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“Payold and women?”
“Yes”
“What if she ain’t there?” another asked
“Then you will bring her things back to me”
“Will we still get paid in coin and women?”
Coswold assured them that they would, and sent them on their way He didn’t anticipate any problems His plan was flawless
Nothing could go wrong
TWO MORE DAYS PASSED WITHOUT THE PROMISED MEETING, and Gabrielle still hadn’t had an opportunity to speak to Col, he was already gone And when he caht, he took his meals alone, then disappeared
She was beginning to think he never went to bed, but he didn’t look as if he lacked sleep—unless she considered his mood an indicator In the brief encounters they’d had in passing, he’d either ignored her or had gru she had done to displease him
She had convinced herself that he was deliberately avoiding her, but then Maurna changed her mind The housekeeper was in a chatty
“The laird has not had aher head “He says he won’t rest until he finds thefor anyone who knows so” Maurna moved a stool aside as she continued “And then word cao that thieves had stolen cattle from Seamus MacAlister’s valley, so the laird and hisfor those culprits as well He didn’t find theh, he arrived ho between Heckert, the smith, and Edwin, the butcher Those two are always at odds about so…”
She chattered on and on about various incidents involving the laird, and Gabrielle listened patiently She was tremendously relieved to discover that she was not the reason he was absent, but she was also anxious to find a ti desperate to unburden her conscience
She felt so alone There was no one she could confide in or share her problehts she would have supper with Liaaet the board and pegs the minute the trenchers had been cleared away Gabrielle enjoyed his company, but their conversation never turned to serious matters She couldn’t tell him about her role in his rescue Colm was the laird, the man who had taken her in, the man ouldnews
She didn’t want to burden Father Gelroy with her worries There wasn’t anything he could do about it anyway, except worry with her, and ould that accomplish? She had not spent much time with the priest these last few days Now that he was trusted by the clan, he was invited into their homes to eat with the families and to bless their children He was kept very busy and seemed to thrive on the new demands on his time
Nor could she talk with her guards It wouldn’t be proper to pour her heart out to them She would never burden them with her problems
She fretted in silence
Heralready imprisoned him? Oh God, she prayed, please keep hiather his vassals, and if he did, would they fight against the king’s favored barons and their arested that once her father heard that Gabrielle was still in the Highlands, he would rush to the Buchanans But she had heard nothing from them If her father was safe, why hadn’t he sent word?
Gabrielle couldn’t wait any longer Too to the Buchanans Brodick knew her father, and he estions to help find him
She didn’t worry that Col because she wasn’t going to ask him
Gabrielle strolled toward the fields as she for from the hill drew her attention She looked to its crest Several people—soathered under the tree where she had recently sat with Faust, watching Colm and his soldiers’ exercises
A girl running to join her friends paused long enough to curtsy to Gabrielle, then dashed away as her friend called to her “Lia ever so much better”
And he was looking ever so ht Eventually Liam would settle down, and God help the woman he chose for his wife Most certainly she would have her hands full with his mischief
Gabrielle hurried down the hill Her sto her that it was the noon hour Maurna had served her that paste for breakfast again, and Gabrielle had been unable to ed Gabrielle to eat it all, clai it would stick to her ribs Why Gabrielle would want that to happen was beyond her She thought the very idea disgusting
She had almost reached the courtyard when a woman approached from behind and tapped her on her shoulder
“Lady Gabrielle?”
Gabrielle turned “Yes?” There was a tier She had since learned caution and was noaryanyone new
“I haven’t had a chance to meet you,” the pretty woman said “My name is Fiona, and I come from the Dunbar clan My father is Laird Dunbar I was recently h’s most trusted clansmen”
“It is my pleasure to meet you” Gabrielle was polite but tentative with her response
Fiona didn’t smile She was a hearty woreen eyes the color of new grass Her long, red, curly hair ithout a doubt, her best feature Her eyes slanted down at the corners, giving her a look of overwhel sadness
“By now I’m sure you knoho my sister is”
“No, I don’t believe so Is she also h?”
Fiona acted surprised, though Gabrielle could see through her pretense “What is it you wish to say to me?” Gabrielle asked
“My sister Joan is betrothed to Laird MacHugh”
Had the wooal
But Gabrielle recovered quickly “Be sure to give your sister ratulations”
Fiona’s eyes widened “Yes…I will”
As Gabrielle walked away, Fiona called out to her, “You’ll be able to meet her yourself soon Joan will be here in a few days”
Gabrielle pretended not to hear She saw Lucien waiting for her in the courtyard and rushed toward him
“Princess, your face is bright red, but it isn’t warh today for the sun to burn you”
“The wind makes my face red,” she explained, surprised at how cal “Do you happen to knohere Laird MacHugh is?” I wish to kill him, she silently added
“No, I don’t Would you like me to find him for you?”
She shook her head “No, I’ll let hier”
She didn’t realize she had spoken the thought out loud until Lucien asked her to repeat it
“I’ll find him later,” she said Then I’ll kill him
“Did you want to go riding this afternoon?”
“No, I think I’ll stay inside and finishuseful to do”
“If you don’t needtheer and thinner, which allows for more distance and speed You’ll have to try one, Princess You’re sure to be impressed”
“There is that much difference?”
“Let et one of mine and one of theirs to show you”
A short ti two arrows He placed thee of coarse brown bread with honey She pushed her trencher aside
and took the MacHugh arrow in her hands to feel the weight
“The shaft is thinner, but seee to me”
Maurna heard her mistress’s comment She hurried to the table to clear away the food, and leaning over Gabrielle’s shoulder said, “Looks to be frooose to me”
Their attention was drawn to the stairs, as Colether Gabrielle placed the arrow on the table and turned to the brothers
“There is good news,” Liam said “Your clothes and much more will arrive shortly There is quite a procession of arments, can they?”
Gabrielle was puzzled and directed her questions to Colm “How is that possible? The staff took shire How can they be here now?”
“They came from the abbey,” he explained
“Did my father send them back? Is there word from him?” Her face lit up with excitement over the possibility
Colm hated to disappoint her “No, there is no word from your father”
Her eyes quickly filled with tears “I had hoped…”
Liam elbowed Colm and tilted his head toward Gabrielle
“Come here, Gabrielle,” Colm commanded
She blinked her tears away, straightened her shoulders, and crossed the room to face him “Yes?”
“Perhaps you will hear soested when Colm stayed silent
“Perhaps,” she said softly And perhaps the sun will turn black toht
Col to find out where he is I know it is difficult, but you must be patient”
“He could still be at Wellingshire”
He nodded “I have sent a land”
“You have?”
She was so surprised by his thoughtfulness, she didn’t knohat to say or think about hie hire after all
Then she remembered Joan
When Gabrielle’s tear-filled eyes squinted into a frown, Col? He would never understand her He had thought she would be happy to hear that he was trying to find her father Aye, she should be da like she wanted to strangle him
Gabrielle decided that noasn’t the time to talk to him about Joan She would need privacy for that discussion as well
“Colm, do you remember I asked for a moment alone with you?”
“I remember”