Pressing her ear to the wall, she waited for a voice to follow and jumped back when the wall shifted toward her. A crack about six feet in height revealed a hidden doorway. Louder now, the laughter was comforting—beckoningher.
Sheona peered through the crack. A dim light revealed a staircase. Her mind raced as a shiver ran through her. Should she enter? And how in heaven’s name had she tripped the door? Where did the light comefrom?
She hesitated only a moment before pulling the door farther open and stepping over the threshold. When she was fully through, the door closed behind her. She whipped around and tried to find the trigger for the door. Her fingers fumbled over the cold stones until she found an indentation. She pressed her fingers inside, hoping there would be something in there to help her. All the way in she pushed on a smooth stone and the door released. Shesmiled.
A secret door in her chamber. Well, that could come in handy if she ever felt threatened. She shuffled her feet around until she found another stone slightly raised and pressed down with her foot. The door closed. All she had to do was find out how to trigger it from theoutside.
Laughter drew her attention to the stairs. Pleased by her discovery, she took a deep breath and turned toward the sound. She felt along the wall to guide her and followed the light, which appeared to be moving. Perhaps, whoever it was carried a smalltorch.
She stayed back from the light’s path, but followed it down about thirtysteps.
“Sheona,” a voicewhispered.
The light dimmed and she could barely make out a figure just ahead. Her hair prickled on her arms. She’d been caught! Oh Lord, would they tell the laird? Would he throw her in the dungeon? Surely, they would think she was trying to escape. What would Malcolm think? She would plead with them to say nothing and then she would return to her chamber and forget about thedoor.
“Who’sthere?”
Laughter filled the space around her and calmedher.
“I am here to helpyou.”
“Who areyou?”
“Someone who cares about what happens to thisclan.”
“Are you aservant?”
The woman laughed again. “No. I am not aservant.”
“But I saw no other high-born ladies here. Do you come from a differentclan?”
“I came from a different clan once and married into this one. But that was a long timeago.”
“Where do youlive?”
“Within these walls. I watch everything that goes on here. Sometimes, I like what I see and sometimes it saddens me.” The woman’s voice took on a sombre tone. “You must heed my warning, Sheona. Stay away from the laird. Never be alone with him. Do youken?”
“Aye, I do, and I have no intention of being alone with him or even in the same room withhim.”
“I am glad to hear it. But you must return to your chamber before anyone notices you are missing. A trencher of food will be brought to you soon. Go.Go!”
Sheona turned to leave but looked back. “Will you tell me who youare?”
“Another day,lass.”
Sheona raced up the stairs and found the stone to trip the door. She was just through and had pushed it back in place when a knock sounded from the main one to the chamber. She drew a deep breath and crossed the room to answerit.
“Lady MacDonald are you in there?” The maid sounded worried. How long had she beenknocking?
Sheona opened the door and yawned. “I was sleeping and did not hear you. All iswell.”
Agnes eyed her with a raised brow. “You have cobwebs in yourhair.”
Sheona smoothed her hair. “I was looking for something that fell under thebed.”
“I clean these chambers, Lady MacDonald. I assure you, there are no webs underthere.”
What could she say? Did she trustAgnes?
The maid entered the chamber and placed a trencher of food on a side table then turned to leave. She looked back. “You have earned my respect. Know that you can trust me with anything. I believe you may need a friend from time totime.”
With that Agnesleft.
Sheona picked at her food and contemplated all she had endured during the day. What did any of it mean? Who was the woman in the stairwell? It made no sense. She was not about to share the information with anyone lest they all think she had gone mad. For now, she would keep the secret passage and the lady toherself.
