“I did no’ forget you, Dee. ’Tis why I battled so hard to come back. ’Tis why I slew that bastard Gregor Avrie.”
“Aye.” She nodded solemnly. “For revenge—the same thing that drives me now. Look at me, Brother. Look at me!”
Finnan obeyed, straining at his bonds. He gazed into his sister’s face and saw his own determined hate.
“You,” she said almost lightly, “live for revenge against the Avries, and I for revenge against you. Are we not alike? Now I need only decide how best to take my price from you—in pain.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“We cannot leave him in their hands.” Danny, who spoke the words, sounded every bit as desperate as Jeannie felt. “He would not leave me, were our places reversed.”
“Yes, love,” Aggie told him and reached out to touch his shoulder. “But we must think carefully and not just go rushing in. We are but three alone, and the Avries have many men.”
Jeannie could hear the terror in Aggie’s voice. Aggie feared Danny might throw his life away for Finnan’s sake; she loved the lad just as Jeannie loved…
She caught herself up fiercely and slammed the door on that thought. Now was no time to contemplate her tangled feelings. Better, far better, to try and deny them.
For who could love such a man as Finnan MacAllister? What fool? Truly, if she could dismiss that lithe body, the clever hands, the hot mouth, what was left? For those attributes spoke only of lust, and though powerful, Jeannie could not say that would last.
But love? That required caring for the man within—he who had destroyed her—with his ironic humor, quick, agile mind, and the warmth that made him care for those sworn to him. Finnan MacAllister: when he loved he loved hard, and when he hated he hated completely.
He hated her. A practical woman at heart, she could not deny it. From the moment he knew her identity, he had planned every move, every smile, to wound her as deeply as he could. Surely that was enough to make her put aside any soft feelings she still had for him.
She groaned inwardly. What had Geordie written in those letters? She would give much to know, but knowing would not change the present situation.
And now, if she ascribed to the penchant for revenge that seemed to possess this place, she need do nothing save fold her hands, sit back, and wait for Finnan to get what he deserved. Yet she did not think the sickness in her belly would let her, nor the pounding of her wounded heart, nor the look in Danny’s eyes.
Through wooden lips she said, “What is to be done? How can we suppose to help him?” The Avries would kill him, she had no doubt; it had been their one aim these many days. They must kill him, so ownership of the glen would pass to Deirdre.
He might already be dead. Why would they wait? Why not make sure of their quarry once they had it in their hands?
Jeannie’s heart seized at that thought, and she experienced a rush of pain that far exceeded any Finnan had brought her. His changeable brightness gone from the world… There would be no reason for her to continue on.
“I should go.” Aggie, pale of cheek, drew herself up with resolve. “To be sure, I am the only one who can. Dorcas will think I have come looking for gossip. I can get inside Avrie House.”
Danny exchanged an agonized look with Jeannie over Aggie’s head. “But the Avries now know your mistress is in league with Master Finnan. Will they not suspect you, as well?”
Aggie tossed her head. “No matter; I am of little importance. And I might be able to discover a way—”
“There is no way,” Jeannie whispered. “I cannot believe she betrayed him—her own brother.”
“Aye, so,” said Danny, clearly torn. “But we must try. I cannot just leave him there.”
“I will go,” Aggie said again. “Give me a kiss for luck, lad—lest I never see you again.”
The kiss Danny bestowed was long and lingering. Aggie caressed his cheek then and looked into his eyes.
“I am that glad I met you, Daniel MacPhee—whatever may come next. I am glad I carry you in my heart.”
Danny kissed Aggie’s hand tenderly, and foolish tears flooded Jeannie’s eyes. She saw her little maid brace herself with resolve.
“You must come along and keep watch, both of you—but stay hidden until I bring you word what I discover.”
And Danny said, “Just try and leave me behind.”
****
“He is no’ there.” Aggie, cheeks now flushed red as apples, struggled up the rise to the place where Danny and Jeannie waited in concealment. “No one is there save the Dowager and her servants. Dorcas thinks they are all at Dun Mhor.”
