But Eveline was more important. For Eveline, he’d do whatever was necessary, even if meant crawling to her father on his hands and knees and humbling himself before the other chieftain.
“Why say you something so outlandish?” Tavis barked.
“We do not have time to stand here arguing,” Graeme said in an even voice. “Eveline is what’s important. If you love your daughter, have your men stand down so that we can talk over this matter between us and then form a plan to bring her back safely.”
Tavis’s eyes glittered with rage. “You dare question my affection for my daughter?”
“You’re wasting time,” Graeme pointed out. “Look at me, Armstrong. No army behind me. I rode here in good faith with only my brothers at my side. You could kill me now. I’ve raised no arms to you. I want my wife back and I’ll have her if it’s the last thing I do.”
Tavis stared at Graeme for a long time, his brow furrowed in deep thought. “Speak your piece, Montgomery. I’ll hear what you have to say and then render judgment on the matter.”
“The man thinks he’s God,” Bowen muttered.
Graeme held up a hand to silence his brother.
“Did you know that Eveline is not daft at all? That she’s a highly intelligent, cunning lass with a quick wit and a heart as big as the highlands?”
Tavis’s jaw went slack, as though it were the very last thing he’d expected to hear Graeme say.
“She’s deaf, Armstrong. Not simple. Not touched. Not mad. She merely cannot hear and yet she can read the lips of others and can understand what it is they say.”
“How do you know all of this?” Armstrong asked hoarsely.
“She told me.”
“You lie!” Aiden roared. “She cannot speak. She has not spoken since her accident.”
Teague drew his sword in a flash. “You’ll cease calling into question the honor of my brother. He speaks the truth. I’ve heard her myself.”
Tavis bit out a rebuke to Aiden and ordered him to be silent. Then he turned back to Graeme. “She spoke to you? Is it true she cannot hear?”
Graeme nodded.
“Then why?”
The older man’s hands shook and bewilderment was heavy in his eyes. He looked suddenly much older than his years. It was obvious what Graeme had said hurt him.
“Why would she perpetuate such a deception?” Tavis asked hoarsely.
“Because she feared she would be forced into marriage to Ian McHugh,” Graeme said quietly. “She saw an opportunity to be able to cry off the marriage and so she allowed you and the rest of her clan to believe she was daft because it saved her from the one thing she feared the most. Ian terrorized her from the moment talks began of marriage. He spelled out in precise detail exactly how she’d suffer at his hands. She saw a way to escape and she seized it. Before long the lie took on a life of its own and she saw no way out.”
Tavis whitened and then put a hand to his nape as he stared aghast at Graeme. “She told me … Sweet mother Mary, she came to me. She said … Oh God, I didn’t believe her. I thought she was expressing normal maidenly fears. I had no idea.…”
“You left her no choice,” Graeme bit out.
“And now? You say he has her? How did this happen? Did you not protect her as you should?” Tavis demanded.
“Nay, ’tis true enough that I did not do all I should do. ’Tis my fault she is even now in that bastard’s hands.”
“Nay!” Bowen cried out, his face red with anger. “I will not allow you to take blame for this. He was shot by an arrow less than a fortnight ago by a man wearing the scabbard that the Armstrong soldiers wear.”
Tavis’s head came up, his eyes sparking in anger. “I did not order an attack on my daughter’s husband. I would have never endangered her in that manner. Furthermore, I would not dishonor a blood oath sworn before God and my king.”
“I know you did not,” Graeme said calmly. “I did not know it at the time, and it caused Eveline much grief, for she witnessed the entire thing, and it was she who told us of the scabbard and how they came to be made.”
Tavis closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring. “My own daughter believes that I would betray her this way?”
“Eveline was betrayed by four members of my clan acting in conjunction with Ian McHugh. Last eve, Eveline was taken by McHugh and his escape was aided by men I trusted. I have no desire to engage you in battle, Armstrong. All I want is for my wife to be returned safely to my side.”
Tavis stared at him for a long moment, his gaze burning into Graeme, peeling him back, layer by layer. Then his eyes widened in surprise.
“You care for my daughter.”
“My love for her is stronger than my hatred of you. ’Tis why I’ll not raise arms against you today. Instead I ask your aid in the battle against the McHughs.”
Tavis, Brodie, and Aiden all stared at Graeme in astonishment. Then they looked at one another and then back to Graeme and his brothers.
Respect glimmered in Tavis’s eyes as he met Graeme’s gaze once more.
“Summon your men,” Tavis said in a brisk tone. “The McHugh Keep is half a day’s ride. We leave at once.”
CHAPTER 44
“ ’Tis as if they are not expecting battle,” Bowen said as he stared down at the McHugh fortress.
Graeme frowned, though he was in agreement. There was little activity and indeed, it looked as though normal day-to-day operations were being carried out below.
They’d encountered no guards at the border. No one had given warning to the McHughs of the massive army approaching because there looked to be no readying of weapons or men.