A Heartless Laird

by McQueen, Hildie

  “That is a very short list,” Malcolm replied.

  “I will be at first meal. Tonight, I will eat here.”

  “Very well. I will join ye immediately after and we can discuss what happened during the meal.”

  “Ye are kind.” Elspeth frowned. “That’s something I’d never thought to say to ye.”

  “And I find ye…” Malcolm stopped, not sure how to explain the fact that she gave him peace, softened his heart and helped him reason.

  “Hard to explain how I affect yer delicate soul?” Elspeth teased.

  “Aye, very difficult,” he agreed, sure she had no idea how he felt.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Where is my brother?” Ethan McLeod demanded, his entire body strung tight as a bow. “Is he alive?”

  Aiden couldn’t help but wonder how it came to be that he and the man had become allies of sorts. Yet here he was meeting Ethan under the cover of darkness at a predetermined spot.

  “He is not harmed. In the dungeon.”

  “Release him at once,” Ethan said between clenched teeth. “It would be unfortunate if I hunt down yer father next.”

  Before Aiden could rationalize, he grabbed Ethan’s tunic with both hands. “Ye know I do not give a damn, either way. He is but a lap dog to the laird. However, I do not like threats.”

  The man shook free of his grasp. “Why are ye here if not to tell me ye will help my brother escape?”

  “Yer father has finally had enough of ye, has he?” Aiden said with a dry chuckle. “I know he cares little for ye.”

  “I am not like ye, my family is important…”

  “Bah,” Aiden interrupted. “Aye, I come to tell ye I will help yer brother escape. In exchange, I require a favor.”

  Ethan huffed. “What is it?”

  “Take with ye a woman. She is important to Malcolm and needs to be done away with.”

  “I do not mistreat women.”

  “Since when?”

  There was a beat of silence and, finally, Ethan nodded. “I will return and be here at nightfall tomorrow.”

  *

  The dampness of the cavern walls did not give the opportunity to get warm. Alec shivered as he lay on the ground. He didn’t know if it was day or night as the only lighting came from a single torch.

  From the looks of the other cells, no one had been hosted there in a long time. Thick spider webs formed a dense canvas in most corners. He couldn’t help but wonder what the creatures could possibly catch down there.

  Not even mice were there as there were no sources of food. For that, he was a bit grateful, as he didn’t relish the idea of the wee creature feasting on him.

  The sounds of voices reached him just as the area became brighter. A male servant appeared holding a torch and, behind him, another man with a tray of food.

  “Would ye care for anything else?” the man asked, sliding the tray under the bars. “I brought some warm drink.” He pushed a cup through the bars swiftly, some of it spilling.

  Alec grabbed it and held it between his hands, the warmth of it delightful. “A dry blanket?”

  The servants looked to one another, and the one who’d carried the tray hurried away. “He will bring one shortly.”

  The servant sat in a rickety wooden chair waiting for Alec to eat.

  “It is daytime then?” Alec asked as he ate. The food was delicious, a hearty stew with fresh bread.

  “Tis almost sundown,” the servant replied. “End of the day,” he added unnecessarily.

  Alec was surprised to find the young man didn’t seem discomfited to be speaking to someone in the dungeon. Perhaps he’d been wrong and others had been held there.

  “Do ye know what yer laird plans for me?”

  The servant shook his head. “Tis not for me to know.” He shrugged. “Perhaps ye will be hung in the courtyard.”

  The statement was not exactly comforting. “That would be a quick end to things,” Alec said dryly.

  “What of the woman who came here just before me? Is she well?”

  “Aye, I suppose so. She remains locked in a chamber.” The servant looked to his right and immediately stopped talking.

  “Here ye are.” The other servant returned with two blankets and pushed them through the bars. Alec stood and removed his damp tartan and wrapped one blanket around his shivering body. The other, he carefully placed atop straw he’d gathered into a makeshift pallet to sleep upon.

  He tried to ask more questions but with the appearance of the second servant, the one with the torch stopped replying.

  As they left, they replaced the torch and left him to his thoughts.

  It was impossible to consider what Malcolm Ross would do with him. They were very different men. However, if his own da had been struck down, Alec would probably change. He had to admit that, like Malcolm, vengeance would be his own immediate reaction.

  Hopefully, Paige was safe. He doubted even a Ross would purposely harm a woman. It didn’t stop him from wishing to bend the bars with his own bare hands to get to her. If something happened to Paige, he would never forgive himself.

  With nothing to do but remain with his thoughts, Alec went to the pallet and sat upon it. The worst torture of all was to be alone in a dank place without any idea of what would happen next. His mind raced in so many directions, he was sure after some time madness would set in.

  If ever he had to punish someone for something vile, he would not have him or her hung or executed in any manner. Instead, they would be thrown in a dungeon for the rest of their life. This was a punishment he wouldn’t wish on anyone he cared for.

  “Alec?” A man’s voice permeated through the fog of slumber and Alec realized he’d fallen asleep.

  Footsteps sounded just before Aiden Ross appeared. The man’s keen gaze met his for a long moment.

  “If I release ye, will ye flee into the woods and never tell anyone who did it?”

  “What of her?”

  “I cannot do anything about that,” the man said, waving a hand with indifference. “No harm will come to the woman. I am sure, eventually, my cousin will release her.”

  Alec wasn’t sure he trusted the man. Would Aiden release him only to hunt him down to be considered a hero? No, then Aiden would have to explain how he was able to go free. “I do not wish to leave without her.”

  “If ye stay, ye will be dead within days. Either way, ye will leave her behind. I assure ye, she will be set free soon.”

  Reluctantly, he had to agree it would be easier to leave and bargain for Paige’s release. “Very well.”

  The cell door opened. He’d not even heard the man unlock it. “Go up the stairs and to the right. There is a doorway out to the back of the keep.” Aiden pointed with his right hand. “Once ye’re outside, give me time to go to the roof. I will distract the guards. Wade along the loch toward the trees. Yer brother will meet ye there.”

  Taking his tartan and wrapping the still damp clothing about his body, Alec hurried out and followed the directions.

  Fresh air had never smelled better. Alec gulped in breaths as he hurried to the water’s edge. Although the night was frigid, there wasn’t time to think about it. He waited until he was sure the man had enough time to get up to the ramparts and then continued to the trees.

  The sound of someone else approaching from behind made him run faster, his lungs protesting the sudden burst of movement after so long in the cramped cell.

  Just as he was sure he’d become lost in the woods, a familiar voice called out. “Alec, over here.” It was Ethan.

  “Someone follows,” he said, mounting the horse his brother brought along. “Hurry.”

  “They are of no consequence,” Ethan said. “I made a bargain and the one who follows is part of it. Ride home. Stay to the shores of the loch as much as possible. There are archers and scouts to the east of here.”

  He didn’t question whatever bargain his brother had made. He would later. Right now, he needed to return home and beg
in to plan how to rescue Paige. It had been irrational to come alone to the Ross’ keep. There would not be a second try like that.

  Although the night air should have chilled him further, Alec was much too glad to be freed from the Ross’ dungeon to feel it. He wondered why Aiden Ross had helped.

  The man had never been one to stand out, whether in battle or otherwise. As a matter of fact, he didn’t recall ever seeing him fight. It was as if he found other places to be.

  A coward.

  It meant Aiden was also probably the envious type who hated the fact his cousin was laird and not he. He’d known men like him. Aiden would probably revel in the aftermath of Alec’s escape and relish any disappointment his cousin would feel.

  How interesting that someone like that had been most helpful, but Alec didn’t feel any kind of debt owed to Aiden Ross.

  Suddenly, the walls of his home came into view and his shoulders fell. He was home.

  He thought of Paige and he looked over his shoulder. Was he any better than a coward for having left her behind?

  Chapter Twenty

  At first meal, the atmosphere was somber despite the fact that there was a possibility of peace coming to the clan.

  Malcolm turned to his mother who seemed startled at his attention. “Why is everyone so glum? We are on the brink of peace.”

  At first, she studied the room as if noticing it for the first time. She cocked her head to the side and then turned to him. “It seems the same as usual. Did ye expect everyone to celebrate? After so long a time of battle, they will not believe it until it happens.”

  If it were true that the people had lost hope long ago and were an unhappy lot, he supposed he’d never noticed.

  Kieran sat at the table closest to the entry with archers and other guardsmen. He and the men spoke in low tones. Every once in a while they were the only ones who seemed at ease.

  Next to his mother was Verity and then his uncle and cousin, Aiden, who seemed unusually chipper.

  Tristan approached but didn’t sit. He bowed at the waist to speak into his ear. “Come away from the table. I have news.”

  Without looking at the others, Malcolm stood and walked a short distance away with Tristan. He followed Tristan’s lead and acted as if nothing was wrong and perhaps Tristan wanted to tell him about some adventure.

  His brother met his gaze, the hazel eyes darker than usual. “Our prisoner has escaped. It seems, Brother, we have a traitor among us.”

  Malcolm nodded, doing his best not to turn to look over his shoulder. “Is anyone at the high board studying us with interest?”

  “Aiden did, but now he is talking to Verity. No one else is paying us heed as they are used to me coming to report on the night guard.”

  “What of the guards at the two tables?”

  “All of the guardsmen are accounted for,” Tristan said, scanning the room. “There is no one paying us any heed. Seems Kieran is regaling the table with his tales of a kill.”

  “Very well.” Malcolm turned and looked in the direction of where his younger brother sat and motioned him to come. It was only then that most of the guardsmen looked over. Vigilance had become a companion as of late and they made sure not to miss a call to duty.

  After motioning to his uncle to also join him, Malcolm walked from the room, both brothers behind.

  Once inside the study, Malcolm asked Tristan to repeat what had occurred.

  “Who was last to see him?” Gregor asked.

  “The servants who took him last meal,” Tristan replied. “The same servants found him gone this morning. They wait in the kitchen corridor for further direction. They were instructed not to say anything to anyone as of yet.”

  “What of the woman? Is she still here?” Malcolm asked next.

  “Aye,” their uncle responded this time. “I was in the kitchen when her first meal tray was retrieved this morning.”

  Malcolm looked to Kieran. “See that she remains and then have the two servants come here.” He then turned to Tristan. “I want to speak to every guard who was on duty last night.”

  “They are assembling as we speak,” his brother replied.

  “Kieran, seek the scouts who patrolled the forest last night. Have them come at once.”

  Both his brothers left and the male servants appeared. Both were pale and wide-eyed.

  Malcolm left it to his uncle to question them. On the brink of losing his temper, he didn’t wish to scare them witless.

  Neither seemed to see anything unusual the night before. One confessed to providing the man with an extra blanket as he was shivering cold. The other admitted to holding a conversation about the time of day.

  Once they were dismissed, his uncle shrugged. “They didn’t do it.” The older man clenched his jaw.

  “Someone did. I will find out who.” Malcolm slammed his fist on the tabletop. “Damn them, Uncle. Just as we were going to broker for peace.”

  His uncle nodded. “Whoever it is does not wish for a truce it seems.”

  “Or it could be they did not wish Alec McLeod dead.”

  Tristan returned. “Do ye wish to speak to the men now? They are assembled on the north side.”

  It was an area that would grant some privacy. Malcolm wasn’t sure he wanted the story spread as of yet. Although in a keep so overcrowded at the moment, the information would soon make its way around the keep regardless of how much he threatened.

  “Let us go then.”

  The night guards were lined up with expectant expressions. It was immediately obvious most were totally unaware of what happened. Malcolm stood before them. “Someone has released the prisoner. Alec McLeod is gone.”

  The men looked to one another, but remained silent.

  “I will find out who is responsible.”

  He questioned each man thoroughly. It was late morning and it seemed none had any idea of what had happened.

  Finally, they were left with only the archers who patrolled atop the keep’s walls. Four men who Malcolm considered his best guardsmen.

  The first, an older man, shook his head. “I swear to ye, Laird, we didn’t see anything. It was a dark night, indeed, but we stay vigilant.”

  “Did anything out of the ordinary happen?” Tristan asked. “Any noise or strange animal sounds?”

  “Nay,” another answer. “It was only when Aiden came up that we talked for a bit and that was only for a few minutes.”

  Tristan and Malcolm exchanged looks. Malcolm moved closer to the man. “Is it often that he comes up to the ramparts?”

  “Nay,” the older man replied. “His visits are rare.”

  Tristan took pity on the sleepy men. “Go, eat and rest, night will come soon. I remind ye to speak to no one about this.”

  After everyone walked away, the brothers remained standing together. “Seems we may have our answer,” Tristan said.

  “Why?” Malcolm scowled. “He has it all, and rarely deems it necessary to go to battle.” He clenched his jaw as his fingers curled. “How do we approach him? Perhaps I should speak to our uncle.”

  “He will side with his son,” Tristan said.

  “Nay, he is a fair man.” Malcolm trusted his uncle to always do what was right.

  “Laird!” A young maid rushed to him, red-faced, as she hurried with skirts pulled up to keep from tripping. “She is missing, Laird. Gone.” The girl bent over and gasped for breath.

  Malcolm took the maid by the shoulders. The girl, Maggie, was prone to hysterics and often lost her breath. “Breath, Maggie. Be calm and tell me what ye speak of.”

  After several gulps, she nodded. “Miss Elspeth. She is not in her room. I searched the entire keep…well not the servants’ quarters. I suppose she could be there. But I did ask Lily and she had not seen her…”

  “When did ye last see her?” Malcolm tried to remain calm, but already he sensed that Elspeth had gone. Either taken again or escaped.

  “Ugh!” Tristan swung a fist, hitting nothing but air and Ma
ggie yelped. “It could be she is the one who freed McLeod. I knew it was a bad idea.”

  Malcolm looked to Maggie, doing his best to keep his temper in check. “Go find the servants and search the keep. Go to Ian’s rooms. She could be there checking on him. Report back to me immediately.”

  There was a commotion at the gate. The guards called down and whoever it was responded.

  “What now?” Malcolm asked no one in particular. He closed his eyes and puffed his cheeks, blowing out a long breath as a young lad rushed to him to report.

  “My laird, the family is here.”

  “What family?” he snapped, too angry now to keep from yelling.

  The boy looked over his shoulder. “For the ceremony, Laird. Yer wedding is to be today, is it not?”

  Tristan groaned and looked up at the sky.

  “Tell the guards to allow them in.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Unlike the last time she’d been taken from her bed, this time Elspeth was handled with care. She’d been placed atop blankets in the back of a cart. Although her hands were bound and she was blindfolded. That in and of itself didn’t bode well.

  “Allow me to go please,” she repeated. There was a man next to her whose voice she did not recognize, and another managing the horses. Neither replied.

  It felt as if they’d been riding in circles for hours and she’d been through so many emotions it left her exhausted.

  At first, Elspeth had cried, then pleaded, lastly she’d been so angry some of the words that she’d screamed were ones she’d overheard her father and older brother say. They’d not be proud of her in that moment. Or maybe they would be.

  This had to stop. Her life had been turned upside down since meeting Malcolm Ross. It was his fault and that vendetta of his. Now, she was paying the price.

  The men were probably going to ask for ransom guessing he would care enough to pay.

  “He doesn’t care what happens to me. If it is a ransom ye seek, he won’t pay.”