You’re the only person I know with just cause to despise me.
Isla’s words drifted through his mind. All her problems had begun upon his return home. Was it a coincidence? Did someone have a grievance against him and so chose to hurt Isla as a means of revenge? But Lachlan had never exchanged a cross word with anyone in the village, until now.
By the time he strode into his father’s study, he was still just as confused.
“Lachlan.” His father waved for him to come further into the room. “Dinnae stand there with the door open. It’s a sure way for a man to catch a cold. Come sit and warm yerself by the fire.”
Lachlan removed his coat, moved the chair a little further back from the blistering flames before dropping into it with languid grace. “You’ll catch a sweating fever if you insist on keeping the room so hot.”
“I’m just warming my bones.” He smiled as his gaze raked over Lachlan’s creased shirt. “Mrs. McTavish said ye didnae come home last night.”
“I spent the night at Castle Craig. Isla had guests arrive unexpectedly and we were drinking with Douglas until the early hours.” He paused. “The guests came to inform Isla that she’s a widow. Her husband is dead.”
His father’s green eyes glistened; his smile grew into a huge grin, and he clapped his hands numerous times. “If my legs were nae so cold, I’d jump up and dance a jig. That robbing bastard is dead. Forgive my lack of sympathy, but that’s the best news I’ve heard since I remembered where I’d hidden my bottle of rum.” His father stared at him. “Well? Does that mean yer might nae move to Edinburgh?”
Lachlan stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his arms behind his head. He had denied his feelings for too long. “It means I’ll ask Isla to marry me.” The sudden rush of emotion almost choked him. “Of course, her husband’s death has to be registered legally. I believe the witnesses will need to visit the Commissary Court.”
“So yer going to marry Isla Maclean,” his father said cheerfully. “All my prayers have been answered.”
“If she’ll have me.”
He wondered why his father hadn’t mentioned the strange talk in the village. Boyd hadn’t mentioned it either during the hours they had spent emptying the jug of whisky. It struck him as odd. Boyd knew of his attachment to Isla. The man spoke to Ramsey and Fraser on a regular basis, yet had not offered his assistance or suggested helping to prove her innocence.
Suspicion flared.
“Has Boyd mentioned that Ramsey lost a few cattle last week?” Lachlan straightened, feeling suddenly mistrustful of their loyal steward.
His father shook his head. “Nae that I recall. But I hope Ramsey knows yer need to be quick about dealing with these things. Sickness can spread through a herd like a forest fire.”
If his father was unaware of the conspiracy against Isla then perhaps Boyd was ignorant too. Lachlan instantly brushed the thought aside. Boyd spent too much time in the village not to have heard the gossip. But what possible motive could Boyd have for wanting to cause trouble for Isla?
“I’m sure Ramsey knows what he’s doing,” Lachlan managed to reply, but questions over Boyd’s suspected duplicity plagued his thoughts. “Is Boyd in his office? He asked to speak to me regarding the repairs.”
“He mentioned riding out to Crieff to see a fellow about mending the roof. He said he’ll nae be back before supper.”
“Well, I should go upstairs and change my shirt.” Lachlan came to his feet. “Tell Boyd I’ll speak to him tomorrow.” He would make a thorough search of Boyd’s office before he left for Castle Craig. “I may take supper up at the castle tonight. Can I ask Mrs. McTavish to bring you anything?”
His father nodded, his expression softening upon hearing his housekeeper’s name. “Tell her to come and speak to me about supper, only if she’s passing. I’d nae wish to ruin her daily routine.”
Lachlan smiled. “Why don't you just marry her and be done with it? Then the woman can keep you company without you having to find excuses to justify her presence.”
His father looked somewhat shocked as his bluntness. “Marry Mrs. McTavish? But after yer mother passed, I promised never to marry another woman.”
“That was ten years ago. You’re both widowed and lonely. You deserve some happiness.”
His father pursed his lips, his brows drawn together in thoughtful contemplation. “Would ye nae be bothered by all the talk in the village? Would ye nae think of it as betrayal?”
“Me?” Lachlan put his hand to his chest. “Why would you care what I think?”
His father shrugged. “Well, I know how yer missed yer mother and ...”
Lachlan closed the gap between them and put a reassuring hand on his father’s shoulder.
“My experiences over the last few years have taught me to listen to my heart not my head.” A sense of regret over his own foolish decisions infused his tone. “You must seize every opportunity presented. Marry Mrs. McTavish if it will make you happy.”
As Lachlan turned to leave, his father called out to him. “Even as children, everyone knew you and Isla belonged together. It’s why I made the oath with Alistair. Some things are destined to be. It was just a matter of waiting for the right time.”
“I know.” Lachlan raised his chin in acknowledgement, but he also knew he was damn lucky to be given another chance at happiness. “Shall I go and find Mrs. McTavish?”