Maisie dressed quietly in the early morning light. Morrigan was still sleeping, though she’d certainly be waking up soon.
She herself had barely slept at all. With Niall still in the dungeon and everything she’d heard from Isabella later, it was hardly surprising.
Maisie had been hearing murmurs about Cinaed ever since they arrived at Dalmigavie. She’d seen the deference with which the clan treated him. He was called “son of Scotland” as if it were a name. Or a title. Seeing the way Searc and the laird treated him, it was clear they had great plans for him. She believed that was part of the reason why, despite the fact that they were already married, Isabella and Cinaed were to have another wedding celebration at the end of the month, when clan chiefs from all over the Highlands would be in attendance.
Last night, she finally learned the true significance of the name … and the reason for their worries about his safety.
After leaving the dungeons, Maisie had gone upstairs to her sister, armed with questions regarding what she might know of the reason for Niall’s arrival in the Highlands. It was then that Isabella told her Cinaed’s mother was Queen Caroline. And if that weren’t startling enough, his father was the unacknowledged son of Charles Edward Stuart. Niall was part of the envoy sent by the queen to arrange a meeting.
Bonnie Prince Charlie. The son of Scotland.
Everything made sense now. The northern lands were already a tinderbox because of the unjust laws, the continued military occupation by English forces, the violent clearing of the Highlands, and the repression of the Highlanders’ language and way of life. A charismatic leader with a claim to the throne could easily be the spark to set all of Scotland ablaze. King George, unpopular throughout the realm as Prince Regent and even more so now, could be driven from the throne. A dynasty could fall.
And the Mackintosh clan was not about to let anything happen to Cinaed.
Quickly, Maisie told her sister what Niall said about Fiona. How he didn’t know where she was.
“Searc and the laird already know about that. Rainey and Woelk were both aware of Lieutenant Campbell’s troubles regarding his sister, and they were quick to talk about it,” Isabella explained. “Woelk told them that Fiona had been arrested for passing on flyers to women regarding the Six Acts. The two of them said they believe she’s awaiting trial right now.”
Maisie thought of her own doubts.
“So his companions knew everything, and they still trusted him to come north with them. This means the queen had to know it too. He wasn’t hiding anything.” The words she spoke were as much for her own peace of mind as for her sister’s.
“Rainey told them he didn’t learn this from the lieutenant, but from his own sources.”
“Niall spent weeks asking everyone openly if they knew anything about Fiona’s whereabouts. It was no secret, and that kind of news travels. The queen and her people would never have made him part of this envoy unless they trusted Niall.” Maisie wrung her hands. “They must release him.”
“The decision is in Searc and the laird’s hands.”
“Can I talk to them, at least? I want to take back what I said. Take back my accusation.”
“You know Searc. The man will not be pushed. You’d best wait until morning.”
Wait until morning.
The night had dragged on interminably. Finally, hearing the sounds of morning activity outside the window, Maisie hurried downstairs, looking for Searc or Lachlan or Cinaed. She needed to press her case and get Niall out of that dungeon.
She looked into the Great Hall but saw none of them. She turned to go as John Gordon’s aunt, Auld Jean, shuffled up behind her. It was at Jean’s cottage that Isabella and Cinaed met. She was the one who helped them flee from the villagers who would have murdered them both after the shipwreck. When they arrived at the castle, Isabella had made sure the girls understood that Jean was now family. Afflicted with the shaking palsy, the tough old woman struggled with many simple tasks, and worry for her nephew only seemed to make her condition worse.
“I’ve seen nary a one of them,” Jean said in response to Maisie’s question.
“How is John doing today?”
“Them blasted curs at the fort tried to break the lad’s spirit, but we’re a tough lot. He’s mending, as the mistress said he would, bless her. But it’s slow going. As ye know, he’s got his good days and bad. Today, not so good.”
After his arrest, John Gordon had been taken to Fort George. Cinaed and the Mackintosh men had been able to free him and bring him here, but not before he’d suffered horribly. Over the past weeks, John’s body had been slowly healing, but his mind was still troubled by the nightmare he endured.
“I’ll go and read to him later,” Maisie offered. “And I know Morrigan was planning to visit him today too.”
“Yer good lasses, the two of ye.” The old woman brightened. “It cheers him to see yer bonnie faces, I’ll grant ye.”
John had traveled with them for weeks, and Maisie’s family would never be able to repay the young barrister for his help in getting them out of Edinburgh and for what he’d suffered afterwards.
“There she comes, yer sister. Appears she’s looking for ye too.”
Maisie turned and was relieved to see Isabella. She made a promise to Jean to see her later and rushed toward her sister.
“Can I speak to them now?”
“Come with me.”
Maisie was not about to be asked twice. She kept up with Isabella’s hurried steps. But as they moved through the corridors, she glimpsed the serious expression on her sister’s face. She didn’t know if she should be relieved or frightened. She had no doubt they were heading toward the laird’s study.
“Something’s happened, hasn’t it? Something’s wrong.” She tugged on Isabella’s sleeve. “They don’t trust him, do they?”
Her sister stopped and faced her. Maisie saw the look of affection in her eyes, and Isabella reached out and brushed a stray wisp of hair off her forehead, tucking it behind her ear.
“I hope I’m doing right by you.”
“What do you mean? What are you doing?”
“You love Lieutenant Campbell.”
“I do. I love Niall.”
“Tell me something. What did you do after you left my room last night?”
Maisie looked at her sister, puzzled why she was being asked such a question. “I went upstairs to Morrigan.”
“And you didn’t leave the room after that?”
“No. Not until just now, when I came down to the Great Hall looking for you.”
Isabella nodded and placed a kiss on each of Maisie’s cheeks before tucking her hand into her arm. They started walking again. At the door to the laird’s study, she tapped once. After the call came to enter, they walked in.
Inside, a group of men had gathered. They seemed to be waiting. She first saw Blair, who was leaning against the wall by the door and nodded in greeting as they entered. Searc was pacing back and forth like a chained bulldog. He paused only long enough to glare at them. The laird, sitting in his chair, looked tired. He motioned to Blair to close the door.
She turned and saw Cinaed. Beside him stood Niall.
Niall. He was here.
Immediately, her heart leapt and raced with excitement. He was here. Free. She started to go to him, but Isabella’s hold on her arm kept her where she was.
There was no time wasted on greetings or explanations.
Searc barked at her from across the room. “Did you do it?”
Maisie stared at him, uncertain how she was expected to answer his question. “Did I do what?”
“Did you go down to the cells this morning at dawn?”
Maisie felt a flush of heat spread from her hairline to her toes. She looked at Niall. His face was turned away from her. Was she supposed to lie for him somehow? What could she say that would help him? She didn’t know if he was still in trouble. She decided she could only speak the truth.
“No, I didn’t. I only went to that awful place when Cinaed escorted me down there. Yesterday afternoon.”
Cinaed nodded encouragingly to her and then addressed Searc. “I told you. She couldn’t have done it. She wouldn’t.”
She couldn’t have done what? Maisie wondered.
“Just because she says—”
“Enough,” Cinaed interrupted sharply, cutting the little man off. “We’re going to proceed with what I proposed.”
He motioned to Maisie to approach as Searc huffed and began pacing again.
Her steps were unsteady. She still had no idea what was happening or what the questions were about. The hard set of Niall’s jaw and his refusal to look at her didn’t make things any easier. She was clearly the only one in the room who was ignorant of the truth—whatever it was. Now, standing in front of Cinaed, she felt like a convicted criminal about to be sentenced.
“Isabella tells me you two were engaged in Edinburgh.”
An awkward silence fell as she waited for Niall to speak. He continued to look away from her.
“We were,” Maisie answered finally.
“Do you still want to be married?”
Niall had set her free before leaving the city. And here they were, so far away from the life each of them imagined for their future. Once again, the silence became interminably long, and Maisie feared what Niall might say. What if he didn’t want her anymore? Especially after what she’d done yesterday.
“I do.” Even to her own ears, her words sounded like they were coming from the bottom of a well.
“You don’t have to do this,” Niall said, looking for the first time into her eyes.
“I want to … if you’ll still have me.” She couldn’t hide the note of vulnerability in her voice.
He said nothing for a moment, and Maisie was suddenly tormented by the thought that he’d been forced to make a bargain with the Mackintosh clan in exchange for his freedom. This was part of the deal. His pause and his inscrutable expression paralyzed her.
Then, the back of his hand gently brushed against hers, and he waited until she looked into his blue eyes again. “I would be honored if you’d have me as your husband.”
Suddenly, she could breathe. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, and Maisie wanted to cry. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and have him hold her as he had last night, but too many eyes were watching them.
“Your marriage makes Campbell my brother-in-law. Family.” Cinaed’s stern face was all business. “We need him. His expertise. His knowledge of British regiments, of the strategies they employ in battle. We’ll protect him.”
No! He’d tried to put the military life behind him. This arrangement too was a trap. He was being forced to act against his own wishes.
She’d thought of this moment for so long. She’d imagined the romance of it. The joy of what would lie ahead for them. But she felt no sense of celebration.
Cinaed turned to the laird. “How soon can we arrange it?”
“We’ll see these two married the day after tomorrow.”