“I cannot have you do that, Melody,” Emma said. “That is simply out of the question.”
Melody arched an eyebrow. “You forget that I also live in the Highlands. I will take you there in my carriage. And I will hear no argument.”
Emma took the handkerchief with the blue thread and put it in her pocket. “Thank you.”
Aunt Agnes finally found her voice. “People will talk.”
“They already are,” Emma said, her voice steely. “This time, I would prefer to give them the right story to repeat.”
2
“Keep the stairs clear!” Logan screamed at his men from above the stairs. “Nay one runs to the yard.”
The sound of battle pierced the air as steel clashed against steel in every part of the castle. A surprise attack had been orchestrated that morning, and until now, he had yet to figure out where it came from.
Until he reached the parapet and saw them. Dark coats. Short spears. A banner with a red bar through black.
MacTavish men.
His throat went dry. This was not a raid. No, it was far more personal. He could see that now.
He had broken bread with Laird MacTavish a few days after he arrived at the castle for the first time. The man had practicallyoffered him his daughter. Logan could still remember what he had said.
“This is Freya. She will be of service to ye if ye accept her.”
Could this be a retaliation for his refusing to marry her?
Arrows cut through the air, and the men below lifted their shields. A ladder rose and scraped, but Logan pushed the first man off it with a polearm taken from the rack. The man fell and took two more with him. The ladder crashed and broke.
“Water there,” Logan said. “Pitch there. Ye two, with me.”
They moved as he spoke. He did not need to shout. He kept his voice level. Men heard him and followed his orders to the letter.
Ladders clawed at the east wall. He covered the space where the stones swelled and made footing. Three men crested the lip and found him. The first swung low. Logan stepped in and caught his wrist.
“Ye see, normally, I would be lenient with ye, but ye caught me on a really bad day.” He wrenched, cutting the man across the ribs.“I am supposed to be on me way to England now.”
The second lost his nerve when he saw how fast the first went down. The third had no time to see anything. David took him from the side and pushed him back over the drop.
“Me Laird, ye can still make time for the wedding.”
Logan laughed. “I appreciate yer candor, David, but I cannae leave. Nae when me castle is in danger. When we are done here, I will go. Now tell me, how many more are out there?”
“Me Laird?—”
“How many more?”
David sighed. “Quite a lot at the gate.”
“They will die trying to break through,” Logan said. “Keep more men at the fences. Nay MacTavish man crosses to the courtyard alive.”
A horn blew again, and this time, they were short blasts. Logan knew what that was; he’d heard plenty at sea.
It was a signal.
Before he could blink, a second wave of men moved from the west with hooks and boards. He could almost see the plan as they hurried close. It was a war strategy older than time itself.
Pin the wall, pull his men thin, and then make him choose.
