‘I do not think your men are doing this to put Grigor in the chieftain’s chair,’ Euan said with a shrug.
Think what he might, it would not be Euan making that decision. The man did want peace, Brodie knew that much, but he had agreed to this extraordinary arrangement to save his daughter. And, for the additional concessions that Brodie would broker for him when the time came.
‘Get some rest,’ Euan advised him. ‘We ride at morning’s light.’
* * *
At dawn, as Brodie climbed stiffly onto the black for the ride to Drumlui, he suspected that this was only the beginning of the road through hell.
* * *
Arabella tried to hide her true feelings, but each hour that passed made it more and more difficult. The two women he’d assigned to her looked on her with suspicion and loathing. She would never again complain about Ailean’s sour disposition after spending the past few days with these two.
At first she thought she could sway them from staunch support and absolute obedience, but she failed at that. So, she stopped talking to them. Whenever another servant arrived, whether with food from the kitchen or clean linens for her bed, she tried to engage them in conversation.
All her attempts to discover his plans failed. All her attempts to gain some freedom of movement failed. Then she had a visitor that the two servants could not order away. Grigor Mackintosh knocked at her door and asked to speak to her. While the two women were chattering about what to do, Arabella opened the door and bade him enter.
‘Lady Arabella, I thought to look in on you,’ he said politely as he sat next to her. ‘You look as though you are recovering from your ordeal.’
‘Go and fetch some wine and some food for my guest,’ she said to Bethoc, the young woman. When she looked as though she would refuse, Arabella smiled at her. ‘Remember who will be your lady in just a few days, Bethoc. It might be better to be in my good graces since I will oversee this household.’
‘Begin as you mean to go, my lady,’ Grigor added, making the young woman pale as she considered this new twist to her situation. Deciding that fetching refreshments was safer than directly disobeying her, Bethoc nearly ran from the room. Once she was gone, Arabella smiled at the other one. But Grigor surprised her by speaking first.
‘I would speak with the lady privately.’
He nodded to the door and stood, taking only a step towards it before Una fled, too. Arabella had no doubt that she would go directly to Caelan, so they had little time.
‘Is Brodie alive? And the others?’ he asked.
She knew that Brodie and his men trusted Grigor, she knew he’d helped get Magnus out of the keep for them, but she could not understand why he would think he could trust her?
‘Come now, your aunt said you could be trusted.’
Her mouth fell open then. Of all of the things she thought he would say, that was not one of them. Her aunt? She would speak about that later.
‘They were when I was taken from the encampment. Some, though...’ She shrugged.
‘What do you think he will do?’
‘He was sending the women and children north to his uncle. The men? I do not know.’ Then she did. ‘He will come for me.’ Lifting her head and smiling, she repeated it. ‘He will come for me.’
That expression in his eyes when he saw her across the clearing in the camp. It was love looking back at her. He did love her. He would come for her again.
‘You must be ready. He will be here soon. But I have no idea how many will be with him.’ The sound of approaching footsteps down the corridor made her hurry with the rest. ‘He had the proof he needs. Tell those who would fight against him, he is the rightful chieftain.’
Grigor raised a brow at her words. Although Brodie spoke of supporting Grigor’s claim, she thought it should be Grigor supporting Brodie and said so. ‘They will need someone who has always put the clan’s interests first. He is the stronger warrior with the skills to bring this clan back together. He is honourable and worthy and—’
Grigor held his hands up in mock horror to stop her.
‘Aye, my lady. I have always believed it, but the lad did not. Maybe with us both demanding it, he will see reason?’
When the door flung open, Caelan found them sitting quietly, with Grigor offering his kind words about the ordeal she had suffered. The servants at his back stared in, expecting to find something else.
‘And so, I do hope you will not hold that criminal’s actions against the rest of us? That rogue will be stopped,’ he said, standing to leave. ‘Ah, Caelan, come to visit your lady, have you?’ He patted Caelan’s on the shoulder and nodded. ‘Young love, ’tis a glorious thing to witness.’
‘Caelan,’ Arabella said. ‘I did not expect you, but it is good to see you. May we speak?’ Caelan was still looking at Grigor as he walked down the corridor when she touched his arm. ‘Would you be free from your duties soon, so that we might walk together? I know you worry about my safety, but if you are with me, then all will be well.’
In trying to keep up his game, it was hard to refuse her.
