When a Laird Takes a Lady: A Claimed by the Highlander Novel Read Online Free Page B

my brother?”
    “I do.”
    She shook her head lightly. “Do you deny slaying the king’s courier, too? My brother said they found the necklace in your chamber.” How easily those accusations spilled from her lips. Like they were an absolute truth.
    All the rage he’d contained for months suddenly poured through Aiden’s veins like molten steel, sending him to his feet. Isabail cringed, and he swiveled to avoid the fear on her face. He was too angry to be kind. “The accusations made against me are sheer madness. Why would I poison my own kin? Why would I steal from a king while his courier was feasting under my own roof? Only a fool would do such a thing, and I assure you, I am no fool.”
    Crossing the room to a wall hung with antlersfrom bygone hunts, he did his best to contain the fury that burned in his chest . . . and failed. He punched the wall with a heavy fist, sending antlers crashing to the floor.
    “Eight of my kin died that night, including the wife of my cousin Wulf and her wee son, Hugh. No necklace, no matter how grand, could be worth the loss of those lives.” He closed his eyes, picturing the faces of those who were lost that night, one by one. Most of the dead had been very young or very old. The healthier sorts had sickened, but survived. Except for Elen and Henry de Coleville, both very fond of eel soup—they’d consumed two bowls.
    He opened his eyes and stared at the dent his fist had left in the wattle and daub wall. “‘Twas your brother who caused their deaths.”
    “Nay,” she said vehemently. “That’s not possible. If you knew my brother, you would never say such a thing.”
    Aiden pivoted. “One of the men who accompanied Henry de Coleville to Dunstoras was also at Lochurkie the next morning. I saw him when your brother arrested me.”
    She frowned. “Of what relevance is that? All of the king’s men came to Lochurkie after the murder of de Coleville.”
    “I spied this one in the corridor leading to my chamber. He hid the necklace there.”
    Her lips thinned. “A rather far-fetched tale. Why would anyone go to such lengths?”
    “To discredit the MacCurrans.”
    Her eyebrows lifted. “Your clan is small, and your land is mostly mountains. What could they possibly gain?”
    A very good question. One Aiden had given much thought to in the months since the necklace was stolen. But he was still no closer to an answer. His father had been a staunch supporter of the king, even from the early days of his minority, and he had spent a fair amount of time at the king’s side—but more as a warrior than a political ally. Compared to the Comyns, the Balliols, and the Bruces, the MacCurrans had little influence. They were renowned for their battle skills, but these were peaceful days in Scotland—the Norse had been conquered and England had ceased to play their wicked games of control, at least for a time.
    But some sort of treachery was afoot. “You know the name of the man I seek.”
    A genuinely puzzled look stole over her face. “You cannot believe that I remember the names of all the king’s men.”
    “Not all, just this one.”
    “And why him?”
    “He was standing next to your brother when I was dragged into the great hall and accused of my crimes.”
    She adjusted her skirts, fanning the pale blue material out to dry the folds that were still wet. “I was not there, but if you describe him, perhaps I can name him.”
    “He wore black from tip to toe, including a black wolf cloak.”
    “And his face?”
    “I did not see it.”
    “The color of his hair, then?”
    Aiden said nothing. He had no more to offer. The black wolf cloak was his best clue.
    Isabail shook her head. “I cannot identify a man simply by his clothing.”
    “Surely you would remember a man who garbed himself entirely in black? A man of enough consequence to wear a wolf pelt?”
    “You ask too much. That night is several months in the past, and my brother took ill and died shortly