A Hellion at the Highland Court: A Rags to Riches Highlander Romance (The Highland Ladies Book 9) by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

“What do you mean you lost her?” Brodie roared as Michael stood before him. The younger man didn’t cower; he didn’t even look remorseful.

“She wandered off, ma laird.”

“There is no wandering off when you’re her detail. You go where she goes.”

“Some bright little bauble likely caught her eye. She’s probably spending yer coin on a new hair ribbon or to get more expensive fabric that she likes.”

“Shut yer gob afore I knock every bluidy tooth from yer flapping gums. Dinna think I will forgive and forget because I dinna deal with ye now. Once Lady Campbell is with us, I shall beat ye within a hair’s breadth of yer life.” Brodie shoved Michael away, furious at the news that Laurel wasn’t with them. But he trusted she could manage the market on her own. It was Michael’s flippancy that angered him. He’d known the man since Michael was a child and had never liked him. But Michael entered the lists because his father and uncles were warriors for Brodie’s father. There was little thought given whether he would remain among Brodie’s forces when Brodie inherited the lairdship. But now Brodie wondered if he’d erred in assuming Michael would mature. He’d brought him on the journey to give him that opportunity. Not only had the man disappointed him, Brodie no longer trusted him.

“Lead the way,” Graham barked as he shoved Michael’s shoulder from behind. Brodie ordered one man to remain behind with the horses, then followed Michael and Wallace, the other man he’d tasked with Laurel’s safety. They worked their way through the market, but Brodie couldn’t spot Laurel, and his two derelict guards were no help. Brodie grew alarmed when he realized how busy the market had grown as they moved toward the waterfront. He scanned the crowd, praying he would spy a head of reddish-blonde locks, but he found nothing.

“Naught but trouble.” Brodie heard the grumble from one of his men. The man muttered it under his breath, so Brodie couldn’t tell who said it.

“Should have kenned. Michael’s likely right. She’s gotten herself lost after buying some do-dad or another. Ay up!” Brodie looked back to find Graham’s hand moving away from Walter’s head. The man was Wallace’s uncle. Brodie wondered what else his men thought. He’d believed they’d accepted Laurel after spending so many hours with her, but now he feared they’d already closed their minds to her despite the kindness she’d shown them on their wedding day.

“She’s still your lady,” Graham snapped.

“Pair up and ask around. We meet here in twenty minutes,” Brodie ordered. He looked at Graham, but his second looked as perplexed as he felt. “Where could she have gone? Laurel would not wonder off. If she wanted something from the market, she would have told me. If she was upset aboot something she would have most definitely told me.”

“I ken, Brodie,” Graham kept his voice low, abandoning formality. “Something is very wrong with this.”

“Do you think she went back to the tavern?”

“That would be my guess.

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