A Wee Highland Predicament

by Ceci Giltenan

  “William, I can’t believe ye’re saying this. Ye have two daughters. What if the MacLennans get their hands on one of them someday? Would ye want them terrorized like that?”

  “Ye’re being overdramatic. She wasn’t in any danger.”

  “Damn it all, William, show some compassion.”

  William’s eyes narrowed, clearly Lucas had stirred his ire. “Ye were the one who brought her here. And I’m glad ye did because we need the money. But now she is my prisoner. If ye don’t like the way my men are treating her, perhaps I should make her yer responsibility again.”

  “I’ll be happy to guard her.”

  “All day? Every day until the ransom is paid?”

  “Nay, of course not. But when she leaves her chamber for meals, I’ll escort her. It’s no great chore and she won’t be afraid of me.”

  William barked a laugh. “I’m not so sure about that. She was none too happy with ye when she arrived yesterday.”

  His brother was as bad and the voice of his conscience. “Perhaps not, but I will make sure not to hurt her.”

  William gave a dismissive wave. “Fine. She will remain locked in the tower room unless ye’re with her. Under those conditions, the guards would have no other reason to interact with her, so I won’t have to play the mother hen and tell my men to be nice to the little MacLennan.”

  It wasn’t exactly what Lucas had wanted, but it would do. “I understand. Thank ye, William.”

  “But Lucas, I’m warning ye, don’t fall for her feminine wiles. Other than guarding her, she is off limits. Women have a way of manipulating men by giving them romantic notions. I will not tolerate that. Don’t let her talk ye into doing something stupid. I promise, ye will taste my wrath if ye do. Just remember, she’s a MacLennan.”

  “Don’t worry. I have no romantic notions about her and she hasn’t the power to manipulate me.”

  He didn’t have romantic notions about her. What did William think? Lucas was not the type to fall in love. Not even with the beautiful and charming Ailsa MacLennan. He was fond of her. He cared about her. That was all.

  That annoying voice spoke up again.

  Ye’re an eejit and ye love her.

  Fine. He loved her. But he knew that meant very little. She hated him. His brother knew it and she’d said so herself. Besides, like William said, she was a MacLennan. Lucas was absolutely aware of where the limits were.

  Chapter 8

  Frustrated, Fingal paced the room he’d been given in Edinburgh Castle. He had done everything within his power to find Ailsa to no avail.

  Quinn and Fallon sat in silence at the table. Fallon’s eyes were red-rimmed and swollen from crying. Fingal’s fifteen-year-old squire, his nephew Tomas MacIan, stood by the hearth, concern etched on his face.

  It had been five days since Ailsa disappeared from the Michaelmas celebration. Bringing her to Edinburgh had been a huge mistake. Always happy and outgoing, Ailsa never believed anything bad could happen. Years ago, she had accepted the fact that she had to be accompanied by a guardsmen anytime she left Brathanead, but she had never liked it and she was fond of pushing boundaries and playing tricks on her guards.

  And that’s exactly what she had done.

  She’d tricked the young man guarding her in order to slip away from him. He’d briefly searched for her alone, unwilling to believe she’d intentionally eluded him. But when he didn’t find her easily, he’d reported to his captain, Quinn.

  More familiar with Ailsa’s nature, Quinn immediately set every guard that had accompanied them searching for her. Then he searched out Fingal to tell him. When they didn’t find her quickly, Fingal spoke to their allies who had accompanied them, his brother Niall MacIan, as well as Hugh Carr and Fearghas Chisholm.

  It was as if she had simply vanished. A few people at the celebration remembered seeing her dancing, but they couldn’t remember who her partner was. When morning dawned and they hadn’t found her within the walls of the castle, Fingal had to accept that she had fallen victim to some sort of foul play.

  Once the sun was up, they searched throughout the city and still turned up nothing.

  Finally, that evening, Fingal was able to talk to the castle guards who had been on duty when Ailsa disappeared. None of them recalled a lass leaving who met her description. In frustration Fingal had asked, “Did ye notice anything strange or out of the ordinary?”

  One guard had furrowed his brow. “Now that ye mention it, a merchant driving a small cart arrived and left during that time.”

  “Why would ye consider that out of the ordinary?” asked Fingal.

  “Well, merchants come and go all day. Their carts are full when they enter and empty when they leave. But ye rarely see a merchant arriving and leaving that late. And they almost never still have a full cart.”

  “Did he have an explanation?” asked Fingal.

  “He said things were too busy for the cook to see him, what with the Michaelmas Feast going on, and that he’d come back the next day. I thought he was rather dimwitted to begin with for arriving that late on a feast day anyway, but ye meet all kinds.”

  “Would ye recognize him if ye saw him?”

  “Nay, not likely. It was a chilly night and he wore a cloak with a hood.”

  Since she wasn’t inside the castle and no one had seen her leave the castle, it was a fair assumption that whomever drove that cart had her hidden amongst his wares. However, that was very little to go on. While it was possible she sneaked out on a lark, Fingal didn’t really think she had. Ailsa had a mischievous streak but she wouldn’t go that far. Nay, he was nearly certain she’d been kidnapped.

  Now, five days later, they had searched exhaustively. They’d discovered nothing else and no one who had any more information.

  Fingal raked his hands through his hair. “I hate just sitting here, but I don’t know what else to do. If she was abducted, the people responsible will surely send a ransom demand. And since they snatched her from the castle, the ransom demand would likely be sent here. If we go home, the messenger will have to travel to the highlands, delaying our response even longer. Likewise, we can’t just stay here indefinitely. We had planned to leave tomorrow and if we don’t, Gillian will be beside herself with worry when we don’t arrive at Brathanead five days hence.”

  “Aye, ye’re right on both counts,” observed Quinn.

  Fingal shrugged. “I think the only answer is for the rest of ye to go back as planned. I’ll stay here and wait for word of a ransom.”

  Quinn shook his head. “Laird, I can’t let ye do that. Ye can’t stay here alone and unguarded, nor can ye travel back home unaccompanied. That would be pure folly.”

  “Aye, I suppose ye’re right.”

  “If we all stayed here, that would barely be enough. It’s the reason we joined with MacIans, Chisholms and Carrs, to have a sizable force ensuring safe travel. Ye could ask Niall to tell Gillian what has happened.”

  “Aye, but ye and Fallon have children to get back to. I think it better if the two of ye return with Niall and Fearghas. I’ll stay here with our other men…and hope we receive a ransom demand.” He looked down, feeling defeated. “I’m sorry ye’ll have to be the ones to tell Gillian what has happened. I’ve let her down.”

  Fallon rushed to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Nay, Fingal, ye haven’t. None of us could have imagined that Ailsa would pull her usual pranks here.”

  “I should have. She has always thought guards were unnecessary. She doesn’t see danger anywhere and she is far too trusting. I should have put more than one man on her.”

  “Uncle Fingal,” said Tomas, “it’s not yer fault. She promised ye she’d do as she was told. But even so, she complained to me about being treated like a baby. I told her a baby would have been left at home in the nursery and that she was being treated like a noblewoman. I didn’t think there was anything to worry about. I should have told ye.”

  Quinn shook his head. “It’s no one’s fault. Like ye sa
id, Ailsa is sweet and trusting. It is just as likely that whomever took her, played on her innocence. And Tomas, she voiced the same complaints to Fallon—probably to everyone. So, Fingal, ye couldn’t have been more vigilant unless she was encircled by yer guardsmen and it would have been ridiculous to bring her if we thought that was necessary.”

  Fingal nodded, but guilt weighed heavily on him. “All of those things are true, but it doesn’t ease my conscious and it will kill Gillian when ye tell her.”

  “There is the possibility,” said Quinn, “that whomever kidnapped her sent the ransom note to Brathanead and Gillian is already handling it. If that is the case, a messenger from Brathanead hasn’t had time to reach us yet.”

  That thought gave Fingal at least a glimmer of hope.

  “Fallon and I will go now and make ready to leave with the others in the morning.”

  Fingal sighed heavily. “Thank ye, Quinn. Tomas, come with me and we’ll go find yer da to tell him the plan.”

  Fingal honestly never believed that he’d pray to receive a ransom note, but he did. He didn’t care how much they asked or who it was from. As long as he received one, it meant his young sister-in-law was still alive. He didn’t want to think beyond that. He just prayed that whoever had her wouldn’t hurt her. As frustrating as she could be at times, her happy-go-lucky nature was one of the things that made her truly lovable. To see her hurt, or her spirit crushed, would break Gillian’s heart…and his too.

  “Maybe we should have let her bring Duff, like she wanted,” said Tomas. “No one could have gotten near her then.”

  Fingal chuckled. “Aye, that is the truth. But I fear they wouldn’t have let us through the gates with a dog in tow.”

  “Aye, I suppose not,” said Tomas. “I’m sure she’ll be really glad to see him when she gets home.”

  The fact that Tomas spoke of her in the present tense and simply assumed that she would get home buoyed Fingal’s spirit a little.

  “Aye, Tomas. And he’ll be glad to see her.”

  Chapter 9

  Although Lucas was frustrated with William’s attitude he was thankful that his brother had relented and allowed him to guard Ailsa during meals. Lucas figured he could give Ailsa a longer break from her locked chamber if he fetched her well in advance of each meal. It would still be a half hour or more before the midday meal was served, but he climbed the tower stairs to fetch her anyway.

  Davis, a man Lucas considered a friend, was the guard on the door. “A little early, aren’t ye?”

  “I don’t think it’s terribly early. I hate to be late for meals.”

  Davis laughed. “I’ve never noticed ye give much heed to punctuality before.”

  “Perhaps I’m turning over a new leaf.”

  “Or perhaps ye just want to spend a bit more time with the pretty prize ye stole from the Galbraiths.”

  Lucas shrugged. “Do ye blame me?”

  Davis laughed again. “Nay, I can’t say that I do, but it will irritate the laird no end.”

  “I’m not worried about William. We have an understanding.”

  “Just watch yerself there, Lucas. Yer brother is a good man and a fine leader, but if ye’re not careful, someday ye’ll push him too far.”

  Lucas grinned broadly. “But it won’t be today. Be a good sort and unlock the door for me.”

  “Who am I to argue with the laird’s brother?” Taking the key from his belt, Davis turned to the door and knocked loudly before unlocking it and stepping back.

  “She’s all yers until after the midday meal.”

  “Thank ye, Davis.” Lucas knocked again before entering the chamber.

  Ailsa’s back was to him when he entered. She stood at the small window, staring out.

  “Ailsa, it’s good to see ye, lass.”

  She spun around, a look of relief on her face. “Lucas, it’s ye.”

  She was beautiful. Although cleaned up and with her wild curls caught in a braid, she looked more like the noblewoman she was, than the irrepressible sprite he’d spent the last few days with.

  “Aye. I’ve been given the task of accompanying ye to meals.”

  “All meals? Or just today?” Her tone was wary.

  He smiled at her. “All meals.”

  She sighed and visibly relaxed, but his gut twisted knowing that she had been so afraid.

  “I’m still angry with ye,” she said but with no trace of malice in her voice.

  “No doubt. But perhaps ye can put it aside for a time.”

  She frowned at him. “Why would I do that? Ye lied to me about everything. I thought ye were good and kind. I thought ye enjoyed my company and that ye might like me a little. It was all a lie.”

  “Nay, Ailsa, that last bit wasn’t a lie at all. I do enjoy yer company and I like ye quite a lot.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “Then how could ye do this to me?”

  He didn’t have a good answer. He did it because they needed the money—but that wasn’t really a very good answer. “Ailsa, I did what I had to do—what my clan needed and would have expected me to do. Can ye try to understand that?”

  “Oh, I understand it completely. But it hurts.” She looked down. Her chin quivered. She was making a valiant effort to stay her tears.

  “Ailsa, I know ye aren’t happy locked in this room. And as I’m the person who has been charged with bringing ye to meals, if ye don’t put yer anger aside, ye’ll be miserable when ye’re out of this room as well.”

  She didn’t answer him immediately, still struggling for control.

  “Sweetling, ye know I’m right.”

  She gave a slight nod and swallowed hard. “I suppose ye are.”

  “Of course I am.” He grinned and offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”

  She sighed deeply. And while she didn’t look happy, the tears that had threatened were gone. “Aye. Thank ye, Lucas.”

  She was unnaturally quiet as they ate. She seemed cowed, sitting as close to him as possible.

  Damn. She was afraid. He glanced around. No one seemed to be overtly intimidating her, but he supposed that didn’t matter. She was one wee MacLennan lass, surrounded by Grants. He thought maybe if she got to know a few of them better, she’d be more comfortable. So he tried to pull her into conversation as often as possible. It worked to a degree, but he longed to see her happy and relaxed—as she had been on the journey here.

  He accompanied her to meals for the next several days, each time working diligently to pull her into conversation. It was easier if he sat nearer to Nina, Emily, or one of the children, because Ailsa seemed more at ease with them. While he never fully saw the exuberant, chatty lass he’d come to adore, at least he began to catch glimpses of her.

  He also fetched her earlier each day and waited as long as possible after each meal to take her back to her chamber. Unfortunately, every time he had to take her back, she seemed to wilt into the heartbroken woman he’d arrived here with.

  After the midday meal on the third day, when they had reached her chamber door, she stopped and just looked at it. Her chin quivered and she swallowed hard. He’d seen it enough now to know she was fighting back tears. It was obvious that she didn’t want to go back into her chamber.

  He didn’t think he could bear it if she cried. So, he didn’t push, figuring that she’d pull herself together and go in soon enough.

  But the guardsman became impatient. “Lass, standing there won’t make anything better. Go on inside now.”

  Her whole body trembled and Lucas lost his temper. “Garvin, there’s no need to push her,” he snapped. In an attempt to calm her, he lay a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  She took a deep breath. “I know I have to go in, but I hate it. I’m so very l-lonely.” Her voice caught.

  Lucas rubbed her shoulder. “I’m sure ye are. I’ll come in with ye for a while and maybe ye’ll feel better.” He ignored the guard’s shocked look, slid his hand to the small of her back and urged her inside.

  The gua
rd locked them in. It was as if the sound of the key turning in the lock opened up the floodgates. Ailsa fell to her knees, weeping.

  “Oh, my sweet lass, please don’t cry.” He scooped her into his arms and sat in the room’s only chair, holding her on his lap.

  She made no move to stop him. In fact, she nestled against him, resting her cheek on his chest.

  “Wheesht now, sweetling. It’s all right. Ye’ll be home before ye know it. Wheesht now.”

  Soon her sobs quieted and she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks.

  “Feel better now?” he asked gently.

  She nodded. “A little. I just can’t stand to be locked in here, alone, nearly all day. I like going to meals with ye, but then I have to come back here and be locked in again.”

  “Would it help if ye weren’t always alone?”

  “Aye, I expect it would. It’s nice having ye here.”

  “Well then, I’ll spend as much time here as I can.”

  He spent the rest of the afternoon with her. He tried to distract her with conversation. After all, it had worked on the ride here. And it did work for a while. But during one lull in the conversation, she became pensive.

  “What are ye thinking about, lass?”

  “After we got here, I realized I know nothing about ye or yer family. You asked me a lot of questions, but now that I think about it, ye didn’t really answer many of mine.”

  He nodded. “That’s a fair point.”

  “Now I know ye didn’t answer my questions because ye didn’t want me to figure out who ye really were.”

  His guilt felt like a lead weight in his stomach. “Aye. I’m sorry.”

  She smiled at him. Not the brilliant, heart-stopping smile he’d come to love, but still it was a smile.

  “Well then, now ye have no reason not to answer my questions.”

  He smiled. “None whatsoever. Ask me anything.”

  “I want a rule in place first.”

  He arched a brow. “A rule?”

  “Aye. Ye can choose not to answer any question ye don’t want to answer. But, if you do decide to answer it, I want ye to promise to tell me the complete truth.”