“And who is this spy?” Meg asked, though she’d already guessed.
“Dougal MacDonald. Your mother said he was a suitor of yours at court?”
“Odious man,” her mother said. “You never can trust a MacDonald. I never would have sent him after you in the forest had I known.”
“None of us knew, Mother,” Meg said consolingly. “But I never seriously considered his offer.” Not after what he’d done to Alex. Refusing his offer of marriage had been easy; the hard part had been doing so politely. She turned back to her father. “With Alex no longer at court, how are the chiefs getting information from Edinburgh?”
“Spies. Informants. There are always people willing to talk for the right price. I believe Alex also recruited one of Seton’s personal servants.”
Oh no. No wonder he’d been so angry when he thought she was spying on him. “A maid, by chance?” Meg asked numbly.
Her father quirked his brow. “Yes, I believe so.” He looked at her for a moment and then continued. “Rory MacLeod is still at court. He sends messages in duplicate, one to his brother on Lewis and one to me. It is my duty to keep the other chiefs apprised of the changeable situation.”
“I believe Meg will be most interested in the latest missive you received from Rory Mor,” her mother said.
Her father cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. The latest report of the next supply shipment two nights hence is the one we’ve been waiting for that should enable Alex and his men to take the castle and send the Adventurers running back to Fife.” In case Meg missed the implication, he added, “If the MacLeods take the castle, this will all be over. And Alex will return to Dunvegan.”
A hero,she thought. Despite his betrayal of her, Meg felt a wave of compassion for Alex. A victory on Lewis might help erase some of the pain of the loss of his cousins. She hoped so, for his sake.
Meg didn’t know what to say. This new information had explained many things, but it did not change what he’d said to Lord Huntly. Or did it? He’d lied to Huntly about fighting for the Lowlanders. Had he lied about everything else? But why?
Her father stood up and began pacing before the large stone fireplace. “What I don’t understand is why Alex would become involved with you, knowing the danger a connection with him would pose for you.”
Meg didn’t hear what he said next, because for the second time in the space of a few minutes she had been given a wicked jolt.Danger.Her mind worked quickly.A connection with Alex would be dangerous.He knew that. He also knew the danger he would face on Lewis. That he might never return, and if he returned, he might be imprisoned or killed. Had he known she was listening to his conversation? Had he merely been trying to protect her?
Her heart soared. A bright beam of sunlight broke through the oppressive darkness that had shrouded her soul since that morning in Edinburgh.
For the first time in three weeks, Meg allowed herself to hope. Perhaps when he’d finished his quest on Lewis, Alex would come for her?
Like an omen, a clansman shouted from thebarmkinbelow, “Abirlinnis approaching.”
Her heart jumped.Could it be?
Chapter 19
Meg dashed to the window and peered down into the smallbarmkinabove the sea-gate. She could just make out the figure of a man climbing swiftly up the stairs. He was certainly tall and broad-shouldered enough….
Yet somehow she knew it wasn’t Alex. Her heart plummeted as if someone had yanked a chain, forcibly bringing her hopes back to reality. Of course it was too soon—Alex was still fighting on Lewis.
She watched as the man jostled his way through the swarm of Mackinnon clansmen training in the court yard. But even though he was partially concealed by the crowd, she easily made out the thick auburn hair of the new arrival.
“Who is it, Meg?” Rosalind asked, the excitement in her voice evidence that she, too, hoped for another.
“’Tis Jamie,” Meg responded brightly, trying to cover her disappointment.
Her father lifted a bushy gray brow. “Seems that decision might be pressed upon you sooner than you expected, daughter.”
Meg steeled herself for Jamie’s reaction, not sure what to expect. He’d changed in the past few weeks. He seemed older. Harder. “I’m sorry you had to travel all this way, Jamie, but I can’t marry you.”
His back stiffened, and his mouth drew into a tight line. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I thought you would welcome my offer.”
He was angry and not a little surprised. In truth, she’d surprised herself. This was the second time that she had decided to marry Jamie and then changed her mind. Soon she’d have to add fickle to her ever growing list of character flaws. But she couldn’t marry him, not when she didn’t love him. And Elizabeth was right, Jamie deserved someone who did. Judging from his reaction, however, Meg suspected she’d hurt his pride more than his heart.
“I do,” she assured him. “I appreciate it more than I can say. Marrying you would solve all my problems, but it wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Fair to me.” He combed his fingers through his hair, searching for an explanation, looking at her as if she were half-crazed. Perhaps she was. Jamie Campbell was not a man any woman would turn down lightly. But he was not the man for her. His eyes widened. “Good God, you’re not with child, are you?”
Meg colored to her roots. She looked around the hall, relieved to see that they were still alone. “No…” Her voice faltered. “There isn’t a child.” Though she knew it was ridiculous, Meg felt a twinge of regret.
