“Aye,so let us leave them to their fun. I am being foolish, seeing shadows anddangers where there are none.”
“Mayhapnot. Euphemia warned of trouble ere we left for the fair.”
“Didye tell Dougal?”
“Nay.She said our lives werenae in danger, just that there would be some trouble.”
“Weel,trouble can be many things, and if there is no real threat to our lives, Icannae see fretting o’er such a warning. We shall just keep a closer watch.”
“Ihope Euphemia soon gains the skill to be more exact in her warnings. ‘Twould behelpful to ken exactly what we must watch for.”
“Doye think she has the sight?” Margaret produced the ghost of a smile for aminstrel as he strolled by, pausing only long enough to nod a bow her way.
“Ifshe does, then today shall be quite pleasant for you.”
“Forme? How so?”
“Euphemiasays that ye will be verra happy indeed by the end of the day.”
“Iam not sure how that could possibly be true, but ‘twill be interesting to seeif she is right.”
Sorchawas not sure either for, although it was possible Margaret would grow a littleless morose, she could not see that one day at a fair would sweep away all ofher sadness. She did wish she knew exactly what sort of trouble lurked at thefair, however. It made her uneasy to know that something could go wrong, yetnot know when or where. A moment later she shrugged and decided it did not matter,as all of her attention was drawn to the beautiful materials Margaret wasspreading out for her approval. After all, if anything threatened them, Dougalwas just a short distance away.
“Lookthere, laddie, a tavern,” said Ruari, trying to ignore the fact that Beathamwas still sullen and silent. “I would certainly enjoy an ale after such a long,dusty ride.” He grasped his young cousin by the arm and started to drag himtoward the tavern. “There will probably be a bonnie wench or two to please oureyes as we quench our thirst.”
“Idinnae think the lad is paying ye much heed,” Rosse murmured as he kept pace onRuari’s other side. “‘Tis much akin to talking to yourself, I should think.”
“‘Tislike banging my head against a wall. Howbeit, he isnae the only one who can bestubborn.”
“Nay,ye have proven to be most persistent from time to time. Not always when ye areright, either.” Rosse met Ruari’s glare with a brief smile.
“Andwhat would ye do with a fool who has sulked for a sixmonth or more?”
“Lethim sulk if it makes him happy.”
Ruari’sreply got wedged in his throat as he looked toward the tavern again. Hissing anorder for both men to be quiet, he pushed Rosse and yanked Beatham behind acluttered stall where a woman was selling yards of fine lace. He peered throughthe delicate banners of lace and cursed, a second look confirming his firstsuspicion of whom he had seen.
“TheHays are here,” he said and held tightly to Beatham’s arm when the young manstarted to move. “I didnae say your lover was here. ‘Tis her idiot of a laird Isee. In front of the tavern stands Sir Dougal Hay.”
“Ahandsome lad,” said Rosse and shrugged when Ruari looked at him as if he wasthe basest of traitors. “‘Tis the truth.”
“Thathandsome lad is quaffing down ale he probably bought with my hard-won coin.”
“Nay,all that money went to ransom him,” protested Beatham as he feverishly lookedover the crowds, searching for one particular person.
“Ah,so the fool hasnae completely lost the use of his voice,” Ruari said, thenturned to Rosse. “If he is here, then others from his clan may weel be, too.”
“Yeare thinking of kidnapping one of the Hays, arenae ye?” Rosse shook his head. “Yecannae just grab a Hay in the midst of a fair.”
“Nay?Why not?”
“Ourmen are scattered all about,” he began to protest.
“Andthey will gather quickly if we give the battle cry, or hide until they are surethey can slip away safely.”
“Margaret,”Beatham whispered and bolted from their hiding place before Ruari could stophim.
Ruarilooked in the direction Beatham was headed and slowly smiled. His gaze fixednot upon the fulsome Margaret, but on the slim dark-haired woman walking besideher. “Malcolm was right,” he said to Rosse. “This fair will indeed provide mewith the means to refill my coffers.” Ignoring Rosse’s muttered protests, Ruarihurried after Beatham.
