Highland Warrior (26 page)
Authors: Connie Mason
“Ross MacKenna lives,” a voice announced from the doorway.
“Damn you, Seana, when will you learn to keep your mouth shut?” Angus shouted.
“What are you doing here, Seana?” Gillian wondered aloud.
“Gizela discovered what I had done, so I left while I was still able.”
Gillian sent Angus a smug look. “I knew you were lying. Ross and his kinsmen should be arriving at your gates verra soon.”
“I wouldna be too sure of that, Gillian MacKay,” Seana replied. “Ross is in no condition to leave his bed. And his kinsmen are nae fond of you. Mayhap Ross is glad to be rid of you.”
Mayhap Seana was right, but Gillian would have to hear it from Ross’s lips before she believed it. “Let me go to Ross, Angus. You have no right to hold me against my will. As long as Ross lives, I am still wed to him. Your plans have gone awry—admit it.”
“I admit naught. If MacKenna is lucid and recovering, he kens who attacked him and will be making plans to slay his enemy. Meanwhile, let him think you are at Braeburn.”
“Ross will send men to Braeburn for me when he learns what his kinsmen have done.”
“It will take time for MacKenna to recuperate, let alone figure out where you went and go after McHamish. May hap he will kill McHamish before McHamish implicates me.”
And mayhap he will listen to McHamish, just as I did.”
“She’s right, Angus,” Seana mused. “Ross MacKenna doesna kill indiscriminately. He will listen to my father. He will want to know what he did to earn Father’s enmity. You must prepare for an attack.”
“The MacKays and MacKennas are allies now,” Gillian reminded him. ”You are doomed. Together they will annihilate you. You canna hope to defend your keep against their combined strength.”
Gillian silently rejoiced. She believed Angus had no choice but to release her.
“I am smarter than both your father and MacKenna.”
Gillian felt cold fingers of fear creep up her spine. “What are you going to do?”
A sly look flitted across Sinclair’s face. “I admit that MacKenna will find his way here eventually. When he arrives, you will tell him you came to me of your own free will, that you prefer me to him. According to the terms of the truce, if you leave Ravenscraig of your own free will, the feud will resume.”
Resentment tinged Gillian’s words. “I didna leave of my own free will!”
“You will tell MacKenna that you sought refuge with me because I am the only one who offered you comfort. You will convince him that you wish to remain with me. If you do not, I will order my men to loose their arrows at him as soon as he approaches the keep,” Angus said with a smirk. “His kinsmen will consider the truce broken, which is precisely what I want. MacKenna will be dead, and both clans will eventually annihilate each other, until there is no male heir to take your father’s place as Laird of Clan MacKay. Only you will survive.”
Curiosity tugged at Gillian. “Why should that matter to you?”
Angus sent her a feral grin. “Figure it out, Gillian.” He turned to Seana. “Come, Seana, let us leave Gillian to ponder her life as my future wife.”
Gillian paced the tiny tower chamber, Angus’s words ringing in her head. She didn’t doubt for a minute that Angus would kill Ross if she didn’t do as he asked. And now that Angus knew she loved Ross, he had a powerful weapon to use against her.
Gillian’s dilemma, as she saw it, was to lie to Ross or let him die at the gates of Sinclair Keep. Time lengthened as she contemplated Angus’s duplicity and how badly she had misjudged his character. When Seana entered the tower chamber with Gillian’s supper, Gillian was surprised so many hours had passed.
Seana set the tray on the small table, and when she didn’t leave, Gillian asked, “Have you come to gloat?”
“It does my heart good to see you thus. It wouldna have come to this if you hadna wed Ross. I should be the mistress of Ravenscraig.”
“Why rehash the past? You are handfasted to Niall. Niall is a good man; you should have been the kind of wife he deserves.”
Seana lowered her voice so that the guard could not hear. “Niall isna Ross.” She shrugged.“ ’Tis too late now. I can never return to Ravenscraig after what I did.”
Gillian went still. “What did you do?”
“It scarcely matters, since naught came of it. Suffice it to say I am no longer welcome there.” She circled Gillian slowly, her face mottled with envy. “And now Angus has his sights set on you. But doona mistake his motives. He cares naught for you.”
“If that’s what you came to tell me, you are wasting your time. I already figured that out. I canna believe my family didna ken Angus’s evil nature long ago.”
Seana leaned in close. “Mayhap I can help you.”
“You wish to help me?” Gillian asked incredulously. “Why?”
A guard, standing near the door, cleared his throat. “Time to leave, mistress.”
Without a word of explanation, Seana spun on her heel and exited behind the guard. Gillian sat down hard on the stool. What did Seana mean? Did she really want to help her? It seemed unlikely. Gillian knew Seana too well. The other woman did naught unless it served her own purpose.
Gillian sighed wearily. This was all her fault. She had acted impulsively. Instead of thinking things through after being forced to leave Ravenscraig, she had rushed forth to avenge Ross, and look where it had gotten her.
In more trouble than she had ever faced before.
Chapter Thirteen
Ross’s recuperation was nothing less than a miracle. Gizela’s salves and herbal concoctions had given energy to Ross’s body at the same time they healed his wound. Three days later, though lacking his full strength, Ross pronounced himself ready to confront Sinclair and bring his wife back to Ravenscraig. He needed to tell Gillian that, had he known what his kinsmen intended, she would have never been sent away.
As Ross pulled on his padded leather vest and armed himself, he worried constantly about Gillian. If she had succeeded in killing Angus Sinclair, why hadn’t anyone carried the message to Ravenscraig? If Gillian had failed, wouldn’t she have fled to Braeburn? He clenched his fists. If Sinclair had hurt Gillian, he was a dead man. His face set in harsh lines, Ross strapped on his claymore and dirk, flung his plaid over his shoulders for warmth, and strode into the hall to join his clansmen.
Ross nodded in satisfaction when he was greeted by twenty armed men, all of whom had vowed to right the wrong they had done Gillian by accusing her unjustly. Dawn was just breaking when Ross led his clansmen out the door into the cold, crisp air. Their horses pawed the snow-covered ground; gusts of warm air turned frosty as they exhaled. A glance at the bruised, sullen sky convinced Ross that the sun would not make an appearance on this raw winter day.
They rode without stopping until the modest towers of Sinclair Keep came into view. Ross halted his clansmen well out of arrow range, but close enough to be seen and heard by the men patrolling the wall walk.
Cupping his hands around his mouth, Ross shouted, “Inform Sinclair, if he is still alive, that Ross MacKenna is here, and that I’ve come for my wife.”
Ross saw men scurrying atop the wall walk and wondered whether Sinclair would show himself. He didn’t have long to wait. Ross spat out a curse when he noted that Sinclair seemed in good health.
“Where is my wife?” Ross shouted.
“What makes you think she is here?”
“Doona take me for a fool, Sinclair. know what you and Seana did, how you gulled McHamish into believing his daughter was being mistreated. I also know Gillian came here after she left McHamish Keep. Where is she? What have you done to her?”
“Gillian is in good health, MacKenna. You have the right of it—she did come here. But not for the reason you seem to think. She came here for comfort and succor after your kinsmen forced her to leave Ravenscraig.”
“That wasna my doing, and well you know it.”
“Gillian doesna want you, MacKenna. She came to me. I welcomed her in my home and in my bed.”
Ross felt his heart thud painfully against his chest. “I doona believe you. What have you done to her?”
“I did naught but show her kindness. Unlike your kinsmen, mine welcomed her.”
Ross dismounted and approached the wall. “I will believe that when I hear it from Gillian’s own lips. She kens the consequences should she leave me, and I doona believe she wants war.”
“Verra well, MacKenna, have it your way. I’ll fetch Gillian so she can tell you in person how she feels.”
Niall and Gordo dismounted and joined Ross. “Doona trust him,” Gordo warned. “Gillian’s own father believed she intended to kill Sinclair. Why would she fall into his arms and his bed? Unless, of course,” Gordo mused, “McHamish lied to MacKay.”
Ross wouldn’t know what to believe until he spoke with Gillian.
Gillian looked expectantly toward the door when she heard the key turning in the lock. She reared back when the door banged open and Angus appeared in the opening.
“He’s here,” Angus snarled. “The man has amazing recuperative powers.”
Gillian’s heart soared. Ross was alive and well. Thank God for Gizela and her healing powers. Her hopes quickly deflated, however, when she realized that Ross was in grave danger.
“The time has come to express your love for me, and to let your husband know you doona wish to be with him.”
“Angus,” Gillian pleaded, “doona do this. Death and destruction are sure to follow.”
Aye, I’m counting on it. Your brothers will return to Braeburn, and the feud will resume. You’ve already lost two brothers—onty three more to go.”
Gillian sucked in her breath. “You’re mad!”
Angus smirked.
“Ambitious
is a more fitting word.” He grasped her wrist. “Come, ’tis time to declare your love for me to your husband.”
“Ambitious
is a more fitting word.” He grasped her wrist. “Come, ’tis time to declare your love for me to your husband.”
Gillian raised her chin to a defiant angle.“You canna make me do it.”
Angus shrugged. “It wouldna be difficult to order my archers to put an end to his life. I have but to give the signal to my kinsmen. One way or another, the feud
will
resume. It makes no difference to me whether or not Ross MacKenna leads his clansmen into battle.”
will
resume. It makes no difference to me whether or not Ross MacKenna leads his clansmen into battle.”
Fear thudded through Gillian. What choice did she have? She would say anything to save Ross’s life. Once Ross was out of danger, she would figure out a way to thwart Angus and his nefarious plans.
“Verra well, I will lie to save Ross’s life. But I doubt he will believe me.”
“For his sake, you had best make him believe whatever you tell him. Enough talk—MacKenna awaits you.”
Gillian preceded Angus down three flights of stairs to the hall and out the front door. But instead of leading her to the wall walk, he guided her to the portcullis. Her heart nearly burst with love when she heard Ross call her name. How could she do what Angus demanded of her? She answered her own question: She had to if she wished Ross to live.
“Are you all right, lass?” Ross called.
Fearing that he was too close to Angus’s archers, Gillian warned, “Stay where you are, Ross.”
“Is Sinclair holding you prisoner?”
“Nay, I am here of my own free will. Your kinsmen sent me away. There was nowhere else I wished to be.”
“ ’That was not my doing, Gillian. I was unconscious and couldna stop them. They realize their mistake now and wish to apologize.”
When Gillian couldn’t find the words to answer, Angus hissed, “Speak up. Convince him.”
“I doona want you, Ross. I never wanted you. I was forced to wed you against my wishes. ‘Tis Angus I want. ’Tis Angus I’ve always wanted and should have wed.”
“I could have sworn Gillian cared for you, lad,” Gordo said, “but I was wrong. You heard her. Let us go. You doona need the lass.”
“I doona trust Sinclair. Look at Gillian, Gordo. She looks ... Her expression isna natural.”
“Ross, did you hear me?” Gillian shouted. “I wish to stay with the man I love.”
Ross winced. Her repudiation of their fledging relationship hurt more than he cared to admit. “Didna McHamish explain that Sinclair goaded him into attacking me?”
Gillian swallowed hard. “I didna believe McHamish. Angus wouldna encourage an unprovoked attack. McHamish lies.”
“Not bloody likely,” Ross said darkly. He tried again. “You know what will happen if you refuse to return to Ravenscraig with me, do you nae?”
Now it was Gillian’s turn to wince. “Aye, I know the consequences, but I must follow my heart.”
Angus’s arm snaked around Gillian’s waist as he whispered in her ear, “Nice touch. If I didna know the truth, I would believe you myself.”
“Our clans will fight until no one is left standing. Is that what you want?” Ross challenged. “Your brothers and father could die.”
“Nay, I ...” Gillian stifled a cry when Angus’s hand tightened painfully on her arm. “Just go away and leave us in peace, Ross.”
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