Elizabeth gave him a harrowing look. She knew he was upset, but she wasn’t going to let him turn this on her. “Other than lock him up, I don’t know what you expected me to do. He’s a stubborn, pigheaded, sixteen-year-old lad who wants to prove himself and thinks he is indestructible. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” Jamie’s mouth twisted, trying not to smile. “I gave orders that he wasn’t to leave the castle, but he stole a horse while most of the men were hunting, and no one noticed that he was gone until I went to look for him. He had no more than a few hours’ lead time on us.”
Jamie stood and came over to pull her up into his arms. He squeezed her tight. “Hell, I’m sorry. I know this isn’t your fault. Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find him easily enough.”
Elizabeth felt the tears gathering behind her eyes as she stared up into her big brother’s handsome face. “Do you think so?”
He pressed a kiss to her brow. “I know so. I will lead the search party myself.”
Relieved, Elizabeth stood to the side and listened as he gave orders to his men. If Jamie said he would find him, he would. When it came to warfare, there was no one she trusted more.
Although under the circumstances, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to make doubly sure. She waited for him to finish and drew him aside for a private word. “Are any of the Phantoms here?”
His expression went tellingly blank. “What are you talking about?”
She rolled her eyes. “Really, Jamie, it’s not that hard to figure out. Although I don’t know why you didn’t join, since you are always fighting with them anyway.” She rattled off the names of the men most often in his company: Gregor MacGregor, Kenneth Sutherland, Magnus MacKay, Ewen Lamont, Eoin MacLean, and Robbie Boyd. She knew Alex Seton had been a member as well, but he’d recently switched allegiance to fight with the English.
“How the hell...?” His eyes narrowed. “God damn it, Ella, you are too old to be listening at doors.” He gave her a hard look, meant to intimidate. Although impressive, it was thoroughly wasted on her.
He stormed off without confirming or denying anything, but she was relieved to see that when he rode out of the castle less than an hour later, four of the men she’d mentioned rode with him.
It would be all right. Her brother and Bruce’s Phantoms—or as they called themselves, the Highland Guard—would find Archie. She retreated to the room provided for her to bathe, eat something, and rest, confident that when she woke, she would be giving her young brother a scolding like he would not soon forget for scaring her so horribly.
Elizabeth tried not to be alarmed when her brother and the other men still had not returned by the evening meal. She’d hoped to have a chance to talk to Thommy, but he hadn’t been among the two hundred or so warriors who’d gathered in the Great Hall for the light repast.
She’d missed him the past few years, but hadn’t realized how terribly until she’d seen him. There had been a void in her life since Thom left, and now that she’d been given the chance, she was determined to put it right between them. They couldn’t go on like this. They’d been friends for too long.
When she’d inquired of Edward Bruce where she might find him, he told her he hadn’t seen MacGowan since the men had finished the work on the tower for the day a few hours earlier. He’d shrugged indifferently and suggested he might have gone into town with some of the others. He was a popular man in town. From how Carrick said it, she took it to mean with the women.
At that point, a man seated nearby interrupted. “He’s not in town, my lord.” He turned to her. “If you are looking for MacGowan, my lady, he was waiting to see the healer.”
“Thewhat?” She didn’t realize she’d jumped to her feet until everyone turned to stare at her.
The man—who was really more of a lad at seven or eight and ten—blushed. She suspected he was one of the earl’s squires. “I didn’t mean to alarm you, my lady. It is nothing serious.” He frowned. “MacGowan wouldn’t have been able to swing a hammer all day if his shoulder were broken.”
Elizabeth didn’t need to hear anything more. “Where?” she demanded.
The lad—Henry—pointed her in the direction of the apothecary, which he said was located near the kitchens on the other side of the castle garden.
It was dark and cold out as she fled the warmth of the Hall, but she didn’t take time to fetch her cloak. The directions weren’t as easy to follow as she thought, so she was forced to stop and ask a few times, but eventually she found the right door and burst into the small building windblown, breathless, and half-frozen.
But none of that mattered when she caught sight of the man seated on the stool with his back to her. He had his shirt off again, but this time she didn’t notice the broad shoulders, narrow waist, and wide expanse of muscle. This time all she could see was the patch of horribly bruised and swollen skin that covered a large portion of his right shoulder.
A sharp cry strangled in her throat.
He turned at the sound, and their eyes met.
“You’re hurt!” she exclaimed accusingly.
“It’s nothing,” he replied, a hint of annoyance marring the overly polite tone. “I thank you for your concern, my lady, but you should return to the Hall.”
He didn’t wait for her response, turning his head and giving her his back. Apparently, she was supposed to leave. Well, she was about to disappoint him. Undaunted by the cold clip of his voice and undeniable air of unwelcomeness, she closed the door behind her and crossed the room.
Although Thommy was ignoring her, the healer was not. The young, very pretty healer, she suddenly realized. The red-haired, green-eyed, pixie-faced woman was looking at her with unabashed curiosity.
“Elizabeth Douglas,” she said by way of introduction. “The injury is my fault. Is it broken?”
“Ah,” the healer said with a smile. “You are James’s sister. I thought you looked familiar. We met a long time ago when the Highland Games were held at your uncle the Steward’s castle on the Isle of Bute. My father was the Earl of Sutherland. I’m Helen MacKay.”
MacKay. It took Elizabeth a moment to make the connection. “Ang—” She started to say Angel, but stopped, realizing she wasn’t supposed to know that Lady Helen was the unofficial physician of the Phantoms. The woman’s eyes widened; she’d caught the slip. “You are Magnus MacKay’s wife,” Elizabeth said instead. “I’ve heard James speak of you.”
