Page 43 of A Highlander's Bride

He had become more communicative with each meal he brought her. “I will bring a larger mug next time.”

Beth gingerly climbed to her feet. “Do ye realize ye will be punished for this? And Lady Chisholm as well?”

The man backed up and shook his head “Nay. When Lady Alice becomes Laird Mackenzie’s wife, no harm will come to her mam.”

“And what about ye? The charges against ye will be as harsh ashers and ye have no connection to Lady Alice to save ye.”

He handed her the sack. She wanted to keep him talking, maybe find a soft spot in the man. “And even if you doona suffer charges, what is yer benefit for doing this? Has she promised ye coin?”

He leaned on one foot, then the other, as if anxious to leave. “Lady Chisholm’s maid, Meggie, is my woman. Her ladyship said she would see that we got one of the bothies to live in and both of us will work for the castle when Lady Alice marries the laird.”

Beth closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. Just standing in her weak condition had black dots forming in her eyes. She sat down and looked at him. “What is yer name?”

He shifted again and narrowed his eyes. “Joshua.”

“Do ye have a job here now?”

“Aye. I work in the stables and the garden.”

She stared at him for a minute. “Ye say Meggie is yer woman. How would ye feel if she was treated this way? Kidnapped, locked up in a dungeon?”

He thought for a minute. “I am sorry to have done this to ye, but Meggie is determined that we marry and have our own home.”

Beth shook her head. “And for the rest of yer life, ye will do what Meggie wants, even though it could cause ye harm in the end?”

Just as she imagined her comment had him thinking, he said, “I needs go now. I will bring more ale later.” With those curt words, Joshua left, locking the door behind him.

Beth peered sadly at the empty mug and pulled out bread, cold meat, and cheese from the sack. No apples today. She sighed and ate slowly, her dry mouth making it hard to swallow.

She shuddered and shook her foot when what felt like a critter bit her toe. Placing the sack in her lap, she lowered her head and cried. The only thing keeping her alive now was the knowledge that Daniel would be frantic looking for her. Hopefully, he would find her before she died.

Please Daniel. I doona ken how much longer I can survive this.

*

“Who goes there?”One of the guardsmen on the ramparts shouted to Gregory and the three men who came with him as they arrived at Castle Grant.

“Gregory Mackenzie, cousin to Clan Chief Daniel Mackenzie to see Lady Grant.”

Silence followed for a few minutes, then the same man called out, “What is yer business with my lady?”

“I have a message from her mother, Lady Munro.”

That must have thrown the man into confusion. Silence followed.

After waiting a several minutes, the castle drawbridge descended and a young woman came hurrying down the steps of the keep and into the outer bailey.

Gregory and his men rode over the drawbridge, the horses’ hooves clattering. There was no mistaking the woman holding her skirts as she ran towards them was Lady Alice’s sister, Lady Grant. Both were pretty, blonde, and curved in all the right places.

She ran up to them as they dismounted. “My guardsman said ye have a message from my mam?”

“Aye. But first I must ask ye if yer sister, Lady Beth Munro is here?”

The lass turned pale and shook her head. “Nay. Is she supposed to be?”

A man strode up to them. “What is this business with my wife?” He placed his protective arm around Lady Grant’s waist and moved her slightly back.

“I represent Clan Chief Laird Daniel Makenzie—”