Angus stepped into the room, and Annabella did not miss the scowl he sent in Graham’s direction.
“You may go and await us in the great hall, Graham.”
Graham shook his head and marched past both of them, slamming the door behind him. Annabella jumped.
“Was he unkind to you?” Angus said, as his gaze took in the full length of her.
The heat in his eyes was unmistakable.
“He—he only wanted to know what was in the message I sent to my cousin.”
Angus turned around and then walked to her table, lifting another letter and then walking back to where Annabella stood near the door.
“You’ve written more. I will have this sent first thing in the morn.”
“I thank you, my lord,” she said, with as much sincerity as she could muster. “May I ask you something?”
“Aye.”
“Why do you think you have not heard back from the king?”
“What makes you think I haven’t?”
Annabella gasped. It had never occurred to her that he might have received a message and not told her. But that would mean her message would not reach him in time. And that Graham had lied. But why?
“I would have thought you would tell me if a message was received. Is it not cruel to keep me guessing about my fate?”
Angus stepped closer to her, which made Annabella step back until she bumped into the wall.
“You will learn what you need to know when the time comes,” he said, and stepped forward until their bodies almost touched. He stared deep into her eyes for a moment and then moved back and offered his arm. “Our meal awaits, Lady Annabella.”
Annabella ignored his arm, and instead turned to open the door. Once outside, she had to fight the irresistible urge to rush down the stairs and run as fast as she could. But that would do no good. They would overpower her in moments. No. She must wait a little while longer and discern what she could. Perhaps there was a way Joan could get word to the king before his arrival. If he was even coming. She had no way to find out. MacDonald once again held all the control, and he was becoming quite annoying.
* * *
Angus enjoyed watching Annabella gaze around the hall in wonderment at the heavy tapestries and armoured decorations. He was proud of his home and his heritage. The stone hearth was large enough to roast a wild boar, and he recalled many large gatherings here as a lad. It had all seemed so much larger than life then. Now, as he gazed across the large table occupied by only the five Ballochs, Graham, and Annabella, he pined for the days when the table overflowed and the tales ran tall.
This night, it was up to him to gather the advice his council would offer, and decide what to do next. He had received a message just an hour earlier, and there could be no doubting the meaning behind it. “Release her or die,” was all the Stewart had offered.
Angus was torn now. He wanted to stand his ground and fight the man, but he would not so near his home. That would only result in disaster.
Annabella sat to his right, and Graham to his left. Angus took the message out of his pocket and passed it to Annabella; she gasped then handed it to Iain Balloch. He watched each man read the message and pass it on. When it got around to Graham, Angus held his breath. Graham was vexed with him and Angus didn’t necessarily disagree with him. The situation was complicated, and he knew his actions had only exacerbated an already volatile circumstance.
Graham folded the letter and passed it back to Angus. “Now what?” “Now you get to say I told you so. Be done with your gloating, and focus.”
Graham frowned. Angus could work through this if he had to, but he had appointed Graham for a good reason. The man’s battle tactics were unmatched. And it appeared they would need them.
“Very well, Angus. I told you taking her,” he said, pointing at Annabella, “would result in a big hairy mess, and that is exactly what has happened.”
“Aye, ‘tis a mess, but we’ve been in worse.”
“What now, Angus?” Iain asked. “If we stay here, we put everyone at risk. If we meet him somewhere else, we must amass the army and that could take weeks.”
“We don’t have weeks. By my estimation, the Stewart will have left Edinburgh Castle by now with an army of ten thousand. We can amass no more than four. That means we are outnumbered unless we call on the other clans.”
“But who? You said last year that all the other clans are too busy trying to negotiate terms with the king. Who will stand up and fight with us?” Robert Balloch asked.
“Plenty will fight with us when they know what is at stake. We must move, and move quickly,” Angus said.
