Page 67 of Claimed Highland Brides

Delwyn nodded. He had hoped for a blessing but had not counted on it. His mother had given him an emerald brooch encased in a gold frame from her jewelry box. It had been passed down from mother to daughter for generations. It broke Delwyn’s heart to take it from her but he knew as well as she that it was necessary.

“What good would it do to wear it on my breast if my daughter is lost?” she had asked him bleakly as she put it in his hand.

It made his lips tighten with anger to know that his father might have given him the gold he needed—with no need to sacrifice family heirlooms—but he chose not to. He did not think that he could ever look at the man the same.

He nodded to his family and walked out, and headed to the stables to retrieve his horse. He would travel overland to Dover and then take a ship to Edinburgh from there. The port of Dover was the best way to get to France as it was very close. And even though it was far from Edinburgh, taking a ship from Dover was several days faster than travelling through the mainland. He was ready to pay extra to take his beloved horse, Pegasus, with him as he knew he could rely on her to carry him faithfully to Scotland and maybe bring him home again.

* * *

As he started his journey, his mother’s brooch securely hidden in an inner pocket, what coin he had secreted in his pouch, his heart soared with the spirit of adventure. Even as it pounded with trepidation on what his sister must even now be enduring and how long it would take him to get to her. The journey by ship was much more expensive but many times faster than riding to Edinburgh. Delwyn had a lot of time to sit around doing nothing and think as it would take more than two days to complete the journey. He loved the sea and the idea of living his next years on a ship was still on his mind. But right now his focus was on his sister.

According to what the lady’s maid had overheard, the people who had his sister intended to travel overland with her to Scotland, which meant that he might arrive there before they did. He wondered if he could possibly find a way to steal Maegan away from her captors without paying the ransom. He had no idea where they were, however, and for all he knew, they would keep moving. Before he left London, he’d sent a letter to Edinburgh with one of his fathers’ servants to the address the abductors had left, telling them he was on his way to pay the ransom.

He hoped that in Edinburgh he would find some kind of clue as to where he could find his sister, but he was not relying on it. If he had to find these mines and wrest them from these backwater sisters to get his own back, that is what he would do.

He had with him his sword as well as several knives secreted about his person. He knew full well the danger from brigands and other highwaymen and took care to be well ensconced at an inn before nightfall each night.

* * *

Delwyn was grateful to arrive in Edinburgh without much incident.

He made his way to the tavern that stood near the dock, pausing in its doorway as he took in its patrons. It was early evening and so the crowd was not yet as raucous as it could get. However, there were already several loud arguments taking place.

He walked slowly to an empty bench and sat down, looking around to try and identify the innkeeper. Several serving wenches flitted about the taproom, exchanging quips with patrons and serving tankards of ale and flagons of whiskey. Feeling thirsty and knowing that a drink was a good way to get some information, he lifted a hand and a serving wench appeared by his side.

“Good day t’ye, handsome. What can I get ye?”

“A tankard of your finest ale please.”

The wench cocked an eyebrow. “A Sassenach. Aren’ ye a bit far from hame?”

Delwyn bared his teeth in the parody of a smile. “And I have further still to go. So if you wouldn’t mind…”

He needed to find someone who could tell him something about his sister’s whereabouts and he knew that somebody in this tavern had that information—perhaps had even aided and abetted the men who took her. In his mind, they were all guilty of her abduction.

The serving wench marched off with a harrumph. Delwyn sighed, knowing that if he was to get any information from anyone, he needed to be able to talk to them. He let his eyes wander about, seeing who would meet his eye. He did not know how many Englishmen frequented the tavern. He hoped he stood out enough that sooner or later, someone would want to know why he was there.

He did not have long to wait before a man dressed in a smart black coat and matching breeches took a seat opposite him. The man smiled, displaying a mouth missing half its teeth. Delwyn’s eyes narrowed at him.

“Good e’en t’ye,” the man said amiably enough.

Delwyn nodded back at him, eyeing him warily.

“Angus McTavish is m’name.” He looked expectantly at Delwyn, clearly expecting him to introduce himself as well.

“Delwyn...Barton. At your service.”

Angus nodded. “Pleased t’make yer acquaintance. What might ye be a-doing in Edinburgh? Are ye in search o’ business opportunities?”

Delwyn frowned, wondering if this was some roundabout way to ask if he was here to pay the ransom. “Perhaps. What is it to you?”

Angus shrugged. “I am a solicitor. I might be of some help t’ye.”

Delwyn straightened up. “Solicitor?”

“Aye. I help people with matters of the law. Arguments about land or livestock or-”

“I know, I know. Perhaps you can help me then. I am in search of a man. He goes by the name Neacel Hunter.”