Brandon furrowed his brow. “It does not appear so. The seal was intact, and I could detect no signs of tampering. Indeed, the priest informed me that he had been instructed to wait until a certain date before he could open the letter. I had arrived before that given date.”
“Do ye reckon this Edith lass kens somethin’ about William’s fate?” Owen pressed. After all, they had come to the inn on the assurance that Brandon had definitive news about the real killer.
Brandon nodded hesitantly. “I believe so, yes. He had told Heather and I that he feared his life was in danger, but neither of us considered it to be a genuine terror. After all, he was going to war. Every man fears for his life at such a time.” He paused. “That being said, I think he might have confided more in his wife. She might know whom he suspected.”
“Tell me ye ken where she might be?” Owen rubbed small circles against Heather’s back, soothing her.
Brandon gestured around the room. “Why else do you think I brought you to this village? The name of it was given in William’s letter. Apparently, she lives in a cottage in the forest not far from here.”
“Then we shouldn’ae be sittin’ here flappin’ our lips.” Owen got to his feet. “If she’s here, we find her tonight.”
Heather joined him in standing. “If this woman truly is my sister-in-law, I would see to it that she is safe.”
“Aye, I wasnae lookin’ forward to a good night’s rest anyway.” Sawyer lumbered upward: his face a picture of displeasure. Bedchambers had already been arranged for them, but it appeared they would have no use for such comforts.
You are not the only one who was looking forward to it,Heather mused inwardly. Nothing could have warmed her as quickly as Owen’s touch upon her skin, or his intimate kisses.
A relieved smile cracked Brandon’s fatigued face. “Gratitude to all of you. I had hoped you would be forthcoming with your help.” His smile turned into frown. “If I may ask, however, why is Lady Heather with you? I had assumed you would leave her at the castle, for her own safety.”
“Did ye now?” Sawyer’s eyes glinted with accusation, but Heather hurriedly jumped in.
“My father has made a threat against Laird Dunn. He did not think it wise to leave me there, in case my father managed to breach the defenses,” she explained.
The color drained from Brandon’s already pallid face. “The priest lied.”
“Pardon?” Heather tilted her head to one side.
Brandon gulped. “I asked the priest if he had seen or heard of any Gallagher men leaving the castle. He informed me that he had not, and he had been to the castle just that morning.”
Owen’s face twisted into a mask of anger. “Aye, the priest lied, and that means that Elias kens where this lass is. He made the threat to get me out of the castle, as we suspected, but nae for the reason we suspected.”
“What do you mean?” Heather grasped for his arm, staring up into his eyes in desperation.
“I’m the one he wants killed for his son’s death,” Owen replied, taking hold of her hands. “It was never about me bein’ innocent or nae. He decided it was me and he disnae want to blame another. But he kens I want the true culprit to be found, to clear me name. What better way to kill meandto capture the lass yer brother married, by lurin’ me out with a trap like that?”
Brandon looked like he might be sick. “I think you might be right, Laird Dunn, which means we might be running out of time. If the priest informed the Earl of when I departed, he will have sent men directly afterward. I rode as fast as I could but, even so, they cannot be too far behind me.”
“Then let’s make sure we get to that lass first and get out of this place before they can take home a victory,” Owen commanded, squeezing Heather’s hands. “I daenae want to bring ye into that, Lass, but if we must make a hasty escape, then ye’ll have to be with us.”
Heather smiled bravely. “You would not be able to stop me from coming with you, even if you ordered it.”
“Aye, well let’s hurry ourselves then!” Sawyer barked, already heading for the door. They all knew they would not be getting any rest that night. At least, not until they were all safely back at Dunn Castle, with William’s mysterious wife in tow.
How many other secrets are there, William?Only Edith Morton could tell them, now.
19
“Icouldn’ae help but overhear ye,” the innkeeper’s wife stepped into the glow of the stables, where the horses were hurriedly being prepared.
Owen paused, somewhat concerned by the admission. If the innkeeper’s wife had heard them, perhaps someone else had, too. “What did ye hear?”
“Ye were discussin’ Edith Morton, were ye nae? I wasnae eavesdroppin’ on ye, but words stand out to me. It’s a habit I’ve gained through me years of runnin’ the inn,” she explained deferentially. “Ye’ve nae reason to distrust me, M’Laird. We’re Clan McVey. We’re yer allies in all things, and I couldn’ae have ye ride out without kennin’ where ye were goin’.”
Owen took a tight breath. “Ye ken of Edith Morton?”
In truth, he did not know why he had not asked the innkeeper’s wife for information about the mysterious woman. If she lived close to Erinkillie, it stood to reason that the villagers might know something about her. At the very least, the location of her residence.
“Nae much, M’Laird, but I can tell ye where to ride,” the innkeeper’s wife replied. “Edith hasnae resided long in this part of the country—half a year or so. She hails from further north, but she came into the inn with a lad—he couldn’ae have been much older than ye, M’Laird. They were giddy as Spring lambs, stealin’ kisses by the fireplace, so I remember them well.”
