My Daring Highlander

by Vonda Sinclair

  Keegan ground his teeth, his palm itching to feel the horn hilt of his dirk in it. Maids? Had Wentworth seen Seona with him and assumed she was a maid because of her old arisaid?

  “Och! Look at that! The rain has stopped,” Rebbie announced, as if this was something monumental.

  “Aye. ’Haps we can go for a ride and you can see how the stallion runs,” Wentworth said.

  “Want to join us?” Rebbie asked Keegan.

  “Nay. But I thank you for the invitation.”

  The two men proceeded into the stables again. “I’ll be right there, Wentworth,” Rebbie said, then returned to Keegan. “Are you well?”

  Keegan nodded. “Did he see her with me?”

  “He saw someone. He assumes ’twas one of the maids.” Rebbie shrugged. “I’m going to find out all I can about him.”

  “Mayhap his stallion will break his fool neck,” Keegan muttered.

  Rebbie snorted with suppressed laughter.

  “I’m going to stay here and figure out a solution.” At the moment, all Keegan wanted to do was put Seona on his horse and ride as far as they could go.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Seona paced in her room, knowing supper was being served in the great hall. Wentworth was there, waiting to get to know her. Well, she didn’t want to get to know him at all. His unnerving smile made her nauseous.

  A knock sounded at her door. She jumped, then moved across the floor. Opening the portal, she found Aunt Patience outside, her dark hair styled to perfection.

  “Your father sent me to fetch you for supper.”

  “I’m eating in my chamber.” Seona motioned toward the tray of food one of the servants had already brought her.

  Patience raised a brow and shook her head. “Your father said if you refuse to come to the great hall, he will send one of the guards to carry you.”

  Wanting to call her father a vile name, Seona gritted her teeth.

  “Very well.” She slammed the door on her way out. “I wonder why he won’t order Talia to supper so everyone can see all the bruises he gave her.”

  “You’d best watch your mouth, lassie,” her aunt hissed.

  “Why did you tell him that Dirk and Isobel were not betrothed when they arrived in Durness? I was trying to protect them. They are my friends.”

  Her aunt’s glare was spiteful. “At least I didn’t tell him about finding you and Keegan kissing in your bedchamber.”

  Icy cold washed over Seona. “And I hope you won’t, or we shall both face dire circumstances.”

  “I’m keeping my mouth shut about that as long as you keep my secret also.”

  Seona nodded. “Agreed.”

  They crossed the great hall and several of the men at the high table turned to stare at her. When they drew closer, most of the men stood, Keegan, Rebbie and Wentworth among them. Her aunt rushed forward and claimed one of the chairs. The only vacant seat was between Wentworth and her father.

  Blast! She slowed her steps.

  “Please, come and sit, daughter,” her father said in a forced pleasant tone that gave her sickened chills. “Have some food.”

  Sending Keegan a longing glance, she proceeded to the chair.

  ***

  Keegan wanted to crawl down the table and beat Wentworth’s eyes shut. He detested the smug and lustful way the man watched Seona. Keegan would not abandon her to the bastard even if he had to steal her away tonight.

  Rebbie, sitting to his right, lightly elbowed Keegan in the arm, then gave him a lifted brow look.

  Aye, Keegan knew he probably looked angry enough to kill someone. But who could blame him? Another man was courting the woman he loved. He drew in a deep breath and focused on his food so no one would suspect the level of his fury.

  He needed to talk to her again, right away, but couldn’t with her glowering father looking on.

  At the end of the meal, the music started and Chief Murray encouraged Seona to dance with Wentworth. How the devil was Keegan supposed to sit and watch this? Murray smirked at him. Battle-lust tore through Keegan’s veins. His hand clenched, craving the solid feel of his sword hilt in it.

  After one dance, Chief Murray directed Lady Patience to escort Seona from the great hall. Keegan could only assume she was headed toward her bedchamber. To see her there would be a risky endeavor, especially since Chief Murray watched him closely. Without doubt, he had servants spying on Seona, too, in order to see if she would indeed slip into Rebbie’s chamber. He wouldn’t be there, of course, but Murray didn’t know that yet.

  ’Slud. Keegan wouldn’t get to see her this night. Tomorrow night, then. A plan was forming in his mind.

  It gored him to realize he was either going to have to betray Dirk and the MacKay clan by stealing Seona away. Or leave her here to the mercy of a demon chief and his minion.

  Dirk obviously trusted Keegan more than anyone else, and that was why he’d made him the tanist. He depended on Keegan to do what was best for the MacKay clan, but taking Seona away from this place was the worst thing he could do for the clan. Murray would seek vengeance.

  Keegan’s job was supposed to be simple—escort Seona home, bring the gift and smooth things over with Murray. Dirk didn’t want conflict. Neither did Keegan. But conflict was exactly what he was going to stir up by protecting Lady Seona. ’Haps even clan war.

  ***

  Seona stood in her father’s solar the next morn. He had summoned her again and she was growing exceedingly tired of being treated like his servant. Or his pawn.

  “You did not slip into Rebbinglen’s chamber last night as I commanded you to do.” Her father turned from the fireplace and pinned her with a dark glower.

  “It could not be helped,” she said. “Someone told me he slept in the barracks with the rest of the men.”

  “Aye, and why did he choose to do that?” her father asked, suspicion written on his face.

  “I know not. I haven’t talked to him.”

  “I’ll tell you why. Because you warned him of my plans!” His yell echoed off the stone walls.

  Staring past her father’s shoulder toward the gray light at the window, Seona remained silent. Of course, she’d known he would figure it out. Her father was not only vicious but also canny.

  “Did you not?” he asked.

  “Nay.”

  “You are lying again!”

  She didn’t respond, simply stared past him. She didn’t care what he thought of her. If he came toward her, she’d flee out the door. If he caught her… she didn’t know. Could she stab her own father?

  “Well then, you leave me no choice. You’ll marry Wentworth the day after tomorrow. I’ll talk to him and arrange everything.” His voice hardened. “And you’ll willingly marry him or you’ll find yourself far more bruised and battered than Talia was.”

  Day after tomorrow? Mo creach! She had to find a way to escape her father’s plans.

  “Next week, Talia will marry the Comyn chief,” he said. “That has already been arranged.”

  “Does she know when she is to be married?”

  “Aye. She also knows I will do her grievous harm if she doesn’t sweetly go along with the marriage.”

  Seona gritted her teeth. Damn the man.

  “I want you both married and gone from here!”

  She would love to be gone from here, but she would not marry the man her father chose for her.

  ***

  That evening after supper, Chief Murray waited in his solar for one of the chambermaids to bring Talia to him. He needed to see if her face was healed so that he might present her to Rebbinglen. If the earl took a fancy to her, mayhap a match could be made. Aye, Murray had already signed a contract with the Comyn chief, but he would come up with a good excuse… the earl compromised her or… stole her away. Out of his control. Besides, who would nay-say an earl?

  Talia entered, but remained by the door. His guard outside closed the door back. In the dimness, Murray couldn’t see the tone of her skin.

>   “Come closer, lass.”

  She inched forward timidly, but her dark, arrow-sharp gaze met his. Aye, she was rebellious, but also brave. He was proud to see she took after him in looks and temperament. Damn, why couldn’t she have been a lad? ’Twas the greatest disappointment of his life.

  Perhaps her future son might also resemble him. And if the boy was sired by an earl, he’d be a powerful man one day.

  Talia paused several feet away.

  “Closer,” he commanded.

  She took a couple more steps. “What is it you want, Father?” Her tone was submissive and he was glad for it.

  “To see how your face looks. The bruise is gone, aye?”

  “Aye.”

  “I’m glad. Do not defy me again and you’ll not receive another one.”

  Her eyes narrowed threateningly, and he wanted to snort with wry amusement.

  “I’ll leave your door unlocked if you promise to conduct yourself as a biddable lady. I’ll not have you throwing tantrums like a maddening bairn.”

  She stared at the floor. “I promise.”

  “You’ll marry the Comyn chief next week… unless you can somehow convince the Earl of Rebbinglen to marry you.”

  She frowned, her confused but wary gaze on him again.

  “I will introduce you to him in the morn,” Murray said.

  “Very well.” She clasped her hands before her demurely.

  “Off with you, then.”

  He was glad to see she quickly vacated the room instead of arguing, as she had done the last time. Aye, ’haps Rebbinglen would find her lovely and lose his head over her. Murray grinned.

  ***

  Just before dark, Haldane and his men lurked outside the walls of Gillenmor Castle. He had lost several men in that last skirmish, but had enough left to get the job done. He’d hired over a dozen in Inverness days ago.

  The MacKays had to leave the castle eventually, heading back home, and he intended to kill Keegan and any other MacKay he could. The fewer of them left, the fewer he’d have to fight in Durness. Seona would be the ultimate prize, of course, but he doubted she’d leave the walls anytime soon.

  Moments later, his attention riveted on a lass of about Seona’s height, slipping out the postern gate. “It can’t be,” he whispered. She was covered head to toe in a dull plaid arisaid, keeping her identity a secret. She had to be a maid or someone of no importance. Didn’t she?

  Haldane crept through the bushes as silently as possible, the brisk wind helping to conceal his movements. Transfixed, he knelt and watched her in the low light where gloaming meets darkness. The lass moved exactly like Seona. And he should know; he’d watched her often enough back at Dunnakeil last autumn.

  When the lass hiked her skirts off her shoes and sprinted toward the village, he tore out after her. He easily caught up and grabbed her around the waist from behind. He covered her mouth with his hand to muffle her screams. He couldn’t let her alert the guards. Glimpsing part of her face in the faint glow of the distant torches, he saw that ’twas indeed Lady Seona. Why on earth was she fleeing?

  She kicked her heels against his shins. Her sharp elbows drove into his stomach and ribs. Damnation, what a hellcat. No wonder he loved her. He smiled.

  “Come on,” he growled low to McMurdo as he rushed past where he was stationed. “I’ve got her. Let’s go.”

  McMurdo and the other men raced after him to the edge of the wood where they’d left their mounts.

  “Get something to tie her hands and feet,” Haldane said. “A gag, too.”

  Once they had her bound so she couldn’t escape or scream, he climbed onto his horse. “Lift her up to me.”

  McMurdo and one of the new men named Edgings put her across Haldane’s lap. Her light weight felt good there, but he had no time for carnal thoughts. He had to get the hell out of here before anyone realized she was missing.

  Though he was eager to leave posthaste, they walked their horses silently a few hundred yards, then picked up the pace, their horses galloping toward the shore. ’Twas time to head for Durness.

  ***

  A soft knock sounded at Seona’s bedchamber door. She sat bolt upright in bed. Though ’twas the middle of the night, she had not slept, trying to determine a way out of this trap. Could Keegan have slipped along the corridors of the castle to visit her? She had not seen him all day. Her heart thumped in her ears, with both excitement and fear for his safety.

  After belting the arisaid around herself over her smock, she moved close to the door. “Who’s there?”

  “Abigail, m’lady.”

  One of the chambermaids? What could she want? Although a bit disappointed, Seona was glad Keegan had not risked his life to come to her bedchamber. She opened the door to find a flaxen-haired woman of about her own age standing outside, holding a candle.

  “Aye?”

  Abigail stepped into the room and closed the door. “Laird Rebbinglen sent me,” she whispered, then pulled a folded paper from the pouch at her waist.

  A missive? What on earth? Seona broke the wax seal and unfolded the paper.

  It is time for us to make our escape. Bring a change of clothing.

  It was signed with a K.

  Saints! Dare she run away with Keegan now? Right under her father’s nose? ’Twould put both their lives in danger, for her father would send his men after them.

  But maybe they could hide somewhere far from here. Life on the run with Keegan would be better than any sort of life without him. ’Twas a great risk, but this might be her only opportunity.

  If she remained here, her father would force her to marry Wentworth the day after tomorrow. And her father might send the MacKay men away at any time. If she left with Keegan, she had to bring her sister. How on earth would she get Talia out of her locked and guarded chamber? Mayhap if Seona took Abigail with her to visit Talia, the maid and Talia could switch clothing and Talia, with a cowl over her head, could escape, while her maid remained behind.

  “Where am I to go?” Seona asked Abigail.

  “I know not, m’lady. Laird Rebbinglen simply asked me to bring you to him.”

  ’Haps Keegan waited in the stables. Could Abigail be trusted? Why had Rebbie trusted her? Too many things were left unanswered, but one thing she knew—she had to rescue her sister.

  “Would you help me do something, Abigail?”

  “Aye, if you wish.”

  “It might be dangerous.”

  The maid’s face paled, but she gave a little nod.

  “I need for you to pretend to be Talia so that I can slip her out of her chamber.”

  “Her chamber is nay longer guarded or locked, m’lady.”

  What? “When did this happen?”

  “Just after supper. Her father had me to bring her to his solar. Her bruise had faded.”

  “Oh, I thank you.” Why on earth hadn’t Talia told her? Feeling a surge of victory, Seona opened the door and stuck her head out into the corridor. No one was about. “Come with me and bring the candle,” she whispered.

  The two slipped silently to Talia’s chamber. When Seona unlatched the door, it opened. She poked her head inside the dim room.

  “Talia?” she said in a loud whisper.

  “She’s not here, m’lady.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “What?” Talia was not in her chamber? Seona opened the door and urged Abigail into the room. Talia’s maid, Beth, stood near the fireplace, but the bed was made. “Where did she go?”

  “She told me she was going to the attic. She used to hide up there sometimes, you ken?”

  Blast! ’Twas true. When she was younger, her sister had a habit of hiding in the unused portion of the attic to get away from their father. At times, it would take Seona hours to locate her.

  “Will you two help me find her?”

  “Aye, m’lady, but…” Abigail whispered into her ear so Beth couldn’t hear. “Laird Rebbinglen said you must hurry down to meet him in the kitchen, otherw
ise ’twill be too late.”

  Seona wanted to use some of the frustrated curses she’d heard Keegan mutter. Instead, she clenched her jaw until it hurt. She couldn’t run away and leave Talia behind. She would meet with Keegan and tell him that.

  “Very well. I must… go on an errand, Beth. But please look for Talia in the attic tonight. Tell her I will have important news and to wait for me here or in my chamber.”

  “Aye, m’lady.” Beth’s eyes were wide as platters. The young maid was likely terrified of going into the attic alone in the dark.

  “Would you help her, Abigail?” Seona asked.

  “Aye.”

  “’Tis a matter of life and death.”

  Both maids nodded, their faces growing even paler.

  Seona covered her head with her plaid arisaid, hurried along the corridor and down the back stairs to the kitchen, trying to keep her footsteps silent.

  Laird Rebbinglen waited there, holding a long black cloak. “Here, put this on and no one will recognize you.”

  “Where is he?” she asked, as he pulled the deep cowl over her head.

  “’Tis a secret. Come. We must be quiet but quick.” He offered his arm, then opened the door.

  Because she trusted Rebbie almost as much as she trusted Keegan, she took his elbow.

  At a near trot, Rebbie escorted her along the side of the castle and across the cobblestone barmkin. The only illumination came from two torches secured to the stone walls. When he didn’t take her to the stables, she truly wondered where Keegan was.

  She considered telling Rebbie about her sister, but she’d rather talk to Keegan about it first. Besides, it would take a while for the maids to find Talia.

  Where were the Murray guards? Seona glanced around. All the men nearby appeared to be MacKays or MacKenzies.

  Rebbie opened the small iron postern gate and rushed her through. Fraser sat on his horse just outside.

  Rebbie quickly lifted her up onto the pillion behind Fraser. “Have a care.”

  “I thank you,” Seona said.

  Fraser kneed the horse forward at a slow and silent pace. Four other men… guards… rode at a distance, two in front and two behind.