Page 30 of Highlander’s Devious Ally

Findlay sighed sadly, but his eyes were twinkling. “Mistress Kennie says that when you punched him you dislocated his jaw and knocked out two of his teeth. She thought at first it was broken, but unfortunately it is not. However, resetting it did give him quite a lot of pain, so we are thankful for small mercies.” He could not keep the vicious glee out of his voice. “He will not be able to eat any solid food for a while so he can have vegetable broth and milk, which is more than he deserves.”

Jock was struggling to say something, and his face was purple with the effort, but all that came out was an incomprehensible mumble.

Lyall turned away from him, knowing that he should not feel so triumphant, but he did, because he hated every fiber of Jock McCauley. Nevertheless, he wanted no harm to come to him under his roof, but if he somehow died a natural death he would not mourn him.

He looked around the other cells to make sure that the rest of Jock’s men—the three who had remained unhurt and one who was only lightly wounded—were being looked after, and having satisfied himself that they were well, he went back upstairs again.

Standing on the topmost turret, Matthew, Maria, and Ailith stood looking out over the magnificent landscape spread out before them. It was, as usual, a cloudy day, but that in no way detracted from the view of the sullen gray North Sea, with its lowering, bruise-colored sky giving it a special kind of forbidding grandeur. On this side of the hill Scottish Black-Faced sheep were grazing, their black heads and feet giving them a comical air, as if they were in fancy dress. They always made Ailith laugh.

They walked around to the opposite side of the wall, where Loch Ness, the deepest loch in Scotland, snaked its way backward and disappeared into the mist, beyond which lay the heart of the Highlands. Ailith’s heart ached with pride that she was a daughter of this beautiful little country.

Ailith felt at peace in a way she had not for a long while. She had everything she wanted: her family, two homes, and the love of her life. Soon, hopefully, there would be a baby or two, and her life would be complete. She was happy beyond her wildest dreams.

Presently, they heard the sound of heavy footsteps running up the stairs, and Lyall appeared at the top of the stairs, hair flying and cheeks flushed. There were a hundred and fifty three steps from the dungeon to the top turret but he hardly looked out of breath.

He crossed the steps between them in three paces and wrapped his arms around her. Seeing Jock again had reminded him just how close he had come to losing Ailith completely. “We must be married as soon as we can,” he said urgently, looking over at Ailith’s parents over the top of her head as he spoke to her. “I want you to have the protection of my name.”

“Is there some new danger?” Ailith frowned as she looked up at him.

“No,” he replied, sighing. “I just realized that when I looked at Jock what a narrow escape you had.” Then his manner changed, and he smiled. “So, Mistress Galloway, I think it may be time that you urged your friend the seamstress to make her needle fly a little faster!”

Maria chimed in then. “I will offer her a bonus for quick work providing it is good quality,” she said eagerly. Ailith nodded and grabbed her mother’s arm. “See you at dinnertime!” she called.

“Findlay is coming for dinner!” Lyall shouted after her, but there was no answer.

“Women and dresses,” Matthew sighed, smiling. “They will soon be in heaven!”

The evening meal was a convivial affair, since Fenella was there. Usually she was the life and soul of any gathering with her gossip, scandalous stories and jokes aplenty. Tonight, however, she seemed subdued, and her eyes kept straying to Findlay, who was carrying on an animated conversation with Matthew Galloway. Presently Ailith mentioned something to Findlay that brought Fenella into the conversation. Findlay smiled at her. It seemed that they had a mutual love of chess.

“Ah!” Findlay gazed at Fenella in admiration. “A fellow devotee! We must have a game sometime.”

“I would love to!” she said excitedly, clapping her hands. All her shyness had gone as Findlay’s dark blue eyes smiled into hers. “Can you find time on Monday afternoon for three games?”

“Only three, Mistress Fenella?” he laughed, and her heart leapt. “No, let us make it five—no quarter asked or given!”

“Agreed!” she said, smiling, and they shook hands on it. After that it was easy to talk to him, and they spoke about their horses, Findlay’s love of fishing, and Fenella’s constant search for the Loch Ness monster.

“Surely you do not believe that?” Findlay asked, smiling at her indulgently.

Fenella looked shocked. “Don’t you?”

“I will believe it when I see it,” he replied, laughing.

Fenella shook her head, frowning. “Oh ye of little faith!” she sighed.

He gave her a mock punch on the arm, and she pretended to be hurt, then punched him back, giggling. From across the table, Ailith watched them fondly. Fenella seemed totally smitten with Findlay but he obviously regarded her more as a little sister, but he was due to leave just after the wedding and Ailith hoped that Fenella would not be heartbroken.

It seemed that Lyall was thinking the same thing, for his eyes never left his sister for the whole time the conversation with Findlay went on. He noticed that he was not flirting with her, just laughing at her jokes and making a few of his own. Fenella’s face was alight, but he felt anxious; Findlay was a mature man and Fenella was barely out of girlhood.

“How many women are you going to protect?” Ailith asked him, following the direction of his gaze.

“Only two,” he replied, “and if Finn hurts my little sister he will have to contend with me. And I have never lost a fair fight—or an unfair one.”

Looking at her betrothed’s bulging biceps, Ailith felt rather sorry for the man who even bruised Fenella’s tender heart.

18

An Unexpected Visitor