She looked back to see Ella’s eyes were wide and full of curiosity. “And what happened? Did he kiss ye back?” she asked as she folded the paper packet neatly, then took a small pot of salve down from a higher shelf. She gave them to Isla, who put them in her trouser pocket.
“I’m nae sure. I lost me nerve and ran away,” she replied. Ella snorted and turned it hastily into cough. “I had tae dae somethin’ tae stop him from askin’ me questions,” Isla tried to explain.
“Och, of course, it was nae because ye can hardly keep yer hands off him,” Ella whispered, shooting her a skeptical look full of mirth. “Seein’ him with his shirt off, I cannae say I blame ye. I just dinnae understand why ye ran away.”
Isla huffed and, hearing Ewan starting to grow restless with waiting, changed the subject to her more immediate need. “Ella, somethin’s happened, somethin really bad. I need ye tae give me somethin’ I can use tae put the whole camp tae sleep.”
Ella’s brows shot up. “The whole camp?”
“Aye.” Isla quickly explained about Ewan’s plan to use the secret tunnels to launch an attack on the castle. “Puttin’ them all tae sleep is the only way I can think of tae give me enough time tae warn Gregory.”
“All right, but I need some time tae prepare a potion. Could ye comeback tomorrow?” Ella whispered.
Isla frowned, wondering how she would be able to manage to slip out without Ewan knowing.
What choice dae I have? I must find a way.
She nodded. “Thank ye, Ella, I’ll dae me best.”
With her plan in motion, she was ready to leave. “How much dae I owe ye?” Ewan asked Ella as they prepared to go.
“There’s nay charge,” Ella told him. “But if one of the men at the camp should happen tae pass by and drop off a load of firewood in the yard, it would be much appreciated.”
Ewan smiled. “I’m sure I can arrange that,” he said. “Thank ye fer everythin’. I’m very grateful fer yer help.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” the healer replied as he crossed the threshold. “Good luck,” she whispered to Isla as she followed Ewan out. The pair briefly pressed hands in farewell. Ewan declared he felt well enough to take charge of the horse, so Isla got up behind him and put her arms around his waist. She waved at Ella, who stood at the door, waving back as she watched them ride away.
As they journeyed, Isla was preoccupied with Ewan’s condition, but at the back of her mind, the problem of finding a way to warn Gregory of the imminent attack was nagging at her. So she did not immediately notice they were not heading back to the camp at all. In fact, they were going in the opposite direction, towards Killicraigie, the village they had visited the other night. “Um, Ewan, where are we goin’?” she asked him, puzzled.
“Tae the inn,” he said simply.
“The inn? This is nae the time tae be drinkin’, nae after that potion Ella just made ye swallow,” she replied, surprised. “I thought ye said ye wanted tae get back tae the camp in case Allan’s army arrives.”
“I did, but then I got tae thinkin’ about it. I’ve got men out all over the place watchin’ out fer his army, and so far, they’ve seen naethin’. Besides, that soldier this mornin’ said his army’s still two days away.”
“What if that man was lyin’? And how does that account fer those men this mornin’? How did they get through if ye’ve men watchin’ all the time?” she asked.
“Doubtful, and I reckon that was a very small advance party, so small it managed tae slip through the net. I think there’s still time fer me tae carry out me plans before Allan arrives. And since I’m wounded and need tae rest, I thought it would be nice tae stay at the inn fer the night and sleep in a proper bed.”
Isla was very surprised, but she saw no reason to argue if it was what he wanted. “All right. I agree, a nice comfy bed sounds very appealin’.”
“It certainly daes,” he replied, and although she could not see his face, Isla had the strange feeling he was smiling.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ewan was terribly weary, and the whole of his upper chest hurt when he moved, especially his arms and shoulders. He found that out when he insisted on taking the reins. The painkilling potion Ella had made him drink had not yet started working, and the wound still throbbed every time the horse took a step. He really did fancy the idea of spending the night on a feather mattress instead of the hard cot. But that was not the main reason he had decided to stay at the Thatcher’s Arms Inn that night.
Before he carried out his plan to penetrate Galbraith castle and attack from within, he wanted to savor spending a little more time alone with Annie, in a place where she did not need her masculine disguise.
He was relieved when they reached the inn at last and left their horses with the same young lad as they had the time before. When they went inside to the bar, Ewan did his best to hide the fact that he was injured by doing up his coat and standing tall, so as not to attract attention. When the landlord went to speak tothem, he confirmed there was a selection of rooms available for travelers to rent by the night.
“I want the best one,” Ewan said and duly paid for a “very comfortable” double for him and his mate. He ordered ale and wine and some supper to be sent up to them as soon as possible and paid for that too. “Let’s go upstairs, so we can rest,” he said to Annie, who nodded.
A maid appeared and showed them up the stairs to the first floor. They followed her up the wooden staircase and into a large, well-appointed chamber. Lanterns had been lit and a crackling fire was picking up in the grate, their light casting a warm glow over the room. Ewan looked around, nodding his approval at the lush Turkey carpet beneath their feet, the velvet drapes, the chairs with plump cushions set before the fireplace and the large, four-poster bed that dominated the room.
“This is luxury, eh, Annie? After what we’ve been used tae these last few weeks,” he said after the maid had gone and the door was shut.
“Aye, ’tis like a dream,” Annie agreed, shedding her boots and jacket and going over to test the bed. “Och, a goose feather mattress! It feels like sittin’ on a cloud. Ye should come and lie down and rest yersel’,” she told him, patting the coverlet.
