Page 67 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

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"Andrew, stop! Where are ye taking me!"

Grace's head was still in a spin. She was in his arms, kissing Andrew, and then, well, she was not so much in his arms as draped over his shoulder.

Andrew did not stop. He was running. They were running out of the chamber and into the main castle corridor.

"Andrew, let me down!" Grace hollered. As romantic as this was, she had feet and was very definitely able to still use them!

Andrew didn't listen, thundering down the steep castle steps two at a time. Somewhere ahead of them were Fiona and Aileen. As they careered forward, Grace wished she could make sense of what had just gone before. She was still trying to understand it all.

Finally, he put her down, depositing her swiftly in the main chamber of the castle. As he did so, courtiers and servants came rushing. The hall was full of melee. People coming and going and bustling about. It seemed more than usually busy, as Grace noticed for the first time the crowds that were amassing.

Eventually, a courtier—a slender man with straggling blond hair—approached Andrew cagily.

"Sir, the elders wish tae ken what is going on," he said, lowering his head.

Grace's tired eyes took in the scene. The courtier was right. Clansmen had begun assembling, pouring into the castle's grand chamber until it was almost half-full. Looking casually, Grace reckoned a fair portion of the clan were there.

"Dinnae we all!" remarked Andrew, with a quick look to Grace. It was in that moment that Grace realized that actually, Andrew did not know very much at all.

Then, from behind them, Fiona and Aileen approached.

"Grace!" Fiona said, leaping up and giving her a hug. Andrew put his arm around the three of them and led them across to where there was seating. He waited for them to settle themselves in their chairs, then looked at them with a puzzled expression on his face.

Aileen glanced up. "Andrew," she said, shakily. Her eyes flashed nervily as she looked at him. She did not know him very well. "We have found evidence that Paton was going tae use Grace in order tae rule over the clan."

Andrew's eyes rolled. This was hardly a revelation. "What evidence?"

"There was a letter," Aileen continued, "that he had faked from our mother."

"Faked?" said Andrew, looking directly at Grace now.

Grace nodded.

"It wasnae her writing," said Fiona. "I could tell right away."

"He pretended she wanted us tae kill Grace," said Aileen in a small voice. She looked on the verge of tears, and Grace placed a hand around her as she sniffed into a handkerchief.

Around them, the room was filling up, and the noise made it hard to hear properly. But from Andrew's face, it was clear he was having a hard time understanding this.

"I had to think that Paton was my only hope," explained Grace, quickly. "That he would protect me from them. Also, he persuaded me marrying him was the only way tae stop the clans from warring. He said I was a Kennedy and that it would appease their clan. I didnae..."

Grace felt dizzy suddenly. Paton had told so many lies, it was making her head spin.

"Ye’re nae a Kennedy, Grace," said Fiona kindly. She smiled at Grace warmly. "Ye’re a Duncan. Ye've proven that today."

Andrew squeezed her arm and moved closer to her. "Did he hurt ye?" he asked gently.

"I'd like tae have seen him try," said Grace fiercely, and Andrew laughed. But his eyes remained serious.

"There's more," Grace continued. "We found he is in league wi' Anabelle, the lasses' aunt."

"Anabelle?" murmured Andrew. He stopped, in thought. "Och, I should have kent..."

Now the three of them eyed him curiously.

"Well, I never did," declared Fiona, and Grace nodded. The thought of polished, haughty Anabelle with a churl like Paton just did not make sense. She could only assume that she only wanted him for her own ends.