by Sabrina York
Then again, what soul with eyes could not see the truth of it?
Andrew seemed to be the only one who remained oblivious.
Which was fine and good.
She didn’t know why it pained her heart so.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Andrew seethed as he and Hamish bound the captured men and tossed them over their horses. He’d known in his heart these woods were dangerous. He should have insisted on increasing the patrols sooner.
That Isobel had been at risk chilled him to the bone.
And with his rage, a question whirled in his mind.
Why?
Why attack a small girl? She had nothing of value to steal.
Various possibilities barraged him, each chilling his blood more than the last. Were they just villains grasping at any opportunity for malice and mayhem? Had they intended to kidnap her for ransom? Was there something far more sinister happening here? The worst part was not knowing. If he understood a threat, he would meet it, conquer it. This was nothing but a perplexing mystery.
When they arrived at the castle, Keir met them. His frown darkened as he noted the two bound men.
“What has happened?” he asked.
“Isobel was attacked by the loch,” Susana said, tossing herself from her mount. “We caught these two in the act.” She frowned and glanced at Andrew and Hamish. “They did.”
“There were four more that escaped. We need to send patrols out to find them. And we need to interrogate this lot,” Hamish said, grabbing one man by his belt and tugging him from the steed. He landed on the dirt with an oof.
“Of course. At once.” Keir nodded.
“And then we should lock them in the dungeon,” Susana said.
Andrew’s head jerked around. Surely she was jesting? But no. She was not. Hell hath no fury like a mother facing a threat to her child. “You have a dungeon?” he asked.
“It’s ancient. And rarely used for anything but storage,” she said. “But it has cells that will hold them.” He considered himself lucky that she hadn’t decided to house his company there.
Her eyes burned with ferocity. For the sake of these men, he certainly hoped there were no torture devices in that dungeon. He glared at the bastards, recalling what they’d done. Well, at least, not very many torture devices. His pulse still thrummed at the memory of Isobel in peril. He wasn’t sure why this ignited the fire in his belly so, but it did.
“Let’s take them down there at once, but before we talk to them, I’d like to talk to Isobel first, while her memory is fresh. Maybe she has some insight on what they hoped to achieve in this.” He sent Susana a questing look. When she nodded, he knelt before the girl. While she was still pale and shaking, her chin jutted with determination “How are you doing?”
“Fine.” Her nose wrinkled. “But I forgot my bow.”
“No worries. We’ll send someone back for it.” He leveled a speaking look at Hamish, who nodded and spun on his heel. Not only would he fetch Isobel’s bow, he would rally the troops to scour the woods for the other miscreants. He refocused on Isobel. “Do you feel up to a chat?”
“A-Aye.”
Her gaze locked on his. Her eyes were wide and pooling with a dampness she would likely deny. Still, he brushed the tears away. “Shall we go inside … where it’s safe?”
Her chin wobbled, but she nodded. Damn, but he hated to see her so vulnerable. When he took her hand, she threaded her fingers through his and allowed him to lead her into the castle. His heart ached for her, the poor wee thing. What a fright she must have had. He hadn’t realized how much he’d come to adore that little girl. Aye, she was rebellious and mouthy and far too stubborn for her own good, but she was also plucky and clever and skilled.
“I was verra proud of you,” he said as the made their way to the parlor. He chose that room because it was the closest, and of all the rooms on the ground floor, it had a calm ambience.
“Proud of me?”
“Aye,” he said. “You were verra brave.”
Her lips tweaked and a little of her élan returned. He led her to a comfortable chair and when she was seated, he sat across from her. Susana stood at his side. She probably wasn’t aware that her hand rested on his shoulder, or that her fingers tangled in his hair.
He ignored that and focused on Isobel. “Can you tell me what happened?”
Her lashes flickered. “I went hunting…”
“With Siobhan?” Susana asked sharply. Andrew shot her a quelling glance.
Isobel pinkened. She wound her fingers. “Nae. He dinna want to go.”
“Peiter?”
Isobel snorted. Clearly she’d divined that her mother had set a guard and lost him posthaste.
“Ah,” Andrew said softly. “So you went alone?”
“Aye.” She peeped at her mother. “I’m sorry. I should have obeyed you.”
“Doona worry about that now, darling. I’m just relieved you’re all right.”
Ironically, Isobel seemed to relax, as though she was much more concerned with her mother’s displeasure than the fact that she’d been attacked. Although judging from Susana’s tone, and her judicious use of the word now, this wasn’t the last she would hear of it.
Andrew edged closer. “Can you tell me what happened while you were out hunting?”
She shrugged. “They just surrounded me.” Her eyes narrowed. “They were laughing. Like I was stupid.”
“You’re no’ stupid.”
“I’m not. I shot one when he said something nasty about Mama and then they stopped laughing.” She shuddered. “But then they got mean.”
“What did they want?” Susana asked.
“I doona know what they wanted. One of them said, get the girl. She’s the one he wants.” She sniffed. “He’s the one I shot with an arrow.”
“He?” Susana frowned at Andrew. “He who?”
Isobel shrugged. “They dinna say.”
“Is there anything else you can tell me?”
She shrugged again. “Nae.”
Andrew and Susana exchanged a glance. They both knew, if there was anything more to be learned, it would have to be from the men they’d captured. With any luck, Hamish and his team would track down the others.
Maybe there were torture devices in the dungeon. At the moment he was totally fine with it if Susana decided to use them.
“Well, thank you for telling us, Isobel,” he said. “And you were verra brave.”
She glowed with his praise.
“It might be a good idea to stay indoors until we discover what those blackhearts wanted. What do you think?”
Her chin tipped up. “Are you asking me, or telling me?”
“I’m asking you what you think is the wise course.”
Though Susana’s fingers had tightened imperceptibly in his hair—or perhaps perceptibly—she seemed to understand and agree with his approach. Giving Isobel the decision would go much farther in gaining her cooperation than ordering her to obey. And try though they might, short of locking her in the dungeon as well, the girl would do as she pleased.
Fortunately, her lashes flickered and her rebellious expression melted. “It was rather alarming,” she admitted.
He stroked her hand. “I can imagine so. I was scared for you.”
“As was I.”
Isobel ignored her mother. She narrowed her gaze on Andrew. “You were scared?”
“Verra scared.”
“You doona seem like you are afraid of anything.”
“I was verra afraid that you would be hurt, Isobel. That nearly scared me to death. It does”—he winked—“each and every time.”
“Well…” She drummed her fingers on her knee. “I doona want to scare you … So perhaps it is better if I stay inside. For the time being.” She studied her mother to assess her reaction. Susana, to her credit, forced a very blasé smile. But her grip on his hair was brutal.
“Verra good choice, Isobel,” Andrew said. He sat forward, surely not in a
n attempt to free his hair. “You are growing up into a verra wise young lady.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you mean it?”
“I absolutely do. I know it’s not always easy making the smart choice. Giving up things you want to do in exchange for prudence. Or to protect people you care about from worry and fear. But it is something a wise young lady does.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Aye. It is. I suppose.”
He grinned. “I’m verra proud of you for making the wise choice, Isobel.”
Good God. Her smile slayed him. Brilliant and hopeful and tremulous. Such joy. Such delight. Such pride. In that smile he had a glimpse of the woman she would become and it gored him in the gut. Eviscerated him.
For some reason, it filled him with a restless want, a desire to be there, so see her grow up, to mature, to wed.
But he wouldn’t be here. Not then.
He was here to do his mission and then leave.
Why did he have the sense that walking away from Dounreay Castle would break his heart?
* * *
Oh, lord.
Susana turned away from the scene of Andrew smiling at Isobel, and Isobel beaming back. She swiped the tears from her eyes. He was so good with her. So patient and certainly more disciplined a parent than she’d ever been.
How wrong was it that she was keeping them apart? How unfair to them both?
“Susana?” His arms came around her, warm and strong. He pulled her close. “Are you all right.”
“I’m f-f-f-fine,” she snuffled.
His hold tightened and she allowed herself to be cradled there, if just for a moment. The comfort was far too sweet.
“Mama? Why are you crying?”
She couldn’t respond, other than a shrug. She couldn’t even look at her daughter.
“She was verra worried, too,” Andrew said. His low voice rumbled around her. “Your mama loves you verra much and sometimes it’s a heavy load to bear, worrying about a daughter. Surely you understand.”
“Aye, I understand.” Isobel’s eyes narrowed. “But I wouldna cry about it.”
Andrew’s chest shook as he tried to hold back a chuckle. It incited one from Susana. As inappropriate and ironic as it was to laugh at that moment, she couldn’t stop. Her tears turned from those of frustration and regret to those of joy.
She fell to her knees and tugged Isobel close and hugged her. “I love you so much, darling,” she whispered.
“I know.” After a moment, Isobel wiggled for release. Susana did not allow it.
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“I know. Stop squeezing me.”
“I never will. When you’re an old woman I shall still squeeze you.”
Isobel broke free and fixed her mother with an appalled moue. “You’ll be really old then.”
And once again, Susana barked a laugh.
Isobel peeped up at Andrew. “Can I go now?”
Susana’s pulse stuttered. She didn’t want her daughter out of her sight, ever again. Also, Isobel had directed the question to Andrew. Susana didn’t know why that caused a ping in her chest.
He nodded. “Of course. But … Where are you going?”
Isobel tipped her head to the side. “I was thinking the kitchen.” She gusted a heavy sigh. “After what I’ve been through, I think I need a cake.”
“An excellent idea.” He nodded. “Do you want me to come with you?”
Isobel rolled her eyes. “So you can eat my cakes? I think not.”
“Do have fun. And give Saundra my regards.”
Susana stood as Isobel barreled out of the room and into the grand foyer. She stared after her with her heart in her throat. She was so relieved that Isobel wasn’t harmed, but until they discovered the who and the why of this attack, she was still very much at risk.
Andrew seemed to sense her disquiet. He settled an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her brow. “Susana. It will be fine.”
“Aye.” The word held no conviction.
“We will keep her safe.”
“Aye.”
“Susana.” He turned her to face him, tipped up her chin, and kissed her. “It will be fine. I promise.”
“Andrew, someone wants my daughter.”
His expression firmed. “Aye. Do you have any idea why?”
She spread her hands. “No clue.”
“I suggest we keep her under guard until we can figure this out. One of my men and one of yours. Watching her. At all times.”
“I agree. But she willna like that.”
“Probably not. But I think even she realizes what a close call she’s had. If we play it right, she willna mind.” He was good at that, she realized, convincing Isobel to see reason. Much better than she’d ever been.
She frowned. “I’m a horrible mother.”
He gaped at her. “What? No, you’re not.”
“You’re so good with her. The way you explained things to her. Gave her a choice…”
“Manipulated her?” He grinned.
“You wrapped her around your little finger.” It occurred to her that he was very practiced at that, too. And for some reason, the realization didn’t annoy her.
“I helped her see the Isobel she wants to be.”
She sighed. “I’m glad it worked.”
“I hope it worked.” He chucked her chin. “It’s her safety that matters. God, Susana. Whatever works.”
“I was frightened to death.”
“As was I. We must do whatever we can to keep her safe.”
“Aye.” Susana firmed her spine. “And we must discover what those men know.” She glanced in the direction of the kitchen, torn. On the one hand, she desperately wanted to be present for the interrogations of these bastards. On the other, she really wanted nothing more than to hover at her daughter’s side.
Andrew kissed her on the forehead. “Go to her,” he whispered.
When she looked up at him it was through a sheen of tears. “But…”
“Go to her. Hamish and I will see to the interrogations. We will find out what these men know. I promise.”
He kissed her again, this time on the lips, infusing the embrace with warmth and comfort and bolstering courage. She knew he would keep Isobel safe. He would do everything in his power.
It was difficult tearing herself from his arms and heading for the kitchens, because more than anything, she wanted to stay right there.
But Isobel needed her.
* * *
The interrogations did not go well. By the time Andrew got there, Keir had already begun, but neither of the men seemed inclined to say a word. In fact, with each query, their features closed up even more.
It truly was a pity there were no torture devices in the moldy old cellar. Not even a one. But there were cells with creaky hinges and rusted bars. Maybe after a night on a stone ledge with a diet of bread and water, the bastards would be more disposed to share who sent them.
Andrew’s frustration increased when Hamish and the men they’d sent to scour the woods returned, empty-handed.
Hamish came down the stairs holding Isobel’s bow. It was incongruously tiny in his hands. “Anything?” he asked in an undertone as Keir berated one of the men across the room.
“Nothing.” Andrew frowned. “They’re certainly tight-lipped.”
Hamish nibbled his lip. “What are you thinking?”
“Could be a number of scenarios.”
“Such as?”
Andrew blew out a breath and muttered the name that had been humming in his brain for hours. “Stafford.”
“Aye.” Hamish scrubbed his face with a palm. “The most likely suspect.” It was no secret that the marquess lusted after Reay lands. No secret that some of the recent attacks had been perpetrated by his men. “But the lands belong to Alexander now. How would kidnapping Isobel benefit him?”
“It wouldna. Unless he has some other kind of plan in place.” A certain suspicion bubbled through him; acid churn
ed.
“What kind of plan?” Hamish stilled. His expression darkened. “What happens to the land if something untoward were to befall your brother?”
Andrew shot a dark look at his friend. It was frightening how much they thought alike. “Nothing. Because they are Hannah’s lands. But if something happened to the two of them…” The churning acid spat.
“Then what?”
“The lands revert to Magnus.”
“And if something happened to him?”
Aye. The crux of the matter. “To Susana.”
“We should notify Alexander immediately.”
Andrew nodded. “My thought exactly. And with something of this import, we should send the messenger via the sea.” A ship was much quicker than an overland route.
“I suggest we send more than one messenger,” Hamish said, watching Keir in action. He truly was fierce in his interrogation, but nothing he said made the man he was questioning bat so much as a lash.
“Aye. We may be wrong in this, but it doesna hurt to err on the side of caution. Alexander needs to be prepared for the worst.”
“As does Susana.”
His gut clenched. Aye. Both Susana and Magnus needed to be told of their suspicions at once. “Regardless of whether or not we’re right, I think we need to launch into our battle plan. At once.”
Hamish’s frown was grim. “Agreed.”
It made sense to ratchet up their fortifications. This incident made one thing crystal clear. Though the perpetrators were too cowardly to come at them straight-on, preferring to skulk and strike from the shadows, Dounreay was under attack.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Dinner that night was a subdued event. While Isobel seemed to have weathered her ordeal with striking aplomb, even she was not her usual garrulous self. Magnus, with whom Hamish and Andrew had spoken earlier in the day, was dour at best, although he did eschew his whisky and that might have been the cause. Keir was moody as he picked at his dinner, and Susana was somber.
Their gazes met often, but the playfulness of the evening before was missing.
Then again, it didn’t belong here.
Shortly after the meal ended, Susana and Isobel went up to bed. Susana made it a point to mention that Isobel would be sleeping in her room tonight.
