Page 106 of Highland Ruse

“My name is Delilah,” she said, kneeling so she was level with the girl. “I was only pretending to be Lady Elizabeth.”

Claire’s face was smooth and without accusation. “Why?”

“To try to protect you and the rest of the MacLeods from MacKenzie.” Delilah tilted her head toward the window, but heard no more shouts below. Whatever the issue was had clearly been resolved.

“Ye pretended to be MacKenzie’s bride. To save us,” Claire surmised.

Delilah stared for a moment at the clever girl with sunshine hair and her heart in her eyes. “Aren’t you a smart one? Yes, I pretended to be his bride.”

“Ye’re a hero, Delilah.” Claire darted forward and bestowed another squeezing hug.

Delilah had been many shameful things in her life—a mistress, a deceiver, a thief when necessary—but never had she been considered a hero. The idea of such innocence thinking so highly of her brought a fresh embrace of affection to her already enamored heart.

While she’d done as much as she could thus far, Delilah would never confess the truth to the child—that there was still considerable danger.

Her stomach gave a savage snarl of hunger.

She put a hand to her bodice and laughed. “It would appear I forgot to break my fast this morning.”

“I can get ye something from the kitchens if ye like.”

“You don’t have to. I—” Delilah almost said she would go down herself. But that wasn’t possible, was it?

“The laird told ye to stay here. Besides, the cook likes me, and I always get a bit of sugar.” Claire winked, the same as Kaid had done earlier—a slight head cock and a half-smile to accompany the action. “I’ll be back quick. I swear it.”

Delilah nodded slowly, finally conceding. “Very well, but come straight back. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve done while I’ve been away.”

Claire released her and darted from the room with purpose. Only when the girl was gone did Delilah realize they had not told her to keep what she’d seen secret.

Before Delilah’s heart could even descend into her stomach, a knock sounded at the solar door.

Delilah relaxed, assuming Claire had changed her mind and she could tell her to keep Delilah’s appearance a secret. But when she pulled open the door, her lowered gaze met only the waist of a well-made dress and slid up to find Percy’s face, her skin pale and her blue eyes wide with shock.

“Percy?” Delilah gasped.

“Oh, thank God you were in here. I’d hoped it was where you’d be when I realized you weren’t in Kaid’s room. It’s Torra.” Percy shook her head. “You must come. I need help.”

• • •

A scream from one of the rooms above pulled Kaid from his interference with the courtyard tiff. He didn’t have to guess from which chamber the high-pitched shriek emerged.

The two merchants who had decided to settle a price war with their fists gaped up toward the open window as well. Kaid shot them both a stern warning look in the hopes that the issue was resolved and hurried up the stairs.

He was greeted with a scene of chaos.

The table in Torra’s room was overturned, and all the chairs lay pitched on their sides. Several of Percy’s books lay strewn across one side of the room as if they’d been swept to the ground.

Torra charged around like a bull with Percy and Delilah fluttering nervously around her. Both were entirely capable of stopping her physically, but he was sure neither would do so at the risk of jeopardizing the rapport they’d worked so hard to establish. And from a corner, Sylvi watched the entire scene with her arms folded over her chest and amusement quirking at her lips.

“It’s her,” Torra howled. “It’s her! She’s coming for me.” She gripped her hair in her fists and spun around toward Kaid. Her eyes were wild and at some point, she’d torn the fabric of her sleeve.

“Enough,” Kaid commanded in a hard tone.

Everyone in the room stopped.

“I told them they should have squeezed her neck until she slept.” Sylvi shrugged.

Kaid gave her a sharp look. “I’m sure ye’ll remember, Lady MacKenzie is a guest at Ardvreck. We dinna treat guests in such a manner.”