Highland Solution (26 page)

“Ambrose Ruthven?”

“Aye.”

“If I ever see him again, I may have to kill him.”

“Kill him over whipping his niece, whom you kidnapped? I think if your house is made of glass, you’d best not throw stones.”

Tadhg threw his head back and laughed. “Ye are a feisty bit of goods, my lady.”

When he had stopped laughing, Katherine said, “Laird Matheson, I need to talk to you about, this—this whole situation.”

“Which situation, specifically?” he asked, sobering. “Your husband’s raids on my land, my taking ye as a hostage, or the fact that ye let me lock an expectant mother up like a prisoner?”

Shocked, Katherine snapped her head up at his last comment.

“Elspet is very observant,” Tadhg said by way of explanation.

“Well, I am a prisoner, so I don’t see how your last point is relevant, and I haven’t exactly been locked up, but it is the first two that concern me. Laird Matheson—”

Exasperated he said, “Please, call me Tadhg.”

Katherine ignored him and continued, “There is something very wrong. My husband did not instigate the raids on your land. He was only retaliating for raids against us.”

“Lass, I know ye would like to believe—”

“Nay, hear me out. He did
not
start the raids. This last one was in response to a brutal attack on our border. The animals weren’t stolen, they were slaughtered, dwellings were burned, and three clansmen were killed the day after Epiphany.”

“And he thinks I did that?”

“Every indication was that ye did.”

“That is ludicrous,” he said, his ire rising. “That kind of destruction serves no purpose. He has raided me numerous times over the last year. I didn’t retaliate last winter or spring because I had heard of the MacIan’s financial troubles. I wasn’t going to steal food from their mouths. The fact is, I have only led one raid on MacIan lands and it was this past fall, well after their financial issues had been solved.” Tadhg gave her a pointed look and continued, “and they were still raiding my land.”

“If ye weren’t behind the raids, who was and why?”

“I can only guess someone wanted to provoke your husband into attacking me.”

“What would be gained by that?”

“I’m not sure. I can certainly withstand such an attack. The only thing it would really do is weaken the MacIans.”

“But Niall knew that. He wasn’t considering attacking ye. We received word ye were planning to lay siege to Duncurra.”

“That is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I have no intention of laying siege to Duncurra,” Tadhg said vehemently. “I have no interest in Duncurra at all. Who told ye this?”

“Two days ago, Laird MacLennan arrived at Duncurra and told Niall an attack from ye was imminent. He said ye were planning to lay siege close to Candlemas, and convinced Niall I would be safer at Brathanead.”

“He said Candlemas? Are ye sure?

“Aye.”

“And when did Niall make the decision for ye to travel to Brathanead?”

“Two days ago, when Malcolm came with news of the siege.”

“Katherine, I found out more than a week ago ye would be traveling to Brathanead yesterday.”

“That is not possible. As I said, Niall only decided after Malcolm came, two days ago. I left with Laird MacLennan yesterday morning. How could ye have known for a week?”

“The wife of one of my clansmen is a MacLennan. She returned from visiting her sister with news that Laird MacLennan was having a huge feast for Candlemas and ye would be accompanying Lady MacIan.”

“What? I would not go to Brathanead for a celebration without Niall. In fact, I would never have willingly accompanied Eithne anywhere alone. I didn’t want to this time, but Niall insisted because he was afraid for my safety. Malcolm convinced him not to escort me by telling him your attack could come at any time, so he shouldn’t risk being away from Duncurra even for a day.”

“Well, that was a wise move on Laird MacLennan’s part if he wanted me to kidnap ye. I never would have attempted it if Niall and his guard were escorting ye. I have no doubt he would die protecting ye. But, my lady, the MacLennans practically presented ye as a gift.”

Katherine frowned at him. “If Niall led an attack on ye, it would leave Duncurra less well protected, wouldn’t it?”

“Aye, probably dangerously so.”

“Allowing someone else to successfully lay siege to Duncurra?”

“Aye.”

“Then it has to be Malcolm at the root of this. He has been behind the raids against us, but he made it look as if it were ye. He has tried over and over to goad Niall into attacking ye, and Niall wouldn’t. He knew it would critically weaken him. So Malcolm did the one thing that was sure to cause Niall to attack. He made it easy for ye to capture me. If he could get Niall to attack ye, he can take Duncurra. That explains what Tomas overheard.”

“Tomas?”

“Our foster son,” said Katherine. She told Tadhg about the whispered conversation in the stairwell. “Niall suspected Fingal. It sounded as if the person talking intended to inherit Duncurra.”

“Unless things have changed drastically, Fingal would never have plotted against Niall. Fingal all but worshipped him. Besides, ye are expecting, are ye not?”

“Aye, but at that time we hadn’t told anyone yet—Fingal didn’t know. It had to be Malcolm, and he meant to seize Duncurra, not inherit it.”

As Tadhg processed this information, he realized its full implication. “If Malcolm MacLennan is behind this, the message Niall will receive today is not likely to be the one I sent, asking to discuss a truce. He will ride on Cnocreidh to rescue ye, leaving Duncurra vulnerable.”

Katherine went ashen. “Niall is expecting Laird MacLennan to send men to Duncurra. They won’t be seen as a threat until it’s too late.”

Tadhg leapt into action. He called to Hamish, who was in the hall a discreet distance away. He explained the situation and gave orders to prepare a large contingent of men to leave at first light. “Lady Katherine, I have to ride on Duncurra before your husband has the chance to leave.”

“But he will think ye are attacking. The battle will be underway before ye can get to him. Even if ye ride under the white flag, I doubt he will believe ye.”

“I have to try. I refuse to let MacLennan get away with this,” Tadhg said angrily.

“Niall will believe ye if I ride with ye. He will not attack if I am there,” Katherine said.

“Absolutely not,” Tadhg said, and stalked away to prepare.

God save me from over-protective men. Oh, and while ye are at it, please, God, save them from each other
.

Twenty Five

Fingal knew Fearghas Chisolm and his wife Ena had been asleep for hours, but he told the guard this couldn’t wait. “Damnation, Andrew, ye know I wouldn’t insist on ye waking Laird Chisholm if it wasn’t extremely urgent.”

“Fingal, ye are generally level-headed, and the laird and lady are fond of ye, but by all that’s holy man, they won’t be happy if they find out this could have waited until morning.”

“I promise ye, Andrew, it can’t wait. I have to talk to the laird right now.”

“All right, wait there by the hearth and I will get him.”

In just a few minutes, both Fearghas and Ena greeted Fingal in the hall.

“My lady, I am so sorry, ye needn’t have come down,” Fingal said as she embraced him.

“I tried to tell her morning would be soon enough to greet ye, Fingal, but that battle was lost the moment she heard it was ye.”

“If either of ye think I could go back to sleep, worried about what has brought Fingal here in the middle of a bitter winter night, ye are daft.” Fingal smiled at her warmly, she was the closest thing to a real mother he had ever had. “Ye look like the devil has been riding on your heels, lad, what’s happened?”

The older couple listened as Fingal laid out the whole story for them. Fearghas agreed it was very unlike Tadhg Matheson to raid without provocation. “Now, I wouldn’t put kidnapping a bonny lass past him,” Fearghas added with a chuckle.

“I’m not even sure he has Katherine,” said Fingal. “If Malcolm is behind this, the abduction could be a ruse as well, simply meant to draw Niall out of Duncurra.”

“Ye could be right about it all, lad. Malcolm MacLennan has always been an ambitious man, but not one to take risks. If he had his eyes on Duncurra, he would want to make sure the conquest would be easy.”

“Fingal
could
be right? Do you doubt him at all? Malcolm MacLennan has never been trustworthy, and neither has Eithne” said Ena indignantly.

“Ena,” Fearghas said, “Don’t start that, she is the lad’s mother, after all.”

“He may as well know, Fearghas.” Fearghas shook his head in resignation as Ena continued, “Ye know Eithne was married to one of Fearghas’ younger brothers and she lived here after her husband died in battle.”

“Aye, I remember, ye told me that when I was a lad.”

“Well, she was the most unpleasant, demanding, and embarrassingly indiscreet woman I had ever had to deal with. She threw herself at any man who would have her, regardless of whether he was married or not. She even flirted shamelessly with Fearghas. It doesn’t surprise me she has her eyes on Malcolm MacLennan now. She cozied up to him any chance she could, even back then. He was married, but I wouldn’t have put it past him to take what she offered. I think the only thing she really wanted was to be a laird’s wife. As soon as she heard Beitris had died, she hounded Fearghas mercilessly to arrange a marriage with your da. Alastair was distraught, he wanted a mother for Niall, and he agreed to it. I have to admit I was glad to be rid of her.”

“Ena, that is water under the bridge.”

“Nay, it isn’t, Fearghas. She’s a scheming hag, and if she has her claws in Malcolm again, there is no telling what she’s up to.” At Fearghas’ skeptical expression, Ena added, “Surely ye don’t think Fingal is behind this?”

“Nay, my love,” said Fearghas, “I know Fingal would never do this. Fingal, ye say the raids began before your father died?”

“Aye, they did.”

“But ye were still living here, son, ye didn’t return to Duncurra until after his death. Surely Niall must realize it can’t have been ye.”

“Actually, Laird, I think that is precisely why he thinks I’m behind it. He knows Tadhg and I were friends, and suspects I cooked up the whole scheme with him.” Fingal looked at his hands, unable to look Fearghas in the eye when he said, “It pains me to admit this, but I think that is why he requested I come home and join his guard. I suspect it had more to do with his wanting to keep an eye on me than any skill he thought I had.”

Ena looked distraught. “Oh Fingal, ye mustn’t believe that. Ye trained harder than any lad ever fostered here. Ye were smart and skilled, but ye were never arrogant. Until ye, I had never seen a lad who could best someone while sparring and still leave his pride intact. I always suspected ye remained humble because ye continually compared yourself to Niall and felt ye came up short. But ye are a fine man and a skilled warrior, never doubt that. Niall may be too hard-headed to see another explanation now, but when ye hold Duncurra for him with Chisholm warriors, he will see his little brother is a man to be reckoned with.”

Fingal smiled at her, but Fearghas looked annoyed.

“Ye can remove that indignant look from your face right now, Fearghas Chisholm, ye know full well ye’re planning to send him back with an army,” she said, daring him with her eyes to challenge her. When he just smiled and raised his hands in surrender, she said to Fingal, “Try to get some sleep lad, I suspect ye will be leaving at first light.” She rose and left the hall.

Fearghas chuckled after she was out of earshot and said, “Of course ye will return to Duncurra tomorrow at first light with Chisholm soldiers, but I suspect if I hadn’t offered, my little Ena would be leading the troops.”

Twenty Six

Try as she would, Katherine had not been able to convince Laird Matheson to let her ride with his army towards Duncurra.

“Laird Matheson—”

“Tadhg.”

“Ye must let me ride with ye.”

“I’ve told ye, it’s too dangerous. I’m hoping we can reach Duncurra before Niall leaves it defenseless.”

“Ye know that isn’t going to happen. If Niall received word yesterday that I was kidnapped, and I am sure he did, it is likely he is already on his way to Cnocreidh.”

“We will be riding under a white flag.”

“Laird, I don’t think that will matter. He will be furious.”

“All the more reason for ye to stay safely here.”

“But ye don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly. Now go rest, or I will lock ye up again.”

Frustrated, Katherine went to her chamber as ordered, but she could not sleep. Just before dawn, she made one last attempt. She found Laird Matheson in the stable with Hamish and several of his other men, saddling their mounts. He arched a brow at her and said, “I am fairly certain I told ye to stay in the keep. Ye are as hard-headed as your husband.”

“Aye, I am,” she agreed. “That’s why I’m here. Ye must take me with you.”

“We’ve been through this. I told ye, we will be riding under a white flag.”

“But what if he doesn’t see it, or he’s so angry he ignores it?”

“I have considered that. I sent scouts ahead to confirm Niall’s movements. If they learn that he rides on Cnocreidh as expected, my men and I will take up a position on a stretch of moorland he will need to cross. The open ground will give him plenty of opportunity to see the white flag.”

“Surely ye realize, believing what he does, Niall will not wait to hear ye out. Nothing short of seeing me well and unharmed will sooth his ire long enough to listen. Even then he won’t believe ye, unless I tell him what happened. He trusts Malcolm. Please listen to me. It would be tragic, if after all this, Malcolm wins because ye are forced to destroy the MacIan army.” Katherine didn’t completely believe Tadhg would be the victor, but she knew regardless of who won the day, a battle would leave MacIan men dead and weaken the clan.

“Lass, what ye describe could happen even if ye are there, and ye could be injured or killed in the melee.”