As if her thoughts had summoned him, Niall burst into the room. “So, here you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I never thought to be finding you in here.”
Sheena grinned. “Well, you have. What are you so excited about?”
Niall looked at the two servants, and Sheena dismissed them.
“Well, now, what has you in such a bother?” Shepatted the chair beside her, but Niall was too agitated to sit.
“I wasna to tell anyone!” he burst out, his light blue eyes aglow. “But I canna keep it in. I have to tell you, Sheena, but only you.”
She smiled at his exuberance. Niall could get excited over the smallest thing, and each small thing was of great importance for a while.
“I’ve been to the dungeon!”
“When?”
“Very late last night.”
Sheena was not amused now. “You know you shouldna have, Niall.”
“I know, but I couldna help it,” he confessed. “Ihadto see him.”
“And did you?”
“Aye.” Niall grinned now and rushed on. “And you wouldna believe the size of him, Sheena! And he has such a mean look about him. He talked to me like a man—well, most of the time he did.”
“You talked to him!” she gasped.
“Aye, I did, and for a long time, too. But that’s no’ what I have to tell you, Sheena. ’Tis James MacKinnion we have in our dungeon. The MacKinnion, not one of his men, but him! And he’s as bold as they say.”
Sheena felt cold, and suddenly it was as if she couldn’t breathe. But Niall turned even colder and they both started as, behind them, Margaret Fergusson echoed, “TheMacKinnion!” The door hadn’t been shut properly, and Margaret had heard. Sheran, then, and Sheena found her voice. “Go after her, Niall! She’s surely gone to tell Father.”
Niall raced through the doorway, but Margaret was already running down the stairs that led to the hall. He could hear her shouting.
He turned to Sheena. She had never seen her brother look so miserable. “What am I to do?”
Her heart ached for him. “Dinna worry, Niall. You were no’ forbidden to go near the dungeon. Father will be angry, but he’ll no’ punish you.”
“It isna that, Sheena. ’Tishim!I gave him my word I’d no’ tell about him!”
She was a touch angry that Niall should worry about breaking his word to a MacKinnion, even the laird himself. “Then you shouldna have told me,” she snapped.
“But you’re no’ just anyone,” he protested. “You wouldna have told.”
“Well, but you see what happened?” She loved his devotion to her, but he had to understand.
“I know.” Niall was near tears. “He’ll hate me for this.”
“What’s got into you, Niall?” she cried. “You’re a Fergusson. He already hates us all.” She turned away and lowered her voice. “I just wish you’d kept the secret. What William will make of it with Father is what I fear.”
Niall was doubly miserable. “Should I lie to Father? I can say Margaret was mistaken in what she heard, or I was only jesting.”
“Nay, you canna lie, for Father will no doubt confront The MacKinnion, and who’s to say he willna admit the truth? Why should he want it kept secret?”
“He’s ashamed because he was caught.”
“Och, men and their strange ideas are beyond me. He’ll be released sooner now, so he should be glad. Father wouldna dare keep The MacKinnion.”
The Fergusson bailie came to the door to tell Niall he was wanted below.
