorcha, I am going to ask ye some questions, and I want ye to think very carefully before ye answer. Do ye understand me?”
Sorcha nodded quickly. “Aye, me Laird.”
“Did Nathan come to the hall this morning and ask for me wife?”
“Aye,” Sorcha said, her voice trembling.
“And what exactly did ye tell him?” Alasdair pressed.
Sorcha hesitated. “Me Laird… what is happening?”
“Answer the question!” Alasdair barked.
She flinched. “I told him where she was. She went with Laird and Lady MacKane to help deliver a bairn.”
Alasdair’s chest constricted, and his heart stopped for a second. “Nay. He told me ye said ye hadnae seen her since last night.”
Sorcha’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “But I told him where she was, and he said ye would both go to fetch her. Why would he nae tell ye?”
Alasdair froze. The realization struck like ice in his veins. “He isnae going after her to bring her back.”
Thomas stepped forward, his face grim. “If it was Nathan who tried to kill Lily in her room last night, then he is going after her now to finish what he started.”
Alasdair’s knees buckled. The room tilted.
“I will fetch the horses,” Finn said sharply, before bolting out of the study.
“I will inform the rest of the councilmen,” Thomas added, hurrying after him.
Sorcha remained, her bright blue eyes wide, her lips trembling. “Me Laird, I still daenae understand what is happening.”
Alasdair turned to her slowly, his face thunderous. “What is happening is that yer braither is about to kill me wife.”
Sorcha shook her head violently. “Nay. Nay, he wouldnae do that?—”
“Sorcha,” Alasdair growled.
“Nathan wouldnae?—”
“Sorcha!” Alasdair barked, snapping her back to attention.
She looked up at him, nothing but fear in her voice. “Me Laird, ye have to understand that I didnae ken anything about this. If I had ken, I wouldnae have?—”
“That doesnae matter now,” he bit out. “I need ye to tell me exactly what ye told Nathan this morning.”
CHAPTER 35
