“It is gone,” he said softly.
“As is my chemise.”
Fergus nodded.“Whoever took it meant for you to appear to be the villain.”
Leila watched him, wondering what he would decide.He closed the door and locked it again, then he came to her.His eyes were dark, his expression solemn.“I will keep the keys now, as that will cast doubt on any accusation.”
Leila nodded, feeling that her position was precarious.
Fergus slid his arm around her shoulders and drew her close.“Do not look so fearful.I know that you have defended the prize with your life.I know your innocence.But what scheme does our villain have?Agnes is yet in the hall, so if you are right—”
“I am right.I know her scent.”
“Then she has not gone far to hide it.That means it can be found.”Fergus smiled down at Leila.“Let us say naught and let her provoke the display of the reliquary.There must be some plan to reveal your supposed theft.”
“And we may find the treasure before that,” Leila concluded.
“I will ask Hamish to follow Agnes and see if he can find it, but we will confide in no one else.”Fergus raised his brows.“Certainly not our guests, the Templars.”
Certainly not.
Leila was clearly shakenby the theft of the reliquary.Indeed, Fergus was worried about it, as well, but he strove to appear more confident than he felt in order to reassure his wife.He guessed that Leila feared she would be blamed and did not doubt that she was right.
He had to find the reliquary first.
He spoke to Hamish after the evening meal, striding to Rodney’s abode to speak to the boy in confidence.Hamish was thrilled to be entrusted with the responsibility of watching Agnes and Fergus knew the boy would do whatever was necessary to aid Leila.His loyalty was indisputable.Fergus chose to wait a few days before sending Hamish to aid the miller, and asked instead what Hamish thought of journeying to Haynesdale to train for his spurs.
Hamish’s shout of joy brought Rodney and Mhairi and offered a suitable guise for Fergus’ mission.
“It was Leila’s idea,” Fergus said.“She was the one who guessed your ambitions.”
Hamish’s eyes glowed and his aunt and uncle were most grateful.
Fergus returned to the hall to find Leila laughing with Calum beside the fire.Agnes was cleaning the board without enthusiasm and he wondered where she might have hidden the reliquary.He recalled that glimpse he thought he had of her in the stables and resolved to look there the next morning.
At this hour, though, he wanted naught more than his wife’s companionship.
And truth be told, he wanted to give Agnes a surprise.
Fergus caught Leila’s eye and smiled at her, glad that she smiled warmly in return.He pulled the keys from his purse and let them swing on their cord, catching the light.Agnes stared at him.“You have the keys, my lord?”
“Aye, Agnes.After my lady locked me in the solar the other day, I vowed that would not occur again.”
The girl flushed and stammered an incoherent reply, then glared at Leila before she returned to her cleaning.Fergus thought she deserved no less, for it was clear to him that she meant to let Leila be blamed for the loss of the reliquary.
Leila’s distrust had been deserved, after all.
He could only hope that Agnes would soon lead Hamish to her hiding spot.
In the meantime, Leila spoke to his father, who rose to his feet and the pair crossed the hall to Fergus.
“You will not have a protest from me when you summon your lady wife to bed,” his father jested and they climbed the stairs together.Calum retired, Iain coming to assist him, and Fergus escorted Leila to the solar.“Since I have the keys,” he said.“I would serve as your maid this night.”
Leila smiled.“I would wager that you wish for a boon from me for your trouble.”
“Of course.I have waited all day to learn whether the merchant escaped the djinn or not.”
She laughed aloud.“You could have asked me during our ride.”
