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to escape and brought her daughter and the man back to the Sheriff’s court.”
    Aedan looked behind him and took a step back to the massive door, then slumped against it. Heavy as it was, it kept swinging back until it hit the wall and his body pitched right along with it. The jolt of pain that accompanied the cease of motion made him wince.
    “Should we call for a healer?”
    Aedan gave a short shake of his head. “No. Tell me what happened.”
    “Whenever the man bested you,” he stopped so he and his compatriot could share a good chortle. Aedan planned to take his pound of flesh if the laughing continued, but either their amusement was short-lived, or they saw the involuntary flash of his teeth. “Well, whenever he escaped, he managed to get up to the south stair, near the entrance. Countess de Cheyne was on her way to her room and her guard overtook the man.”
    “And Anne?” Aedan drew in a breath. Not Anne. Why did he insist on calling her Anne? “And Lady de Cheyne, the daughter? What happened?”
    The other guard stepped forward. “Are you sure you’re not in need of medicine, brother?”
    Aedan burst away from the door and slipped his hands around the idiot’s throat. “What the hell happened to the daughter?”
    The choking man lost his sense of mirth and his eyes rounded. “She was rescued. Nothing happened to her.”
    Releasing his grip on the fool, Aedan dropped his hands to his knees and bent over. Thank you, God. If anything had happened to her… Aedan was already living down one grave. He couldn’t stand another.
    “ She’s safe?”
    The guards exchanged another look. “She’s in her room, being watched over by two of the Sheriff’s guard.”
    Aedan collapsed back onto the door and a laugh burst through the pain. What a fool he’d been. Of course someone would be here looking out for her. She was, after all, a guest of the Sheriff, and she would be well cared for.
    He could put her out of his mind.
    “And the captive?”
    The choked guard stepped back into line, as though they were reporting to a superior officer and Aedan waved his hand again. He was only a paid soldier, now. Paid for services rendered. No need to stand at attention.
    “I see you’re recovering,” boomed a familiar voice to his side. Aedan looked up to find the Sheriff sweating in the doorway, smirking down at him.
    “I woke to find the captive and the woman gone,” he explained. “I came to report but you’d gone.”
    That wasn’t the complete truth, but it was as much as the man deserved. His reputation hadn’t been lost when he took this position, and no amount of title would make Aedan show deference to this pig, regardless of purse strings.
    “Well, I hope they’ve filled you in.”
    Aedan nodded. “I assume since the captive was recovered, he’s now in the dungeon.”
    “Yes.” The Sheriff wiped his hands on his trousers and smiled. “It would seem that the Lady Anne did her duty in stitching the man’s wound, for he was fit enough to attempt escape. Still, the Countess de Cheyne was most helpful in returning the escapee.”
    “Excellent.”
    “So I’ve given her your fee.”
    Aedan nearly stopped breathing. “You’ve what?”
    “Well, not just your fee. But in addition to the bride price, I’m paying the bounty into the dowry.”
    Aedan stiffened against the door as shock gave way to burning anger. “You’ve given away my fee?”
    The Sheriff’s laugh stoked the fire of Aedan’s growing anger. If he didn’t need his freedom so much, Aedan might have gutted the pig where he stood. Instead, he held his breath, hoping the pain would thrum some sense into his head before he let his anger overtake him.
    “Technically, you let the man escape. Head wound aside, he was in your custody and nearly kidnapped an innocent woman in addition to gaining his freedom once more. The way I see it, if the Countess hadn’t stopped him, he would have been back with Moray, burning cities and killing the