He held his expression impassive and opened his sporran again, this time looking as he rifled through the contents. He frowned. Where was it?
“Is there a problem?” Argyll asked, the barest hint of uncertainty creeping into this voice.
“I can’t seem to find it. I must have lost it during the battle.”
If the room was quiet before, it was dead silent now. He didn’t need to look around to know that all eyes were fixed on him. He felt a burst of anger, knowing that there were many in this room who would be suspicious of him simply for his blood alone. But Archie would never doubt his loyalty. Duncan’s actions on the battlefield spoke for themselves. He would dare any man in this room to say otherwise.
He held his hand out for the return of the missive, but his cousin hesitated. He was tempted to snatch it back, but doing so would only make it look as if he had something to hide.
“Who is it from? It appears to be a woman’s hand.”
Duncan gritted his teeth and squared his jaw. “’Tis a private matter.”
Only when his cousin unfolded it and started to read, did he recall the wording:Come quickly…we must act immediately.Wording that might provoke question in even the staunchest of hearts.
His cousin looked up at him with a strange look on his face. “When did this arrive?”
Duncan did not shirk from the truth. “Last night.”
“After the council?”
“Aye.”
“I warned you to let nothing interfere with your duty to me. Perhaps you should have been focusing on the father rather than the daughter. Convincing Grant to join us was your responsibility.”
Duncan heard Colin’s sharp intake of breath when he understood the implication of Argyll’s words. Damn. He hadn’t wanted Colin to find out like this.
Shock registered on his brother’s features. “Jean Grant? You were with my betrothed last night?” he asked, accusation ringing in his voice.
“You are not betrothed. It is complicated, I will explain everything, I swear, but later.” He looked back to Argyll. “My relationship with Grant’s daughter has nothing to do with this.” His cousin’s criticism, however, was not as easily dismissed. “Perhaps I should have anticipated treachery, but I am not the only one in this room who Grant fooled.” His father, Argyll, all of them had believed Grant’s anger against Huntly to be real. “If you have something you wish to accuse me of, cousin, do it. Otherwise I shall go to see my father.”Who took a bullet intended for you.But he left that unsaid.
He waited and when his cousin said nothing, turned and left the room. Archie hadn’t accused him of anything, but neither had he defended him. With all that Duncan had been through today, the realization that his cousin could even remotely harbor suspicion toward him stung.
Could Argyll really think him capable of betrayal? Nay, it was only his frustration and anger talking. When his cousin calmed down, he would see the truth. Archie never apologized, but Duncan knew he would find a way to make amends.
For the next two days, Duncan kept a steady vigil at his father’s bedside, leaving only to wash the stains of battle from his weary body and make occasional use of the garderobe.
His father lay still and bloodless in the enormous bed, seeming to wither before his eyes. The bleeding had stopped, but he’d yet to regain consciousness. The healer warned that it was likely he never would. But Duncan wouldn’t leave his side in the oft chance that he did.
Jamie and Elizabeth had been sent for, but had yet to arrive. Argyll and Colin were frequent visitors, but never stayed long and spoke little. In Duncan’s absence, it seemed, Argyll had turned to Colin to attend him as they awaited King James’s arrival. The king was enraged, both by Argyll’s precipitous attack and by Huntly’s treason. Now he was on his way north with thousands of men, intending to bring Huntly to heel.
No mention was made of what had been said—or left unsaid—after the battle. But with MacLean’s return, rumors of Duncan’s valiant rescue of the Mackintoshes had spread, casting doubt on the suspicion toward him.
Or so he thought. Late in the afternoon of the third day, Colin burst into the chamber. “You have to leave,” he said, gasping for breath.
“Calm down, Colin. What’s wrong?”
“They found it.”
Duncan frowned. “Found what?”
“The gold.”
He laughed. “Well if they found gold, you can be sure it isn’t mine.”
“How can you make light of this? Don’t you see that they think you are guilty? You were angry after the council at not being given a command and with father for refusing your marriage. They think you conspired with Grant.”
Duncan wasn’t laughing any longer. “Who thinks this? Not Archie?”
