The Accidental Highland Hero (39 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

Eilis prayed that if the man was truly one of the enemy and not James who had just entered Dunbarton’s lady’s chamber where she was hiding under the bed, he would not locate her.

The man said, “’Tis Dougald, sweet angel. James was battling a man when he sent me  in search of you. Where are you?”

“Dougald.” She choked on tears and scrambled out from underneath the bed. “Are you all right?”

“Aye. Allison sent me here to get you. She tried to reach us, but her cousin caught her, and he forced her to tell him you were here—only she said you were in Dunbarton’s chamber, hoping you’d hide before they searched the lady’s chamber. When her cousin left her and headed for the laird’s chamber, she managed to get word to Ian about your plight. James and our men, and even your cousin and his, are fighting Dunbarton’s kin as we speak.” Dougald seized her wrist. “Come, we must go at once.”

“Is James all right?”

“Aye, although he is sorely vexed Allison brought you here.” Dougald lighted a candle and led her through Dunbarton’s chamber. “Tell me where to go.”

She pointed to a tapestry she thought covered the door they’d come through. “One of the men said Dunbarton is dead.”

“Aye. Poisoned by one of his bastard sons. Hopefully, one that intends to live peaceably with us will rule.” Dougald jerked back the tapestry and opened the door. He handed her the candle and readied his sword then advanced down the stairs.

“How many sons are there?  I thought only one.”

“Five. We will leave them to sort it out amongst themselves. If we aid one to take over, how do we know he will honor a peace between us? We do not.”

“Where are we going?  Surely we are not leaving by ourselves.”

Dougald softly chuckled. “You were so quiet in the cave that eve. We will meet some of my kin outside the castle, lass. I will return you to Craigly, and James will follow shortly.”

“What of Gunnolf?”

Dougald stopped to consider the passage that split into two.

“Left,” she said. “’Tis the same path Allison showed me as we made our way here.”

“Aye, lass. Gunnolf is of berserker descent. Once he starts fighting, best to let him finish the battle. I prefer rescuing fair damsels.”

She gave him a small smile. Their footfalls echoed off the limestone walls and sounded eerie in the dark. “I am so sorry they caught up with you at the cave. ‘Twas all my fault.”

“How so, lass?”  He peered over his shoulder at her.

“I had tethered my borrowed horse outside the cave.”

“The horse must have run off in the storm. Dunbarton’s men had searched all night for us, looking in every cave they could find.” He raised his brows at her. “I understand James wed you last eve.”

“Aye.” Eilis only wished to see James again soon. Although she was relieved Dougald and Gunnolf were well.

Dougald shook his head. “And here Gunnolf and I had been arguing whether either of us had a chance to woo you. Although we would never have guessed the woman he wanted was the same one he rescued at the cliffs. Malcolm will be exonerated.”

“Why?”

“Malcolm stopped him from rescuing you from your cousin. When James couldn’t locate you afterwards, he did not speak to Malcolm for weeks.” Dougald grabbed the handle to the door. But when they heard men in the narrow passage behind them running to catch up, Dougald jerked the door open and pulled Eilis out into the chilly night air. He snuffed out the candle and helped her to mount the horse she’d ridden to get there then he took Allison’s horse. “Around front.”

Before they could get very far, five men swooped out of the secret passage door, one holding a torch, all wielding swords, and no one Eilis recognized.

“Go, my lady!”  Dougald slashed at two of the men, but another chased after Eilis and ran in front of her, making her horse rear.

She hung on for dear life and screamed.

Her scream brought other mounted men racing around the east side of the castle walls, and she feared she’d brought all the Dunbarton’s men to battle.

But when she saw James, her eyes filled with tears.

“Lady,” he said, exasperated, and he and his men quickly dispensed with those who attacked Dougald. One other darted back inside the secret passageway maze to safety.

“We return home now,” James said, motioning with his sword toward the MacNeill lands. He resheathed his sword and reached over to pull Eilis from her horse. Once she was seated in his lap, she rested her head next to his chest and snuggled tight, thrilled beyond words that he and his kin were unharmed. “The Dunbarton men did not fight us with much enthusiasm. Methinks they wished us on our way so they could deal with the battle betwixt the sons.”

“Allison said you needed our help.”

“Allison could have gotten you killed. She had the best intentions, but she will no longer work at Craigly.”

“I do not understand her thinking.”

“Her half brother is one of Dunbarton’s bastard sons. Working for my mother, Allison could not bear to see Dougald taken hostage, so she vowed to free him since she had the means to enter the castle at will, and she knew how to prepare a sleeping draught. She also wanted her half brother to have a chance to rule. Then when we stormed the castle with Keary’s help, Dunbarton’s four other bastard sons decided to fight for the chance to replace Dunbarton. Most are tired of the squabbles between our people and Dunbarton’s iron rule and weary of the fact he would not recognize any of his bastard sons as his own.”

“But two of the men said they wanted to keep you from freeing your brother.”

“Aye. They learned Allison had brought you to the castle and apparently were loyal to a son of Dunbarton who does not wish to end the strife. Hopefully he will not take power.”

“But I still do not understand why Allison wanted me there.”

James tightened his hold on Eilis and kissed her forehead. “Dear Eilis, her brother heard of your charms—how you had returned to Craigly at great risk of your family’s discovery to warn us about Dougald and Gunnolf being taken hostage again, how you had defended the goat herder’s livestock against the wolves, how you rescued Allison from her assailant at Brecken, and were betrothed to the old Dunbarton. Her brother, Finbar, wished to take you for his own wife. He hoped I might not survive the skirmish at the castle. And Allison would be your sister. She much admires you, Eilis, but no one can as much as I do.”

“But Lady Allison—”

“Will stay with her brother. Blood comes before friendship.”

Dougald rode up beside them and winked at Eilis. “Here Gunnolf and I were betting which one of us would have a chance at wooing the fair maid. Neither of us can believe you had her locked up in the castle tight and still managed to lose her. Twice, so it seems.”

James grunted. “And you, my brother, how did you manage to allow Dunbarton’s men to catch you not once but twice?”

“Gunnolf and I had to fight the swine for stealing our livestock. The other time?”  He smiled at Eilis. “’Twas a bonny lass we were protecting.” Then he shrugged. “Besides, we had no weapons and were outnumbered six to one.” He let out his breath in a huff. “Is mother well?”

“Aye, she has taken in another lad, Eilis’s wee brother. And of course she is delighted I have taken Eilis to wife. But she was not happy to hear Malcolm wed Lady Anice without inviting her to the celebration. And that in taking the lady to be his wife, he had not received King Henry’s permission first.”

Dougald cleared his throat. “Aye, well, I will give you the details in private.”

Eilis yawned and snuggled tighter to James. “And then James will have to tell me what you will not.”

Dougald laughed.

“We will speak of it on the morrow, my brother,” James said.

Dougald shook his head. “Just like Malcolm.”

“You should try married life sometime, Dougald. Priorities change.”

“Aye, as well they should.”

Broc came riding up from behind, his face red, his sword bloodied. He shoved the steel into its scabbard. “I had come for a fight, but…”  He inclined his head to James. “I thought my quarrel with you not Dunbarton’s kin. Should be interesting to see which of his sons win out. I understand this is your brother, Dougald. If no one in your family is interested in the fair Catriona…”

“Broc, you cannot be serious. The woman is a witch,” Eilis said.

“A witch?” Broc asked, his brows raised.

“Aye.”

Broc rubbed his jaw and nodded. As superstitious as he was, she knew that would be enough to dissuade him. There was no way that she wanted Catriona in the family, even married to her cousin, whom she didn’t hold in high regard and deserved such an ungrateful woman.

Near the wee hours of the morning, they arrived back at Craigly. Except for the guards on duty who greeted the warriors returning home, the castle was quiet.

Then Niall rushed out of the keep. “God’s knees, Lady Eilis. Lady Akira herself is ready to lock you in the dungeon. She has been worried sick about you and the babe.”

Everyone looked at Eilis. Her skin heated as if the sun had baked it all day. “I am all right, as well you can see.” And how did anyone know if she was yet with child?  Although she secretly wished it with all her heart.

“And going no where further unless I say so,” James said, as Niall helped Eilis down.

James dismounted and handed his reins to Niall. “The celebration for Dougald and Gunnolf’s safe return and the wedding celebration may begin without us when everyone arises to break their fast. Unless the castle is under siege, the lady and I do not wish to be disturbed.”

Gunnolf smiled at Eilis. “Ja, Dougald told me we had no chance with you if Laird James took a fancy to you.”

Bleary eyed, Fia hurried out to greet Eilis and gave her a resounding hug. “You are all well, dear cousin. Lady Akira nearly had a stroke. Thankfully, Ethan slept through everything.”

James swept Eilis up in his arms. “On the morrow, ladies, you may visit. On the morrow.” And with that he hurried into the keep, greeted his smiling servants with a courteous nod, and hastened abovestairs.

“Wish you a bath before we retire?” James asked Eilis.

Ian greeted James outside his chamber. “I rode ahead, my laird, and had a hot bath prepared. Greetings, my lady.”

“Ah, Ian, I thank you,” Eilis said smiling.

His cheeks flushed, Ian grinned broadly and bowed low. “My lady.”

James shook his head and carried Eilis into his chamber. “The lad will be impossible to live with now.”

Before he could enter the room, Lady Akira hurried to intercept them. “Eilis…”  Tears choked her, and she couldn’t say anything else.

James set Eilis down on the floor, and she hugged her new mother. “I am fine, my mother. All is well.”

Lady Akira embraced her back. “Fergus will have to continue to guard you if you do not stay put,” she scolded. “Dougald, is he well?”

Dougald rushed up the stairs. “Aye, my mother.” He enfolded her in his arms, although she wrinkled her nose at the smell of him, and he released her.

James motioned for his faithful guard to leave. “Retire, Fergus. We will not need your services any further. The lass now knows her place.”

Lady Akira smiled. “Aye, with us, her kin.” She sighed. “I must away to bed so I can get up at the first hint of dawn and make sure your wee brother has plenty to do to keep him occupied. Take a bath, Dougald, or you will chase away our staff.” She gave him a loving look. “I am well pleased you are home again.” He opened his arms to give her another hug, but she waved him away. “After you have bathed.” But she gave Eilis another loving embrace. “Sleep well, dear, and take a care with the babe.”