The Highland Dynasty: The Complete Series

by Amy Jarecki

  Offering her hand, Mother helped Gyllis up. “If Alan MacCoul kills Sir Sean, he is more of a fool than the lot of us believe. He’ll have nothing with which to bargain.”

  “He may very well be a fool.” Gyllis grasped her mother’s arm and together the two women staggered up the stairs. “The man is consumed by hate.”

  Once inside her chamber, Gyllis still couldn’t breathe. “How can you appear so calm? Sir Sean has been a part of this family for years.”

  Mother gestured to the settee. “It is not that I choose to do nothing. Our role is to wait and pray for not only the Chieftain of Dunollie’s health, but for a quick victory by Duncan and our men so they all return home to their families.” She sat. “Where is Meg with that tincture?”

  Gyllis’s limp became more pronounced as she paced. “I do not need a mind-numbing tonic.” What she needed was to be on a horse heading west.

  “Sit down before you fall,” Mother ordered, her tone growing irritated. She patted the seat beside her. “Come. Let us read The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle. You’ve told me so much about it, I’m anxious to hear the story for myself.”

  Gyllis plopped beside Ma. “I cannot possibly read at a time like this.”

  “Perhaps if I read, the story will help calm you.”

  Gyllis clamped her mouth shut and nodded. She was about to jump out of her skin and Ma wanted to read?

  “You are smitten with Sir Sean,” Mother said, as if she’d just figured it out, but Gyllis knew better than to think her mother dim-witted. And the matron had only returned from Helen’s wedding last eve. Helen had promised to hint at Gyllis’s yen to marry Sean, but Ma was shrewd and Gyllis had best play along. Besides, the woman knew everything that went on under Kilchurn’s eaves. If a pin dropped, Ma would know about it.

  “I care for him. I always have.” Since Sean had not approached Duncan about their engagement, she wouldn’t make such a confession now.

  “And he cares for you,” Mother said. “I am still surprised to know he had your crutches made. I must speak to Duncan about…” her voice trailed off.

  Gyllis chanced a glance in Mother’s direction. “About?”

  Ma batted her hand through the air. “’Tis nothing. This mess with Mr. MacCoul must be settled first. Come, read to me.”

  Before Gyllis opened the book, Meg rushed in, carrying a cup and pitcher. “My heavens. I came as soon as the twins were settled.”

  Gyllis held up her hands. “I do not need a tincture. Ma was overreacting.”

  “I should say not.” Meg poured a cup of her potion. “You must be worried to death. Take this—you’ll feel much better.”

  Gyllis took the cup and grimaced. “I honestly would prefer—”

  “Drink it,” Mother commanded. “We all could use a tot. The lot of us are worried half to death.”

  23

  Gyllis had no idea what time it was when she woke. Meg’s tincture had her dozing before she finished reading the first page of The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle. From her bed, she peered around her chamber. The others must have made it to their rooms because she was alone.

  After lighting the candle, Gyllis slipped out of bed, her toes hitting cold floorboards. It didn’t make a difference that they were in the midst of summer, night air still brought a chill. She gathered the plaid from the foot of her bed and lumbered toward the window embrasure. Pulling aside the furs, a moonbeam glistened blue-white on Loch Awe.

  She strained for a glimpse of the eastern sky. From what she could tell, it was close to midnight. The sun wouldn’t make an appearance for some time. Dropping the curtain, she rubbed her eyes to clear her head from the poppy juice or whatever it was Meg had drugged her with.

  She clutched the plaid tighter around her body and faced the door.

  Then a clammy sensation of dread spread across her skin, so powerful, it was as if a ghost had passed over her soul.

  Gyllis froze.

  “I will imprison you in irons and laugh while your body rots in a dank cave.” The vow Alan swore when Sean defeated him at Beltane rang so clear in her mind, it was as if she’d heard the words spoken aloud right there in her bedchamber.

  Had Alan been planning this even before Sean’s father passed? She clenched her fists. Will Duncan remember? I may limp, but I have a strong mind and I know of no one with a more determined will.

  But traveling alone during the day was dangerous. Who knew how much more perilous the twenty-mile trip would be at night…and for a woman.

  At once she knew what must be done.

  Gyllis hastened to her dressing table and quickly braided her hair. She could not allow anything to impede her determination this time or she’d never spirit past the gate.

  After donning a pair of sturdy boots, she cast the plaid aside. Not even bothering to wrap herself in a dressing gown, she headed for Duncan’s chamber.

  Gyllis cracked open the door and peered inside. The room was so dim, she could scarcely make out the four-poster bed, but she heard breathing. Since they’d been wed, Lady Meg had taken to staying in Duncan’s chamber. They used the adjoining “lady’s” bedchamber for a nursery.

  Slipping inside, Gyllis held up her candle and stared at the bed, watching for any sign of movement. She didn’t dare shut the door. A click of the hasp could ruin her plans. As quietly as she could, she tiptoed to the trunk where Duncan stowed his things, and set the candle on a nearby table.

  The flame didn’t cast much light and the contents of the trunk were dark as a dungeon. Sliding her hands over the clothing on top, then down the sides, grainy leather brushed her fingertips. Breeks. Her heart leapt as she tugged the trousers from beneath the pile. Holding them out, she stepped into the legs, shoving her shift through the waistband. When she released, the breeks slipped low around her hips. Still too large.

  She turned toward the candle and examined the waistline. A cord swung, catching the light. If only I had more experience with men’s garments. She found a matching cord on the other side and tied the breeks snugly around her waist. It felt awkward to have the bulk of her shift scrunched about her hips, but at least the linen filled up some of the extra space. She’d never realized how much larger Duncan was.

  Her eyes adjusting to the dim light, she had an easier time locating a linen shirt—right on top. She pulled it over her head then tugged the laces closed and looked down. The shirt was large enough to hide her bosoms for the most part—and she couldn’t spare the time to bind them. With one last dip into the trunk, she found one of Duncan’s quilted doublets. By the musty smell, it had been well worn, but would help conceal her form. She shrugged into the oversized garment and rolled up the sleeves to her wrists.

  Once assembled, she inspected her attire and pointed a toe to the side. I think this will do. Now all I need is a hood. She drummed her fingers against her lips. If only she’d kept her plaid. She’d never seen Duncan wear a hood. He either wore a feathered bonnet as a sign of his barony, or a helm. She picked up the candle and searched inside the trunk one more time, but found nothing resembling a hood.

  Biting her lip, she turned toward the bed. Lady Meg lay on her side with the bedclothes pulled up to her chin. All Gyllis needed to do was walk across the floor and pull the plaid from the footboard.

  Easy enough.

  Taking her first steps proved awkward. She’d never worn a pair of breeks before. The leather chafed her inner thighs. With her next footfall, her ankle twisted. She stumbled toward the bed, but caught herself before she fell. Had that happened a sennight ago, she would have fallen for certain.

  Gyllis held her breath and peered at Lady Meg. By God’s grace, the woman remained sound asleep. Drawing in a calming breath, Gyllis picked up the plaid, bundled it under her arm and headed for the passageway.

  She’d nearly made it to the door when a floorboard creaked loud enough to wake the dead.

  Behind her, the bed rattled and Meg gasped. “Who’s there?” she clipped in a high-pitc
hed voice.

  Gyllis stopped and glanced back.

  Sitting up, Meg had the bedclothes clutched under her chin. “Gyllis? What are you doing?”

  “Nothing—go back to sleep.”

  “Why are you wearing breeks?”

  Gyllis inched toward the door. “Please, just ignore me.”

  “Are those Duncan’s?” Meg crawled across the bed. “What are you planning? I ken that look on your face.”

  With a groan, Gyllis shook out the plaid and draped it over her head. “I cannot sit in my chamber and wait for news of Sir Sean. The worry alone will kill me.”

  “You’re not planning to spirit to Dunstaffnage by yourself?”

  “What else can I do?”

  Meg crossed her arms and affected a disapproving frown. “’Tis dangerous.”

  “If anyone in this entire household would understand, ’tis you. Goodness, I remember when you drugged your guard to help Duncan escape from Edinburgh gaol.”

  She tsked her tongue. “Aye, but that was different.”

  “Was it?” Gyllis spread her palm to her side. “How can you say that? Do you know how much I love Sean? Remaining in my chamber is torture. I’ve no idea if he’s injured or…or, I can’t say it. If I do nothing I will go completely mad.”

  Meg slid off the bed and walked toward her. “If you must go, you should take a guard.”

  “Why, so he can lock me in my chamber—listen to Duncan and Mother’s every word?”

  “Heaven’s stars. You should look at yourself. You’ve been ill for so long.” Her eyes dropped to Gyllis’s legs. “You still have a limp—still weak.”

  Meg’s words only served to cement Gyllis’s determination. Everyone would cite her illness as reason for her to be cosseted in her chamber. No one would allow her the freedom she needed. She reached for Meg’s deformed hand—the claw, she called it. “Of all others in this family who should be able to sympathize with me, ’tis you.” Meg had been mollycoddled by her family and feared by society because of her hand.

  Meg tugged her claw away and rubbed it. “Will you not wait until morning?”

  “Nay. I cannot risk someone seeing me.”

  “Very well.” Meg took Gyllis’s candle and headed toward the garderobe. “Then I will go with you.”

  Gyllis hobbled after her. She wouldn’t make it far without that candle. “What about the bairns? You cannot leave.”

  Meg stepped into a kirtle and began tying the laces. “It shan’t be but for a few days. The nurse will look after Elizabeth and Colin. Besides, this gives me an excuse to see Duncan—he may need a healer—and he’s been away ever so much during my confinement.”

  “Oh no, I cannot in good conscience approve of this. What if something happened to you? Duncan would never forgive me.”

  Meg pulled a cloak over her shoulders. “Either we go together or I raise the alarm now.”

  “You are wicked.” Gyllis clapped a hand to her chest. “I’d die if you were hurt. How can I convince you to stay?”

  “You cannot.” Meg tugged another black cloak from a peg. “This is Duncan’s. It’ll be more concealing than that plaid you’ve got draped over your head. Put it on whilst I pen a missive to Lady Margaret. If we go without leaving word, she’ll send all of Argyllshire after us.”

  Gyllis hadn’t thought to leave a note, but she wondered if Mother wouldn’t send an army to bring them back regardless. But then, Duncan was surrounded by his elite guard and Gyllis couldn’t worry about Ma’s reaction now. She would not return to Kilchurn until Sean was found.

  On their way out, Meg insisted they stop by the kitchen and fill a satchel with oatcakes and fetch a flagon of watered wine. What they hadn’t counted on was the guard watching them approach the stables.

  “What are you doing up at this hour, m’lady?” he asked of Meg, crossing his arms.

  Meg’s intelligent eyes flashed toward Gyllis. Mayhap it was a blessing Duncan’s spirited wife opted to come along. “Fetch Mevan. We’ve an urgent message for Lord Duncan and need an escort to Dunstaffnage this night.”

  The man didn’t move. “Can you not send a messenger? ’Tis dangerous to travel at night.”

  “You heard me. I’ll not tolerate your impertinence. You will fetch Mevan or I will be forced to do it myself, after which, I will assure you, I’ll assign you to the very unsavory task of cleaning the middens.”

  The guard gave her a good stare and then dropped his arms to his sides. “I’ll wake him, m’lady, but he will not be happy about it.”

  Gyllis waited until the man was out of earshot. “I thought we said no guards. Mevan is liable to wake Mother.”

  Meg grinned and held up her finger. “He won’t if he is with us.”

  “Now I ken why Duncan says your spirit matches the color of your hair.”

  After they’d ventured into the stables, Mevan marched in, growling under his breath. “What is this, you need to take a message to Duncan? If you have something urgent to say, it would be best delivered by a messenger.”

  Lady Meg faced him with her fists on her hips. “I am the lady of this keep and when the lord is away, you will do my bidding. Miss Gyllis and I have business to attend at Dunstaffnage, and that is all you need to know.”

  The big knight pursed his lips. “Very well. If it cannot wait until morning, you ladies will need spirited horses—ones that can outrun an attack if need be.”

  Lady Meg bowed her head. “I will leave that to your wisdom. Please select horses you deem suitable.”

  Mevan looked a bit less grumpy after her acquiescence. But then he assessed Gyllis with a guffaw. “Might I suggest Miss Gyllis remain behind?”

  She stepped toward him. “I will not. I can ride far better than I can walk.”

  Mevan frowned dubiously.

  “She must come along,” Meg argued. “Now let us saddle the horses.”

  Gyllis could have slammed her fist into the henchman’s big nose. She’d been right to try to slip away without anyone knowing. If Meg weren’t there she wouldn’t have made it out of the stable. And how dare Mevan look at her as if she were an invalid, of no use whatsoever?

  Mevan held up a dagger. “You’d best take this. If anyone makes a go for you, slam it into his wrist like this.” He demonstrated with a downward strike.

  Gyllis nodded and accepted the knife while Meg armed herself with a bow and quiver of arrows—though she had a crippled hand, Meg was an excellent markswoman, using her “claw” to pull back the bowstring.

  Once mounted, Mevan took the lead, holding a torch. “We’ll ride at a walk.”

  Gyllis’s mount skittered sideways. The fine-boned colt couldn’t be more than two. He whinnied and snorted through his big nostrils. “This fella wants to run.”

  “Rein him in and he’ll follow my warhorse. With luck on our side, we’ll disappoint the colt and arrive at Dunstaffnage without incident.”

  Gyllis kept the horse’s head down, and as Mevan said, the colt followed his gelding. Though angry at their slow pace, at least they were on their way, and at this rate, she estimated they’d reach the castle about dawn. Thank heavens Sean had run the outlaws out of Fearnoch Forest. Their journey should be a smooth one.

  The witching hour, they called it. Gyllis could barely keep her eyes open and the sway of the horse did nothing to help her stay awake. Ahead, Meg was hunched over and Gyllis suspected she was asleep. But Mevan sat tall in the saddle, still holding the torch to light their way.

  Fortunately, the moon peeked through the wisps of clouds sailing above to help light the path. The eerie night shrouded the forest with dark blue hues.

  He was a good man, Mevan. He’d been loyal to the Campbells for years. Mother never traveled without him. Regardless if he’d questioned Gyllis’s abilities, he’d still done their bidding and she formed a new respect for the old henchman.

  Something flickered out of the corner of her eye. Gyllis peered into the shadows and squinted. She saw it again—something shiny caugh
t the light from Mevan’s torch, perhaps twenty paces away. The more she stared, the clearer it became. Someone was following them. Someone clad in a breastplate with a very large sword.

  “Outlaws!” she screeched, demanding a gallop from her horse.

  Meg bolted upright and followed.

  Mevan glanced back and cast the torch aside. “We’ll outrun them,” he bellowed.

  In the blink of an eye, the trio sped through the wood with Gyllis in the lead. She hoped to God her horse knew the way, because the path was flying past so quickly, she couldn’t be sure of each twist and turn.

  “Faster!” Mevan bellowed from the rear.

  Gyllis slapped her crop against the horse’s rump. “Run for your life, you wee beasty!”

  The forest thinned and the path became clearer in the moonlight. Gyllis dared a glance behind. Meg was close on her heels, the whites of her eyes round as silver coins. Mevan had replaced the torch with his sword, but Gyllis didn’t see the outlaw. No matter, she didn’t slow to give the blackguard an opportunity to catch up.

  When Gyllis recognized the farmhouse on the outskirts of the village, she slowed her horse to a trot and Mevan rode in beside her. “’Tis safe now, lass.”

  The sky had turned violet with the coming dawn and the old guard smiled a weathered grin. Gyllis returned his grin. “Thank you, sir knight. Your assistance will not go unrewarded.”

  He tipped his head. “My reward is your safety, Miss Gyllis. I carried the pails of hot water on the day of your birth whilst your mother labored. You may not be aware of it, but you’re as dear to me as my own children.”

  She stared at his back as he rode ahead and led them into the encampment. Yes, the old guard was a good man and now she knew why her mother trusted him with their lives.

  After they found Duncan’s tent and Meg announced their arrival, Gyllis’s brother shoved the flap aside and glared at them both. Gyllis could have sworn a fire flickered in his dark eyes, his black hair mussed by sleep, all the while his face grew redder until his angry stare focused on Meg. “What the devil were you thinking? Why are you here? What about the twins? How could you have ridden all that way in the dark of night?”