She could think of one man, however, who did possess those skills.
Her heart began to race. Was it even possible?
Yes, of course it was. Ithadto be.
But if she was going to do anything to help Duncan, she could not waste another minute deliberating it. She would have to decide on a plan and set it in motion straightaway.
She would travel to Moncrieffe Castle at first light. Once she got there, she would enlist Iain’s help to find Angus, and then she would say and do whatever it took to set aside their differences and unite in this one common goal—to save Duncan’s life.
* * *
Angus MacDonald rode across the drawbridge at Kinloch Castle and dismounted. He had left this place in high spirits not long ago, after the unexpected arrival of Richard Bennett’s head in a bag. For days, Angus had celebrated with his father, the chief, and the warriors of his clan. Feeling jubilant, Angus had raised a glass and spoken in honor of the great Butcher of the Highlands, a noble and courageous Scot.
Angus had not known, however, that a few days later Duncan would disappoint him so absolutely and choose a woman—an Englishwoman—over his desire to fight for Scottish freedom.
Nor had he imagined that he, Angus Bradach MacDonald, would ever be capable of such malice and treachery.
He laid a hand on his gut, which had been churning since daybreak. He felt as if he’d eaten a plate of rancid meat but knew it was not so simple as that. This was not something he could purge. It was something very ugly that wouldfollowhim through the rest of his life and deep down into the fiery depths of his grave.
He walked to the stables, delivered his horse to a groom, and strode to the greathall, which was silent and empty.
There was a grim sort of gloom in the air. The celebrations were over.
He looked up at the MacDonald heraldry hanging from the stonewalls—the crests and banners and tapestries. He was proud of his ancestry, devoted to his clan, and had made a vow to himself two days ago: that no woman would ever exert such influence over him as that woman had exerted over Duncan.
Angus was a warrior—loyal to clan and country. He would be chief here one day, and for that reason, such blind passion could have no place in his life. He would take a wife, of course, in order to produce an heir—but by God, she would know her place. And she would most assuredly be Scottish.
He turned and looked at the cross, carved deep into the stone of the hearth, and stood for a long time, staring at it, until a noise caused him to look up. Asmallbird was trapped inside thehall. It flew around the rafters and fluttered desperately in the highest peak of the ceiling.
Angus looked down at the floor and felt suddenly as if he were sinking through the stones. He had been so angry with Duncan. But what had he done?
He knelt down on both knees, cupped his hands together, and bowed his head. “Merciful God,” he whispered, “I pray for your forgiveness, and for the strength to endure the shame of my sins.”
Then he heard the scrape of a sword at the back of the room and turned to see the dark glimmer of wrath in his father’s eyes. His father, his chief, the man he revered more than any other …
He knew.
And he, unlike God, would not merciful.
* * *
Amelia stepped out of her uncle’s coach and looked up at the massive stone façade of Moncrieffe Castle. The wind was gusting and whipping at her skirts. Her hat ribbons flew wildly around her face. She reached up to hold the hat in place and tried not to think about where Duncan was at that moment, or what torture he might be enduring, as she hurried from the coach to the castle entrance. Instead, she rehearsed her speech in her mind. She had much to accomplish here today, and she could not afford any emotional outbursts or thoughts about possiblecatastrophes. She could notallowherself to become distracted from what had to be done.
The housekeeper met her in the entrancehall. She spoke awkwardly. “Lady Amelia, we were not expecting you. The earl is not at home. His Lairdship left for Edinburgh yesterday.”
Amelia managed a courteous smile. “Edinburgh? On important business, no doubt. In that case, please inform his brother that I have arrived.”
The housekeeper curtsied and hurried from thehall.
A short time later, Amelia was shown into the gallery. She walked through the door expecting to meet with Iain and Josephine but found herself staring also at Fergus and Gawyn. They stood before the fireplace, wide-eyed and surprised to see her.
“Gentlemen.” She removed her gloves. “I am pleased to find you both here. Something terrible has happened. I came as quickly as I could.”
“Aye, we knowallabout it,” Fergus said with a note of contempt.
She looked curiously at Iain. “You know?”
He nodded, and Gawyn approached. “Lady Amelia, I’m pleased to see you aswell. Did you come from the fort? Did you see Duncan? Is he alive?”
