Ransom

Both clans have good reason to want to see the union with the MacPhersons fail.'

The men continued to discuss the matter as they went in for the banquet the servants had prepared. Gillian wanted Bridgid to join them at the supper table, but she had disappeared. Gillian didn't see her again until the meal was over.

Her friend motioned to her from the back hallway.

'Gillian, may I have a word in private with you?' Bridgid asked. 'I was listening when Brisbane told you that your sister refuses to see you, and I wanted you to know how sorry I am. I know you must be terribly disappointed.'

'I was disappointed,' she replied. 'But I'm still hopeful that she'll change her mind.'

'Ramsey will order her to come forward. I heard him say so.'

'Yes, but not until the day after tomorrow at the earliest. He wants to give her a chance to do the right thing, I suppose. Still, I hate having to wait.'

'If you knew where she lived, what would you do?'

Gillian didn't have to think about her answer. 'I would immediately go to her. I don't have unlimited time to wait for her to change her mind.'

'I might be able to help you,' Bridgid whispered. 'Anthony also heard what Brisbane said, and he's offered to follow him tomorrow morning when he goes to plead with your sister again.'

'Will he get into trouble for doing me this favor?'

'He thinks he's doing me the favor,' Bridgid explained. 'Besides, Anthony's second-in-command under Gideon, and he can pretty much do whatever he wants. If anyone gets into trouble, it's going to be me, but I'm not worried because no one's going to find out. Anthony will tell me where she lives, and then I'll tell you. If my laird bows to pressure from Brisbane and decides to delay your meeting with Christen, then you can take matters into your own hands.'

'Why would he bow to pressure?'

' Brisbane is an elder in the MacPherson clan, and my laird respects him. He also doesn't want to order Christen if he doesn't have to. Her family has gone to great lengths to make sure her identity has remained secret.'

'I'm her family.'

'I know,' Bridgid whispered. She patted Gillian's hand. ' Brisbane could come back with Christen tomorrow.'

'But you don't think he will, do you?'

'She's remained hidden for years. No, I don't think she'll willingly come.'

'Will you take me to her?'

'Yes.'

'I want to go tomorrow afternoon.'

'You've been ordered to wait.'

'Not ordered,' Gillian argued. 'Brodick suggested I be patient.'

'All right, then. We'll go tomorrow afternoon.'

Gillian glanced at Brodick, then whispered, 'I'm going to have to figure out a way to get rid of Brodick's men. They follow me like shadows.'

'They didn't follow you to the lake.'

'No, of course not. They knew I was going to bathe.'

Bridgid grinned. 'Well then? Simply tell them you're going to the lake.'

'I hate having to lie to them. I've become quite fond of Brodick's guard.'

'But if we do go to the lake first, then you wouldn't have to lie, would you?'

Gillian burst into laughter. 'You have the mind of a criminal.'

'What are you two whispering about?' Ramsey called from the table.

'Foolish matters,' Bridgid replied. 'Laird, Fiona has graciously offered to sew some new gowns for Gillian so that she won't have to borrow from others, but she needs to measure her. Could we see to this chore now? It shouldn't take long.'

As soon as they were out of earshot, Ramsey asked Brodick, 'When are you going to get the names of the Englishmen from Gillian? Iain grows impatient. He wants to move, and so do I.'

'Tonight,' Brodick promised.

'The women have prepared one of the new cottages for you and Gillian, unless you'd rather use one of the chambers upstairs.'

'The cottage will afford more privacy,' Brodick said. 'But I'd rather we stayed outside.'

'Your bride deserves a bed on her wedding night,' Ramsey said, and Brodick nodded in agreement.

The revelry began with Father Laggan's arrival. Calling out his congratulations, he demanded supper, and while the servants saw to the priest's needs, Brodick paced and waited for Gillian.

In a very short while, the hall was filled with Sinclairs. Brodick's soldiers didn't mingle with the others until kegs of ale were carried in and a rowdy Sinclair boasted that he could arm wrestle any Buchanan to the floor without breaking a sweat. Black Robert meant to prove him wrong, and the game was on.

When Gillian came downstairs, for a second she thought she was back at the Maitlands'. The noise was certainly just as deafening. She stared into a sea of faces and spotted Father Laggan in a corner eating and drinking. He pushed the bench back as he stood to wave and beckon her forward. Gillian grabbed Bridgid's hand and threaded her way toward him.

Ramsey watched Gillian bow to the priest, then nudged Brodick so he'd turn around. 'Laggan's with Gillian.'

'Ah, hell.'

'You really ought to tell her before the priest lets it slip. He's bound to say something.'

Brodick pushed through the crowd to get to Gillian. One of the MacPherson soldiers was having a heated argument with a Sinclair, and just as Brodick reached them, the two men lunged with fists at one another.

Ramsey moved forward with lightning speed. 'This is a celebration, not a brawl,' he muttered in disgust as he grabbed the Sinclair by the back of his neck with one hand and took hold of the MacPherson's neck with his other. With the flick of his wrists he slammed their heads together, then shoved them apart and watched them crash to the floor. The blow rendered both men unconscious.

With a grunt of approval, Brodick continued on. Ramsey ordered the fallen men removed from the hall and then hurried after his friend. Nothing was going to prevent him from seeing Gillian's reaction when Brodick finally found the gumption to tell her the truth.

The priest was busy chiding Bridgid because she was still unmarried. 'It's your duty to wed and have children,' he said. 'It's what God intended.'

'I do plan to marry, Father,' she countered, a faint blush tingeing her cheeks. 'As soon as I am asked by the right man.'

'She's in love, Father,' Gillian interjected. 'And she's hopeful that the man she's given her heart to will marry her.'

'Does this man know you would marry him?' the priest asked. He took a long swallow of his drink while he waited for her to answer.

'No, Father, he doesn't know.'

It was apparent from the way Bridgid was squirming that she didn't want to talk about marriage any longer, and so Gillian stepped forward.

'Father, I made a foolish mistake today.'

The priest scowled. 'It's a little late for second thoughts, lass.'

'Excuse me?'

'You heard what I said. I asked you if you knew what you were getting into and you said… No, I believe it was Brodick who said that you did. You told me in your own words that you loved him.'

He was becoming highly agitated. 'It was just a misunderstanding,' she said. 'But when I asked Dylan, he cleared it up for me.'

The priest cocked his head to the side. 'What misunderstanding are you talking about?'

'It's silly, really, and embarrassing. You see, when you blessed Brodick and me, I jumped to the conclusion