Niall looked at her skeptically. “You don’t know?”
She shook her head.
“Alasdair MacGregor was hanged and quartered with eleven of his men a few days ago—including six men who’d surrendered as hostages and had no trial—at Market Cross in Edinburgh. More are scheduled to be executed in the next week.”
Caitrina shook her head, dumbstruck. “No. You’re wrong. Jamie negotiated the MacGregor’s surrender under the explicit agreement that he would be taken to England. It was one of the reasons for our marriage—a sign of good faith, if you will. Argyll promised to take him to England.”
Niall’s lips curled. “He did. Argyll took the MacGregor to the border, set him down outside the carriage so that his feet could touch the ground, and then returned him to Edinburgh for trial. Argyll kept his promise—fulfilling the terms, but not the intent of the agreement. Thanks to your husband’s clever negotiating, Alasdair MacGregor is dead.”
No.It isn’t possible.Jamie wouldn’t have deceived her so. He wouldn’t have tricked her into marrying him, intending all along that the MacGregor should die . . . would he? Had he something to do with this? She felt a flicker of uncertainty that she quickly tamped down. No. Not the man she knew. He wasn’t simply Argyll’s strong arm, he was a good man. “If what you say is true, my husband knew nothing about this.”
“I can assure you it’s true. There have been risings from Callander to Glenorchy to Rannoch Moor in retaliation for the treachery of Argyll. Your husband is a hunted man.”
A chill swept over her.
Niall looked at her as if seeing her for the first time and not recognizing her. He swore. “You care for him.”
Heat crawled up her cheeks in silent affirmation.
“God, Caiti, don’t you know what kind of man he is?”
Her eyes flew to his. “I do. He’s nothing like what they say.”
“You could wring more compassion from stone,” Niall said flatly. “The Henchman is ruthless in achieving Argyll’s pursuit of Campbell domination.”
Caitrina stuck up her chin. “You don’t know him like I do.”
Niall laughed, and it wasn’t pleasant. “You’re a fool, Caiti Rose.”
Caitrina stiffened at the insult. This wasn’t how it should be. Her brothers had returned to her from the dead, and they were arguing. “What can I do to help Brian?”
It was clear their conversation had upset Niall as well, and he was grateful for the temporary change of subject. “He needs more care than I have knowledge for. He needs a healer. Can you bring one?”
“Here?” she said, aghast. “You can’t mean for him to stay here?” He should be with her at Rothesay.
Niall’s mouth fell in a hard line. “What else would you have me do? He would not last the trip to Eire again. Nowhere else is safe.”
They are outlaws.Just like the doomed MacGregors they’d tried to protect. But it didn’t have to be that way. “Let me tell Jamie when he returns. He can help. You are my brothers. You are chief by right. Perhaps he can get pardons—”
“You must be mad. Do you honestly think he wouldn’t throw us right in the dungeon?”
“He released Seamus and the others, didn’t he?”
“Because they had no claim to the land. He’s a Campbell; he’ll not willingly relinquish Ascog. And he need not look for an excuse. I’m an outlaw, Caiti.”
“You don’t need to be. What happened to Father, the attack on Ascog . . . Jamie never meant that to happen. I think if he knew the truth, we could trust him to be fair.”
“You’d trust him with my life? With Brian’s life?”
Caitrina bit her lip, ashamed for the shadow of doubt that crept into her consciousness. Niall’s news about the MacGregor’s death had shaken her but not changed her belief in her husband. She trusted him. “I do.”
Niall paused and regarded her thoughtfully. “What if you’re wrong?”
Caitrina met his gaze and swallowed hard. “I’m not wrong.”
“Well, I can’t trust him. Not yet, at least. You must promise to keep our presence here a secret, Caiti.”
“But—”
