the more time she had to dwel on the meeting. Hours later, Ali questioned her decision. They could barely see ten feet in front of them. But just as she was about to suggest they go no farther, she saw bal s of light glowing in the distance.
“Gordie, what’s that?” she cal ed out to him.
“’Tis the MacDonald’s camp.”
Dread tied her stomach in knots. As they drew closer the campfires were clearly visible. Men dotted the landscape 246
like ants at a picnic. Dread unraveled into a ful -fledged panic attack, and she gulped in the damp night air.
“The MacLeods doona’ stand a chance,” Gordie mut
tered, shaking his head.
Ali squeezed her eyes shut as an image of Rory, wounded and bleeding, came to her, just like that first night. She wanted to find the MacDonald and get down on her hands and knees to beg him to end the battle before it began.
“Halt.” Two men strode through the shadows toward them, swords drawn. “State yer business.”
“I’m returnin’ the MacDonald’s nephew and his spy to him,” Gordie said in a tone that suggested he expected to be held in some esteem for what he’d done. Ali knew better.
The men looked at one another and appeared ready to send them on their way. It was then Ali brought her horse alongside Gordie. The older man’s jaw dropped, and his companion gasped, fal ing to one knee. “Lady MacDonald.”
Gordie looked at her, eyes popping out of his head.
“Wil you bring us to Lord MacDonald, please.” She added a soft lilt to her voice, surprised it came as natural y as it did. She couldn’t afford to be turned away. If she was, Gordie would probably kil them both for her lies. And Rory, Iain, and Fergus, men that she loved, didn’t stand a chance against an army this size. Both men reached up to help her from her mount. Gordie was quick to dismount and ease Connor to the ground. Ali thanked the men, coming around to Connor’s side. “Do ye ken what yer aboot, Lady Aileanna?” he whispered.
“Aye.” Her eyes met his, and he grinned. They passed smal clusters of men gathered around the campfires. Their conversations ended the moment they saw Ali. They looked at her as though they’d seen a ghost. She was, at least to them—the ghost of Brianna MacDonald. As they approached a large tent, one of the men rushed LORD OF THE ISLES
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forward. “My laird . . . Laird MacDonald.” He tapped on the canvas.
“What are ye disturbin’ me fer now?” The flap flipped open and a gray-haired man unfolded his large frame. Piercing blue eyes set in a handsome, aristocratic face stared back at her. The man let out an anguished cry and fel to his knees, clutching his chest. “Brianna.”
Chapter 21
Rory glanced up from the battle plans he, Aidan, Iain, and Fergus charted. “Mrs. Mac, sorry we’ve missed the evenin’
meal havena’—?” The anxious look in her eyes brought him up short. He laid his quil on the desk. “What is it?”
She twisted her apron in her hands. “’Tis Lady Aileanna. She’s no’ in her room. I havena’ seen her al day.”
A smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he thought of Aileanna’s earlier threat. “She’l no’ stay away much longer. Daylight’s fadin’ fast. Doona’ fret, Mrs. Mac, Cal um and Connor are with her. Mayhap she spent the day with Mau reen.”
The older woman gave him an odd look, obviously won
dering at his lack of concern. “Nay, I asked Robert and he says she was with Maureen early this morn and has no’
been seen since. And she sent Cal um back with wee Jamie, told him to keep an eye on the MacLean, she did.”
Rory tried to ignore the knot of unease in his gut.
“We’ve been at this long enough.” He pushed back his chair. “The three of you get somethin’ to eat and I’l look fer Aileanna.” And when he found her, she’d learn he was none too happy with her wee game.
“Nay, I’m goin’ with you,” his brother said, a look of 250
concern in his eyes. “She shouldna’ be roamin’ around on that foot of hers.”
“Aye, I ken that, but she’d no’ listen. She’s a stubborn wench.” He sounded defensive, but his brother seemed to suggest Rory didn’t concern himself enough with Aileanna’s welfare.
Aidan clapped him on the shoulder. “I think I’l keep ye company. The lass is always good fer a laugh.”
Rory didn’t have to wait for Fergus to offer his assistance. The man was already out the door, muttering as how he’d warm her arse if she’d gotten herself in a fix. If Rory’s wor
ries weren’t getting the better of him, he’d have laughed. He combed the area around the loch while the others searched the keep and questioned anyone they came upon. When they met back in the courtyard the sun had set, dusk closing in on them. The three men shook their heads at the question in his eyes and he saw his own growing fear re
