“Shhh, Glenis, keep yer wits about ye,” she demanded. “We dinna have time for any hysterics. I need yer help. We’ve got to get Lord Lovat upstairs and into my room without anyone seeing him. He’ll be staying at Mhor Manor tonight.”
“Yer room?” Glenis asked, totally confused.
“Aye. I’ll explain later. Listen to me, Glenis. Go into the drawing room and break something. Anything. That should lure the guard away from his post. We’ll need only an instant to sneak up the stairs. Now go!”
With a last wide-eyed glance at Simon, Glenis bobbed her head and fled the kitchen as fast as her stiff legs would carry her. A few moments later there was a crash of breaking china.
Madeleine wasted no time. She looped her arm through Simon’s, and together they hurried into the main hallway. The guard was on his knees in the drawing room, his back to them while he helped Glenis retrieve shards of a shattered plate.
Madeleine assisted Simon up the stairs, hoping Garrett had not heard the clamor. She had a story brewing in her mind just in case. Her great-aunt Morag had come for supper and was suddenly taken ill…
Fortunately it appeared she wouldn’t have to use her story. The hallway was dark and silent, no light shone from beneath Garrett’s door. Madeleine quietly led the way with Simon close behind her until they reached her room. She fairly pushed him inside and bid him a hasty good night.
“I’ll wake ye in the morning, m’lord, before dawn,” she whispered. “Bolt the door, mind ye, and dinna open it ‘til ye hear four short knocks. We’ll have to trick the guard again, but ‘tis no matter. These redcoats are a dim-witted lot. Ye’ll be safely on yer way before dawn.”
“I thank ye, Maddie,” he said. “Sleep well.”
The door closed with a small click, and she heard the bolt slide into place. Satisfied, she turned and made her way back down the hallway.
Sleep well, she thought wryly. She wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight. While the chieftain of Clan Fraser was under her roof, she was charged with his protection.
Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. The raid! She sighed resignedly. Och, there was nothing to be done about it now.
It seemed she had raided her last supply train. The foodstuffs they had gathered in the cave would have to be enough. There was no time to carry out any more raids after tonight, other than what she had planned for the following evening. But then she would be alone.
At least her kinsmen would know to abandon the raid when she failed to meet them at the yew tree, she thought as she continued down the hallway. She had no doubt they would understand. It was her duty to guard Lord Lovat with her life, as would any Fraser. She would do whatever was necessary to ensure his safety.
Madeleine’s hand was on the door latch to the guest chamber when a loud thud sounded from her room, followed by a blustered oath. She grimaced, scurrying back to her door.
“Lord Lovat, are ye all right?” she called softly.
“Aye, lass. Just a bit clumsy is all. Dinna worry.”
Relieved, she leaned her head against the doorjamb. It was going to be a long night. She pushed away from the door, stiffening as a hand suddenly touched her shoulder, and her heart sank into her shoes.
Chapter 16
“Madeleine, what’s going on?” Garrett asked, his deep voice tinged with concern. “I was just coming up the stairs, and I heard someone fall. Are you all right?”
Madeleine whirled around, gaping at the familiar silhouette looming in the darkness. A quick lie jumped to her lips.
“‘Twas nothing, Garrett. I merely tripped on a pair of brogues when I was leaving my room. ‘Twas stupid of me, dropping them in the middle of the floor like that.” She bent down and rubbed her knee convincingly, moaning a little. “Och, it hurts a bit, but I think I’ll be fine.”
“Come with me,” he said firmly. “We should take a look at it in the light.”
Before she could protest, he swept her into his arms and strode down the hallway to his room. He leaned into the door, shoving it open, and made straight for the bed, where he set her down gently.
Madeleine listened as he fumbled about the bedside table for the flint and steel. At least he hadn’t tried to carry her back into her own room, she thought gratefully. She heard him strike the flint, and she blinked as warm candlelight flooded the large room.
Garrett knelt in front of her, his eyes meeting her startled gaze. “Could you lift your skirt for me, Madeleine?”
She nodded, her heart thumping fiercely against her breast. As she raised her skirt slowly, a fiery blush burned her cheeks. She draped the hem over the top of her legs and held it down modestly.
“Which knee is it?”
Madeleine gasped at the light pressure of his hand on her ankle. “The—the left one,” she stammered.
“Do you mind if I pull down your stocking?” he asked gently.
