“You dinna understand.”
She was shaking her head when he pulled her to him, wrapping his arms about her, stroking her hair. “I know you’re afraid of the man in the courtyard. But you don’t have to worry. That’s Ran, the friend your cousin spoke of.”
Her head shot up and she pushed away from him, disbelief evident in her expression. “You’re telling me that my cousins are friends with a MacPherson?” Sighing deeply, she turned her back to him, crossing her arms. “Even that disna matter right now. It’s no about him. It’s the woman with him I must avoid.”
Forcing himself to remain silent, he waited for her to continue.
“She was married to my uncle. She’ll recognize me.”
The quiver in her voice gnawed at him. Fear must be coloring her judgment.
“Use reason, Mairi. Even if the woman down there is your aunt, she’ll hardly recognize you. It’s been, what? Over twenty years since you supposedly died? She couldn’t possibly assume it’s you.”
“You dinna know her like I do.”
“Very well. If you’re convinced this woman is a problem, then leave now. Send yourself home and I’ll deal with things here.”
“I canna.”
“Don’t you trust me to see to Sallie’s safety?” And why should she? He’d done nothing to give her reason to trust him. If anything, his actions last night showed just how untrustworthy he really was. Still, her lack of faith in him stung his pride.
“It has nothing to do with trust. I have no choice but to remain here for now.”
Stubborn, hardheaded…“Then you’ve no choice but to go face this woman.” At her look of panic, he softened his tone. He’d simply need to earn her confidence. “Come on. Let’s go down and we’ll meet these people together.”
Ignoring her doubt, he took her hand and led her through the door and down the stairs. Later, once she’d calmed, she would recognize how absurd her idea about this woman really was.
When they reached the main level, the sound of voices told him everyone else had moved into the Great Hall. He thought for a moment that Mairi might resist joining them but, with another deep sigh, she straightened her back, composed her features and followed him. Her rigid hand in his was her only outward indication of the depth of her concern.
“Here they are now,” Caden called as they entered the Great Hall.
Mairi’s fingers tightened in his and he drew her closer, his hand protectively at her back.
“This is the cousin my mother spoke of and her guardian. Ramos, this is—” Caden’s introduction was cut short by a scream ripping through the room.
All heads turned to the woman at Rosalyn’s side. She lifted a shaking arm, pointing toward Mairi.
“Holy Mother preserve us,” Anabella cried. “Get back, you wicked ghost!” One step forward and she fainted, collapsing to the floor in a heap.
As the room erupted in noisy confusion, Ramos glanced to Mairi, ready to assist her if necessary. Her hands flew to cover her mouth, her eyes stricken.
Apparently her concerns hadn’t been so absurd after all.
“I am sorry, dear, I should have warned you she was coming. I’d planned to tell you today, but when they arrived early, I hoped I could avoid Anabella’s reaction by telling her I’d a young cousin visiting. As usual, she was so busy talking about herself, she’d hear nothing I had to say.” Rosalyn patted her niece’s hand. “We’ll convince her, dinna fret.”
They were in Rosalyn’s private solar, the two women seated at a small table. Ramos leaned casually against the fireplace, a mug of ale in his hand, trying to look inconspicuous but failing miserably, as far as Mairi was concerned. It was all she could do to keep from staring at him. Even the wound on his face didn’t detract from his raw appeal.
Concentrate. With an effort, she turned her thoughts away from Ramos. There were more urgent things she needed to think about now.
“What I want to know is what Anabella is doing with the MacPhersons. And for that matter, why any MacPherson would ever be welcomed at Dun Ard.”
“Things have changed much in the time you’ve been away, Mairi. It was all verra confusing in the days after you…well, after yer death,” Rosalyn began. “Red Dunald dinna appreciate being accused of murdering his new bride.”
“Not that he would have minded actually murdering his new bride—only being accused of it,” Mairi muttered. The very memory of the man sent shivers down her back.
“Verra likely,” her aunt agreed. “Though he was also quite angry to find Artair dead and his debt no paid. He sent a raiding party, bent on retribution. Blane and Duncan had both received injuries at the hands of Lyall’s men and we’d all remained at Sithean Fardach, waiting for them to regain their strength. When the MacPherson’s men stormed Dun Ard, the only MacKiernan woman they found was Anabella, so they took her and sent a messenger to Blane demanding a ransom.”
“Blane should have been thrilled to have her out of his home.” Mairi knew she would have been.
“Aye, well, as the new head of the MacKiernan clan, Blane couldna afford to indulge any personal feelings.”
Of course her aunt was right. She should have thought of that. Would have if she hadn’t been so rattled by all this.
“So he negotiated a deal. Anabella would remain with the MacPhersons in payment of Artair’s debt. Only fair as she was the man’s widow. But, young as she was, she ended up wed to Red Dunald’s oldest son, Angus. The following year, she provided Angus with an heir, Ranald. No long after, the MacPherson himself died, leaving Angus to assume responsibility for the clan. Anabella was, once again, wife of a laird.”
“That may explain why she’s with the MacPhersons, but not what all of them are doing here.”
“The negotiations included an alliance. Once Angus became laird, he and Blane found they got on verra well. Blane’s offer for young Ranald to squire here cemented the relationship. They’re more family now than no. It’s the same with the Maxwells. Their sons, Steafan and Alasdair, have been with us for years, and Alycie is betrothed to Caden.”
Mairi leaned back in her chair. “That’s entirely different. Grizel Maxwell has been your friend forever,” she mumbled. The MacPhersons are considered family? Things had certainly changed in the time she’d been gone. Somehow she’d have to learn to deal with them.
“What do we do about the woman, this Anabella?” Ramos spoke for the first time, drawing her attention. He left his spot by the fire and moved to her side, laying his hand protectively on her shoulder.
Though he spoke to her aunt, his eyes were on her. Gazing into them made her think of last night and she quickly turned to face her aunt, her cheeks uncomfortably warm.
“I’ll deal with Anabella. I’ve already acknowledged to her the family resemblance.” Rosalyn smiled. “Now it’s only a matter of distraction. The vain woman is almost as excited to meet this Duke as my own Sallie. You’ll just need to mind what you say and do.” She looked pointedly at Mairi.
“I think I’d rather simply avoid her altogether.” Hateful, horrible woman.
“Unfortunately I dinna see that as a possibility, lass.” Rosalyn shook her head. “In fact, I’d best go check on her now, see what I can do to calm her. You two feel free to stay and finish yer drinks.” She rose and left the room, leaving the door discreetly open.
Mairi turned to find Ramos stroking his chin, still staring directly at her. “What?”
“I was just thinking. If you can’t avoid her, you’ll need to throw her off track. You say you got on badly with this Anabella when you were here before, so perhaps you should pretend to like her now. That would be completely different from the old Mairi, wouldn’t it?”
Mairi snorted. “Totally different. And so not going to happen. I’d rather do anything than try to be friendly with that bitch.”
Ramos raised an eyebrow and one side of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “Anything? You could go home.”
No, she couldn’t.
“Fine. I’ll try to be friendly.”
She took one last drink from her goblet and placed it on the table with a shaking hand. It galled her to say those words, but she wasn’t ready to admit her little problem to Ramos.
Guilt gnawed at her as she stood to leave the room, and she risked a quick glance at the man. He watched her closely, a frown on his face.
If he was irritated with her now, what would he be like when he learned they were stuck here?
Eleven
I’m going up to check on the lads in the far pastures today. Would you care to ride along?”
Caden’s invitation had come as a surprise to Ramos, out of the blue at the finish of their morning meal. His first thought had been to refuse, to stay at Dun Ard close to Mairi, where he could protect her from Ranald MacPherson.
“Ran and Drew are coming. As you wanted to get better acquainted with the lad, this seems a good time, aye?”
It had seemed so indeed.
Sitting on his mount, staring at the small huts used by the shepherds, Ramos pulled the woolen plaid Mairi had given him tighter about himself.
“Take this.” She’d pushed the bundle into his hands, her cheeks pink from having raced upstairs to her room and back again. With a quick glance as if to assure herself no one watched, she’d held the end of the plaid and expertly wrapped it around his shoulders and head. “Yer best off to wear it like this. It’ll help to keep you warm and dry if the need arises. The cold will creep up on you out there, catching you unawares if you’re no prepared.”
She had been right. Even at the height of the sun’s swing across the sky it had been a chill day. Now, nearing late afternoon, the damp air had begun to seep into his bones.
“It’s fair clever what Caden’s done up here, is it no?” Ran looked admiringly out over the pastures and the healthy animals grazing there. “They alternate the pastures regularly, and they have shelters scattered about all over the countryside so they’re never caught out unawares. He’s made life much better for the shepherds.”
Ramos nodded his head in agreement, studying the young man intently. Early in their journey, he’d opened himself to his inner sight, probing for information. There was little to find. Ran was a decent sort, though easily led and, in the case of Servans, easily misled.
Talk throughout the day had frequently turned to the much-touted Duke and his desire to aid the Scots in seizing their independence. Andrew had asked one question after another, saving Ramos the need to interrogate young MacPherson himself. It had quickly become apparent that Ran knew only the barest details about the Duke’s background.
Ramos sifted through the day’s conversations, searching for some useful clue but finding none. Time was running out and he was frustrated at being no closer to deciphering which of his Nuadian relations would be responsible for what was about to happen here.
Ran cleared his throat nervously, pulling Ramos from his thoughts to find the young man watching him closely.
“Is there something on your mind?” It struck Ramos that the color rising in Ran’s cheeks was from more than the cold.
“Aye, there is, sir. I’ve a question to ask, but I’ve no intent to insult, only a curiosity.”
“There’s nothing wrong with curiosity, Ran. Ask away.”
“Caden tells me yer responsible for the welfare of his cousin. That you travel to yer homeland to seek a husband for the lass.” The young man paused, his eyes narrowing in a scowl.
“This is true.”
Ran looked off to the distance, as if gathering his thoughts before continuing. “These people are as my own family. I’d lay down my life for any one of them. While I’ve never met this brother who entrusted the lass to you, they are family as well.”
“Yes?”
His next words came out in a rush. “What are yer intentions toward the lass, Mairi? Though I’ve no yet spoken to Caden of the matter, I’m no at all pleased with the idea of what you were about to do to the lass before I interrupted at the auld castle. Yer responsible for her safety, no to ruin the lass. I want to know, what were you doing at Sithean Fardach?”
Ramos had wondered if Ran had been too overcome with drink to remember the incident. Apparently not.
“I was protecting Mairi the only way I could think of at the time.”
Ran snorted. “What you were doing dinna look like protecting to me.”
“Exactly.” Ramos stopped, waiting as Ran’s expression changed to confusion. “Mairi was injured. We took shelter in what we thought was a deserted building. When the lot of you arrived, with you stomping up the stairs issuing threats, I had no idea what your intent might be. I did what was necessary to distract you so I could get her out of there. It worked, did it not?”
Ran nodded his head slowly.
“As to my intentions toward Mairi, they are to see her safely home. Curiosity satisfied?”
“I suppose,” the young man replied slowly. “I would never have thought of that deception myself.”
Ramos shrugged. “Then perhaps you’ve learned a new trick that will help you one day.”
Ran merely continued to nod thoughtfully as Drew rejoined them to wait for Caden’s return.
“It’s a shame Steafan couldna be with us today, eh, Ran? Would be like the old times.”
“Steafan?” The new name caught Ramos’s attention.
“Aye,” Ran replied. “Steafan Maxwell. If Caden is Blane’s right hand, Steafan is Caden’s. He’s brother to Caden’s betrothed.”
“But no the pious pain in the—” Drew began.
“Andrew! Mind what you say. She’s to be yer sister soon,” Ran reprimanded.
“No if she has a say in the matter. You ken as well as I do, she’s no love for Caden. More’s the pity that he and Mother are too dense to see it.”
“I’ll hear no more of this from you. It’s no matter what we think. The betrothal is done.” Ran shook his head and turned back to Ramos as if he’d not been interrupted. “Steafan and his younger brother, Alasdair, have gone home to bring their family for Saint Crispins.”
In the wake of Ran’s rebuke, Drew pulled his mount away to the edge of the path and conversation died as they waited for Caden.
A fine mist was falling by the time Caden finished his conversation with the old man who appeared to be in charge of the shepherds in this section.
Caden returned to their little group, bringing his horse to a halt next to Ramos. He tugged at the end of his plaid, pulling it up to protect his head as the others had already done.
“Old Kenneth says his bones are aching something fierce. He’s sent the lads to gather the sheep into cover.” Caden stopped and scanned the heavy clouds overhead, wiping the mist from his face before continuing. “We’d best forgo the higher pastures and get back to Dun Ard. The old man is almost never wrong about the weather. If he says snows are coming, we’ll see them soon.”
They turned their horses and started the long trip back, allowing the animals to pick their way down the slick, steep incline to the wider path below. The fine mist had gotten heavier, stinging the skin now where it hit.
“I hope the Duke makes it to Dun Ard before the snow sets in,” Andrew mumbled, his mouth covered by the plaid.
“Dinna fash yerself, Drew. They’ll be here soon enough.” Ran didn’t bother to turn as he spoke.
“They?” Ramos pulled even with Ran.
“Aye. The Duke and his brother. It’s my guess they will be here by the morrow.”
The chill that gripped Ramos had nothing to do with the rain or the cold.
Two of them? That certainly wasn’t anywhere in Mairi’s notes. And arriving tomorrow.
He had been wrong. Time wasn’t running out. It was already gone.
Tiny sensations shot up from the base of Ramos’s skull. The tingling started there and spread through his body, his Fae senses on high alert in his own version of an early warning system.
It began before he could even see the gate or the thick walls
of Dun Ard and grew increasingly stronger as they drew closer. By the time they cleared the gates, he felt like a tightly wound coil, ready to spring.
“I’ll take yer horse. I’m going to check on the animals and the men.” Caden reached for his reins as Ramos dismounted. “I’ve need to make sure everything is readied for whatever this weather brings. Drew, you’ll come with me.”
“I’ll come as well,” Ran offered, following after the others.
Ramos raced up the stairs. Whatever danger it was he sensed, he knew it was behind the door his hand rested upon; it was somewhere within the great house.
And the woman whose safety was his responsibility? Mairi was somewhere in there with it.
He pushed the door open and stepped quietly inside. The scene that greeted him immediately relieved one of his concerns.
Pressed tightly against the wall, Mairi peeked around the corner into the Great Hall, completely engrossed in watching the activity unfolding before her.
She’s safe.
It was an easy task for him to glide silently into place behind her. Perhaps he moved in closer than necessary, but he enjoyed the feel of her body trapped between the wall and his own, delighted in her startled gasp when he pressed his mouth to her ear. He paused just long enough to breathe in the essence of her before he spoke.
“Hello, my sweet. What have I caught you doing this time?”
To her credit, she didn’t scream, but she did jump.
While he waited for her answer, he leaned closer into the curve of her, feeling not the least bit of guilt when he realized her heart hammered in her chest. The woman had already mastered stubborn. If he couldn’t convince her to leave immediately, he needed her to learn caution, even if it required scaring the lesson into her.
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m spying.” She attempted to shove an elbow at him, but he’d left her no room. “Get off me,” she hissed. “You’re drenched.”
He ignored her command as he ignored the discomfort of his cold, muddy clothing. “Spying on whom?”
Soul of a Highlander Page 12
