Part 30 (1/2)

Eliot stopped eating to stare at Lord Graham, laughter bubbling in his chest. He was being bribed. He could hardly believe it! A skilled extortionist himself, he was interested to hear Ridley's offer.

He leaned back in his chair, wiping his mouth and fingers on the white tablecloth. ”Oh weel... Red Alex rewards me well. Coin, animals, insight.”

”But what do you do with insight? Have you a home to put such furnis.h.i.+ngs? Or fields to graze your beasts, for that matter? And what spend you coin on, but women and game?”

Eliot grinned. ”What better way to spend coin?”

Lord Graham smiled broadly. ”Why, investing it in yourself, your land, of course.”

”I have no land.”

”Alexander hasn't rewarded you with land...? Oh, I forgot, he owns nothing outright. Only that midden pile, Gealach...”

”Gealach is no midden pile. Red Alex makes a small fortune in port fees. And there's the traffic between Scotland and Ireland. And now that he's encouraged the tenants to cultivate the land, he's beginning to see some return. And Gealach has other... advantages.”

”Advantages?”

Eliot smiled. ”I canna be giving away our secrets, now can I?”

Lord Graham's brow furrowed in confusion. ”But is it your secret, or Alexander Maxwell's?”

The man had a point. What was Gealach to Eliot? He'd helped take it and defend it and yet what did it afford him but a place to sleep and a few meals? Alex was the laird. Alex reaped all the benefits of owners.h.i.+p. In fact, he refused to parcel out any land until he held the deed to the estate. Why should Alex be the one? They weren't so different. Eliot's father hadn't been a laird, as Red Rowan had been, but then what had that meant to Alex? Red Rowan had left him no land or t.i.tles. He was no better than Eliot. Why should everything go to Alex?

”Do you want it?” Ridley asked.

”Want what?”

Ridley smiled patiently. ”Why Gealach, of course.”

Eliot's pulse skipped a beat. This was unexpected. He'd expected many things, but not to be offered an estate. He shook his head slowly. ”I'm no fool. No lord would give an estate to a common outlaw.”

”True...” Ridley leaned back in his chair, hands folded over his belly. ”Not right away, that is. I would first appoint you warden of Gealach. You would guard it and protect it for me, as master in my absence.”

Eliot's heart grew swollen with desire. All his life he'd known he deserved better and would've had better if he were a whole man. It should've been Alex that lost his arm. Instead he was heralded as a hero. And it had been as such since. Alex was the best at everything. Only Eliot knew, if he'd two arms, he could be better. Women wanted Alex and men respected and followed him. Eliot repulsed them. Men sneered at him and he had to buy his women. But to have Gealach-to take Gealach from Alex-was a heady thought.

But still he said nothing. Ridley was using him. Not that Eliot minded being used, if the price was right. But he must not appear overeager.

Ridley raised his brows, leaning forward slightly. ”Is this inducement enough for you to seek a new master?”

”Perhaps.” Eliot picked his teeth idly, inspecting his discovery. ”What would you require of me? I wilna kill Red Alex.”

”Murder isn't necessary... well, at least not Alexander.” Ridley looked idly over his shoulder at Carlisle, who peeked through a hole at the back of the tent, thoroughly engrossed in whatever he spied.

Eliot sat quietly, waiting for Ridley to go on. After a moment he did.

”Alexander Maxwell has kidnapped my sister away from her betrothed, Lord Carlisle.”

Eliot raised his brows, interested. Apparently, Ridley didn't realize the kidnapping was unsuccessful and that Fayth Graham ran freely about the west march. Eliot wouldn't be the one to inform him.

”Does he still have her? She's slippery, that one-p.r.o.ne to escape. She likes to dress as a lad and call herself Hugh.”