The Highlander's Lady (22 page)

Daniel snuck down the back servants’ stairs until he reached the kitchen at their end. Muffled voices sounded through the door which was open a crack. He glanced inside and watched them work. Watched as the woman who’d spied on Myra took off her cloak and hung it on a hook, then proceeded to knead a mound of dough. Her
strawberry
blonde hair was pulled back tightly in a bun at the nape of her neck. She didn’t have the look of a servant, but rather a lady. ’Twas odd. Very odd.

What appeared to be the head cook walked over toward her, nudged her shoulder and whispered in her ear. They exchanged a few words and nods, then the cook left the other woman to her task of making bread.

Daniel pushed the door open,
and
enjoyed the startled look on
the
faces o
f
those who were guilty of some form of deception.

“What are ye about?” he asked the
lady-look-alike
point blank.

Her startled expression quickly turned serene, bored even. “Kneading dough.”

“Ye know what I’m asking.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m sure she doesna, my laird,” the cook started, but Daniel cut her off.

“Out. Clear out.”

“We’re trying to feed an army!” she blustered.

“Then advise your kneader to accompany
me outside
for a moment.”

The lady
looked terrified at that, sh
a
k
ing
her head. But the cook straightened her
spine
and said, “Go,
lass
.”

As if understanding there would be no getting out of it, the woman squared her shoulders, grabbed her cloak from a hook and slipped it over her tight
form
. She rem
inded him a bit of Myra in her resolve
. He followed her out, conscious that she may turn a dagger on him.

She swiftly rounded on him once they were outside. “What do ye want?”

“What is your name?” he asked sternly.

“None of your business.”

“Is that any way to talk to a laird?”

“Depends. Ye dinna know who
I
am.”

She had him there. Was it possible she was of higher rank than he was? Daniel decided to change the subject.

“Why were ye spying on my wife?”

The woman huffed a breath and glanced from side to side as if routing out her escape.

“Ye canna run
.
I will only chase ye.”

“I wasn’t
spying.”

“Then what were ye doing?”

“I was…checking.”

“Checking? What the hell does that mean?” Daniel could feel his temper beginning to flare
.

“
I canna tell ye.” She folded her arms.

“Then I shall have to inform the Bruce and Wallace there is a traitor in their midst.”

At that she practically snarled at him. “Ye’ll do no such thing.”

“Watch me,” Daniel snarled right back. Who the hell did she think she was?

“The only thing I’ll be watching is ye embarrassing yourself.”

That was not the response he expected. Daniel frowned further, unable to form words in response.

“Mind yourself and your wife, and stay out of my way.”

She tried to push past him, but Daniel shot out his hand to grasp her above the elbow, and none too kindly.

“My wife’s safety, and the safety of Scotland is why I’m standing here with ye, lass.” He kept his voice low, allowing the deadly threat of his anger to seep into his words.

“I w
orry for
Scotland’s safety as well.”

“Then why do ye lie?”

She rolled her eyes and yanked her arm back. “I dinna lie, ye big oaf. I’m on your side. I was simply checking on your wife to make sure she was all right. There are a lot of traitors trolling the camps.”

“How can I trust ye?”

She shrugged. “I canna force ye too. But I can promise if ye press the issue, ye will only suffer for it.”

“At whose hands?” He waited for another lie to come from her mouth, but was wholly unexpecting what she said next.

“The Bruce. Your cousin Ronan.”

“Tell me your name.”

“Julianna.” Ronan rounded the corner, a look of possession on his face. The woman he’d called Julianna, the spy, reddened in the cheeks and ducked her face.

“Ye two know each other?” Daniel asked his cousin.

“Aye, and ye?”
Ronan scowled, his light hair falling over his eyes giving him a dangerous look. The man looked so much like his older brother, Magnus, it was uncanny.

“Only just met. She was…checking in on Myra.”

Ronan nodded slowly. “A word, cousin?”

Forcing back a growl of frustration, Daniel followed his cousin.

“What is it?” Daniel asked, watching over Ronan’s shoulder as Julianna slipped away.

“Dinna press her.”

“Why?” He studied his cousin, seeing the frustration and admiration written on his face.

“I’ve yet to figure her out, but I do know the Bruce and Wallace both think very highly of her.”

“Is she a lady in disguise?”

Ronan shrugged. “I dinna know.”

“Are ye taken with her?” Daniel couldn’t believe it. The great and mighty Ronan taken with a woman—and a hellion at that!

Ronan glowered at him, crossed his arms. “I ought to call ye out for that.”

“Go ahead
.
I could use a good fight.”

Ronan grinned. “Let’s go then.”

Chapter Twenty

T
he floor beneath Myra’s boots was surely wearing thin from her pacing. Where the hell was Daniel? He’d said he’d be back quickly. Had the woman lured him into an alcove and killed him? Offered him a cup of poisoned wine?

Every scenario
flashed
before her eyes. All of them bad. All of them ending with Daniel’s death.

This wasn’t going to work. She had to get out of this chamber and find out what was happening. But just as she reached the door, shouts came from outside. Myra rushed back toward the window to see what was happening. From the fields
beyond the walls,
she saw men—warriors—rushing the castle walls. Oh, Lord! Pray be friends and not foe!

Friends would not rush a castle, battle cries ripping from their throats.

Had to be the Ross warriors. That meant they’d gotten a signal. Wallace had not been successful in his retrieval of the
future
king.

“Dammit!” Myra stomped her foot, envisioning all of Scotland crumbling around them.

Whirling in a circle
,
she took in the room
,
trying to figure out what she could use as a weapon.
The claymore was just too damn big.
Candle sticks, the basin… There was nothing in this forsaken chamber! She’d have to make do with what she had. She could certainly
thump
someone into unconsciousness if she had too. Myra gripped her dirk in one hand and shoved the candlestick under her arm as she opened the door to her room. Hand free of the door handle, she held the candlestick in a defensive measure. The corridor was once again empty. This time she welcomed the eerie silence.

Myra crept down the hallway toward the end—the opposite direction of the main stairs. There had to be a set for servants. She found it at the end of the hall, hidden within what appeared to be an alcove. Clever.
She’d missed them before.
The stairs were dark. Why didn’t anyone light torches in this place? Well, she supposed she knew the answer to that. It would use resources they could save for a later day. Today was that day—they were being attacked!

Taking the stairs slowly, sliding one foot along until she reached the edge of each step, she descended. There were no noises from below. Not like when she’d been attacked at Foulis. At her own home the sounds of the enemy echoed all around her, the stuff of nightmares. Here
,
it was as though she were all alone in the world.

Myra paused in her steps to listen carefully. She no longer heard the shouts from outside. Was that even possible? Were the walls so thick that they would disguise the sounds of an attack? That didn’t sound very good for the castle inhabitants. Was it possible she’d gotten it wrong and they were not being attacked? Only one way to find out. She finished descending the stairs and pushed open the door to the kitchen. Inside, she took note that the kitchen staff looked scared, gripping spoons and knives so hard their knuckles were white.

“What is happening?” she asked them, hoping they would not shun her as they had before.

A woman with reddish-blonde hair turned around. That same aquiline nose. ’Twas the woman who’d spied on her. Myra stiffened. “Ye…”

The woman nodded. “I’m no enemy, my lady. That I can promise ye.”

“Are we under attack?”

She shook her head, hesitated, then nodded. “In a way, aye.”

Myra’s hands faltered, she dropped her arms to the sides, no longer in attack mode and frowned at the strange woman. “What in all of Purgatory does that mean?”

“I’m Julianna.”

“And? Will ye not tell me what ye’re talking about?”
Myra said through gritted teeth.

Julianna
glanced around at the other servants, then letting out a long, annoyed breath she said. “Aye. The Ross warriors have been camped outside of our walls for days on end. Every so often they make a run for our walls, trying to scare us out. They know the Bruce is
not
here and they hope that we will abandon the castle.”

“How do ye know they are Ross men?” Myra was instantly on alert, recalling what Daniel had said about the castle being full of enemies. Julianna had been spying on her after all.

“I know.”

Myra waited for her to explain further, but it soon became evident she would say no more.

“Then they will not breach the walls?”

“Nay. We will not allow it.”

Myra cocked her head, studying Julianna. She was a strange one. It almost felt like she spoke in riddles.

“Where is Daniel?”

“Fighting with his cousin.”

“Fighting?” They were under attack! Julianna had only been stalling!

“I can see from your expression what ye are thinking, my lady. I assure ye, we are
not
under attack and that they fight only with each other. ’Tis a warrior thing.” Julianna waved her hand as if dismissing the topic. “Should ye like to try an apple tart?”

It was
evident
that Myra wasn’t going to get any answers from Julianna, and she was definitely not hungry for a tart.
She whirled on her heel and headed toward the arched door that led to the great hall.

“Where are ye going?” From behind came the click of Julianna’s heels as she tried to catch up with Myra’s quickened steps.

When she reached her side, she walked just as fast. Irritation boiled deep. Myra stopped walking altogether and faced a stunned Julianna.

“Ye make no sense, and I wish to be away from ye.” She lifted her chin, trying to put the servant in her place.

“I’m afraid that is impossible.” Julianna’s jaw was set in an alarmingly tight edge.

“Why?”

“I was charged with…watching over ye.”

“By who?” Myra crossed her arms over her chest.

“My brother.”

“Who is he and why does he want ye to watch over me?”

“Never ye mind who he is, save know that he is powerful. He wants me to watch over ye, because he’s heard a rumor about ye.”

Myra’s ire was piqued, and she glowered at the woman. “So your mysterious brother thinks that I’m a threat?”

Julianna shook her head vehemently. “Let us go to your room and I shall explain.”

At that, Myra laughed heartily. “I dinna think so. Know that I can defend myself, but I’ll not willingly invite ye in to kill me.”

This time Julianna laughed. “I’d not harm ye at all. I’m to protect ye.”

“Well, I dinna need your protection. I’ve Daniel’s and my own.”
She shook the candlestick at the woman.

Julianna nodded, then leaned in close. “I swear to ye, I’d not harm ye. I canna tell ye all here
. T
he walls have ears,” she whispered.

Myra glanced around at the shadowed corners and darkened alcoves. “Does no one here like to light torches?”

Julianna laughed once more. “There is plenty of light from the windows.”

There were three meager window
s
in this passageway, all at least ten feet apart. Hardly conducive to seeing.

“Fine. Ye can come to my room, but I warn ye, I have
no
problem stopping ye if ye try to harm me.” Myra hoped she wasn’t making the wrong choice.

Julianna nodded,
and
swept past her and
headed
toward the stairs leading up. Myra had no choice but to chase after her. Julianna stopped every few feet to listen, then would continue on. Myra did
followed suit
, not hearing anything, but feeling uneasy just the same.
She craved the peace within the walls.
Once they reached her room, Julianna went to bar the door and Myra shot out her hand to stop her.

“Nay, leave it unbarred.”

“Suit yourself,” Julianna replied, her brow furrowed. “But if the door crashes open, be prepared.”

Myra stood, arms crossed and watched as Julianna inspected her chamber
for anything out of the ordinary
,
similar
to what
she herself had done
before
. She allowed it to go on, but as soon as the woman was finished, she wasted no time in asking what she needed to know.

“Who are ye? What is going on?”

Julianna smiled. It was a friendly smile. Not at all
what she’d
expected. It was unnerving and threw her off her guard.

“Ye’ve nothing to fear
from
me. We can be friends.”

“Not if ye keep deferring all my questions.”

“All right, I’m not one to beat around the bush. Now that we’re inside your chamber and there is obviously no one here to listen in on us, I shall tell ye. We
received
word of Ross’ defecting to the English, although he would seek to keep it a secret, and in turn, murder the Bruce. ’Twas his mission from
Longshanks
.”

“And? Where is the Bruce?”

“He’s away, safe.”

“How do ye know this? Not even Wallace knew it.”

“Robert had to keep a few things secret, even from his own men.”

“But not from ye? Are ye his lover?”

Julianna laughed. “Dinna be silly. We are family, nothing more. Blood is thicker than water, and so Robert trusts me wholly with his counsel.”

“I still dinna understand. If ye knew that Ross was bad, why did the Bruce do nothing to stop him from massacring my entire clan?” She seethed with anger, for the unjustness of what happened to her, her brother’s death, the pain and loss of so many.

Julianna did look sad then, but it was only a flash before her features were smooth once more. She looked so regal, so well acquainted with her own feelings. Myra shivered. There was much more than what met the eye with this woman.

“There was not enough time,” she said quietly. “Robert was very saddened when he heard the news, which was why he left immediately, pretending to agree to Ross’ request for a meeting. He knew it would be an ambush. Knew that ye would be comin
g here. I too am sorry for all
ye’ve been through, and for the loss of your brother. If I lost my brother, I would not know what to do with myself.”

Myra’s heart clenched and the pain of Byron’s death
, all she’d lost and the uncertainty of her future,
was felt
acutely
all over again. She swallowed back her tears, and lifted her head, smoothed her features just as Julianna had, and found that it was not as difficult as she thought it would be.

“Why did Wallace not know of what happened at Foulis?”

“I suspect there was not enough time for Robert to tell him.”

“Aye, indeed, Wallace ran out after the Bruce believing him to be in danger. Why would he not tell him? Makes no sense to me.” Myra felt her pain turn to anger once more. Too many games. Too many people keeping things hidden when knowledge would have made everyone’s lives that much easier.

“I dinna get in the way of Robert’s thoughts or machinations. I simply listen and follow his orders.”

Myra growled under her breath and turned in a circle, frustration rattling her bones. Where was Daniel? She needed to sort this out with him, not with Julianna.

“Myra…” Julianna came closer, reached out her arm as though she’d comfort Myra, but then dropped it back toward her side. “There are no words for what ye’ve been through. No words for all that is going on. I but thought ye should know ye’re not alone. That ye did a good thing in coming here. The Bruce will surely see ye rewarded.”

That was the last straw for Myra. “I care nothing for a reward! I only came here because it was my brother’s dying wish. If not for that, I’d be at home, at Foulis, putting my castle back together. Helping my clan rebuild their homes. Taking care of my brother’s widow and unborn bairn. Not here! Dinna mistake me in my allegiance to the Bruce, he has it, but dinna also think I have no other responsibilities.”

Julianna was visibly taken aback. “Then we’d best make sure ye return soon.”