The Brightest Star in the Highlands: Jennie and Aedan (Clan Grant Series Book 7) (12 page)

“Nay, we’re headed to the stables. I’ll return her later.”

“Then I’ll see you on the morrow, Lady Jennie.” He gave her a slight bow and turned back toward the keep.

As soon as they were out of sight, she threw herself into Robbie’s arms. “Many thanks, Robbie. I do not like him. Do you think Alex will be angry with me?”

Robbie guffawed. “Not when I tell him how busy your day will be at the MacNabs, especially caring for his mother.”

Jennie snickered. “You heard?”

Robbie sighed into her hair. “Och, wee one. Alex is trying his best, but we all can see MacNab is not for you either. Shall we go for a ride?”

“Aye. Race you to the stables.” Her eyes lit up as she took off before giving him a chance to respond.

Chapter Twelve

“One of my neighbors? Are you certain you heard this correctly?” Aedan stared at Logan in his solar. “Nay, it can’t be. I have known Drew, Dermid, and Irvine for years. I grew up with them. The only one I have not known for my entire life is Hamish. If what you’ve heard is true, he must be the traitor.”

He fell into his chair with a thud, still disbelieving what Logan and Tomas had told him. Neil and Ruari stood to the side. “I cannot believe ‘twould be Hamish,” Neil said softly. “He does not have the leadership skills the others possess. Drew is the most able of the four, but he is your closest friend outside the clan.”

Aedan turned to his brother. “Ruari, you overheard something. Can you be more specific about the voices you overheard? Have you heard aught more that helps us here?”

Ruari said, “The only thing I am sure of is that the traitor is not Drew. I would have recognized his voice. Otherwise, I can’t be certain.”

Aedan ran his hand across his rough beard. Since Jennie was no longer around, he didn’t expend any energy on his looks. “Hellfire. I’m off to see Drew now. It would never be him. I think we should talk to him.”

Tomas said, “Logan and I will work out a plan with Gwyneth and Ruari, and inform you on your return. Go, confer with the one true neighbor you have, assure yourself he continues with us.”

Neil and Aedan headed over to Drew’s land, just a few hours away. The guards at the portcullis waved them in. He found his friend in the stables.

“Och, what brings you here? I haven’t seen you here in some time.” Drew clasped his shoulder.

Aedan spoke curtly. “We must talk. Privately.”

Drew smile vanished. “Then follow me. We’ll meet in my solar. Fergus,” he turned to the stable lad. “Tend to the horses.”

They moved without hesitation, not speaking to anyone as they passed through the bailey. As soon as they stepped into Drew’s great hall, he issued an order to his servants. “Ale and cheese in my solar, if you please.”

“Right away, my laird.” A servant girl rushed off toward the kitchens.

Once inside, they settled into chairs, but they waited for the refreshments to arrive before closing the door. Aedan had to be careful of what he said and to whom.

“Out with it. Must be important for you to run your horse as you did.” Drew sat in a chair on the far side of the table.

“The skirmishes. Have you heard anything additional about who is leading the marauders?” Aedan was still too upset to sit, so he started to walk in a circle around the chamber.

Drew shrugged his shoulders. “I have not heard. Only that ‘tis an Englishman.”

“Alex Grant sent Logan Ramsay to help me seek out information, and left me with one of his best warriors and guards until this issue is settled.”

“Aye, and you said he left around a hundred guardsmen. What of it?”

“Logan Ramsay is an expert at interrogation, which is one of the reasons we were able to win the day at the Battle of Largs. He recently caught one of the attackers and was able to retrieve information about the skirmishes from him.” Aedan stood and began pacing, raking his hand through his hair.

“And?”

“Their leader is not an Englishman. He’s a Scot who’s planning to take over my lands and wants the coffers of the abbey. I have also uncovered information that the leader could be a traitor to us. You were right—they consider me a weak target.”

“I cannot believe they would think you weak now that you have help. Word must have gotten to him. All our neighbors are aware that Alex Grant has agreed to assist you. Who would be foolish enough to go against the Grant warriors?”

“Apparently they believe they will be able to take his guards out a few at a time. Logan discovered the actual timeline. They wish to confuse us all with the small skirmishes they continue to ignite, and then do naught for a sennight or two. Once our defenses have been relaxed, they will attack my land directly on a much larger scale—around three to four hundred guards. The guards will be brought in from England, but not for a moon, probably hoping the Grant will send some guards back to his land.” Aedan stopped his pacing and fell into a chair.

“Hellfire, Cameron. I hope he is wrong. That would be disastrous. How many guards do you have?”

“Not enough. We have lost many over the years, but I have around eighty at full count. Grant left me around a hundred. I had thought to count on my neighbors’ guards, but obviously not if they are traitors and are fighting against me.”

“I have about one hundred and fifty, but ‘tis still not enough.”

Silence settled over the room as the three men considered the situation.

“Ramsay’s a good man to have around,” Neil said. “We’ll ask him for his advice on strategy. We still have Tomas. That’s five good men. We have to outsmart them, outthink them. Can be done.”

“Aye,” Drew said. “But we will have to keep this quiet if there’s the possibility of a traitor. This verra moment, there could be men watching you. Men who are suspicious of why you are here alone. Our group had agreed to stand together. They may be suspicious if we start to act alone.”

Aedan grabbed a tankard of ale and tossed it back. “You have the right of it, Menzie. Neil and I will return to our land. We are working on a new plan. Once we’ve finalized it, we’ll send word to you to keep you updated.”

The three stood. Drew shook his head. “I am stunned. Do you suspect anyone in particular?”

“Nay. I have no idea who it could be. We shall have to sit and wait, see what transpires.”

Only Aedan refused to sit around and wait. There was something more important that he needed to do before his lands were attacked. Since the fools were willing to wait a full moon to do their worst, he had the time to do what he wanted. He missed Jennie Grant. On the morrow, he would head to the Grant land to beg Alex Grant for Jennie’s hand.

On their return, Aedan met in his solar with Logan, Gwyneth, Tomas, Ruari and Neil. “What say you about meeting this group head on?”

Neil thought for a moment before answering. “And tell them what?

Tomas said, “We meet to update them.”

“I agree,” Logan said. “But don’t tell them everything we know.”

“Not everything, but let word out that we are aware there is a traitor amongst us.” Aedan was feeling better about everything. This could work. “It will put pressure on the traitor. Everyone will be watching then.”

Ruari sat up in his chair. “If you invite them all here, mayhap I’ll recognize the traitor’s voice.”

Aedan said, “Exactly. And I want them all looking at each other. If we can’t uncover who the traitor is, mayhap they will.”

Neil crossed his arms. “I think ‘twill work. Knowing we’re aware of his tactics may force the traitor to make a mistake.”

Aedan clasped his brother’s shoulder. “And I hope ‘tis a big mistake.”

He called the group together at dawn the next day. Drew was there along with Neil, Tomas, Logan, Dermid MacLean, Irvine Fletcher, and Hamish Henderson. The tone of the group’s conversation was light-hearted until Aedan spoke.

“I wish to keep you updated on all the information we have uncovered.” He stood and gestured for the group to take a seat around the table. Most of them were still smiling, but their expressions changed quickly. “It has come to my attention that we have a traitor among us.”

Dermid asked, “What? How did you hear of this?”

Hamish jumped in. “That is rubbish. I cannot believe anyone here would turn traitor. We have known each other for years.”

Each looked at the others with suspicious glances as they weighed the accusation.

Logan said, “I realize this is tough to absorb, but I have overheard the talk, and it confirms a traitor is definitely leading the English. He is a Scot, and I’m convinced the traitor is in this room right now.”

Irvine pointed an accusatory finger at Logan and barked out, “Who is this, Cameron? And how can we trust what he says? Mayhap
he
is the traitor trying to break us apart. If we choose not to work together, our lands could be taken easily. We must stick together.”

“This is Logan Ramsay, a trusted advisor to the Grant Clan.”

“But he does not know us. I don’t believe him, and I don’t believe any of us is a traitor.” Hamish got out of his seat to pace. “Who’s with me? This is a sure case of divide and conquer.”

“I agree,” Dermid said. “If we split apart, we could doom ourselves.”

“Each of us has faced at least one attack,” Irvine added. “What lad would attack his own lands?”

Drew answered, “That’s easy enough—a lad who wishes to throw suspicion off himself.”

Cameron raised his hands to stop the discussion. “I did not expect to unearth the guilty party today. I give you this information so we each have the information we need to be wary. Someone in this room is not who they appear to be.”

“I’ll find out who it is,” Logan added with a grin. “Make no mistake.”

Hamish, Irvine, and Dermid each stood and stormed out of the room. Before they left, Aedan said, “Please consider what I’ve said. We need to be verra careful.”

Once they left, Drew said to Logan. “Any idea which one it is?”

“Nay,” Logan said. “But I meant what I said. I kept Gwyneth out of the room because she is an able spy. We’ll send her out to see what she can discover. Aedan—” he clasped his shoulder, “—do whatever you need to do.”

Aedan responded, pleased with his decision. “You all may think me a fool, but I go to Grant land.”

Ruari watched his brother carefully. “May I go?”

“Nay, I need you to stay here. I go to ask for Jennie’s hand.”

Ruari smiled. “You do? I’ll have a sister?”

“Aye, if the Grant accepts my proposal. I’ll take Neil with me along with ten Grant guards.”

“Best of luck to you, my friend.” Drew quirked his brow at him. “I knew many moons ago that this day would come.”

***

Jennie sat in the solar with her family. Every one of them was presently staring at her as she massaged her temples, unable to concentrate. Her wailing dreams had returned in full force now that she was back home. She had never shared with her family everything that transpired in her dreams, just the screaming. How she wished she could make them stop.

“Jennie?” Alex asked, his arms crossed in front of him as he leaned against his desk.

“I need to know your preference.”

Maddie reached over to grab her hand. “Jennie, meeting a man is not a commitment. It’s only a commitment once you agree to the marriage.”

She nodded. “I don’t think I’ll find anyone I like as much as Aedan, but if you wish, I’ll agree to one more visit. Two possible matches at a time was too much for me.”

“Jennie, I don’t think either of the others was a good candidate, and I feel I have failed you. The MacKenzie has a younger brother who is interested, and I believe this lad will be better suited to you. We’ll send word. In the end, if you decide you prefer the Cameron and he asks for your hand, I’ll accept it.”

Jennie trudged out of the room and up the stairs toward her room. Brodie came up beside her and whispered, “‘Tis the Cameron, is it not?”

Jennie swung her head around in a flash. “What?”

Her brother grasped her hand. “I know how ‘tis to be so entranced by a person that you have no interest in any others. I fell hard for Celestina, and that was only after our first meeting.”

She tugged Brodie into her chamber and closed the door. “But ‘tis part of the problem. He’s not here to ask for my hand, and I don’t know when he will come. I’m only doing what Alex asks to be polite. I would rather not do this.”

“He’s only trying to do what’s best for you. I see that in your heart, your choice is Aedan. But Alex is right. It won’t hurt to talk to a few others. You’ll know for sure then.”

“Mayhap ‘tis true, but I wish I was as certain of Aedan’s feelings.”

“Be patient. He has to protect his clan and the abbey. ‘Tis unfortunate circumstances, but you would be naught but a distraction to him now.” He sat down in a chair and pulled her down into the chair next to it. “I know you don’t wish to meet other lads, but you must. Do as Alex has requested. You will not regret it.”

“Why, Brodie? The last two were terrible.”

Brodie quirked his brow at her. “Both?”

“Mayhap Coll was not bad, but Donnal was terrible.”

“Aye, ‘tis true. But ‘tis also true that you have little experience with suitors. Having three older brothers has kept them far away. We are all aware of that. Perhaps you will feel more convinced of your feelings for Cameron if you have some basis for comparison.” He winked at her. “You need to kiss a few, lass, or you’ll never know.”

Jennie crossed her arms, feeling indignant at the very suggestion. “And you wanted Celestina to kiss others?”

Brodie laughed. “Aye, she was almost married to another. That’s why she near ran into my arms. Kissing Ivarsson was evil, so she says. Ask her.”

The twinkle in his eye told Jennie she needed to do just that. Perhaps it was time for her to begin talking to her brothers’ wives about men and marriage. Caralyn and Celestina would tell her exactly what she needed to know.