Page 54 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

“I did.”

Elizabeth grinned as if she had a secret. At first, Gemma just stared at her. Elizabeth could never keep a secret, and she would soon bust, but the anticipation was starting to get to Gemma as her friend continued to smile like a loon.

“What?” she finally asked in exasperation.

“I spoke to Thomas, and while he doesnae approve of going against his laird’s wishes, he knows that ‘tis best for a laird to have his lady by his side.”

Knowing that Thomas wished her home didn’t improve her mood.

“So he has agreed to escort ye back home.”

Now that gave Gemma pause. If there was one thing she knew about Thomas, it was that he was a stickler for protocol, and he would never go against Theo like that. Turning, she studied her friend.

“Theo would be furious!”

“Aye, but he loves ye. We have seen it, and we think it may take drastic measures for him to understand that,” Elizabeth whispered before she looked around. There was no one near to hear her, but Elizabeth always did love drama.

“And Thomas agreed to this? Or perhaps he simply said he agreed that we should be together, and you two have conspired to somehow send me back?”

“Nay, he has agreed to it. Tonight, after the celebration, he has a small guard who will start the trek back. That way, no one will be able to warn Theo until ye are already there.”

“And what will keep Theo from executing the guards who defied them and sending me right back?” He would never do such a thing, but it was obvious that something wasn’t quite right.

“Because he loves ye,” Elizabeth said simply, but doubt was creeping into her voice. “Ye doonae really think he would do that, do ye?”

Gemma turned to Jillian, and her heart sank when she saw the same look of alarm in her eyes that Gemma was feeling. Elizabeth had grown up on Loch Moran. While she had seen battles and death, she knew little of treachery, and so it made sense that she might be part of a plan and not even realize it. Or even give someone an opening.

“Jillian?” Gemma whispered as she slowly stood and looked around. Again, it still seemed as though they were alone, but this time, she wasn’t so certain.

The woman reached down and gripped Jillian’s hand, as Jillian still looked around, completely bewildered. “I think ‘tis time we head back to yer house, Gemma. We have much to do if we are to prepare for the dinner and get ye ready to go home.”

“So ye think ‘tis a good idea?” Elizabeth asked with a frown.

“Aye, I think ‘tis a fine idea,” Jillian said loudly as she scanned her gaze behind them. Gemma had no doubt about what she was thinking. If there was ever a time for Graeme to be watching over them, now would be the most opportune.

In case someone else was watching.

“What is wrong with ye? Why are ye speaking so loudly?” Elizabeth asked.

“Quiet!” Jillian hissed, but it was too late. It had been too late from the moment Gemma had started questioning Elizabeth, but it was too late to do anything about that now. A dozen men stepped out from the trees, surrounding them on all sides.

These were not MacDougal guards. They wore no colors, and from the leery smiles on their faces, they were loyal only to their vices.

Mercenaries.

Gemma swallowed hard and struggled to remain calm. She had her babe to look after now. Their only hope to escape would have been to dive into the loch, and that would have spelled their deaths.

From the moment that she’d reached Loch Moran’s borders, she’d probably been watched and followed.

Elizabeth looked puzzled as Thomas stepped forward. “I doonae understand. Are ye leaving now?”

Thomas drew his sword and grinned wickedly. “This is not your fault, Elizabeth,” Gemma said fiercely. “You could not have known.”

“Known what?”

“That a man who was second to a laird, loyal to a laird, would never go against his direct orders like this,” Gemma said plainly as she squared her shoulders. She had no weapons, but she would do whatever it took to protect her friends and her babe.

“I doonae understand. If he isnae loyal to Theo, then who is he loyal to?”