Not that he had any intentions of letting her get away from him, but he also didn’t want there to be any questions on whether he forced Grace to marry him to save her reputation. There would be no scandal involving their wedding.
“And ye will have one more day of bed rest,” he added before she got any ideas.
“What?” Outraged, she pulled away from him. “We had an agreement!”
“Aye, and I also have an agreement with yer brothers to see to yer welfare. Ye need another day of rest, Grace. If the killer is still here, he might take note of ye running around, actively looking for him, and see that ye are limping and unable to breathe properly. He might make a few connections.” She needed to understand that from here on out, he was in charge, and when he put her on bed rest, she was to do as he said with little complaint. He hated to see the pain in her eyes as she struggled with each breath.
After a hard look, she suddenly relaxed and smiled. “Oh, vera well. I suppose one more day wouldnae hurt.”
Right, and then what was he going to do tomorrow? He couldn’t just have Grace running around trying to find a killer. He needed to be clever and find ways to keep her busy while he found out who had dared to spill the blood of one of his people.
Edina Hamilton was a tall and willowy woman with long snow-white hair that she’d braided and adorned with pink flowers. Her age showed in the weathered skin of her face and the wrinkles around her smile, but her blue eyes sparkled with intelligence and amusement as she and Lorna entered the bedroom.
Under his breath, Hamish muttered something about Grace’s order to stay in bed and a quick thanks before he made his escape.
“Coward,” Grace muttered as she watched him retreat. “Ye must be Lorna’s grandmother.”
“Aye, I am Edina. And ye must be the Sinclair Hellion,” the older woman said with a soft smile. “My Lorna has been entertaining me at dinner with yer adventures.”
“I am certain she exaggerates. As I hope Lorna has already told ye, I doonae require a chaperone. I hope I can trust ye to keep my secret.”
“That ye have no plans to wed our brave leader? Lorna has suspected as much. I am sorry to hear that. Hamish is in need of a good woman, but I am happy that someone is searching for Maggie’s killer. She had a good heart and big dreams. It’s a shame that she couldnae see those dreams come to light.”
“I agree, and I hope that ye are willing to help me, and not hinder me. I doonae need a chaperone. Just someone to pretend to be one.”
Edina tilted her head thoughtfully. “Well, I am not certain that I agree with that. As an unmarried young woman so far from her family, ye do need someone to act in that capacity.”
“Does Lorna need a chaperone?” Grace challenged.
“I am a widow, Grace,” Lorna told her. “‘Tis why I have as much freedom as I do.”
A widow? Startled, Grace swung her head back to the woman. She’d judged Lorna to be only a few years older than herself. If she was wed, then she could not have married for long. “I am sorry. Are ye still in mourning?”
“Nay.”
Clearly, that was all Lorna planned to say on the matter.
“As I was saying, ye do need someone, but there is no reason that I cannae help ye in yer investigation. Lorna would like to help as well, but her duties call her away. I can act as yer go-between for the clan. I know everyone and can gain their trust. We will act together, as a team.”
That was a good point. Grace had no idea how to investigate something like this, but in order to figure it out, she needed to get people to talk. “‘Tis early, but the tavern is open. It shouldnae be crowded. I think we should talk to some of the other girls who work there. I think Maggie might...” This part was difficult for her to say. “I think Maggie might have been with child, and that is why she was going to see Lorna.”
The healer sighed. “I feared as much. Aye, it would be good to know who the father of the child might be. Some of the womenfolk here would not take too kindly on their men for breaking their marriage vows.”
“‘Twas not a woman who attacked me,” Grace announced.
Lorna’s eyes widened. “Ye remember something?”
Did she? The certainty had come to her in a blinding flash of realization, but there was nothing else. No mental images or memories. “I doonae know,” she admitted. “I just know that it was a man.”
“The Highland men are a fearsome bunch, but the Highland women are their one true fear,” Edina said as she nodded. “Come, ‘tis been many years since I’ve been to the tavern.”
“Ye went to the tavern?” Lorna asked.
The woman smiled mischievously. “I could tell ye some tales, grandchild of mine. We will talk while we walk.”
14
By the time Hamish joined up with the men, they were already arguing over the best way to go about investigating Maggie’s death. Hamish noticed that the MacKay men were the only ones actually trying to discuss the investigation, while the MacSeavers and Armstrongs were arguing over leadership. He wished he’d allowed Connor to leave some men when Connor had offered, but with their proximity to Sinclair lands, it would be too easy for one of them to send word that it seemed like something wasn’t quite right with Grace and Hamish’s engagement.
The last thing he needed was Connor to ride back with an army to rescue his sister.
Quietly, Hamish stood back and listened. Reed and Tavin were hanging back and listening to them argue as well. Reed was more diplomatic and Tavin more hotheaded. Hamish needed someone to keep an eye on Grace, and Tavin might not like getting pulled aside as a personal guard for Grace. He liked Maggie and was eager to help find her killer.
They weren’t the only ones listening to the men squabble. Theo was as well. Although he wasn’t a Hamilton, he was a laird, and the men should have been asking him for guidance, but Theo didn’t intervene or demand anything of them.
“As a ranking member of the largest army here, I will lead the investigation,” Malcolm Armstrong announced.
Baden MacSeaver snorted. “Ye are fooling yerself if ye think that counts for anything. ’Tis Hamilton’s land and he willnae allow one of us to take lead.”
“He is too busy watching after his hellion brat of a lass,” Malcolm shot back.
Reed and Tavin both put their hands on their swords. Theo reached for his as well. “I suggest ye have more respect for Lady Sinclair, who will soon be the mistress of the Hamilton clan,” Theo said in a dangerously low voice as he pulled his sword halfway out. It was a warning. If the sword left the sheath, there would be blood spilled.
“Aye, and ye owe the room an apology,” Hamish said lightly from his spot while he tried not to let his anger show. Heads immediately swiveled, and there was a flash of fear in Malcolm’s eye. The man was all hot air, happy to puff out his chest when he thought there was no real power to engage with, but the minute he realized he’d overstepped the boundaries, he looked ready to run.
“My apologies, Laird Hamilton,” Malcolm said stiffly.
“I am not to hear the word ‘hellion’ from anyone’s mouths, for Grace Sinclair is to be my wife, and I will have her respected. As to the investigation into Maggie’s death, Reed will take point and report directly to me. Ye will respect their wishes and take their direction while ye are here. If ye arenae willing to do that, ye may leave.”
Malcolm and Cameron Armstrong both exchanged glances as well as the two MacSeaver guards, Kendrew and Brodie, but they all nodded.
“Excellent. Tavin, I would like a word with ye, and then Theo, ye and I may meet and discuss yer expectations for the next coming days.”
Nobody said a word as Tavin followed Hamish out of the room, and Hamish waited until the door was closed before he spoke. “I am sure ye are aware of Grace’s penchant for mischief,” he began. “I need someone to keep an eye on her.”
Tavin frowned, but he didn’t dare question his assignment. Hamish knew what he was thinking. He was second only to Hamish, and it was not
his job to chase a woman around.
“I amnae demoting ye,” Hamish told him. “This is important to me. I am about to share something that I want ye to share only with Reed. None of the others must know, and that includes our own people.”
“Ye have my silence,” Tavin swore.
“Aye.” Hamish smiled briefly. When he first came to Hamilton lands, it was Tavin and Reed who recognized his leadership qualities and defended him when the others wanted him thrown out because he was not Hamilton blood. The more he proved himself, the less the defense was needed, and they became friends. “I know. There was a witness to Maggie’s murder. Grace.”
Tavin’s eyes widened. “And she hasnae said who the killer is?”
“She doesnae remember. She was attacked and suffered a head injury. Believe me, she wishes to bring the killer to justice just as we do.”
“Ye are afraid the killer will try again.”
“Aye.” Hamish hesitated. “Fortunately, Grace was disguised as a stable boy at the time, so I am hoping so long as we keep her occupied and out of harm’s way, she will never become a target again. I am counting on ye to keep her safe when I amnae around.”
Tavin bowed his head. “It will be my honor to protect the woman who will be my mistress.” Hamish sent him up to Grace’s chambers to watch her for the day. In the meantime, he intended to move Grace to the room next to his so he could help keep an eye on her at night.
No doubt Grace would fight him on the move, but he would just remind her that they were keeping up appearances, after all.
After Tavin was gone, he started to open the door only to realize that Theo was already striding toward him. Knowing that he owed the man his thanks, Hamish gritted his teeth. “I appreciate ye defending Grace’s honor,” he said stiffly. He wondered if Theo’s quick defense was because he had feelings for Grace. That didn’t sit well with him, although marrying the woman Theo loved did have merit when it came to revenge.
“She is a good woman despite her reputation.” Theo hesitated. “I do know the stories that accompany her from Sinclair lands. I also couldn’t help but notice that she has been injured lately.”
Panic struck him, but Hamish swallowed it down. “I was told that she fell from a horse while she was out with her sisters-in-law,” he said almost dismissively hoping that Theo would think his casual tone was because he didn’t care. “Lorna has seen to her.”
Theo still looked troubled but nodded. “I appreciate ye taking time for me despite everything that is happening. Loch Moran is important to me, and since we will be neighbors, our relationship is important to me.”
“We signed a peace agreement,” Hamilton pointed out. “Or are ye hoping to find ways to buy out some of my land as well?”
A dull flush appeared on Theo as he scowled. “I didnae go in search of purchasing the land,” he growled. “The people of Loch Moran came to me for protection, one that I couldnae give without giving them the protection of my name.”
“Is that the story that yer father is telling people?”
“My father didnae make the decision. He knew nothing about it ‘til it was done.”
Hamish stilled. There was no way the king would allow Theo to make that decision unless he was certain that the elder MacDougal would never take power again. “So yer father is on his deathbed?” Hamish said without any sympathy. He wanted the man dead, but not before the man knew what Hamish had done with his life, and not before Hamish could have his revenge.
“There has been no mention of that,” Theo said mildly and he was once again relaxed. “Ye are a suspicious man, Hamish. I am only here to share ideas and extend a hand of neighborly friendship. Simply because Loch Moran is mine doesnae mean that it willnae continue to be attacked by smugglers and looters. I only mean to ask yer opinion of how to strengthen the area.”
His voice was smooth and calming, but Hamish wasn’t fooled. A man like Theo probably had years of experience manipulating people, and Hamish was not going to be one of them. He wasn’t going to let his guard down until he knew just what his half-brother was doing here.
“I am happy to talk.” Before he could go much further, he saw Tyree striding down the hall with a stormy expression on his face. “But not at the moment. It looks I am about to be called away.”
Theo looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Aye, I can see that. ‘Tis been an eventful morn. We will talk tomorrow, then. I am going back in to see what I can do to help.”
“If ye wish to investigate, ye will remember that my men are in charge.”
“Naturally,” Theo said calmly and left just as Tyree reached them.
“Edina?” Tyree roared. “Ye are putting Edina in charge of chaperoning yer bride-to-be? Have ye lost yer senses?”
Hamish blinked. He had no idea what had put Tyree in such a foul mood or why he was so upset about his voice of chaperones. “I have not,” he said cautiously. “Edina is a kind woman with an intelligent head on her shoulders. I realize that she can be a little unconventional, but I need someone that Grace isn’t going to pull one of her tricks on and abandon to go hunting killers in the middle of the night.”
“Ye can be certain that won’t happen,” Tyree said grimly, “because Edina will be the one to put that in her head. Edina might be a sweet old woman to ye, but doonae be fooled. If there was ever a Hamilton hellion, she is it.”
Sweet and kind Edina? “What are ye talking about?”
“Oh, she will be more than happy to solve the murder of yer tavern wench because she was one!” the older man hissed. “She was the tavern wench.”
“What does that mean?”
“Ye know the Lassie’s Sweet Call on the road to MacDougal’s land?”
Hamish nodded. “Aye. ‘Tis a busy place for travelers.”
“Aye. It was started decades ago by none other than Edina Hamilton.”
Hamish would have laughed if it hadn’t felt like such a disaster. “Who would have allowed that to happen?”
“My father, that’s who. When he was laird, he had a sweet spot for Edina’s aunt, and when she passed away, he doted on Edina and gave her whatever she wanted. So when she decided that she wanted to own a business, he gave her everything she needed. She ran that tavern up until about ten years ago when she sold it.”
“Hamish!” Tavin’s bellow bounced off the walls as he hurried toward them.
“What is it?” Hamish demanded. Will nothing go right today?
“‘Tis the ladies, sir. They arenae in Grace’s room.”
“Told ye,” Tyree said grimly. “I bet I can tell ye where ye can find them.”
Hamish knew exactly what Tyree was thinking. They’d gone back to the tavern. He could only hope that Grace wasn’t dressed in pants.
15
The sun was still setting as Grace, Lorna, and Edina walked at a brisk pace to the tavern. Sandwiched between them, she didn’t garner much attention from the clan members as they passed, most of them mumbling a “Hello Edina,” and averting their eyes with Lorna. Grace was starting to get the feeling that Lorna was not well-loved in the clan, but she was too swept away by Edina’s story to ask Lorna why people were refusing to make eye contact with her.
“And the laird just let ye own a tavern?” Grace asked in amazement. If she had asked her father or brothers to run a tavern, they would have locked her in the room for a month just to ensure that she didn’t try to do it anyway.
“Aye,” Edina chuckled at the memory. “At the time, I was young and reckless. A few years younger than ye are right now, Grace, and I was pushing the boundaries of my freedom, but I also wanted some independence. It never occurred to me that he would say yes, but it was the best decision that I ever made. Oh, the times I had in that place.”
“And Grandfather?” Lorna asked with some trepidation.
“Yer grandfather was a wonderful man. He claimed he fell in love with me the first time he laid eyes on me, but I was too stubborn to give in at first. As much as the laird doted on me
, if I married, I would have lost my freedom with the tavern, and I needed to know without a shadow of a doubt that he loved me for me and not because of my success. When I could deny my heart no longer, we married and had many wonderful years together. He let me run the tavern as I saw fit, and he tended to the plot of land his family had worked for generations.”
“Why did ye sell?” Grace asked. They were nearing the tavern now, and she simply couldn’t understand why Edina would give her own business up. It was unheard of for a woman to have something so precious, and Edina was clearly in good health and could have kept going.
“I felt lost when my husband died,” Edina admitted. “I needed something new. I kept on for nearly two years after his passing, but I had lost my love for it, so I sold it. I’ve dabbled in a number of things since then, and now I have ye. It sounds like ye might be just what I need.”
Lorna reached out and squeezed her grandmother’s hand. “I thought ye might like an adventure,” she chuckled.
“Indeed, I do. Some of the girls who work here are from families who used to work for me. Mothers who served and fathers who tended bar. They ran around as kids in my tavern, so they should open up to me.”
“But we need to keep it casual,” Grace warned. “As much as I would like to charge in and demand answers, Hamish wields a great deal of power over me. If I upset him overmuch, he’s liable to send me back home.”
“Ye doonae think he’s going to realize ye are already disobeying him?” Lorna asked dryly. “He did order ye to stay put.”
“Aye, but we willnae be long, and he is busy with Laird MacDougal. I imagine we will ask our question and be back before he even realizes that I am gone. I trust that neither of ye will tell on me?” The very thought of her two newest friends ratting her out made her grim. After all, they were all in this together.
“And get in trouble ourselves? I think not,” Lorna muttered.
Highlander's Hellion Bride: A Scottish Medieval Historical Romance (Highlander's Deceptive Lovers Book 3) Page 10
