When the summons came, it was well after dark and he strode through the keep to the earl’s chambers in the tower. Climbing the stairs, he was not surprised to find the lady also present. If it were unseemly for a woman to know a man’s business, the earl cared not. For as long as Dougal could remember, the lady was always at his side, giving counsel and sharing her opinions as was her wont to do.
Duncan, the man the earl relied on to negotiate the clan’s treaties, stood in the corner and Rurik, the commander of all MacLerie warriors, was there at his side. Both nodded as he entered but said nothing. Dougal walked to the earl and the lady and bowed, awaiting his orders.
“Dougal, you know that James Murray took Elizabeth?” Connor said. Dougal grimaced, but nodded. “I want you to select two other men and track them down. My best guess...” The earl glanced at his wife before continuing. He looked over and noticed the embarrassed blush spread across her face before turning back to the earl. “My best guess is that he heads to the village near the Glasgow road south. There is a priest of the old faith there.”
Dougal clenched his jaw and ground his teeth at this news. He must act on the earl’s orders and do nothing more or less than he said. No matter that Elizabeth was his younger sister and he wanted to rip this man apart, limb by limb, piece by piece, and make him suffer for kidnapping her. He took a deep breath and released it, holding onto his fury and planning to deal with it when he could.
“I know the place. We passed it on our journey here from Perthshire.” Already calculating the distance and time it would take to reach the village, Dougal realized they could reach it in a matter of hours if they pushed. Sooner if they used the mountain pass south.
“I want them returned here,” Connor said, his face giving away nothing of how he felt about the actions of this man. “I want him alive.”
“If he has harmed her or forced her, I will...” Dougal began, clenching his hands into fists.
“I want him returned alive, Dougal. Tavis assured me that you were ready to lead in his stead. If he was wrong and you cannot manage this task, I will get someone else.”
He need only return James Murray alive, the earl did not say he could not mete out some punishment—which was his right as Elizabeth’s brother. Piece by piece could wait until after the earl had levied his judgment on the man.
“I understand, my lord,” he said, nodding in acceptance of the limitations placed on him. “Do you wish me to leave now or at first light?”
Connor began to speak, but stopped when the lady touched his arm. They exchanged only a glance, no words, but some understanding was reached in that silent conversation.
“Now,” he said.
“Connor!” the lady said sharply. Dougal grimaced, waiting for the earl’s reprimand but all he heard was the soft laughter of the two men watching the exchange.
“Jocelyn, if he was true to his words, the deed is done and there will be no turning back from it. If he dawdled or delayed, I would have him returned here and deal with his lack of honor sooner rather than later. When things cannot be undone.”
The earl never raised his voice, yet Dougal cringed at the tone. The lady? She did not seem to understand her peril and continued to argue. Dougal forced his body still and fought the urge to take several steps back.
“Connor, I pray thee, do not...”
The earl stood so quickly that Dougal never even saw him move. Connor stood so that he blocked Jocelyn from everyone else in the room and no one could hear their harshly whispered words. A few very awkward minutes passed as they conversed, argued really, and then the earl sat back down. The lady wore a dark scowl on her face that matched his—clearly neither were pleased with how things were going.
“You can choose the men and leave this night.”
The words echoed in the chamber and Dougal waited for the lady to speak in protest. Silence filled the room, though from the mutinous expression on her face, the lady would not be silent for long after he left.
“Very well, my lord,” Dougal answered with a bow, offering a nod to the lady and to Duncan and Rurik, who followed him out.
He reached the bottom of the stairway, thinking about which men he should choose. This was his first command situation and his choice would reflect on him. Since it involved his sister and her reputation, he wanted men who could be discreet. And since he planned to bring James Murray back alive but not untouched, he wanted men who could be trusted.
Niall and Shaw.
“Dougal, wait a moment,” Duncan called out to him before he left the tower. “I would have a word with you.”
Dougal stopped until the two reached him. They were both among the most experienced and most loyal of all the earl’s men and their advice would be valuable.
“Do not let your personal feelings get in the way of your duty,” Rurik advised. “No matter that your sister is involved.”
Dougal nodded at the commander’s words, though in truth he would find it difficult not to remember his sister’s part in this.
“Do not let your temper loose,” Duncan advised. “Though Connor said only ‘alive,’ he would be furious if James Murray comes back too badly damaged.” So, the counselor had heard exactly what Dougal had. “Mistakes are made when a man’s blood is running hot, whether caused by lust or insult. Do not make a mistake in how you treat the Murrays’ heir.”
Good advice, even though Dougal had already planned how the man would suffer for having shamed his sister. He would be alive on his return—beaten, battered and abused, but alive. He nodded at the two and took his leave. Why the earl had waited this long before sending him, he knew not. Dougal only knew that he would find them and prevent his sister from making the biggest mistake of her life.
Within a few hours, the three of them were on their way south and west to track down his sister and the man who would dishonor her.
Chapter Seven
