“You can’t help him. Not now,” he said.
As much as she didn’t want to hear it, Leif was right. She was more certain than ever that is was Colin who was responsible for what had happened to Duncan. Her proof would hold no weight with him; if anything it would give him even more reason to kill Duncan on the spot. She wondered why he hadn’t already done so.
“Where is she?” she heard Duncan say. For a man tied up, his voice held the unmistakable promise of danger.
“Not here,” Colin answered. “Don’t tell me she ran out on you again?” To one of his men he said, “Bring out the girl.”
Jeannie saw the poor maidservant dragged out and she had to fight the urge not to rush out and do something to help her.
“Wait,” Leif whispered. “We don’t want to interfere unless we need to.”
She relaxed just a little. Duncan trusted this man, she would have to as well.
“Where did the lady go?” She heard Colin ask.
The girl could barely speak she was so scared. “T-to the castle. She d-didn’t want him,” she gestured to Duncan, “to know.”
“Why would she do that?” Colin asked. Jeannie heard the suspicion in his voice.
The maid shook her head. “I don’t k-know,” the girl stuttered. “She was upset, she looked like she’d been crying all night. I heard them arguing.”
Jeannie’s cheeks heated. The walls at the inn were thinner than she’d realized.
“She betrayed me,” Duncan said flatly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she went to alert the MacDonald to my presence on the island. Leave her to them.”
Jeannie gasped. How could he think that?
“He doesn’t mean it, lass,” Leif whispered, but he didn’t sound quite as confident as he had before. He’d seen Duncan last night—no doubt he’d also seen how furious he was.
“Yet you were willing to surrender your life for hers,” Colin pointed out shrewdly.
Duncan nodded. “’Twas my fault she was here. ’Tis no more than I would have done for any woman in my care.”Even one who did not deserve it.Jeannie filled in the words he’d left unsaid.
Colin recognized the truth in that, as did Jeannie. Duncan was unfailingly chivalrous.
Colin gave him a hard look. “Why were you here?”
“I hoped to find my mother.”
“And were you successful?” Colin asked nonchalantly, though Jeannie knew he was anything but.
“Nay,” Duncan said. “She died ten years ago.”
Colin nodded, satisfied. “After what Jean Grant did to you last time, I’m surprised that you sought her out at all.”
“I hoped she might have come to regret what she’d done, but I was wrong. She’s as false of heart as she is fair of face.”
Colin studied his face, not sure whether to believe him. “I’m interested in hearing what Lady Gordon has to say all the same. I’ll send some of my men to the castle to see if we can’t retrieve her.” Colin’s smile sent a chill down her spine. “Our cousin has ordered me to bring you both to Inveraray. He wishes to see you before you face the charges against you.”
Jeannie breathed a bit easier. She had her explanation for why Colin had not executed him on the spot. She felt the inconceivable urge to thank the Earl of Argyll.
Duncan shrugged. “Do what you wish. She can swim home for all I care.”
A tear ran down her cheek. Her heart squeezed. He doesn’t mean it—no matter how convincing he sounded. But the look on his face last night when she’d told him about Dougall was still too fresh in her mind.
Colin started to order his men to take the prisoners to thebirlinn.Slowly, Leif backed them away to the safety of the inn’s stables. “He’s trying to keep you safe, lass.”
Jeannie sniffled and nodded. “I know.”I hope.She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. She couldn’t think of this now. Later her heart could break, right now she needed to help him. “We have to get to Inveraray before they do. Argyll will kill him. What are we going to do?”
