Rescued by a Highlander(52)

She rushed through her ablutions so she could find Brenna and discuss the big event. It was so late she guessed Alex was probably already in the lists with his men even though he belonged in bed. What would happen to Kenneth? She cringed at the thought of Alex killing him in cold blood. Even though she hated Kenneth, she didn’t want Alex killing him over her. Now that Niles was dead, would Kenneth be willing to agree to her marriage to Alex? She never understood the agreement between the Comming and her stepbrother so she was not sure what Kenneth had hoped to gain from her betrothal.

Reaching for the door of her chamber, a loud bellow from below shook the walls. Was that Alex she heard? She opened her door and rushed to the balcony to locate the source of the noise. Peeking over the railing, she cringed as she saw Alex toe-to-toe with Robbie, both clearly angry, with Brodie directly behind Robbie.

“What do you mean Kenneth escaped, brother? Why was I not told this when it happened?” Alex raged in his brother’s face.

Maddie’s knees quaked as she held onto the railing to hold her steady. Had she heard correctly? Kenneth escaped?

“You were a bit incapacitated when Kenneth escaped, Laird!” Robbie retorted.

“I was not incapacitated. You could have told me!” Alex’s fury radiated from every pore of his body.

“Since you were flat on your arse with your arms around a lass, I did not think you would answer!”

Robbie and Alex stood nose to nose with their fists clenched. Neither man gave an inch.

A quiet fury emanated from her betrothed. “What exactly are you implying?”

Madeline crept down the stairs silently.

Robbie sighed and lowered his voice. “He escaped about the same time Niles was killed. There was a throng of people out of control after the sword fight. After Angus settled everybody down, Kenneth was nowhere to be seen.”

“Why did you no' go after him then? You are next in charge if I cannot speak.”

“I was busy bringing my bull-headed brother up to his chamber. Next time, I will leave you on the ground,” Robbie spat.

Both brothers continued to stare at each other. Neither moved.

“I will have both you and Brodie flogged for losing my prisoner. You were in charge. You should have prevented it from happening.”

“My hands were full, my laird didn’t give me any warning that he was about to kill a man in front of the entire clan!” Robbie gave Alex a scathing look before whispering, “If those are your wishes, Laird, let me locate the whip for you. I prefer you do the task!”

Alex nodded, “I would be glad to do the honors.”

A high-pitched scream wrenched through the air as wee Jennie tore across the room and latched onto both brothers, one arm wrapped around each brother’s knee. “No whipping, no whipping, no whipping!” She screamed and pummeled Alex’s legs in a frantic fury that sank right to Maddie’s gut.

Alex stepped back and picked up his sister. Maddie’s breath caught at the sight of the tiny fist striking her brother’s broad shoulders. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. “Jennie, I will not whip your brothers.” He sighed as he glanced at Robbie. “I am sorry, little squirrel, to upset you so.”

Jennie cried, choking on her words. “Say you are sorry to Robbie. Say you are sorry to Brodie. You promised Papa to love us all and to take care of us. You cannot whip us!” Hitching sobs continued to pour out of her. “Alex, you have to love Robbie and Brodie. You have to! You almost died, too, like ma and da. No one can leave. Promise me. If you whip them, they will leave. I want them to stay. Promise me!”

Alex turned to his brother. “Robbie knows I love you all. I just lost my temper. I am sorry, Robbie, for my threats. Can we sit down at the table, Jennie? We will sit with Robbie.” Alex motioned his brothers to the table and waved the servants out. He lowered himself carefully with Jennie’s armed wrapped tight around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder.

Madeline tiptoed over from the bottom of the stairway to stand beside Alex.

She whispered with her head down, barely audible. “He has escaped?”

“Aye, but we will find him,” he answered. Alex ran his hand over his face and sighed. “Robbie, tell me everything.”

Madeline attempted to take Jennie from Alex, but she wouldn’t budge. She popped her thumb in her mouth for a few seconds, then quickly withdrew it and buried her face in her brother’s chest. After her sobbing subsided, Alex motioned to Robbie.

Robbie began his story. “Angus had the grounds searched right away, but turned up nothing. When I found out last night, I took several men with me and searched the area. We found two of Kenneth’s guards,” he glanced quickly at Jennie, “sleeping....but no sign of Kenneth. Some of his men must have been waiting for him. There were so many on horseback here for the fight tracking was difficult. Most of Comming’s men were released. They chose not to return to his castle, so were off for other places. A few requested to swear fealty to you. I have them under guard until you decide what you want to do with them.”