Page 48 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

Ava nodded and closed the cloth, placing the package beside her on the bed. “He has Neil. He said he paid off all the debts. And Neil will die if I dinnae go through with his plan.”

“I dinnae ken what tae say…”

“Neither dae I…” Ava began to sob again and buried her face in her hands. “Oh Skye, I’ve thought and thought, but I cannae think of another way to get Neil back and save Boyd as well. I love him, Skye.”

Skye placed her arm around her friend and tried her best to console her. “I’m afraid I cannae think of any other way tae help ye, Ava. My heart breaks for ye.”

“I’ll have tae dae it tonight,” Ava straightened and said once she stopped crying. “If I leave it any longer, I’ll lose my nerve. And then Neil will die, as well as Boyd.”

“Ava… are ye sure?”

“Can ye think of another way?” Ava snapped.

“Nae… I’m afraid I cannae,” Skye sounded crestfallen as she stared at her lap.

“I’m sorry, Skye. I didnae mean tae shout at ye… I need yer help,” Ava pleaded.

Skye stood and braved a smile. “Tonight it is, then. But first things first. We need tae get ye out of that dress and intae a clean one. Ye will be having a private supper with the laird. We can go down tae the kitchens and intercept the tray of ale ‘afore it goes up. There should be ample time tae lace his ale with one of yer potions. That way, we can drag him out o’ the castle when there’s a chance. I’ve learned a thing or two about the servants’ entrances in the past few weeks,” Skye said confidently.

Ava marveled at the way her friend could come up with a plan on the spot. She couldn’t have thought of a clearer plan, even if she tried herself. Skye was always her saving grace when it seemed as if all was lost.

“I dinnae ken what I would dae without ye, Skye,” Ava said as her eyes filled with tears again.

“Probably die of dehydration,” Skye gave her a reassuring smile and wiped her tears away. “Now let’s get ye ready. Yer tub should have been filled by now. I’ll pick out yer dress and we’ll have ye as pretty as a flower in nae time at all.”

* * *

Ava looked in the floor-length mirror at her clean dress and neat hair. Skye had chosen a floral green print with purple embroidery. Her hair was clean and slicked back into a braid. A few loose tendrils had been left to hang about her face, adding to the effect that Skye aimed to create.

Ava took a deep breath and placed her hand over her abdomen as her friend tightened her corsets, giving her waist a slimmer shape before she tied the final cords at the back of her dress.

“Ye are ready,” she smiled over her shoulder as she scrutinized her handiwork in the mirror. “Ye look beautiful. Dae ye have the potion?”

“Aye,” Ava said quietly as she placed her hand over her bosoms. She’d slipped the tiny white vile into her cleavage for safekeeping. She’d mixed the potion herself after her bath, adding enough herbs to knock Boyd unconscious, but not enough to take his life.

“Good,” Skye nodded. “We best be getting down tae the kitchens then. They will be just about done with the ale tray by now. I saw some of the other maids taking up the food while ye were bathing.”

Taking a deep breath, Ava turned to leave the room.

“It will be all right, ye ken?” Skye tried to comfort her with a smile. “Everything will work out just as it should.”

“Please, stop saying that, Skye. I ken that ye mean well, but naething is going tae work out. Boyd will lose his life this evening. And if he disnae, Neil will lose his. Worse than that, both could lose their lives if I dinnae play my part. What part of that is as it should be?”

Skye said nothing as Ava brushed passed her and headed out the door and into the hall.

They made their way down the corridors with busy servants hurrying about to finish their evening chores. Pausing a few times, they ducked into the shadows of doorways whenever they felt their presence would draw too much attention.

“Just wait in here and I’ll intercept the tray,” Skye whispered under her breath. She gestured to a nearby sitting room beside the kitchens before slipping into the throng of servants milling about.

Ava looked around the room that must have served as the private sitting room for either the butler or the housekeeper. She guessed it was the latter when she spotted a few clean aprons hanging behind the door. The room was neat and tidy, equipped with a few chairs, a table, and some cupboards for storage. Bunches of keys hung on the hooks beside the door. Ava wished Skye would hurry. The passing minutes seeming like hours.

“Here we are,” Skye said quietly as she slipped back into the room holding a tray of mugs. “The other maid was more than thankful tae hand it over. So naebody will ask any questions. Everyone is too busy tae notice anything out of place this evening.”

Ava nodded in acknowledgment. Skye placed the tray with two mugs of ale on the small table in the center of the room. Retrieving the vile from between her breasts, Ava pulled it out and removed the cork. Her hand hovered over the mug for a moment as doubts began to creep back in.

Is there really nae other way tae save both Boyd and Neil?

Skye placed her hand over Ava’s and steadily tilted the vile as the dark liquid escaped and dripped into the ale with a short hiss when the first drops hit the surface.