Page 34 of Claimed Highland Brides

She heard more muffled movements, and shuffling footsteps, and then the door opened and the laird’s pale face appeared in the gap. “Wha’s this aboot?” he rasped, his voice grumpy.

“My sisters, I have tae ken, Uncle Donnchadh. When I am wed, they will come wi’ me tae Glendale? They’ll be taken care of?”

The laird hesitated, his eyes shifting away.

“Uncle Donnchadh!” She searched his eyes for hope and found none.

“I will see tae them, dinnae fash,” he said quietly, finally meeting her eyes. She could tell he meant it but was not too pleased with the prospect of leaving her sisters behind.

“Why can they no come wi’ me?”

The laird just sighed. “Perhaps later but when a man is newly wed, he doesnae want so many people underfoot. Ye ken?”

Fiona shook her head, indicating her absolute inability to understand. But looking at his face, she knew her uncle could not help her further.

“I will talk tae him,” she declared.

“Fiona!” her uncle called as she hurried away, but she paid him no mind. Rushing down the corridor, she tried to think where Laird Hunter might be housed. She skidded to a stop in front of the footman, considering him thoughtfully.

“Where can I find Laird Hunter?”

The man hesitated, looking towards her uncle’s door. She turned as well, to find that her uncle was still peering at her from his door. She sighed, pursing her lips at him. He hesitated for just a moment before withdrawing his head from the door and shutting it behind him. She turned again to the footman. “Where is he?”

With one final glance at Laird McCormick’s door, the footman pointed further down the corridor to the one remaining door. Fiona was surprised that her uncle would put his guest in the same wing as his, rather than one of the guest wings.

“Thank ‘e.” She flung the words abstractedly at the footman as she covered the small distance that would take her to Hunter’s door. Her knock was more polite but no less demanding.

“Who is it?” His voice sounded wide awake and she had a feeling he knew full well who was at his door.

“It’s me, Lady Fiona.”

“This is most unseemly. Does yer uncle ken that ye seek out the company of men in the middle o’ th’ night?”

Fiona snorted. “I am here wi’ a footman. I simply need tae ask ye a question.”

“Can it no wait until morning?” He sounded profoundly irritated.

“No. It cannae.”

She heard his loud sigh even through the door and then he opened it to peer out at her with raised eyebrows. “What is it?”

“I need tae ask ye if’n my sisters can come wi’ me tae Glendale.”

His eyebrows rose higher. “Well, that is hardly an urgent question.”

He made to close the door and she reached out to stop him. “Please. I need tae ken.”

“In that case, no. Yer sisters cannae come tae Glendale. Are ye satisfied?” He slammed the door in her face.

She stood stock-still, face pale, limbs shaking. It was a shock even though it was no surprise.

“Shall I escort ye tae bed miss?” the footman asked, his voice laced with concern.

Slowly she shook her head. “No thank ‘e.” She shuffled off, feeling as if she were an old woman, limbs creaky with disuse. The only reason she was doing this was for her sisters. If she could not see them, or be with them, then what was the use?

* * *

Daividh set out early in the morning. On a fast horse, Glendale was three days’ ride away and he intended to get there and back before anyone knew he was gone. He knew that Simon would cover for him as best he could but there was only so much the other warrior could do. He did not know what the laird would do if he knew what Daividh was up to. He suspected that it would not be good.