by Connie Mason
Nay, Ross refused to believe his cousin guilty of betrayal. If Seana had conspired with anyone, it was her father. But even that didn’t make sense. To his knowledge, Douglas McHamish had no reason to wish him ill. Yet McHamish had attacked him with the intent to kill.
Ross didn’t doubt that Seana had convinced his kinsmen Clan MacKay was responsible for the attack. And she probably would have blamed Gizela if he had died after eating the poisoned broth.
Ross closed his eyes, the pain behind his eyes growing. Gillian was gone because his kinsmen had sent her away. Knowing Gillian, she had probably been livid, and he couldn’t blame her if she refused to return.
Ross finally slept. He awakened later that afternoon and ate a hearty evening meal. Despite lingering pain from his wound, he felt his strength returning. Gordo arrived before bedtime to report his findings to Ross.
“Where is Gillian?” Ross wanted to know the moment Gordo entered his chamber. “Did she refuse to leave Braeburn? I canna blame her, but I swear I’ll make it up to the lass.”
Ross was surprised when Tearlach MacKay followed Gordo through the door. “My daughter isna at Braeburn,” MacKay said. “Nor did I ken you had been wounded.”
Ross reared up in bed, his mind clear despite the pain caused by his sudden movement. “What do you mean, she isna at Braeburn? Where else would she go?”
“That’s what I would like to know, MacKenna,” Tearlach growled.
“Think you she sought refuge with Sinclair?” Ross asked. “She wanted Sinclair from the beginning.”
“The lass sought vengeance,” Gizela muttered.
“Gizela, I didna see you enter,” Ross said, spying the old woman standing in a dark comer of the chamber. “What did you say?”
“The lass sought vengeance,” Gizela repeated.
“That doesna make sense.” Tearlach snorted. “Tell us what you know, old woman.”
“Ask the laird. He kenned the truth and spoke the name in his delirium.”
Frustrated by Gizela’s vagueness, Ross said, “I know naught.” Then his brows rose as comprehension dawned. “Think you I spoke McHamish’s name to my wife in my delirium?”
“Douglas McHamish?” Tearlach asked. “What has he got to do with all this?”
“McHamish is the man who tried to end my life,” Ross explained. “I doona ken why, but the man came at me with his sword when I greeted him as a friend.”
“I will go to McHamish and fetch my daughter,” Tearlach vowed.
“Not without me,” Ross said. “We will leave at first light. Gordo, can our lads be ready that soon?”
“You canna go, laird,” Gizela insisted. “You willna be able to sit a horse and could do yourself serious harm. You need more time to mend.”
“The healer is right,” Tearlach agreed. “McHamish isna my enemy. If he had a reason for wanting you dead, I will drag the answer from him.”
“You canna go alone,” Ross said. “Take some of the lads with you.”
“Aye,” Tearlach agreed. “We’ll leave at first light.”
The men left. Ross found himself alone with Gizela. “I know most people think you daft, Gizela, but I ken better now. Tell me what you know about my wife. Did she seek out McHamish because of me? Though she fancies herself a fierce warrior, she is still a woman with only a woman’s strength. Can you ‘see’ aught, Gizela? I may not believe in pixies and elves, but I am beginning to believe you have certain powers.”
Gizela closed her eyes, and when she finally opened them they appeared eerily incandescent. Though her expression was vague, her words cut through the silence like a sharp knife.
“The flame no longer burns at Ravenscraig.” Ross opened his mouth to speak, but Gizela raised her hand to stop him. “Your lady is with Sinclair.”
Ross wanted to howl. “Gillian is with Sinclair? Why would she go to him?”
The mist in Gizela’s eyes cleared, and she seemed to look through Ross without seeing him. Then she turned abruptly and fled.
“Gizela, wait! Tell me more.”
Ross staggered from bed to follow. Cursing roundly, he stumbled toward the stairs, hoping to find Gizela in the hall below, but the corridor was strangely deserted.
He met Alice at the top of the steps.
“Is there something you need, laird?” Alice asked.
“Did you see which way Gizela went?”
Alice gave him a strange look. “I didna see Gizela.”
“Fetch her for me.”
“Shall I help you back to bed first?”
“Nay,I doona need help.”
Ross stumbled back to his chamber. He walked across the room and back to test his strength. Though his knees were still wobbly, he knew it wouldn’t be long before he could sit a horse.
When neither Gizela nor Alice returned, Ross poured himself a mug of ale from a pitcher Gizela had left for him earlier and sought his bed. Before he fell asleep, his thoughts turned to his fierce bride with the flaming hair and a spirit to match. When had he come to care for her? How had she found her way into his heart in so short a time?
“Wake up, laird. MacKay has returned.”
Ross opened his eyes to a weak winter sun shining through the window. Gizela was shaking him. He blinked several times until Gizela’s wrinkled face came into focus. “What did you say?”
“MacKay has returned.”
“What time is it? Have I slept long?”
“I put laudanum in your ale. You slept through the night; ’tis nearly noon.”
Ross seared her with a furious glare. “You drugged me again!”
Gizela showed little remorse. “Sleep is the best healer. Alice is fetching something for you to eat.”
“Where is MacKay? Is Gillian with him?”
“The MacKay laird is partaking of the midday meal in the hall. He will tell you what you want to know”
“I will join him. Fetch someone to help me dress. Gillian deserves an apology from me.”
“I doona think—”
“Say no more, Gizela.I am going, and that’s final.”
Ross swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. He took a few steps, pleased by his progress. When Gizela continued to stand there, he growled,“Go!”
Gizela scooted from the chamber as Ross went in search of his clothing. Donald arrived a few minutes later, took one look at Ross, and smiled.
“ ’Tis good to see you up and about, laird. We all feared for your life.”
“I couldna remain in bed a minute longer. There is too much to be done. Help me with my braies and shirt. I am anxious to see Gillian. We all owe her an apology.”
Donald sent him a contrite look. “I ken we jumped to the wrong conclusions about the MacKay lass, but we were too worried about you to think clearly.”
“For the first time in my life I amna proud of what my kinsmen did,” Ross allowed. “But I intend to right the wrong that was done to Gillian.”
Ross buttoned his shirt over his bandaged torso and headed toward the door. “Lead the way, Donald; I am ready to resume my duties as laird of Clan MacKenna.”
Though it was slow going, Ross managed to navigate the spiral staircase with naught but a steadying hand from Donald. When he entered the hall, everyone stood up and cheered. Ross failed to locate Gillian when he scanned the hall, but he did see MacKay sitting at the high table. His steps slow but steady, Ross joined MacKay Though it was difficult to admit, it felt good to sit after the long trek down the stairs. But Ross’s mind was on more important matters than pain and weakness.
“Where is Gillian? Did you bring her back with you?”
MacKay sighed heavily. “She wasna with McHamish.”
Ross shot from his chair. “What are you saying? Where is she? She couldna have disappeared into thin air. If McHamish has harmed her, I will kill him with my bare hands.”
“Sit down, MacKenna, and listen to what I tell you. ’Tis a strange story, but it makes sense when one considers Gillian’s fiery natu
re. My daughter arrived at McHamish’s keep with every intention of killing him.”
“Did she? Kill him, mean?”
MacKay snorted. “I have no doubt she would have if McHamish hadna explained some things to her.”
“What things?” Ross roared. “Doona keep me in suspense.”
“Sit down, lad. Fill your plate and eat while I talk. You look like you could use a good meal.”
Ross had to admit he was hungry Broth and gruel did little to fill a grown man’s stomach. He filled his plate from platters of meat, potatoes, and root vegetables, buttered a slice of thick bread, and began to eat. But he had a hard time swallowing. How could he eat when he knew naught of Gillian’s fate?
MacKey cleared his throat. “When Gillian was driven from Ravenscraig, she went directly to McHamish Keep and accused him of attempted murder. She challenged him, but McHamish refused to fight a woman.”
“I’m surprised Gillian didna run him through,” Ross muttered.
“So am I, but McHamish explained that his rage at you had been fueled by Angus Sinclair and his own daughter. He was so angry, he could think of naught but killing you for making his daughter your whore. He believed you forced her to become your leman and then abandoned her.”
“I should have insisted that Seana return to her father’s keep before I wed Gillian,” Ross reflected. “But Niall wanted her, and she seemed willing enough. Did you find Seana with McHamish?”
“Nay, McHamish swore he hadna seen Seana since Murdoc’s wedding. He didna even know she had left Ravenscraig. Seana and Sinclair conspired against you and brought McHamish into it when Sinclair told him that you had cast Seana aside and forced her to handfast with your cousin, a coldhearted man who treated her cruelly.”
“Niall? Coldhearted and cruel? Bah! Not bloody likely!”
“According to McHamish, Gillian set him straight. Apparently my daughter felt McHamish had been deceived and gave him the benefit of the doubt. He told me he’d been planning to confess all to you, but his wife begged him to stay with her a little longer.”
Ross nearly choked on his mouthful of food. “Think you Gillian went after Sinclair?”
“ ’Tis what McHamish says.”
“Sinclair is without scruples; he has no conscience. What did he hope to accomplish by goading McHamish to act against me? I doona understand.”
MacKay shook his head. “Nor do I. At one time I considered Angus Sinclair the perfect mate for my daughter. I would have wed her to him had I not called a truce between our clans, and had he not delayed in signing the betrothal contract.”
“We’ve heard naught from Gillian. What do you think that means?” Ross asked.
MacKay searched Ross’s face. “I am worried, MacKenna. I doona ken what has happened to my lass.”
Ross’s face hardened. “I will confront Sinclair first and take care of McHamish later. Go home, MacKay. Gillian is my responsibility. I vow I will bring Gillian home to Ravenscraig, safe and sound. Although my kinsmen sent her from Ravenscraig without my knowledge, the guilt is still mine.”
MacKay stood. “Send word if you need me.”
Ross watched MacKay leave the hall. The thought that Gillian was with Sinclair made Ross’s gut clench. Gillian might have been set on vengeance, but Sinclair was too sly and conniving for Ross’s liking. Then again, Gillian might have gone to Sinclair for succor. That thought set Ross’s teeth on edge.
Ross was smart enough to know that Sinclair wanted him dead so he could have Gillian, but deep in his heart Ross knew there had to be more to it than that, a deep, dark reason that no one was aware of. Ross intended to learn that reason if he had to choke it out of Sinclair.
Seana gave him another reason to worry. Where was she? If she hadn’t gone home to her father’s keep, where had she gone? There was but one answer, and it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Only one person would welcome Seana, and that was Angus Sinclair. What kind of mischief were they plotting?
Gillian paced the tower chamber, searching fruitlessly for a way to escape. As Angus had promised, the chamber was comfortable and she had not been harmed. But she was a prisoner, left to languish in solitude—too much solitude, with far too many empty hours to fret, to wonder if Ross was dead or alive,. Though her heart told her he still lived, she needed more proof than woman’s intuition.
Gillian was looking out the tiny window at the rocks below when the door opened and Angus entered the chamber. She whirled, scowling at the man she had come to despise.
“There is no escape, Gillian. You will fall to your death on the rocks below if you attempt to jump out the window.”
“I will keep that as an option,” Gillian sneered. “I prefer, however, to wait for Ross to come for me. It will be interesting to see what punishment he will devise for you.”
Sinclair frowned and pointed to a three-legged stool. “Sit down, lass. There’s something I must tell you.”
Gillian. resisted only a moment before plopping down onto the stool. She was too curious to defy Angus. “Verra well, what do you wish to tell me?”
“Ross MacKenna is dead,” he lied. “He passed away two days ago. Good riddance, say”
Gillian leaped from her stool and flew at Sinclair, flailing at him with her fists. “Nay, you lie! Ross isna dead! I can feel him in my heart.”
Angus captured her wrists and pushed her away. “You love the bastard! How could you? I thought you loved me, that you were forced to wed MacKenna.”
“I didna know what love was until I met Ross. I admit I hated him at first, but that was before I really knew him.”
“He killed your brothers.”
“I don’t know that Ross was the one who slew them. ”Anyone could have killed them in the heat of battle. I now realize that seeking a truce was the right thing to do. The killing has stopped; my surviving brothers will live to wed and have children.”
He shoved her away. She stumbled backward and clutched the edge of the table to keep her balance.
“That will change when the feud resumes,” Sinclair said.
Gillian caught her breath. “Why is that important to you?”
Angus started to answer but caught himself in time. He appeared surprised when Gillian whirled on him and asked, “Who told you Ross is dead? I doona believe you.”
“Ross MacKenna lives,” a voice announced from the doorway.
“Damn you, Seana, when will you learn to keep your mouth shut?” Angus shouted.
“What are you doing here, Seana?” Gillian wondered aloud.
“Gizela discovered what I had done, so I left while I was still able.”
Gillian sent Angus a smug look. “I knew you were lying. Ross and his kinsmen should be arriving at your gates verra soon.”
“I wouldna be too sure of that, Gillian MacKay,” Seana replied. “Ross is in no condition to leave his bed. And his kinsmen are nae fond of you. Mayhap Ross is glad to be rid of you.”
Mayhap Seana was right, but Gillian would have to hear it from Ross’s lips before she believed it. “Let me go to Ross, Angus. You have no right to hold me against my will. As long as Ross lives, I am still wed to him. Your plans have gone awry—admit it.”
“I admit naught. If MacKenna is lucid and recovering, he kens who attacked him and will be making plans to slay his enemy. Meanwhile, let him think you are at Braeburn.”
“Ross will send men to Braeburn for me when he learns what his kinsmen have done.”
“It will take time for MacKenna to recuperate, let alone figure out where you went and go after McHamish. May hap he will kill McHamish before McHamish implicates me.”
And mayhap he will listen to McHamish, just as I did.”
“She’s right, Angus,” Seana mused. “Ross MacKenna doesna kill indiscriminately. He will listen to my father. He will want to know what he did to earn Father’s enmity. You must prepare for an attack.”
“The MacKays and MacKennas are allies now,” Gillian reminded him. ”You are doomed.
Together they will annihilate you. You canna hope to defend your keep against their combined strength.”
Gillian silently rejoiced. She believed Angus had no choice but to release her.
“I am smarter than both your father and MacKenna.”
Gillian felt cold fingers of fear creep up her spine. “What are you going to do?”
A sly look flitted across Sinclair’s face. “I admit that MacKenna will find his way here eventually. When he arrives, you will tell him you came to me of your own free will, that you prefer me to him. According to the terms of the truce, if you leave Ravenscraig of your own free will, the feud will resume.”
Resentment tinged Gillian’s words. “I didna leave of my own free will!”
“You will tell MacKenna that you sought refuge with me because I am the only one who offered you comfort. You will convince him that you wish to remain with me. If you do not, I will order my men to loose their arrows at him as soon as he approaches the keep,” Angus said with a smirk. “His kinsmen will consider the truce broken, which is precisely what I want. MacKenna will be dead, and both clans will eventually annihilate each other, until there is no male heir to take your father’s place as Laird of Clan MacKay. Only you will survive.”
Curiosity tugged at Gillian. “Why should that matter to you?”
Angus sent her a feral grin. “Figure it out, Gillian.” He turned to Seana. “Come, Seana, let us leave Gillian to ponder her life as my future wife.”
Gillian paced the tiny tower chamber, Angus’s words ringing in her head. She didn’t doubt for a minute that Angus would kill Ross if she didn’t do as he asked. And now that Angus knew she loved Ross, he had a powerful weapon to use against her.
Gillian’s dilemma, as she saw it, was to lie to Ross or let him die at the gates of Sinclair Keep. Time lengthened as she contemplated Angus’s duplicity and how badly she had misjudged his character. When Seana entered the tower chamber with Gillian’s supper, Gillian was surprised so many hours had passed.