My Highland Spy

by Victoria Roberts

  Ruairi closed the door. “Nae until ye and I have a wee chat.” He sat down behind his desk. “Ye’re going to answer every question I ask of ye, and I will accept naught but the truth. Do ye understand?”

  Cotrìona smirked. “And what if I donna? What are ye going to do, Ruairi? Throw me over the cliffs as ye did my sister?”

  He sat back and placed his hands behind his head. “I have all the time in the world. We will simply sit here until ye do.”

  Her eyes grew openly amused. “And what, pray tell, do ye want to know?”

  “Why?”

  “Why, what?” she asked in an innocent tone.

  “Donna play games with me, Cotrìona.”

  “But I’m so verra good at them.” She looked around the room, studying the furnishings. “’Tis nay great secret that my sister couldnae bear being wed to ye, especially after the way ye dishonored her and my father.”

  “How the hell did I dishonor them?” he asked in a raised voice.

  Her eyes narrowed. “When Anna wed ye, ye made an alliance with my clan. Ye were to support my father, but ye went about doing things your own way. Ye always have. What ye fail to realize is that my father is a great man. He always was and he deserves your respect.”

  “And as I told ye and my wife before, I cannae side with a man who has nay regard for the lives and safety of his clan. He looks after only himself. I wouldnae send my men to be slaughtered then, and I will nae now.”

  “Ye’re a damn fool.”

  Ruairi spoke through clenched teeth. “I give ye fair warning that I have ne’er raised my hand to a woman, but ye know ye’re making this extremely difficult.”

  Cotrìona didn’t seem to hear his words, continuing to speak as if she talked about the weather. “Orkney has been forfeited to the realm. King James brings English laws to our lands while he wants us to sit here like dogs on command. The only way to keep our ways, protect what is ours, is to fight. My father and the Seton clan have joined forces with Robert Stewart. If ye were wise, ye’d join us. And ye know if ye do, Munro will follow suit. We’d finally have enough men to be able to defend what’s ours and keep the king and his henchmen out of the Highlands.”

  Ruairi chuckled. “Ye do know the Earl of Orkney was imprisoned by King James for nae following orders.” He shook his head in awe. “And now ye actually follow his son. Have ye learned naught? Ye’re just like your father.”

  She lifted a brow. “Thank ye.”

  “That wasnae a compliment.” He leaned forward in the chair. “Let me make something perfectly clear. Ye are a lass. Ye hold nay lands or title to your name. In truth, ye have naught. So why do ye insist on meddling in the business of men? Ye should have ne’er been involved with your father’s political aspirations—yet ye always placed yourself in the middle of his conquests. Ye and my wife. She was to stand by my side.”

  Cotrìona waved him off. “Please, Ruairi. Anna was nay longer the dutiful wife ye so desperately desired once ye refused to give my father men and arms. Anna and I are Gordons. I will forever be a Gordon. And as ye said, I am my father’s daughter.”

  “Anna was a Sutherland, my wife.”

  She lifted a brow. “In name only, lest ye forget that Gordon blood still ran hot through those veins. My sister and I are bound by blood to my father.”

  “And so I am reminded…” Ruairi shook his head. Why he thought his wife or her sister would’ve changed was beyond his comprehension. He wasn’t sure what he was thinking at the moment, but he knew he needed to get back to the matter at hand.

  There was a heavy moment of silence.

  “That’s where ye and I differ, Ruairi. I will do anything to benefit my clan, and my father will acquire his men whether ye support him or nae. Ye know ’tis only a matter of time before the king’s forces are defeated. Ye need to decide where your loyalties lie and choose a side, the right side.”

  “Is there naught ye wouldnae do?” he asked with disgust. He didn’t expect her to answer.

  Cotrìona shrugged. “Tha mi bòidheach is glic.” I am beautiful and clever. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I’ve learned that most men give me what I want. Cha bhreug ach sgeul dearbhta e.” It isn’t a lie but a proven fact.

  He spoke through clenched teeth and the words seemed strange on his tongue. “Tha thu ’nad luid.” You are a slut.

  She shrugged with indifference. “What ye think of me doesnae matter. Are we through here?”

  “Och, lass, we are far from through.” He walked around the desk and sat down on the edge. “When did ye decide to steal my coin?”

  “Now donna go and get your kilt all in a twist about it. That only happened fairly recently, after my father paid ye a wee visit. Believe me when I say I tried to stay as far away from here as possible. When Father told me that he asked ye to renew your alliance with him, I knew ye ne’er would. Donna try to deny it, either. I thought the least ye could do was support our cause.”

  Ruairi silently prayed for patience. “How did ye know about the tunnels?”

  “How daft do ye think I am, Ruairi? Anna told me everything. Ye know we were verra close. When ye nay longer shared her bed, she spied on ye several times in the wee hours of the night. She thought mayhap ye sought your pleasures elsewhere, but imagine how pleasantly surprised she was to find your secret hiding place.” Cotrìona gave him a look of amusement. “That was verra clever of ye, I must say.”

  He wasn’t sure how much more of this conversation he could take. Between the lack of sleep and Cotrìona’s words, his head had started to ache. He rubbed his fingers over the bridge of his nose and sighed. “So ye’ve been stealing my coin to support your father’s machinations. Did I miss anything else?”

  “Nay. I donna think so.”

  He shook his head in awe. “Ye will stay here until your father comes on the morrow.”

  She nodded her head in agreement. “’Tis fine with me. I wouldnae mind seeing my sister’s old chamber again.”

  “Och, lass, ye will nae be staying in her chamber.”

  ***

  The door opened, and Ravenna stretched her back when the healer came into the room. Her eyes burned dryly from sleeplessness.

  “And how is young Torquil doing this morn?”

  Ravenna felt as hollow as her voice sounded. “I’m afraid he hasn’t moved all night. I’ve talked to him and held his hand, and frankly, I’m not sure what else to do. Does Laird Sutherland know you’re here?”

  “Nay, Mistress Denny. I didnae see him when I arrived.”

  Ravenna stood. “Pray excuse me. I’m sure his father would want to talk with you. I’ll go and find him.”

  “Verra good.”

  When Ravenna reached the great hall, her stomach promptly rumbled and reminded her that she hadn’t broken her fast. No matter, she could attend to those needs later. She saw Fagan and followed him out into the bailey.

  “Fagan,” she called after him.

  He turned and gave her a tired smile. “How’s Torquil?”

  “The healer is with him now. Have you seen Ruairi?”

  “Umm… He has important matters he is attending to.”

  “All right, but where is he? I’m sure he’d want to speak with the healer.” If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear Fagan was keeping something from her. The man looked away from her, shifted his weight, and ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture, which only further confirmed her belief. “Is he in his study?”

  “He’s looking over the accounts and said nay one goes in. I’ll be sure to tell him for ye.” When she turned on her heel, he asked, “Ravenna, ye’re nae going to the study, are ye?”

  “What is the matter with you?”

  “I’ll be sure to tell Ruairi. Ye donna want him bringing his wrath down on ye when he said that nay one is to open that door.”

  She lifted a brow. “Why are you being so…odd?”

  “I’m always odd.”

  She laughed. “Well, you wo
n’t hear any argument from me.” She paused as he waited for her to respond. “Very well, but I don’t know why you’re—”

  “Odd. I know.”

  Ravenna walked into the great hall and froze in mid-step. One of Ruairi’s guards escorted a woman, holding her roughly by the arm. Her brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun and she wore a black cloak. Her skin was pale and her face was pinched tight. When the woman spotted Fagan, she stopped.

  “Fagan, do be a good dog and tell your master to release me.”

  “Move along,” said the guard.

  “Who was that?” asked Ravenna, still watching the woman until she was out of sight.

  She turned to Fagan and he mumbled under his breath, “Dùinidh mi mo dhòrn. Is ann a shaoradh dòchainn a thàinig mi staigh.”

  “English, Fagan.”

  “I will close my fist. ’Tis to efface evil speaking that I have come within.”

  Ravenna shook her head. “I don’t understand. You think that woman is evil?”

  “I donna think she is evil. I know it to be true.”

  Sixteen

  Ruairi was surprised when he opened the door to Torquil’s chamber and found only the healer by his son’s bed. Perhaps Ravenna had finally gone to the kitchens to have something to eat. He hadn’t missed the deep shadows under her eyes and didn’t like the fact that her usually lively expression had darkened with weariness.

  “Mistress Denny said he hasnae moved, my laird.”

  Ruairi walked around the bed and placed his hand on Torquil’s shoulder, which seemed to make his son’s frame that much smaller. When dark thoughts invaded his mind again like a pecking bird that refused to cease, he pulled his arm away.

  The healer gave him a compassionate smile. “There is naught else we can do but wait. I know this is one of the hardest things to do, my laird, but we’ve done everything we can for the lad. The rest is up to him…and God.”

  “I know. Thank ye for looking in on him.”

  “There is naught we wouldnae do for Torquil. He’s a good laddie and everyone wishes him well.”

  Ruairi sat down in the chair and didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He was perfectly aware of how much his clan loved his son.

  “Would ye like me to stay with him for a while?”

  “Nay, ye can take your leave. I’ll call upon ye if…er, when he wakes up.”

  “Verra well, my laird.”

  The door closed, and Ruairi balled his hands into fists. He still had a hard time grasping that this was truly happening. How could someone be so full of life and then have it stripped away in one careless moment? He knew he wasn’t making any sense. After all, he’d seen men die on the battlefield for less, leaving their wives and bairns behind as a result of only one heated moment. But those men were warriors, placing themselves in harm’s way for a purpose. They chose to be there at that moment. Their sacrifices were willingly made to country and clan, but Torquil… There was no reason for this. The boy had not yet lived. He had not yet loved. The thought of possibly having to bury one’s child was unthinkable.

  Hell.

  That was where Ruairi felt like he was trapped. This had to be one of the cruelest tortures for a parent to endure. He was mad with worry. He placed his elbows on his knees and lowered his head into his hands.

  “Torquil, I’d verra much like for ye to wake up right now. Please, I beg ye.” He knew his words wouldn’t miraculously make his son open his eyes, but he lifted his head and looked anyway in the event that God decided to grant him a boon.

  With Torquil, Ravenna, Cotrìona, and the Gordon, how much more could one man possibly take?

  ***

  Little did Fagan know that his unwillingness to shed some light on the arrival of the mysterious captive made Ravenna even more curious. If no one would tell her about the woman in the great hall, she was determined to find out on her own. But not right now. That would have to wait because she wanted to be there for Ruairi when he talked to the healer.

  She climbed the steps and walked to Torquil’s chamber, deciding to wait for Ruairi there. When she opened the door, Ruairi sat next to the bed alone. That’s not what she wanted him to be. The man needed to have someone there for him, whether solely for company or for a shoulder to cry on.

  “I was looking for you. The healer was here,” said Ravenna as she closed the door.

  “I saw her. She already took her leave.”

  When he gazed at Torquil, she could see Ruairi’s eyes were brimming with tears of frustration. “Ruairi…” She walked over and placed her hand on his arm. “Ruairi, please look at me.” He turned his head and tired, worn eyes looked up at her. “Please lie down and get some rest. Will you at least lie on the bed with Torquil and try to get some sleep? Lack of sleep is not doing you any good. Come now, Laird Sutherland. Do not make me force you to bed.”

  “Ye’ve ne’er had to force me to bed, Ravenna. I assure ye I went verra willingly.”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “I know what ye meant. ’Tis good to laugh. Otherwise, we might weep.”

  Ravenna guided Ruairi to the bed, and he lay down next to Torquil. She bent and kissed him on the cheek, covering him with a blanket. “Sleep well, my laird.”

  She closed the door and paused in the hall. There was no way she could’ve questioned Ruairi about the prisoner. The man had enough troubles. Furthermore, if he’d wanted her to know about the woman who was being held captive, he would’ve told her. That’s why Ravenna decided to find out on her own.

  She didn’t have any difficulty discovering that the woman was not being held in the dungeon. Praise the saints for small favors. Besides the fact there were no guards, Ravenna had her doubts that Ruairi would’ve considered placing a woman down there. That meant the woman had to be somewhere in the castle, guarded.

  Ravenna made her way to the servant’s quarters, and when she walked to the end of the hall, she saw a guard placed in front of the door to her old chamber. The man was big and brawny and looked as though he hadn’t budged from that spot since he took up residence there. Knowing the guard would never let her pass, she turned on her heel. She had an idea.

  She grabbed a tray in the kitchens and jumped when a kitchen maid walked up behind her.

  “Do ye need something, Mistress Denny?”

  Ravenna knew she needed to be cautious so as to not make the young girl suspicious. “Ah, yes. Laird Sutherland has not yet eaten today. Do you have some bread and wine? I’d like to take a tray up to him.”

  “Of course,” said the maid, becoming much more agreeable when she thought the food was for Ruairi.

  While the girl arranged the tray, Ravenna watched, feeling the same trace of guilt she always felt when she became the English spy. She would love to have a day when she could simply be Lady Ravenna Walsingham, the aging daughter who cared for her sisters and would never wed.

  “I can take the tray for ye if ye’d like.”

  “No, that’s quite all right. I can manage.”

  Ravenna was careful not to be spotted by Fagan. When she reached the door of her old chamber, the guard turned to face her, his hand resting warily on the hilt of his sword. The man made his point, but he apparently didn’t realize his actions weren’t necessary, since his stance was daunting enough. His massive body almost took up the entire breadth of the door.

  “Could you please open the door?” she asked, playing the helpless female. In her experience, men perceived the fairer sex as weak, which she definitely had used to her advantage more than once. If they only knew…

  “The laird said nay one goes in or comes out, Mistress Denny.”

  “And I respect that you are following Laird Sutherland’s command so admirably, but did he also tell you the woman was to starve?” When she saw him pause, she quickly added, “I didn’t think so. Please have yourself a look.” She lifted the tray. “There is only bread and wine.”

  The guard lifted the bread and split it in two with his hands.


  “As I said, it’s only bread.” Ignoring her words, he lifted the wine and swirled the contents. “Could you please open the door now?”

  “I suppose, but be quick about it.”

  “Now that might be a problem. You see, Laird Sutherland not only asked me to deliver a tray, but I need to assist the woman during her time.” When he lifted a brow, she added, “The woman has her monthly courses. She bleeds.”

  He shook his head and waved her off as Ravenna knew he would. She found that men—even big, brawny ones—did not like to discuss a woman’s time. Ever.

  Bloody cowards.

  “Be off with ye, then.” He gestured her in and closed the door behind her.

  The woman sat on the edge of the bed. She wore a plain day dress, and strands of chestnut hair escaped from her bun. A few candles were lit and the room was basically as Ravenna had left it.

  She placed the tray on the table and smiled. “I brought you something to eat.”

  “And why would ye do that?”

  “I saw you in the great hall.” Ravenna walked over and stood by the bed. She looked around the room and then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Why are you here? Do you want me to send for someone?”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Ye’re that English governess that was sent here to educate Sutherland’s son. Tell me, how is the lad?”

  Ravenna took a deep breath. She could do this. “He’s doing very well. He’s a delightful boy, unlike his father.”

  She laughed as if sincerely amused. “My brother-by-marriage has that effect on most, but ye of all people should know that, Ravenna. Come now. Ye look about as surprised to see me as Ruairi did when he found me in the tunnels. Pray allow me to introduce myself. I am Lady Cotrìona Gordon.”

  Anna’s…sister? Ravenna’s eyes widened. “That was you in the woods. You were watching us.”

  “Aye, ye were verra brave to send Torquil away to fetch Ruairi and then try to catch me on your own. I’ve ne’er seen the English move with so much spirit,” she said dryly. Cotrìona stood and approached the tray. She took a bite of bread and sat down in the chair. “Thank ye for the food.”