Page 31 of Highland Dove

“What about riches?” asked the man. “Will I be rich?”

Mari nodded toward him slightly.

“Aye? Aye,” said Angus with a nod. “Ye’ll be so rich that even the king willna be able to compare with ye. Ye’ll be richer than all the kings of every country put together.”

“Annabel,” said Mari, her brows dipping, trying to make him stop. “Did ye tell him about this line?” She reached out and touched Eideard’s hand.

“Dinna touch me,” warned Eideard.

“I’m sorry.” Mari smiled, liking the way he squirmed. “That’s the secrets line. Tell him, Annabel. It’s the line that will destroy ye because of any secret ye may be harborin’. But Annabel told me that one’s destiny can be changed if one were to reveal their secret to another. Oh, well, I need to go put more ointment on my blisters, if ye’ll excuse me.”

She walked back to the girls. “I think I helped. I hope Angus caught on to what I was tryin’ to do.”

“We’ll see,” said Malmuira. “Here he comes now.”

Angus hurried over to them, smiling.

“Did he tell ye where he’s hidden yer mathair?” asked Mari.

“Well, no’ in so many words, but he did agree he’s got a secret and by what he said, I figured out that Mathair is hidden –”

“Stop him! He’s a fraud!” yelled Eideard before Angus could finish.

“What?” Angus and the others looked up to see Eideard holding one of the pillows that made up the gypsy disguise. Angus looked down to his lopsided chest and groaned. “Bid the devil! I kent these diddies were goin’ to be the death of me yet.”

Eideard and his men came running over with their swords drawn. As soon as they got close, Angus picked up a chair and swung it, taking out two of the guards. His wig fell off in the process.

“I kent it! It’s MacLean,” shouted Eideard, pointing at him. “Seize him and throw him in the dungeon.”

“Like hell ye will,” spat Angus, jumping atop Eideard and taking him to the ground. They rolled around the floor in a fistfight as Eideard’s men stood and watched.

“Tillie, ye need to gather the girls and head back home, quickly. Malmuira, go with them,” said Mari. “Ye are no longer safe here now that Eideard kens we were tryin’ to deceive him.”

“Come with us,” begged Tillie. “Ye are no’ safe either.”

“Nay, I have to stay here and try to help Angus. Tell Duncan I will try to find a way to tell him where his mathair is hidden once I find out.”

“I agree, ye need to come with us,” said Malmuira.

“Nay. I am goin’ to try to distract Eideard and his men. Now go before they realize ye left. And hurry.”

“Aye, Sister,” said Tillie, turning to leave with Malmuira.

“And Tillie?” Mari called after her sister.

Tillie turned around. “What is it, Sister?”

“Tell Duncan, that no matter what happens, I will always love him.”

Chapter 10

“Eideard, let him go,” said Mari as Eideard’s men hauled Angus to the dungeon. She hurried after them, needing to talk to Angus to find out where Eideard was keeping his mother.

“Men, find Tillie and that old gypsy and throw them in the dungeon, too,” commanded Eideard. “They are all conspirin’ against me.”

“Nay,” she cried, grabbing Eideard by the arm. “They dinna do anythin’. Ye canna hurt them.”

“I told ye no’ to touch me,” said Eideard, swinging his other arm and hitting her across the face. Mari fell to the ground, crying out in pain.