The earl laughed. “Let me try first.”
The dungeons were colder now with the onset of cooler weather. Angus Ferguson was not a cruel man, however. His prisoner had both a brazier heating his small cell, and blankets. He was seated on his bed, finishing a bowl of what appeared to be lamb stew.
“Good evening,” the earl said.
The courier jumped to his feet as his spoon clattered to the floor. “My lord!”
“Sit down,” the earl said. “Finish yer food. Lamb stew is nae good cold. I hae a few questions for ye.”
The prisoner picked up his spoon and sat back down. “I will answer whatever I can, my lord,” he said.
“Are ye a kinsman in any degree to the Hamiltons?” Angus asked him.
“Nay, I am just a messenger,” came the answer.
“Hae ye any loyalty to the Hamiltons?”
“My loyalty, my lord, is to he who pays my fee,” came the candid reply.
“Yer message was delivered safely to Dumbarton,” the earl told the man. “It was said you fell ill and could nae continue on, so my brother sent one of his own people in yer place. He hae now returned wi’ a message for the Hamiltons, but we dinna know how to reach those who dispatched ye.” Angus Ferguson paused to see how this news was affecting the face of his prisoner. He saw curiosity, nothing more.
“I was told that if I received a return message for them that yer brother would know how to direct me,” the courier replied.
The earl was both astounded and furious. Matthew had shown a proclivity for taking Mary Stuart’s side in this, but Angus had assumed from his brother that he had only offered Duin as a way stop. Now it would appear his brother was involved more deeply than he had admitted, and by being so Matthew had endangered them all. He focused his gaze upon his prisoner. “I may require yer services. I will pay ye far more than the Hamiltons will, for I need your complete loyalty. I think ye have learned in these last few months that I am a man of my word.”
“Aye, my lord, I have,” the messenger said quietly.
“I will pay ye in gold for yer services, and should ye choose ye may make yer home here at Duin. A man should hae a safe place, and yer accent tells me ye’re an Edinburgh man,” the earl said with a small smile.
“I am,” the courier replied, “and yer offer is generous. I will serve ye loyally, my lord, but Edinburgh is a better place for a man of my profession. However, I will gladly accept yer gold in payment for my services,” he finished with a grin.
“’Tis fair,” the earl agreed, smiling. He instinctively knew he might trust this man he had held prisoner for these last months. “I will bid ye good night then,” he said. Then he stopped. “Ye hae never told me yer name.”
“My name is Ian Elliot,” came the answer.
“Good night, Ian Elliot,” Angus Ferguson said a second time. Then he returned to the hall from the dungeon. Arriving there, he called to Jean’s husband. “Fetch Matthew to me immediately,” he said.
“What is it?” Annabella asked anxiously, for she had heard the severe tone in her husband’s deep voice.
“Matthew is deeper into this treason than he has admitted,” Angus said.
“Oh, sweet Lord!” Agnes half whispered. “What hae he done, my lord?”
“He is in contact wi’ the Hamiltons. He can get in touch wi’ them. This goes deeper than just assassinations, and I mean to learn everything he knows. I think it best that ye take the children and leave the hall, Agnes,” the earl told her.
“I hae a right to know!” Agnes cried out.
“Aye, ye do. And ye will, but not until after I hae spoken wi’ my brother. Please obey me. Take the bairns and leave the hall.”
“I’ll go wi’ her,” Annabella said quietly. She could see the panic and fear in Aggie’s beautiful blue eyes.
“Nay,” Angus told her. “I want ye and Jeannie here. Agnes! Go now!”
Very frightened now, Agnes gathered the twins and her own infant, and hurried them all from the hall.
“What do ye mean to do?” Jean asked her brother. “Remember our mam, my lord. Remember Matthew’s devotion to ye, to Duin all these years,” she pleaded for her brother. “He would nae be disloyal to ye, to us, to Duin.”
“He hae been disloyal, Jeannie,” the earl responded. “I dinna know why, but he hae betrayed us. I must know why if I am to even consider forgieing him.”
