Page 48 of A Highlander's Bride

Daniel burst out laughing as he turned toward the stairs, wishing with all his might that this nightmare would end.

*

Alisa sat onthe floor, her head on her mam’s lap. “I doona understand. Where can Beth be if the laird has searched everywhere in the keep and the Mackenzie lands?”

Lady Munro ran her hand down her face. “My mother’s instinct says she is somewhere in this castle.”

“This is truly frightening,” Alisa said.

Her mam sighed. “Aye, and there are those of us who believe Lady Chisholm has something to do with it.”

Alisa looked up at her mam. “Has she been questioned?”

“Extensively, but she holds that he kens no’hing about Beth’s disappearance.”

Alisa thought for a minute. “What about the notes that were left? Could you tell if it was Beth’s handwriting?”

Tears appeared in her mam’s eyes and she blotted the corners with a linen she carried. “I showed them to yer da and we both agreed it was an imitation of her handwriting.” She smiled softly. “The laird took one look at the note that was left for him and he announced it was a fake. Since I doubt he had time to study her handwriting the short time we’ve been there, it makes me wonder if there is something between them I don’t ken about.”

“Then this was planned for a while if someone had the time to practice her handwriting.”

Her mam smoothed her daughter’s hair from her forehead. “I am verra afraid daughter. I fear I haven’t prayed hard enough.”

The yelling and screaming coming from the great hall was loud enough to reach Alisa and her mam. “That sounds like Lady Chisholm,” Alisa said.

“Now what?” her mam muttered. “The woman is such a difficult person.”

As they descended the stairs, Lady Chisholm’s hands were fisted in Laird Mackenzie’sléine. “Ye must find my daughter. The king will arrive at any time.”

He disengaged her hands from him. “Ye must be out of yer mind. Lady Beth has been missing for days and ye want me to spend time looking for yer daughter?” He leaned in close to the woman’s face. “Especially since I believe ye ken where Lady Beth is.”

Lady Chisholm covered her face with her hands and wailed. “Ye must find her. She’s to marry tomorrow.”

Shaking his head in disgust, Daniel walked out of the keep.

Lady Chisholm turned to the group who had gathered. “My daughter is missing. Someone must find her.”

No one spoke or moved.

A man’s voice called from the outer bailey. “The king has arrived!”

Chapter Seventeen

“Lady Alice ismissing now, too?” Morgan glared at Gregory as if he were the one responsible for another lass gone.

“Aye. She is nowhere in the castle and her mam says a satchel with her clothes is gone from her bedchamber.”

“And the king is here?” Abraham asked, drumming his fingers on the table in front of him.

Gregory nodded. “He just arrived with his people. Lady Chisholm has the wedding planned for tomorrow.”

“With who? Both lasses the king sent are gone.” Abraham turned to Richard. “We are cursed.”

“Where is the laird while all this is going on?” Morgan asked.

“The same place he’s been for the last few days. Questioning everyone in the village, searching everywhere, angrier than a bear with an arrow in its arse.”

“Has he at least greeted the king?” Richard asked.