The Accidental Highland Hero (24 page)

“Aye, when you spoke with her.”

With her brow furrowed and her mouth turned down, Eilis looked at James. “You were spying on us?”

Not meaning to, he smiled. “An unusual choice of words. Everything about you intrigues me, Eilis. When I saw you enter the great hall, I could not take my eyes off you.”

She hmpfed. “I suppose Fergus was spying on us also.”

“He was guarding you from afar, allowing you, at my behest, some privacy with the lady.”

“Then why did he approach and scare her off?”

“I wished him to hear what the two of you were speaking about when she became so concerned. Everything that anyone does under my rule is my business.”

She glowered at him. “And what did Fergus overhear?”

“I have not had the opportunity to discuss the matter with him. Mayhap you would rather enlighten me.”

She lifted her chin and looked straight ahead again.

He wasn’t surprised. “I can question Lady Allison instead. I will not be as gentle with her as I am with asking you, rest assured.”

Eilis refused to look at him. Then she ground her teeth and pursed her lips. “I know hardly anything at all.”

“Aye.”

“I…well, I cannot remember how I know her from Brecken Castle. Only that I do,” Eilis said, exasperated.

“All right. But she took your hands and pleaded with you about something.”

“Not to tell you she had been at Brecken.” Eilis let out her breath and turned to James. “There was some trouble. We were both in the midst of it. But I know not how or what ‘twas all about.”

“Aye. When was this?”

“I do not know.”

“A rumor has been circulating that the lady has a bastard brother who works for Dunbarton. I had not put much stock in the rumors since. She has served my mother well. But if she has ties to Dunbarton and plans some mischief…”

“Nay, she freed your brother and Gunnolf.”

James stared at Eilis. “How?  When?  God’s wounds, woman, if she has a way inside the castle…”

“Nay, she cannot try it again. They would kill her if they discovered she had released the prisoners the first time. You cannot ask it of her. And you must keep her secret.” Eilis’s eyes filled with tears, and her bottom lip quivered. “I have only told you thus so that you do not harm her or put her in further peril. If Dunbarton’s men had not recaptured them because of my folly, your brother and Gunnolf would be with us now—and only because of Allison’s courageous efforts.”

But James couldn’t strictly see it that way. If the lass’s brother worked for Dunbarton, she could cause real problems. At least for James and his brothers, blood ties meant all the difference in the world.

“She is a good woman, James. I beg of you to believe me.”

“Then what trouble was she in at Brecken Castle?”

“I told you I do not recall.” She pursed her lips and looked straight ahead, refusing another look in his direction.

Despite what Eilis assumed about Lady Allison, James could not base his leadership on the assumption the lady would not be forced into working against his people. As soon as they reached the village, he motioned for his mother to stay with Eilis. When the ladies rode toward the first of the stalls, James joined Ian, although he kept his eye on Eilis. His mother was talking to her, but Eilis glanced back at James to see what he was up to.

His mother turned and frowned at him. ‘Twas not his doing that Eilis was distracted from the business of searching for the proper fabric to make a gown.

“Ye wish to speak to me, my laird?” Ian asked.

“Send a messenger to Malcolm and Lady Anice at Brecken Castle. I want to know what happened when Eilis and Lady Allison were there. There was some trouble. I wish to know what it was and what Lady Anice knows of Eilis. Also, have a man watch Lady Allison, where she goes, who she speaks to. She is not to leave the castle grounds unless I give her permission.”

“Aye, my laird. Is there anything else?”

“Return here afterwards.”

“Aye. I shall return.” Ian rode back to the castle as Eilis watched.

His mother dismounted and motioned to a table filled with woolen and silk fabrics, but Eilis would neither dismount or comment on the material.

Again, his mother cast a glower James’s way.

He sighed heavily. ‘Twas the price he had to pay for being the earl.

Movement to the north of the village caught his eye, and he narrowed his eyes as he tried to make out the men tying up their horses in front of the tavern.

Just the man who would help him earn his brother and Gunnolf’s freedom. “Fergus,” James hastily said, “leave three men to watch the women. The rest come with me. Our prey is straight ahead.”

“Dunbarton’s bastard son, Keary?” Fergus asked. “But he will not even acknowledge him as his son.”

“’Tis true, but what if he had a change of heart since his wives died without issue?  We will take the chance and see what comes of the exchange.”

Fergus bowed his head. “As you wish, my laird.”

James led his men toward the tavern—to where Keary undoubtedly intended to drink himself into a stupor. Mayhap to go wenching as well. The only admirable quality the man had was that he fought well in the Crusade.

Which only made his da angrier that he had abandoned him and not stood by his side in the fight against the MacNeill. Another quality that James admired.

“In there.” James motioned to the Hawk and Boar Tavern where Keary’s horse was tethered along with the mounts of his five companions.

James and his kin outnumbered them two to one, although he hoped the men would go quietly without any bloodshed.

He leapt from his horse, draped his horse’s reins over the post, and stalked toward the entrance tavern, unsheathing his sword at the same time. His men quickly followed suit and joined him.

****

Eilis clenched and unclenched her hands, too upset to look at the fabrics now that she had told Allison’s secrets. Although she did not reveal the name Allison had gone by at Brecken Castle. But she suspected that despite telling him all she knew, he would still now interrogate the poor lady. Mayhap he had sent Ian to do the job. She groaned inwardly.

She glanced at Lady Akira who was trying her best to cheer her, smiling and waving at fabrics. But all Eilis could think about was poor Allison. And what a heroic woman she’d been. For what?  She’d risked her life for Dougald and Gunnolf and now would have earned both Dunbarton and James’s wrath.

“Lady Eilis, what about the red wool?  They dyed it with Lady’s bedstraw yestereve, and the color is quite lovely, do you not think?”

“Aye,” Eilis said, her response half-hearted. Until she noticed James and his men leave the women to fend for themselves with only three guards watching over them. “Where does James go?”

“He undoubtedly has business in the village. Naught we have to concern ourselves with.”

Although Lady Akira attempted to appear unmoved by her son’s disappearance, she threaded her fingers through her long hair and glanced back in the direction James and his men had gone. The other ladies had stopped shopping and looked about for the men.

Eilis assumed something was amiss and it didn’t bode well.

Chapter Thirteen

The acrid smoke from the peat fire filled the two-story tavern as men sitting at several of the tables guffawed or talked about the battles they’d fought in the village as James and his men entered the main room.

A gray-haired woman hurried to set mugs of ale on a table then spying James and his men, their swords in hand, her eyes widened.

James motioned with his free hand for the woman and her two serving wenches to leave. She hurried the women into a back room. Her husband came out from behind the stout counter, his brow furrowed, his expression stating, “Dinna wreck my place.” But he minded his tongue since more of James’s kin frequented here than the Dunbarton’s. Even now, eight more of James’s people sat at two of the tables. They bowed their heads or lifted their mugs of ale to James in greeting.

With all of his people sitting in the tavern, James wondered why Keary was foolhardy enough to set foot in the place.

When one of his companions noticed James, he slugged Keary in the arm and motioned to James and his men.

The insolent whelp leaned back on the bench and tilted his chin up. “How now, MacNeill of Craigly. ‘Tis a surprise seeing you here.”

“I was thinking the same of you. But since we are both here, I have a proposition to make. You will come with me and be my guest for a time.”

Keary raised his brows, his lips hinting at a smile. “I see. And to what do I owe such generosity?”

His companions glanced at James’s men. Sizing up the competition in the advent of a battle?

“Let us not banter words. You and your companions will stay with us for a time until your father agrees he will exchange my brother Dougald and Gunnolf for you and your friends.”

“Ah. I see you have it all worked out. But know you my da does not recognize me as his son. So ‘tis folly to believe he would exchange your kin for me. But thank you all the same for the offer. We will continue to enjoy our meal and ale here.”

“The offer was not a suggestion but an order. We wish no bloodshed this day. But you and your men, save one who will carry my missive to Dunbarton, will remain at Craigly for as long as necessary.”

Keary and his men slowly rose from the benches, a bit unsteadily, their hands planted on the hilts of their swords.

“You are severely outmatched. Do not try us.” To his men, James said, “If the others fight you, do not hold back. ‘Tis only Dunbarton’s whelp we need take alive.”

Keary’s men may have thought to fight rather than give up without a battle, but Keary rested his hand on his closest companion’s arm and shook his head. “We will go with you. But I swear my da will not give a care.”

“We shall see. Tie their hands, lest they change their minds on the way to Craigly.”

“I promised we would not do battle with you,” Keary said, indignant.

James didn’t comment but waited for his men to bind Keary and his men’s wrists then herded them outside to their horses. Had his mother and Eilis not been with James, he would have allowed the men some dignity and kept their hands unbound. But ‘twas not a risk he’d take with the women in the party.

As soon as the men mounted and rejoined the women at the merchant stalls, Keary smiled. “I wondered why you would have us bound when I had given my word not to fight you.” He bowed his head to Eilis. “Your betrothed I take it. She is a swan in these Highlands. Promise the lady to my da in exchange for your brother and half his earldom, and my da would most likely concede.”

James’s mother gave Keary a contemptuous look and took Eilis’s arm, leading her to her horse as James dismounted. “’Tis Dunbarton’s son,” James’s mother said to Eilis.

“Oh, aye. James is taking him hostage in return for his brother?”  Eilis sounded most relieved.

Which created a gnawing in James’s belly. Dougald hadn’t managed to charm the lady into wanting him, had he?

James helped Eilis to mount her horse, his hand lingering overlong on her waist. Their gazes locked. Annoyance concerning Allison still sparked in the depths of Eilis’s sea green eyes.