The Clan MacDougall Series (83 page)

“M’lady,” he said with a slight smile. “I hear you’re in some distress this night?”

Lady Judith stood and smiled at him. “Aye, ’tis true, m’laird. I’m afraid the treacherous road has claimed my carriage as hostage,” she said jokingly and cringed inwardly at her poor choices of words. If the stories of Malcolm Buchannan were true, she’d be his hostage before daybreak.

Malcolm threw back his head and laughed. “Aye, I’m afraid these roads are treacherous at times! I am glad that I could offer ye some comfort from them.” He bowed slightly at the waist before turning to look at the men who stood around her.

“At least ye’ve brave men to help ye battle these roads that rob fine ladies of their carriages!”

Forbes and his men stood at the ready, guarding their lady. Forbes knew who Malcolm was, but he followed his lady’s example and feigned ignorance. He cursed himself for having brought Judith and Kate here. There would be no way for him and four men to defend themselves against Malcolm Buchannan and all of his men. Though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t enjoy the fight!

Judith’s mind was a whirl as she continued with her coy charms. “Aye, they are a brave lot! My husband refuses to allow me to travel these roads without escort,” she said quietly.

Kate had remained quiet and shivering as she stood behind her lady. She had been standing as close to Forbes as she could, and wished they’d hurry up with the pleasantries so they might sit by a warm fire and dry their drenched clothing. She hadn’t been able to see the man her lady was speaking to.

Kate let loose with a very unladylike sneeze. Judith turned to face her, and cast her an odd look. Kate knew that look well. It held a warning that something was afoot and Kate needed to be on her toes.

“Och! Ye’ve a wee lass there! Excuse me fer being remiss in me duties!” he bowed again and turned away. He called for Nettie, his cook, before turning his attention back to Judith.

“Almer,” Malcolm said, looking quite happy and quite the gentleman. “Please see the lady and her men to rooms on the third floor.”

To Judith he said, “We do no’ get many guests here, m’lady,” he said sweetly. “I do hope ye’ll be comfortable.”

“I can assure ye, sir-” Judith stopped suddenly. “Please forgive me, but I do no’ know yer name!” She fluttered her eyes and flashed a brilliant smile.

Malcolm bent at the waist again and returned her smile. “Malcolm, dear lady. Laird Malcolm.”

Judith continued to smile. “Laird Malcolm,” she said with a nod of her head. “I canno’ thank ye enough fer yer kind hospitality. I can assure ye, we shan’t dwell long here. I’m afraid me husband is verra, verra ill and I must return to him in Aberdeen as soon as possible.” She painted a very sad and grievous look on her face.

Kate was glad she stood behind her lady for her expression could not have been seen by anyone. Forbes, however, had noticed it and he gave her hand a slight squeeze. She could feel in her bones that something was wrong, and for a moment, she wished she were back in the blasted carriage.

“Almer here,” Malcolm said as he introduced his man to the Lady and her entourage, “will see ye to yer rooms, m’lady.”

Judith gave a nod of her head and flashed another dazzling smile. “Thank ye kindly, Laird Malcolm.” She then turned to face Forbes.

“Forbes, we are in good hands here,” she told him with a wink that only he could see. “Please, go back to the carriage and see to it that yer men repair it quickly. I truly wish to reach my husband as soon as possible.”

“But m’lady, if I leave ye here unattended, yer husband, no matter how sick he is, will have me head!” he pleaded through gritted teeth, hoping she’d not continue to insist he leave. He should have known better.

“Never ye mind about Alfred! I want ye to see to the carriage. If it makes ye feel any better, ye can leave two of yer men with us,” she said before grabbing one of the other soldiers and putting her hand on his elbow.

She turned her attention once again to Malcolm. “I am positive Laird Malcolm is an honest and kind gentleman!” She flashed him another smile. “I’m sure we’re in good hands here, Forbes. See to yer duties!”

Malcolm laughed and called for Nettie again. “I’ll have a meal brought up to yer room, m’lady. Nettie is a fine cook, even if she be a bit slow.”

“I’d be glad fer anythin’ in my stomach right now, m’laird! And again, I thank ye fer yer kindness.”

Forbes shook his head as he watched his lady ascend the stairs with her hand on one of his soldier’s arms. Kate followed right behind her, keeping her eyes on the floor. Forbes nodded to John. “Ye stay with them,” he said. John quickly fell in behind the others as Forbes looked on.

As the lady followed Malcolm’s man up the stairs, a sense of dread fell over Forbes. He could only pray his lady knew what she was doing.

“C
ould ye no’ have picked a better night to lay siege to a mad man’s castle?” Nial asked as he rode alongside Findley.

Findley looked ahead, appearing not at all bothered by his friend’s badgering and complaining. “I think ye’d complain if it were a bonny spring day in June, with the sun shinin’ and birds singing, Nial.”

Nial snorted and kept his eyes focused, looking for any signs of trouble.

After a moment, Findley spoke again. “Ya ken, there’s still time fer ye to go home and wait with the women and children, if the storm frightens ye so, Nial.”

“I be no more afraid of the storm than ye, ye shite,” Nial retorted.

Andrew and Robert rode as close to Wee William as they could. Somehow they felt safer near him, certain they were that even the lightning was afraid of the man.

“How much longer do ye think we have, Wee William?” Robert asked.

“No’ long,” Wee William answered. He worried over bringing the lads with them. But he knew that they’d have had to tie the boys to trees and keep a guard of twenty men on them in order to stop them both from doing something even more remarkably stupid than what they’d already done.

Robert adjusted himself in his saddle and for the hundredth time in the past two hours, he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. ’Twas a fine sword to boot! Nial had given it to him. Nial had said if Robert was dumb enough to steal cattle from Angus McKenna, dumb enough to pelt rocks at Wee William, and still dumber yet to have run away to fight the Buchannans on his own, then aye, the lad was dumb enough to carry a sword. Robert took it as a compliment.

While the lightning had decreased, the rain still fell in sheets. The closer the group of Highlanders got to the Buchannan keep, the quieter they became. Scouts had been sent ahead in three different directions and had not yet returned.

Nearly two hundred mounted men, divided into three groups, spread across the countryside. Had it been daylight, it would have been an intimidating sight to behold.

Not much time had passed before the scouts returned with news.

“The Buchannan keep be less than an hour from here, Findley,” one of the scouts said excitedly.

Findley sat taller in his saddle as he began to mentally prepare for the battle that lay ahead. Their plan was simple. They would come at the keep from three sides and lay siege to it with no warning. A group of men would be sent over the walls in search of Maggy and her son. It was to be a simple in and out mission with the only priority being to rescue Maggy and Ian.

“M’lady!” Kate whispered as she helped Judith out of her cloak. “What the bloody hell is happenin’?”

That was one of the things Judith loved most about her maid. She was not afraid to speak her mind. Nor was she above using a colorful word every now and then.

“Wheest, Kate!” Judith hissed. “I’m no’ sure yet if the walls have ears. Go about as you would under normal circumstances,” she told her.

Kate pursed her lips together and draped their cloaks over a chair. Almer had built them a fire and it was quickly helping to warm the room.

Judith made the soldiers stand guard outside so that she and Kate could remove their gowns and dry themselves by the fire. In a matter of minutes, both women stood in their chemises with warm dry blankets wrapped around their shoulders. Kate had draped their wet clothing on hooks that were fastened to the mantle.

They’d not brought any dry clothes with them, for it had been perilous enough in the horrible storm without worrying over trunks and such things. Escaping the storm had been far more important. As they sat huddled together by the fire, they spoke in very hushed tones.

“Kate,” Judith whispered. “Did you happen to catch a glance at Laird Malcolm?”

“Nay, m’lady,” Kate answered. “I was too busy shiverin’ and wishin’ fer a warm fire. Why?”

Judith leaned in closer and whispered in Kate’s ear. “Dunna react in any fashion, young lady, with what I’m about to tell ye.”

Kate nodded her head slightly as a chill of foreboding ran over her skin.

“The man who acts as our gentleman host is none other than Malcolm Buchannan.”

Kate was paralyzed for a moment, positive her heart had stopped beating. “No’ the Malcolm Buchannan, m’lady?” she whispered. She prayed her lady was mistaken.

“Aye,” Judith said. “The Malcolm Buchannan,” she let the words settle into her maid’s mind for a time before going on.

“Kate, I dunnae if he’ll let us leave or no’,” she said quietly. “If he has realized who I am, he may not. He may try to hold us for ransom, and Kate, I do no’ wish for that to happen.”

Judith had been held for ransom once before and it was an experience she didn’t care to repeat. For five long months she was hidden away in a cold, damp castle in the far north. ’Twas her husband who had rescued her. Of course, he wasn’t her husband at the time. But they did marry some three months after meeting.

“What is yer plan, m’lady?” Kate asked quietly. She had been Lady Judith’s personal maid for two and a half years. If she’d learned anything in that time it was that no one dared cross Lady Judith. The woman was as sweet and kind as the day was long. But she had a streak of strength and determination that ran deeper than the sea. Kate felt safer around Lady Judith than she did around most men. Well, save for Forbes.

“I’ve been thinking on it, Kate. I sent Forbes back on purpose. I feel better knowing that if we are held fer ransom, Forbes is on the outside to help us instead of held captive with us.”

“Aye,” Kate said thoughtfully, even though she would have preferred to be held captive with Forbes at their side. Still, it made better sense to have him on the outside to help.

A few moments had passed as each woman thought over their current predicament. It was Judith who finally broke the silence when an idea suddenly hatched in her more than devious mind.

“Kate, dear,” she began with a wry smile on her lips. “How long has it been since ye used yer talents as a spy or yer feminine wiles?”

Kate smiled coyly as if she had no idea what her mistress meant.

Findley and his men were not far from the Buchannan keep when they came across a small band of men and carriages stuck in the mud.

Angus held up his hand to bring his band of warriors to a halt. He took a moment to study the scene before him. How many times did reivers use the ruse of a carriage accident before pouncing on unsuspecting travelers? Thankfully, Angus had eighty men beside him. He doubted seriously any reivers would take the chance of attacking such a large number of men.

He sent one of his men ahead to get a better idea of what was happening. The man rode ahead, spoke for a few minutes to whoever was in charge and returned to Angus in short order.

“’Tis Lady Judith Kinleigh’s carriage, m’laird!” the warrior exclaimed. “One of the wheels broke and got stuck in the mud and they’re doin’ their best to repair it.”

“Is Lady Kinleigh well?” Angus asked. He had met Lady Kinleigh on more than one occasion, but it had been some time since he’d last seen her. He remembered she had a most beguiling smile and a temper just as dangerous.

“Nay,” his warrior told him. “They’ve taken her to seek refuge-” his sentence was broken by the sound of men on horseback rapidly approaching the carriage.

Angus and his men watched and moments later the mounted men rode toward them.

“I’m Forbes Stewart,” the middle rider announced as he approached Angus. “I’m guard to Lady Kinleigh,” he said as he eyed Angus and his men closely. “Who might ye be?”

“I be Angus McKenna, chief of the Clan MacDougall. Is Lady Kinleigh well?”

The relief in Forbes face and body was quite evident. “Thank God! I thought you might be more of them.”

“More of who?” Angus asked.

“More of Malcolm Buchannan’s men! We had to find refuge for Lady Judith and her maid. The storm was somethin’ fierce, I tell ye! We didna know it, but the keep we sought is Malcolm Buchannan’s.”

Angus sat up taller in his saddle as Findley, Wee William and Richard appeared beside him.

“Findley, this is Forbes Stewart, Lady Kinleigh’s guard,” Angus said as means of an introduction.

Forbes gave Findley a nod and continued. “Lady Kinleigh and her maid are now inside the Buchannan keep,” he said with more than a hint of anger and distress in his voice.