His eyes widened. “Aye, ye ken aboot the flag?”
“Of course, Ro—Lord MacLeod told me al about it. And that’s what concerns me, Connor. I think Lady MacLean knows about the flag as wel and means to use it as a way to force Lord MacLeod into the union.”
“I doona’ think she needs much to force his hand. As I hear it the papers wil be signed this day.”
“But the papers are missing, and she might get desper
ate. I’m sure that’s what she was doing when she had every
one cleaning the keep from top to bottom yesterday. She was searching for the flag, Connor. I’m sure of it.”
“She’l no’ find it. She wouldna’ enter the laird’s cham
bers without his permission. Besides, ’tis wel concealed. The wal —” He clamped his mouth shut. LORD OF THE ISLES
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Ali rose from the chair, anxious to begin her search. She schooled her features. “That’s a relief. I should’ve known Lord MacLeod would do everything he could to protect the flag. I’ve kept you long enough, Connor. You’ve been a great help. Thank you.”
“’Twas no’ a problem, my lady, I—”
The door squeaked open and they both turned to see Mari, one foot over the threshold, frantical y motioning for someone to fol ow her. “Ye must let my lady see to ye,”
she urged.
Ali frowned. “What’s going on, Mari?” She moved toward the door and gasped when Mari gently guided one of the serving girls into the room, bloody linens pressed to her face. It was one of the girls Ali had worked with in the kitchens. One of the three that had attacked Mari.
“Good Lord, what happened? Bring her here,” Ali said, holding out a chair. Connor took hold of the girl’s arm and helped her to sit.
“Tilt your head—that’s it.” Ali careful y removed the blood-soaked linens and sucked in a ragged breath. A deep, sixinch gash sliced from just above her brow to her cheekbone, barely missing her eye. Mari twisted her blood-spattered apron in her hands. “I had her press the linens to the wound like you did fer me, my lady.”
Ali reached over to squeeze Mari’s arm. “You did ex
actly right,” she reassured her. “Now I’l need a bucket of water, and make sure you boil it. And the herbs I used to keep Lord MacLeod asleep, I’l need those, too. Connor, you remember the ones I mean?” At his affirmative nod, she continued. “A needle and thread and some of that . . . Uisge na beatha, I think Fergus cal ed it. Anyway, ask Mrs. Mac. She’l know what I’m talking about.”
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“Nay!” The girl gave a strangled cry. “No one can ken. She’l kil me.”
“Shh, now.” Ali patted her shoulder. “No one is going to kil you. Mari, what’s going on?”
“’Tis Lady MacLean who done it. She told Ina she’d kil her if she said anythin’. Told her to see to it on her own, but I made her come to ye. I said as how ye would protect her.”
Ali’s hands bal ed into fists, and she had to take a calm
ing breath before she said or did something she’d regret. Crouching beside the girl, she took her hands in hers. “Ina, we’re going to take care of your cut, and for now no one wil know, but Lady MacLean can’t be al owed to get away with this. Whatever I do, I promise you won’t suffer be
cause of it.”
“Ye didna’ see her eyes, my lady. She looked crazed.”
“I can imagine.” Ali stood up and removed the linen, re
lieved to see the bleeding had slowed. “Do you know what set her off ?”
“Aye, the papers were missin’ from Lord MacLeod’s study and she was in a rage, castin’ blame on us fer cleanin’
near his desk.”
cult. But maybe he wouldn’t care. He’d have the men to help fight his battles. He’d have done his duty. Once Ali finished stitching Ina’s cut, with Connor and Mari’s help she settled the girl into her bed despite her groggy protests.
“Mari and Connor wil stay with you while you rest. I won’t be long.”
“My lady, please take care. I doona’ want her to harm ye,” Ina pleaded.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Ina, but I can’t say the same for Lady MacLean.”
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