Page 62 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

17

"I'm coming wi' ye!"

Grace ran alongside Lizzie May as Fiona leaped onto her in the stables.

It was first light the next day. The dark-gray dawn was gradually beginning to infiltrate the black night sky.

At the sound of Grace's voice, Fiona almost jumped out of her skin. When she turned, there was her sister, Grace, her black hair flailing as she ran.

"Och!" Fiona gasped. It took a moment or two for her to compose herself and get her breath back—and she hadn't even gone anywhere yet!

Finally, when she had recovered, she looked at Grace, shaking her head firmly.

"Nay, Grace, this is something I've got tae do alone," said Fiona. She had deliberately gotten up early in order to avoid precisely this kind of scene. Inside, Fiona felt a little irritated.

But Grace was not so easily deterred. "Nay," she said equally as firm. "Ye cannae go alone. Ye dinnae ken the Anderson laird, nor this other Greenock man. He's got a canny reputation. He'll nae be easy to deal wi'."

Fiona tried her hardest to settle herself down. Grace meant well; she knew that. But she was also playing the big sister.

"For a start, I ken he has got all the wealth in the clan," said Grace.

Now, Fiona stopped properly. Blinking up at Grace, she was listening.

Seeing her attention, Grace continued. "Ye didnae ken? But I have heard from the courtiers that the laird's cousin, this Fergus..."

"Fraser," corrected Fiona. Suddenly, she began to wonder about the accuracy of Grace's informant. But her interest had been piqued.

"Fraser, well, apparently, he has siphoned off much gold an' coin from the clan an' kept it for himself, in his role as advisor," said Grace. She smoothed her flaying hair down with the flat of her hand.

Fiona arched an eyebrow. She had not known Fraser was an advisor, but it did not completely surprise her to learn of his deception.

"Go on," she said.

Grace continued. "He has taken wealth from the clan at the same time as chiding the laird for his lack o' means. It was by this he was able tae mount his takeover," said Grace. "He is a wily wee bawbag."

"An' it's nae just a wee bit. He’s got the lot, enough tae save the Greenock clan from ruin. An' he's been keeping it from Clyde!" Grace said, her brown eyes imploring her.

The revelation that Fraser had been stealing from Clyde was a new one. She hesitated.

"Still, there's one thing all his rotten gold cannae buy," added Grace thoughtfully. Fiona looked at her afresh. "An' that's a woman. He's been trying tae get wed for years, an' whatever he tries, och, it just doesnae work out. Seems no woman will stick wi' him. I wonder why!"

Grace smiled twistedly. "So that kind of gives ye an idea o' what ye’re up against," she said. It was meant to put her off, but it had the opposite effect.

"I see," said Fiona. She was not deterred, but still, for an instant, she wavered. Seeing her hover, Grace tried again to get onto horseback.

"Grace, nay," she said, as her sister tried to mount a horse. It was only now that she realized Grace must have leaped from the castle semi-dressed. For once, her hair was not carefully set in a headdress, and her gown was hastily laced.

"I'm coming wi' ye, wee sister," she said, undeterred.

Fiona arched an eyebrow. "Ye've got a wee bairn," she reminded Grace. "Ye cannae go chasing all over the place. An' anyway, yer stays are coming undone."

As soon as she said this, Grace's eyes opened. She looked down, her face a picture of horror. Fiona stifled a laugh.

Then her eyes met Fiona's. "Ye cannae go alone," she said, but in a voice that indicated she was now considering it. "Ye dinnae ken what this Fraser is about. I have heard about him, an' everyone advises caution."

Fiona smiled. Patting Lizzie May down, she jumped down from her and stood beside Grace. It was still dark, with only the faint glimmer of the sun breaking through on the horizon.

Impetuously, Fiona longed to be off. The Greenock clan was a long ride, and she wanted to get started quickly.