Dominic couldn’t miss the resolve on Emelie’s face, and he didn’t doubt she would crawl if she had to. He switched directions and walked toward Brodie’s solar. Brodie recognized Micheil, who trailed behind.
“MacLeod, what brings you here?”
“I brought a missive from Lady Blythe,” Micheil answered.
“I will have our housekeeper bring you food and drink. Laurel will see to a chamber if you wish to spend the night.”
“He’s coming with us. I have questions he will answer,” Dominic cut in. Emelie prayed Micheil had answers because she wasn’t certain Dominic’s temper could withstand any more frustration.
“Should I get Laurie?” Brodie asked as he looked at the couple now standing before him.
“Yes,” Emelie responded.
“I’m already here,” Laurel said from behind Micheil. “I heard we had a guest. Welcome, Micheil.”
“Lady Campbell, you look well. That’s a healthy lad you have.” Micheil waggled his eyebrows at Rick, who kicked his legs and grabbed a hank of Laurel’s hair in response. She had him fastened to her back with a plaid tied around them. The two couples and Micheil retreated to Brodie’s solar. Dominic thrust the now-crumpled missive at his brother. Laurel stood beside her husband as they read it together. Matching looks of shock turned toward Emelie and Dominic.
“Laurie,” Brodie warned.
“What?” Laurel snapped, her eyes narrowing at her husband.
“You’re a wee avenging angel when your loved ones are in danger. You’re also a mama now. You’re staying with Emelie. She needs you more,” Brodie whispered, but the others heard him.
“Bring Henry back here,” Laurel muttered.
“On a skewer,” Brodie offered.
“No one is going anywhere until Micheil tells us aught he saw of Henry’s men and camp,” Emelie declared. Micheil stepped forward, wanting the conversation over so he could be on his way.
“He’s traveling with only a half-dozen men. He knows his way here with ease. It makes me think he’s already spent time near or on your land. He camped near a thicket that someone would only find if they scouted a hiding place. We camped upwind of them, but my men and I sneaked as close as we dared. I don’t know if they sensed someone followed them, but they were all vigilant.”
“Why involve yourself?” Brodie asked, suspicion lacing his tone.
“Because Henry threatened Lady Blythe. I trust him not at all,” Micheil replied.
“Bluidy hell,” Emelie muttered. She looked at Dominic. “Do you remember the night we were dancing, and I wanted to leave because I recognized a Pringle coming toward us? That’s the man you have in the dungeon. I recognize him now.”
“I remember. I hadn’t seen his face at court,” Dominic stated. He looked at Brodie. “We left no one alive on the road. That means Henry had more men at some point. He could have watched the entire bluidy melee, then run back to court. Five days each way. That matches with when Blythe wrote the missive to Emelie and the time it took Micheil to ride here.”
“Blythe wrote that Henry claimed he wasn’t allowed to see me. Does he think I died during the attack? Why would he come back again?” Emelie wondered. “Did Blythe tell you aught more?”
“No, my lady. I don’t know why Henry searches for you. That’s not my business,” Micheil hedged.
“What happened after you got Blythe away from him?” Emelie pressed.
“Naught. I ensured she was safe and escorted her to the queen’s solar, where she was headed before Henry accosted her,” Micheil stated. Emelie sensed far more happened, but she suspected it had nothing to do with her or her situation. It was something between Micheil and her sister.
“Is there aught else you can tell us about Henry’s camp or that you’ve seen?” Dominic inquired.
“He was in a hurry to get here. He pushed his horses hard some days, but it only exhausted them sooner. He didn’t get here any faster than he would have, had he not nearly ridden them into the ground.” Micheil glanced at Dominic before looking at Emelie. “When Henry arrived at court this last time, I believe he sought your sister before he even sought his chamber. I know King Robert summoned Lady Blythe to meet with him while Henry was in the Privy Council chamber, too. The anger I saw in Henry when I found him with Lady Blythe didn’t match the jovial mon he pretended to be when he wasn’t cornering her. He was the mon I saw with Lady Blythe when he rode out of Stirling.”
“If he threatened Blythe, it could have been to ensure she told no one that he might be to blame once word reached court that I was dead,” Emelie reasoned. “Or he knew before he reached Stirling that I was still alive, and he threatened Blythe because he thought she knew something he didn’t.”
“I doubt we will solve this riddle until we have him,” Dominic said as he absentmindedly stroked Emelie’s hair from where he stood behind her chair. He watched her rub her belly, uncertain if she did so to assure herself that all would be fine or if knowing her babe was well calmed her. She turned to look back at him.
“What’re you going to do?” Emelie asked.
“I know which thicket Micheil described. He may or may not still be there. I won’t assume he only has six men. He may have men he was meeting there or somewhere closer to here. Obviously, they tracked us once we were off the birlinn.” Dominic looked at Brodie and Laurel. “Who else knew we left that night? There were men ahead of us on the road, and we saw no one sailing behind us. I didn’t think of this sooner, but someone knew where we were going and told Henry or his men.”
